The Last Temptation of HomerBecause he's sooo jerky! And because he's so human. But I totally agree on the Fingon/Maedhros point. Icky!

Elven Bunny and Butterfly LionI have decided that I also do not like slash. Thanks for the compliments, I always love them.

Sorry this up date took so darned long to write. My life has been busy!

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Chapter Four

I know when two men collide
It's a question of honour

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Years following the departure of the vessel a kind of resigned laziness came over the elves of the Havens. In the rush of preparing everything for their companions the Haven elves had gone without sleep and proper meal times.

So it was only natural that they should slow down and take some time to rest and recuperate. The morning bell rang late, and the evening bell rang early and work was minimal. Those who cared to do more work and continue with the normal schedule did so with extra care not to disturb those who slept late.

Cirdan was not one of those who could sleep late. It made him feel extremely guilty to sleep when Eru went to so much trouble to make the morning beautiful. So he made his way to the workshop every morning and quietly worked on the details of his next ship. Weeks of refining the design were still to come and he was content to send every minute with his plans.

Well, not every minute.

Since Eglerion had asked his permission to court a certain young woman, Cirdan found multitudes of reasons to go back and forth between the shop and the house. At the strangest times he would appear and inquire after everyone's welfare, asking where Eglerion was? And where would Itarildë be sending her day?

It was sweet, the interest he took in the young couple, everyone said so. Not to his face, heavens no! The idea was unthinkable, to point out that Cirdan was a matchmaker when the very mention of the two brought a noticeable color to his face? But while he was gone, and when the maids hung laundry or worked the garden, it was quite the favorite topic.

Eglerion didn't think so.

It is doubtful if he would have said anything if Cirdan hadn't…well, you must judge for yourself.

It was a month after the departure of the ship and the cooks decided it was time to have a picnic. So tables were moved out into the garden and special lanterns strung upon cord all around. All in all the setting would prove to be very romantic which was what Eglerion was hoping for. If he had bribed the cooks, well, what of it?

Itarildë came out the door with a baby in her arms, the baby had hold of her braids was babbling away as they tugged on them. Itarildë laughed and bounced the baby up and down. Eglerion went up and guided her to a seat beside his before she knew what was going on.

"Look, Imrahil! Look at silly Eglerion!" she said. The baby giggled and reach out his little arms to the other elf.

"Oh! Look at these sticky little paws." Eglerion said, he pulled handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the chubby hands off while Itarildë held him still.

"I'm afraid I have honey in my hair from this sweet one." Itarildë said and nuzzled the baby's soft cheek.

"Sweet things seem to come together ." Eglerion said, "would you walk with me Itarildë?"

Her eyes met his, "Now? We haven't eaten yet and …"

He stilled her words with a finger against her lips, "Please? Just this one time?"

She looked down at the baby and he gurgled back and touched her lips with his little hand, "What do you think sweet one? Shall I go?"

The answer was a happy laugh and so she turned to Eglerion and said, "Very well, let me take this little tacter back to his Naneth and I'll come. Wait for me by the steps."

"I will, but hurry! Don't let any of the girls or Cirdan steal you away this time." Eglerion said, his eyes were shining and excitement had crept into his voice.

Itarildë skipped away looking over the crowd for the baby's parents. She was about to ask one of the younger elleth's to take him when Cirdan appeared at her side.

"What are you looking for Itarildë?" he said, "A place to sit?"

"No, not what. Who." she explained, "I was trying to return Imrahil to his Naneth and I can't seem to find her. Besides the fact that Eglerion is waiting for me on the beach and.."

"What? You haven't eaten yet." Cirdan pointed out.

Itarildë sighed and shrugged, "I really don't see why it matters, Eglerion didn't."

"Didn't what?"

Itarildë's went wide and she said, "I really have no idea what has gotten into everyone tonight. Here you take him and find his Naneth, I have to meet Eglerion."

As she moved away through the crowd Cirdan called, "Where will you be going?"

The elleth didn't bother to answer him. She was upset and was not sure why. A perfectly lovely evening was turning into a strange series of meetings, questionings and …whatever came next. She pushed her hair behind her ears and tripped lightly down the steps to where Eglerion was waiting for her.

"What kept you?" he asked. His tone was not unhappy but he seemed a bit put out. She looped her arm through his and they began walking away from where the rest of the haven's elves were eating.

"I couldn't find Imrahil's parent's and then I was questioned by Cirdan and…"

"What about?"

"Will someone let me finish a sentence tonight!" she wailed, "I was saying, Cirdan questioned where I was going and I just handed the baby so him and came after you."

"Oh. I'm sorry I wasn't trying to be rude." he apologized, "I was just wondering."

Itarildë stopped and said quietly, "Why do you care so much?"

Eglerion paused and looked deep into her eyes. Then he took his small hands in his own and said, 'Because I am falling in love with you dear. I want to know your thoughts and where you are so I can be with you. I want to know your joys and sorrows. I want to share mine with you. I want to marry you love."

