84: Council Meeting and a Conversation

“WHAT?!!!”

Several Elves, all of them healers, made a sudden lunge toward Nimrodel, no doubt wishing to scan her themselves. Amroth practically threw himself over her as if to protect her from an attack. Others were attempting to snatch the ultrasound photo out of Glorfindel’s hand to get a look for themselves.

It was pure pandemonium for about ten seconds and then Finrod slammed his fist on the table, setting plates and glassware jumping, spilling wine.

“Farn!” he shouted above the hubbub and amazingly (or perhaps not so amazing) all noise and movement ceased and all eyes centered on him. When he was sure he had their attention, he gave them a steely look. “Return to your places now.” Reluctantly they did and Amroth sat up, brushing Nimrodel’s hair and kissing her. She looked a bit flustered, even frightened, but she smiled faintly at her husband who murmured something only she could hear.

Glorfindel cast an amused eye around the room, noticing that Vorondur had pulled out a notebook from somewhere and was calmly writing something down. Glorfindel suspected it was notes on everyone’s reactions to the news. Damn ellon never stopped. He shook his head at that thought and turned his attention to Finrod.

“Would you like to see?” he offered, holding up the ultrasound photo.

“Later,” Finrod said. “At the moment, I am more concerned about Nimrodel. Are you well, child?”

Nimrodel nodded but did not speak. Amroth glared at the others. “Just what the hell were you thinking coming at her like that? Even the children became upset.”

“But how could we have missed it?” Vardamir asked in confusion.

“Hey, don’t feel bad,” Amroth said with a tight smile. “I’m their Ada and I didn’t even notice. We think the third one is an identical twin of one of the other two. We’re not sure which because of its position in the womb, so we couldn’t get a good look to determine its gender. If that’s true then being an identical twin masked its presence. At any rate, we have to buy another crib and definitely convert the attic into a dormitory for them when they get older.” He gave a loud sigh, which they knew was more for effect than anything else.

“So, it took a mortal medical technique to discover what Elves could not,” Finrod said with a raised eyebrow. “How very… interesting.”

“The Mortals of this day have come very far in many ways,” Glorfindel said. “It seems that their medical techniques are not as useless as some may have thought, believing our abilities were superior. They may not have our powers, but they make up for it in ingenious ways, such as using sonography to see inside a woman’s womb, allowing the parents to learn of their child’s gender before it is born, although some parents still prefer to be surprised. At any rate, Amroth, Della, congratulations. Twins are rare enough, but triplets… I can only imagine Eru’s working overtime.” He gave the couple a leer.

There was a bout of embarrassed laughter and disguised coughing throughout the room. Finrod smiled down the table at Glorfindel, then he raised his wine glass. “To Amroth and Nimrodel and their children. We rejoice that Eru has seen fit to have three children added unto you.”

“To Amroth and Nimrodel,” everyone intoned, joining the toast.

Then Vardamir asked, “Would you permit me to scan you, my lady? Now that we know what to look for….”

“Yes, of course,” Nimrodel said graciously and pulled her seat back a bit to give Vardamir access. The healer approached respectfully, placing a single finger on her swollen belly, closing his eyes. There was an intense look of concentration on his face and then it cleared and he smiled, still keeping his eyes closed.

“Ah, there you are, little one, hiding behind your siblings. Cheeky devil. Well, keep your secrets then. We’ll find out soon enough.” He opened his eyes and grinned down at the parents. “You are correct. There is a similarity between this one and one of the others, but it is difficult to tell which. I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait and see. Perhaps if they shift their positions enough, we’ll be able to tell.”

“The important thing is to know that they are all well and thriving,” Finrod said. “Are they?”

“Oh, without a doubt,” Vardamir replied. “They come from strong stock.” He smiled at Amroth and Nimrodel again and then stepped away, turning to Glorfindel and pointing at the photo still in the ellon’s hand. “May I?”

Wordlessly, Glorfindel handed the photo over and Vardamir took a moment to examine the image, nodding at what he saw. Then he looked at Nimrodel, his eyes sparkling with humor. “So have you importuned a Maia yet to send a copy off to Valinor?”

Both Amroth and Nimrodel laughed. “Not yet,” she said. “We wanted to tell you all first.”

“And we appreciate it,” Finrod said graciously. “Now I know why you decided to wait until after dinner. I fear if you had given us the news earlier this fine meal would have been forgotten and gone to waste. So, why do we not retire to the library and celebrate with songs and tales?”

