DISCLAIMER: I've written this purely for my own and my readers' entertainment. I make no money whatsoever and I don't own anything (apart from the plot and my student debts, and you're more than welcome to take the latter if you so wish).

CHAPTER 10: EPIPHANY

By Rumrum

Introduction

Another little seasonal treat for all you lovelies! I'm essentially expanding on an idea that appeared in F.F., as well as doing my old fallback of Elf-baiting – always a source of amusement and a way of getting certain petite authoresses to reveal their evil side! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did...

(This one-shot overlaps both F.F. Ch.26 and She... Ch.19).

(I apologise for the delay in getting this to you – blame it on the cold virus and general busy-ness).

XXX

One night a palace, the next a slum, Adindel thought grumpily as he tried to find a comfortable position upon his bed of straw. As Adindel moved, the straw moved with him, thus continually sticking into his back. Actually, none of them were having all that good a time of it, but at least they had 'roughed it' before.

Why did Augustus have to call a Census, anyway? OK, Thranduil and Celeborn had already explained the point of the concept, but it still caused far too much havoc. After all the upset caused by the Flood and Mankind's seemingly continuous need to go to war, not to mention being propositioned in Hellas, Adindel really preferred a bit more of a peaceable routine these days.

He wasn't about to achieve that aim, though...

A man, his very young wife, and an old, grey donkey entered the stable. It was immediately obvious that the woman was in the latter stages of labour and that her husband was in the latter stages of going apoplectic with panic – him, as usual, having no idea how to deliver a baby. Just as glad as Adindel to have an excuse to move from his current position, Celeborn jumped up to offer his services as Healer. Thranduil followed his kinsman, for, although he may not have Celeborn's healing abilities, he at least knew a father's mindset when it came to such an occasion. Only Adindel hesitated slightly, for he had the least experience of a birthing, but Celeborn's slightly curt orders to find fresh water and linens soon had him as active as any.

Under Celeborn's expertise, a healthy baby boy was soon presented to the young couple. The new mother was adamant that he was to be called 'Jesus' and the father, whether through shock at becoming a father or past experience, agreed with very little argument.

Needing some fresh air and a chance to be under the stars and Ithil, Celeborn left the stable, and then the town altogether and wandered over to the nearby hills. Deep in thought over what he had just experienced, for it wasn't only Adindel who had felt something that there was something 'different' about the baby, the Elf-Lord wandered idly for some time. He then looked up at the stars and began to sing an ancient, Sindarin song in honour of Elbereth – it was one he had sung to Celebrían when she was an elfling and had trouble getting to sleep. Celeborn sighed, would he ever get to see his family again? Would he ever get to live under the Two Trees? He didn't think it would be all that soon, if at all.

Opening his eyes, Celeborn realised he had company – company in the form of a small group of shepherds, their sheep, and their dogs. The humans were frozen in utter shock and Celeborn suddenly realised that he had somehow been communicating telepathically with them. Of course such an occurrence was not unheard of, but it was most unusual since Elves had faded from the songs and tales of Men. He, Thranduil, and Adindel always strove to keep a low profile as much as they could, for they, with their long, pale hair and comparatively willowy builds, stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb in these lands full of dark-haired, dark-skinned individuals.

The glowing didn't help either and Celeborn knew that the best course of action now would be to silently withdraw. They would be moving on soon anyway. So he inclined his head to acknowledge the shepherds' presence and started back down the hill, letting his glow fade.

XXX

Twelve nights later, Celeborn, Thranduil, and Adindel returned to Bethlehem, each dressed in robes and circlets, carrying gifts. Being unable to forget the little family they had left so abruptly, the Elves had decided to bring the baby some things and, seeing as females usually sorted out the clothing aspect, they had decided to be a little more inventive: Thanduil, not being able to find any Ithildin, came with a box full of gold nuggets; Celeborn carried a box full of the finest Frankincense; and Adindel – being slightly miffed over this occurrence – decided to be just as free with his money and brought along another fine resin: Myrrh. All felt their gifts suited their royal status, as well as being useful in times of economic crises.

Once they had presented their gifts, and then sat with Joseph and Mary for a while, the Elves changed into their travelling gear and continued with their travels.

XXX

Yilmaz huddled by the window, waiting expectantly. It couldn't be long now, and then he would be able to confront his family's mysterious benefactor. Eda had gone on to marry a very well-respected carpenter, while her sister Yasemin had married a merchant who helped to supply silks to the Emperor Constantine himself. Only Nesrin was left now, surely she wouldn't be forgotten?

