Dramatis personae: Erestor, Glorfindel, Mauburz the Straggler, Elrond, Orophin and others
Rating: blue
Beta: Special thanks to Miss Zimraphel and a bottle of miruvor for Feronil.
Warnings: AU! And sap!
Summary: How the Orc saved Yule.
Author's notes: Now that we all know how Mauburz came to Imladris, it is time to tell the tale of her first encounter with Lord Elrond.
Have fun, and a merry, peaceful Yule time to all of you. And if you feel like being generous: Doctors without Borders always need donations. Thank you!
YULETIDE TALES, DAY 6:
How Mauburz met Lord Elrond
To say that the arrival of Erestor, Glorfindel, Mauburz and the twins in Imladris caused a stir would have been the understatement of the Age. Every Elf capable of walking rushed out on the streets to see for themselves that Elladan and Elrohir truly were alive. They cheered for Erestor and Glorfindel, but shied back from Mauburz, who rode on her warg and was too busy with looking around to notice the hostile looks.
The dwellings of the Elves surpassed even her wildest dreams in beauty. In the woods, the snow had been menacing. Here it looked like some benevolent deity had covered everything with glittering icing sugar. The houses looked so fragile with their intricately carved balconies, but yet they must have been many, many centuries old.
Mauburz was a bit worried about her future. By now she understood that she had saved the sons of an important Elven noble, Lord Elrond. He lived in Imladris as, according to Glorfindel, the wisest and kindest lord of them all. The twins had a little sister, Arwen, who was only a few months old. And the mother of the children, Lady Celebrían, had been murdered by Orcs.
Now, Mauburz was not an intellectual genius, but it seemed to be obvious even to her that an Orc would probably be the last creature on Arda that Lord Elrond wanted to see right now. Even an Orc who had saved his children. Mauburz was rather nervous about meeting the Elven lord. What if he did not wish to meet her at all? What if he threw her in a dungeon? Or had her killed?
But no. Erestor and Glorfindel had promised her that nobody would harm her, and she believed them. Both had been very kind, and she had taken a special liking to Erestor, who had shared his waybread with her. Certainly Elves did not share their waybread with Orcs they planned to kill?
They rode into a courtyard, and immediately stable hands came running to take the horses of the two Elves. But they shied back when they saw Mauburz' warg. Mauburz patted the animal's head.
"You not have worry of warg. Very nice warg. Mauburz had him since been baby warg, and while very slow, not eat Elves. Only ate dwarf once, but was accident. Had terrible heartburn! Come warg, go with nice Elfies."
The warg grunted, and trotted after a stable hand who walked slowly backwards, fear in his eyes.
"You have heard Miss Mauburz," Erestor said. "This is a friendly warg who does not eat Elves, so you should be safe as long as you do not grow a beard. Take the animal to one of the empty stables and see to it that he gets fed and looked after. He has carried Lord Elrond's son to safety, he deserves our hospitality."
The stable hand nodded and obeyed, but it was clear to see that he thought Lord Elrond's chief advisor was one candle short of a candelabrum.
"Thank you, very nice of you, nice Lord Erestor," Mauburz said, and smiled gratefully at Erestor. The Elf shuddered at the sight of the long, sharp fangs, but he quickly regained composure
"I am no lord, Miss Mauburz. I am Master Erestor, Lord Elrond's chief advisor."
"You are master? Oh, that is nice. You master of Glorfindel?" Mauburz asked curiously, and now it was Glorfindel's turn to look indignant.
"I have no master," he grumbled. "And if I had one, it would not be Erestor."
Mauburz was confused, but she did not press further on the subject. She followed Erestor and Glorfindel in the great hall, and stared open-mouthed at the beautiful furniture and the colourful tapestries. She came to stand in front of a huge painting, which showed a fierce-looking Elf holding a spear.
"That Lord Elrond?" Mauburz asked. "Looks very dangerous!"
Glorfindel shook his head.
"No, that is Gil-galad, the last High-King of the Noldor, and it would be wise not to mention him when you talk to Lord Elrond."
Mauburz scratched her head.
"No, no, will not ask. Why? Lord Elrond not like King Gil-galad?"
Erestor groaned, not only because of the question, but also because Elrohir pulled enthusiastically on his braids.