Everyone agreed to that and soon they were clearing the table and setting the kitchen to rights. Glorfindel pulled Vorondur off to one side out of the way. “So what’s with the notebook?” he asked quietly.

Vorondur raised an eyebrow. “I was making a note to myself.”

“I saw that,” Glorfindel retorted. “I just wondered what you were writing. Do you never stop being a shrink?”

“Do you never stop being an Elf, Loren?” Vorondur shot back. “I promise that whatever notes I was making was for the benefit of others and not because I’m keeping some kind of score. You should know me well enough by now to know that I never make judgments about other people. Whether their behavior is good or bad is immaterial. What matters is that I understand why they are behaving as they are so that I can help them to make better choices in their lives that bring positive results.”

“Fair enough,” Glorfindel said, then gave him a pained look. “But really, do you have to be so obvious about it?”

Vorondur smiled sympathetically. “I am sorry if my taking notes at the time distressed you, Loren. I’ll try to restrain myself next time and wait until I’m alone to make notes.”

“It’s just that half the time I feel like I’m under some kind of microscope with you.”

“And for that, I apologize. It has never been my intent to make you or anyone else feel as if they are always being watched and judged and somehow found wanting. You little appreciate how fascinating I find you all in all your aspects, good, bad or indifferent. And that’s even more so with Mortals. Having so many Elves around to study for the first time, I sometimes feel as if I’ve died and gone to heaven, as Mortals might say.”

Now Glorfindel gave him a genuine smile. “Christmas every day, huh?”

Vorondur chuckled. “Just about.”

About then, Nielluin showed up and when she heard the news, she practically squealed with delight, hugging Nimrodel and Amroth, insisting on looking at the image. Then she settled down, sitting next to Finrod when they moved to the library while he played a popular song from Valinor celebrating new life.

****

On Saturday, even before the regular council meeting began, all the Mortals who were attending wanted to talk about was Prince Legolas’ carjacking rescue. Michaelson stepped in and explained what arrangements he and the prince had agreed on.

“Liam will start as a volunteer and accompany the patrols twice a week. I’m making arrangements for him to be trained in weapons use and police procedures. He’ll remain a volunteer for at least six months and then and only then will I consider hiring him full time.”

Several people offered Legolas their congratulations and best wishes for a successful career, which surprised him, yet at the same time warmed him with their sincerity.

“And if you ever get tired of having Dave yelling at you all the time, come on over to the sheriff’s department. We’ll treat you right,” Carl Graff said, giving Michaelson a wink. Dave just sniffed. Legolas graciously and diplomatically thanked the sheriff for his kind offer.

Then the news that Amroth and Nimrodel were expecting not twins but triplets was also announced and the Mortals all expressed surprise and delight. The Women automatically flocked to Nimrodel to talk babies. Glorfindel had to bang on the table several times to get their attention and ask them to take their seats so they could get started with the meeting.

“Gossip later, my dears,” he said with a gleam in his eyes. Several of the Women gave him disdainful sniffs but they took their seats and the meeting began.

“Right, first off, if anyone has an extra crib you’re not using, Amroth and Della would appreciate the loan.”

Everyone laughed and people settled down for the meeting. Glorfindel continued. “The next bit of news is unrelated to Elf Academy but still we thought you should be told. For several reasons that I won’t get into, Roy and Sarah have changed the date of their wedding to May the Fifth.”

“Oh good,” Lily Zhang, who acted as Nimrodel’s assistant, said. “That first weekend in April is the Easter weekend and I wanted to go home for that and didn’t know how I could swing the wedding and still be in Anchorage for my family’s get-together Saturday night.”

“Well, now you don’t have to worry,” Glorfindel said with a smile at the young Woman. “And that gives you all an extra month to figure out what to get them.”

There were chuckles all around. “Okay, so the next item on the agenda is also not Elf Academy related. We heard that Jacob’s may be closing. Old Jacob wants to retire and hasn’t found a buyer for the store. We’re looking into the possibility of buying it and having some of us, Eric and Linda, specifically, take over. We would welcome your views on that.”

“It sounds like a good idea,” Max Lightfoot, who owned Lightfoot Reindeer Farm, said, “but you might have a problem getting Jacob to agree to the sale.”

“Why is that?” Daeron asked.

