[Introduction] Through the Redhorn Gate

[silvercrowned]

The mountain thrusts up before them like a knife: its peak is silver with ice and sunlight, but the lower slopes are the dull red of dried bloodstains. The path runs before them, narrow and twisting and treacherous, the climb up the steep mountainside sends the horses struggling and sliding toward the darkness beyond the cliff. Snow dusts the

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[doriath_crowned]

There will be a pair of boys by her - one of them murmuring, "she's beautiful," the other saying, "she looks like the Lady --"

"We shouldn't wake her."

"Yes we should, she needs to be in a safe place..."

And so on and so forth. They might even wake her with their worried chatter, perhaps.

[silvercrowned]

She will stay where she is, unmoving for a while, and let the voices wash over her. They remind her of her sons when they were young, the half-finished sentences and concern and the sometimes-contradictions.

"I -- am well. Thank you." She'll try to keep her voice measured and steady, although it may be shaking then and there.

[doriath_crowned]

Amusing, considering that they're in fact her uncles-in-law (?). Oh, Finwean family trees!

"See what you did?"

"I didn't do anything."

"My lady," one of them says, quietly, "Allow us to assist you? You are bruised, and battered."

[silvercrowned]

As a mother of twins herself, she probably finds it easier to follow their conversation and meaning than someone else might. But they are young, she thinks, and ought to be spared the whole truth of what happened.

"Would you guide me to your house, if it is yours, or to another safe space? There is, I fear, a force of Orcs perhaps not far from here, and I could barely flee them. It is not safe out here in the open."

[doriath_crowned]

This information calls for a very distinct change in demeanor. One of the twins steps away and draws the sword at his side - the other comes closer. "We did not know there were such creatures here, my lady. Can you walk? My brother will keep the rear."

Yes, young as they are, Elured is already a blooded warrior. Elurin is not, and disagrees with his brother's more violent ways, but that also enables him to be perhaps a more reassuring presence.

Young, yes. Innocent... not so much anymore.

[silvercrowned]

This, if nothing else, reminds her of her sons who also showed promise to be great warriors when young, though the disparity between them is less striking than with Elured and Elurin. She gladly walks to the house with them, but seeks to console her young companions.

"The encounter - the ambush occured in the mountains, I cannot say how far I ran, or if they even sought to follow my trail," she tries to explain. "I tried to keep course to find Nanduhirion and thence make my way into my mother's realm, but must have strayed in the confusion." Her cheeks flush.

[doriath_crowned]

The twin who is next to her - Elurin - sides a bit closer, protectively, ready to support her if she needs it. Elured is behind, and keeps on turning to glare fiercely at the woods - he has no intention of letting the lady, or his little brother, get hurt.

"You will be safe in the Mansion," Elurin promises. "There are many warriors there - Warlord Princes, the Sons of Feanor, and many others. Truly, you will be safe. But lady, pray tell your name? I am Elurin, and my brother Elured keeps the rear for us. Mayhap you have kin here, even, who will keep you safe."

She looks Teleri, at least a little, the boy thinks. Maybe they're related?

[silvercrowned]

There is a soft cry of surprise, immediately stifled by a hand to her lips.

"Then this is a meeting of kin," she explains, "and I have been uncivil to not give my name, please apologize. You reminded me of my own sons, and in the confusion I forgot. Celebrían, daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn, and wife of Elrond of Rivendell, your sister's son! But -- have I strayed into the Halls of Mandos, or did you indeed --" amazement has her stutter, but she catches herself.

[doriath_crowned]

They've clearly had a chance to recover from the shock of meeting Elrond, so they nod, and swallow. "-- I believe you, lady," he says, and glancing at his brother, who is still being very protective and escort-like, he calls, "Red, this is our -- hm -- nephew's wife."

It's still weird. Finding that nothing is slipping out of the shadows, Red sidles up to join them, and bows. "Then we are well met, lady. Lord Elrond is here - we should take you to him."

Elurin, still a bit shocked, adds, "-- and we should tell you that this is not Mandos."

[silvercrowned]

"Yes, please. I would see him." How he can be here she does not question either, at least not aloud, looking from one to the other in mild confusion. But if her husband is here... at least she will not be alone among strangers, even if they are kin.

[doriath_crowned]

"Then allow me, lady, to run ahead and see if I may find him," Elurin replies.

"I will stay with you, and keep you safe, in the meantime," Elured offers.

Which might allow us to keep tagging until Elrond's typist is ready? ^^ The boys will retreat and give them privacy when we all get there, of course. &hearts

[silvercrowned]

Sounds good to me! <3

"Both would be very welcome. You are very kind, and much remind me of my own sons, who are also twin brothers," she says to the one remaining by his side. "Even the tradition of naming is continued, in a way. Their names are Elladan and Elrohir." She is still talking very softly, but keeping a tighter hold on herself than with Celegorm, and there are no tears, at least no visible ones.

[doriath_crowned]

Elured is also keeping a tight leash on his emotions -- to think that his sister is a grandmother -- that he's himself a great-uncle -- is quite the news, and he nods, though inwardly, he's quite amazed.

"So it is true that our line continued," he says softly. "Lady, will you have my arm? I feel honored to meet you."

&hearts Might we gently poke at her thread with Niko? >.>

[silvercrowned]

"As do I -- honoured, and glad that it continued, or I would be without this my husband and children." And if he offers his arm, she will of course take it. "And for all the circumstances that surround it, this remains a fortunate meeting."

She tagged Niko this morning, is it not showing up?

[doriath_crowned]

"I am glad that you find it so, lady," he replies, still very polite and much more composed that the brother who moved ahead. "And I do as well - my brother and I have long been without kin here. An Edain family took us in, but all the same..."

It was lost in the shuffle, my sincere apologies. >.>

[silvercrowned]

"But all the same, blood kin is hard to replace, you mean to say?" She nods - it is not so hard, for her, to imagine being without them - she currently is, or feels she is, even though Elrond and her mother and these two young men are here. It is not a good feeling.

"We shall have to spend much time together, then, so that we are not merely kin, but feel it, too."