GloriaComandini/QueEnFan_Corpus · Datasets at Hugging Face

"I, er- realise that you have asked me about my family -" Elrohir said, tactfully changing the subject and busying himself with buttering rye bread. "- But I have yet to ask about yours?"

"My family? I can assure you they are nowhere near as intriguing as yours."

Artelwë had begun to arrange a series of fruits and sliced, hard cheeses onto his plate. With the amount of food on offer for just the two of them, Elrohir suspected that the feast could last well into lunchtime.

"My mother is a distant descendant of Lady Findis through the maternal line, but I've already told you that, and my father is a lesser lord. I suppose I don't see them as often as I should, but then our interests and social circles vary. I also have a younger brother, Artanwë; he doesn't live far away."

"I didn't know you had a brother. Is he like you?"

"Not particularly. He's interested in politics and lore." Artelwë said and rolled his eyes, "He's much the same as my parents. What about your brother, are you very similar?"

"Elladan? Sometimes, I suppose. He's my twin after all, though he tends to be more of a..."

"Candid character?" Artelwë offered.

"Gobshite."

The two men smirked, the air between them growing far more comfortable and familiar again.

"You know, Artanwë can be insufferable at times. I often think his ego can't swell any more, then he surprises me."

Elrohir snorted.

"All the talk of politics, courtly propriety- it gets very old very quickly. I try to distance myself from it as often as I can. Do your parents involve you in it?" Artelwë asked over a hovering fork of fresh berries.

"Unfortunatly. But Elladan and I try to keep away from it as much as we can. I've read enough history books and heard enough tales that meddling too deep in politics can be disastrous. I'd much prefer to be feasting and enjoying my time elsewhere."

"To that end, I can certainly accommodate," Artelwë said and raised his fork, "Tell me, what did you spend your time in Middle-Earth doing? Surely you can't have spent all of it feasting?"

"No, mostly studying if I'm honest. All very dull to most people. The library of Imladris was one of the best-stocked collections in Middle-Earth, so if I wasn't there it was usually the gardens, or out with the Rangers."

"Rangers?" Artelwë repeated questioningly, spearing a cube of juicy yellow fruit.

"Men. Edain with Eldar bloodlines who wander the wilds and help keep evil at bay."

"A noble cause. And you spent a lot of time amongst them?"

"Oh yeah, they became some of mine and Elladan's closest friends. Some of them we knew for generations. They were always the most hard-working, honest and down-to-earth people you would ever have the pleasure of knowing. But a stranger might find them grim and cold."

"Please, divulge my interests, what sort of things did you do with these Rangers?" Artelwë asked, shifting in his seat and gently tilting his head to one side.

"Hunting Orcs mostly. But I suppose the Grey Company was our biggest achievement." Elrohir said, and catching the querying look in his companion's eye, he slowly began to tell the tale of the company, how they rode south and accompanied the now-named Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves, Prince Legolas of Eryn Lasgalen, and King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom as they ventured south through the Paths of the Dead, enlisted the Dead Men of Dunharrow, encountered Corsairs in Pelargir, then returned northward to take part in The Battle of the Pelennor Fields and later The Battle of the Morannon where Sauron was defeated.

Artelwë stared at Elrohir in stunned silence.

"But I'm sure you've done similar things, right?" Elrohir frowned worryingly, hoping that he wasn't beginning to sound like the supposed egotistical Artanwë.

"No, I was born here in Tirion just before the Last Alliance. I've never- I mean I haven't so much as had a fistfight with my brother. I've certainly never taken part in any company, or quest either."

Elrohir began to blush horribly.

"Oh no, don't be embarrassed!" Artelwë said, lunging forward and reaching a hand out to Elrohir. "I'm beyond impressed! You're very brave for doing all of that."

"Oh, please don't say that," Elrohir groaned, closing his eyes briefly.

Artelwë's shoulders sagged and the hand still reached across the table went limp.

"Why not?"

"I mean- I'm nobody really. Elladan and I- we've just done what was expected of us. What was right in the world. I'm no more than a son of Elrond. I'm just... me."

Artelwë smiled warmly and slipped backwards, nestling himself in the cushions and resting his temple on a supported fist. A little voice inside Elrohir wondered how warm and pleasant it would be to lay there beside him, but he quickly shook that thought from his mind.

"Then you're incredibly modest and a good person. You should be proud of that at least. There are a great many people who would want to bask in their own glory; have poems and songs written of them. And there are a number still who have certainly accomplished less than noble works through their life."

Elrohir shuffled awkwardly and took a slice of cantaloupe off his plate.

"I wouldn't know a great deal about libraries myself," Artelwë said carefully, steering Elrohir's attention back to a previous topic, "There are a few here in Tirion of course, I could show them to you, but I much prefer music."

"Oh, are you a minstrel or a singer?"

"A minstrel!" Artelwë laughed jovially as Elrohir cringed, hoping he had not said something horribly offensive. "I am no singer, my Lord! I play the flute prettily enough, but never sing! Oh, a minstrel! Forgive me!"

"But your voice is handsome enough for song." Elrohir offered as Artelwë wiped away an errant mirthful tear.

"You think my voice handsome?"

"Well... not just your voice."

Artelwë considered Elrohir for a moment.

"Perhaps then, my lord, if you find my voice so pleasing, I could escort you to one of the better libraries, and if you select a few books, I am sure that I would be able to read them to you."

Elrohir blinked several times. Read a book to him just because he found the voice attractive? He had never considered such a thing before but the idea twisted a warm knot in his stomach.

"I'd like that," he nodded, then turned mockingly serious, "But just so you know, I have extremely high expectations for this library. I expect quality books on a vast array of topics. There cannot be libraries of Tirion with nought but a few dusty tomes on a shelf."

"Then I'll have to ensure that I select only the best, of course. I wouldn't want to disappoint."

Elrohir and Artelwë gazed at one another for a few moments, silently sipping tea and taking more bits of food.

"But please," Elrohir began again, softness back in his voice once more, "There really is no need to call me 'my lord'. As I said at the party, 'Ro' is just fine."

"Ro. Alright. Then, Ro, I apologise that this time I am not offering a handwritten invitation, but on another day would you do me the honour of accompanying me to one of the libraries, and I'll read to you for as long as it pleases you."

"Yes, I think I can manage that," Elrohir said, hiding the smirking smile on his lips behind the rim of his teacup.