Son of the Evening Star

[Curufin]

Discussion thread is here.

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Silence, then screams. Mother! Darkness, blindness...mother! Where was mother? Elros...Elros would know...he left the house to find the village on fire, and death and destruction around him. He cried out for his mother, but to no avail. He knew not where she was, and father had gone away a long time ago. Running...running...he felt searing pain in his feet as they snagged a thistle in the darkness and he let out a screech as tears ran down his cheeks. MOTHER! Where was mother? Where was Elros..?...strong arms lifted him from the ground, but it was not mother!!! He screamed, and recieved a swift blow to his face that silenced him quickly...he looked back to see the village burning as the screams faded in the distance...

Elrond awoke in a cold sweat, and rose from his bed, passing to the next room and pouring himself a glass of water, drinking it quickly in an attempt to purge the memories from his mind. It was quiet and peaceful here in Imladris, but that did not stop the demons of the past from haunting his dreams.

He went outside and clutched the railing, looking over the picturesque valley around him, then up at the sky. Eärendil had not yet set, and when he beheld that shining star, his heart bled in sadness and regret. He was proud of his father's bravery, but he could not help but wonder, in his darker moments, if his parents ever thought of him.

Elros was dead - a mortal death from which there was no hope of return - and while his sons and descendents lived on, they thought of Elrond as little more than a kindly uncle who lived in a secluded valley and fostered them on occasion. And Elrond was alone.

A mist was rising from the river, indicating that the morning was not far off. Elrond often found himself awake this time of morning, pacing his room or watching the sky for some sense of the danger he could not place. He would have to speak to Gil-Galad about it in the future - certainly the High King of the Noldor would know more of the dangers of this world than he did. Something was brewing, something so terrible it chilled him to think of it.

He crossed to the Hall of Fire, where he could still faintly hear the sound of music. He went inside, his dark eyes briefly blinded by the light of the room, and sought out his messenger, who was sitting listening to a lovely young woman sing.

"Boy," he said, placing his hand on his shoulder, "I need you to ride ahead to Lindon, post haste, and tell the High King that I urgently need to speak with him, and will be arriving shortly to do so. It is a matter of great importance, and I need you to be swift."

The boy rose and hurried out.

Elrond's eyes darted around the room, which had fallen silent at his words, and at the fear and worry they betrayed. He forced a smile at the few people who were watching him, and made back to his private chambers. He was in no mood for music.

Tall and dark-haired, Elrond's features hearkened back to many of his ancestors. When angry, his face was eerily reminiscient of Fingolfin and Turgon, and when he smiled, the beauty of Lúthien shone in his eyes. And on top of that was a touch of the ruggedness of the Houses of Hador and Bëor. Now, his hair was loose around his face, and rumpled from sleep. He was barefoot, his blue dressing gown pulled tightly around him. With a sigh, knowing that sleep would not return to him, he cast off his dressing gown and dressed in a silver tunic with deep blue embroidery, and blue leggings. He laced the cross-garters and pulled his hair back into simple queue. Dressed, he went back into the Hall of Fire. He was in no mood for music, but he did not wish to cause his people undue alarm.

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

All was queit in Lindon. High king Gil-Galad brushed his horse after retuning from a long days hunt. Suddenly, a boy ran up to him. "My lord!" said the boy bowing, "I have an urgent message for you from King Elrond." "Very good." said Gil-Galad looking puzzeled. "Leave it here."

[Curufin]

The letter was short, but there was no mistaking its point.

My liege, the letter said in Elrond's tight script.
All is not well. I beg the honour of your presence in Imladris at your earliest convenience so that this matter may be discussed with more privacy than a letter allows.
Yours in haste,
Elrond Eärendilion

[Willow Oran]

"Elrond!" Glorfindel hailed his friend from the far end of the Hall, "Good to see you decided to join us after all! Come, sit and enjoy the music."

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

Gil-Galad looked up. " All was not well? What did he mean? " Gil-Galad readied his horse and swords and spear. "And now." he said, waving the stable-boys out of the way. "We ride to Rivendell! Away! For the lord Elrond requires my aid!" And with that, he was off to Rivendell.

[Curufin]

At Glorfindel's call, Elrond looked up, finding his friend easily in the crowded hall. There were not so many golden-haired elves, after all. Sighing, and attempting to hide his distress and unease, he crossed the hall towards him, joining him closer to the musicians.

'Glorfindel,' he said with a tight smile, hoping that he was not doing as bad at hiding his feelings as he felt. 'Dawn comes, and yet the music continues. I see that business in Rivendell will start late tomorrow.' He smiled, hoping to lighten the mood a bit.

[Willow Oran]

Glorfindel's mood was already light, he hadn't slept, but had spent the night lost in the music and tales sung through the night.
He laughed at Elrond's remark, knowing that a lack of sleep would hardly stop the elves of Rivendell from going about their business,"You mean today," he said, then caught the tell-tale tightness around Elrond's mouth, "You didn't wake for music. Shall we walk?"

[Curufin]

Elrond hesitated a moment. He had always been rather private, and not quick to take counsel. It had always seemed safer to keep his troubles within rather than to broadcast them to the world.

'Indeed,' he said slowly, nodding as if to convince himself. 'Indeed, we shall walk.'

