Rating: blue
Pairings: Erestor/Glorfindel, Celeborn/Galadriel and more
Warnings: none
Summary: I have often been asked why the Elves in my tales never sailed west. Well - it is not like they had never considered it …
ETERNAL PEACE
"There it is!" Galadriel cried. Only at the very last moment did she remember her dignity and stop herself from jumping up and down like an excited Elfling. With her sharp eyes, she had seen the mast of the white ship before anybody else, and now her heart beat high in her chest with excitement.
At last, the moment had come! She and all her loved ones would sail west! No more war, no more pain, no more trouble. No more dealings with pesky mortals. And reunion with those who had sailed earlier.
She turned around and raised her hands. Immediately, all chatter died down.
"Please, my loved ones, I wish to say a few words on this special occasion.
"We are about to sail to a land where the sun always shines, the birds sing from dawn to dusk and the grass is always green."
"It is not as if it rained non-stop in Lothlórien," Celeborn grumbled.
Galadriel gave him a disapproving look, then continued her little speech.
"You will love it, just wait and see. And you, my dear Galadhrim - no more watches, no more Orcs! You can study all day, or just lie in the sun. Finally you will know peace after all these battles."
Orophin looked a little doubtful.
"My lady - maybe my question is dumb, but... if we have nothing to guard or protect, what exactly are we supposed to do in Valinor?"
Galadriel patted his cheek in a motherly way.
"Oh, there will be many things for you to do, my dear Orophin. You could write poems, compose songs, or even sing! All the things you never had the time to do before!"
"I cannot wait to read your poems," Rúmil whispered in Orophin's ear. Orophin elbowed him sharply in the ribs, and Rúmil winced.
Now Galadriel turned her attention to Glorfindel, who stood behind Erestor, arms slung around his husband's waist, chin resting on his shoulder.
"Glorfindel - your long journey has come to an end as well. Never again will you have to fight Balrogs, Wargs and Orcs. You will find peace at last."
Glorfindel let go of Erestor and scratched his head.
"Let me sum this up, my lady: we are all about to board a ship which will bring us to Valinor, right? Where we shall spend all eternity in poetry and song, listening to the wind and watching the sea? We will never have to fight again; there will be no more battles?"
"Yes!" Galadriel clapped her hands and gave Glorfindel her brightest smile. "Is this not absolutely fantastic? You will spend all eternity with a smile on your face!"
Glorfindel took Erestor's hand. They exchanged a look, and Erestor nodded.
"I feared you might say this, my lady."
Glorfindel whistled, and Asfaloth, who had been grazing close by, neighed and approached his master, followed by Erestor's horse. Both Elves mounted their horses, while Galadriel stared at them in disbelief.
"What does this mean? Where are you going?" she asked.
"My lady," Erestor answered, "with all due respect, I fear that we are not yet ready for eternal peace."
Glorfindel nodded. "Yes, poetry is all fine and well, but once in a while, an Elf needs some adventure."
"There is still so much to see in Middle-earth that we have not yet seen, there are paths we have not walked and friends we have not met. So we will stay here for a little longer," Erestor added.
Both Elves bowed to their friends.
"Farewell, and may you all find in Valinor what you have been looking for," Erestor said. "One day, we will join you."
With that, they turned their horses and cantered away, leaving the small group of Elves behind.
Galadriel stared after them open-mouthed for several minutes. When she finally recovered herself and looked around, she found, much to her surprise, all of her Galadhrim sitting on their horses.
"Haldir? Orophin? Do not tell me that you have decided to stay here as well! And you, Rúmil, do you not wish to see the Undying Lands?"
The three Elves looked rather guilty, but they also seemed very determined.
"I do wish to see the Undying Lands, my lady," Rúmil answered, "but I do not feel that I am ready for an eternity of singing yet."
"Or poetry," Orophin muttered, which earned him a look from Galadriel that made him duck his head.
Galadriel wrapped her arms around her middle and sniffed.
"Fine. Good. Leave then, if you prefer a life of sorrow and trouble to eternal peace. I and my husband will manage perfectly well without you."
She turned to Celeborn.
He already sat in the saddle.
"Do not dare to follow them, Celeborn!" she hissed, glaring daggers at him.
"Galadriel, my sweet dove," he purred, "I cannot possibly leave them alone, they need somebody to watch over them. I will eventually join you, and then you can read to me all the poetry you like."
Galadriel opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted by a firm slap on her shoulder which almost made her tumble over.
"Well met, my sweet lady! You have not changed in the least since I saw you last, you still have the same lovely face! I cannot tell you how very much I have been looking forward to welcoming you as guests on my boat." It was Círdan, and he gave her his most charming smile. "I have peaches on board, and strawberries, and even stocked up on sick bags for you, just in case."
Galadriel covered her eyes with her hand and shook her head.
Círdan looked at her, very puzzled, then the shipwright noticed that all the Elves but Galadriel were mounted up and ready to leave. He rolled his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"Do not tell me that they have changed their minds again, my lady," he groaned, "this is the fourth time in one age, it is getting bothersome!"
Galadriel shrugged, then drooped her shoulders in defeat.
"I have tried my best, Master Círdan. But quite obviously, they are not ready for eternal bliss yet."
"Very well then," the shipwright sighed, "I shall eat the strawberries myself and call again in the fifth age."
He looked at Celeborn, who shook his head desperately and waved his arms behind Galadriel's back.
"Or let us say, the sixth age, my lady."
He bowed in farewell, then returned to his ship.
"Let me help you, Galadriel - unless you wish to walk back to Lothlórien, that is."
Galadriel glared at her husband, but she accepted the outstretched hand he offered, and allowed him to pull her up onto his horse. He settled her in front of him, and the Elves turned their horses and set off down the path which would bring them back to their homes.
"Do not be angry with me, sweet Galadriel," Celeborn whispered in her ear, "eternal bliss can also be found here in Middle-earth. Especially in our bedroom."
He kissed her on the neck, and though Galadriel was still upset with him, she had a smile on her face.
Retribution would be terrible!
* * *
The End