59: Sneaking into Wiseman

While they were all together still, Finrod spent a few moments introducing Alex and Derek to the other Valinórean Elves. Most of the names of those whom Finrod introduced to Alex and Derek meant nothing to the two Mortals. They met several ellyn who apparently were close friends, perhaps even gwedyr, of Glorfindel as well as Finrod. They appeared to be a mixture of Sindar, Vanyar and Noldor. The Mortals attempted to remember their names but it was a lost cause and they just ended up smiling, with Derek going all tour-guidey, as Alex called it, saying, “Welcome to Alaska. We hope you enjoy your stay” over and over again until Alex finally punched him in the arm to make him stop. Derek gave him a mock frown.

“What? I’m just practicing my spiel,” he protested.

“Well, go practice somewhere else,” Alex growled back. “See those trees over there? I’m sure they’d love to hear your little speech.”

The Elves grinned and one of them said something in Quenya that set the others snickering, but they refused to translate for the Mortals.

There were, however, some names that were very familiar to them and they stared in awe when Finrod introduced Beleg Strongbow. Even Derek was dumbfounded. Beleg, for his part, gazed upon them with humor. “I see my reputation precedeth me.”

“We... we read about you in our history book,” Alex said faintly.

Beleg raised an eyebrow. “History is overrated,” he said with a sniff. “I would not believe everything you have read about me.”

“Just most of it,” Glorfindel quipped and everyone else laughed, including Beleg.

Then Finrod introduced them to two others. “This is Legolas of Gondolin and this is Legolas of Eryn Lasgalen.”

“Two Legolases!” Derek exclaimed.

“So how do we tell them apart?” Alex asked.

“He is the pretty one,” Legolas of Gondolin said, pointing to his namesake.

“No, no, thou hast it all wrong,” Legolas of Eryn Lasgalen protested. “I am the intelligent one.”

“Oh? And how hast thou figured that?” the first Legolas demanded.

“Because I am a prince and thou art not,” the second Legolas retorted with a smirk.

“So, if I yell ‘Prince!’ that means you will answer?” Alex said with a straight face.

“Sounds like a dog’s name to me,” Derek chimed in with a wicked grin. “Here, Prince! Heel, Prince. Good boy.” He patted an imaginary dog on its head.

Legolas of Gondolin laughed, gabbling something in rapid-fire Sindarin, and Legolas of Eryn Lasgalen scowled, growling something back that did not sound at all complementary. Glorfindel stepped in just then, giving them a wide grin. “We’ll figure it out later. For now, it’s Prince Legolas and Greenleaf.” He gave the two Mortals a significant look and both of them nodded.

“Prince Legolas, welcome to Alaska,” Derek said in all seriousness, giving him a bow.

“Greenleaf, welcome to Alaska,” Alex said, giving his own bow.

“Thy friends are most irreverent,” Finrod observed, sounding not at all upset, while Alex and Derek blushed.

Glorfindel shrugged. “They’re Americans,” he replied. “They’re less impressed by titles and more impressed by deeds. Their ancestors came to this continent and forged one of the greatest nations ever seen among Men and they did it with little more than grit and determination and a lot of native ingenuity.”

“As it should be,” Finrod said approvingly. “And now, let me introduce you to the ellith,” he said and Alex couldn’t help noting how Glorfindel’s eyes lit up, as did Daeron’s, and he stored that information away even as he gave as graceful a bow as he could when introduced to Laurendil’s wife, Manwen. She smiled on them benignly.

“It giveth me sorrow to think that our great-grandson would treat you as he hath,” she said. “I hope in time you can all become friends.”

“I’m sure Cal is an okay kid,” Alex said. “He just needs to get down from his high horse and join the rest of us peons on the ground.”

Manwen blinked. “I think I understand what thou sayest, my Lord Alex, but thy words are a bit confusing.”

“He just means that Calandil should not act so haughty when he has no right to be so,” Vorondur offered, “and that, of course, applies to the other two, and indeed to everyone here. The Mortals outnumber us and we must keep that in mind at all times.”

“And I’m not a lord,” Alex said with a smile. “I’m Mr. Grant, if you want to address me formally, but otherwise, it’s just Alex.”

“And I am Manwen,” the wife of Laurendil said with a smile.

