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Additional disclaimer:
Written with no Beta…Spell check marginally, and so NOT the version I DELETED a few months ago. I did not have the heart to rewrite it yet, so it will appear as CH 7…Back to our program…
Of Pranks and Punishments -
Chapter 6: Excerpt from Lord Glorfindel’s Journal
The moon was already high in the heavens, and the candles burnt low when Lord Glorfindel entered his study. He ran his fingers across a wall of books until he found the one he had been searching for; a slightly worn leather bound volume that was not much larger than his hand. It had creamy, gilt-edged pages that were cradled by the midnight blue cover. He stood there for several moments simply gazing at the journal in his hand. Centuries had passed since he last made an entry. With a slight shrug of his shoulders he turned quickly on his heel and brought the book to his desk and sat down to write:
Tonight I have hit an all time low. How has it come to pass that I should be re-housed to heap such shame upon myself? I pride myself on propriety and chivalry, yet I have behaved in the manner that I disparage. I have seriously offended the Lady Atanone with my conversation with Lord Erestor. Let me just say, that the contents of the discussion were not meant for an elleth’s ears, especially when said maid is a part of the topic. I am not used to Erestor having an assistant (and an elleth at that). I fear that I have become accustomed to dropping my inhibitions when it comes to the topic of choice during my conversations with him. After all, there is no one else in the room to cause us to censure our words. Every so often, Lord Elrond will join us, but he will often spur such conversations. The three of us have been friends for so long, there are few secrets kept between us.
For all the years that I have seen, I should know better. I do know better, therefore there is no excuse for my behavior and I am appalled. Although, I must secretly admit that I was refreshingly pleased with the tongue-lashing and reprimand that she gave the both of us. I grin even now as I recall it. I was greatly surprised with the ease in which she scolded us like elflings, and then walked out of the room. She is normally quite reserved and quiet. Before this whole ‘hair ignominy’, I had even thought of her as shy. It is always the quiet ones that bear watching, for they are usually plotting, observing or thinking something over very deeply. Her outburst tells me she is not lacking in words or initiative. I may have been wrong in my original assessment, but I believe my recommendation for her ‘punishment’ will still serve its purpose.
Ai! It is a shame that they look upon their judgments as punishment. True, they are consequences to their actions, but they were chosen as enrichment experiences. Truth be told, had the lot of them not exploded during the council regarding their prank, they might have been merely reprimanded. However, when over two millennia of petty bickering and jealousy come to a head like that, SOMETHING needed to be done. I personally had reached my boiling point. I cannot say fairly whether or not the fact that my toiletries had been tampered with clouded my reaction to the entire matter.
However, I cannot say that any ellon would be accepting of ones hair being curled as a prank. How could anyone take the Seneschal of Imladris seriously when said seneschal shows up to council in halflling curls? I was sorely tempted to throw Elladan into the fountain when he burst into undignified laughter when he first saw me. I had stormed into Elrond’s study ready to incite the fear of The Valar into the troublemakers that had caused me to look like a giant halflling. The fact that Elrond himself was hard pressed to stifle his own amusement did not help my mood. I suppose, looking back on it now, it was rather humorous. Erestor was of no assistance either, as he was openly laughing the entire time. I never thought that there would be a time for which I was grateful to have the majority of Imladris feel as if they dare not act anything less than dignified and respectful; At least to my face.
Given, it is my due as Seneschal, and I should be treated no less, but it would be refreshing to interact with more elves on a friendlier basis. I admit, that secretly, I am tired of the way many continue to act around me. While they all treat me with respect, their demeanor changes from relaxed to formal as soon as I join their company. I do not foresee that changing anytime in the next millennia. Besides, I myself cannot change so easily, and I would not have my authority or reputation challenged, especially now. I fear a shadow forming, a great evil wakes and I have no time to consider personal happiness when there is the security of Imladris to consider. Ironic, is it not? An Eldar who believes there is not enough time allotted to him? I suppose the time spent in The Halls of Mandos have made a deep impression on my outlook. I have learned that not even the firstborn have the luxury of guaranteed time. That is one lesson I have brought with me from Mandos. Being re-housed gives you a new perspective as well as a change in treatment by other elves.
However, I cannot help but think that Elrond has ‘punished’ me as well, or at least seeks to drive me to madness. You would think that living through Elladan and Elrohir’s pre-majority years would be enough. Not only did he give me the satisfaction of deciding how best to deal with the miscreants, he has instructed Nólemirë to organize my study upon her return from Lothlorien. Now, what is wrong with my study? I admit that there may not be room for every article that resides there at the moment, but I know where everything is! And to assign her! She is distracted easily, especially with books, and it will take her an entire age to finish! That is, if she ever manages to finish. She is also a procrastinator extraordinaire. She is inquisitive, willful, creative, perceptive, straightforward and downright insistent. She will ask a ton of questions and move things around to her liking, and I will never be able find a thing again. Come to think on it, there may be things in there I prefer she not see. She can be quite stubborn when she feels like it, and I do not wish to bother with having anyone hanging around my chambers, moving things and cleaning things no one needs to see.
But there, I am sounding like a petulant elfling. I am not the one who must make amends after all. I was the one who suffered from their prank. That sort of thing I would have expected of the twin imps of Elrond and Celebrian. I would have thought that even too much for Aearion, Nólemirë and Atanoné. I suppose I shall have to resign myself to having my study invaded. What am I to do should I wish to invite an ellith to my chambers? How does one deal with that matter? So long as she does not seek to delve into my personal chambers or private matters I suppose I shall survive. I will simply deal with it when the time comes. Why should it even matter to me? It isn’t as if I have never had an assistant before, no matter how short-lived the arrangement was. For now, I must deal with the situation I have created for myself with Atanone. Elrond has insisted I speak with her and put things to right. I would have no trouble were she a male. However, I obviously do not know how to deal with ellith properly.
I understand that Atanone is quite the herbalist. I would have asked her for the remedy but I would rather take my chances with Elrond’s recommendations, rather than risk an unwanted side effect. The weeks it took to get the last ingredients of the foul smelling concoction here from Lothlorien were well worth it. I could not (and still would not) trust her given her current state of mind. She may have turned it as green as Galangal’s if she were given the opportunity.
I am rather surprised when all is said and done, that things have only just now come to a head between the three ellith involved. I do not know the reason why, but Galangal has ever been the proverbial ‘thorn in the side’ of both Atanone and Nólemirë. I cannot recall a time where the three have ever been friendly. I would say that it is because Galangal is not native to Imladris, but neither is Dúlinn, and she is a kindred spirit to Atanone and Nólemirë. I cannot fault Galangal’s parents either, for they are both kind and loved by all, especially by Atanone and Nólemirë. So what then is the problem? Even with Galangal’s siblings there is no strife. I suppose it is a thing that I shall never be able to grasp, for who can truly understand the mind of an elleth? I do well to understand my own, especially after today’s events. I am starting to seriously doubt my wisdom in my choices of consequences for the three. At least with Aearion, I am confident I have chosen correctly.
Many years have passed since I have made entry into this journal. I am not sure whether that is a good or bad sign of the state of my personal affairs, for I only write when matters trouble my mind and soul. Ai, Elbereth! Grant me the strength to deal with these concerns, for the solutions escape me!
Here the entry ends, although the bottom corner of the page has been torn out. What lines remain give hint to what may have been a drawing of some sort.