Max shrugged. “I don’t think he’s too happy with you Elves being here. Oh, he’s not as vocal about it as Tom Peterson or some others, but I’ve heard him say some things that lead me to believe that he would sooner sell the store to the devil himself before he ever sold it to you lot. It’s all he can do to remain civil when any of you are there shopping.”

“How odd, because I never felt that from him,” Alphwen said. “He’s always been very polite.”

Max gave her a sardonic look. “Jacob will be polite to anyone so long as they’re willing to part with their money for his benefit.”

“A rather cynical view,” Finrod said.

Max shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

“Well, we could possibly go through a third party so Jacob is unaware of the ultimate buyer. Once he’s signed on the dotted line and receives his money, he has no cause to complain if the buyer then turns around and sells the place to us.”

“Devious, but it might work,” Ranger Paul Pettingill said. “Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Actually, I do,” Glorfindel said with a smile. “No, let me approach the person first, and then we will see. Siobhan Brennan is looking into it at the moment to determine what the asking price is and all that. In the meantime, we’ll keep a low profile on this and mum’s the word.”

All the Mortals nodded.

“So now, to the next item, which also has nothing to do with Elf Academy per se, but certainly the coming elections will impact it to one extent or another. Does anyone have a good sense of where Robert Locke stands on the Elf issue, as I believe one of the TV commentators put it?”

“Well, he’s not against you, if that’s what you’re asking,” Harry Whitman, the mayor, said. “He’s been careful to remain neutral on the subject until now, but that has to change. I warned him when he told me he was considering on running that he would have to declare where he stands on the issue of you people. I told him that I did not want anyone on the ticket who was not a hundred percent behind you Elves and what you are doing. Robert assured me that he was and if he had not been vocal about it before this it was because as a private citizen it was no one else’s business, but now that he was seeking public office, he knew that it was time to step up to the plate and declare himself.”

“So far, though, he hasn’t, even with Peterson accusing him of being an Elf-lover,” Vorondur said.

“I’m sure he and his people are working on a response to that,” Harry replied neutrally.

“Good enough,” Glorfindel said. “A couple of people expressed a desire to join Robert’s campaign, assuming he welcomes them. We’ll have to wait and see what his response to Peterson is before we offer our support for his party. Up until now we’ve stayed firmly out of it all, believing that any attempt by us to join in with your political debates would be seen as interference on our part, but, as one of our friends reminded us just recently, we should be more involved with the community and that means getting involved in politics.”

“So we will have to wait and see how Locke responds to Peterson’s slur,” Roland Smith, who was the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, said.

“I find it disturbing that Mr. Peterson starts his campaign right off with making accusations against Mr. Locke that make it sound as if having anything to do with us Elves is on a level with committing a crime,” Valandur said. “Will we be the only issue in this campaign?”

“It may turn out to be,” Harry said. “Certainly it will be the main issue. This is the first election since you people revealed yourselves to us and unfortunately battle lines are being drawn.”

“Something I pointed out to the people of Wiseman at my court,” Finrod said. “It is unfortunate but a reality we must face. Not every Mortal will be behind us.”

“What if the election goes against us, though?” Eirien asked. “What happens to us then if Peterson becomes Mayor and all his other Elf-hating cronies take over the town council?”

“Who can say?” Harry replied with a shake of his head. “Best not to borrow trouble. Take this as it comes. There are many people who are still playing the neutral card in all this. It’s your task to convince them to come over to our side of the fence, make sure that Peterson’s views are the minority.”

“A tall order, but I don’t think now that we are here that the Valar will really let things get to the point where we have to pick up stakes and move on,” Glorfindel said. “At least, I sincerely hope not, but it won’t be the first time.”

“But what happens to the rest of us if you do leave because of Peterson and his ilk?” Jud von Frank, who acted as Daeron’s assistant, asked. “I don’t like the idea of being left behind because some jerk takes over the mayor’s office and boots you all out.”

“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves here,” Vorondur said before anyone else could respond to Jud’s comment. “Let’s take this one step at a time. Once Robert has given his answer to Peterson then we know where we stand with him and can go from there.”

There were nods all around and not a few sighs. No one liked the situation but for now they had to live with it. Glorfindel moved on to the next item on the agenda, which was the increased enrollment to the Academy for the next term.

“We’re increasing the number of students by ten percent,” he told them. “Daeron and Marion are looking into leasing some apartments over on Madison for the overflow. We are encouraging anyone from Wiseman or the general area to commute or get an apartment and leave the dormitories for the outsiders. In the meantime, we are looking into the possibility of having a separate dormitory built for our use, but it will actually take a couple of years to get all that settled.”