“And this is Helyanwë, who is the great-granddaughter of Glorfindel’s other brother, Sador, and his wife, Alassiel,” Finrod then said, introducing them to a fair-haired elleth with green eyes who gave them a shy smile and a curtsey.

“Other brother?” Derek asked.

“Glorfindel and Sador are my brothers,” Finrod said with a warm smile to the balrog-slayer. “When they were released from Mandos, neither had family who could take them in, so my atar, my father, informally adopted them and we consider ourselves brothers.”

“Well, we’re pleased to meet you... uh... Lady Hely...um... Helen,” Derek stuttered, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, these Quenya names are so long, not like names in Sindarin.”

“Iris would be a translation from the Greek, for the name means ‘rainbow’,” Glorfindel explained, “but Helen suits as well, for it means ‘light’ and it is close in sound to Helyanwë.”

“The name can also be rendered as Helena, Ellen, Elena or Elaine,” Daeron added. “It is a popular name among the Mortals. We really will have to come up with appropriate names for everyone,” he ended with a sigh.

“Something we’ll deal with once we get back to Wiseman,” Glorfindel said. “Now, here is the Lady Melyanna, Beleg’s great-great-granddaughter.”

Both Mortals greeted her and she gave them a frank look, nodding in acknowledgment. “Ye are welcomed to me,” she said, her voice a pleasing contralto. Alex noted that Daeron’s eyes never left her, but if she noticed, she gave no sign.

“And this is Nielluin,” Finrod then said, introducing an elleth whose hair was similar to Finrod’s silvery-golden locks and her eyes were a deep, brilliant blue.

“Hello,” she said forthrightly, giving them a smile. “I’m glad to meet you. Are you really a spy? How exciting. And you sailed on your oceans? That’s so cool.”

Everyone just stared at the elleth in open-mouthed amazement. “Hey! How come you speak real English when no one else does?” Derek blurted out without thinking.

Nielluin giggled. Alex couldn’t help noticing the glare of disgust that Findalaurë shot her way as he was helping to bring in more firewood. “That’s because I went to Lord Námo and asked him how Mortals spoke these days. I didn’t quite trust Lords Aulë and Ulmo. They smirked too much when we were attempting to learn English.”

“And thou didst not deign to inform the rest of us?” Finrod asked, sounding not at all upset but looking rather admiringly at the elleth.

“Sorry, Uncle,” Nielluin said, looking not at all apologetic. “It was too fine a jest and I did not wish to spoil it.”

“So why Lord Námo?” Alex asked.

“Uncle?” Derek asked almost at the same time.

“Nielluin is the daughter of my sister, Galadriel,” Finrod explained. “She was... um... a surprise. Even my sister did not expect to find herself with child again, but I understand the reunion between her and Celeborn when he finally Sailed was quite... um... emotional.”

“Not to say loud,” Laurendil added with a wicked look.

Finrod snorted and there were knowing grins on many of the faces of the Valinórean Elves, while the Twins looked shocked.

“Grandmother?” Elrohir asked

“And Grandfather?” Elladan added and they both looked at Nielluin with something like horror. Then Elladan gave Finrod an accusing look. “You said she was merely a kinswoman. I assumed you meant a descendant of one of your brothers or cousins. Why did you not tell us the truth?”

“Because I asked him not to,” Nelluin said, “not until we got to know one another better… Nephew."

“So why did you go to Lord Námo for instruction?” Alex asked again, deciding to deflect whatever comment Elladan looked to be about to make.

“He has the most contact with Mortals who come to him before leaving the Circles of Arda,” Nielluin explained with a delicate shrug. “I figured if anyone knew how Mortals spoke these days, it would be him.”

“Smart as well as beautiful,” Derek said with an approving look. “A great combination.”

“Down boy,” Alex said with a grin. “She’s old enough to be your grandmother a thousand times over.”

“But I like older women,” Derek protested. “And if it was good enough for Beren or Tuor....”

“Oh please, let’s not go there,” Alex pleaded. “It’s like cradle-robbing in reverse. Anyway, not to change the subject, but has anyone thought to call Amroth and let him and the ellith know who’s coming? They really should be warned of an impending invasion, don’t you think?”

