In disguise

Chapter six Fall out

Elladan smiled when he saw Thrilmaldur approaching. “Good morning! How was your night?”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “Peaceful. Yours?”
Elladan grinned. “Rather active actually. Don’t worry I won’t fall asleep. I wasn’t active, my dreams were.”
Thrilmaldur smiled when the twin blushed, revealing the nature of those dreams. He nodded. “I see. Let’s away, shall we?”
Elladan nodded. “Follow me.”

Thrilmaldur smiled. “And Elladan, I think we should split up. And please ask your twin to stop calling me Thritihtalfin. It will blow my cover.”
Elladan laughed. “Sounds like Ro all right. But what do you want me to ask them? I don’t think I can do that alone.”
Thrilmaldur nodded. “Of course you can. Just try to image what your father would say. Or Erestor. Or your grandfather.”
Elladan smiled and his looked at his secret love. “Or you.”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “Or me, though I didn’t think you knew me that well.”
Elladan smiled. “But every minute I spend with you I learn so much from you and about you too.”

He looked forward again and sighed. “Well, let’s get this over with so you can leave and return to your home.”
Thrilmaldur frowned. “Your tone is sad.”
Elladan nodded. “Of course it is. I was looking forward to getting to know you, becoming your friend” /And maybe more/ “and then I learn you are only here for a short while.”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “So you would only befriend someone from your own realm?”
Elladan shook his head. “Nay, of course not, it’s just that….it’s just….”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “You never expected me to be old and dull. Perhaps if I were a guardian instead of a counsellor you would befriend me?”
Elladan shook his head. “No! Don’t say those things. I care not for ranks, station, race or anything. You should know that.”

Thrilmaldur cocked his head. “Do I? You, or anyone else for that matter, never gave me a moments notice. Not even Erestor, while we have the same job. Don’t think me blind and naïve, son of Elrond, for I am not. Just because I prefer books to a sword does not mean I cannot wield them. I can!” His voice was hard and sharp. Inwardly he raged and he knew he would regret his words, giving away a bit of his past he had kept hidden for so long.

Elladan’s hands became fists as he fought for control. “I never saw you or any of your colleagues when I was in ‘Lóriën. So don’t say I did not notice you, for there was no way I could. Why do you say those things to me?”
Thrilmaldur snorted. “You warriors are all alike. Nice and friendly but when you’re not looking they chop of your head. You think you are better than everyone else, don’t you? An elf isn’t an elf unless he’s a warrior. Unless he can kill.” He snorted again and briskly turned.

Elladan’s eyes watered. He didn’t understand this. “Tihtalfin, please. Why are you so mean to me? What have I done?”
Thrilmaldur turned and his expression was one of rage. “Being born.” He turned and marched away.

Elladan opened his mouth but nothing came out. In the end he turned and ran back home, releasing his tears as his feet carried him blindly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glorfindel knocked and waited until Elrond’s voice told him to enter. He carefully pushed open the door and bowed. “My lord. May I have a word?” Elrond signalled for him to take a seat and Glorfindel smiled when he saw the ruler set aside the documents he was working on to give him his undivided attention.

He sighed. “When does the next hunting party leave? Allow me to lead it.”
Elrond smiled in understanding but shook his head. “Glorfindel, I understand you wish to make up, but I cannot allow you to leave now. Whether for a hunting party, a patrol, a search party or battle. I cannot, I should not and I am not. I need not tell you that sleepwalking is a sign of a troubled mind, Glorfindel, and until we’ve healed your mind you will always continue sleepwalking.”
Glorfindel lowered his head in shame. “I understand that, my lord, but I’ve never walked during my sleep on patrols or the hunts. Please allow me to restore what I myself have taken.”

Elrond rose and crossed his desk to kneel before Glorfindel. “Aiya, Glorfindel. My heart aches to hear this sadness in your voice. Were it possible I would grant you this request.” Glorfindel locked his eyes with him, his hope visible, but Elrond shook his head. “Nay, Glorfindel, in this case it is not possible. Even though you might not have sleepwalked before there is no guarantee you won’t do so this time. I would not find rest knowing you are out there at night sleepwalking. Who knows what dangers your feet might drag you to. Certainly not our food storage.”

