Chapter Text
“If you depart soon and go through the mountains passage your company should arrive there in time, but i should warn you not to divert from your path, Thorin Oakenshield, for the forest is not as safe as it was in the past”
Elrond said while rolling the map back. There was concern in his tone but also longing that almost passed unnoticed for the wizard.
Taking a deep breath he intended to begin to talk but coughed when suddenly he was interrupted by a fifth voice who spoke before he could.
“So consider your stay in here ventured, my friend”
Deep and sweet the voice filled the garden like music and all green things stirred to the sound. They jittered lively under the moonlight and the light breeze of the winter garden deepened the sweet smells of flowers.
A subtle hint that only Elrond caught on.
His accent was a characteristic of northern folk, that the dwarf had no acquaintance with, his long light hair and green clothes however were quickly recognized as the elf's form made itself clear as he walked around the curve of the hedgerow slowly leaving the shadow of the plants.
“And who are you?”
Snarled Thorin to the shadow balling his hands into fists, he patted his fastens but remembered irritated that his axe was stored in his rooms earlier, so he settled to squint furiously as he watched the figure approaching.
“Just a wood elf who is happening to travel the same path as you soon and is offering guidance for a safer journey”
The elf said, moving elegantly as he approached, his movements looking at the same time effortless, casual and precise.
A mischievous smile adorned his lips, so characteristic of the wood elves of mirkwood, feline azure eyes shone and under the pale light of the moon his skin and hair seemed made of silver.
Stopping under the garden's dome he guided a hand to his chest in a dwarven curtsey.
“My name is Ethuil, but you may call me Tulie, at your service”
Bowing to the dwarf into a perfect form, one knee touching the floor, his braid slipped to his shoulders. The elf stayed at that position knowing he was being gravelly evaluated by the dwarf, but stayed in place, eyes low in the floor, nothing but calm in his form.
“Well, Tulie… “
The dwarf snarled with a particular deprecation at the mention of the elf name.
“And why would I accept a wood elf in my company”
As he said that Thorin spat at the floor and crossed his arms, clearly showing his deep disapproval.
Elrond tensed his shoulders, his hands hidden under the sleeves of his robes pressed his arms tightly.
A wind rippled through the leaves at that moment and the winter garden grew a little chillier than it was before.
Bilbo instinctively rubbed at his arms and even the wizard seemed to shiver a little. The elf, though, seemed undisturbed and stood again, looking at the dwarf calmly.
“I see, straight on trading aren't you, my lord? Very well. I take that your question meant what would I gain by presenting my services to favor dwarfs, is it?”
Thorin kept silent, not agreeing but not disagreeing either. The silence was so thick that Bilbo found it hard to move and noticed that even both Gandalf and Elrond were as still as one could be.
The merry voice cut through the silence again.
“Look at this as a political endeavor. We are traveling the same path at very close times, so by scorting your company I ensure none of you walk any of our 'wrong paths’ or 'get lost’ in our forest. Also our kin have very ‘sensitive’ relationships so it's of my people best interest that no dwarf suffer any kind of injury in our forest, and most importantly, it is known our king does not… appreciate unannounced dwarfs in his territory, so by scorting you I also ensure that none of you stay more time than it's strictly necessary in our forest and by doing so I gain, not only the favor of Mithrandir himself, but also the of my liege’s”
Thorin still looked skeptical, turning his back at the elf, fiddling with his beard with crossed arms and stern expression on his knitted bushy eyebrows.
"That is not all…"
Growled Thorin and Contrasting with the dwarf somber manners, mirth etched the elf's beautiful features and his laughter were a hundred cristal bells.
“Right! You got me!"
Said he but nothing in his body's perfect posture changed except the glee in his eyes as he continued.
"We also would benefit that Thorin II Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror owed us a favour. Your people are known to honor their allies and our trades with the dwarfs of the gray mountains and the iron hills would greatly benefit from a stronger friendship with your people.”
Elrond looked astonished at the elf and then to the dwarf, many times smaller than him, that seemed deep in thought.
He walked by, around the round playing with his own beard as it seemed to help him think, at the same time as he looked at the elf with the same eyes he would to the elven sword earlier, or to a pile of coins... as a commodity. That, noticed Elrond again, was extremely rude towards the elf and the elven people in general, an insult, as had been the spatting, but the blond one… Tulie, if he has not reacted he would not intervene either.
In fact the elf didn’t seem to care, just staying there, in his best position, as the well trained warrior that he was.
All the while Elrond tried to refrain from stealing glances at the blond elf, what Mithrandir also seemed to be doing with different levels of success for a time, but then his expression switched to an interested one, atently observing what was happening.
After a good while the dwarf seemed to reach a conclusion, and stopped in front of the blond elf, mistrust heavy in his eyes.
