High Princes of Tirion

by Nemis

Aurehen is mine… Haha!

Quick A/N: Everybody stop worrying about Ereinion... Trust me here. ;)) He'll be fine.

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Chapter Three    Days of Happiness

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Celebrían fidgeted anxiously over her garments, long fingers flying over already fastened buttons, toying with fabric over and over. Aurehen watched her with a raised eyebrow, knowing she could have, and probably had been ready for at least half an hour.

'Ah!' sounded an angry exclamation as the Elf-lady turned, dropping herself into a chair, first sitting back, then leaning forward, placing her elbows on her knees in agitation.

'My Lady, what is it that vexes you so?' Aurehen tried again, but Celebrían shook her head and reached for a pillow from the next seat, placing it on the arm of the chair and resting her head upon it, a trace of tears in her eyes.

'Shall I send for Master Elrond?' the maiden asked.

A shake of the head.

'He is busy... And I shall be fine in a moment.'

It was strange. Normally Celebrían was resolved and steady, as befitted the Lady of the House, but now, she was all but that. Not truly ill, though, Aurehen gathered, Celebrían's behaviour rather indicated there was a psychological explanation for her behaviour.

'Your mother perhaps?' she tried.

Blue eyes flamed.

'Don't you dare.' Celebrían spoke softly, though there lay an unmistakeable tone of warning in the voice.

'Would you lie down, then?'

Considering it for a moment, the Elf-lady finally nodded.

'Perhaps I shall...'

Offering her arm, Aurehen helped Celebrían towards the bed, and, as she lay down, stroked the silver tresses of hair, waiting until her mistress's breath had slowed, indicating a more peaceful condition.

Then she quietly left the room and went to find one of the Lord of Imladris's attendants. It was harder than usual, since most of the men in the house had been enlisted by either Elrond or Ereinion to work at the building-site, not far removed.

Deciding to leave one of the younger Elven ladies staying in the House just outside the chambers where Celebrían rested, Aurehen ran to the location where the new wing was constructed herself.

But how would she be able to convince Elrond to come, since there, in truth, was no precise reason?

Meanwhile, Galadriel walked through the gardens, her mind on her daughter.

She felt Celebrían's anxiety but realised all too well that within lay a warning for her not to react, making it something her daughter wished to deal with on her own.

Did what had happened surprise the Lady of the House?

The former Lady of the Galadhrim had been surprised herself when she had felt her own longing for her husband.

She had missed Celeborn, had missed his support, his voice ever-present in her mind.

This was logical. Even though they had spent many years apart during the years of their marriage, there had always been a whisper of him in her mind.

Not so after reaching Valinor. Then again, it had not truly been necessary.

What had not been logical was the longing she had felt for his hands, his lips, the urge she had long thought gone. She smiled as she recalled their first night, when both she and Celeborn had given in fully to the urge.

Perhaps it was therefore that it did not surprise her in the least that Elrond and her daughter had felt the same. For one, their marriage was younger, and the separation between them had been more abrupt and longer. One could consider their marriage had started anew, when Elrond had arrived here.

And with it, it seemed, the Days of Happiness also...

As Aurehen reached her destination, Lord Elladan was the first she caught sight of.

'I need to find Master Elrond.' she spoke, out of breath, and somewhat uneasy that it had to be this particular son of Elrond she should speak with.

'You found him,' the Elf-lord smiled, as he pointed towards the third floor roof of the lower part of the structure. 'But if you also wish to speak with him, a problem might arise.'

Elladan could not help smile at the lady who was possibly one of his mother's closest friends. When she only weakly returned it, he gathered Aurehen had indeed come in haste to speak earnestly with his father. Then again, he slightly admonished himself, he should have deducted it from her ragged breath and flustered face in the first place.

'It is not something of which you can speak to me?' he enquired.

Aurehen shook her head.

'I can merely say it involves your mother, my Lord.'

Elladan raised an eyebrow. If this was so, why had his mother not come herself? Unless she was not able to come in person...

'Is she well?' he queried, sounding somewhat worried.

'I merely wish to speak with Master Elrond... Please?'

With an understanding nod, he brought his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly.

'Adar!'

Elrond edged towards the rim of the roof and peered down.

