Of Age
Gilriant twisted the shafts together and the glaive fused into one long weapon. Due to some clever design and rune work you would have to study it carefully to even see where the end of each part connected to the other. Knowing no one was in striking distance he took the weapon through a series of moves to get a feel for it. Harry couldn’t help but to smile at the way it sliced through the air and how the bright metal almost sang in his hands.
Once the dance was finished, he adjusted his grip and twisted back in the other direction and what was one weapon, separated into two. These pieces Gilriant took through another series of fighting forms. The light gleamed off the silver as the elf danced with the weapons. There was no other word for it. Not when he moved with the fluidity of one who had long since worked out the most effective way to make use of them. He had gained mastery over their basic use. Learning and practicing a never-ending process that would just further refine the way Harry used them. After the final form he looked them over carefully before settling them in the sheathes made for them. “Atar, your work is exquisite.”
Beaming a smile he moved to sweep up his father in a hug. “I am sure your cousin could have done better, but I could not give him the metal to use.” With an amused huff, Gilriant pulled back to look down at Maglor. “Perhaps, but I find I much like it this way. His design, made by your hands, for me. Anyone with half a brain knows how hard and how much care you took making them just by looking at them.” Before he could protest that statement another voice chimed in. “He’s right, you know.”
Looking over, Gilriant quirked a smile. “See? Shiny might be as biased as the rest of us, but he still knows weapons and their use. He’s not going to give false praise where it's not due.” Maglor looked over to his best friend and back again to his son, his voice dry. “Perhaps but I still don’t have the skill of my father, brother or nephew.” Harry gave a shrug. “Who does. I would still rather have this made by your hands than any other.” The bard made a dismissive gesture. “At least we know you are not likely to get any taller, so I could make it properly to fit your height.”
At the reminder Gilriant sighed. “Yes yes, I match my brother’s height. I refuse to be any taller than that.” Then his smile softened. “Either way, this perfectly suits me. So thank you Atar. I appreciate your hard work.” Maglor opened his mouth but at Glorfindel’s nudge he shut it again and his lips curved in a smile. “You are welcome hinya. I am glad you like it.” Harry couldn’t help at the flicker of amusement as well as appreciation. His father may still be in a bit of denial, but the place he had allowed the captain in his life still helped in many ways.
*
Without looking up, Haldir shifted the arrows he was working on to primarily to his left side. Not long after Gilriant flopped down on the bench, resting his head against the marchwarden’s right leg. “Please promise me you aren’t going to be giving me any jewelry too.” Harry complained. “I swear my entire family has conspired to make sure I am ‘properly attired’ according to their definition.” With an amused sound the blonde elf dutifully replied, “I promise that I am not giving you any jewelry. I have not before, and I already know your family will provide you with plenty. You are well aware that is one of the ways they show how much you are valued by them.”
With a sigh, Gilriant acknowledged his point. “Yes, and I’m not about to stop wearing jewelry completely. I just have plenty already and in enough colors and styles for any occasion. I’m just lucky that we still have the bag that is larger on the inside in order to carry any of it with us when we travel. That way I can at least carry some of it with me, even if I have a ready excuse for not having all of it.” A soft smile crept on his face. “I’m not about to let those familiar with the culture think I’m not valued by my family. I just also know how other cultures can see it as showy, I need to strike the right balance.” To be fair, his family did know he didn’t like flashy, so by their standards everything was subdued. Just not necessarily by everyone else’s point of view.
“Still set on traveling then?” Haldir replied as he kept his gaze focused on his work. “Yes. As much as they try to argue against it, I am of age now. Thranduil is expecting me to come to the Greenwood, I want you to show me Lothlorien and there are many places I need to go.” Gilriant waved a hand in the air. “I am going to need people to trust me in the future, how can they do that if I don’t show I care about them?” The marchwarden inclined his head in understanding. “Agreed, I will end up seeing much more of Middle Earth than I ever thought. And stop worrying about taking me out of the woods. You are my forests now. Wherever we go, I will be content.”
