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hh_mirrorFor many months, Elrond had been undertaking a gradual project along a quiet bend of the lake. He'd started in the spring, and worked through the summer days, and on into the autumn. And now, as the green had faded from much of the forest and a chill had touched the air, his work was complete. He stood upon the lakeside to survey it in its completion- a small Elven ship, crafted in the style which Círdan the Shipwright had trained his father. It was not so large as a vessel intended for seagoing purposes, being small enough for a lone sailor to handle the square-rigged sail, but the light, open hull was spacious enough to seat several individuals, if not a crowd. It was crafted to sit high upon the waters, and skillfully shaped for stability despite its shallow keel, intended to move through the shallower parts of the lake as easily as its deeper reaches. In cast, it vaguely resembled a small viking craft, but, its elegant, deceptively delicate-looking construction assured that this similarity was merely superficial.
Elrond had not worked entirely alone on the project- during the first days of his labor, he was assisted by a couple of house-elves, who brought him the tools he required, and he set about collecting and preparing his own boards from carefully selected specimens in the forest. But, after a few days of this slow work, he'd been noticed by some of the Shoggies who lurked around the lake, and they'd insisted upon joining in the effort. At first, Elrond had been disturbed and repulsed by the amorphous critters, but, they quickly proved their work, hauling materials faster than Elrond could have ever managed on his own. When the time came for the shaping of the hull, their strength proved an invaluable asset, and he soon learned that they could handle small tasks on their own- it was their aid that had enabled him to build a craft of such quality in the time he'd accomplished it in. Else, it could easily have taken another season or two.
Once the vessel had been shaped, Elrond spent a few weeks on perfecting its aesthetics- this was a task in which the Shoggies could not be of much assistance, their own sense of design running quite contrary to an Elven one. A few hung around to occasionally fetch some tools or materials, but, he performed the final touches himself. Now, the pale wood was varnished a warm, golden hue, subtly patterned with runic designs along the length of the boards. The prow was carefully shaped into the graceful arc of a swan's neck and head, garlanded with a painted pattern of golden flowers and silver stars which flowed along the rails like garlands. The sail had taken him quite some time, as he'd painted out a complex, crest-like motif upon the sail, combining a golden flower with a celestial motif in the style of Elven heraldry. In fact, it was Elven heraldry, although it did not belong to any particular house- it was that of his own combined with that of the House of Golden Flower, Glorfindel's, for whom the vessel was intended as a gift and a message.
In recent months, it had been dawning upon Elrond just how complex his feelings for Glorfindel were, but, he was still unsure of how to proceed. It had perhaps been this uncertainty which had caused him to devote so much time to a project which would occupy his time, ensuring that he would not occupy it with certain ideas involving the other Elf-Lord. It was not that he did not wish to pursue these ideas, more, that he did, and this was nothing to be entered into lightly. As he worked, he also had a great deal of time to think about the deeper complexities involved, beyond those of culture and tradition. He had no doubt that Glorfindel's feelings involving him were like his own, but unlike himself, Glorfindel was not and had never been tied to anyone. He often found himself thinking of this as he worked, wondering if restraint was actually the greater crime. Surely, one so deserving of love as Glorfindel should be able to have it along with all its pleasures, pleasures which he had not felt for long ages, and which Glorfindel had never been able to experience. But then, his thoughts would return to his wife, long since traveled to the Undying Lands, and he wondered what she would say if she knew of his thoughts. . . of his intentions, even. For, as the ship came together, and Elrond found himself painting the motif upon the sail, he swiftly realized that there was more to the gesture than one of everlasting friendship. His love for Celebrian was still there- it always was, and always would be. But, his love for Glorfindel was something just as lasting, and perhaps even more firmly cemented through shared struggles over the long ages.
In short, Elrond had realized that regardless of his choice of path, he was doomed to committing a wrong- the only question was which one it would be. It was while he painted the sail that he knew the choice was already made. He could only hope that when the day came for himself and Glorfindel to travel East, that the Celebrian he faced would be the one in his visions who understood his choice, and not the one who wished the full wrath of the Valar upon him, or worse, the one who sorrowed. His wife was in the Undying Lands, and, Glorfindel was here now with him- he could do nothing for his wife now, but, he could bring happiness to Glorfindel. And so it was that he turned to these thoughts yet again as he waited at the lakeside, having asked a house-elf to carry a note to Glorfindel asking him if he'd join him at the lake. He hadn't been able to keep the project a secret, given the amount of his time it had consumed, but, he'd tried to keep the details quiet- he'd merely told Glorfindel that he'd been working on a gift for him, rather than the exact nature of it. He was unable to keep from glancing toward the school periodically, a bit nervous, but nevertheless determined in his intentions, which he hoped his gift would communicate better than he had been able to himself.
