42: In Fairbanks

“Two-oh-eight,” Glorfindel said, stopping at a door. “This is it,” and knocked.

A few seconds later it opened to reveal Elladan standing there. “Well, it’s about bloody time you showed up,” he said before anyone could offer a greeting. “You’re late. You should’ve been here two hours ago.”

“And a good evening to you, too, Dan,” Glorfindel said, pushing the younger ellon back so he could enter the room, but Elladan stopped him, his gaze travelling over the balrog-slayer as if by sight alone he could ascertain the ellon’s health. Glorfindel just stood there waiting. Finally, Elladan wrapped his arms around him carefully, as if he feared Glorfindel might break. “I thought we’d lost you,” he whispered tightly.

Glorfindel patted the younger ellon on the back. “But you didn’t,” he said. “Now, are you going to let us in or do we camp out here for the night?”

Elladan let him go and stepped back, allowing Glorfindel to enter with the others following. Alex and Derek brought up the rear, giving the Peredhel cheeky grins.

“Where are Roy and Sarah?” Vorondur demanded when he stepped inside and saw that they were not there.

“Getting pizza,” Elladan answered as he closed the door. “They should be back soon. Don’t worry, we’ve ordered enough for everyone. Here, Loren, you look like something the cat dragged in. Come sit down before you fall down. Should you even be out of bed?”

Glorfindel ignored the question, but sat in the chair that Elladan offered him, giving him a grateful smile. Without asking, Derek hunted for a glass and went to the bathroom and filled it with tap water, bringing it to Glorfindel who thanked him.

“So, how did you know we were coming?” Finrod asked, giving Glorfindel a clinical once-over while Laurendil insisted on taking the ellon’s pulse. “You do not seem surprised to see us.”

Elladan grinned. “A little birdie told us. Two little birdies, in fact.”

It took a second or two for them to figure out the import of his words. “Maiar?” Glorfindel exclaimed in disbelief, putting the glass down. “Two of them?”

Elladan nodded as he plopped onto the edge of one of the beds. “Yeah. Roy and I sensed them and they even made an appearance once though they failed to introduce themselves properly.”

“Describe them,” Finrod snapped out, his eyes darkening with an emotion none of them could interpret.

Elladan raised an eyebrow at his great uncle. “Well, one was dark of hair and the other had golden-red hair but otherwise their features were the same, as if they were twins. Can Maiar be twins? And they both wore surcoats with eagles embroidered on them.”

“Ah, Manveru and Erunáro,” Glorfindel said with a smile. “Twins to watch the twins. Eönwë must be getting desperate to let those two loose on the world.”

Both Finrod and Laurendil chuckled at that, but before anyone could reply, they heard a voice on the other side of the door. “Open up, Dan. Dinner’s here.”

Derek, who happened to be the closest to the door, complied to the demand. “Ah, room service,” he said brightly at Elrohir, who was carrying four boxes of Pizza Hut pizza. Serindë was behind him loaded down with bags of soda, paper plates and cups. “But you took thirty minutes, so you don’t get a tip.”

Elrohir gave him a grimace as he thrust the boxes at Derek. “Stop blabbering like an idiot and help me with these. Honestly, Mortals! Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”

“Hey, the same back at you, buddy,” Alex said cheerfully as he helped Serindë with the bags.

Elrohir saw Glorfindel and went directly to him. “What on earth possessed you to go to the Rusty Nail, you orc-brained idiot?” he fairly screamed at him. “You could’ve been killed. You almost were. And what the hell are you doing out of bed? Are you insane or are they for letting you leave the hospital?” He pointed to the others.

Glorfindel gave the younger ellon an amused look. “Did you get it all out?”

Elrohir took a deep, centering breath. “I’ve been saving up.”

“And now?”

“Now…” He reached down and pulled Glorfindel up to hug him, taking care not to squeeze him. “Valar! I thought we’d lost you,” he whispered and there was a hitch in his voice as if he were forcing himself not to cry. Glorfindel gave him a pat on the back.

