PART 4
The shrill call of gulls drew Elrond's attention to the window. He watched as the large birds floated in the air before diving to catch their meals.
"Would you like to join them?" Ereinion asked. The half-elf spun around, unaware his king had entered his study. He rose and bowed.
"My king, I did not know your council was over."
"That is because you have been dreaming all day," Erestor said tolerantly from behind his own desk, not even bothering to look up. Ereinion looked at him amused. Just a handful of years ago, Erestor would have been the first to his feet, nervously wringing his hands in the presence of his king. But it seemed he had seen too much of his king lately to stand on ceremony. Elrond, though, remained respectful, especially when he was caught daydreaming.
Smiling gently, the tall king approached his herald. "You miss him, do you not?" he asked gently, reaching out to touch Elrond's arm. His cousin sighed, seeming to deflate, and sank back into his chair.
"Yes," he said softly, his gaze once more directed out the window. "It seems his hunts become longer and longer. I wish he were here." Ereinion exchanged a look with Erestor, who also rose, hearing Elrond's melancholic tone.
"Perhaps he will hear your sorrow and return soon," the younger elf suggested. Elrond sighed.
"Perhaps," he said dejectedly.
"Enough of this," Ereinion growled, now taking Elrond's arm and propelling him out of the room. "Your husband would hardly wish to see you mope on his behalf. Come, let us enjoy this beautiful day. You too, Erestor," he said, waving for the younger elf to join them. The three quickly made their way out of the castle, strolling into the king's lush gardens. It seemed the open air was just what Elrond needed for he was soon laughing and smiling with his companions.
The gardens were situated on a high bluff, with a set of stairs winding down the steep cliff to the beach below, but Ereinion steered Elrond away from the edge, knowing that for the half-elf the sea had a strong connection to his husband, and he wished to distract his young cousin from his worries. The Hunter had been gone for nearly eight years. Throughout the last three score and some odd years, the Vala had taken increasingly longer trips away from his husband. Of course, even when he was in Lindon, Oromë could not reveal himself lest it appear he had undue influence on the new king.
Elrond usually disappeared at these times, spending as much time as possible with his husband. Ereinion had had a quiet cottage built in a secluded cove nearby where Elrond could retreat at such times. Unfortunately, the cottage was quite barren at the moment and there was no telling when it would once more be filled.
The three elves wandered to the small pond where spring blossoms recently fallen from the trees covered the water like a pink carpet. The High King listened with amusement as his two friends argued over the color theme for an upcoming festival. Erestor thought it best to use the darker greens associated with the forest in honor of Oropher and Celeborn's visit. Elrond, on the other hand, favored the native blues and silvers of Lindon so that the visiting rulers could see the city at her best. He saw no reason for them to change things to placate others.
Soon though, the topic shifted to court gossip as the two elves wondered who would show up with whom. Gossip was not something either elf indulged in often, but the beautiful day relaxed them, and propriety was set aside for the moment.
It was midday, the sun blazing overhead, when Elrond suddenly stopped in mid-sentence. Erestor and Ereinion turned to see what had caught his attention. Standing proudly at the edge of the clearing was Oromë. For a moment, all was still before Erestor gently nudged Elrond's side.
"See, he must have heard your longing and rushed to your side," he whispered, rising to his feet. The young elf joined his king as they walked back to the castle, giving their friend some time alone with his husband.
Elrond's eyes did not leave his husband's as Oromë slowly moved forward. If it were possible, the Vala seemed almost hesitant, and a deep sadness obviously weighed on him. The Hunter stopped a few paces before the half-elf, and Elrond's concern grew as he stood up, becoming upset by his lover's mood. Finally, unable to stand their distance any longer, Elrond threw himself into Oromë's arms. The Vala easily caught him, holding him tightly to his heavily muscled chest as they kissed each other breathless.
"Come, my love," Oromë whispered into Elrond's mouth when they were forced to part for air. "Let us retire to our little cottage by the sea." At first, Elrond wanted to protest, to demand why his lover had been gone so long and why he was acting so strangely, but one look into the Hunter's depthless eyes stilled his tongue. It did not really matter, and he saw the promise in Oromë's eyes that they would discuss this later. For now, they should enjoy themselves.
Slowly nodding his head, Elrond let his husband lead him toward the winding stairs and the cottage beyond.
