Chapter 3: Sweet Baby

Celebrian grew up healthily, never lacked of care or attention from her parents. Both Galadriel and Celeborn showered her with every love they could give. Much of the time, they must restrained themselves from spoiling her, especially Celeborn who was more soft hearted than his wife. But for now, they needed not to worry about the matter. She was only few weeks old now, a babe.

Celeborn found his wife nursing their beloved daughter one beautiful evening. He smiled and placed his hand around her shoulder. Galadriel continued to rock the baby gently, whilst singing a lullaby.

The moon is your lady; she sings you to sleep; the stars are the dew on her hair;

Hushaby lullaby, lady of air.

The stars are your handmaids; they give you their love and the delicate charm of their light;

Hushaby lullaby, lady of night.

So rest you and sleep you in the warmth of their care;

Hushaby lullaby, lady of air.*

"Ow!" she suddenly winced and pulled Celebrian away from her breast.

"What's wrong?" Celeborn looked bewildered.

"She bites me." Galadriel smiled. "This little queen has grown some teeth, it seems." She placed the babe back to her breast and continued her singing.

Celeborn returned her smile and sat beside them, watching the heart-touching interaction between a newborn babe and her mother. Galadriel had changed along the birth of their child, her beauty altered from her blinding splendor of a proud Elven maiden to a gentle enchanting aura. She became wiser and calmer. The nature of a mother. Celeborn could feel him falling in love deeper to her, and to his child.

"You are watching us," his wife said, without looking away from their little queen. "It will take long time ere she is satisfied, though."

"I will watch and wait, for this is the most beautiful sight I ever seen my whole life. My beloved nurturing my sweet child," he answered.

"The Valar have been kind to us. I wonder if they will entrust us more."

Celeborn looked away, trying to his a single teardrop falling from his eyes. He knew where this conversation would head. "Galadriel…"

"Yes, my husband?" the Elven Queen turned and met Celeborn's eyes, which were now blurred by tears. "Why do you cry?" she asked in confusion and worry.

The Elf Lord circled his arm around her shoulder to comfort his wife and said, "Galadriel, be strong. Your body doesn't have strength to bear more child."

The Lady of Light closed her eyes, letting a teardrop fell. Celebrian cried out as the tear touched her temple. Celeborn rose and took the child from Galadriel, rocking her gently.

"Don't cry, my silver queen. Daddy's here," Celeborn sang. Celebrian soon calmed and slept again in the warmth of her father's arm.

Galadriel smiled faintly at the heart-touching view. She rose and placed her hand in Celeborn's arm, leading him to their room. But she let him rocked their baby who was sleeping peacefully. Her sadness had not yet subsided, but it would. After all, Eru had granted her a perfect family, a loving husband and a perfect little daughter.

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* this poem is by Dylan Thomas.