“We might also see if there are people willing to rent a bedroom to students,” Marion suggested and several people agreed.

There was one remaining item dealing with finances and Daeron quickly went through it, updating everyone on where Elf Academy stood financially. He was pleased to announce that it had actually made a small profit this last year. “So we’re in good shape for the next term,” he said and on that high note the meeting ended.

As people were leaving, Legolas’s uniforms, for two were ordered, arrived. Glorfindel paid the shipping costs and Legolas accepted the package gratefully. Glorfindel gave the younger ellon a knowing smile. “Go and try it on, make sure it fits.”

Legolas nodded and practically ran up the stairs to his room. Ten minutes later, he came back down, looking shy and embarrassed, but when everyone who was there applauded, he gave them a wide grin.

“Always had a soft spot for a man in uniform,” Ercassë said, coming forward and giving Legolas a kiss on the cheek. “You look splendid, Liam.”

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

Glorfindel held out his hand and Legolas accepted and the two shook hands. “Congratulations, Officer Prince. Now, get out there and make those bad guys cry for their mummies.”

Everyone laughed, the Mortals wishing Legolas good luck on his first day at work, and then the house emptied out as people went their separate ways. Legolas felt a bit embarrassed standing there in his new uniform, not sure what to do next. Finrod saved him the trouble of deciding by gently suggesting he go up and change. “And then, if you will, I would like you to join me in a walk.”

“Do you not have to work at the bookstore?” Legolas asked.

“Nicholas has given me the day off as I have been working extra hours this past week. That is why you do not see me dressed more formally.”

Legolas nodded. “I would be honored to join you. I will return shortly.” With that, he went back upstairs to his room where he carefully removed his uniform, hanging it up in the closet before returning to the foyer where he found Finrod waiting, his cloak already around him. Legolas grabbed his own coat off one of the two coat trees since there was not enough room in the closet for everyone’s coat and it was reserved for the Wiseman Elves and Finrod.

“So where do you wish to go and why do you wish me to accompany you?” Legolas asked as he and Finrod went outside and made their way past the gates. Finrod turned left.

“I have no real destination in mind,” Finrod said. “I thought merely to walk and enjoy the morning. As to why I have asked you to join me…” He gave Legolas a piercing look. “Are you sure you are fine with the idea of having Mortals rule over you? If I understand correctly, you will be a new recruit and everyone else at the station will be your superior, including those fresh out of police academy. Have you considered this?”

“I did not, truth be told,” Legolas admitted. “I went to the station with the belief that I could simply become a detective and help to solve crimes.” He gave Finrod a sardonic look. “Naïve of me, I know. But this way is better. I will learn from the ground up. I will become acquainted with all aspects of police work, the glamorous and not so glamorous sides of it. And do not forget, my lord, that once, I was a raw recruit in my adar’s forces. Ada refused to give me my own command automatically. I had to work for it and, indeed, it took several centuries.”

“But that was within your own community of kith and kin and those who commanded you were centuries older than you and it was right for you to be obedient to them whatever your social status,” Finrod pointed out as the two slowed their walk long enough to check for traffic before crossing the street. “This will be different. Here you will have children ruling you.”

“They are not children, Finrod,” Legolas admonished. “They are adults.”

“I am glad you see them as such,” Finrod said.

Legolas stopped and gave Finrod a careful look. “I think I see where this is going,” he said. “You are concerned that I will not be able to accept taking orders from those who, were they Elves, would be considered elflings and not adults because of their age. You forget, Finrod, or you choose to ignore, the fact that I traveled with seven Mortals once upon an age, only one of them legally considered a child by his own people. I traveled and fought and bled beside them and I was not the leader of the Fellowship. When Mithrandir fell to the Balrog, Aragorn took over command and I was happy enough to accept his orders in spite of the fact that I was many centuries older than all of them combined and under other circumstances I would have taken command.”

“Then you are unique among our people in that respect,” Finrod said as they resumed their walk.

“So I’ve been told repeatedly down the ages by others who make it sound as if being a friend to Mortals is not the done thing in certain social circles.” Legolas’ expression turned sour at that. “It is one reason why I was so grateful for the Valar in letting me join you when there were others who perhaps would have been better choices.”

Finrod flashed him a conspiratorial grin. “It was I who asked Lord Manwë to allow you to join me.”

“You?! But I thought…”

“You thought that the Valar put all the names in a hat and drew lots as to who would go,” Finrod offered and Legolas blushed.

