10: Discussions

Glorfindel, sitting in his office on Friday morning, didn’t bother to look up from the documents he was perusing when there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," he called out.

The door opened, but not very widely, and then he heard the sound of little feet sneaking in and smiled to himself, pretending to be reading, but all the while keeping track of his visitor’s movements. Just as his stalker was about to pounce on him, he reached out more swiftly than human eyes could follow and grabbed the young boy.

"Gotcha!" he said as Caleb Lord squealed in feigned fright. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? You’re too small to be an orc and your feet aren’t hairy enough to be a Hobbit. So who are you again?"

Five-year-old Caleb giggled as Glorfindel continued dangling him in the air. "Mae govannen, Gworfindel. Ci mae?"

"Mae govannen na gi, Caleb. Ni maer. A chi?" Glorfindel smiled as he set the boy on his desk to face him.

"Maer."

"So, what are you doing here and where’s your naneth?" Glorfindel asked.

For an answer, Caleb pointed at the door and Nicole Lord entered. "I hope we didn’t come at a bad time," she said by way of greeting, giving them a smile.

"It’s never a bad time for a visit from friends," Glorfindel replied sincerely. "So what brings you two here?"

"We’ve just been to the doctor’s for Caleb’s wellness visit before he starts school next week."

"That’s right. Kindergarten. Are you all set to go?"

Caleb nodded. "Huh huh. Nana bought me new clothes."

"New clothes are important when one is going to Kindergarten for the first time," Glorfindel said in all seriousness. He smiled fondly at the young Mortal who reminded him of another little boy who had captured his heart along with the hearts of everyone else in Imladris. More than once he had caught himself thinking of Caleb as ‘Estel’ and he even called him that one time, confusing the youngster until he explained. Even the Twins had fallen into the same trap.

"Where’s Finrod?" Caleb asked suddenly.

"He’s busy being friends with some of the students," Glorfindel answered. "Did you want to see him?"

Caleb nodded and Nicole spoke up. "It’s one reason we’re here. Caleb wanted to show Zach his new clothes." She gave Glorfindel a knowing smile and he returned it. Caleb was Zach’s little shadow whenever he had the opportunity to see him, constantly following him around. Zach didn’t mind, saying he’d always wished for a little brother. Zach and Caleb’s relationship was very special and Nicole was grateful for it. When her husband up and left her with four kids, she and her children had had a hard time of it until the Elves and Zach entered their lives. The Elves had been particularly attentive to Nicole and her children, practically adopting them, but Caleb, being the youngest, was their special joy and delight.

"Well, as it happens, I was going to meet Zach for lunch, so why don’t you join us?" Glorfindel suggested.

"Oh we couldn’t do that," Nicole protested. "We really just came by to say hello."

"No. I insist," Glorfindel said. "Then Caleb can show us both his new clothes."

"Yay!" Caleb crowed in delight, raising his arms and clapping.

"Well, if you don’t mind," Nicole said a little uncertainly.

"Not at all. Come. It’s almost time for lunch. I’m meeting him at the cafeteria, if that’s all right with you."

Nicole nodded and Glorfindel stood up, helping Caleb down from the desk. "So how is the new job going?" he asked.

"Better than I’d hoped," Nicole answered as they left the office and made their way towards the cafeteria. "The people I work with are very warm and friendly."

"Nana’s got a boyfriend," Caleb announced rather proudly.

"Caleb!" Nicole admonished, blushing.

Glorfindel smiled. "It must be in the air," he said.

When Nicole gave him a puzzled look he laughed. "Elrohir and Serindë. He finally got up the nerve to ask her out the other night."

Nicole giggled. "It seems so strange to know that someone like Roy who’s older than dirt can still act like a tongue-tied teenager asking a girl to the prom."

Glorfindel smiled. "Even we Elves are not immune to the effects of love’s arrows or the ecstasy and the agony that go with it. I think you’ve heard enough of our tales to know this."

"Oh yes, but it’s still a hard concept to get one’s head around," she averred. Then, she gave him a sly look. "So, do you think there’s a wedding in the future for them?"