Elrond had not worked entirely alone on the project- during the first days of his labor, he was assisted by a couple of house-elves, who brought him the tools he required, and he set about collecting and preparing his own boards from carefully selected specimens in the forest. But, after a few days of this slow work, he'd been noticed by some of the Shoggies who lurked around the lake, and they'd insisted upon joining in the effort. At first, Elrond had been disturbed and repulsed by the amorphous critters, but, they quickly proved their work, hauling materials faster than Elrond could have ever managed on his own. When the time came for the shaping of the hull, their strength proved an invaluable asset, and he soon learned that they could handle small tasks on their own- it was their aid that had enabled him to build a craft of such quality in the time he'd accomplished it in. Else, it could easily have taken another season or two.
Once the vessel had been shaped, Elrond spent a few weeks on perfecting its aesthetics- this was a task in which the Shoggies could not be of much assistance, their own sense of design running quite contrary to an Elven one. A few hung around to occasionally fetch some tools or materials, but, he performed the final touches himself. Now, the pale wood was varnished a warm, golden hue, subtly patterned with runic designs along the length of the boards. The prow was carefully shaped into the graceful arc of a swan's neck and head, garlanded with a painted pattern of golden flowers and silver stars which flowed along the rails like garlands. The sail had taken him quite some time, as he'd painted out a complex, crest-like motif upon the sail, combining a golden flower with a celestial motif in the style of Elven heraldry. In fact, it was Elven heraldry, although it did not belong to any particular house- it was that of his own combined with that of the House of Golden Flower, Glorfindel's, for whom the vessel was intended as a gift and a message.
In recent months, it had been dawning upon Elrond just how complex his feelings for Glorfindel were, but, he was still unsure of how to proceed. It had perhaps been this uncertainty which had caused him to devote so much time to a project which would occupy his time, ensuring that he would not occupy it with certain ideas involving the other Elf-Lord. It was not that he did not wish to pursue these ideas, more, that he did, and this was nothing to be entered into lightly. As he worked, he also had a great deal of time to think about the deeper complexities involved, beyond those of culture and tradition. He had no doubt that Glorfindel's feelings involving him were like his own, but unlike himself, Glorfindel was not and had never been tied to anyone. He often found himself thinking of this as he worked, wondering if restraint was actually the greater crime. Surely, one so deserving of love as Glorfindel should be able to have it along with all its pleasures, pleasures which he had not felt for long ages, and which Glorfindel had never been able to experience. But then, his thoughts would return to his wife, long since traveled to the Undying Lands, and he wondered what she would say if she knew of his thoughts. . . of his intentions, even. For, as the ship came together, and Elrond found himself painting the motif upon the sail, he swiftly realized that there was more to the gesture than one of everlasting friendship. His love for Celebrian was still there- it always was, and always would be. But, his love for Glorfindel was something just as lasting, and perhaps even more firmly cemented through shared struggles over the long ages.
In short, Elrond had realized that regardless of his choice of path, he was doomed to committing a wrong- the only question was which one it would be. It was while he painted the sail that he knew the choice was already made. He could only hope that when the day came for himself and Glorfindel to travel East, that the Celebrian he faced would be the one in his visions who understood his choice, and not the one who wished the full wrath of the Valar upon him, or worse, the one who sorrowed. His wife was in the Undying Lands, and, Glorfindel was here now with him- he could do nothing for his wife now, but, he could bring happiness to Glorfindel. And so it was that he turned to these thoughts yet again as he waited at the lakeside, having asked a house-elf to carry a note to Glorfindel asking him if he'd join him at the lake. He hadn't been able to keep the project a secret, given the amount of his time it had consumed, but, he'd tried to keep the details quiet- he'd merely told Glorfindel that he'd been working on a gift for him, rather than the exact nature of it. He was unable to keep from glancing toward the school periodically, a bit nervous, but nevertheless determined in his intentions, which he hoped his gift would communicate better than he had been able to himself.
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Date: 2010-12-01 02:28 am (UTC)Glorfindel's curiosity had been growing over the last several months, but in spite of this, he respected Elrond's desire for secrecy and had made a point to avoid the area he knew Elrond had chosen for his project. This was the sort of surprise which he welcomed, and he was also glad that his friend had this pleasant task to keep his hands and mind occupied. Ever since the kiss they'd shared and the admission of their feelings for one another, not much had necessarily changed between them—Glorfindel didn't think it stemmed from uncertainty on either side, but rather a certain feeling of caution, of prudence. Time did not weigh on them as it did mortals, and so they could afford to linger on each aspect of their relationship like this, to enjoy the simple pleasures of growing closer in ways that they hadn't previously thought possible.
