12. Sunrise
Pippin and Sam hadn't the heart to chastise their children for their part in the near fatal accident and Merry certainly wasn't going to tell Theo off. All three suspected that the youngsters had learned their lesson, and Rosie, Diamond and Estella wholeheartedly concurred.
It took several hours for everyone to calm down and for Glorfindel to recover consciousness. Appetites gradually recovered enough for supper, and after that, the hobbits prepared to sleep.
***
Three elves, two dark-haired and one silver, sat on the top of the down, watching the sunrise. A fourth figure, whose long golden hair glinted even in the first light of the day, reclined on the ground, his head resting on Elladan's knee.
Spread below them, the fair was almost silent. Here and there pipeweed smoke rose from the small encampments, where one or two hobbits were still awake. It was a tranquil scene.
Turning his face away from the rising sun, Celeborn gazed westward as he announced his decision to the others. They murmured and nodded their understanding. Briefly they discussed practicalities - when he was to sail, what needed to be done beforehand. Then they settled back into companionable silence for several minutes.
"Gdrrr," slurred Glorfindel suddenly.
"Sorry Glorfindel, you're not making much sense," said Elladan, his hand patting the older elf's shoulder as he frowned at him in concern. "I think the walk to the top of the hill has worn you out. We shouldn't have let you come."
Glorfindel's brows knit as he clearly prepared to make an effort.
"Gondor," he said. "Have to go to Gondor. Promised. Mortal children are so -- mortal."
The others looked at him, puzzled, but he seemed to have dozed off.
Elrohir took a deep breath and met his brother's eyes. "What about -
".Us?" finished Elladan. "And what about Imladris?"
"It's the same question really isn't it?"
Another long silence fell between them, each knowing that the other had thought long on this question without finding a solution.
As Elladan looked down at the hillside of sleeping hobbits a new thought crossed his mind. "Perhaps not. Perhaps there are those among men and hobbits and even dwarves who might have a use for a place where they can meet and learn each others stories."
The sunrise gleamed in Elrohir's eyes as he thought through his brother's idea.
He nodded with enthusiasm. "It might take some time to organise though."
"Oh several years at least. And we'll have to visit a lot of people to let them know," laughed Elladan.
"You should probably speak to Merry and young Faramir about the books," added Celeborn, who had still not torn his eyes away from the West, but was smiling as he listened to the twins' idea.
The sun continued the creep into the sky. Here and there on the hillside, hobbits were stirring and beginning to hunger for breakfast.
It took several hours for everyone to calm down and for Glorfindel to recover consciousness. Appetites gradually recovered enough for supper, and after that, the hobbits prepared to sleep.
***
Three elves, two dark-haired and one silver, sat on the top of the down, watching the sunrise. A fourth figure, whose long golden hair glinted even in the first light of the day, reclined on the ground, his head resting on Elladan's knee.
Spread below them, the fair was almost silent. Here and there pipeweed smoke rose from the small encampments, where one or two hobbits were still awake. It was a tranquil scene.
Turning his face away from the rising sun, Celeborn gazed westward as he announced his decision to the others. They murmured and nodded their understanding. Briefly they discussed practicalities - when he was to sail, what needed to be done beforehand. Then they settled back into companionable silence for several minutes.
"Gdrrr," slurred Glorfindel suddenly.
"Sorry Glorfindel, you're not making much sense," said Elladan, his hand patting the older elf's shoulder as he frowned at him in concern. "I think the walk to the top of the hill has worn you out. We shouldn't have let you come."
Glorfindel's brows knit as he clearly prepared to make an effort.
"Gondor," he said. "Have to go to Gondor. Promised. Mortal children are so -- mortal."
The others looked at him, puzzled, but he seemed to have dozed off.
Elrohir took a deep breath and met his brother's eyes. "What about -
".Us?" finished Elladan. "And what about Imladris?"
"It's the same question really isn't it?"
Another long silence fell between them, each knowing that the other had thought long on this question without finding a solution.
As Elladan looked down at the hillside of sleeping hobbits a new thought crossed his mind. "Perhaps not. Perhaps there are those among men and hobbits and even dwarves who might have a use for a place where they can meet and learn each others stories."
The sunrise gleamed in Elrohir's eyes as he thought through his brother's idea.
He nodded with enthusiasm. "It might take some time to organise though."
"Oh several years at least. And we'll have to visit a lot of people to let them know," laughed Elladan.
"You should probably speak to Merry and young Faramir about the books," added Celeborn, who had still not torn his eyes away from the West, but was smiling as he listened to the twins' idea.
The sun continued the creep into the sky. Here and there on the hillside, hobbits were stirring and beginning to hunger for breakfast.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