"One would hope," Glorfindel said with a sigh.

"And Dan is all right with this?" Now her expression mutated to one of concern.

"Oh, don’t worry about Elladan. He’s the one who kept nagging his brother to ask the fair damsel out."

Nicole raised an eyebrow. "I’m surprised."

"Oh? Why’s that?"

"Oh, I don’t know. The two of them are so close. Having a third person, even one as lovely and as sweet as Sarah, coming between them...." She left the thought unspoken, her expression somewhat troubled.

Glorfindel gave her a comforting smile. "As I said, there’s nothing to worry about. Elladan rejoices that his brother has found someone to love." Then he chuckled. "Besides he’s too busy pursuing Alphwen, or maybe this week it’s Eirien, along with the other ellyn, to care about what Elrohir is up to."

"Oh?" Nicole gave him an amused look. "Rivalries among the ellyn for the attentions of the ellith? Aren’t Alfa and Daisy so much older than Dan?"

Glorfindel’s laugh was joyful. "Nicole, age is never a real factor among immortals. After your first millennium, no one bothers to keep count."

"Oh, sorry," she said apologetically and Glorfindel stopped and gave her a hug.

"No need to apologize, my dear. And no need to worry. Alphwen and Eirien are enjoying the attentions of four eligible ellyn."

"Four? Are you not counting yourself among them?" she asked teasingly.

"Nor is Daeron. We two are truly too old for such nonsense. Daeron remembers Cuiviénen and I remember the Two Trees. The other Elves were born in Beleriand or, in the case of Amroth, Nimrodel and Mithrellas, they were born further east."

"Ron and Holly were also born in Beleriand?" Nicole asked in puzzlement. "But they’re both Noldorin, aren’t they?"

Glorfindel nodded. "Vorondur was born in Nargothrond shortly after Finrod founded it and Ercassë I believe was born in East Beleriand. I believe her parents held their allegiance to Maedhros."

"I’m surprised that Misty isn’t considered eligible for courting," Nicole said. "She’s single as well."

"Among the Elves we only marry once," Glorfindel replied. "In all our existence, there has only been one exception."

"But she married a Mortal," Nicole protested. "Surely she has the right to find happiness among her own people."

"But she has not, or rather she does not. She holds herself to our customs and we honor her for it. But please do not be overly concerned for her. Mithrellas is content and she finds the ellyn amusing in their pursuit of the other ellith." He gave her a knowing smile and she returned it.

By now, they had reached the cafeteria where already there was a line of students waiting to enter. Caleb, who had been holding his mother’s hand all this while, suddenly broke free when he saw his hero.

"Finrod! Finrod!"

Zach turned from speaking with Derek and Alex and smiled broadly, bending down with arms wide open to greet the youngster running towards him.

"Whoa!" he said laughingly as he picked the boy up.

"Finrod! Aníreg ceno...."

"Cened," Zach corrected automatically.

"Cened i-chammad ’wain nîn?’ Caleb asked all in a rush.

"iChammad ’wain gîn, huh?’ Zach said with a smile as he settled the boy in the crook of his arm, giving Nicole a smile. "Let me guess," he said in English, "Kindergarten."

Nicole laughed and Glorfindel grinned. "We’ll have lunch first and then Caleb can show off his new school outfits," he said. "The line’s moving. Why don’t we join it? Alex, Derek, this is Nicole Lord and her youngest son, Caleb. She and her family are good friends of ours. Nicole, Alex and Derek are two of our more promising students."

The Mortals exchanged greetings. Glorfindel watched in amusement at the different reactions of the two young men. Derek practically glowed at the unexpected praise, while Alex looked startled, almost frightened, though he recovered quickly enough. They really were going to have to do something about him. Amroth was going to have to confront his former student sooner rather than later. They needed Alex, or rather they needed Artemus, on their side. It didn’t do to have the government looking too closely at Elf Academy and he was still trying to discover who had contacted the authorities.