'Elladan? Is something the matter?'

'You need to come down. At once.'

Elrohir appeared on one of the lower floors and called down to his brother.

'Is something wrong?'

'It concerns mother.'

Aurehen cringed at the volume of the exchanges.

The last sentence had made a silver-haired Elf appear seemingly out of nowhere, as Elrond scrambled down dangerously fast. Before long, four male Elves stood around her, and she only dared to glance at Elrond.

'She... I did not wish... Lady Celebrían did not wish me to call you, but I thought it better…'

Elrond did not wait for any further explanation as he started into the direction of the main house, first with quick paces alone, then running as fast as he could.

Her fear of not being able to convince him of the gravity of the situation had just turned full-circle on Aurehen.

The Lord Celeborn looked at her.

'Is my daughter unwell?'

Aurehen was well aware of the close relationship between this particular father and daughter, and decided on a straight reply.

'She seems restless in her daily manners, my Lord, and she is asleep now, when usually she is busy and going about her responsibilities at this time of day. But I cannot say she is unwell in actual fact…'

Placing his hand on her arm, he motioned her into the direction Elrond had just taken off in. Elrohir made to join them, but Celeborn waved him back.

'Inform Ereinion where we went... If something is wrong, we shall send word, but for now, simply meet us back at the house around noon. Agreed?'

'Very well,' Elladan nodded, even though neither he nor his brother seemed very comfortable with assenting to the proposal. They stood silently, watching the two Elves walk off.

Elladan bit his lip, his eyes fixed on where the House stood in the distance.

'How about you go and tell Ereinion,' he told his brother.

'What must I tell him?' Elrohir replied.

'Whatever it takes to convince him to go to the House.'

Elrond sprang up the front steps of the house and made his way through the halls swiftly, his worries preceding him. Was it possible she was ill again? Ill like she had been that last year in Middle-earth? If so, why hadn't he noticed? Of course she had seemed a little restless the past week, but he had not thought anything of it... Such a fool he could be, being preoccupied with the mere raising of a structure...

He brushed past some attendants and found one of them somewhat panicky in front of the chambers he and Celebrían shared.

'What is the matter?' he asked, hardly slowing down and entering the bedroom before receiving an answer.

There he found Celebrían near tears, sitting on the side of their bed.

With a single look he accomplished the speedy disappearance of the two ladies that had been with her, and descending upon his knees, he caught her hands.

'Tell me, Celebrían, meleth-nîn… What is it?'

Flinging her arms around his neck she pulled him close, and he tightly answered the embrace.

'Whatever it is, all is well now, and I am here...' he shushed, stroking her back.

All she did, as she withdrew, and all she really needed to do, was take his hand and place it on her abdomen. They sat in that fashion for a while, staying silent, but speaking almost continuously.

How long has this been?

Almost a full cycle of the moon, but I did not pay attention to it, I was preoccupied...

I was too, gwilwileth, and I am sorry for it...

This cannot have come about just like this, El-nîn...

Perhaps we both wished it unbeknownst even to ourselves, and therefore it was so...

You wished this too?

Of course, my Celebrían, was there ever any doubt in your mind?

And with that answer, he placed a tender kiss upon her lips

Celeborn observed them with Aurehen from the doorway. Quietly, a hand was placed on his arm before it slipped down to entwine with his fingers. Galadriel rested her cheek against his shoulder, before gently pulling him from the doorway.

'Did you know?' he asked her quietly, but her only response was a smile.

As they began making their way down the hall, a flash seemed to emerge from one of the adjoining chambers and Elernil came running by and waved in their direction.

'Elernil, where are you going?' Celeborn called after him.

'To find grandfather.' sounded the reply, as the boy disappeared around the corner. For a moment, both the Elves seemed to contemplate their actions, but then they turned as one and quickly followed their great-grandchild.

They arrived too late, finding Elernil already curiously eyeing Celebrían, Aurehen trying to decide whether to remove the child or leave him be.

'You have a hurt in your belly?' he asked his grandmother, a little worried.

'Not really,' Celebrían smiled as she pulled her grandson unto the bed, Elrond still sitting at her feet. 'Do not worry about it, mell-nîn. Where is your mother?'