“If I ever do find a romantic partner, you are setting incredibly high standards for them to meet.” Gilriant gave him a warm smile. “As I should. Whomever that ends up being, needs to be worthy of us both. I have high standards.” At the haughty reply, Harry couldn’t help but to laugh. “So you do. Not that we need to worry about that for a while. I have other things to focus on before I am willing to even consider that.” Haldir paused to look down at him. “You know that’s not going to deter any from trying. Good thing you have many willing to help provide a buffer if you need it.”
Gilriant reached up to tug some of Haldir’s hair. “Thanks. I know we spent much time talking about this. It still helps to confirm your thoughts on everything are still the same. My family is so persistent that it's difficult not to have some doubts.” The marchwarden inclined his head with a smile. “Family does know how to tug on your heart-strings. They are the ones that tied them in the first place.”
*
“You are only 100 years old. You are still very young.” It was easy to read the disapproval on Elrond’s face. He understood where his brother was coming from. That didn’t mean he intended to give in. “I am of age,” Gilriant countered. “There are many things I need to learn that can’t come out of books, or by just staying here.” Though his expression remained serene, the slightly disgruntled feeling that seeped from the older elf meant that those last words couldn’t be completely countered. Still he tried. “And you still have plenty of time to learn them. No need to set out so soon.” A flicker of worry broke across Harry’s face. “That I’m not so sure of.” Elrond inhaled, studying his brother’s face after that pronouncement. Gilriant switched the conversation from out-loud, to onsanwe. This would help not only convey meaning, but the feelings aided by the connection between them.
You have the same gift as I. You can feel what I feel. As much as my wolves have helped, there is still a force out there working to spread corruption across Middle Earth. While there was no feeling of denial from his brother, the protectiveness rose strongly. Is it not better that I go out there now, build the skills and strengthen alliances so that we are better suited to fight against it in the future? I may even be able to deny the enemy resources by acting now, instead of waiting for an overt sign. At the acknowledgment of his point, Harry further pressed. Between Hallows, Tindil, my own abilities and both Fawkes and Hedwig, Haldir and I can travel swiftly should trouble arise. I have no intention of tackling something bigger than I can handle brother.
A faint frown and a rejoinder came from Elrond. And those guards of yours. I know you do not like having them, but your wolves could carry them swiftly as well. That is not so many as to draw undue attention to you. You also have all worked together and work well together. Are they not your friends?
“And I have every intention of taking them with me to the Greenwood.” The switch back to the verbal conversation and the potential reasoning behind it was not lost on Elrond. “You should keep them beyond the Greenwood. I do believe they are rather attached to you by now. I daresay if you try to leave without them, King Thranduil will likely try to increase the amount he sends after you. Your best chance at keeping the amount low is to keep the ones you have.” While he may not understand the entire reason the ruler of the Greenwood was protective of his little brother, he still approved of it. It was clear there was something else going on. Yet instinct told him not to pry into it, not yet.
A long sigh escaped Gilriant. “You have a point.” This was just another in a long line of arguments he had with various family members. Of course Maglor being the most stubborn of them. Which led to another line of thought that might distract his brother.
“You know, with me traveling, we might see some progress between Atar and Shiny.” A somewhat pained expression came over Elrond’s face. “Perhaps. I am fairly certain I understand the root of what’s stopping Atya.” At the very least this served as an excellent distraction for his brother. “Perhaps with some time to focus on things other than taking care of me it will help.” Gilriant suggested. “Or he’ll just try to fuss over the rest of the family here.” The older elf countered. Well at least that part wouldn’t be Harry’s problem.
