The cloud of bad feeling that had been left in the wake of the Company of Tol Lochul's audience with the Master of the House of Imladris was still palpable when Arahen strode in to the garden. The figure of Elrond stood in silent contemplation on the edge of an ornamental pond filled with large gold carp. Though her boots made no sound, Elrond met her eyes almost immediately.
Filled with sudden dismay, she raised a fist in salute as one who bore arms in defense of the West. Elrond only nodded in reply, casting his eyes back into the pond.
“They were here,” she said. It was meant to be a question, but it was so obvious by the pensive faces of the door wards and everyone she had passed on here way to the gardens that the company of Xanderian was indeed at hand, though she had not seen them.
“Of course they were,” he replied. He was struggling not to be terse with the kin of Eldalótë.
“They were expected days ago. Did they offer any account? Was there trouble?”
“With Anarial's brood there was always trouble. It is as though they were bound by the Oath. There was nothing you could have done. You could not be reached without tipping our hand to the Enemy. But I am glad you are here now,” he said with a weary sigh.
“There's something..more. I felt it crossing the bridge,” Arahen insisted, looking at the carp as they bobbed and jostled just under the placid surface of the pond.
“Their brother is dead,” Elrond replied. “Cruelly murdered. Here.”
“Here?!” she exclaimed, eyes gone big as Numenorean Solidii.
Elrond nodded, grimacing. The light he usually carried in his eyes was there, but dimmed somehow. “In Imlad Gelair. Blood was spilled most cruelly.”
Arahen raged, “Who dares!?” Her hand tightly gripped the hilt of Storm.
“Some shadow has crept into the vale,” Elrond said. “They did not bring it. It was here before they came. I was wroth with them and regretted it at once. This vale was chosen for more than its defensible ground, Arahen. Imladris sits upon a confluence of powerful energy paths. These were vital to our protection once. But I feel something has been upended. The peculiar is becoming commonplace.”
“I have never had much interest in such things. You're sounding like Rhavanielle,” the woman rejoined skeptically.
Elrond's face registered a renewed anger to hear that name invoked. “Find your squire and her merry band an keep them out of trouble.”
“Where are they?” Arahen asked, anger giving way to worry.
“In the house of Calidis Night-Eye,” Elrond answered plaintively. His authority returned in the next instant as he held sup a finger. “Two things.” He said with the dry finality of an order to charge an enemy redoubt.
Arahen crooked a silver brow. “Of course I'll look after them.”
Elrond allowed his expression to soften. Not since his wife had been flayed alive by orcs had he been filled with so much dismay about the future. “That was never in doubt. I wish I'd sent Xanir off with you. Or Aifiolossë who is in Angmar. He was dear to her and she will be deeply hurt to know what has happened.”
“What is the other thing?” Arahen asked.
“Look out for their safety and keep them from outraging convention too much. The mood here is shaken. A place of refuge has become a place of uncertainty and fear.”
“Of course. But there is something more. Isn't there.”
Elrond nodded once curtly. “Laicamiril has disappeared.”
Arahen swallowd hard. Another nasty surprise. “Disappeared. How do you mean, exactly?”
“Her daughter Aamu passed through here three days ago. Laicamiril was in her chambers alone and vanished.”
“People like that don't just vanish. There was no clue?” Arahen was wondering what Elrond was evading.
“She was caught within a mirror.”
Stunned, Arahen rolled her head back and frowned in disbelief. “Some sorcery of Angmar!”
“Possible. But how it was accomplished is beyond our ken. “Her chambers are on the 9th floor of a tower in Taur Hethyr. No one was seen to go in or out. It was a bright sunny morning. We of the firstborn move in two worlds at once. Philosophers posit others as well. I'm beginning to believe they may be right.”
Now leave me for now and see if you can keep a leash on the children of Anarial. We shall speak again if anything helpful be learned. Please leave me in peace.”
The discussion, she knew from long experience with him was at an end. She saluted again and strode into the Last Homely House. Aptly named, she thought. Th way this week was shaping up, it may end being the last anywhere.