“I’m sorry,” he said with a sigh but when Elrohir released him he gave the Twins his best ‘Captain-Glorfindel-is-not-pleased’ look. “I admit that I was wrong to do what I did and I certainly paid for my own brand of stupidity, but just what the blue blazes were you two thinking running away like that? And dragging Sarah along with you. I thought I cured you of that particular habit after New Orleans.”

“We needed to get away,” Elladan replied in a tight voice.

“Without bothering to tell anyone where you were going?” Glorfindel demanded. “You know better than that. I taught you better than that. And poor Ron and Holly are left wondering what’s happened to their daughter. If you were Mortals I could almost understand your thoughtlessness.”

“Hey! Stop dissing us,” Alex shouted, giving him a disgusted look. Derek just rolled his eyes, already busy munching on some pizza and not paying much attention to the drama around him.

Glorfindel just waved the Man’s protest away, his attention on the Twins. Before he continued with his argument, Vorondur turned to Serindë. “Are you all right, Daughter?” he asked anxiously, giving her a hug and a kiss.

She gave him a surprised look. “Of course, Ada. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Vorondur nodded toward the beds. “You did not see fit to take a room for yourself?”

“Come off it, Ron,” Elladan exclaimed in disgust. “This is the twenty-first century of the seventh age not the third. Roy was a perfect gentleman and I was all the chaperone these two lovebirds needed. While Sarah slept in one bed, Roy and I took turns keeping watch. Even with two Maiar looking after us we never let our guard down. One of us was always awake while the other slept. Now enough. I’m starved. Let’s eat.”

Vorondur looked as if he wanted to say something more, but Glorfindel forestalled him. “Dan’s right. Eat first, discuss matters afterwards. What kind did you get?” He sat back down, moving carefully. Finrod gave him an anxious look, but Glorfindel smiled back at him, though it didn’t look very convincing.

“Sausage, mushroom and pepperoni,” Elrohir answered. “We got root beer and coke and we stopped at the store and bought some plates and cups. Oops. We need ice. I’ll go get some.” He picked up the ice bucket and headed out while everyone else gathered around the pizza boxes which had been placed on the beds for easy access to make their selections. Finrod insisted that Glorfindel stay seated and got him a plate before making his own selection. Elrohir came back with the ice and grabbed a plate for himself.

“How are you really doing, Loren?” Elrohir asked as he pulled a slice from the box to put on his plate. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Glofrindel replied between bites. “Not that anyone believes me.”

“I could strangle Mir and Ernie still,” Elladan muttered darkly.

“What do they have to do with anything?” Glorfindel asked, looking puzzled.

Everyone stopped and stared at him.

“Pui-en-orch! He doesn’t know,” Elrohir exclaimed, turning to his brother.

“Know what?” Glorfindel demanded. “And don’t swear.” He glanced around and, noticing everyone’s expressions, which ranged from angry (the Twins) to resigned (Finrod), he asked again. “Know what? What do Vardamir and Eärnur have to do with you two running off?”

“You almost died because of them!” Elladan exclaimed. “We nearly lost you because of their arrogance.”

“We would have told you eventually, gwador,” Finrod said quietly. He was sitting in the only other chair the room boasted. “But we felt you needed to be stronger before we did.”

“So tell me,” Glorfindel demanded.

Finrod shook his head. “They made an error in judgment and they both have been duly chastised by me and by Kyle Stoner. There is no point in thrashing it out now. You are alive and that is all that matters.” He then turned to the Twins. “They are both very contrite and they’ve learned their lesson,” he said. “When you return to Wiseman, they will tender their apologies and you will accept them.” He gave the Twins a look that brooked no argument.

“Yes, Uncle,” Elrohir said meekly enough and Elladan nodded.

Glorfindel, however, was not satisfied by Finrod’s non-answer, but he let it go, vowing silently to himself to get the story out of his gwador when they were alone. He had assumed that everyone had meant the mugging when they spoke of having almost lost him, but apparently something else had happened to him that had brought him to the brink of life. He recalled the dream he had had of watching the Twins and Sarah walk away and now wondered if it had truly been a dream.