“Can you even get a signal out here?” Derek asked, fishing out his cell phone and checking it.

“We contacted them last night,” Glorfindel told them. “So, I wouldn’t worry about it. For now, you should rest, Alex. We’ll be leaving for Wiseman once it’s full dark, but I think perhaps Derek should drive if you’re willing and give you a break.”

“No problem,” Alex said.

“Then, in the meantime, perhaps you and Derek would like to tell us about what Mortals are like these days,” Finrod suggested. “We would learn all that we can about you and those who attend Elf Academy.”

“Sure. I guess,” Alex said a bit dubiously. “Just let me use the latrine and then I’ll be all set.”

“I’ll join you,” Derek said and together they sauntered off while the Elves waited for their return.

****

The rest of the morning was spent answering questions about Mortals and life in the modern era, the problems and concerns of the day. Alex and Derek answered as best they could, pointing out such things as the less formal manner that American young people had towards authority.

“It’s not that they are being rude, you have to understand,” Derek told them, “it’s that they are simply being forthright and are not afraid to express their opinions.”

“Especially their low opinions of their elders,” Alex added with a grin. “When I was fifteen, I was convinced that most adults took stupid pills every morning.”

Several of the Elves laughed at that and someone commented in Quenya that had many of the older Elves roaring. It took them a few minutes to calm down and then Finrod asked about the typical day at the Academy and what they had been learning. By noon, Alex could feel himself flagging and Glorfindel insisted that the questioning stop for now to allow the Mortals to have some lunch. “And then, I think you should lie down and rest for a while,” he said to Alex and it was a testament to the Man’s condition that he did not argue, but went dutifully to his sleeping bag as soon as he was finished eating. Finrod had retrieved a harp from his bags and Alex drifted off to sleep with the sound of soft plucking.

He woke around four and spent a little time wandering in the nearby woods with Derek to get some exercise. Derek informed him that while he’d been sleeping, it’d been decided to keep to the same order when they pulled out. “Which means we’re stuck with Larry and his gang,” he ended ruefully.

“At least we’re only a couple of hours from Wiseman,” Alex said philosophically, “and I suppose we do need to get used to one another. Has Glorfindel indicated how we’re going to sneak twenty-four Elves into Wiseman? Certain people are bound to notice.”

“By that you mean Farrell,” Derek said.

“And others,” Alex added. “I know from talking with Ron that there are some naysayers in Wiseman who are against the Elves being here, though luckily, they are in the minority.”

“Yet, even minority opinions can be influential,” Derek pointed out, “and if these people feel threatened by the existence of Elves, they’re going to be even more so when this lot shows up.”

“Which means they need to be very circumspect in their dealings with us,” Alex said. “I don’t envy Loren and Darren. They’re the ones who will have to deal with it all.”

“Yeah. You and I will just have to deal with the final exam,” Derek said.

“And I never intended to remain long enough to take it,” Alex countered with a rueful look. “I still have no desire to be a Christmas Elf.”

“Well, if you’re leaving the spy business behind, you need to have some kind of employment,” Derek pointed out. “At least being an Elf Guide for a month or so will give you some money while you decide what you want to do next. Do you think you’ll stay on here in Wiseman?”

“Don’t know. What about you?”

Derek shrugged. “Not sure, myself. I think I need to go home, talk it over with my dad. Oh, not about Elves, but about returning to Alaska. Like you, I’m going to need to find some kind of employment to justify my existence. Maybe I’ll get hired by one of the resorts or something. I know some of the students end up getting hired permanently. I could do that. We’ll just have to see.”

“But first, we, or rather, I need to deal with Farrell and the Agency and get Amroth and Elf Academy off the hook. These people can’t afford to have the government breathing down their necks all the time.”

“And the Thanksgiving deadline is coming up,” Derek said with a nod. “Well, you know if I can help in any way, I will.”

“And I appreciate it,” Alex said with a smile. “Let’s go back to camp. I’m getting cold again.”

They returned to the campsite. Some of the Elves were about, but most were away. Vorondur was there, speaking with Vardamir. The two Elves looked up as they approached, giving them smiles. “You both look a bit blue,” Vorondur said. “Come sit by the fire and I’ll make you some hot soup. Supper won’t be for a while.”

