Imladris 2938 TA

Gilraen stood at the opening that led out onto her balcony overlooking the twin waterfalls that fed the Loudwater and sighed. The beauty of this view always managed to somehow salve her emotions when they became too raw. It had been five years since she and little Estel had arrived bedraggled and heartsick on the doorstep of the Last Homely House. Elrond had opened his doors and his heart to the forlorn pair and for that alone he had earned her love and respect.

She spied her small son tearing toward the river in his wading outfit clearly aiming for the portion of the Loudwater that created an eddy safe enough to wade in. "Be Careful, My love." She called down from her balcony. Elmiran who had just come into view carrying a drying wrap for her son answered back, "Don't worry. He will be. I will see to that!" Gilraen laughed and as she smiled her thanks she mused that Elmiran should have brought a drying cloth for himself as he knew full well Estel's mischievous tendencies.

"I hear that Elmiran is going for a swim, although he, himself, does not fully suspect this quite yet!" Gilraen turned at the melodious tenor of Elrond's voice tinged with amusement as it was at that moment.

"Yes, I afraid that will be the case. But Elmiran knows the risks taking Estel swimming, so if he doesn't take precautions, well…" Gilraen said her voice trailing off knowingly, shrugging her shoulders and chuckling softly.

Elrond walked out onto the balcony, sharing the space with Gilraen as he watched Estel and then Elmiran disappear from view. "He has grown well."

Gilraen sobered a bit and answered, "Yes, my lord. He has. In no small part to your tutelage."

Elrond smiled and gazed thoughtfully at this amazing woman who had given so much of herself in the past five years. He found her a marvel. "Come, let us take lunch together." He requested as he held out a crimson silk clad elbow waiting for Gilraen to accept his offer.

At first she demurred, "Oh no, my lord. I do not wish to take lunch presently. I wish to work a bit more on the rug for the Great Hearth and then I will take lunch." She hesitated because she, even after all these years, did not wish to take more of Lord Elrond's time than was strictly necessary.

"My lady, it would delight me to have your company for lunch. The hearth rug can wait, please my lady!" His pale blue eyes gazed at her placidly, but within their depths she saw a pain he was desperately trying to hide. She did not need to have the Sight to know that Elrond was denying pain and was seeking to distract himself from it by reaching out to another. Gilraen, no stranger to pain herself, could not deny the Elf who had given them not just a roof over their heads but a home.

Gilraen sat in the airy nook where she, Elrond and Estel took breakfast. The twins often joined when they were not on patrol but they also had their own suite of rooms and did not this day join the two for lunch. Elrond sat in a plush armchair and reached across the smallish table filling Gilraen's glass with the fine Dorwinian vintage that he greatly favoured. Gilraen smiled her thanks and took a sip. She sensed something different about Elrond today, though she did not know what it was. He was often quiet, this she did not mind. It meant that she could be alone with her own thoughts. He respected her privacy and did not ask overly intrusive questions. Even now she still did not wish to dwell too deeply upon the past. It only brought inexpressible pain and that was something she could live without. This life had been foist upon her and she was making her way as best she could. Questions only made things difficult. Yet she found herself asking, "My Lord, you seem sad. Is there a reason for such sadness? Is there something that I may do to aid you?" She stopped, wondering at the question that had just fallen out of her mouth.

Elrond looked at her, a bit taken aback. Their conversations never strayed beyond that of Estel and the running of the house to which she had become the unwilling Chatelaine. As mother to Elrond's foster child the role grew around her and it was one she had grown accustomed to. It gave her purpose beyond the care of her son and gave her life structure, which had become very important in the intervening years. There was fellow feeling between the two, sharing as they did the raising of Estel. But it was an unspoken relationship that had grown over the years, never bearing further definition or explanation.

Judging by the look that flashed across Elrond's face, Gilraen sensed that she had crossed some imaginary boundary that she had never before approached, "I beg pardon, my lord. It is not my place to ask."

Elrond, seeing the embarrassment and discomfiture written upon Gilraen's face, quickly move to dispel such unnecessary emotions, "My Lady! Do not fret. I am not offended. There is no need for such embarrassment among friends." Elrond paused and a gentle acceptance of the friendship she tentatively offered settled upon him. They were friends. He realised the truth of that statement and also the loneliness that surrounded it. Elrond realised that while he had very warm working relationships with all contained within Rivendell's boundaries he had very few he would call friends. All looked to him for guidance and it was a responsibility that he shouldered most willingly; it was his duty to lead his people, but very few did he let into his heart. It had sustained so much pain and loss over the centuries that it had rather closed in upon itself cocooning the love within; the love he held bound, for it was the only way he could exist after Celebrian's departure. Gilraen's proffered concern and friendship touched upon this protected core and on this day of all days, the anniversary of Celebrian's departure across the sea, it warmed it slightly. He very rarely spoke of this anniversary to anyone, even his children for they all bore their own scars. He was reminded of the dark places of the heart his beloved twins had traveled in the years following Celebrian's departure. He had almost lost them also…to pain and despair.

"I fear I have distressed you. Perhaps I should go?"

Elrond broke from his musing of his wine goblet; the unfamiliar emotions still coursing through him to behold Gilraen's concerned face. "No my lady. You have not. Please stay and forgive my melancholy. You ask after my sadness. It is true; this is never an easy time for me." He took a deep breath and decided that it was time to unravel some of the pain in his heart to someone who could perhaps understand the depths of it. "You see upon this day, my Celebrian took ship for the West."

A silent "O" escaped Gilraen's mouth and her eyes held a compassion that allowed Elrond the strength to continue. Five hundred years it had been…