It's pretty bad when you've abstained from writing for so long that you have to reacquaint yourself with your own writing but, here it is....
Days passed and slowly turned to weeks and, gradually, Imladris was returning to its usual quiet, in more ways than one.
Gil-galad had not sought out Elrond's company for that time and, indeed, showed no sign of seeking any company out. Every thought, every movement, every thing...reminded him of his actions that had led to the pain of others. He knew that Celeborn was not on especially good terms with Galadriel or Elrond because of him. He knew that Celebrían was bleeding in more ways than one because he wasn't at her aid fast enough. He knew that his very presence at this point in time...where it was...was wrong.
The person who finally came knocking on his chamber doors was not whom he would have expected but he didn't turn them away.
"My Lord? Are you well?" Celebrían's voice was concerned and soothing all at the same time, much like Ereinion remembered Galadriel's as from when he secluded himself in his younger years.
"Methinks the question should be reversed in this instance. I'm sorry I have not been to see how you were faring."
Celebrían waved off his concern, once again amazing the King with her strength, even after such a traumatic event. "No one has ceased in their caring questions but...thank you never the less."
Her radiant smile coaxed a small one from the High King and he stepped into an embrace with the Lady of Imladris.
Head leaning against his shoulder, Celebrían whispered, "You're too good a friend, Ereinion."
His eyes narrowed in self disgust. "If there is a title I am far from, it is friend."
Stepping away from his arms, Celebrían gave him another smile reminiscent of her mothers. "It is not your fault that Glorfindel chose the path he did. It was my good fortune that you happened along at all."
Casting his gaze to the floor, the High King felt comfort in the hand that Celebrían laid upon his arm.
"The only things we can alter are our view of the present and therefor, our futures. Do not be pained by the actions of others anymore."
With those words, she turned to leave but, as she was opening the door, turned back. "Elrond...he's been upset...if you could speak with him...."
Gil-galad nodded and watched her leave, wishing she had not spoken those last words.
~*~
Elrond was in his study though his attention was not on the books that piled the shelves within. His lengthy form was in a chair, facing the largest window, watching the violent rainstorms that late Iavas usually brought. His mind was constantly running through the events of the past weeks, trying to keep himself from dwelling on one singular thought. A singular thought of fatherhood that plagued him endlessly.
His dreams were filled with images of himself and the woman he loved, holding a beautiful silver haired baby. And they never stopped there, they always continued to a little girl with silver hair, having it braided by a beautiful silver haired woman with the same clear blue eyes. Then to continue with seeing Celebrían as a grandmother, holding a child, standing next to the little girl, now grown, with a handsome elf at her side.
But they all ended the same. An elf Lord, awaking abruptly in the middle of the night, knowing that there was no little girl asleep in the room three doors down. Knowing that Celebrían would not be arranging a wedding in a few hundred years time.
Sighing, Elrond looked out the window again to see that lighting had joined in the show. He fingered the thin, golden band on his finger, pondering his wife. He wished to give her everything and, until the child was conceived, he thought he had. He felt her longing for motherhood. He shared it. And it was tearing him apart that they had lost it.
"Elrond?"
He looked up and, standing next to his chair, was the large frame of the High King. "Ereinion."
The elder elf took a seat on the window sill and looked squarely at the younger. "I meant to come earlier...to see how you were do-."
Elrond raised a hand to silence him. "You're here because Celebrían's not able to break me from my depressed state at the moment and, seeing as you're my oldest friend, she went to you to ask your help on the matter. Go away Ereinion, the only comfort I wish comes from Celebrían."
Gil-galad was taken aback but arose and quickly kneeled before Elrond, took his head in his hands and placed a kiss on his forehead before whispering, "Then go and seek it, fool."
Elrond watched him leave, watched him silently close the door...heard him lean against it as he pondered sending his lover into the arms that held him rightfully.
When he heard the footsteps retreating down the hallway, Elrond stood, cast one last weary glance out the window and went to seek his wife.
He found her in her own study, sitting in front of her desk, quill in hand, parchment before her. She was choosing the words she wrote down very carefully which Elrond knew meant that it was for her parents eyes. She didn't want them to drop all business in Lorien to come to her which she knew they would do if they even suspected that she wasn't coping well. They still saw their little girl, fragile and small. Elrond was well aware that their little girl brimmed with untapped strength, that was why she was dealing with the child's death so much better than he was.
He stepped lightly and came up behind her, averting his eyes from the letter and focusing on the flesh of her neck, barely visible through the silver hair. Celebrían jumped when he brushed the thin strands mixed with delicate braids over to the other shoulder and laid kisses upon her neck.
"Meleth nîn?" she asked quietly, taking the hand he'd laid on her shoulder in her own.
Elrond didn't respond but continued kissing her neck for a moment. Celebrían relaxed to the touch and waited for him to speak.
"How urgent is that letter?"
Celebrían looked down at the paper for a moment. "It can wait if a situation arises which calls for my attention."
"I call for your attention...."
Celebrían stood and brought her husband up with her. He stood gazing into her eyes for a moment before he led her out the door of her study. They next found themselves in their chambers, led their by Elrond who closed the door behind him.
"Is anything the matter?" She asked, not expecting much of answer seeing as he rarely responded when asked that question.
"No...well, not really. I...." He looked at his love and sat next to her, placing his hand upon her thigh. Truthfully, he didn't know why he was there, or why he had dragged Celebrían their either. "I love you."
Celebrían looked at him with a worried gaze. "I love you too."
