Chapter Twenty Three: When Straying from Intended Course
Wavering over time was the once steady rain. Naturally, the clouds would see fit to part as soon as we approached the one place Mallor and I knew we didn�t want to go to. Though I had no desire to go to (let alone stay in) the Last Homely House, I did think it might be a nice place. I just wanted to get in and out before Elrond could try and rack my brain with all questions that he was bound to ask me.
I mean, the elves are grand and all of that, but they are far too nosey for their own good. Or at least I think that they are. But with that said, may I inform you that the rest of our journey into Rivendell was quite uneventful. No one said anything the whole way there. I guess elves don�t like talking much, Mallor apparently didn�t have anything he wanted to say in front of the elves, and I was just in a bad mood.
Would you really like to know what bothered me the most? It irked me how the elves don�t make noise when they walk. It was just really weird and it peeved me off. So, all the way to Imladris I trudged loud enough for the three of them in our company. That really seemed to annoy them, which made me quite happy. Anyway, we arrived around dusk; we had made amazing time coming out of the High Pass.
Rivendell was indeed a gorgeous place. It shined brightly in the setting sun; so much so that I was required to shade my eyes with my hand when looking at it. Mallor became quite excited at the sight. I believe giddy is the proper word for it. Figures that he would have a soft spot for pretty things; he�s not well suited for the rough soldiery deal.
We were taken to the stables to care for our horses, first of all. Firefoot seemed to like the stalls and he kept sniffing the elves. I guess that�s normal for a horse, but I really haven�t any expertise with them, so I couldn�t say for sure. I was lucky I could ride the demonic thing at all. But Firefoot was my buddy, and we got along pretty well so long as he didn�t try to kill me and I didn�t threaten to eat him. It really was a beautiful relationship.
After all our horses were settled Mallor and I were led out of the stables and into what appeared to be the great hall of sorts. There were several elves in there, some sitting, others standing, almost all of them talking about something. We entered and, much to my surprise, no one really paid us any attention. I mean, I would have thought when the sons of Elrond and the mighty Glorfindel return with two smelly humans they would at least gawk at us. But no; they were too pretty for that.
Now, normally I am not concerned by my appearance, though I shall admit that the fact that I was in a room with men who were prettier than I was turned out to be quite strange from my end. Somehow that was wrong. Anyway, we were led by our little guides up to the head of the hall near the roaring fire.
Off to the side sat two elves in two fine chairs. I knew the dark haired one was Elrond, though how I cannot properly say. The other I was not so sure of. She was fair haired and did not fit amongst the other elves in the room who were all of dark hair. Her hair shone like silver and reminded me of the elves of Lothl�rien. It was then that I realized that she was Celebr�an, daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn.
Then the realization hit me that she was still around. I couldn�t remember exactly why she had left Imladris, but I knew she had. Apparently that hadn�t happened yet and Elrond was still able to keep happy company with his wife. She looked up, and seeing both her sons she rose from her seat with astounding grace and pressed a kiss to each of their brows.
Elrond rose and greeted both his sons with a quiet word, and did the same to Glorfindel who was standing off to the side from Mallor and me. Then he looked at us both. He had this strange look in his eye, it was one of wisdom but it held this odd look of curiosity all the same.
I had a feeling that tonight was going to be a long one.