During this period Glorfindel had decided not to pursue Elrond, per se, but to let the other Elf-Lord determine the course of their friendship. This of course did not preclude Glorfindel's usual gestures of kindness. Meaningful gifts, books from the Hogwarts library which seemed especially suited to Elrond's tastes, things of that nature. Then there were the small gestures of physical contact—a touch to Elrond's hand, his face, a kiss to his brow—all things Glorfindel had done countless times over their long friendship, but he seemed to find excuses to do them more frequently now. The contact seemed to bring them both happiness, so he didn't think there was any harm in it. Had Elrond ever appeared uncomfortable, he'd have backed off accordingly.
While Elrond focused on his gift, Glorfindel filled his time with his own pursuits: further exploration of Hogwarts and its grounds (save the lake), learning more of the land's magic, teaching Legolas the finer points of swordsmanship, occasionally haunting the steps of Gríma Wormtongue unbeknownst to the Man. He was pleased to find the latter had kept out of trouble, or else kept his scheming very well guarded indeed. One of Glorfindel's more recent interests was the art of falconry, and he was in the midst of reading a wizard's account of it when the house-elf informed him that Elrond requested his presence.
He made his way to the lakeside, his excitement swelling the moment he saw the unmistakable form of an Elven ship perched on the shore. It was of a size that meant one could safely handle sailing it alone, but, taking in its elegant design, the swan motif, the painted garlands... he could think of nothing he wanted more than to share the remarkable gift with its creator.
"I see you are more than merely a master of lore," he called to Elrond as he approached, his smile reflecting the depth of his joy. He reached to touch the ship as he circled around it, enjoying the smoothness of the golden wood, and tracing over the painted designs with reverence. The angle he'd approached at had hidden the face of the sail from his view, but he saw it now—at first glance he thought it simply a pretty design, but it was the golden flower that made him look closer. That was his crest... Yet it wasn't his alone. He could recognise the celestial motif of Elrond's house easily, the very same banner he'd fought under for many long centuries. They were combined, which held a particular significance in Elven culture, one which wasn't to be taken lightly as it generally signified a permanent joining of individuals or houses. When Glorfindel had sketched their crests combined several months ago, it had illustrated his secret desire—and suddenly it struck him, that was his design, emblazoned on the sail for all to see. Turning back to Elrond, an uncharacteristic timidness had come to his expression and voice as he asked, "You knew...?" Knew of his drawings. Knew of his desire. It was one thing to acknowledge their mutual love, but this was quite another; with his gift, Elrond seemed to be proposing that they were now free to act on their love.
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Date: 2010-12-11 10:36 am (UTC)He stopped polishing an already gleaming bit of the rail when he caught sight of Glorfindel's approaching figure. As Elrond had been working, he was clad in tunic and pants rather than his usual robes, and so it was easy enough to jump lightly from the deck with the all the grace of their kind to meet him. Glorfindel's smile was reassuring, although Elrond didn't think he'd gotten a good glimpse of the sail yet. "In my youth, I spent many days watching Círdan and my father at their work. It is not so fine a vessel as one of their making, but, I recalled what I was able." Elrond replied with a smile.
Elrond circled the ship beside Glorfindel, awaiting the inevitable moment when he'd notice the design upon the sail. He hadn't deliberately oriented the ship so that it would be difficult to see on approach. Had he considered this detail, he'd have placed it so that their combined crests would have been the first thing for Glorfindel to notice, in order to learn his reaction sooner than later. As Glorfindel's eyes moved up to the emblem on the sail, Elrond's worry came to a head- should have he asked, first? "I found your drawing on accident," he admitted. "I was looking for a book, and, came upon the image. It emblazoned itself in my mind. For so many years we have stood beside each other, through the long ages our changing world. But while the shape of empires and of the world itself has changed, we have remained constant." Elrond paused briefly, his gaze meeting Glorfindel's. The faintest of flushes came to Elrond's face, for, he was indeed attempting to express his own desire to act on their love. Like Glorfindel, he was not exactly impatient about advancing their acknowledged feelings into the physical realm. He had been content to enjoy their little gestures of affection, but, the fact remained that since they'd acknowledged their feelings about each other, he often found himself hoping for more. The ghost of a gentle caress would linger, and Elrond would find himself contemplating the feel of Glorfindel's hands still upon him, or the feel of Glorfindel's body beneath his- and yet, despite the unorthodox nature of his fantasies, it still felt right, whatever tradition or the Valar themselves might have to say about it. He reached out take Glorfindel's hands in his before continuing, "The emblem feels right. I feel we have been joined for centuries, dear Glorfindel, but I have never known how to express it. I am still not sure how to, but, perhaps we can figure this out together. . ."