The boy shrugged. Elrond looked around and hastily rose as he noticed Celeborn and Galadriel.

'Elernil, perhaps you should go make ready for lunch...'

'But I am ready... Please, daeradar.' Eyes pleaded to Elrond as the child wrapped his arms around Celebrían's waist.

Pursing his lips, Elrond gave Celebrían a meaningful look, before making way for the door to the hall leading into the library. It was no use to return to the building-site now, lunch would be ready in less than half an hour.

Once in the library, he found he was uncertain as to how to spend his time until then.

Is this registering as it should? He asked himself. Am I aware of what this means?

He turned and leant against the table. Celebrían had followed and watched him from a few steps removed.

'You are not truly pleased...'

He looked at her for a moment before extending an arm, pulling her into an embrace as she hurriedly came near.

'Let me assure you, there is nothing in this world that pleases me more than this...' he whispered softly while kissing her forehead.

Celebrían looked up at him.

'I am as anxious now as I was when with child before... But once it has arrived...'

Elrond smiled and finished her sentence as he moved a tress of hair out of her face.

'... None of those earlier fears matter anymore... I know, meleth-nîn, I know.'

Pressing kisses on her cheekbone, before moving higher and keenly following her face with his lips, Celebrían couldn't help smile as she caught some of Elrond's thoughts.

'We should have known...' she whispered breathlessly.

'Hmm,' he answered with a smile, moving to her neck. 'Yes.'

'Are you going to have a baby?'

They both ceased their actions to find Elernil watching them. The boy grimaced.

'Can I tell ada?'

With a sigh, Elrond rested his head against Celebrían's shoulder.

'We should have locked the door.'

'At least now we have a way to spread the news while we can hide.' she grinned.

In a sudden urge, he kissed her passionately, and was comforted by her equally ardent reply, her hands resting comfortingly on his back.

Somewhere down the hall, they could hear voices nearing. Elernil was off before they could stop him.

'It must be Ereinion.' Celebrían whispered as she caught her husband's hand. Elrond nodded.

'With Elladan and Elrohir…'

From afar, they could hear Elernil's enthused voice.

'Daernaneth Celebrían doesn't have a belly ache, she's going to have a baby! Can we have a baby too, ada? Please?'

Exchanging only a glance, Elrond pulled Celebrían to the other end of the library, where they quickly descended the stairway, faces flushed and chuckling quietly.

'Elladan will never forgive us,' Celebrían smiled, and Elrond nodded with a grin.

'He will not speak to us for at least a week.'

Caught up in each other, they did not notice the Elf-lord before standing right in front of him.

Sitting comfortably on one of the stone benches of the small courtyard, the High Prince teasingly raised a dark eyebrow.

'It is my impression,' he smiled broadly at Celebrían. 'that if the information I have received is correct, it could be the most joyful news this House has had... well... ever, since it has moved to Aman.'

Celebrían caught Elrond's hand with a glimmer in her eyes and Elrond smiled weakly at his friend.

'Ereinion, we…'

'... thought you were upstairs.'

Laughing, Ereinion rose.

'Nay, your sons alone went upstairs to see you. I did manage to catch your grandson's news though. Congratulations.'

With no hesitation Celebrían caught his hand and embraced him.

Elrond too, allowed himself to be warmly congratulated.

'Ereinion!'

Elernil descended the stairway with a jump and came running towards them.

Releasing Elrond, the High Prince bent down to catch the boy and took him on his arm.

'Hail, master Elernil. Methinks I shall start using you as my messenger boy from now on.' he laughed.

With a giggle, Elernil rested his hands on the Elf-lord's shoulder.

'Really?'

'Would I jest about an important thing such as that?' Ereinion replied seriously.

It was then that Elladan and Elrohir too, made their way down.

'Tis true?' Elrohir asked his mother with a glimmer in his eyes. Celebrían smiled and embraced him.

'Tis.'

Elladan watched them as he considered what had just been confirmed.

Taking into account that both he and Elrohir, as well as Arwen, had been conceived rather late in their parents' lives, though not late in their marriage, the occurrence of this rather uncommon thing should not have come as a full-blown surprise.

It was not according to custom, true, but did it matter if they were pleased?