Elrond moved slowly closer and laid a kiss on her lips, rather chaste by past standards.
"Elrond...tell me what is bothering you, I will wait no longer for it." Celebrían said quietly, taking hold of his other hand.
Elrond leaned close to her face with eyes closed. "I wanted that child so badly...and I know you did too and it's all I can think of and I try not to...."
Celebrían saw the anguish written clearly on his face and the tears threatening to escape the barrier of his eye lids. She drew him into an embrace and held him close to her chest. After a while, she raised his face slightly, so that it was level with her own and kissed him though this was in par with previous kisses such as those shared in moments of heated passion. Elrond was uncertain of how to respond at first but decided to allow her to continue.
It wasn't long before Elrond was on his back, surrendering his mouth and body to Celebrían's ministrations. Though , he was uncertain of why this was happening. They hadn't made love since they lost their child.
"Brí?"
She looked up from his neck where she had been preoccupied.
"Why are doing this?"
A look of fright crossed her face for a moment and she withdrew from her place quickly. "I'm sorry, meleth nin, I didn't realize that you were-."
A finger to her lips silenced her. "I wish it, at the moment, I wish for nothing more...but why so eager now. If you are only seeking to take my mind from-."
Her kiss was deep, probing his mouth hungrily before pulling back. "We never tried...did we?" Elrond's look was questioning. "We never tried to have a child...." Elrond shook his head in response and suddenly it dawned on him.
Celebrían spoke no more as she undid his tunic and laid a trail of kisses on Elrond's chest as he unfastened her dress. It wasn't long before the lovers were caressing each others flesh underneath the covers of their bed, moaning.
Elrond was suckling on the flesh around Celebrían's navel and watching her head thrash with eyes closed tightly. She was desperately trying to pant out her husbands name but to no avail. Elrond smiled as he drew his body up over hers and entered her with a quick movement. A sound akin to a moan escaped her lips as she drew her husbands body down to her and held him tightly.
"Elrond..." she whispered against the flesh of his upper chest before latching on to it with her mouth. Elrond suppressed a groan as he gently moved his hips and breathed in the scent of his wife's hair. His arms went from supporting himself at their sides to being wrapped around Celebrían as he coaxed her head up to his and joined their mouths. Parting only to breath on occasion, the two stayed locked in the kiss, moaning into one another.
Their bodies were locked in a position that allowed them to be as close as possible when they panted one another's names into each other's shoulders as, with heads bowed into one another, they let the excitement building in their bodies free.
Celebrían whimpered her husband's name continuously as Elrond let hers escape in a drawn out whisper.
Elrond laid back and brought Celebrían with him. She rested her head in the dip of his neck before it met his shoulder and settled into sleep. Elrond watched her eyes close after a while and followed her into her dreams. The first in a long while, they were pleasant.
She was chasing not one but two little boys through a field. He joined in the fun and slept peacefully.
~*~
The rain outside was to pleasant to miss but Ereinion didn't feel like getting soaked for the sake of the view and chose to groom his horse in the stables. Running the brush across the horses back, however, he felt the stinging trickle of water down his neck. The tiny hole in the roof was conveniently placed directly above the back of his head, ensuring that the water would find it's way down his back.
Grumbling, the High King decided it no longer mattered and mounted his horse. Without saddle or reigns, he directed the horse more with his very presence than with any movement he made. He gave a slight laugh as the rain soaked his hair and danced down his face.
Dangerously but without care, the High King began a canter through the forests of Imladris, narrowly missing branches and the like as he bounced upon the horses back. His boisterous laugh didn't go far in the current weather, but he cared little, this was the first time he'd smiled, let alone laughed, in a very long stretch of time.
Of course, all good things must come to an end.
With a loud 'THOK!', the High King tumbled to the ground in a daze as his horse stood still.
Making a few inaudible noises, he arose to his feet, cursing his childish stupidity as he looked at the large branch above...but his mouth chose to stop working when he was greeted with the sight before him.
A corpse so mangled that it was impossible to distinguish whether or not it was elven or human. The only thing on the body that wasn't rotted or mangled, indeed it was in rather good condition, was a silver arrow, impaled through the corpses heart. Ereinion, hardened from battle, stepped closer without a second thought and plucked the arrow from the putrid flesh and carefully examined the marking on it and the wood with which it was made. It was not common in any way.
The wood was of the Mallorn trees, only found in the fare city of Caras Galadhon and the forest of Lorien surrounding it and the markings were unmistakably elvish.
Ereinion looked at the arrow, then back to the person who had been at the unfortunate end of it. He knew that a target like that, through as many trees as there were, would be very difficult to make. That narrowed it down to the royal guard of Lorien.
While he pondered, the High King caught a glimmer from the finger of the corpse. A ring. Made of pure silver given to a friend ages ago.
~*~
Elrond's eyes shot open immediately when the loud bang of his chamber's door resonated through their room. Celebrían, tucked under her husbands arm, looked at Ereinion with bleary eyes as he stood in the doorway.
Before Elrond could get a word of animosity in, Ereinion stepped forward and presented the silver ring in the palm of his hand. Elrond looked from it slowly to the arrow grasped in the elder elfs hand.
~*~*~*~
Iavas-Autumn
Caras Galadhon-The city in which the Lord and Lady of Lorien live.
Mallorn-Pretty silver trees in Lorien:D
~*~*~*~
Ok, I did it, the muse has returned full force but be patient, as I'm sure many of you are aware, the new school year is starting and my schedules messed, so, again, be patient.
Thanks for all the support!