Glorfindel sighed dejectedly and his eyes watered. He didn’t notice his tears leaving them. “So I have become useless. You will not allow to leave so I can’t do my job properly. I understand if you want me to resign.”
Elrond placed his hands on the blond’s shoulders. “Glorfindel, take those words back. You are not useless or unfit to carry out your duty. Aye, I ground you to the manor, but that is only temporarily. Until we’ve healed you. You are ailing, my friend, and I will not allow any healing elf to go on a hunt. Why should I make an exception for you?”
Glorfindel managed a weak smile at those words. “Forgive me, my lord, I had not looked at it that way. I thought…I”
Elrond smiled and wiped away the blond’s tears. “There’s nothing to forgive Glorfindel. I would have thought the same. How was your night?”

Glorfindel shrugged. “Painful. They woke me up ten times and they had to use force. Apparently I am very determined to enter the food storage.”
Elrond nodded and smiled. “And have you uttered any words?”
Glorfindel shrugged. “They had orders to hand it to you alone, my lord. I know not.”
Elrond smiled. “Suppose they haven’t come round to that yet. Doesn’t matter. I think I will place some food in your room tonight and see what happens. Will you still walk to the storage rooms or will you eat in your room?”
Glorfindel grinned. “And how am I supposed to know? I have no idea what I do when I’m asleep. I don’t even know why I eat. It’s not like I neglect my nourishment.”
Elrond shrugged. “I don’t know either, meldir.”

He looked up when the door opened and a soldier stepped in.
“Forgive me, lord Elrond, but I have orders to bring you this.” He handed the paper, bowed and left.

Elrond folded it open and smiled. /Glorfindel’s words of last night./ He quickly scanned the words and his heart contracted in pain. He sighed and ed hed his eyes.
Making up his mind he smiled at the blond and handed him the paper. “Here, these words you uttered in your sleep.”

Glorfindel read them and reddened, though he felt relieved when he saw no name. /But if this continues it might come out./ He looked up at Elrond questioningly and the dark haired elf smiled. “I think this is why you raid our food storage, meldir.”
Seeing Glorfindel shake his head he smiled. “It seems you’ve got it bad, Glorfindel. Your own hand no longer suffices so you body and mind seek another alternative. I suggest you talk. I doubt you’ll stop sleepwalking if you don’t.”
Glorfindel shook his head. “I can’t do that, my lord. I just can’t. Please don’t ask the impossible of me.”
Elrond sighed. “Glorfindel, you must find a way before eating food no longer suffices.”

Glorfindel hesitated but asked anyway. “What might happed then?”
Elrond smiled sadly at him. “I don’t know, Glorfindel, but if you don’t find a solution you will not stop sleepwalking and eventually it will lead you to her room, Glorfindel.”
Glorfindel widened his eyes. “Are you saying I might, I might…”
Elrond nodded and smiled. He placed his hand on Glorfindel’s shoulder. “This is not a condition herbs can cure. Even my healing powers are useless here. But I do have a listening ear for you, Glorfindel. Perhaps talking about it might already give you enough mental release. You can always come to me, meldir.”
Glorfindel std bad back but smiled. “Thank you, my lord. This means a lot to me but I’d rather try to do this alone.”
Elrond nodded, understanding his pride. He smiled sadly as he watched him go. “Aye Glorfindel, ‘tis a dangerous path you walk.”

About to go back to the papers he startled when his door burst open and Elrohir burst in, dragging an upset Elladan along. His parental instincts went into overdrive and he was before them instantly, burying Elladan in a tight hug. Elladan smiled meekly and buried his head in Elrond’s hair, crying in earnest.

