Advent Calendar 2009 - 7: The Hierophant
Dec. 7th, 2009 02:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aearwenOkay. So now can I post my double-drabble? :-D
For this day, Elrond had remained in Middle-earth, enduring centuries almost beyond his own strength. Only two tasks lay before him today - one a joy, the other a mortal blow - and yet, by the end of this day, his endurance would be exhausted.
Over a thousand years he had held the scepter of Annúminas in trust for the return of the rightful King; today it would be given to such a King. Generations of men had he taught, trained, nurtured, and even succored in old age. Today, that burden was lifted from him forever.
And thirty years ago, he had set forth the terms by which his precious daughter could be claimed as wife; today he would acknowledge the terms met. A virtually impossible task he had set forth as the price of his agreement; and that high and unbelievable price had been paid. He had said he would yield his daughter only to a King of both Gondor and Arnor. The moment he handed over the sceptre of Annúminas, that will have been accomplished.
But all he could see were the Ages he would live with her absence, gone to a man who still called him "Ada."
For this day, Elrond had remained in Middle-earth, enduring centuries almost beyond his own strength. Only two tasks lay before him today - one a joy, the other a mortal blow - and yet, by the end of this day, his endurance would be exhausted.
Over a thousand years he had held the scepter of Annúminas in trust for the return of the rightful King; today it would be given to such a King. Generations of men had he taught, trained, nurtured, and even succored in old age. Today, that burden was lifted from him forever.
And thirty years ago, he had set forth the terms by which his precious daughter could be claimed as wife; today he would acknowledge the terms met. A virtually impossible task he had set forth as the price of his agreement; and that high and unbelievable price had been paid. He had said he would yield his daughter only to a King of both Gondor and Arnor. The moment he handed over the sceptre of Annúminas, that will have been accomplished.
But all he could see were the Ages he would live with her absence, gone to a man who still called him "Ada."
