Lost, by Silver Trails

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: B2MeM Challenge: Someone opens the pages of a book and something falls out. The book is either a volume from the Rivendell library or the personal copy of an inhabitant of Rivendell. It could contain Bilbo's translations from the Elvish or an ancient elvish lay or be a ledger of household accounts--there are many possibilities… (prompt by Hhimring)

Format: short story (c.589 words)
Rating: PG
Characters: Canon characters, revealed in the story
Warnings: none
Summary: A lost Elf comes to Elrond's house




The vale was no longer the beautiful place that he remembered, though maybe he had never been here and only dreamed of it. He had heard tales of the home of Elrond Half-Elven while he lay weak and dazed on a bed, unable to do anything but allow the Woodmen to nurse him back to health. They had found him near the Anduin, starved and waiting for death, and nurtured him back to health in spite of himself.

They had named him Eglir, for he sang softly to himself, even though he would not speak.

What had happened to him at the hands of Gorthaur’s creatures? With their master gone, they had lost their last restraint and raided villages of Elves and Men, leaving death and despair in their wake. Eglir had no memory or the last few years, but he remembered well the chains and the abuse. He had tried to escape, to free his fëa from his suffering hröa, but his will had been taken away.

The wounds had finally healed, but his fëa was still badly bruised, and after staying with the Woodmen for a few years, he had escaped and climbed up the Hithaeglir, trying to escape the darkness that terrified him. So he had come to this place and it was nothing like the house full of laughter and light that he remembered.

It was dark and cold and Eglir could see ghosts wandering through the corridors. Elves he had known once, both Sindar and Noldor, living together in a haven of peace. Eglir could remember the wine and the laughter, and the music… and the books.

It was the books that called to him, always the books for the music was gone forever. Eglir would sit on the floor and try to read the few books left behind. How much time had passed since he spoke with--- Anguish seized his heart as he realized that there was no salvation! He was not strong enough to continue. He had no choice but to sit on the floor and wait for the Lord of Mandos to call him.

But not just yet, Eglir mused as he reached for the last book, the one he had been unable to touch since he arrived at Elrond’s house. It was a collection of ancient lays, lays he had sung with---

Eglir forced himself to open the book, and his eyes fell on a sketch someone had hidden inside. There were two Elves in it, singing together under a tree. Who were those Elves? Eglir knew one of them!

He clutched the sketch to his chest, and music came back to him. Eglir sang softly, whishing he knew who the Elves were. He never heard the light steps or the soft gasp.

“Daeron?”

Eglir looked up, alarmed, but the eyes looking at him where the same eyes from the sketch. “I know you,” he whispered.

The Elf knelt beside him. “Of course you know me, Daeron. Where have you been?”

“I was... Eglir… I was lost…”

“You are not lost anymore,” the other Elf said. “Let me take you to a place where you can rest. You are freezing.”

Eglir allowed the other Elf to help him up, still trying to remember. His knees gave way under him, and the Elf picked him up. Like before… How could he have forgotten those eyes?

“You are… Maglor…” Eglir murmured. The Elf nodded tiredly.

“And you are Daeron,” he said, “and I am here. I will never leave you behind again.”

Comments

[zdenka]

Should I infer that you do not want the characters tagged? People might be more likely to click on the story if they know the characters, but it's up to you.

-tagging assistant

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Go ahead and tag the characters, please. Thanks!

[zdenka]

All right! And done.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Ooooh O.O Not expecting that! ^_^

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

(Grin) Glad I managed to surprise you.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I really like the idea of these two meeting in this place, at this time.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you do. I believe that they would meet many times, at different moments. This could be one of them.

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

*actual flails of joy*

Oh, this is so, completely, 100% perfect and awesome. Cannot stop grinning. So much love.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

(smile) Glad you liked it!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What a great twist at the end.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thanks! =)

[samtyr.livejournal.com]

This is very well-done and I enjoyed the twist at the end.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

How poignant as the two minstrels find one another again and look now to rejoin their songs. Beautifully done.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I believe that they would find each other many times, until Time ended.

[ysilme]

Oooh, this is beautiful. I thought at first that this is Maglor, but Daeron fits even better - and Maglor comes in, too. I find the thought always so heart-wrenching that those Elves who were lost, no matter for what reason, might so very likely have been in the hands of Sauron's creatures. I'm glad Daeron could escape after all, in more than one sense, and find not only light, but also music, again.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I believe that Maglor was stronger as he was also a warrior, while Daeron was not. They might have been in danger many times, and always survived, to find each other again.

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

This is a touching little tale, beautifully written, too :) Thank you so much for it.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your nice comment! I've always liked these two together. I believe they would have met and the Mered Aderthad. :)

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Oh boy. I really loved this. The melancholy, the suspense...I did not look at the tags so I could only guess who the amnesiac Elf could be. It was such an enjoyable story. :)

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the story! I know it was sort of sad, but now they'll be okay.

[hhimring]

The sketch is of Maglor and Daeron singing together at the Mereth Aderthad?
I'm glad Maglor found him!

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Not there, no. It's a sketch made by Elrohir when they visited during the Third Age. I wrote a ficlet where Glorfindel finds them both outside Imladris and brings them in. That is why Daeron remembers the place:

http://tati24.dreamwidth.org/293494.html

I'm glad Maglor found him too! Daeron is not a warrior, and he is not completely stable at times. Not since he lost his mind when Luthien left. So it was good that Maglor found him. =)

[mikononyte.livejournal.com]

Is speechless.
Daeron.
Maglor.
Poignant sadness.
Music to come.
*wibbles in happiness*

This just touches the heart it does. Thank you!

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

I'm happy you liked the story! Thank you! =)

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Very nice! And I'm intrigued by the idea that there are books dedicated to Maglor and Daeron's relationship.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

The book was about old lays, but the Elf who made the sketch put it there. =)