While he was ruminating on this, Elladan asked how the trip was, apparently wishing to change the subject, but when none of the Elves bothered to answer, Alex and Derek took turns describing their adventures.

“Man, I never saw so many caribou in one place before,” Derek exclaimed and Alex nodded in agreement.

“It’s rather odd they’re migrating this early, though,” Elrohir commented. “I wonder if that’s a good sign or a bad one.”

Several people shrugged, not having a ready answer. “I can keep my eye on the news,” Daeron said. “If the caribou are moving this early other migratory animals may be as well and there will be commentary about it from those who study them and their habits.”

“It may not mean anything, but it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Glorfindel said, pulling his attention away from his own thoughts.

“Almost time for your meds, Loren,” Laurendil said glancing at the clock on the table between the beds.

Glorfindel sighed. “Yes, Nana. Whatever you say, Nana,” he muttered.

Vorondur gave him a glare. “Remember what I said when we started out, Loren.”

Glorfindel was not the only one to give him a disbelieving look. “But we’re here, so don’t give me that bull.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Vorondur said with a shake of his head. “You’re only here on the condition that you don’t complain, you don’t whine and you don’t give us any trouble. I am perfectly willing to head back to Wiseman this very minute even if it means driving through the night.”

“Who died and left you in charge of the universe, Ron?” Glorfindel nearly yelled, standing up to glare at the Noldo sitting on the edge of the bed by the window next to his daughter. “And I never whine!” With that, he stormed into the bathroom and nearly slammed the door, leaving a dead silence behind. Derek looked as if he wanted to comment but Finrod noticed Alex stepping on his gwador’s foot and the Mortal shut his mouth.

“I know you’ve been very worried about Serindë,” Finrod said softly to Vorondur, “but that does not mean you have to take it out on the rest of us, especially Glorfindel. And, in case it slipped your mind, Ron, I’m the one in charge, not you, and I will decide who goes and who stays.”

Now the tension was palpable and both Alex and Derek looked slightly ill, no doubt feeling the force of Finrod’s power more than the Elves. Vorondur had the grace to look chagrined, muttering an apology. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I lost two of my children to this world. The thought that I might lose my daughter…”

“But you haven’t lost me, Ada, so don’t be so ridiculous,” Serindë exclaimed. “Honestly, I would think you would trust me better than that. We would’ve come back eventually, but Dan and Roy needed time to cool down.” Then she gave them a mischievous grin. “Besides, we’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Oh?” Vorondur said. “What sort of surprise?”

“For that, you-all will have to stay through Sunday,” Elrohir answered.

“Well, Derek and I can’t,” Alex said. “I meet with my advisor tomorrow and then we need to get back to Wiseman.”

“When do you teach your first class?” Finrod asked.

“Not until Tuesday, actually,” the Mortal replied, “but this time of year, I like to have a margin of safety while traveling. You just never know what delays there might be. We were planning on staying only through Saturday and then leave Sunday.”

“We can always put you on the plane to Bettles,” Vorondur said. “I told you we would and we’ll pay for it.”

“And miss out on the surprise?” Derek protested. “I’d die an agonizing death wondering what it is.”

“Don’t you have to be back at work as well?” Daeron asked as Glorfindel came out of the bathroom, appearing calmer.

“Marty told me if I needed to stay longer than planned he’d get one of the other assistant managers to cover for me and I’ll trade off,” Derek replied.

“Why do we have to wait until Sunday, though?” Laurendil asked. “What is the surprise?”

“Well, if we told you now, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” Elladan said. “And we have to wait until Sunday because… well, because. Look, can you trust us that much? I promise it’ll be worth it and afterwards we’ll return to Wiseman.”

“Well, I guess we can stay,” Glorfindel said as he took the antibiotic Laurendil handed him and drank it down with water, “as long as no one else has any objections.”

“I would like to stay long enough to see something of this city,” Finrod said. “I… I cannot believe how large it is, and you say this is a small city?”