And yet... He could not help feel a bit uncomfortable.

Still, if it made his parents both feel… He could not help but smile as he watched them, both radiant and red-cheeked in their present circumstance. There was no way this could be an accident of any sort…

It had perhaps not come expected, but could not have happened if not for some wish for another child by both…

'How long have you known?' he heard himself ask, as he embraced his mother, and he watched her blush deeply as she withdrew.

'I have suspected for some time… I could not be certain until now.'

He nodded slowly. Then he smiled broadly.

'I see.'

Celebrían slapped him against the shoulder.

Elernil, meanwhile, was attempting to get his father's attention while still seated on Ereinion's arm.

'Ada, ada, ada!' he called, as the Elf-lord did his uttermost best to keep the boy from falling off, clutching his shirt to pull him back.

Elrohir aided Ereinion by coming closer and Elernil leaned over to indicate he wanted to changed arms.

With a smile, Ereinion handed over his cousin.

'I'm a messenger now! 'Reinion said so! Can I? Can I please?'

'Surely you can,' his father answered, before looking at Ereinion. 'As long as you stay in, or at least near the house.'

'Of course,' the High Prince nodded.

Enthused, Elernil threw his arms around his father's neck.

'Yay!'

Then he wriggled out of the hold again and returned to Ereinion, catching his hand.

'Right now?'

Grinning at the others, the High Prince pursed his lips.

'I think we shall have lunch first,' he looked at Elrond before continuing. 'And excuse the Lord and Lady, allowing them some times alone, so we can scheme how to tease them with it best once it has entirely sunken in.'

And with that, the High Prince turned, followed by the others, leaving Elrond with Celebrían in the courtyard.

With a comfortable movement he pulled her close, and she buried her face in the curve of his neck.

'Strangely enough,' Elrond whispered. 'I am thinking of that time when you returned from Lórien, when you were carrying Arwen…'

'Not strange at all, my love. Not strange to me.' Celebrían returned, pressing her lips against his neck. 'Tell me about it.'

He kissed her head, with a warm smile playing around his lips.

'Do you not remember?'

'I do, but I simply wish to listen to your voice now.' she replied softly.

Elrond smiled, catching her hand.

'I had hoped you would return with Elladan and Elrohir, because I always did, when you were in Lórien and I knew they would pass by there on their way home from errantry. So very disappointed I was when I saw they had come alone, meaning that you were staying longer…'

They walked hand in hand, making their way through the stately halls of the House, returning once more to the bright light of Anar.

'And then you were there…' He grinned at her, raising her arm and allowing her to twirl once, before lowering it again, walking on, climbing the hill the main house had been built on.

At the highest point, they stopped for a while, looking down at the slight curve the new wing took from the main structure, circling down, around the rise.

'Sometimes I miss the river, Elrond.' Celebrían whispered. 'I miss the valley.'

Wrapping his arms closely around her, he buried his face in her hair.

'Would you wish to go back?'

He felt her swallow, so close he held her.

And then he felt the memories, the unpleasant ones, being accessed deep within him. He tried to hold her closer, knowing it to be a reaction to what she felt at present.

Looking up, she smiled, not weakly, not feigned, but warmly, making him glow inside.

'When I say I miss them, that does not mean I cannot live without them, my love…' 

Smiling, Elrond motioned her down and she settled back against him as they watched beyond, every once in a while indicating a certain landmark, or comparing their present surroundings to the old ones.

They sat so still when Elrohir and Mîrlinde, on a private stroll, having left their son in Ereinion's care, observed them from the lower side of the hill.

'Should I not go up to congratulate them?' the Elf-lady asked her husband gently. Catching her hand, he kissed it and smiled.

'I do not think they would much appreciate it now, meleth-nîn.'

'Perhaps later,' she smiled, and he nodded in reply.

'Later indeed.'

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adar: father

meleth-nîn: my love

gwilwileth: butterfly

El-nîn: my star

mell-nîn: my dear

daeradar: grandfather

ada: father, daddy

daernaneth: grandmother

anar: the sun

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Ah well, there we are... :D

I can't believe I did this though... Be sure to warn me when this starts to get silly. ;))

And feel free to leave me and the elfies a review. We live on those. :))