Disclaimer: You should know by now that I own nothing but my OC :]
Chapter Six
Elrond was bouncing Elladan on his lap gently, hoping to bond with his son. Elrohir was sleeping and he was glad for that; that boy didn't seem to know how to be quiet, he was extremely fussy. The nursemaids were always complaining and he had spat up on Michelle-Ranae's dress the other day, which he had to admit, was rather funny. Smiling to himself a little he stood slowly, lifting Elladan he placed him in his little crib that he had had made for his sons. Elrohir was still sleeping and he very slowly and quietly ducked out of the room, heading for his own. It was late and he was exhausted. Coming into his room he paused...it was empty, he had asked Michelle to come to him tonight and she wasn't here.
Slowly walking over to his bed he sat; he did not like this emptiness. And it wasn't even just tonight, this moment, but the emptiness in his life. His wife did not want him and she was rather short with him but he loved her. He loved her very much and he wanted her to come home and lay in the same bed with him so he would not feel so lonely. Looking down at his hands he saw that they were shaking and he was suddenly and rather shockingly overwhelmed with awful emotions. Covering his face he began to cry and he wasn't meaning to. He hadn't cried in...well he didn't know when. It had been that long. Standing, he hurried from his room and came to hers and sat next to her, reaching for her bare shoulder and giving it a gentle shake.
She slowly rolled over and blinked up at him a few times, trying to wake up. "Elrond?" she whispered.
"I...I need to speak with you," he said, trying to hide his emotions. "I am sorry to wake you but I had asked for you to come and you weren't and-"
She placed her fingers on his lips gently, sitting up fully. "Shhh it's alright. I did go to your room and I waited for an hour and when you didn't come, I was too tired to stay awake and I came back here to lay down. But what is it? Are you alright? You seem upset."
Staring at her, so beautiful and so caring and so amazing, it made his emotions run over and he began to sob. Leaning against her, he lay on her bed, cuddled up next to her, not even thinking on how pathetic he had to seem to her. She ran her fingers gently over and through his hair, trying to sooth him. "Elrond, my love, what is it?"
"I feel so empty...why can't my wife love me? I love her and I want her to come home."
She wanted to flinch because he might as well have slapped her, that would have hurt less. But you told him there was nothing attached to what you were doing with him, remember? "I'm sure she does love you but she...well maybe she was nervous and she just hadn't gotten used to being away from her family for long. I am sure she will grow to love you and hold affection for you and Imladris as much as you do her." I hope she doesn't.
He pressed his face into her chest. "What is wrong with me?," he whispered. "You denied my hand and now Celebrian hates me. What am I doing that is so wrong?"
"Oh...oh Elrond, that had nothing to do with you! I was just...well I told you, I was too young, I wasn't ready emotionally or mentally ready to marry you and commit myself to you completely. But I still loved you! I still love you. I will never stop loving you. But I need you to understand that there is nothing wrong with you. I know you're upset and you have every right to be upset. Is this my fault? For not staying and waiting on you? Is that why you're upset? Because you came back to your room and you saw that you were alone? Is that it?"
He was still sobbing into her and he was clinging her tightly. "I just want her to love me! Why can't she love me?"
"I don't know. I do know that she is an idiotic elfling if she does not. She has no idea what she's missing. You're loyal, kind, beautiful, sweet, caring, thoughtful, and I am sure, a wonderful, exceptional husband."
He looked up at her finally, his eyes red and he was starting to realize that he had cried his eyes out in front of her and not just that but on her. He had never meant to get that emotional with her. "I-I am s-sorry that I...I lost control."
She kissed his forehead. "Do not be sorry. It's alright. You were upset and remember? I am hear to comfort you, so you're now only half lying." She gave him half of a smile, hoping to cheer him up a little.
He slowly sat up and kissed her cheek. "You are a good friend. Thank you for listening to me ramble...You are right...She will grow to love me...she will...I will make sure she does. I will give her every opportunity to grow to love me as much as I love her."
Michelle-Ranae sat there, a little stunned; she knew that there really was nothing between the two of them but...her attachment was slowly forming. The strings that had supposedly not been attached were forming and becoming tightly woven. She loved him and she wanted him and...and she could already tell that her heart was going to end up irreparably broken when this was over. "I am glad for you."
He looked at her as he stood and started to undress so he could lay there with her. "You will find him one day. The man you are meant to be with." Once undressed, he slid into her bed with her to hold her as he settled into sleep.
I already did. She yawned, hoping to end this conversation. "Oh don't worry about me. I made my bed, now I have to lie-" She cut off when she saw that he was definitely asleep. In it. Settling in, she closed her eyes and fell back into sleep.