He was not so naive as to think that everyone in Wiseman was on board with the idea of Elves and their mission, but he had hoped that over time their presence would not be considered threatening. He grimaced to himself at the memory of several ministers of various religious faiths and denominations confronting him not long after the Elves had revealed themselves to the people of Wiseman, demanding to know if he were in truth a fallen angel. When one of them even went so far as to ask if he and the other Elves weren’t Grigori, he’d laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all. That had not endeared him to these men and women of the cloth, at least not to all.

"I assure you, I am neither Vala nor Maia, fallen or otherwise," he had told them when he’d finally calmed down. "I am only an Elf, one of the Firstborn of the One, as you are of the Secondborn." He then had allowed them to see something of his true nature which he normally kept cloaked, his inherent powers as an Elf and one trained by the Maiar becoming visible to them. More than one of his accusers stepped back in shock. "I have fought against Evil Incarnate, my children," he said quietly, "and have spoken face-to-face with the Elder King and his fellow Valar, sent by the One to be the Guardians of this universe. Do not presume to think you have all the answers, for you do not. And do not confuse your mythologies with truth."

He had dismissed them at that point, bidding them a good day. Some left with expressions of fear or hatred on their faces, others left troubled and confused. A couple actually apologized and asked if they could return alone to speak to him or the other Elves and he had invited them to join him for dinner some evening. Later, he was pleased to see these same people signing up for the history and language classes that the Elves were offering to the townspeople. He noticed with some sorrow that these particular ministers were being ostracized by their fellows and he made a special effort to befriend them, helping to alleviate their loneliness.

Glorfindel was pulled out of his reverie by Caleb suddenly asking him why he was sad. He blinked in confusion for a second, not sure why the child had asked him that and then noticed several of the Mortals around him giving him concerned looks. Zach and Nicole especially seemed worried. He gave them a smile. "Forgive me. I did not mean to upset you. I’m afraid I lost myself in a memory. It’s an occupational hazard when... when you are as old as I am."

Zach and Nicole gave him astonished looks but all the other Mortals either rolled their eyes or sniggered at what they considered an absurd statement seeing as how the one who had said it didn’t look any older than they. He overheard one young woman whisper to her friends, "If he’s old, what does that make us?" and grinned.

He had a feeling Zach wanted to ask him what was wrong but by then they were in the cafeteria proper and everyone was too busy collecting trays and cutlery and letting the servers know what they wanted. Zach helped Caleb with choosing tomato soup and macaroni and cheese and Glorfindel told the cashier that he was paying for Nicole’s lunch and that Caleb’s lunch was free. Once through the line he and Nicole joined Zach with Derek and Alex. Caleb was sitting between Zach and Alex happily slurping his soup and looking about with interest at all the students. Alex was the only one who appeared uncomfortable, stealing glances at Glorfindel which he ignored.

For a moment or two everyone concentrated on their lunch and then Derek looked at Zach. "So what’s with the squirt calling you Finrod?" he asked, nodding at Caleb digging into his macaroni and cheese, ignoring everyone.

"That was my nom d’Elf, as someone called it," Zach said with a laugh. "I was in the first class here. Nicole and her family were my test family."

"Your what?" Alex asked before Derek could respond.

"Oops," Zach said with a look of regret at Glorfindel who merely raised an amused eyebrow. "I’m sorry. I th-think I let the c-c-cat out of the bag," he stuttered.

"It’s all right, Zach," Glorfindel said soothingly, giving his young assistant a comforting pat on the arm. "You did nothing wrong." He turned to Derek and Alex. "We usually don’t reveal how the final exam goes until near the end of the term, but basically, we have townspeople volunteer to act as tourists who have signed up for one of the holiday tours that you would be leading. Everyone is assigned to a tour company or resort and given a family and you are tested on how well you construct the tour given the particular interests which the family indicates. I really wouldn’t worry about it. It’s early yet and you have much to learn but I promise you that we will make sure you have all you need to be good Elf Guides. Now, why don’t we change the subject? I believe you two are scheduled to go to the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Reserve to walk their trails."

