A/N Thank you again to MistressOfImladris for looking over this chapter for me!
The next morning, as the sun rose over Rivendell, casting everything in a warm golden light, Elrond closeted himself away in his study. He was finishing up his morning reports when he heard a knock on his door. "Enter," he replied without looking up from the paper he was in the middle of revising.
The door opened slowly, revealing a tall, dark-haired ellon. "My Lord Elrond, you called for me," he said, upon entering the room. As he moved to stand before the desk, his booted feet made no sound on the decorative rug spread out over the floor.
Elrond looked up from his report and put the quill down, motioning for him to sit. "Ah, yes, Faron, thank you for coming so quickly. I am sure you are aware my wife is leaving here this morning for Lothlórien?"
The captain looked at his lord with disbelief. He had heard rumors she was going but never thought Elrond would allow it. "She is traveling during these times of troubles when several Orc attacks have been happening?" Not wishing to overstep his bounds, Faron carefully chose his next words. "Don't you think it unwise to let her leave? I know she misses her parents and Lady Arwen terribly, but it is far too dangerous for her to leave the safety of Imladris!"
The Elf-lord glanced at Faron with a look of uneasiness in his eyes. "Yes, Faron, I am aware of the dangers lurking in Caradhras. For that reason, I am charging you and the best of your Elves to lead my wife along with her companions safely to Lothlórien, understand?"
Faron gazed at his lord with a look of slight confusion. "Me, my lord? Forgive my asking, but don't you think Lord Glorfindel would be better suited to escort the Lady Celebrían?"
"Glorfindel is needed here, Faron, so I am appointing this task to you."
Faron lowered his head in respect. "I understand, my lord. I swear to you we will make sure they are kept safe with our lives and arrive unharmed. When do we depart?"
Standing, Elrond walked towards the window, seeming lost in space for a time before answering uneasily. "They are leaving within the next hour. I want you and your scouts ready by then… and Faron –" He turned his gaze towards Faron, and again the captain saw just how worried the Elf–lord was. "Be ever on your guard at all times, for the enemies of Middle-earth do not sleep."
Faron stood up and bowed. "It will be done as you command."
Nodding, Elrond dismissed Faron. "Thank you, Faron, that will be all."
Turning, Faron went to prepare himself and to brief his troops for the dangerous trip that lay ahead. He felt uneasy about the whole thing. Orc attacks were becoming more and more frequent. It was not wise for any to be traveling the roads. But, to his mounting frustration, he could do little about it, he knew it was not his place to argue.
When Faron left, Elrond returned to his work but found it hard to stay on task. He couldn't shake the feeling he was making a mistake letting his wife depart. Elrond wished he had not commanded his sons to leave, but he decided not to say anything to Celebrían. He knew she would just tell him he was being worried for nothing. Shaking the feeling aside, he forced himself to finish the reports he had been trying for the last several hours to complete. After all, they won't finish themselves, he thought glumly.
"Please, Tinil, it will be okay. Elrond is making sure Faron along with the best of his troops is with us. Nothing will happen. Besides, when was the last time you went back to visit your brothers? I'm sure they will want to see you after all these years of being away," Celebrían pleaded with her childhood friend, trying to convince her to make the journey with her.
Tinil and Celebrían had grown up together and were practically inseparable. Tinil's father had been the Marchwarden, her mother Lady Galadriel's confidante until their sailing into the West after her father had been gravely injured on patrol. Tinil had only been an elfling, and since her brothers were in the patrols, Galadriel and Celeborn had taken it upon themselves to care for Tinil until she was older. When Celebrían married Elrond and moved to Imladris, Tinil went with her as her friend and companion.
The silver-haired elleth sighed heavily. "But what about all the Orc attacks that have been happening as of late? I heard the scouts say they are coming closer and there are rumors of them attacking during daylight hours."
Celebrían sat next to her best friend placing her hand on hers, giving it a soft squeeze. "Tinil, I swear to you, I will allow nothing happen to you. Faron will be escorting us. He was one of the High King Gil-galad's personal guards and is one of the best warriors we have. Please, it won't be the same without you. I will be the only elleth until we get to Lothlórien, and that would be too depressing for words."
Giggling, Tinil rolled her eyes, "Well when you put it that way. I can't let you be left to fend off all the ellyn yourself, now can I? They would have an unfair advantage over you."
Celebrían laughed. "So, does that mean you are coming?"
"Yes, I will come; like you said, it has been far too long since I saw my brothers." Tinil smiled at her persuasive friend.
Hugging Tinil, Celebrían jumped to her feet. "Oh, thank you, Tinil. Now, hurry and pack; we are leaving within the hour." Celebrían rushed to the door of Tinil's room, intending to return to her chambers to ensure she had everything necessary she was going to need herself. In the doorway, she turned to face her friend. "And Tinil, I promise everything will be fine, you'll see." With a soft smile, she left Tinil to pack her belongings. After the door had clicked shut, Tinil wondered how Celebrían talked her into such a journey.
Soon everyone was in the courtyard packed and ready to set forth. Celebrían handed the last of her bags to Esgarben, one of the Elves who would be escorting her, while she went to say goodbye to Elrond. She bit back a smile when she took in his expression of one who had just eaten cookies laced with salt.
"Celebrían, please, I beg you to reconsider. Wait until the twins return from scouting; then you can leave. Just wait one more week, that is all," Elrond pleaded, grasping his wife's hands in his as if they were a lifeline. "If something were to happen..." His voice trailed off, filled with fear and trepidation.
Celebrían squeezed his hands gently. "Elrond, please, everything will be okay. Besides, Faron is going to be with us. If things start to become too dangerous we will stop and turn around, I promise."
Elrond sighed, knowing his wife would not change her mind. She was too much like her mother.
Gracefully, if not happily Elrond nodded his head before taking his wife in his arms kissing her tenderly. Not wanting to let her go, he held her tightly allowing her to remain in his protective grip for several minutes. Then it was time to leave. Elrond reluctantly released her from where he still held her protectively. Slowly Celebrían went to her horse and mounted the mare while glancing back at her husband, who still looked worried but managed a small smile. Returning the smile, she then turned leaving the gates of the Last Homely House, Faron and his company of Elves following her closely.
"Be careful, my love," Elrond softly said as he waved goodbye, unaware his life – and that of his family – would be changed forever in the space of a few short days.