The Wiseman Elves and the two Mortals grinned at his nonplused look. “You want to see a big city, you have to go to New York or L.A. for that,” Vorondur said. “Well, we still need to get ourselves registered, so we had best be going. Alex, Derek, we’ll drop you off at your hotel. Will you need a ride tomorrow to the University?”

“I can always grab a cab,” Alex answered.

“Nonsense,” Glorfindel answered. “What time’s your appointment?”

“Ten. It should only take about a half hour or so.”

“Then we’ll pick you up at nine-thirty and wait for you. We can wander around the campus and then afterwards we’ll give these two the three-penny tour.” He nodded at Finrod and Laurendil.

So it was decided. Vorondur tried to convince Serindë to come with him to the B and B while Daeron and Laurendil stayed with the Twins, but she refused and Finrod backed her decision. Vorondur protested that it was unseemly for an unmarried elleth to be staying in the same room with two ellyn, but Finrod pointed out that she and Elrohir could have married at any time in the Sindarin fashion, so his protest was moot.

“Give it up, Ron,” Glorfindel said somewhat unsympathetically. “They’re over the age of consent. You really have no say in the matter.”

“It’s more for Holly’s sake than mine,” Vorondur said, but from the looks everyone gave him he knew that argument wouldn’t hold water with any of them and he gave up.

The Twins and Serindë agreed to meet them all for lunch at a downtown restaurant known to them and then they were all leaving. They dropped Alex and Derek off and headed into the city. When they arrived at the B and B, they were warmly greeted by the owners who were known to Glorfindel and Daeron. They showed them to their ensuite rooms and Finrod, who was sharing one with Glorfindel, looked around in approval.

“Better than some inns I’ve stayed in even in Aman,” he commented as he put his bag on the bed.

Glorfindel just smiled as he rummaged through his own luggage, retrieving his toiletry bag. “As early as it is, I feel wrung out. I think I’m going to bed. If you make your way downstairs to the common room, they’ll serve you a sherry if you desire it.”

“What do you think the Twins are up to?” Finrod asked, not willing to leave just yet.

Glorfindel shrugged. “The Valar only know, but they both looked like the cat who not only ate the canary but had a dish of crème de salmon on the side.”

Finrod chuckled in agreement and was about to say more when there was a knock on the door. Opening it they saw Vorondur standing there. “Al says they have sherry for us. Darren and Randall are already down. You want some?”

“Well, I can’t have any anyway with my medications,” Glorfindel said, “and I’m going to bed. Finrod, why don’t you go down with Ron and the others? I’m sure you would like to unwind after the trip.”

“You will be fine?” Finrod asked, casting him a dubious look.

“Of course,” Glorfindel said. “I’m going straight to bed. It’s all I can do to keep my eyes open. Now go with Ron please. I don’t need a babysitter.”

Finrod nodded. “I will not stay long,” he said. “I feel the need for sleep as well.”

“The sherry will help, though,” Glorfindel said and wished the two good night.

After they left, he went into the bathroom and got himself ready for bed. Shucking his clothes, he crawled under the covers with a sigh of contentment and in minutes he was on the Path of Dreams. Finrod returned about an hour later, quietly readying himself for bed. Glorfindel never stirred. As he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, Finrod played the day’s events over again in his mind. His last thought was to wonder just what surprise the Twins had in store for them and if they would like it, knowing full-well how much Glorfindel hated surprises of any sort.

Down in the common room, Vorondur, Daeron and Laurendil were still enjoying their sherry with Vorondur and Daeron describing to Laurendil some of what they would do while they were in Fairbanks. Naturally they all wondered what surprise the Twins had in store for them.

“Knowing those two, nothing good,” Vorondur said sourly.

“Oh, come off it, Ron,” Daeron said amiably. “I’ve known them longer than you and I could tell that they were sincere. They were practically giddy with their secrets, even Sarah.”

“Well, we have two whole days of keeping Loren quiet before we learn what the surprise is,” Laurendil said. “Any suggestions?”

They spent a half an hour or so coming up with ideas before Vorondur decided to retire, leaving Daeron and Laurendil to carry on without him.

None of the Elves, awake or sleeping, were aware of Eönwë standing watch over them all.

