Arrival
Maglor now understood what Gilriant had tried to tell him before about his first dream-walking trip. Hanging there in the in-between surrounded by swirls of color and light peeking through the dark. Yet, he was not afraid. Not for himself, or for his child. There was no room for fear in the peace that filled him. Instead he felt embraced, cradled in warm loving arms. Even as it felt like someone was examining every part of his fea, it did not disturb his calm. Instead of disgust he might have expected, there was sorrow. Instead of rejection, forgiveness. It was enough to make him want to weep.
He had the feeling he would be utterly changed by this experience. Also that if not for the cloak Gilriant draped around both their shoulders, he may have not made this trip still embodied. This was not a journey meant for the living. He had passed it once, twice would have been too many. As it was he felt, fuzzy around the edges. Something swept over him that did make him gasp.
The Oath of Feanor, it was not gone as much as made dormant. Instead of those words ringing through him, an enhancement to the promise he made to his elfling. He could take no deliberate action that would cause harm to Gilriant. The tie to blood and family was made far stronger than the one regarding a shiny rock. There was also the feeling that at some point in the future, it would end up being dissolved completely.
Some of the heaviness on his fea lifted. Not all, for he still must come to terms with his actions in the past. Maglor had already started down that road. What it did do, help him be assured he would not become that monster again. What others would think, nothing he could do about. Only work on himself and his own actions. Eru should not do everything for him. He was responsible for himself, and he could feel approval at that thought.
There was no way to know how long he was held there. Nor what anyone else’s experience was. Maglor imagined that they all were being given the same treatment as himself, if not better. Still it was impossible to track time in this place. One moment there, the next he was gently moved forward, stepping through the doorway into a great set of halls. The firebird on his shoulder, unconscious small elfling in his arms with an icebird chick in his arms with a few of the fea still clinging to him. The rest of them streamed in through the doorway rapidly filling the halls.
It wasn’t exactly chaos, it did get close. A tall dark figure that he recognized as the one that deposited the elfling in his arms after that one ritual moved rapidly towards him. Mandos then. He wasn’t the only one, other figures were moving rapidly in but he paid less heed as he was far more concerned about the fact that Gilriant was currently unconscious. “Hinya!”
Mandos reached him first and put a hand on Gilriant’s head, tip of the index finger resting near where the streak of white in his hair started. “I believe he will be okay. Merely adjusting to the change in his hroa. Este can make sure of it.” Glancing back over his shoulder, Namo had the faintest of smiles on his face. “Which we can do now as the others felt your entry to Ea as much as I. I dare say all that are well connected to the Song felt it.”
While Maglor expected to see Mandos, and possibly some other Valar, he was not expecting to have many of them show up. He kept a protective hold on Gilriant even as his spine stiffened as the tall beings surrounded him. “Now I know you love Elenrieano, but you need to let go so Este can check him over.” Namo reached to gently ease the fea still clinging to the elfling off him. EIther the chick wasn’t a big of an issue or the glare coming off from her was enough for the Valar did not make her move. Then a more finely boned hand reached to touch Gilriant, and Maglor suppressed the urge to back away.
There was no mistaking the beings coming crowding in for any but the Ainur. Yes there were all the elven fea, but the only solid beings shone brightly with their inner light. Their voices had an echoing musical quality to hear. Their looks more or less matched many of the descriptions he knew of the Valar he had not already interacted with. Though they were vague as the Ainur in general could and did shift their forms from his understanding.
Regardless he was grateful when who he presumed was Lady Este shooed the others back. “Yes, he will be fine. Merely sleeping at the moment. Though perhaps it is best he goes to the garden while we have our discussion.”
“What is there to discuss, it already happened.”
“Yes, but we must decide what we want to do about it now.”
“I thought we already decided that.”
“Well it wasn’t exactly what we expected now was it?”
Were the Valar . . . bickering? The thought made Maglor blink.
Este looked back and waved one of the maia over. A slim figure rather covered in green approached. “Please escort them to the gardens.”
Emboldened by the fact no one had tried to take the elfling from him, Maglor inclined his head. “If it pleases my Lady, Gilriant will want to see some of whom he brought here after he wakes up and before we depart. If only for his own reassurance they are well.”