Both Alex and Derek agreed and Vardamir threw a couple of warm blankets around them. He eyed them both clinically and Alex couldn’t help blushing, pulling his hat down in an unconscious manner.

“We were discussing human psychology,” Vorondur said conversationally as he ladled some vegetable soup into a couple of tin mugs, handing them to the Mortals. “I was explaining to Vardamir about my work as a psychiatrist.”

“You must have a lot of fun playing mind games with us,” Derek said.

“Do you think so?” Vorondur shot back. “I have studied you humans for millennia and in doing so have come to understand my own people better. We are not as different as you might think. I told Alex that if you think we Elves are perfect in every way then you are sadly mistaken and certainly our history shows this. In studying humans in all their particulars, I’ve come to understand what has driven us Elves, and me especially. Did I not tell you that I have done terrible things in my life?” he asked Alex who nodded. “For a long time I could not understand how I had allowed myself to descend into such darkness and madness or even how I managed to pull myself out of it. I began studying human behavior as a means of learning about myself and my own motivations. In many ways, you humans were the saving of me and for that I will always be grateful.”

Both Alex and Derek had thoughtful looks as they sipped on their soup. Vardamir asked them a question about their experiences in dealing with different cultures and Derek spent some time regaling the Elves about his adventures at sea while Alex spoke a little about working in the Middle East and trekking across most of Asia on the Silk Route as a tourist.

As the evening approached, the other Elves returned to the campsite and after supper, they began striking the camp and loading up the cars. The Wiseman Elves huddled around Glorfindel as they discussed how they would enter the town. Alex and Derek joined them.

“There’s the road leading to Nolan,” Daeron pointed out, speaking of a small village just north of Wiseman. “I suggest that some of us head that way and come into Wiseman from that direction.”

“I can go further east and pick up the bypass to the main highway and come in from that direction,” Elladan offered and Glorfindel nodded.

“Gil, you go to Nolan, then come south. Swing around to the college and return to Edhellond from that direction. Dan, do as you suggested and when you come into Wiseman, go down Morningside and cross the bridge at Fitzpatrick. Ron and I will go in the same way we came out. Derek, you’ll follow us in, but once we get to Wiseman, go directly to the Academy and stay there. Someone will come and escort Findalaurë, Calandil and Elennen from there.”

“Or they can just stay there,” Alex suggested. “The less movement there is that time of night the less noticeable we’ll be. I’m assuming that by taking these different routes, people are going to show up at Edhellond at different times?”

“Yes, that’s the idea,” Glorfindel replied. “Dan will have the furthest to go and it should be well after midnight before he gets home. Gil should be the first to arrive because I’m going to stop when we’re about a mile out of town. Ron, once we’ve stopped, you will wait fifteen minutes then go on. Derek you will leave fifteen minutes after that and then I’ll follow later. The time gap should be enough so there’s no connection between vehicles arriving.”

“And that’s assuming anyone’s keeping a watch on Edhellond and the Academy,” Alex pointed out.

“We have to assume they are,” Vorondur said. “I like Alex’s idea of having the youngsters remain at the Academy, but I don’t know how we will explain them to the other students.”

“And they’re not properly dressed,” Derek pointed out. “You-all are going to have to do a whole lot of shopping to outfit everyone in appropriate clothes.”

“Could they borrow some of yours until we can get them their own clothes?” Roy asked.

“Yeah, sure, I guess,” Derek answered a bit dubiously. “But how do we explain them?”

“I’ll think of something,” Alex said. “After all, it’s my job to come up with identities and all. If you can impress upon them that they need to remain in one place, the reading room, I think, until either I or Derek come get them, then I suppose that will work. I’m not going to have them in our room while we’re sleeping.”

Glorfindel nodded. “I will speak with Finrod and make sure they understand the game plan. They will be obedient or there will be consequences. The reading room sounds like the best place for them. By my estimation, you should reach the Academy around one o’clock. With it being the weekend, the place should be virtually deserted with most of your classmates in town enjoying themselves at the bars.”

“Which is where I wish we were,” Derek groused and the Elves all smiled in agreement.

