Chapter 10
Celeborn pushed the food around his plate at breakfast. He had taken a few bites, but the food soured in his mouth.
*You have no right to Artanis now.
He sighed heavily. A hand touched his shoulder. He looked up, finding Melian watching him worriedly. Celeborn disguised his thoughts so she could not perceive them.
" You need to eat, Celeborn, or I will not let you go out with your guard."
Celeborn sent her a forced smile before beginning to slowly eat what laid on his plate.
~*~
Artanis felt the same way as Celeborn at the table prepared for her and her kinsmen. Finrod watched with worry as she pushed the food around her plate. He turned, seeing Celeborn doing the exact same thing. Finrod leaned across the table.
" I refuse to let Artanis marry Maedhros."
Fingolfin did not stop in his chewing, seeming unfazed.
" It was sealed before we even left Aman, Finrod. Do not begin to argue with me."
Artanis dropped her fork with a clatter. She stood abruptly, covering her face before she ran out.
~*~
Celeborn watched her go longingly. Melian caught it.
" They have forbidden your relationship."
Celeborn looked up with a sigh.
" She is to wed Maedhros. Fingolfin is adamant about it."
Melian rubbed his shoulder.
" Artanis has never been ruled before. She will not give up easily."
Celeborn nodded.
" I know, but I fear Fingolfin is her match."
A tugging came at Celeborn's robe. Celeborn looked down at the young Ereinion.
" Can you help me find Artanis? Everyone else is arguing."
Celeborn rose, taking the boy's hand.
~*~
Fingon turned in time to see his son tugging on Celeborn's robe. He watched the Elf turn and then nod at his son. Ereinion took the Sindar's hand trustingly.
" Ereinion, where are you going?" Fingon called.
Ereinion turned with a determined expression.
" Since you guys are too busy arguing, we're gonna go an' find Artanis."
The two exited the dining room. Fingon leaned back in his chair.
" Sometimes that boy amazes me with his wisdom."
~*~
Celeborn swung Ereinion up so that the boy was on his shoulders. Ereinion laughed before pointing.
" There she is. She's up in a tree."
Celeborn sat the boy on a branch carefully before he climbed up. Artanis took one look at them and crushed her face into Celeborn's shoulder.
" Why are they so overbearing?" she whispered angrily, hot tears cascading down her face.
" Giving up already?" Celeborn tipped up her chin. " I do not remember the word surrender ever in your vocabulary."
Artanis lifted her chin proudly, wiping her tears.
" You are right. I am going to settle this once and for all."
~*~
Artanis re-entered the dining room with Ereinion. Finrod stood to help her into her chair. Artanis remained standing. She placed her hands on Maedhros' chair.
" I have already told you I will not wed Maedhros, but I want to know why it is being pushed. Why are you treating me like a political play piece? I was the one that led us through Helcaraxë with the least amount of lives lost. Time after time I have led our people and now you pigs are trying to use me just because I am a woman and supposedly lesser? I will not have it. I will not return to Eithel Sirion with you as a single woman if you decide to force me to wed Maedhros. I will wed long before that."
Fingolfin rose.
" Artanis, dear, we are just looking for what is best for you."
" That is nothing more than horse dung," Artanis replied sharply. " If you want me happy, then drop the wedding."
Fingolfin shook his head.
" I promised your father I would look after you."
" Then break it."
Fingolfin was face-to-face with his niece.
" A promise should always be kept."
Celeborn chose that inopportune moment to enter. He was distracted, speaking in a low voice to Oropher. Fingolfin's eyes burned seeing the silver haired Elf.
" I should have killed that one when I had the chance."
Artanis pushed her uncle back.
" You have gone too far, Uncle."
Fingolfin turned her so she could see Celeborn.
" If you wish him to survive the night, you will pack and be ready to leave in the morn."
" Is that a threat?"
Celeborn's head turned at that. His eyes met Finrod's questioningly. Finrod stood along with Orodreth.
" Uncle, I am afraid that you are overruled here. Both Orodreth and I agree to let her abide here with her lov…" Finrod realized his slipup too late.
" Lover?" Fingolfin's eyes burned. " By Eru, I will kill that Elf."
~*~
Celeborn heard a sword's rasp as it cleared a sheath. The breakfast area had cleared except for the Noldor and Melian, Thingol and Oropher. Celeborn turned in time to see Fingolfin walking towards him. Artanis was trying to pull on his shoulder. She ran between them.
" If you are going to take his head, you must take mine," she said.
Fingolfin easily moved her like a chess piece.
" I fight for her honor, Silvan."
