Summary: My variation on the theme of Elrond and Gil-galad's relationship. The chapter involves a little Elrond and Elros interaction.
"Brother! You're back! I overheard the guards say that Gil-galad placed you in his custody, and I didn't know what that meant and I was so worried!" As soon as Elrond entered the room they shared, a torrent of words and feelings rushed from Elros' mouth and Elrond took a step back to soften the impact.
"Elros...I--"
"But it doesn't matter now, because they let you come back!" Elros was still too excited to listen. "But what does that mean, anyway? What did they do to you?"
"I think it means that I have to live in the palace with the King and follow his orders like a soldier."
"Well, you're lucky, Elrond, since we have to do that a lot anyway!"
"Yes, you're right, brother, I'm lucky," Elrond consented softly. He changed into his nightclothes.
"Are you tired already, brother?"
"Yes, and I have to get up early tomorrow, Gil-galad has to go speak with the Lady Artanis (1) about something."
"Lord Círdan is going to take me sailing tomorrow." Elros didn't want to hurt his brothers feelings, but couldn't help sharing the other cause of his excitement.
"I remember that he said he would. I'm sorry I'll miss it, Elros."
Elros regretted reminding his brother and changed the subject. "I've got something to show you, Elrond. I've been working on it all day." He led his brother into the washroom. "Look!"
The bathtub was full of blue water. Sand liberally coated the rim of the tub. One end of the bathtub rim had a white clay mountain with a tower. The other end had a clay model of Sirion. The soap dish had its own clay structure. In the bathtub there were two white, wood ships that Elros had built earlier. Elrond squealed with delight. "It's perfect, Elros! That must be Oiolossë," he said, pointing to the mountain. "How did you make the water blue?"
"I dissolved some of my indigo paint into it." Elros smiled brightly, glad that his brother was pleased. "Will you play with me?"
"Of course! Do you want to be Tuor this time?"
"No, I want to be Ada. You can be Tuor."
Elrond smiled mischievously. "You can be both of the ships, I want to be Ossë and Ulmo."
After about half an hour of splashing and giggles (and both ships capsizing at least once) the Peredhil looked up to see Círdan in the doorway. He was trying not to laugh. "Good evening, boys."
"Good evening, Círdan." Elros said it enthusiastically, but Elrond said it guiltily, waiting for Círdan to anger.
But he didn't. "Elrond, Elros," Círdan said softly. "I think it's time to clean this up. Both of you have to rise before Anar (2) tomorrow."
"Can't we leave it here for another day? I worked so hard on it!" Elrond thought Elros was pushing his luck.
"I can see that, nin ion (3). But no, you must clean it up. If Ereinion sees it your brother will get into more trouble." Elros sighed, but nodded in agreement. "Sweep the sand into this bucket. Try to get most of it, or your bath will be gritty tomorrow. The flowers in the courtyard could used a good watering--there's no need to waste the water."
Several trips in and out and three soaked towels later, the washroom was reasonably clean. Círdan helped them brush out their hair and hugged them good night. He was on his way out the door when Elrond asked, "Will you sing the evening hymns with us tonight?"
Círdan sighed and tried to explain once again. "The evening hymns do not put me at peace, Elrond. They never have. I prefer to sit beside the seashore and listen to the breath of Ulmo."
"May we join you then?" Elros asked, speaking for his brother as well.
"Not tonight, Elros. But soon, if you wish it."
"We wish it." Elros said, and Elrond nodded vigorously.
"All right, we have a deal. Good night to you, Sons of Eärendil."
"Good night, Círdan."
After he left, Elrond touched his brother's shoulder. "Come Elros. Let us go sing the hymns."
The night was chill and they had brought their cloaks out. They sat still for a few minutes, wondering at the stars and thinking about the day. Then Elrond began:
A Fana-losse! Heri silma!
Tári Eari pella Númenye!
Calina men i ranyar
sina mi aldarembea ambar!
Fana-losse, a Varda Elentári,
Calina mí aldarembea ambar!
Then Elros sang:
A Tintalle! Elentári!
Silma hendulya, calima súlya.
Fana-losse, laitammel
Earen pella hairanóriesse.
Len lirimme, a Varda Elentári,
laitalinde hairanóriesse.
Elrond sang again:
A eleni yar rende márya
sílala i Yénesse Alanarya,
telpelossenen laiya
calima mí súrimar sí tye cenimme.
Fana-losse, a Varda Elentári,
telpelosse calima cenimme.
Finally, they both sang:
A Elentári! a Tintalle!
Sinome nu i aldali háya
men enyalie mare
silmelyo or i Eari Númenye.
Enyalimme, a Varda Elentári,
silme or i Eari Númenye. (4)
Their song done, Elros took Elrond's hand and they went back inside with out a word.
Neither of them noticed the cloaked figure of the King who stood but a few feet away, tears shimmering on his cheeks. He watched until they returned inside and crawled in bed. He waited outside until they were asleep and then followed them in to kiss them each on the forehead. "May Elbereth grant you a restful night and a peaceful sleep," he whispered. "Eru be with you always."
Notes:
[1] Galadriel
[2] The Sun
[3] my son
[4] This is Findegil (Björn Fromén) of Forodrim's beautiful adaptation and translation of An Elven Hymn to Elbereth Gilthoniel (the one that begins "Snow-white, Snow-white"). I found it here, with notes: <http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_snow.html>.
Send Caethieu feedback
Visit Caethieu's website
The characters belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien and New Line Cinema. No profit is being made by the authors or the archivist and no disrespect is intented.
Do not post this work elsewhere without the author's consent.