" My Lady Arwen. It is good to see you all arrived safely. Welcome home!." He exclaimed, bowing low at the waist.
" It is good to be back in Imladris, Haetir." Arwen answered, bestowing a lovely smile upon the faithful warrior. " Would you sound the call?."
" With the outmost pleasure, my Lady." The sentry beamed, before gallantly bowing again.
Once the riders had passed, Haetir unhooked the horn belted at his waist and brought it to his lips, blowing the coded notes that signaled the Evenstar's return. The joyous call echoed in succession through the forest, leaving a series of smiling sentries in its wake.
As the four companions neared the rounded bend that would bring them within sight of the Last Homely House, Both Erestor and Ja-zel slowed to a dignified pace, shaking their wild manes before holding their great heads up high. Arwen giggled.
" Looking to make a grand entrance?." She teased.
Ja-zel made what sounded like a cross between a snort and a growl, in humorous affirmation of that being, indeed, the Lyons intention. The Evenstar looked over at Aragorn, a mischiveous glint in her eyes.
" Well... Then by all means, let us approach with due aplomb." She said, arranging the folds of her riding outfit, yet needing nothing more to enhance her already regal gracefulness. Aragorn, too, sat tall in the saddle. And though he still looked like a wild and somewhat unkept ranger, unbeknownst to him, his bearing came to uncannily resemble the kingly form of his forefathers.
Thus, the four companions rounded the bend...
Anor's light was just begining to bid farewell by bathing everything in the magical rosy-hued glow preceeding twilight, when the call of the last sentry's horn sounded the notes that all had been waiting for.
Elladan and Elrohir burst into their Ada's study, to find the stately Lord stepping around his large desk, a wide smile on his face.
" They are home!. They are home!." The twins cried, exuberantly.
" Aye, so they are. And let us go meet them forthwith." Elrond said, ushering the two back out the door.
They were met in the hall by an excited Glorfindel and a more subdued, but not less happy Melpomaen. The five quickly made their way to the main entrance, where only a few weeks earlier three of them had witnessed the Lyons departure, under Ithil's light. As they exited into the courtyard, they were not surprised to find it completely filled with elves, all of whom stood riveted by the sight of the four figures gracefully treading down the path.
The Lyons proudly carried their riders across the stone bridge and all the elves gathered upon the vast lawn seemed to collectively hold their breath, as they got their first close look at the magnificent creatures. Erestor and Ja-zel came to a standstill before the Lord of Imladris and in perfect synchronicity, curved their right paws upwards as they bowed their great heads in respectful greeting. The breath the crowd had been holding was expelled in awed exclamation, before the elves fell silent again as their Lord began to speak.
" All of Imladris rejoices at having your presence among us once again. Welcome home!."
Elrond's words were proven true by the uncharacteristic wild cheering that verily erupted all around the courtyard. Aragorn quickly slid off Erestor's back, then rushed to gallantly help Arwen dismount. Watching, Elrond felt a sudden stab of bittersweet pain at the sight of them toguether. But soon, there was no more time to dwell on impending heartache, for his precious daughter flew into his arms and hugged him tightly.
" Oh, Ada!. I have missed you so!." Arwen cried, joyously.
" As I have you, iel nin." Elrond said, lovingly enfolding her.
Long moments they spent thus, before a voice broke into their communion.
" Do we merit one of those hugs, ' Lissi-elen'. Or have you missed us not?." Elladan asked, using the pet-name he and Elrohir had given her when she was but an elfling.
The ' Sweet-star' looked over at her older brothers, one eyebrow arching in perfect imitation of their Ada.
" Mmmm... Did I miss your merciless teasing and odious pranks?. Let me see..." She appeared to ponder for a brief moment. " Yes!." She then exclaimed, flinging herself at the twins, who caught her up in a fierce embrace.
" Now, now, you two miscreants. Let an old elf have a turn." The Balrog Slayer interposed with mock severity, then promptly found himself with an armful of elleth.
" Glorfindel!. ' Old elf' indeed..." Arwen laughed. " I have deeply missed you as well, uncle. Though I hear that you have been too..distracted.. lately, to miss me in return." Brilliant blue eyes twinkled up at him.
Glorfindel looked down at her, his own colbat eyes crinkling as he placed a light kiss on the top of her nose.
" Still an impudent elfling, I see." He observed, tartly. Then he glanced over at Melpomaen. " I fear, meleth nin, that you are about to find out what lurks beneath our Evenstar's gentle facade." He joked.
Arwen gave the seneschal a light whack, before turning her attention to the shy assistant, who blushed furiously as she placed a soft hand upon his chest.
" I have always thought you to be an exceptional spirit, Melpomaen." She said, smiling gently. " And now that is proven true. For only an exceptional spirit could have captured the heart of our Balrog Slayer." Her beauteous smile then changed into an impish grin. " Welcome to the family!." She finished, throwing her arms around the utterly stunned elf.
The sight of the hapless assistant caught between joy and mortification as he gingerly returned the Evenstar's embrace, caused a round of good-humored chuckling among the gathered elves. Chuckling that soon turned to full-blown laughter, as Elrohir wryly bid his sister to cease her enthusiastic ministrations, lest she frighten Melpomaen right back out of the family.
Casting a long-suffering look at the antics of his offspring, Elrond turned his attention to the Dunadan.
" Welcome back, Estel." He said.
" My heart sings with joy at being in fair Imladris once more, my Lord." The ranger answered, bowing low.
As he straightened, his gaze locked with that of his foster-father's and the two shared an uncomfortable moment, before Elrond gathered him into an embrace.
" It is good to see you, ion." The Lord whispered, truly meaning it.
" Hannon lle, Adar." Aragorn's voice trembled with emotion.
When the two parted, Aragorn found his eyes widening, as he spied his foster brothers advancing on him, while sporting identical evil grins. He was saved from what would have surely been a most undignified greeting, when the sound of a loud growl pierced the air.
Instantly, every pair of eyes in the courtyard fastened upon the two majestic creatures, who had been patiently waiting all the while. Elrond's face broke into a smile.
" Welcome back, mellon nin. And you as well, Lady Ja-zel. My deepest thanks for bearing Arwen home safely." He said.
" I wager they would be much more inclined to believe such words of gratitude, if we make haste to relieve their backs of all that luggage!." Glorfindel chortled, earning an amused look of agreement from the Lyons.
" We will do so, Ada." Elrohir volunteered.
He went to stand before the great Lyoness, who had been so instrumental in saving his life. As he looked up at her, his face flooded with emotion.
" Hannon lle, Lady Ja-zel." He whispered.
Liquid dark eyes gazed back down at him, tenderly. She tried to send an answer into his mind but found that, as Erestor had told her on the outskirts of the Golden Wood, his gift for mindspeak seemed to extend only to his twin.
A moment later, another growl was heard, as Erestor shook his mane impatiently. Elrohir turned to Elladan.
" Come, let us undo these harnesses."
They made quick work of it. And in short order, the saddles were being taken to the stables, while pages bore the travelling packs to the chambers of their respective owners. The gathered crowd began to head towards the vast dinning hall and Elrond sent another page to the kitchens, with instuctions that trays be prepared for the weary foursome's private repast.
Then, at last, the ruling members of Imladris along with the Dunadan and the two huge Lyons, made their way to the family wing of the Last Homely House...
TBC...