gondolin_noble | (no subject)

(no subject)

Glorfindel pauses at the edge of the porch, staring up at the fading stars joyously, reveling in their song. A week is entirely too long to be away, though he does not regret the reasons that held him away for so long. Off in the forest, the birds launch into full riotous song, filling the air as the Sun finally makes her appearance over the encircling ring of cliffs. Fresh morning light glints off the snow, the icy tree branches just beginning to bud, the roofs of the halls further down into the valley.

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"If only because certain other people would be quite wroth with me, if I allowed it. We will go south, through the Gap of Rohan, and you may see Ents, as well as Thranduil's woodland realm, and Celeborn's Lothlorien. Or perhaps further south, to Belfast in Dol Amroth, and the forests of Ithilien, where Legolas Thranduilion builds a realm..."

"If he stops chattering to every tree and bush he stumbles across." A dark-haired elf in stately robes snorts as he crosses the courtyard in front of Glorfindel and Nerdanel, evidently intent on some mission or other. "The twins missed you this morning, poppinjay. And I have not been told of a newcomer." Glorfindel rolls his eyes.
"So I have been told, stormcrow, and she is my guest. Haven't you some poor scribe to harass?"
"Fine, keep your secrets, I will learn them all eventually." Erestor smiles, clearly enjoying the challenge. "My lady." He bows, then disappears into one of the smaller halls.

Nerdanel raises a brow.

"Poppinjay?" she asks with a chuckle. "So many people to meet! I will have my hands full, I think. And who would be displeased if you took me riding? I haven't been riding in so many years... but later. Feaho will come in the summer, which will be a perfect time for you to take me through these lands."

Her eyes had followed Erestor, finding these Elves different from the Elves of her home.

"I thought I was promised a meal?"

"That one has been a thorn in my side and a welcome ally since he joined Elrond in our retreat here. He is Erestor, a peerless scout and sharp-tongued advisor." Glorfindel explains with a fond smile. "And I did! A thousand apologies for delaying it so long." With that he pushes open the doors to the great hall. The air is filled with the chatter of many voices, speaking in a wide variety of languages - Over there, a trio of green-clad wood elves are laughing over some jest or other, there a group of Dwarves hunker over their meal and debate, a troop of tall, dark-haired Rangers new-come from the Wilds show rare smiles as the serving staff bring them food and drink. Glorfindel escorts Nerdanel to the head table, where the other half of the Peredhil twins sits finishing his meal. He rises at Nerdanel's approach, bowing.
"Good morrow, my lady, Glorfindel."

Her cheeks are still lightly flushed and she sheds her cloak, draping it over her chair. She bows slightly to Elrohir, smiling as she does so.

"My Lord," she says, the title spilling from her tongue with practiced ease. Nevermind that this Elf had once been the Queen of the Noldor, for the little time her husband had held the title of High King. "It is an honour to be a guest in this valley."

"You are..." Glorfindel holds up a restraining hand to prevent further accusation.
"I know, I have heard the same from your brother, and from Erestor, and surely from the rest of Arda if I let them. Be thankful that I did not rouse you for one morning, and remember it the next time you complain I never let you rest." He retorts, pulling out a chair for Nerdanel and signaling to the waitstaff that they should begin bringing food for them both.

The pregnant Elf, trying to not laugh or salivate, sits as lady-like as she can.

"You are most popular," she points out to her cousin. "You didn't tell me that, either."

"I hold this land in trust until either my lords come to their senses and start behaving as the heirs they are..." He trails off, giving Elrohir a stern look that the younger elf blithly ignores, "Or until my lord Celeborn comes from Lothlorien." He is further interrupted by the arrival of food, and quite a bounty of it - evidently word has reached the chefs that there is a pregnant elf to be served, and they have responded accordingly.

Her eyes are bright as she picks up her fork.

"Come now. We were just as terrible when we were young," she giggles. "We did not wish to be Lords and Ladies until we were quite ready for the titles." She eats a slice of fruit thoughtfully. "And I still think we are not ready for them."