~~~
Despite the fact that Elrond wanted nothing more than to bask in the after-effects of their lovemaking, he knew he had to address the dread that had settled into his heart when first he had seen his husband and even now did not abate. Rubbing his cheek affectionately against his lover's shoulder, he murmured, "You have come to bring me bad news." The half-elf felt the almost imperceptible stiffening of the body beneath his head. When the Hunter did not speak, Elrond continued. "Waiting will only make it harder to tell me," he said softly, though he was still unsure if he wanted to hear what his beloved would tell him. Oromë sighed.
"Your counsel is wise, and your heart stronger than mine it would seem." Elrond closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of his husband's chest vibrating with the rumble of his voice. Gently, Oromë sat up, drawing Elrond into a tight embrace, but leaving room so that they could still see one another. But it seemed that once the Hunter looked into his lover's eyes, he was at a loss for words. Elrond searched his eyes, and sighed for what he found there.
"You will leave me," he stated, his tone flat with certainty. He could see the answering sorrow in Oromë's expression and it confirmed his statement. Elrond felt his heart sink, lowering his eyes as he could no longer stand to see the truth that lay open on the Vala's face. Oromë desperately clutched at him to reassure him.
"Not forever," he said quickly, but Elrond heard the truth.
"But it will not be but a few decades that I shall not see you. Ages will pass and you will not come," he said in a moment of foresight. Bravely he raised his eyes to meet his husband's tear-filled gaze. "Will you give me some reason why I must suffer this fate?" he asked quietly, his tone meek with sorrow and Oromë's heart broke to hear it.
"I wish it did not have to be this way, but I cannot stand in the way of your destiny," the Vala began.
"But my destiny is to be with you," Elrond interjected, tears falling down his cheeks. "Ilúvatar himself has ordained it. Why then must we part?"
"Because, though your ultimate destiny lies with me, you are destined to marry another, and you cannot do that while I am here." Elrond's jaw went slack with shock.
"Marry another?" he said incredulously. "One mate for life, lest that mate is irretrievably gone. That is the law. Are the Vala above the law? Or . . ." Here Elrond wavered, his anger cooling as he looked uncertainly at his husband. When he continued, his voice was little more than a whisper. "Or do you intend to choose Míriel's fate?"
"No!" Oromë said quickly, pulling Elrond more tightly into his embrace. "We will live many years together in bliss, until the end of the world."
"Why can we not do that now?" Oromë sighed, feeling his husband's distress through their link.
"You have a great role to fulfill here and to do so, you must marry again."
"And who will you give me to?" Elrond hissed. Oromë hesitated.
"I . . . I do not know who you are to bind to or when this shall take place."
"What! Then how can you know it will happen at all? Will you leave me alone because someone has told you to? You are a Vala; I thought you were to know all!" Elrond nearly yelled, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Even if all were known to me, it could not be so with you," Oromë said emphatically, holding Elrond's shoulders in his iron grip, trying to make him see. When the half-elf remained silent, Oromë continued more quietly. "My soul is bound to yours; it always has been. One cannot see clearly what one's own destiny is, even a Vala. When I stretch my gaze into the future, I see you joined to another, but beyond that, I see us together. Your marriage will not be as ours is. It will not bind you and your spouse forever. Surely, you would not think I would put you through such torment if it were not necessary. I have railed against this since first I saw it, and my heart hurts at this news as much as yours," he said, opening their connection so Elrond could feel his grief and anger.
Elrond seemed to deflate, sinking back into his husband's loving embrace, quiet tears wetting the Vala's skin. Oromë gently rocked him, sending all his love through their connection. After a few minutes, Elrond calmed down.
"I am sorry," he whispered into the Hunter's chest. Oromë stroked his hair lovingly.
"There is nothing to apologize for. It is a hard thing that is asked of us." Again they were silent, both emotionally drained. Just when Oromë would have suggested that they rest, Elrond raised his head to look into the Hunter's eyes. The Vala shivered at the intensity of it.
"I do not care what your say," the half-elf said with quiet determination. "I will not marry again. You are my heart and I will wait for you if that is what you wish. I will not condemn another to a false marriage." Oromë nodded solemnly.
"Perhaps you may keep that vow, but I would have you know now that if this union ever presents itself, I would not have you deny it for fear of my anger or jealousy, or reprisal from the Valar. And I would have you know that I will always love you; my heart will not be whole until you return to me in Valinor." Their eyes remained locked as a silent understanding passed between them. Then, Elrond sagged back into Oromë's strong embrace, seeking comfort from the impending separation.
The Vala kissed his husband's hair, and began to sing, his deep voice quickly sending Elrond to sleep and keeping nightmares away.