"Lord Elrond likes King Gil-galad very much, Miss Mauburz, but he is long dead, and it pains him to talk about his lost -- king."
"Looks like nice Elfie. Very long spear."
"Yes, one of the reasons Lord Elrond liked him so much," Glorfindel remarked pertly, but one look at Erestor's stern face cut further comments off.
"Please take a seat here in front of the fire, Miss Mauburz. We shall go and return Elladan and Elrohir to their father."
Mauburz nodded, and sat down in one of the carved chairs. However, as soon as Erestor and Glorfindel left, she sat down on the floor. She was not used to chairs, and did not find them very comfortable. After a while, a servant entered the hall, offering her some wine. The Elf was clearly scared, but when Mauburz made no attempts to jump up and maul him, he became daring and asked her if she wished some food as well.
The eyes of the Orc lit up.
"Oh yes, Mauburz very hungry!" she said. "You have carrots? Mauburz like carrots. Lots of carrots! And apples, apples very nice?"
The Elf stared at her in total disbelief.
"Carrots? Apples? Why... yes, we certainly have carrots and apples, but I would have thought... you know, maybe a raw rabbit...?"
Mauburz pulled a face.
"Ewww... Mauburz not like rabbit. Mauburz not like meat. Only like vegetables and fruit. So you have carrots, Mauburz happy."
A very puzzled servant hurried to get the desired food and inform the kitchen staff in every detail about the odd guest's even odder eating habits. He returned with a plate full of vegetables and fruit, and Mauburz was happily chewing on a celery stick when Erestor entered the hall and approached her.
"I see that you have been well looked after, Miss Mauburz. Would you please follow me? Lord Elrond wishes to see you."
Mauburz swallowed the last bite of celery and looked at Erestor, a little scared.
"Lord Elrond very angry with Mauburz?"
Erestor shook his head and smiled friendly at Mauburz.
"No, Lord Elrond is not angry with you, Mauburz. Do not fear, just follow me."
Mauburz nodded, and trotted after Erestor, careful not to snag her claws in the carpet. The longer they walked, the more nervous she became. How to address an Elven lord? Would she have to lie on the floor? Or bow her head? Or...
"We are here," Erestor said, and knocked on the door in front of them. He pressed down the handle and opened the door. "Just enter, Miss Mauburz."
He gave her a last encouraging smile, then Mauburz stood in an anteroom and the door closed behind her. She needed a moment to orient herself. Giggling and splashing came through a half-open door to her left, as well as a large cloud of steam. Mauburz also heard a very odd growling, deep voice. Certainly no Elf talked like this?
She was a little uncertain whether to walk further into the chamber or stay where she was when the door was pushed open fully and an Elf appeared. He was tall, broad-shouldered and had long, silver blond hair. He wore a grey tunic and black trousers, and his face was red from the heat. Mauburz had seen Elves like him, and she knew that he was one of the Galadhrim from Lórien. They were feared by Orcs for their skills as archers.
Mauburz visibly shrunk when the Elf addressed her. On each arm, he held one of the twins, wrapped in a towel.
"Urz! Urz!" one of them crowed, and waved at Mauburz. She waved back shyly, which earned her a quick smile from the Elf.
"I am Orophin," he said in that odd growling voice, "the guardian of these two. My gratitude for saving them, Miss Mauburz. Please enter the chamber, Lord Elrond is awaiting you."
Mauburz nodded, waved one last time at the children and then entered the large chamber, which was filled with books and a desk. So many books! How could anyone possibly ever read them? Mauburz, who could neither read nor write, was very intimidated in the presence of so much wisdom.
"I am over here, Miss Mauburz," a deep, melodious voice said. Mauburz turned her head, and saw the tall, lean figure standing beside Glorfindel next to the window. She crossed the room, not sure how to address the Elf she thought to be Lord Elrond, so she just stood there, fiddling with her belt.
He turned around, and Mauburz held her breath. Never before had she seen a face as fair, but yet as sad as this Elf's. His long black hair was held back in many braids, which were decorated with beads and pearls. The longish face was dominated by large, grey eyes, and Mauburz' heart contracted painfully when she saw the pain and the sadness in them. Mauburz had never had a mate, but she could imagine how terrible it must have been for Lord Elrond to lose his.
"So you have found my children," Elrond said.
Mauburz scratched her head and looked sheepish.