*
He wasn’t entirely sure how an indoor space could make him think so strongly he was in a forest, but somehow this managed it. Underfoot looked more like a lattice of branches. Considering the strength of personality that formed the space, it didn’t surprise him. “So I’m your problem now is it?” The amused tone of Narinzel made it clear she was teasing him. “Well I wouldn’t put it that way, but yes.” Gilriant smiled at the fiery red-head he’d been getting to know over time. “Officially I am now of age, so can take over helping you. As that is part of my task.” While Namo and the maia that worked under him had been working with her, officially she had always been his charge.
“They did explain to you how your healing works, correct?” Gilriant settled on a branch that was conveniently placed like a seat. “Fea and hroa are connected. In order to be reinbodied, the fea needs to be healed enough to sustain the hroa.” Narinzel replied as she settled on a ‘seat’ across from him. “That’s the general sense of it, though it breaks down into different things. To a certain point, you need to resolve enough inner conflicts so that you are at peace.” A smile flickers over his expression. “Or at least enough so that you are in harmony.”
Music after all was the heart of this world. Even those that had the weakest ability to hear the song were still connected to it. It flowed through every part of things. When someone’s inner song was out of tune, it could not sustain the body well. In the case of elves that their hroa had ceased to function, they needed to have their inner song strong enough to sustain the recreation of their hroa. Some had a strong enough personality that they could brute force their way through it in a pinch. But it wouldn’t be the most stable of beginnings. For what Narinzel wanted, she needed to be strong throughout her melody. “Which probably means working on things I would rather not.” She concluded with a resigned expression. It shifted to one of resolve. “So how do we get this started?”
“Tell me about your favorite memory.” She blinked in surprise. “What?” Gilriant’s smile strengthened. “We are, in many ways, the sum of our memories. They contain all that we have learned and the experiences that shape us. Our good memories often strengthen us. So tell me your favorite one.” In order to heal, he wanted to lay a good foundation. While he did know many things about what she was concerned with, even parts of how she died, what he needed was what made her strong. “I, it’s hard to pick one.” She finally said. Humming, Gilriant asked, “When I say joy, what do you think of first?”
“My little leaf.” Her whole demeanor softened. “There are many things that bring me joy, but hearing him call me Nana for the first time, nothing else compares.” This did not surprise him. Her requests that he relay back on how her son and husband were doing already told him how important they were to her. What he needed was other information to build upon. Gilriant inclined his head, his voice warm. “That’s a lovely memory to carry with you. What else come to mind?” Narinzel leaned back against the trunk of the ‘tree’. “The first time I went on a solo run through the woods, and not on the ground.” Harry gave her an encouraging look. “Tell me about it”
“It's a combination of skills that let you travel from tree to tree without ever touching the ground. You need a strong sense of balance, a good connection to nature, and the confidence you aren’t going to fall. It’s listening to the song of the trees and knowing where they are strongest. Knowing what branches are sound enough. Being able to read the flow of the wind and movement of nature as to where to go. It’s . . . freeing.”
“How do you learn all that?” It didn’t take much to get her talking about it, just asking a prompting question here and there. Gilriant sat back and listened, watching her fea grow even brighter. Not everyone would respond well to this method, but it was working with Narinzel.
*
“I don’t like it.” Gilriant did his best not to sigh. “Grandfather, I am of age now.” Apparently most of his relatives were part of the ‘you are too young to be taking on responsibilities’ bandwagon. “That doesn’t mean you need to start taking on major responsibilities,” Gil-Galad argued. “I’m not, not really.” When the older elf started to protest he continued. “Most of what I am going to be doing is just what I have before. Maybe a little more intensive and more often, but I am old enough to do that without harming myself.” Harry moved in to give the taller elf a hug. While technically he didn’t need to breathe, yet, he could still feel the former High-King sigh. Funny how the mind worked giving the appearance of things even if the body didn’t quite need it. “I still don’t like it.”