“Your people are known as liers to mine. How can you ensure you are not lying?
The elf smiled, easy mannered and seemed satisfied with the dwarf.
“Then you possibly know also that an elven oath can not be broken. If I do, you’ll have my oath and three testimonies to hold me accountable if I ever fail you.”
He said in a charming way and then recited a sworn promise in old sindarin with a gesture that symbolized the oath, both Elrond and Mithrandir felt the hush of power flowing into the room, the trees and every life form in nature vibrating with their caller, Bilbo shivered and even the dwarf seemed to feel a something when the elf did so.
But then, holding the dwarfs suspicions true to their tales, Thorin looked at Elrond questioningly.
“ ‘My heart is bound to the desire of nothing more than to protect you and your company, as much as it wants to protect mine. To our safety in this journey’ is what Tulie said”
Elrond translated to the dwarf that seemed to evaluate the elf a little longer, then he spat on his chunky hand and extended it to the elf.
A pact.
Both Mithrandir and Elrond looked at the elf wearily, but both were utmostly surprised when the elf did the same, with a quite powerful spat of himself in his hand and a strong hold in the dwarf's hand.
The dwarf seemed to be using more strength than normal, but the elf again didn’t seem to care, corresponding accordingly, and as knowing what came next he curved, so the dwarf could hold his head, and with hands still held together he knocked hard their skulls together.
The elf seemed oblivious to the aggressiveness of the dwarf ways, almost as if used to, and that held a note of appreciation on the dwarf, even if very brief and withered.
“It’s done then”
He said with his grave voice seemed mildly satisfied with the procedures, and finally let go of the elf that turned to position and held still.
That also satisfied the dwarf.
“We will depart in one week then, I’ll seek your counsel for the travel again in that time, lord Elrond”
He said in an impetuous tone, deeming the conversation over, and storming out of the room.
Bilbo seemed confused for a moment as to what to do, but one look at Gandalf and his smiling face told him to follow Thorin to the summer solstice festivities happening below, near the waters, where the other dwarves already waited for them. The halfling nodded and rushed after Thorin.
Elrond just made a short acquiesce and the three of them waited in silence as the dwarf and the hobbit went away.
“Tulie?”
Said Elrond in a disbelieved tone once he knew the two were far enough not to hear them anymore, the blond elf just shrugged it off.
“It is what I am, after all”
Elrond seemed to grow aggravated by the second until, one moment after, he was holding the bridge of his nose and breathing deeply.
Mithrandir accompanied the proceedings with a cheeky smile.
“Well… Tulie, you seemed very well versed in dealing with dwarfs”
Tulie turned to him and smiled daringly to the elder.
“That is why my liege choose me to political and diplomatic endeavours, my lord Mithrandir”
Gandalf seemed to find it extremely funny and his laugh echoed through the round.
“Just Gandalf will suffice, my good elven friend”
He nodded charmingly.
“Gandalf it’ll be then”
Elrond seemed to get even more annoyed at the exchanges but that didn’t come to his words when he talked, just his eyes showing the reprovation.
“What are you thinking, Tulie?”
“Nothing more than you heard me swear, to protect them and my people”
“By traveling with them? What if…?”
“It’s said its wise to keep your allies close, and your enemies even closer, Elrond, and Tulie seems very… prepared to do such as they will need a guide”
They held a heavy stare for a minute in a silence that Tulie broke gingerly prying the map still in Elrond’s hand.
“Talking about allies”
He said unrolling the map over the tablet in the center of the dome with care, almost reverence and for a moment he just looked at it, glowing runes under moonlight.
“I take that your own endeavour will be well meet by reinforcements, Gandalf, my friend”
“My endeavour…?”
Said the mage, Elrond crossed his arms looking from the elf to the mage. He did not needed his power to see the future to see how it was going to be and sighed… Testing territories with Tulie was a very dangerous action to take.
Tulie, despite this, huffed a laugh, easy mannered, and half turned to them smiling, mithril hair framing azure eyes. He very much seemed like one of the enchanted creatures they sang about in the halls of fire.
“No one enters Greenwoods without a good reason, not even you Gandalf the gray! Especially since it became mirk as you may know… And yet, curiously, we have our wards reporting your passage through our forests with increasingly frequence recently, especially in a peculiar troublesome region for our own people”
He said, as charmingly as he had talked with the dwarf, no inflection in particular, just calm and amiability in his tone, his eyes though, electric blue, were sharp and knowing, as his hand fleetingly gestured to a very specific part of the map.
“We’ve been having problems with that region for years now, but since within our borders, we never shared the need of assistance with other realms, for the most part, we were able to suppress the growth of the darkness on our own, but my liege fear that this approach will soon no longer suffice and a more direct intervention of the problem will be taken, however by doing so the wasps nest will be awake”
“So, your liege intends to intervene directly at the fortress…”
Said the mage pensively tinkering with his beard, the elf laughed again.