“Something like that.”

The former king of Nargothrond laughed. “The Valar are not so arbitrary in their decisions, my friend. Those who are here are here because the Valar saw that they and no others were needed to be here, and that includes you, though I admit that until I put forth your name, they had not considered it, for, as Lord Námo put it, and I quote, ‘We do not wish to upset Thranduil overmuch’ unquote.”

Now Legolas came to a full stop, his eyes wide. “Why is everyone afraid of my adar?”

“And you are not, child?” Finrod gave him an amused look. “And it is not fear but respect. Thranduil, unlike Elrond and Galadriel, ruled and protected his realm without benefit of a Ring of Power, but through his own implacable will. That makes him very dangerous in the eyes of others, though for you, he is only your beloved Ada and that is only proper in one’s child.”

“He was not happy to see me go, but he did not forbid it,” Legolas said.

“Which just shows that Thranduil is wiser than most give him credit for.”

“Most people don’t see him as very wise,” Legolas said somewhat sourly.

“And by most people, I assume you mean the Amaneldi.” When Legolas nodded, Finrod gave the younger ellon a hug before speaking. “Then they are fools and worse than fools. Thranduil was but an elfling when I first met him. I knew your daeradar Oropher better. I did not think he had the same degree of wisdom as Celeborn, but he was no one’s fool. Your adar grew up in Elu Thingol’s court under the tutelage of Melian. That alone is something that most of those of Aman fail to remember. Melian is a very powerful Maia in her own right. You know this. You’ve met her.”

Legolas nodded, giving Finrod a smile. “The first time I met her, some months after Gimli had died, she plied me with ginger biscuits and chamomile tea. She kept insisting I was too thin. Then she spent the entire visit speaking about the Dwarves she had known, not the ones who had killed her lord and husband, but the ones who had helped build Menegroth. Somehow she managed to get me to speak about Gimli, something I had refused to do with anyone before then.” He shook his head. “I still do not know how she managed it. By the time I left her presence I felt emotionally drained and I returned to my home and for the first time since Gimli died I wept. Elrond found me huddled on the floor of my room. It was embarrassing.”

“I imagine, but I also suspect that afterwards you felt better,” Finrod stated, giving Legolas a shrewd look.

“Yes, actually I did and I think it was because of Melian.”

Finrod nodded. “She knew full well what you were experiencing and knew that you were in need of healing. That is why I arranged for you to meet with her.”

Legolas shot a surprised look his way. “You?!”

Finrod shrugged. “As a Fëanturnildo, it is my job to see to the healing of all who suffer from emotional pain. I spoke with my aunt and she agreed to see you and the rest, as they say, is history. I know you were reluctant to go to her, but I am glad you did. I could see immediately that the visit was a success when next I saw you.”

“And looking back, I recognize that it was then I began to heal, though it took some time.”

“You took the time you needed, no more and no less,” Finrod said and he continued walking with Legolas beside him. “Now, let us speak of the present. Do you think it possible that others might wish to join the police force once they see how it is with you?”

“I had not truthfully thought about it,” Legolas admitted. “I was more concerned about obtaining a position for myself. Do you think David Michaelson would welcome other Elves on the force? Will not the mortal police feel that their own jobs are being threatened?”

“That is a consideration,” Finrod said. “I think we will limit the number who wish to join, if any of them do. I think most are more interested in joining the Rangers.”

Legolas sighed. “I wonder what Adar will say if he ever finds out I chose not to become a Ranger and decided to join the police force instead.”

“I am sure once he stops shouting and going on about the stupidity of the young he will be very proud of you… as am I.” Finrod gave Legolas a knowing grin and the younger ellon chuckled.

“I would like to be there when he does find out, but I am very glad there is an ocean and an entire dimension between us.”

“You and me both,” Finrod said, and then they were both laughing as they continued their walk, speaking companionably about friends and family back in Aman and wondering how they were getting on without them.

****

Words are Quenya unless otherwise noted:

Amaneldi: Plural of Amanelda (sic): An Elf of Aman.

Daeradar: (Sindarin) Grandfather.

Fëanturnildo: ‘Friend of the Fëanturi’’, i.e. Námo and Irmo. This is the masculine form. The feminine form is Fëanturnildë and the plural is Fëanturnildi. The Fëanturnildi are a select order of healers originally charged with the healing of Aman as a whole after the Darkening rather than healing individuals.