"When you were young?" Glorfindel can practically see Elrohir's ears perking at that. He shoots Nerdanel a sidelong look - You are supposed to be here in secret, cousin - before stepping into the fray. He waves a slice of toast with wildberry preserves at Elrohir.
"Did you think I was one of the eldest? Honestly, Elrohir, I despair of you ever learning your history."

She bites her lip, giving him an equally sidelong look -- What harm could it do to tell them I know you as a child? I... could be a refugee from Gondolin?

Yay for Elf-thoughts.

"He was a terrible boy," she says with a smile, turning her attention to Elrohir. "Do not let him tell you stories about him being the prim and proper Captain of anything."

"He told us nothing until the fight against the Witch-king." Elrohir grouses goodnaturedly. "We thought he was one from Valinor, come late, and named after a Gondolin lord. I think ada knew, but they are equally close-mouthed when they wish to be." Glorfindel takes the teasing as it is meant, and does not protest his innocence, finishing his toast in that fabled silence.

Then claim a house, but be sure it is not mine - they know I am the last. Yay for elf-thoughts indeed.

"Glorfindel? Our peacock? He is too modest, to not speak of himself before then." She puts aside the sweetbun she had been eating and smiles at her cousin. "The tales I could tell of this one. Shall I entertain the table, dear one?"

"I think you hold their attention already, but as you will." He allows, tolerantly. He feels much improved, here - real food, real land, for the first time since Namo's attack, he feels warm.

Her eyes sparkle.

"I could tell you about the trees in Penlod's halls, or about the diving from cliffs with Ecthelion, or about donning dresses to make me laugh?"

"Has he always been like that? Ada used to create work for Glorfindel and Erestor, when things became to slow, just to keep them busy." Elrohir volunteers, despite Glorfindel's warning stare.

She looks to her cousin.

"Create work for you? Was that so necessary? Would you and this Erestor get up to trouble if your Lord did not find work to busy your hands?"

"We did not involve the rest of the household." Glorfindel maintains with affronted dignity. "If we saw fit to amuse ourselves in a creative fashion during peacetime, what of it?" Elrohir sniggers behind his hand, grey eyes alight.

Nerdanel is not one for tact, and her lips part and the words tumble from her before she can check them.

"Are you two lovers?" she asks in shocked disbelief.

Elrohir roars with laughter as Glorfindel just stares at his cousin, stunned. A few of the dwarves look over to see what has those flighty elves in such an uproar this time, while the laughter spreads, the sharp hearing of elves being put to more entertaining use than it has in ages past.

"Well, why would you two need to be alone to cause trouble? The only trouble I know of involving two people alone tends to involve beds and... such," she says as she sips her juice.

Elrohir is curled up in his chair, holding his ribs as he is set off again. Glorfindel shakes his head.
"I did not say we were alone, I just said we did not involve the rest of the house. Meaning our pranks were turned against each other, and none other. Such a filthy mind you have, pen vain." He sighs, though secretly he wishes he could see the look on Erestor's face when news of this reaches him.

She tilts her head.

"I have been trying to marry you off for how long now? If you had found someone here, I would have been very pleased." Nerdanel looks at Elrohir. "Will he be all right?"

Nerdanel earns a raised eyebrow. Have you forgotten I have a wife and child to look foward to, cousin? In answer to her question, he picks up one of the rolls and hurls it, full-strength, at the howling Peredhil. Without even looking the younger elf reaches out a hand to snatch it out of the air.

"He will be fine. His brother will be deeply disappointed to have missed the fun, but that is the only worry."

You have not met her yet. A little fun would have done you good.

She smiles at him, delicately cutting her meat and eating a few bites.

"What shall we do while I am here, cous--pen vell?" she asks, correcting herself almost immediately.

Luckily, Elrohir is still recovering, and does not catch the slip. If one of the green elves has, they certainly will not speak of it.

Not openly, at least.

"That depends entirely on you, and what you feel up to doing, dearheart. There is quite a lot of land to explore, besides all of the stables, the forge, the artisan's quarter, the libraries, my Lady's garden..." Elrohir perks up a bit, at that.
"Her snowdrops began blooming today."