“He doesn't! But you on the other hand... am I wrong, Lord Elrond?”
Oh he could see that coming.
Mithrandir was way out of use in talking with that elf and by that end forgot to notice that he never mentioned whose action was to intervene at the fortress. He hasn't mentioned the region he was talking about or even a fortress, and by that Mithrandir had assumed the knowledge of such a problem.
He just sighed and agreed silently with the blond elf that had cornered them with just one move.
Just then, by that moment ahead the charm of his ways and voice made themselves clearly to the elder, extremely dangerous, as honey in a beehive.
They stayed quiet as the diplomat continued.
“I am no one to say as such, but as a diplomat chosen by my liege my counsel is that it would be wise to warn him if an intervention at the fortress is what you aim, as an unexpected turn of events would deeply injury our territory and further aggravate the relations between the realms in an already difficult time for our race”
Continued him turning again to the map and distractedly tapping some points in the map.
Elrond watched with utmost attention knowing that he was not simply pottering with the map, but indicating elven settlements and points of contention around Dol Guldur.
“You see, our liege is a very warm-hearted and generous elf, against what other realms tend to think, and if warned about your intentions, would gladly join with your efforts, provide valuable information, provisions… maybe even a military contingency”
“This is very sensitive advice, Tulie, but why do you think we intend in dealing with the said fortress?”
Tulie seemed to find that funny and his posture changed a little, so subtle, however changing the mood in such an expressive way, like the stiffness of his body had been washed away.
Elrond braced himself covering his mouth with his hand and Gandalf when he took notice of the gesture knew he had made a wrong move once more.
“You are too used to deem my people as simple, you are mistaken Gandalf. We’ve been tracking you , as I said before, and your preference around the place leaves little to query.”
His voice was sharp, cutting, his expression was not. A warning, of a predator to a prey.
“We know what is in there, we have been watching the locality much longer than you have. Also, if “they will need a guide” you exclude yourself therefore meaning the dwarves, and “need” states a very specific predicament, where I can only presume that you, the only guide capable between that company, will not stay with them in a very critical part of the travel. And by personal knowledge I must say, even the high path and Esgaroth being not as safe as it was before, I can assure you, they are not as dangerous as Mirkwood is now”
The mage made a heavy silence even if the words of the elf were light hearted and easy toned, he looked nervously at the sides.
“You are a very observant elf, I see”
The elf didn’t answer with more than a mischievous smile and a stone gaze to both of them.
“We can not hide our plans from that one, it seems, lord Elrond”
“No… we cannot, Gandalf”
Said the lord with a tired tone in his statement, Gandalf nodded.
“Can you assure your king will cooperate with us, Tulie?”
“I can”
Said the elf with a smile, rolling the map back and giving it back to the lord.
“Maybe we should retire for a more private room, for more that I like it, the gardens are no place to discuss these matters with the attention it deserves”
Said the light haired elf to what the lord nodded quietly.
"We shall retire to my studies"
“Please, lead the way, my lord"
Agreed the diplomat and they went in silence, both the peredhel and the wizard knew the elf watched them closely.
“Esgaroth is way too far from the route to the land of the northern dwarfs, you know? So I believe we will also have to talk about Thorin’s plans of reaching the lonely mountain ‘in time’ to 'Durin's day', as well as his plans of awaking the beast and retrieve the mountain “
They heard and their backs stiffened as the words reached them, being accompanied by an amused laugh and Gandalf gave a worried look to Elrond that after the first shock had taken a clearly resigned posture.
“We will have a long chat today, won’t we? Better ask some food and wine for we’ll possibly spend the night together, my friends”
Said the blond elf seeming exultant, passing one arm around each of his companions shoulders and giving a gentle slap especially in Elrond’s back.
They retired for the night, finally, after long hours of discussions.
What didn’t mean the end of it for Elrond, who wished to stay as long as possible with the elf since they now had a departure date, far too close than he would ever wish.
But then, by the way his eyes glowed, he knew their conversation wouldn’t end as they left the studies room.
“Will you stay with me tonight, mellon nin?”
Asked the blond in a tone almost too low to hear, he knew.
“I will join you in a moment”
He answered and they departed.
Elrond took that moment to gather himself as he prepared for bed, hoping the time apart would serve to calm his nerves and not fuel them further.
When he found his way to the elf's rooms he found him close to the hearth, sitting comfortably in his nest of pillows.
Damp hair drying in the warmth, giving a fresh smell of flowers mixed to the rich fragrance of sweet berries of the dark wine he sipped on.
He could not help but smile as he joined him.
