Galdorion stopped suddenly before entering to the room, his hand stood still in mid air and slowly descended down. It seemed like he was unsure what to say once he is in. Laters he started to evaluate his reflection from the polished brass door handle with a sad face.
What brought him hither, to the doors of his Tûr? Was it a petition for being deployed into far away patrols like most of his kindred hammerites bother Anglachelm for all day? Was it yet another complaint for Daegond? Or perhaps something else?
It had a simpler but a deeper reason. Galdorion was there for his heart again. Since he has recently sworn an oath it was his right to be heard if asked to, and the first official audience with his Tûr would of course be about Rainith. He was coming to ask for her hand, officially and legally. Following the Noldor traditions which he has little knowledge with, he had to ask the consent of the Master of the House. Thats why he was inside Elrond's house, standing in front of a door in the northern porch.
Galdorion slowly looked down and sighed. Then quickly reaching to his small, oriental silver hand mirror, he examined his hair thoroughly just to be sure. Only then he regained his confidence and composure, knocked the elegant door three times, little more louder than faintly. In the moments that followed he looked sideways and noticed the townsfolk are looking at him and whispering to each other. He then heard a brief ''Come in!'' and with great anticipation, he opened the door and went in.
Inside he has found Anglachelm with his back was turned to him. His attire was blue and silver, tip to toe. Neatly combed fair hair was falling freely down his shoulders and creating an elegant contrast to the enchanted-blue cloak and enormous shoulder guards. Leaning over an oak table he was seeming busy reading some papers- reports perhaps, and both his hands were on the table. Looking at him, Galdorion quickly started to waver and depleted whatever remained of his own confidence. The nice phrases he memorized was now gone, then he stood still and patiently waited to be adressed.
-"What do you want?" Anglachelm asked without even turning back.
Galdorion looked at him with uncertainty. His voice did sound annoyed, even angry. Knowing not what to do, he suddenly opened his mouth to say ''Rainith'' but then he shut up quickly and also pretty wisely of him.
-"I told you Themodir you can't have yet anothe.." Anglachelm couldn't finish his sentence as he noticed upon turning back that it was someone else than Themodir. Then he turned back fully and examined Galdorion, understanding what exactly he was here and what woul he want. His face softened and nodded.
Galdorion then bowed down, almost allowing his golden hair to reach to the floor. And rising up he found his Tûr looking back on him. Regaining his composure, started first to say without any poems and (unnecessary) embellishments.
-"My lord" he said, -"I have traveled long, and seen much... much for a commoner such as I am and ended up here in your presence" said Galdorion as start. Anglachelm rose his chin up which Galdorion took as a sign for himself to continue.
-"I have seen silver and gold, victory and defeat, laughter and sadness together, but none of the treasures I have seen is more valuable and dear to me than Rainith, the beloved'' Galdorion said. Then he looked up again in the middle of his speech but Anglachelm was quite motionless, studying every move of him and that was quite unnerving.
-"I humbly ask you to consent to my will and allow us to unite, as husband and wife" said Galdorion and finished his piece, greatly relieving his own soul. Then he looked down and did wait for a reply.
Anglachelm nodded briefly, since this was within the tradition and the request was well put. The language he was chosen was also very proper. He looked at the ceiling and crossed his arms kept nodding for a while more, thinking in the meanwhile.
-"Well" he said. -"Rainith is a lady and through my oath I have to protect her too like I must everyone else in this house." he added. After a brief pause he continued :
-"We can protect her against orcs, men... can even try to protect her to the worst things that the enemy may offer. But are we guardians enough to protect her against those whom she loves and trusts? Can we protect people... despite their will or against it?" he said. This made Galdorion look up to meet his eyes.
-"I am coming from a place where both its foundations and ruins are standing on love Galdorion of Mirkwood... You ask me the hand of your beloved and think that love itself is the eternal answer to all of this worlds problems, love alone can set things right and would be enough to save the world from the schemes of the enemy!" he said and then added :
-"Yet the enemy perceives this as a weakness and the greatest of the evils he committed were all borne in a kind heart of a lover but transformed into a great darkness. Let me show you..."
Anglachelm cleared the top of his oak table and brought elegantly drawn Eriador map onto it, gently unwrapped thirty inch leather map and beckoned Galdorion to come close. Then he pinned a little green flag on Rivendell, this was the symbol of Order of Arrow.