The hours crept by at an achingly slow pace, but Yilmaz was determined to stay awake. However, the effect of the day's toil was beginning to overcome him and he found he couldn't keep his eyes open any more. No sooner had Yilmaz fallen asleep than a small bag of gold coins fell down the chimney and into one of Nesrin's stockings, which she had hung over the embers to dry. The person outside had been waiting just as patiently for this moment, for he was used to it by now. He then melted back into the shadows with footsteps that no living soul could possibly hear.

XXX

Celeborn, Thranduil, and Adindel sat in their armchairs by the fire, staring into their glasses of mulled wine, silently reliving their memories of this holiest of nights. It seemed as though Christmas Eve was a time of reminiscing for everyone, for their companions were also doing the same, though in a far more raucous fashion. That is, until Ellie fixed them with a 'look' and began asking questions about the 'early Christians' they had previously mentioned knowing.

Initially, the three Elf-Lords managed to be as evasive as they had been before, but imbibing increasing amounts of alcohol as the night wore on began to affect the looseness of certain tongues. Noticing this, Ellie and Ginny began to probe deeper until they had managed to winkle out the whole story of just how far entrenched in the history of Christianity Celeborn, Thranduil, and Adindel actually were.

By the end of the evening, not only Ellie and Ginny, but everyone had particularly manic grins on their faces.

XXX

The Christmas season was now coming to an end and, seeing as it was Epiphany, it had been decided that they would hold a final carol concert in celebration.

Celeborn, Thranduil, and Adindel readied their song-sheets in anticipation, for they had always enjoyed this day – not only did it truly seem to symbolise 'out with the old, and in with the new', but also this was, in essence, their time of year.

The first song was to be 'We Three Kings' – a capital choice in the minds of the three Elves. Ellie sat down gracefully out the piano and played some introductory chords before plunging into the main tune.

We three Kings in Leicester Square,

Celeborn, Thranduil, and Adindel stuttered to a halt. What in the Hell was going on?

Selling ladies' underwear.

Everyone was carrying on as if nothing unusual was happening, although Ereinion – much to Adindel's annoyance – seemed to be particularly enjoying himself, belting out the words with his full baritone.

How fantastic, no elastic,

Only tuppence a pair.

Come the end of the verse, Celeborn, Thranduil, and Adindel had simply given up, although the chorus seemed to go as John Henry Hopkins had originally intended, so they cautiously prepared for the second verse. They were, however, thrown completely off kilter again when everyone simply stopped and looked expectantly at Thranduil. The Elf-King stared back, his eyes wide and sweeping the room nervously.

"Ada!" Miriel hissed, "It's your verse!"

"It is?"

"Of course."

"But I wasn't told about any solos."

"Honestly, Ada! On Christmas Eve, you waxed lyrical about your role in giving the baby Jesus some gold on the twelfth night after his birth. Surely you want to celebrate your contribution in song?"

While neither Thranduil nor his companions could entirely place the incident she was talking about, the fact that they had all woken up on Christmas Day with pounding heads explained rather a lot.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Thranduil," said Ellie, 'innocently' batting her eyelashes at him, "Celeborn's got a starring role as the Arch-Angel Gabriel later!"

XXX

"Well, the evening could have gone better," said Thranduil as he idly swirled his whisky around its glass.

"It could have gone worse," Celeborn pointed out. Both heard the youngest member of their trio snort under his breath. Adindel was still staring glumly into the dying embers; he hadn't even touched his drink.

"Oh, come on, brother," Thranduil tutted, "Surely a little friendly teasing from Ginny is far better when compared with what she used to hurl at you."

"I'm not proud of my past behaviour, Thranduil, so will you please stop rubbing it in."

Thranduil opened his mouth to respond when they heard Charlotte's voice carry in from the hallway.

"You're not still looking at that encyclopaedia, are you, Ginny?" The elleth in question seemed to have got into the habit of wandering around whilst engrossed in a book; she and Charlotte had obviously just met on the stairs.

"Well, you know me; I can never seem to get enough of the things."

"What's the subject this time?"

"For whatever reason, I seem to have got onto Addis Ababa."

"Well... that's..."

"I know," Ginny sighed, "Sometimes I surprise even myself."

"Anyway, I'm just off to fix myself some hot chocolate, wanna join me?"

"Squirty cream and mini marshmallows?"

"Naturally."

"Oooo, go on then."

There was the sound of footsteps crossing the entrance hall, which gradually got fainter.

"Ooo, did you know that, as well as being the patron saint of children, St. Nicholas was also the patron saint of students, sailors, archers, merchants, pa...?" The sound of Ginny's voice tailed away.

In the silence that followed, Celeborn turned back round to his companions.

"Hmm, how very apt... cheers!"

THE END