Once everyone was satisfied with the plan, Glorfindel called over Finrod and speaking softly in Sindarin, explained what had been decided. Finrod, in turn, called over Findalaurë, Calandil and Elennen. There was another discussion, in Quenya this time, with Glorfindel speaking almost as authoritatively as Finrod, casting a stern look upon the three younger ellyn. None of them looked particularly happy but they all nodded. Then Glorfindel reverted to English for the benefit of the two Mortals.

“Alex and Derek will lend you some appropriate clothing and you will spend the rest of the night in what is called the reading room where you can entertain yourselves by reading. In the morning, they will bring you to Edhellond.” He turned to the Mortals. “If you leave early enough, most of the others will still be sleeping and you will be less noticeable.”

“We’ll set our alarm for seven and be out at your place by eight,” Alex said and Glorfindel nodded.

“Do not disappoint me, my son,” Finrod said to Findalaurë. “Show me that thou canst be mindful of what Alex and Derek tell thee, for they know what they are about and thou art about to enter a world that is alien to thee.”

“Yes, Atto,” Findalaurë said meekly enough.

Then, they were ready to leave. This time, the three ellyn got into the car without protest or difficulty and Derek got behind the wheel. They drove in silence for the most part and at some point Gil veered off and headed northeast along with Dan while the rest continued on, stopping as Glorfindel had said when they were about a mile or so from the outskirts of the town. After fifteen minutes, Ron went on and then fifteen minutes later, Derek started the motor and continued. Alex waved at Glorfindel as they passed the van.

“When you come to the first intersection, hang a left,” Alex said.

“That’ll take us away from the college,” Derek protested.

“Yeah, I know, but I’ve decided to come in by way of Aurora instead of on Royal Meadows,” Alex explained. “It’ll look as if we’ve been downtown.”

Derek nodded and took the route Alex had suggested, wending their way past dark houses and silent streets, coming into the center of town and picking up Aurora. Alex glanced back and saw with amusement the wide-eyed stare of the three Elves as they craned their necks to get a better view of the town. Most of it was dark, save for the glaring neon signs of the two bars they passed, the sound of a live bluegrass band coming from one of them. Eventually, they were entering the college campus and Derek brought the car directly to the front.

“Okay, everyone out and then I’ll go park,” Derek said. “What about the stuff in the trunk?”

“Leave it. We’ll unload tomorrow after we get these three to Edhellond,” Alex said as he climbed out of the car. The three ellyn piled out as well, looking around with great interest.

“I’ll be right back,” Derek said and he put the car in motion, going to the Academy parking lot. A few minutes later he was back, handing the keys to Alex, who then unlocked the front door, leading them all in, going directly to the reading room. He went in, turning on the lights and checking the Nook to be sure no one was there making out.

“You have plenty of books,” he said to the three Elves. “Let’s get you some clothes. If you need to... um... relieve yourself, Derek can show you where to go.”

“Gee, thanks,” Derek said sardonically. “Well, c’mon. I had better show you now when no one is around. Go ahead and raid my closet if you need to, Alex. I think Cal is closer in size to me than to you.”

Alex nodded and they all trooped out, heading up the stairs to the third floor. Derek led the Elves into the bathroom while Alex went down to their room and spent several minutes grabbing sweats and t-shirts, figuring they would do for the moment. He then went back and checked on the bathroom to find them all still there checking out the showers while Derek was explaining which tap was for hot and which for cold.

“Here. You can change here and I’ll take your clothes and put them in our room while Derek takes you back to the reading room. We’ll be back down shortly after seven. You can come up and freshen up before we head to Edhellond.”

In minutes the three Elves had changed their clothes. They looked decidedly uncomfortable in them. Alex just shrugged as he gathered their own clothes and then Derek was leading them away. Ten minutes later he was back in their room. “Well, they’re settled for the night, I hope. It’s almost two. We’d better get some sleep. I’m exhausted.”

“Yeah, so am I. Do you think everyone else is back in Edhellond by now?”

“Probably. I still would like to know where they’re going to put them all and how we’re going to explain twenty-four new Elves.”

“Well, that’s Loren’s problem,” Alex said around a yawn as he climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers, giving a sigh of contentment.

Derek turned out the light and got into his own bed. Five minutes later, they were both fast asleep. And down in the reading room, the three ellyn were sitting together in the Nook, quietly comparing notes on their impressions of the Mortals and the world they now found themselves in.