Namo was the one to respond and his voice was dry. “If I am lucky we can keep it to just them, somehow I do not think I will be that lucky.” He then looked at Maglor. “Have no fear, we will not send you off without the chance for goodbyes. He’d make sure to get them regardless. Better to give him this than have the young one finding his own way to do it.” The bard couldn’t be sure if it was a good or bad thing that the Doomsman knew what his elfling was like. Heading to the garden was looking like an excellent choice at the moment.
“By your leave then.” He inclined his head, not wanting to bow with the combination of the firebird on his shoulder and his precious burden. The maia beckoned to him, and he followed them out. Impossible by their current somewhat plantlike appearance to tell if the being guiding them was male or female. He wasn’t going to venture a guess. Instead he paid attention to their path to make sure he could return on his own if needed. The firebird on his shoulder perked up looking around alertly. Thankfully it wasn’t too long of a walk and there were benches when they got there.
Sitting down he adjusted his precious bundle checking him over again. Gilriant was still asleep and while they said he would be fine Maglor could not help but to worry. Just as in the image of the elfling he had seen when Mandos entrusted him to the bard’s care, the silver-white streak was in his hair. It corresponded where the scar once sat above his right eye. From his quick check all the scars were gone completely, and this was the only thing that marked where one once was borne. A slight shift in features from his wizarding self, more delicate and refined. Thankfully not enough to make him unrecognizable when the youngling got a chance to look in a mirror again. He would not see a complete stranger staring back at him.
What relieved him to see was the roundness of childhood. It would appear the physical deficiencies from his childhood treatment and ‘adventures’ were gone. Hair as black as a raven’s wing and just as glossy, having lost most of its unruliness. Which would likely relieve Gilriant as it would be easier to wrangle. If he learned to deal with everyone wanting to braid his hair in various styles, only time would tell. Leaf shaped ears clearly seen.
Little if any of the edain was left in him. Mostly elf, but yes something else as well. The maia in his blood came through strongly. His inner light was strong, stronger than one would expect of an elfling. Nearly equal to the nature spirit that led them here. What that would mean as he aged, only time could tell. The fact that Gilriant was physically healthy, that was what really mattered. He hoped that included a fix to his eyesight as his glasses had been lost somewhere in the transition. As had his shoes, though the rest of his clothes appeared to have successfully adjusted to his new size. Which if he had been among the edain, they would have accounted him to being close to six years of age.
The firebird fluttered down to the bench to join his inspection of the youth. Giving a soft trill even and moving to preen his hair. The chick nestled on Gilriant’s chest gave a reproving chirp. As if scolding the firebird for potentially disturbing the young one’s rest. “Just so m’lady. Though I think he will not wake until he is ready. We will wait until then.”
***
Sounds came to him first, and more acutely than they had before. Peeking through the soft darkness of slumber and bringing him back to the waking world. The thump of a heartbeat close to his ear. The sound of breathing, and of two birds close by. One small and on his chest and the other larger sitting close. The rattle of leaves on the branches of trees. The sounds of others moving in various distances from here.
What he could smell and feel further pulled him out. Warmth and being held close. That his feet were bare but not cold. The weave of the fabric against his cheek and arms holding him firmly and close. Scents were more difficult as they were more sharply defined than they had been in the past for him. He could define the generalities even as the more subtle ones escaped his ability to identify. Strongly of green things, of the person holding him. The warm spice of fire and the cooler bite of ice.
There were a few things he could taste, and far more he could feel within himself. Somehow he knew he was tasting green living things in the air as well as the smell of them. More would have to wait for him to try food and drink. As to the feeling, those he definitely needed more experience and to define. First was some sort of buzzing at the back of his head that instinct said not to touch yet. There was the steady strong light of the one that held me, the depth and strength of it speaking of one that had lived a long life. The bright burning that did not hurt, of what must be Fawkes close by, also strong and deep with age. On his chest the coolness and bright youth of what could only be the reborn Hedwig. More presences radiating such light, but were further away from him.
Cracking an eye open, his sight flooded in. So clear and such detail that he had never had in the past. More colors than he was aware of in the past. A little overwhelming and fascinating at the same time. And no glasses, that in itself maybe made the trip worth it. Blinking his eyes fully opened he saw Maglor smiling at him. “There you are hinya. You have been asleep since we arrived in Mandos halls some time ago.”
The bard helped him sit up, as Gilriant steadied the chick still resting against his chest with one arm. It gave him a greater vantage point to look around with bright eyed interest. “How are you feeling?”
“Amazing.” He almost started at the sound of his own young voice before looking at his hand and then his bare foot he wiggled in the air and sighed. “I had really hoped I wouldn’t be a little kid.”