With that, he made from the Hall of Fire, heading to the stairs that led deeper into the valley. As he walked, he kept his back to the west, and his eyes away from the bright star that was nearing the western horizon.

[Willow Oran]

Glorfindel watched, amused, as his lord navigated the steps. Elrond was going to great lengths to avoid looking west, sidling down the stairs at an awkward, nearly sideways angle. After nearly two millenia Glorfindel had grown used to deciphering Elrond's moods and he could tell that at the moment his friend was troubled and stubbornly keeping the troubling thoughts to himself. This silence would not do.
Stepping lightly to catch up, Glorfindel threw an arm about Elrond's shoulders and deliberately drew him around till the two of them were walking west along the valley, "Your father is lingering in the sky this morning," he said and waited for a response. Nothing. Glorfindel sighed and stopped, "You wake early and agitated and immediately send an urgent message to Gil Galad, you refuse to even look at Gil-Estel and you are being rather more taciturn than usual, Elrond what is wrong?"

[Curufin]

'Gil-Estel!' he said finally, a faint note of bitterness in his voice. 'To you, perhaps.'

His mind returned briefly to the nightmare from which he had awakened so abruptly, but he shook his head adamantly to dispel the memory.

'It is nothing...' he began, looking suddenly South, and away from the direction that Glorfindel had faced them. He knew, however, that he had committed himself to sharing his troubles the moment he had invited Glorfindel for a walk. His friend's stubbornness and persistence were legendary, and Elrond knew that he would not let him be until all was aired.

'I had a dream last night. Of the attack on the Mouth of the Sirion. I have not dreamed of such things in many years, and I fear that this dream is a portent...'

He shuddered, afraid his friend would not understand his unease. There was nothing directly that had made him send for Gil-galad, but he felt the need of the High King's presence. Perhaps he would know more.

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

Gil-Galad looked up the steps to see Glorfindell and Elrond coming twords him. "Well! If it isn't my favorite princes...I mean...kings!" he said streaching out his arms to Eldond and Glorfindell.

[Willow Oran]

Since Elrond had sent for the High King nearly a month ago Glorfindel had watched his mood become more and more somber, despite his efforts to distract Elrond towards lighter thoughts. Failure to cheer his lord aside, Glorfindel continued to insist that they walk in the garden each morning and that Elrond tell him at least a few of his worries.

Now, Glorfindel wondered just what Elrond had said in that letter, and if it was more urgent than he had let on, or if Gil Galad had just been itching to get out of Lindon to have come in such haste and with no escort present, though he suspected they would be close behind.

It was good to see him though, Glorfindel smiled in greeting and laughed at Gil Galad's dramatic address, "Kings, my lord? Have you grown tired of your crown? Elrond is your man if you want an heir, he does well as your vice-regent here, but leave me out of talk of crowns, the very idea gives me a headache!"

[Curufin]

Elrond looked up at Gil-Galad as well, bowing to him slightly.

'Indeed, my lord, I am no such King, though I am the descendant of several, and, indeed, the brother of one. I am happy that you have arrived so quickly. Glorfindel, please do join us in the Hall of Fire? There is much to discuss, and I would have you there.'

[Willow Oran]

"Gladly," said Glorfindel, "But with your leave, my lords, I'll go ahead of you and have refreshments brought, I am certain that one of you is already hungry," he bowed slightly to Gil Galad, "And the other will have us closeted for so long that he and I will be."

[Curufin]

Elrond nodded at Glorfindel as he offered to take care of refreshment. He had no appetite at present, but it would be inhospitable not to offer food and drink to their guest, especially to such a prominent and important one as Gil-Galad.

'Very well. We shall join you there presently.'

When Glorfindel had left, he turned to the King, his face serious.

'There is much to speak of, my leige, and I fear that not all of it is good.'

[Willow Oran]

The words 'very well' had hardly left Elrond's lips and Glorfindel took off running, just for the joy of it. Fields and waterfalls were passed by, blurred by his speed, and he arrived at the kitchens in the back of the house with barely a sign of exertion.

After asking a pretty elleth to have an early lunch sent to the Hall of Fire and to let the housekeeper know that the High King had arrived and would be residence for an undetermined amount of time, Glorfindel left the kitchens and went (walking this time) to the stables in the front, where he saw to it that the King's horse would taken care of, and warned the stablemaster to expect more horses when the escort caught up with their liege.

Finally, he went up to his rooms and changed into a clean robe, if Elrond was intent on being serious, then Glorfindel would appear respectable, and then returned to the Hall of Fire where Elrond and Gil Galad were waiting.

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

"Now then." said Gil Galad, sitting down "What did you want to talk to us about, my friend?"

[Curufin]

'Many things,' Elrond said slowly, clutching his hands behind his back. 'But most of all I wished to hear what you know of the growing shadow in the East. Have tidings reached Lindon, my leige? I know little, but my heart forbodes that Sauron will not remaine quiet for long.'

He paused.

'Shall we then join Glorfindel in the Hall of Fire? I am sure he has stories to share of what he has met while on patrol in the forests north and east of here.'

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

"I belive we should. You know how he gets when he's waiting."

[Curufin]

'Very well.'

Elrond hesitated, allowing the High King to go first, then followed him in the direction of the Great Hall. When he arrived, his eyes sought out Glorfindel and he beckoned him to come.

'Tell the King, Glorfindel, of what you have seen.'