EP - Elrond Peredhil (age 6)

[starrydome]

Before this (oom)


The door slams open and a small figure darts across the floor, skidding to a halt just before colliding with a table. He turns quickly, the way you do when there is danger of someone sneaking up behind you. And stares.

It's a child, pale and pointy-faced, dressed in grey and black. The arms are a little too skinny, the skin beneath the eyes is a little too dark. The eyes are far, far too cautious. His age is hard to gauge, in part due to those eyes.

The Bar is clearly not what he expected, judging from the look of confusion and mounting concern on his face. Concern that is slowly edging its way towards panic. 

His hands move across the tabletop behind him and one hand closes on the handle of a used butter knife. 

Come what may - he will be ready for it.



(occ: I was a bit feverish last night and this is the result. This Elrond is a child of six (and although elven children mature faster than human ones, he is still very much a small child in some respects), who has already spent some time in Feanorian captivity.) ETA: open forever!

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[ostro_goth]

"Here is Milliways, the inn at the end of the world, beyond all worlds," Teja says. "You find food and drink and safety here, and a small green land out the back door. There are a few cats out there, and several horses, that you may meet."

[starrydome]

He looks confused. "Beyond the worlds? Does that mean that I am a Man now?"

Elves can't move beyond the circles of the world, but Men can. When they die.

"Am I dead?"

Maybe Maedhros did catch him after all. It will make Maglor sad. Maedhros too, perhaps. It's hard to tell when he is sad, but he doesn't like anyone speaking of the lost twins, Elrond and Elros' uncles, so perhaps children dying does make him sad. When he isn't angry anymore.

And Elros will be all alone. The last thought brings tears to his eyes. Tears that not even the promise of horses and cats can dry.

[ostro_goth]

"You are still a boy," Teja says. "And you can return to your world. Eventually, you will wish to."

Pause.

"I know not if you are dead. Can you open the door?"

[starrydome]

Elrond frowns a little. Puzzled. "I don't know. But I can't be beyond the world. Only Mortals go there."


(ooc: bedtime for me - I'll pick up tomorrow)

[ostro_goth]

"And you are not?" Teja asks.

[starrydome]

Elrond shakes his head. "No. That is why we are Peredhil, my brother and me. We are half-elven. We will have to choose if we want to die a mortal death."

Another thing learned by heart, but not yet fully understood.

[ostro_goth]

"Elves," Teja says. "Yes, I have met some of your kind, here. And that choice places a truly heavy burden upon your young souls. But if you have a choice, and have not made it yet, then you would not be dead yet, would you?"

Pause.

"Who granted you that choice?"

icon change

[starrydome]

He shakes his head. "No. That is why I do not understand this." And then he answers the question, politely if a little uncertain of why he is being asked. Whom else should it be?

"The Valar ask us choose."

[ostro_goth]

"Who are the Valar?" Teja asks.

[starrydome]

"They made the stars and the trees," Elrond answers. "And one of them was evil but the others are good and they will help us fight him."

[ostro_goth]

"I see," Teja says. "And they speak with you and give you choices?"

A strange sort of deities, those.

[starrydome]

"Father has gone to fetch them," he says. Proudly.

[ostro_goth]

"And so you were left alone?" Teja guesses. "You and your brother? In the care of some relative?"

[starrydome]

"With Mother." He sniffs. "Then the Sons of Feanor came and Mother had to flee. And they took us."

He blinks away tears.

He knows he shouldn't tell. But the Man is kind and listens.

[ostro_goth]

"They took you?" Teja says. "They are the enemy? Where did they take you?"

[starrydome]

"To their home. We live there now."

He rubs his eyes with small fists.

"They are not unkind to us. But - Maedhros gets very angry sometimes and then we hide. He didn't want us to be brought along."

He'd wanted to kill them.

[ostro_goth]

"And another one looks out for you?" Teja asks.

[starrydome]

"His brother. Maglor. He is very sad a lot of the time. They used to be seven brothers but now only the two are left." He hesitates, then he says, "He says that Maedhros is sad too. He just gets angry."

[ostro_goth]

Teja thinks he saw that name on the tab board when he was but new to this place; but it is certainly not there now. So he does not mention it.

"Of course he will be sad, if all his brothers died, and he knows that the Valar shall be coming against him," Teja says. "It is wise of him to treat you well, also. Otherwise, he could expect no mercy at all."

[starrydome]

The child bites his lower lip. "They are kinslayers. I don't think anybody will forgive them."

[ostro_goth]

"But still, they do not stoop to kill children," Teja says. "That is a line they would not cross."

Pause.

"And here, for a moment, you are safe from them. You would wish to bring gifts back for your brother when you leave, one would assume?"

[starrydome]

He nods. "Food. But not too much. They can't know I've been gone." He hesitates.

"My brother wants us to run away, but I don't we can't yet. It's winter and there're wolves."

He wants them to run away and find the High King.

[ostro_goth]

Teja nods. "You may be safest where you are, indeed," he says.

[starrydome]

"He thinks we should go find the High King. And join his army. But I think we will have to wait. Maybe three years."

Three years is a lifetime.

[ostro_goth]

"Is your brother younger or older than you?" Teja asks.