I apologise for the long wait for this chapter, RL got in the way. Thank you to Kaiseen Greenleaf ,Faerthurin and anonomous lotr for reviewing.
I may be taking a few liberties with offstage character reaction in this chapter but bare with me.
Nin gwerianneg
Eithad
Neithan
Gen fuion
Nin gwerianneg... Gwarth!
Elrond jerked bolt upright in bed, his chest heaving as his lungs gulped for air. His eyes were wide and staring at something only he could see. Gradually the elf lord relaxed, sinking back onto his elbows and leaning against the pillows
"It was just a dream. Just a dream, nothing more." He rubbed the fingers of one hand over his eyes in exhaustion then let his hand drop onto the rumpled covers "Díheno nin Haldir... I truly didn't know what I'd let you in for".
Just as he began to sink back into sleep a screech tore through the air...
Aragorn felt his arms yank, pulling him into an awkward sitting position. He kept his eyes pointing in the same direction as they had when he'd fallen asleep and saw Arwen sitting bolt upright, his arms were still round her but unnoticed; her eyes were staring at the wall opposite their bed, clear with the strength of a nightmare
"Arwen..." He gripped tighter and gave her a gentle shake "Arwen, echuio!"
She jerked slightly then relaxed, her eyes starting to fill with tears "Estel..."
Aragorn pulled her close "Hush meleth nin... Man egennig?"
Before she could answer the door edged open and Elrond hurried in, looking as though he had slept roughly and woken harshly. He took one look at his daughter and his eyes went cold.
"Let me guess..." he paused in mock thought "Naneth?"
Arwen nodded "She called me dark names..." she paused to gather courage and switched her speech to Quenya so Aragorn wouldn't understand "Blood traitor, Infatuated maiden, mortal lover were some of them."
Elrond's face seemed to freeze, but in deference to his companions he held his tongue, restraining the curses that longed to flood from his mouth.
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...11...12
Once he was certain he would keep his temper he spoke, using the common tongue "She spoke to me too, and her words were not kind."
Aragorn was frowning "Why would Celebrian wish you ill?"
Elrond dropped his gaze, sadness and exhaustion filling his voice "I made a foolish promise, I said she would see the whole family together again when the Elves finally departed. She is angry at me for breaking my word... and because she sees no beauty left in Arda, nor any reason for Elleth to love Firion she cannot comprehend Arwen's choice of mortality..." his voice became bitter "No doubt she hates me for the gift I gave our children, for though all three are ¾ elf by blood, each has the chance to pick their fate..." his voice grew quiet "as my parents, then later Elros and I, did before them." He looked up and met Aragorn's eyes "That is why." Then he sighed and glanced at Arwen "Oltho vae, iel nin."
Aragorn watched the elf-lord, who suddenly seemed old and beaten, leave their room before looking at his wife, who was already drifting off. He pressed a kiss to her brow "Sleep soundly, my Luthien."
Back in his own room Elrond paced like a cadged beast, muttering every foul curse he knew. But it was more than lack of sleep and fear for his daughter that had angered him. It was the mixture of icy shock and betrayal that had settled in his heart.
Celebrian acted to hurt me and scare Arwen... just because she is a pure elf she shouldn't expect her children to follow my path, the choice is their own to make.
He twisted awkwardly on the spot, landing half-on, half-off his bed, the rolled over so he stared at the canopy above. Doubts and questions coursed through his brain
"Nin melanneg Celebrian?" Tears began to brim in his eyes "And if you had doubts why didn't you wait a century or two to make up your mind? There were many pure elves who wished for your hand in marriage, you could have given your heart to any one of those... yet you chose me. You knew I was a Peredhel, I warned you that any children of ours would be given the same choice as I had." With tears rolling freely he watched the embroidery blur "Was that what attracted you to me, the difference, the challenge?"
Somehow his befuddled brain sensed a grain of truth within that last sentence... with betrayal wrenching his heart Elrond buried his head in the pillow, sobbing until he fell into a wretched sleep.
Translations
Nin gwerianneg =you betrayed me
Eithad = An insult
Neithan= Wronged
Gen fuion = you disgust me
Nin gwerianneg... Gwarth! = You broke your word... Traitor
echuio= Wake up
Man egennig= What did you see
Elleth = Elf woman
Firion = Mortal man
Oltho vae, iel nin =Sweet dreams my daughter
Nin melanneg= Did you love me?
If you're interested Arwen was actually 78.125% elf, but I went for simple fractions. Review please...
