Drabble Series: Tolkien - The memory of many things both glad and sorrowful (Elrond and Gil-galad)

[tanaquific]

These were written for adlanth, who was a winning bidder on my offer of a series of five drabbles as part of help_pakistan. Thank you, adlanth, for your generous donation!

adlanth gave me the prompt I'd like the drabbles to be related and from The Silmarillion and/or LotR. Elrond (though not movie!Elrond) and Gil-galad, Maedhros and Maglor are favourites of mine. I like slash a great deal but canon het and gen are fine too.

Elrond and Gil-galad spoke to me, and I think these can be read as slash or gen, depending on the reader's preference.

Warnings: character death, violent imagery

The memory of many things both glad and sorrowful

Second Age 32

"Do you regret your choice?" Gil-galad spoke softly as he joined Elrond at the harbour wall.

Elrond kept his gaze fixed on where the Star of Eärendil still glittered in the afternoon sky, though the masts of the tall ships had long passed beyond even the keenest sight. "No," he admitted at last. "But I miss my brother. And he is but the latest of those to sail. My brother. My father...."

Gil-galad rested a hand on Elrond's arm. "I have not sailed," he reminded him gently. "Come! There are new plans for the library I think will please you."

Second Age 600

Elrond was in his workshop, wielding a blade as he prepared feverfew and willowbark, when the news came: a ship, like and yet unlike their own, carrying the sons of those who had followed his brother West.

Hearing the sea-captain's tales of his brother's land, Elrond felt again the pain of the hour when, though no word had come, he knew his brother had given back the Gift of Men.

As then—over a hundred times since had the leaves fallen—Gil-galad knew almost as swiftly that something troubled his cousin. As then, quiet words and gentle hands had been a comfort.

Second Age 1697

The sound of water is everywhere, in this valley that has become home as well as refuge, but it is not the sound of the sea. And though his companions are wise counsellors and dear friends, they are not the one dearest to his heart.

When, at last, Gil-galad's words come, they are both sage and bitter. Elrond cannot dispute the right of holding such a place, now Eregion is no more. And who better to lead than you?

Duty calls, yet less lightly would he have left Lindon, confident of return, had he known where the road would lead.

Second Age 3441

Close at hand, the radiant shield lies blackened. To the other side rest the shivered shards of Aeglos. Elrond can muster no tears, here in this gasping desert, as he kneels between and cradles flesh burned beyond enduring. The spirit inside still lives, but its house fails—and, failing, wounds the spirit too deeply.

We have victory? The thought reaches Elrond's mind weakly, without its accustomed sure touch.

Elrond, sparing only a brief glance to where Isildur bestrides their fallen foe, nods. He has no words.

A final touch: Peace.... Entreaty or command? Elrond bends his head and weeps at last.

Start of the Fourth Age

The quay is thronged as the white ship slips quietly into her berth. Many and glad will be the reunions of this day.

Releasing Celebrían to greet her mother, Elrond turns and finds himself faced by another he dearly hoped to find again among the crowd.

For a moment, he simply looks: at the body restored, as hale and beautiful as in their years together in Lindon; at the spirit, strong and filled with grace.

Smiling, Gil-galad steps forward, reaches out and folds Elrond into a close embrace. Welcome home, he murmurs, too low for any other ear to hear.

Comments

[tanaqui]

Thanks! It was a really enjoyable challenge to figure out how their friendship would play out over the years. We don't see much of it in Tolkien's writing, but there are definitely hints it was a deep and supportive one.