He could feel as much hear the warm chuckle that escaped the bard. “I would say that I am sorry, but I am not. You also look to be healed of all your past hurts. Now you can also enjoy the benefits of growing up as a beloved elven child.”
Gilriant’s nose scrunched at the thought of childhood but then his expression lit up. He flexed his free hand. “Oh! I can play the harp now with you.” He grinned up at Maglor.
“That you can.” Maglor smiled softly at him as Hedwig gave a chirp and Fawkes trilled next to him. He reached to scratch the firebird’s crest before carefully petting the chick. “Would you like to try standing up?”
At the quick nod, the tall elf carefully set him down, hands held to either side in case the young one wobbled. The first thing that hit Gilriant was the feeling he got through his feet on the ground of growing green energies. Strong, healthy, kind and caring. How he knew all that, he couldn’t be sure of but he did know. He didn’t want to let go of Hedwig yet, so he carefully held her even as he took a couple of steps. Odd being so close to the ground again. Different center of balance too. “Where are we?”
“Yavanna’s gardens. I believe something about our arrival surprised them and there was to be a discussion. This was deemed the best place for me to wait with you.” Maglor replied easily.
“Really?” He looked around the bright green of his eyes, nearly a match for the lush greenness of growing things. “I’m not supposed to be here without an escort.”
“After what happened with, Bob was it? I’m not terribly surprised by that.” The bard got a mock glare for that. It was largely ineffectual considering it was coming from an elfling. “I thought we were not talk about it again.” Gilriant scowled.
Before the debate about it could devolve, one of the green nature spirits glided closer and set a bowl of berries along with one of apples on the bench. “Hungry?” Their voice was both musical and somehow rich with the feeling of plants and such.
“Thank you!” Gilriant practically danced back to the bench to help the birds with the berries, taking a few for himself. Maglor pulled out a knife and took one of the apples cutting slices that he alternated between himself and the elfling.
The being inclined their head. “Most welcome. It is a joy to have you here.”
Gilriant swallowed his mouthful, “Really?”
Smiling, they nodded. “Really. If we can be of help let us know.” Another one glided forward setting down a couple of classes of crystal clear water. “Our visitors are few and the children of Eru are always welcome here.” Though Maglor noted most of their attention was on the elfling. Which did not surprise him in the least. Still he answered for them both.
“Your welcome is noted and appreciated, thank you.”
After the snack the beings engaged Gilriant in some sort of game that had him running around with them, laughing. Hedwig, supervising from her spot, still cradled against the elflings chest. It warmed Maglor’s heart to see the young one let go that way. It also gave him a chance to relax and just feel how much better it was to be here. More in tune with the world around him and the annoying background grating on his senses gone.
Suddenly the elfling stopped and turned sharply to look beyond Maglor. A broad smile appeared on his face and he started running. The bard turned to see three of the Valar approaching. Two male presenting figures and one he thought was female. “Namo! Irmo!” The tall elf stood up to watch.
To the bard's slight surprise Gilriant allowed the silver haired male to sweep him up in a hug. “Hello there Elenrieano. It is good to see you awake and in your proper form.” At the grumble from the elfling about really not wanting to be this young the Valar just laughed. “Consider it being given time to grow and learn without any expectations.”
The elfling turned his head to look at the one he had seen before but not interacted with. “Hi! Oh, you are sad. Can I help?”
“You help just by being you young one.”
“This is my sister Nienna,” Namo contributed. “She wanted to take you to see your cousin. Since your Atar cannot be within my Halls for very long she is going to keep you company.”
Now Gilriant frowned at Namo. “Why can’t he come?”
It gave Maglor a little start and then a warm feeling that the elfling didn’t deny the title of Atar that Namo bestowed upon him. While Gilriant had yet to voice that name for him, it didn’t lessen the feelings he had. He would not push anything on the young one. He was welcome to call the bard what he wished.
“My Halls are not a place for the living, and there are other considerations.” Namo answered.
Like the issues associated with the Oath and his brothers and father.
“But . . . “
“It’s alright hinya. Go with Nienna and visit your cousin. I’ll be here waiting for you.” If the bard couldn’t trust the Lady of Mercy and Sorrows with his elfling, there was no one he would be able to trust.
“Fine.” He wiggled until Irmo put him down and then offered his hand to Nienna. “But I'm walking this time.”