Both Derek and Alex nodded. "I hope it isn’t as creepy as the last one," Alex said suddenly and Glorfindel noticed the slight shudder and the bleak look in the Mortal’s eyes. Derek simply gave him a confused look.

"As I said, the Winterdark Tarn trail can affect people in different ways," Glorfindel said neutrally. "The Gates of the Arctic trails are less... disturbing. You should plan to go on the orange trail. It’s a very pleasant walk."

Zach nodded enthusiastically. "I like that trail. I’ve gone on it lots of times."

Alex and Derek looked at each other and shrugged almost at the same time. Then Alex turned to Glorfindel with a brief smile. "We’ll take it under advisement."

Glorfindel laughed as did Nicole. "It really is a pleasant trail to walk," she said. "And Loren is correct. I wouldn’t worry about the final exam yet. With the teachers you have, you’ll have no trouble passing."

By now they were finishing up lunch and Glorfindel could see Caleb becoming restless and bored with all the grown-ups talking. He smiled down at the youngster kicking his heels as he played with his chocolate milk. "So, why don’t we finish up here and then Caleb can show us his new clothes."

Caleb grinned, nodding enthusiastically while everyone else gave him indulgent smiles.

"We need to catch a bus," Alex said.

"It’s on the way," Glorfindel replied. "You can stop for a minute to admire the clothes, can’t you?"

Alex wasn’t the only one to give him a quizzical look. Even Zach, more used to his ways than most of the Mortals, looked puzzled. Only Caleb seemed unaffected. "C’mon!" he pleaded. "Nana bought me new shoes, too."

"Well, we certainly can’t leave for our walk without seeing your new shoes," Derek said with a smile at the boy. "What color?"

"Brown," Caleb answered. "I wanted blue shoes but Nana says you have to be a king to wear blue shoes."

Even Alex laughed at that, recognizing the reference.

"And if your nana says so, then it must be true," Glorfindel said with a wicked smile aimed at Nicole who gave him a brief scowl but then she was chuckling along with the others.

When they reached the parking lot, Nicole led them to her car and opened the trunk to show them Caleb’s clothes, which he proudly pulled out of their bags. Everyone admired the clothes and the shoes, declaring that he would obviously be the best-dressed boy in his class. Then the clothes were put away, Zach helped Caleb into his safety seat, promising to see him over the weekend, while Nicole thanked Glorfindel for lunch. Soon Glorfindel, Zach, Alex and Derek were standing in the parking lot waving as Nicole and Caleb drove off.

"We’d best find our bus," Derek said after a minute.

"Yes, by all means, go and enjoy your walk and don’t forget the movie tonight."

"What’s playing?" Alex asked.

"Ah, that’s a surprise," Glorfindel replied. "Off you go now."

"You’re not coming?" Derek asked Zach.

"I’m afraid I need Zach this afternoon," Glorfindel said smoothly before Zach could reply. "Perhaps next week he can join you on your walk. Have a good afternoon, gentlemen."

Alex and Derek nodded, wishing him and Zach the same before they loped off to join the other students now exiting the building in search of their bus. Zach gave Glorfindel a puzzled look. "What was that all about?"

Glorfindel put an arm around the young man’s shoulders as they walked back inside. "You know I never do anything without a reason."

"And what reason did you have in insisting that Alex and Derek come admire Caleb’s new clothes?"

Instead of answering, Glorfindel led Zach into the small reading room where they found Daeron ensconced in an easy chair, idly plucking on one of his smaller harps, a distant look in his eyes that alerted them that the minstrel was hard at work composing. Glorfindel put a finger to his lips and gave Zach a knowing smile as they found their own seats, quietly waiting for Daeron to acknowledge them. A moment later, the loremaster’s eyes became more focused and he gave them a brief smile.

"Done with lunch?" he asked as he put the harp on the table next to him "Shall we get on with it, then?"

"Get on with what?" Zach asked in confusion. "What’s this all about?"