****

They lingered over breakfast the next morning and then headed out, picking up Alex and Derek who were waiting outside for them, making their way to the University. Alex directed them to a parking lot reserved for visitors and pointed out the building where his appointment was. They made arrangements to meet later, then he and Derek went off, leaving the Elves to fend for themselves. They wandered about admiring the buildings. Classes were in session so there were students scurrying about, most of them too intent on making it to their next class to pay much attention to them. Eventually, they headed back to the van and found Alex and Derek coming toward them.

“All set?” Glorfindel asked Alex, who nodded.

“So, what are your plans for the day?” Derek asked as he and Alex climbed into the van.

“We figured we would spend some time at the Museum of the North,” Glorfindel answered, “but we won’t have time before we’re to meet Dan, Roy and Sarah for lunch, so we’ll do that tomorrow. Why don’t we just drive around and show these two the big city, unless you have your own plans?”

“Nah, we’re pretty much at loose ends,” Derek replied for them both.

So they drove around, pointing out some of the sights along the way while Finrod and Laurendil sat there craning their necks and gaping. Daeron, who was driving, eventually brought them to the restaurant where the Twins and Serindë were waiting for them.

“We made some phone calls this morning and everything is set for Sunday,” Elladan said to them as they settled into their seats and accepted the menus from the waitress.

“And you still won’t even give us a hint as to what this surprise is, will you?” Vorondur asked.

“Nope,” the Twins chorused and then laughed. Serindë merely smiled knowingly.

“You know how much I hate surprises,” Glorfindel said, narrowing his eyes.

“But you’ll love this one, I promise,” Elrohir said. “Why don’t we forget about it for now and just enjoy our lunch? What’s the news from Wiseman? Anything interesting? And have they found out who mugged you?”

“When I spoke with David Michaelson, there were no new leads,” Finrod answered.

“Do you know who attacked you?” Elladan asked Glorfindel.

“No. I remember walking into the Rusty Nail and then nothing until I woke up in the hospital. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” Elladan said.

The waitress came over just then and they took a few minutes to give their orders and after she left the subject of the mugging was dropped and they spoke of generalities. After lunch, the Twins and Serindë agreed to accompany the others who had decided to show Finrod and Laurendil a mall, so they followed in their car to Bentley Mall on College Road.

“This is fairly small in comparison to other malls elsewhere,” Glorfindel told Finrod and Laurendil  as they wandered along the single corridor that connected the Safeway at one end with Michael’s at the other, but the two Elves were still amazed at the variety of stores that were available and they spent a good amount of time there. Dinner that night was at the Pad Thai Restaurant because Glorfindel thought Finrod and Laurendil should try some ethnic foods not available in Wiseman.

Saturday, they visited the Museum of the North and other historical sites throughout the city, though the Twins and Serindë did not join them, saying they had some arrangements to make for Sunday. They agreed to meet everyone for dinner at the Chowder House, an inexpensive restaurant known for its seafood and popular with the locals. Finrod felt immediately at home there, likening it to the Laughing Vala, and then, of course, he had to tell them how the name had come about. There was much laughter and the mood among them was relaxed.

“Well, tomorrow we will finally learn what all the excitement is about,” Glorfindel said as they enjoyed coffee and dessert.

“Meet us around one,” Elladan said. “You’ll have to follow us to where we need to go, but it’s not far, just up University Ave.”

“And you refuse to give us a hint,” Finrod said.

“That would spoil it,” Elrohir said. “Trust us. This surprise you will love.”

“Then we’ll meet you at one,” Glorfindel said. “Until then, I guess we’ll just have to practice patience.”

“Which means Loren will be up before dawn insisting we all get ready immediately,” Vorondur said with a grin.

“No. I’m not that childish,” Glorfindel said with a disdainful sniff. “I’ll at least wait until one minute after dawn before I start bouncing on the beds to wake you.”

They all laughed at that and when they left the restaurant they were all in a good mood. Elrohir offered to drop Alex and Derek off at their hotel and everyone wished everyone else a good night before they went their separate ways.