-"You are here!" said Anglachelm and Galdorion nodded.
Then he placed a tent symbol on Northern Mirkwood, on Thranduil's tree city, the Homeland of Galdorion.
-"Thats your home, where your childhood and innocence belong and many of your friends" he said. This remark made Galdorion doubt but he nodded anyways.
Anglachelm then picked a random pin from table's pin-cushion and by a strange twist of fate it had a blue head. He pinned that to west of Rivendell, equally distanced from Mirkwood on the map. Galdorion kept staring to the pin.
-"And lets say this is Rainith" he said. -"Yet our race live long enough to see how vile the fate may be, and what crimes are committed in the name of good. I will ask you one question therefore, and it will affect my decision if it would have any effect at all" Anglachelm added.
Galdorion looked at him silently and then to map trying to understand what it will bring.
-"Which course would you take, if you learn on the same day that both your homeland, and your beloved were in danger. And you realize that you are the only one that can change the course of events drastically and permanently. But there is time to go help to only one of them and not two, and not helping the other could mean of losing it entirely." said Anglachelm. Removed the green, order of the arrow pin from the map and handed it to Galdorion in expectation. Examining every move that he makes.
Galdorion gulped first and looked at the map. Surely there might be decisions this grave in an elf's lifetime... but grave as this! He first looked at Mirkwood, where his people live. Imagined the time he had spent there. Remembered the squirrels he pursued with other elf children, screaming in laughter. Recalled the first poems he recited in a forest clearing with his friends under crystal clear starlight. He did not want Greenwood to ruin.
Then he shifted his gaze to west. The blue pin itself was telling a lot already. It was signifying everything that Galdorion ever loved. The pin itself was the reason why he was here. Why these questions were directed to him, why they were forcing him to denounce either his love or his people. Then he looked at the little flag he is holding thoughtfully. Adding faintly :
-"But my lord, why do you think that if I... we will ever need to make such a decision? Do you foresee these or just mock me?"
-"Nay" Anglachelm said. -"It is the fate's privilege to mock us in the worst possible time with these grave decisions. I barely remind you about what path you would take if need arises. There are choices. There always has been, and will be"
Galdorion looked at the map. He wasn't prepared for this. Closed his eyes and sighed. Then opening them slowly he pinned his green flag next to the blue pin. Adding :
-"No one would live in Mirkwood anyways if I had saved it from its uttermost end, and surely it takes more than ones courage to save realms"
-"That makes you a perfect lover but the price of that may cost the lives of so many... All for the sake of love" said Anglachelm sadly.
The Tûr then looked at twin pins at the map once more and nodded. His gaze becomes ever more thoughtful.
-"You love her that much? More than your home?" asked Anglachelm. It was an alien thought for veteran warrior, who has lived without a home for so long.
-"Home is where your heart belongs my lord, not your past" said Galdorion and its effect was heavier than Galdorion hoped, the Tûr was taken aback and looked at him briefly in surprise. But he said nothing.
-"May you never be forced to give such a decision then" said Anglachelm.
-"Would you grant what I asked then my lord?" asked Galdorion
-"What was it that you asked?" Anglachelm asked naively.
-"Rainith's hand?" Galdorion reminded him in surprise.
-"Oh! Right, thats why you were here weren't you? Right... No Galdorion I can't allow that." said Anglachelm sadly, the face of Galdorion was a marvel to behold at this moment. It was somewhere between a sad squirrel and a surprised badger.
-"Without a gift of course" added Anglachelm with a smirk. -"It is our tradition to offer gifts, worthy for the bride you are attempting to marry to. This tradition alone prevented many lords to get married. You wouldn't believe! Some of them are still wandering the shores of Middle Earth to find the ultimate gift since many ages, since they were so proud or determined (or foolish) to admit that there is no such gift"
Galdorion nodded. Then naively asked.
-"What gift do you require for such a... consent then my lord?"
-"Rainith is not my daughter nor my sister... Therefore I can't ask for a Silmaril like it was once a tradition among lords too *laugh* but... why don't you surprise me about that?"
Galdorion is taken aback. Last time he was asked to surprise anyone things did not go as it was hoped it would. Now in this sensitive matter it could be worse indeed. But a request was a request anyways. He went several steps back and elegantly bowed, taking his leave in full of thoughts.
He had to surprise the Tûr now.