All this time Itarildë stood listening and feeling the gentle pressure of his hands on her's. His words went straight to her heart and she felt rare tears gathering in her eyes blurring the world around her. The sound of their breathing was the only music to their moment for even the sea seemed to still at his declaration.

"Eglerion, are you asking me to bond with you?"

Eglerion nodded and tightened his grasp on her hands, 'Yes, Itarildë."

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Cirdan was bent over his sketch table a pencil between his lips and parchment of plans under his hands. Calculations were scribbled messily all over the sides and around the carefully drawn blue prints as the Shipwright made change after change to the original.

It was a matter of loving pride that each and every ship that Cirdan made was different in and of itself. Still each needed to bear the unmistakable mark of the Teleri. So a little was change here and little something added there, and over all he would change the plans entirely at least twice before settling down with the first draft he had drawn.

His designs were perfect and confident, he was 'born' with the innate ability to create beauty out of wood. And this was married to the same love of the ocean that made each boat he built like a creature of the sea itself.

There was a gentle rapping at the workshop door, but the Shipwright didn't hear it, he was so engrossed in his work. It came again, louder, still nothing. There was the sound of mild annoyance on the other side of the door and finally a literal pounding shook the door.

"Come in all ready!" Cirdan yelled the pencil muffling his words into, "Um ine all freddy!"

The door opened and Itarildë stood there looked distinctly cross, "Cirdan, I knocked twice before this! Didn't you..? Never mind I see you were busy." she walked into the room waving him back to his seat and taking one beside him.

Cirdan waited, she didn't say anything. He returned to his sketches wondering what had prompted this unusual visit, not of course, that is was unwelcome or unpleasant in anyway. Yet, there was something about the way Itarildë held her hands tightly together and the strained lines about her brow that assured him that in her case, all was not right with the world.

"So…will you tell me your trouble?" he said quietly, glancing at her over the desk.

"I want too." she said, she twisted her hands together again and laughed a little. "I just find myself feeling rather foolish about the whole thing."

"Do you my dear?" he asked.

"Very." she paused and seemed to hesitate whether or not she should go on. Finally she took a deep breath and said, "Eglerion asked me to marry him."

Itarildë watched as Cirdan not only jumped in surprise, but broke his pencil. "Don't move I'll get them." he said. Then he chased after the halves as they rolled around to opposite ends of the room.

Once he had gathered up the two errant pieces of wood and lead, he returned to his chair and began sharpening the ends. "At least I have two pencils now." he joked lamely. "Always make the best of a bad situation."

"I…" Itarildë began.

"What do you think of my new plans for the vessel? I thought that I would change the amount of rooms we put in the bow."

"Cirdan, I..."

"Because they really do take a lot of room up where we could store baggage and…"

"Cirdan, please! Stop avoiding the subject, please. I need your council." she said desperately. "I don't know what I should do."

Cirdan sighed, "I'm sorry my dear, but your news was…more then I expected. Please, tell me your trouble."

Itarildë searched his face a minute before saying, "Are you sure you want too? Honestly Cirdan?"

He smiled, "Honestly? I have no wish to hear how you're getting married. But I will listen because I care for you and we are friends are we not?"

Itarildë laughed nervously, and said, "For heaven's sake! All right then, since you don't seem to notice, I have been courted by a certain elf for the past year and a half. He has now asked me to marry him and depart on the next vessel for Valinor. I want you to tell me what I should say."

"I can't." Cirdan said, "I simply cannot do that."

"Why ever not? My parents trusted me to your care, I am sure they would want me to consult you before I would make such a decision. Have you even noticed it?"

"Of course I have." Cirdan answered. "I'm not oblivious Itarildë, Eglerion asked for my permission before he began courting you."

Her eyes grew wide and she said, "He did? You mean you didn't care? You never even asked me? How could you?" The rebuke in her eyes was painful to the Shipwright but he shoved the feeling away. He had to think clearly for both of them.

"I decided that you were old enough to decide the matter for yourself. It isn't my place to interfere, Itarildë." Cirdan's voice was more harsh then he would have liked but he couldn't see his way through any other way.

She stood, her lovely face white and lips trembling, "Then…then you don't care? It wouldn't bother you if I married and left the Havens?"

"If that is your wish, you are free to make it as any other elf." He answered. 'I would never stand in your way."

"I see." she lifted tear filled eyes to him, but her voice was calm and even. "Very well." She smoothed her skirt and went to the door. "Then Cirdan, I make ready to depart. When the next vessel leaves these shores, I shall be on it. But Cirdan know this, I do not make this choice of my own free will, but because you do not care." her voice was empty, hallow.

She opened the door and left, a brief stirring of wind fluttering the papers under his hands.

He almost went after her. He almost took her in his arms and begged her to stay, not to marry Eglerion, and stay with him. He almost confessed his love for her, risking her rejection, he almost…

Almost is not enough.