Celeborn said nothing, pulling out his own sword in self-defense as Fingolfin struck. Celeborn awkwardly switched hands, as pain shot up his arm. Fingolfin had power that Celeborn had never fought against. Twas as if he fought Morgoth himself. Fingolfin suddenly froze. Melian approached, her eyes lit with fire.
" Do not come into my courts, Noldo and try to spread the bloodshed here." Melian took his sword. " You may be considered wise, but that temper needs to be controlled."
Celeborn sheathed his sword, running his hand over his arm. He hid the blood with his hand.
Artanis tried to pry his hand from it.
" Celeborn," she muttered.
Celeborn moved away from her grasp.
" I can fix it later."
Artanis nodded. She took his hand, leading him off.
~*~
Celeborn sat alone in a tree beside a small lake. He played with a velvet pouch as if deciding what to do with it. He sighed, looking across the lake to the trees bordering the other side.
*I should throw these as far as I can. They will never be used.
" Celeborn?"
His head jerked up and he pocketed the pouch.
" Up here."
Artanis was already seated beside him.
She then changed her mind and moved across from him, glancing over her shoulder and having to crane her neck to see the glowing entrance of Menegroth.
" Why did you come?" Celeborn asked. " You should be packing."
Artanis gave a small sigh.
" The longer it takes, the longer I have here."
Celeborn saw her forlorn expression and he patted the seat beside him. She crawled and sat there, laying her head on his shoulder.
" Why are you out here all alone?" she asked absently.
Celeborn shrugged, looking out at the shimmering waters.
" I don't know."
Artanis looked up at him. She gently ran a hand down his face, worry in her eyes.
*What can I do to ease the pain you feel?
Celeborn shook his head.
*Nothing…
Artanis' hand slid to rest dangerously on his thigh. She looked up, their noses rubbing together for a moment.
Celeborn accepted the kiss, feeling her hand begin a familiar trek on his leg…
" Galadriel," he whispered, pulling away.
She paused.
" Not here, please. Later."
Artanis nodded, her hand moving away and brushing the bulge in his pocket. Artanis glanced up curiously, before reaching a hand in and pulling out the soft pouch.
Celeborn tried to keep his grief in check as she pulled the pouch opening wide and spilt the contents into her hand. Even her eyes filled with tears at what she held. She looked up, shaking her head.
" Celeborn."
" I guess they will be melted down once you leave."
Artanis' lips pressed together. She shook her head.
" If I am engaged to another, then I cannot marry Maedhros."
Celeborn raised his eyebrows. It was true… He sat up, taking her other hand.
" Would you marry me, Artanis and stand beside me until Arda's end?"
Artanis' lips spread into a grin. She handed him the smaller ring of the two.
" Aye, and only because I know I will truly stand by your side and not behind you."
Celeborn smiled slightly.
" You are more than welcome to stand in front of me also," he jested softly, fumbling to slip the simple silver band onto her finger.
Artanis tried to still her trembling hands as she slipped his on. She looked at the silver glistening in the patchy starlight. A smile graced her face.
*I will be able to wed the one I love…
She flung her arms around his neck, taking him off guard.
" By Eru, I love you," she whispered fiercely.
Celeborn returned the hug, waiting for her to ease off the embrace before he claimed her lips in a sealing kiss.
" If you change your mind-" he began.
" I will not, Celeborn. I know I have chosen right."
" Indeed you have," a strange voice came.
Celeborn buried his face in his hands, recognizing the voice. One by one, half-dozen guards revealed themselves. Artanis sent them cheery smiles.
" It has taken far too long, m'lady. We are pleased that some woman has tamed him."
Artanis smiled wider, watching the tips of Celeborn's ears flush.
*I guess it was wise to keep our not-so-normal activities out of the trees.
Celeborn lifted his head.
" Ai, get out of here, all of you. Back to your posts. You have had your fun." Celeborn watched them disappear, and then leaned down to Artanis. " Let's go back to Menegroth."
" Why?" Artanis asked. " It is beautiful out here."
" They have not left at all and I do not want any watching eyes," Celeborn whispered.
Artanis' eyebrow arched temptingly. She smiled, taking a hint of what they would do in Menegroth, but decided to play innocent.
*What do you have planned, Celeborn?
He sent her a boyish grin, causing her to laugh as they began back to Menegroth arm-in-arm.
~*~
Word had already reached Menegroth by the time they arrived. Thingol was waiting for them.
" I give my blessings to both of you," he said, embracing both. " I pray you both know what you are doing. Word has not reached our guests yet."
Celeborn and Artanis exchanged a glance. Her grip tightened around his hand. Celeborn lifted it and kissed it softly.
" We will not change our decision," Artanis said. " This is what I want and I will have it."
Thingol smiled.
" Then I pray your minds remain that way. I can hear the Noldor from here."