“I know. But you also know me. Can you really see me not helping where I know I can?” He pulled back to look up at his Grandfather’s face. “There are times I really wish I had the ability to curse those that made you feel so responsible for everything in that other world.” The not quite grumble made Gilriant smile. “At least I can step away now if I feel it will be harmful to me. Thank Elrond for that one.” That did make Gil-Galad soften. “Thank Eru for that. How is your brother doing?”
It occurred to Harry, and not for the first time, how complicated his ‘family’ connections were. Some of blood, some of choice, both just as valid. To elves where soul counted as much as body, those that nourished your soul were indistinguishable from blood family. So it didn’t matter how close or far the blood connection might be. It was the acknowledged and nurtured relationships that mattered, and held great importance. So it was both true that Elrond was somehow his Grandfather’s cousin, and also Gilriant’s brother.
“Sharing your opinion on what I should not be doing for the most part.” He replied in an amused tone. “Sadly I defeated him with a bit of logic and promises to take care of myself. Do I really need to keep at it with you?” The fact this had been a side trip on his way out from working with Narinzel should prove that he could handle himself. Nowhere near as drained as he might have been in the beginning. “I have every reason to be concerned about you.” Gilriant smiled as he replied, knowing the concern and grumbling came from a place of care. “You do Grandfather, but I ask you to have a little faith that I do know when I am over my head and to ask for assistance, or retreat.”
“What’s this we hear about you taking on responsibilities, you are too young Gilriant!” In a choice between sighing and laughing, Harry decided to just go with laughing. It may be a long night, but at least he knew he had family that really cared about him.
*
Eventually Gilriant wore them down into if not agreeing, being resigned to the fact he would be traveling. Maglor hovered in the doorway as he worked on packing what he wanted to bring with him. The small bag would easily carry enough for the whole group traveling if need be. He already had a few things of Haldir’s in there. “I promise Atar, it's not going to be forever. I can easily come back for visits, especially with Hedwig’s help.” The ice phoenix trilled her agreement from her perch observing the packing.
“It’s not that. Okay that is part of things and I’m going to hold you to that promise, but that’s not why I’m here.” Turning around, Gilriant moved to face Maglor completely. His gaze dropped to the circlet in the bard’s hands. A deceptively simple flowing piece shone as brightly as the weapons that had been wrought by his hands. Somehow making him think of music, even if it did not outright have an appearance that suggested it. Even from here Harry could pick up on the protective runic work that had been imbued into it. “I know you don’t like anything elaborate, or the title that others give you but you do have rank and deserve respect.” The bard gave him a slight smile. “You will likely have many names in your life. But few will know this one, Faircoivar. It is for you to keep and share with those that matter.”
The hints of the words that made up the name Maglor just used rang a true note within him, spirit of life and death. Which was essentially what the Keeper of Balances was. Yet it was not the name he found inscribed in the inside of the circlet when Harry accepted the gift from Maglor’s hands. For that was already a part of his name. Nor was it related to Dream-Walker, another thing he had been called at times. Instead, tucked within the protective runes he found it. Rador, one that makes or finds a way. Simple and short for an elven name. Yet, wasn’t that the truth of his life? Whatever it was, he never let anything stand in his way. Not for long. No matter where the path would take him, he could find it, and would travel it, if it got him to his goal. Turning the gift over in his hands, he could feel not just the protections, but the love that the circlet was made with. Knowing all this he could do but one thing.
“Well, I will need new braids to wear this, care to help me?” He smiled and offered the circlet back to Maglor. As much as he might want to fight against titles and outside responsibilities beyond what he had already chosen for himself, this was not that. Gilriant, Rador, could accept this gift made with love. Seeing the warm smile on his father’s face, he smiled back and found a place to sit, pulling out his current braids and letting Maglor get to work. When the bard was done, he wrapped his arms around his son and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I will always be your song and shield when you need me. But I will also help you fly free, as you are meant to.”