Glorfindel gave Zach a serious look. "Tell us what you think of Alex," he said.

For a moment Zach sat there with a frown on his face as the two Elves looked on impassively. "I don’t understand this... this fascination with Alex Grant," he finally said. "You’ve never displayed such interest in any one student before."

"We have our reasons, Zach," Daeron said before Glorfindel responded. "Please believe me when I say that we do not wish any harm to Alex."

"I do believe you," Zach said sincerely and the two Elves knew that he meant it.

"So tell us your thoughts about Alex," Glorfindel commanded.

"He’s friendly enough, I suppose," Zach answered with a shrug. "From what I’ve heard and seen, he appears to be less confrontational and willing enough to do what is asked of him, but...."

"Go on," Glorfindel said encouragingly. "Do not hesitate to say what you feel. It’s very important that we know."

"Sometimes... and maybe it’s just me... but sometimes, I almost feel as if there are two different Alexes."

"How do you mean?" Daeron asked, his eyes brightening with curiosity.

Zach shrugged. "Not really sure. It’s almost as if there are two different people inside him. One is the student, personable and friendly, but the other... frankly, the other scares me."

Both Elves started at that revelation. Glorfindel leaned forward to put a comforting hand on Zach’s arm. "Scares you how, Zach? Has he done anything...."

"No. No. It’s nothing he’s done," Zach assured them. "It’s... I can’t really describe it. We’ll be talking and laughing and then all of a sudden he’d ask a question that had nothing to do with what we were talking about and the way he asked it seemed more calculating than curious, if you know what I mean."

"What sort of questions?" Glorfindel demanded quietly.

"Most of them seem to be about Amroth and Nimrodel," Zach answered. "How long did they know each other? Were they married? When did they first meet? That sort of thing."

"What do you tell him?" Daeron asked.

"I just tell him that if he needs to know he should ask them, and then he backs off and he’s Alex again. He’s been asking about Edhellond, too. Oh, not by that name. He gave me a description of the house, telling me he came across it while on a walk, and then he told me about some kid he met who told him that Elves lived there. He wanted to know what the kid meant by that."

"And you told him what?" Glorfindel enquired, his expression unreadable.

"Oh, I just said the kid was having him on. I explained that some of the teachers from the Academy lived there and he seemed to accept that and let it go, but I could tell he wasn’t satisfied with my answer."

"It’s true enough as far as it goes," Daeron said with a smile. "You did well, Zach. We’re not here to lay blame for anything that may be said. We’re trying to decide what is best for all concerned, including Alex."

"You said sometimes Alex scared you," Glorfindel interjected. "Can you give more examples of when that happens?"

"Wednesday afternoon, you asked me to find Amroth and relay a message to him." Glorfindel nodded encouragingly and Zach continued. "Yes, well, I met Amroth in the corridor outside the gym just before he was going to go in to teach the unarmed defense class. As we were talking, I happened to notice Alex coming out of the men’s locker room and he just stood there when he saw us. Amroth had his back to him so he didn’t see."

"See what?" Glorfindel demanded when Zach hesitated.

"His expression. It went suddenly cold, cold and... and dark. It was only for a second or two and then it was gone. Amroth... maybe he noticed the shock in my eyes or maybe he felt Alex’s enmity from down the hall, but when he turned to look, Alex’s expression was bland. He gave us a greeting as he walked by us on his way to the fencing class. I saw Amroth’s eyes as he watched Alex walk away. There was something dark in them as well."

For a moment, neither Elf spoke and Zach sat there looking miserable and confused. Finally Glorfindel stirred and gave his young assistant a warm smile. "Alex is a very troubled young man and we’re trying to help him. I’m sorry if some of his actions scare you, Zach, but I hope you will continue being his friend. He needs one even if he’s unaware of it. Derek is also his friend, but Derek doesn’t know us well enough to trust us with anything concerning Alex."

"So you’ve sent me to... to be a spy?" Zach asked in hurt confusion.