She smiled and took his hand. “Why don’t you tell me about your friend there. She can come but perhaps the fire one should stay behind.”
Fawks trilled his agreement and Maglor could hear Gilriant’s piping voice talking about Hedwig as they moved away. He then looked at the two Valar and bowed low. “My Lords.”
“No need for that.” Mandos waved a hand as the bard slowly straightened up.
“As you wish.” Maglor replied slowly. “I am sure there are a few things you wish to discuss?”
“Yes. First, there are places for you to rest and tend to your needs while you are here. A way is being prepared to send you across the sea and Manwe has agreed to ask his eagles for their assistance once you reach the shore. I understand that you are going to settle in Imladris?” Mandos reviewed with a patient expression.
That was quite the honor. Not one that he expected. “I, yes. Thank you. That will make travel swift and safe.” The confusion and surprise must have shown for the Valar added.
“Elenrieano is noticeable. Your arrival had a bigger effect than we anticipated. Many will know something has happened. We believe Eru strengthened the maia in him. It has made him an individual of interest.” The two Valar exchanged a glance at Maglor’s worried expression. “Best to get you swiftly and safely to where you want to settle so there are fewer chances of any to waylay you.”
“Or protest that he is in the care of a Feanorian?” A hint of resigned bitterness trickled through him though he did his best to contain that. Despite what Mandos had proclaimed to him, he was sure there were elves that would try. Not undeservedly so either.
“That too.” Mandos agreed. “Though mostly as I have much to do and I do not want to think what kind of mischief he could manage here long term.” A small smile edged into being on the Valar’s face.
“As he falls chiefly under my domain, I will be setting a few rules for him. Mostly we want him to have the opportunity to grow and be loved as any young one. As is, you are likely to see more of the Ainur while you are here. Though not I, for I have all the arrivals you brought with you to deal with.”
Maglor’s lips were tightly pressed together, betraying that he wasn’t entirely happy with all that he had heard. While he didn’t exactly want to see more of any of the ainur including the Doomsman, he at least was slightly more familiar than the rest. He also appeared to care strongly about Gilriant’s well being.
“Fear not, I do believe Nienna has appointed herself to be the main contact for you while you are here.” Irmo added softly to Maglor before looking at Mandos. “I will be speaking with him as well. As we determined the dream-walking may be the best way to help him exercise some of his gifts without causing a large disruption. Though not too often.”
“He needs to be a child.” Mandos agreed with a grim expression. “Though I wish you much luck convincing him not to take the weight of Ea on his shoulders. I have seen his past.”
Maglor knew only the little that Gilriant was willing to tell him so far. Considering the elfling was reluctant to revisit those memories it was but a small percentage of it. That Mandos knew it in full, well he could understand why the Doomsman seemed so caring. So adamant about the elfling traveling swiftly and safety to their end destination.
“Thankfully I will have plenty of help in Imladris.”
“Yes.” The shadow of a smile was back on Mandos’ face when he agreed with Maglor. “As they have had prior warning, I am sure they divined the disturbance was your arrival and are preparing.”
“The great eagles will likely be a surprise.” Maglor commented with a wry twist of his lips. “Thank you again, for arranging that. Considering Gilriant’s love of flying he will very much enjoy that.”
“Yes I rather thought he would. It will hopefully give him something to look forward to when he needs to leave the others behind. Speaking of which, I must get back to my Halls.”
“Of course.” Maglor bowed deeply again. “My lords.” He watched as they turned and left before sitting back down. The firebird settled with him and the tall elf reached to lightly scratch the bird’s crest. “Well, not as difficult as it could have been. My friend. Perhaps a bit of music while we wait?”
Reaching for one of the satchels he set it on the bench and pulled out a small lap harp. The full sized one was in there but it would be alarming enough for some that he pulled out this, let alone the big one. The lap harp was a safe size to manage.
When he went to play, Maglor paused and took a closer look at his hands. The burn had been removed and only smooth skin remained. Oh the calluses he earned through playing and crafting were still there. Just the terrible burn had been taken away. No more pain when playing stretched the burn. He’d been so focused on Gilriant, he hadn’t taken much stock of himself until now.
He bowed his head, this was enough to make him want to weep. Eru must have done it. For whatever reason, he took away the burn scar. While Maglor didn’t need it in order to have a reminder, it was a beacon to advertise his fell deeds in the past. What the message was from that action, he was not sure he wanted to think too hard about yet. No, for now he would play, and thank Eru.