Knowing Elladan’s speech was temporarily immobilized Elrond looked at Elrohir for answers. Elrohir’s face was grim and worried. “I don’t know adar. I found him like this. Wasn’t he going away with Thrilmaldur?” He noticed Elrond’s surprised look and realised he wasn’t supposed to know. He shrugged. “Adan told me.”

Elrond sighed and settled down, pulling Elladan on his lap. He knew he would have sore legs tonight, but he willingly condemned himself to that. “Elladan, my child. What happened?” Elladan merely came closer and continued crying.
Elrond nodded. “Elrohir, go to my room and fetch a green pouch. And also bring some water.”

Elrohir nodded and hurried to get it. Once back he handed it to his father who took out the dried herbs from the pouch and added it to the water, which he made Elladan drink. The twin instantly calmed down and went into a slumber.

Elrond looked at Elrohir and smiled at the obvious concern. He frowned when a knock sounded and smiled when Elrohir went to answer it.

The younger twin cracked open the door and his very posture became hateful once he saw the elf on the other side. “Man ná te sinomë?”
“I need to talk to your father. Is he in?”
Elrohir crossed his arms before him and glared at him. “I don’t think he wants to see you.”
Elrond sighed, hearing the hate in Elrohir’s voice. “Elrohir, who is it?” He wished he could stand and walk to the door, but with an elf on his legs he was immobilized. He smiled when he heard Thrilmaldur’s voice from the other side, asking permission to enter, which he happily granted.

He saw the shock and worry in the green orbs when the counsellor saw Elladan. Elrond smiled. “Please bring me good news.”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “I do. I’ve found our thieve. And I have a list of items that have to be returned to their rightful owners. All elves that were too lazy to look or ask. Took a lot of thefts from the list, I must say.”
Elrond smiled, glad to hear it wasn’t as bad as it looked. “And the thieve?”
Thrilmaldur laughed warmly. “Merely some magpies. We’ve found their nest.”
Elrond laughed as well. “Magpies? Well I’ll be….” He shook his head and grinned some more.

Elrohir did no such thing. “So now you can leave. If you hurry you can be halfway tomorrow. I’ll help you pack.” His voice was determined and he ignored Elrond’s glare. Thrilmaldur smiled.
Elrond sighed. “I understand if you’d wish to return as soon as possible and you certainly must do so before the snow keeps you here, but please stay a little longer. As my honoured guest, not a member of the staff.”

Thrilmaldur still smiled. “What happened to Elladan? Is he sick?”
Elrond shrugged. “I was actually hoping you could tell me. Elrohir stumbled across him while he was already heavily upset. I had to drug him to calm him down.”
Thrilmaldur’s expression became one of puzzlement. “He was upset?”
Elrond smiled. “Aye. Gravely.”
Thrilmaldur shook his head. “Impossible.” It had to be.

His eyes widened when Elrohir struck him across the face. “I don’t know what you did or said but I will not allow anyone to hurt my twin. Get up and get out, you miserable excuse for an elf.”

Elrond jumped up, the motion waken up Elladan, but he was too late to prevent Elrohir from launching himself at the counsellor to drag him off.

Elladan gasped when he saw his twin charging his beloved and opened his mouth but nothing came out as he saw Thrilmaldur easily avoid the punch and actually manage to pin Elrohir down on the floor. The movement had been done swiftly and with ease and Elladan was amazed.

Elrond too blinked several times and even swallowed trice before he trusted his voice enough to speak. “You amaze me, counsellor.”
Thrilmaldur nodded curtly. “I have not always been a counsellor or a scribe, Elrond. I can defend myself.” He stood and released Elrohir. “You act too rashly, young one, and if you do not learn how to control it, it will kill you one day.”

Elrohir glared at him and would have launched again had Elladan not mentally told him not to. `But he hurt you!` Elladan closed his eyes and pleadingly looked at his father, who nodded. “What do you mean, you have not always been a counsellor?”

Thrilmaldur smiled at Elrond’s question and shrugged. “When I was little I always admired the soldiers, the fighters, and I wanted to be just like them. I studied and became one. But slowly I learned the way they looked down upon all others. They took pleasure in killing and maiming, enjoyed teaching others how to do that for the only way to life was to be a warrior. I detested it and turned my back on it, though I have never forgotten their teachings.”