“You always make me think of a cat… Tulie”
Teased Elrond deciding to address the topic before anything else.
The blond elf chuckled and sipped from his wine.
“You don’t need to call me that when we are alone, melleth”
“ ‘But that is what you are, after all’ “
That made Tulie laugh and his smile made Elrond’s heart warm.
“Where did it come from?”
“Celeborn, he liked to tease me when I was an elfling”
He answered pouring wine into a new globet and offering it to Elrond who accepted unceremoniously.
“It’s quite silly”
“Children are silly… And in this case the silliest the best. It’s easier to construct a cover when your counterpart thinks low of you”
“So we are going to fight a dragon”
“No… I’ll fight a dragon. You and Gandalf and, hopefully, king Thranduil’s contingency will fight the Necromancer of Dol Guldur”
“Thranduil is a great allie and I ought to him and his benevolence my thankfulness”
“I’ll send him your wishes”
He said in a mocking tone that made Elrond chuckle, but nothing came after that. The peredhel didn’t know what to expect from the elf’s reactions, he never did for that matter, but this was not their usual unexpected interactions, warm and familiar, no… this time it felt like a chasm existed between them and the thought that he couldn't reach him ached.
“Are you mad?”
Elrond tried again, by a different approach, hoping he could reach him from his feelings.
The sindar knew what he was doing, of course he did, with that mind of his and rolled his eyes at his new strategy, sighing and looking at him fondly before taking another sip.
“I am not angry… just disappointed”
“I am sorry meletron”
“Not at you… at the situation as a whole”
If there was something Elrond dreaded more than this elf’s rage, was his disappointment. He didn't like contention, much less with the one he cared most. With rage he could expect words, could expect him telling straight to the point what was bothering, but with disappointment they were like this, strained in silence and distant thoughts.
There was nothing he could do though, except wait for the other.
So in silence they stayed.
Even when the elf got up to sit beside him, resting his head over his shoulder.
Eventually the sindar grabbed one of his hands and bit one of his fingers.
The dark haired elf snatched back his hand chuckling.
"What are you doing?"
“How were you intending to tell me?”
A conversation starter, the question answered. He smiled.
“From the very start, but Mithrandir was against it and so was Galadriel”
“Hm…”
The elf detached himself from the peredhel's shoulders in favor of pouring them both more wine which he drained almost instantly. Elrond made a face but said nothing.
“That is what I cannot understand. With different matters both would not hesitate to consult us, but then exactly when the matter affects my people they fail to reach us”
“They thought you would be against it”
“Of course I would. Attacking Dol Guldur has exactly the same effect as throwing stones at a wasp nest. That's why it need to be carefully planned”
“They thought you would not listen”
“They mistake me for my father!"
The Sindar seemed angry for a moment, then he sighed and just looked sad
"… I thought they knew better than this”
“I am truly sorry meletron”
“I know you are”
He squeezed the noldo hand a little
“I know your heart enough to say so”
Elrond chuckled, kissing the top of his head then laing his own head over the sinda.
"For my part, I knew it was wrong but I honestly hoped we could let you out of this battle”
“We've been in this battle longer than any of you”
“But now you'll fight a dragon…”
“And how is fighting a dragon worse than fighting the ‘necromancer’?”
“I know… it's just…”
“Scars won't hold me back from fighting for my people…”
Elrond pressed his lips tight. He always admired how brave he was and his selflessness whenever it came to his people never ceased to amaze him… but not this time.
“What if that happens again?”
“It's a risk I'm willing to take”
“But I am not…”
Tulie looked up to meet Elrond’s eyes and he found sadness in there, that long sadness he knew so well, also fear, and affliction.
“We do what we must. I know this well, as the lord of this lands. But my heart cannot stop worrying for you, for our destinies… I… don’t think I can bear to lose you...”
Before he could continue, the sinda stole a kiss, chaste and caring from his lips then smiled.
“Neither do I, but here we are. You heading towards the necromancer and I to a dragon’s nest”
Once again Elrond sighed
“We are quite a pair aren’t we?”
Said the lord, finishing his own goblet of wine hearing Tulie’s laugh like a hundred of crystal bells.
“We will succeed, Elrond. We must. I won’t allow that spawn of Morgoth the opportunity to join ‘him’ again, to harm anyone else”
“I dread the moment of your departure already”
“So sentimental”
“Please… promise me…”
Elrond began but was hushed by the elf.
Fingers pressed softly against his lips, tips brushing feather light against skin as hands moved to cup the side of his face. His eyes caught in deep blue. His breath hitched as the focus changed from his gray eyes to his lips, his stomach tying in knots in anticipation as the distance between them was so small that he could feel his warm breath touch his skin and the smell of flowers and berries.
“It is a cold night for Laer”
“It is…”