Elrond sneaked into Arwen's nursery, checking that his wife was not watching. Celebrian had insisted that she put to bed, because she had been awake all day and would get tired and cranky if she didn't sleep soon. Elrond had just got back from a particularly gruelling defence excursion and was looking forward to seeing his baby girl. He loved all his children, but he quite enjoyed them when they were babes. He just couldn't resist checking to see if she was awake. He crept quietly into the room and leaned over the crib. Two round beads of turquoise looked up at him. His daughter was awake still.
"Mára aurë, my baby. Hello..."
She wiggled a little, one side of her face crooking into a flash of a smile. He rewarded that with a big smile and shining eyes.
"Hello, my darling. Aren't you precious? Yes, you are" Elrond cooed amiably
Arwen's smile flickered again as she thrashed her arms and kicked her tiny legs.
"Shall we play a game, sweetheart? Would you like that?"
Arwen chuckled her high baby chuckle.
Elrond grinned back down at her. He moved with exaggerated emphasis, placing his hands over his eyes "where's my tithen pen? Where is she?" he threw his hands back and opened his eyes wide, pretending to see Arwen for the first time. "Aww, there she is!" he cried gleefully. Arwen thumped her pint-sized feet against her mattress, giggling in amusement. Elrond continued this little charade for a while longer and each time he was met with a look of delighted surprise. Elrond's smile was almost too big for his face and his heart was soaring. He had been through many trials and tribulations but here, with his baby girl, he was at peace.
Celebrian leaned against the door jamb, silently watching her husband and child. She had come up here with the intention of chastising him for keeping Arwen awake. But when she beheld this scene she had not the heart to stop it. She slipped quietly away, leaving father and daughter to revel in one another