Elladan gasped and Elrond narrowed his eyes. “I’ve only heard of a few elves thinking like that. They died at the kinslayings.” Thrilmaldur nodded and Elrond smiled. “I never knew you were -that- old. But please, not everybody thinks like that.” He already had a fair idea what had transpired between Thrilmaldur and Elladan and his suspicion was confirmed when he looked at his son.

Elladan wiped away his fresh tears and hesitantly approached Thrilmaldur. “I understand your words now, but you must understand we are not like that. I don’t know any elves that fit that description.”
Thrilmaldur smiled meekly. “It’s hard to believe that. In “Lóriën they do.”
Elladan shook his head. “No, they’re not. Aye, most of them are cocky and haughty, but they are that way to all elves, including warriors. Please give us a change?”
Thrilmaldur smiled and shrugged.

Elrond grinned. “You still haven’t answered my question. Will you stay a little while as my guest?”
Elladan’s eyes widened and turned from Thrilmaldur to his father and back. “You found the thieve?”
Thrilmaldur nodded. “Magpies.”
Elladan roared with laughter at that. “Remind me to thank those birds, adar.” Elrohir frowned and shook his head. Elladan stuck out his tongue. Elrohir sighed. “Adar asked him to stay a little longer.” Elladan smiled and his eyes turned to Thrilmaldur, pleading him to accept.

Thrilmaldur smiled at the expression. “I like it here but I don’t wish to stay here as a guest.” He barely managed to hide his surprise at their genuine saddened faces, even Elrohir seemed to regret saying goodbye to him. He smiled. “I fear idleness does not become me. I would like to do something while I am here.”
Elrond smiled. “But you’re a counsellor and therefore deserve the attention. But if you insist on doing something, there’s always the library.”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “I would love to read every book you have. Very well, I will postpone my departure.”

Elladan beamed with happiness. “And you will change your rooms to more comfortable ones and I can have robes made for you and I will show you the Valley and you will eat with us and…”
Thrilmaldur placed a hand on his shoulder to silence him and Elladan sighed, staring into the lovely green eyes. “I hope you don’t expect me to just abandon Sermo and Apsontë and the others? They’ve been truly friendly towards me. Aye, I shall do all those things you want me to, but I cannot do so without telling them. Would you please accompany me when I do so? I fear they might not believe me otherwise.” Elladan nodded.

Elrohir cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for my actions and words.”
Thrilmaldur smiled. “You were defending your brother’s honour, pen-neth. But please believe me when I assure you I would never disgrace him.” Elrond smiled at those words and nodded.

“Oh, before I forget. Could you per change pry yourself away from the books to investigate something else for me?”
Thrilmaldur looked puzzled. “More trouble?”
Elrond smiled. “Connected to the thefts. Our seneschal has deeply rooted problems. Here, read this.”
Thrilmaldur accepted the paper and nodded after reading it. “And you want me to find a name.”
Elrond nodded. “Aye. I cannot ask Erestor to do that and I’d feel bad doing it myself. But you already know everything about it. Would you please?”
Thrilmaldur nodded. “I will do my best. But I will need some help from two oversized elflings.” His tone was light and he laughed when Elladan punched him and Elrohir glared at him. “Well, do I have your help?”
Elrohir nodded. “Aye, but I have other things to do as well. You and Elladan go find me when you need me, all right. And I shall move your things to another room.” Without waiting for an answer he ran off.

Thrilmaldur shook his head and left. Elladan was beside him immediately, once again smiling. “I am sorry for my harsh words.”
Elladan smiled and pulled him close. “It’s all right. I understand where they came from. I’m glad you’re staying longer.” He quickly looked away when he felt a blush spreading. Now, more than before, he wanted to gain his friendship and trust before even thinking of admitting his feelings.

End chapter 06
TBC

Translation:
Man ná te sinomë? What are you doing here?