"No, Zach," Daeron assured him. "We’re not asking you to spy on Alex. We’re asking you to continue being his friend. But understand, we have the entire safety of the Academy, indeed of all Wiseman, to consider and Alex... well, Alex can be a potential problem given his earlier actions. Glorfindel and I feel that you can help him."

"As a friend," Zach insisted.

"As a friend," Glorfindel echoed with a nod.

"I can do that. What about the others? Maybe Shane or Jud can help as well."

"We’d like to keep this on a more one-to-one basis for now," Daeron said smoothly. "Let Alex become comfortable with you, let him get comfortable with being here at all before we throw him to the wolves."

"Hey! Not fair!" Glorfindel protested.

Daeron smiled. "A slip of the tongue, sorry." He winked at Zach and the young man grinned.

"Well, if that’s all...." Zach said standing up.

"For now," Glorfindel said. "Thank you. Why don’t you take the rest of the afternoon off? I’ll see you tomorrow, all right?"

Zach nodded and then left. For a while Glorfindel and Daeron sat in silence, each with his own thoughts. Finally, Daeron stirred, picking up the harp from the table and strumming it.

"We’re playing a dangerous game," he said, not looking at Glorfindel. "Amroth needs to deal with this now. I do not understand his reluctance... or yours."

"Yet, ultimately, it’s his call. I will not force him to confront Alex. Amroth may acknowledge me as our leader, but he is a king in his own right. In fact, he outranks all of us, including me."

"He is a king without a kingdom," Daeron protested with a snort of disgust. "Of us all, I am the eldest. By rights, leadership should fall upon my shoulders, yet I prefer to act as your lieutenant. I know Amroth has accepted you as our leader in all things because you are the most powerful of us all, so why do you not press him to deal with Alex now before something happens that we’ll all regret?"

"It is true that I have the power to force Amroth into a decision, but I have not the right. Not even the Belain have that right. We’ll have to let him call the shots."

"Unless Alex makes a move first," Daeron said darkly, "and innocents can be harmed as a result."

"We will have to see that that doesn’t happen," Glorfindel insisted, rising from his seat.

"From your lips to the Belain’s ears," Daeron retorted with a snort. Glorfindel laughed. "For what it’s worth," the minstrel pressed, still looking troubled, "my advice to you is not to wait too long on this. Alex has to be dealt with sooner rather than later."

Glorfindel sighed, his expression equally troubled. "I’ll see you at dinner?" he asked, not quite willing to agree with Daeron’s assessment just yet.

Daeron visibly bit back what he was about to say and took a deep breath, pausing before letting it out. "Yes, I’ll be there," he said quietly, not quite looking at the golden-haired Elf-lord.

Glorfindel could tell that Daeron wasn’t very happy with him at the moment but did not know what else he could do or say to make things better, so he said nothing as he made his way out of the room. After Glorfindel left, Daeron sat for the longest time in utter silence. Finally he sighed, shaking his head as he went back to composing, but his heart was no longer in it. After a few minutes when nothing would come he gave it up as a lost cause and decided to take a long walk in the woods before dinner.

****

Words are Sindarin:

Ci mae?: ‘You are well?’

Mae govannen na gi: "Well met to you’.

Ni maer. A chi?: I am fine. And you?"

Naneth: Mother. Nana is the hypocoristic form.

Ellyn: Plural of ellon: Male Elf.

Ellith: Plural of elleth: Female Elf.

Aníreg cened i-chammad ’wain nîn?: ‘Do you want to see my new clothes?’, literally: ‘Desire/wish you for seeing the new clothing of mine’.

iChammad ’wain gîn: ‘Your new clothes’, literally; ‘The new clothing of yours’.

Note: The Grigori or Watchers were a class of angels sent by God to teach primitive humans certain arts of civilization and to watch over their progress. Some, however, taught forbidden subjects and mated with Mortal women, for which they were punished. Their offspring were known as the Nephilim, usually translated as ‘giants’, but the actual meaning from the original Hebrew is ‘those who were cast down’. They are mentioned briefly in Genesis 6 as one of the chief reasons for God sending the Flood.