"Yes, were in sack. Mauburz went for walk, found sack and Elf babies and took them away."
"I see."
This was all Elrond said, and Mauburz began to feel very, very uncomfortable. Would he send her away now? She would have loved to stay in this beautiful place, but of course the noble Elf would not want to see an Orc every day, reminding him of his wife's terrible fate.
"I thank you," Elrond simply said, then bent down and pressed a kiss on Mauburz' forehead. She almost fainted and had a hard time not to fall to the floor upon this gesture. Her heart skipped a beat, and she took in a deep breath, inhaling the wonderful scents of vanilla, cinnamon, old books and horse that were so typical for Elrond. Should now one of those big tomes fall from the shelf and hit her on the head, she would die a happy Orc.
"I am indebted to you for all eternity," Elrond said. "Be my guest, stay in Imladris as long as you wish. This is your home now. Please enjoy your first Yule in Imladris."
"Thank you," Mauburz stammered, "thank you, that very nice of Lord Elrond, of nice Lord Elrond! Very nice Lord Elrond! Thank you! Mauburz very happy, loves to stay here! And you smell very nice, Lord Elrond, and have very nice ears, and..."
She broke off, completely confused, and wondered why her stomach made one somersault after another.
Elrond smiled, then he turned his back to her, hanging his head. From the way his shoulders trembled, Mauburz could tell that he was crying.
"Erestor!" Glorfindel called, then took Elrond in his arms, tucking his head under his chin. He rubbed the lord's back comfortingly, and made those soothing, nonsensical noises that had been used since the first days of Elven kind to comfort crying or scared Elflings.
Upon entering, Erestor took in the scene, and saw Glorfindel pressing a soft kiss in Elrond's hair. Only for a very brief moment he clenched his jaws, then his face was a mask of quiet and self-control again.
"Please show Miss Mauburz her quarters, Erestor. I will join you later."
Erestor nodded and gestured Mauburz to follow him. The Orc hurried to follow the Elf's large steps, and did not talk to him until they arrived in a beautiful, spacious chamber with a balcony overlooking the Bruinen.
"Oh, very beautiful, thank you!" Mauburz said, and clasped her hands.
"I am glad that you approve of it," Erestor replied, and bowed his head. "I have to leave you now, unfortunately, for I have many duties to attend, especially now, as Lord Elrond is not -- available."
"Oh, Mauburz understand. Lord Elrond very nice, and very beautiful. Lord Glorfindel very nice as well, and also very beautiful. Agree?"
If possible, Erestor became even more formal than he usually was.
"Lord Glorfindel is a very skilled warrior and an asset to this household," he said stiffly. "He is one of the greatest heroes of our people and as such deserves every respect."
Mauburz scratched her nose and gave Erestor a sly look.
"But nice Master Erestor not like nice Lord Glorfindel hugging nice Lord Elrond, eh?"
Erestor blushed, but did not reply. Instead, he arched an eyebrow.
"You Elfies very odd, always make high eyebrow when asked question that you not like! If not like other hugging Lord Glorfindel, why not hugging him yourself? Don't think Lord Glorfindel would mind."
Erestor pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Miss Mauburz, I understand that some of our customs must seem rather peculiar to you. We are all worried for Lord Elrond's well-being, as he has suffered a terrible loss. So I am not at all opposed to anything that could help lessen his pain."
Mauburz shook her head.
"But you not like other Elfies touching or kissing nice Lord Glorfindel, very clear to see! You Elves very strange! You like Lord Glorfindel, Lord Glorfindel like you, so why not like each other and be happy Elves? Very normal, very natural."
Erestor decided that now the moment had come to flee the place.
"Miss Mauburz, I have to leave. If there should be anything you need, please tell the servants. I will see later how you are doing."
With that he headed for the door, fleeing in to the corridor. Mauburz followed him, and yelled:
"Mauburz very sure Master Erestor like very much if hugged by nice Lord Glorfindel! And would like too if kissed by nice Lord Glorfindel!"
Mauburz had a voice which had the quality and sound level of an Orc horn, and so most of the Elves in the Last Homely House had the pleasure of hearing her statements.
And Erestor threw himself into his scrolls and letters and documents to keep himself from thinking how Glorfindel's lips would feel on his, and how nice it would be if the warrior would hold him the way he had held Elrond.
Well, maybe next Yule.