*
“You know, you are riding Hallows. You can easily go visit your brothers and be back around close to the time it will take the rest of us to get to Thranduil’s halls.” The trip so far had been entirely uneventful. They had just made it over the Misty Mountains and in one direction was Lothlorien and the other was the Greenwood. Easy to come up with the idea of Haldir heading towards the direction of his family. There were times Gilriant struggled with the idea that he kept the marchwarden from them. Despite knowing how his friend and bondmate felt. It was just difficult for him to not want to seek out opportunities for Haldir to visit his brothers.
“I promise to not go ahead, to stay with everyone else. In case of an emergency I can send Hedwig or Fawkes for you. You know you’ll know instantly if I am in trouble.” While Gilriant was on Tindil, the guards were all on horses. So yes, he could easily outpace them if need be. However Harry had every intention of actually sticking to the plan of him staying with the guards. Knowing how fast Hallows was, he had no fear for Haldir’s safety. Nothing and no one could catch them. “I don’t know if that’s the best of ideas,” Was the marchwarden’s eventual reply.
While he knew the guilt that was difficult for Harry to shake, he also knew how much chaos the young elf could easily cause or find. While Gilriant had excellent points, there were many things they couldn’t anticipate happening. “Why not? I already promised not to charge into danger at the beginning of this trip. The Starlight wolves have taken out any orc packs in the area. The goblins tend not to leave the mountains for the same reason there aren’t that many orcs here.” All true, the biggest danger had been in going over the mountain itself.
“You know exactly why I don’t want to just leave you.” Neither of them wanted to tempt fate by using the explicit words. On Gilriant’s part it was that everything would be fine. On Haldir’s part it was calling him a trouble magnet. “That doesn’t make anything I pointed out less true.” Studying him the marchwarden finally inclined his head. “Very well, if for some reason something does happen, you will not fight me on staying with you in the future, agreed?” He looked towards Maethel, “Keep close watch on him please.” She nodded. “To the best of my ability.” As they parted ways, the aforementioned pretended not to notice the guards in the back making bets.
*
Travel remained peaceful, especially once they entered the Greenwood. The air remained light, the birds calling and the normal movements of the wildlife within spoke of no danger. To the guards, this was a home they had not seen in some time. They held no regrets for the task the volunteered for. Still it was nice to be back in a place they belonged. Of course none of that explained why they could see Prince Gilriant becoming more restless. He was looking at the trees intently as they traveled. It was a look they knew well of him, one that said he was listening to the trees.
When they stopped, they were not shocked to see him dismount Tindil and immediately go to one of the trees, the deer trailing behind him. Placing both hands on the tree their prince closed his eyes. They could feel it, the song of the trees deepening around them. While they were not the ones the trees sung too, it still resonated within them. Even with their knowledge of how he interacted with the world around them, it left them with a feeling of awe. The intensity faded and Gilriant opened his eyes before stepping back from the tree.
He started to turn to go when there was a great crack above them. Right next to him a long thick branch struck the ground. After a brief pause their prince reached down to pick it up. When his hand closed around the branch, pieces of wood and bark shed from it. When he finally held it upright it looked like a finely carved staff. The bottom had overlapping arching roots, and the top echoed it with branches even as the main part of it looked like a number of thin trees gathered together. “Perhaps, Prince Gilriant, you should call back Lord Haldir?” Maethel respectfully suggested. Only to have the young elf raise an eyebrow as he looked at her. “A stick is hardly dangerous. So far there has been no suggestion of danger or anything too difficult for me to handle.
Hedwig made a slight sound of disagreement giving the young elf a scolding trill. He rolled his eyes at her. “I stand by what I said. If it does look to be too big for me I will call Haldir. Until then, we continue on as is.” While the white phoenix on his shoulder continued to give him a disapproving look, she remained in place. The ravens that had been following along for the trip started trying to get in on the bets the other guards were making.
Maethel did her best not to sigh. While she didn’t expect anything else, she still wished her charge was a bit less eager to prove himself capable. Or perhaps that Haldir had insisted on staying with them. “As you wish my Prince.”