The Soldier and the Princess
Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings does not belong to me. JRR Tolkien has that happy pleasure. Had that happy pleasure. Anyway, the characters in this story do not belong to me. This is purely to please myself and those besides me who enjoy this sort of thing. I also do not own the song "Enchantment Passing Through." That honor goes to Elton John and Tim Rice. The wedding vows come from Dragons of Autumn Twilight. If some of the words don't fit, remember that these vows are *ancient.* When they were written, they fit, and elves are.well.set in their ways? Oh, btw, Anaiyah and Tyrennafaile are original characters. *Their* stories will be related later.
Author's Notes: This is an Elrond/Celebrian get-together, mainly from Elrond's point of view. If there are any complaints as to how this is done, ::coughcough, Elrond's relationship to Gil-Galad coughcough:: register them politely. Please. I got some slightly less-than-polite comments on my Galadriel/Celeborn fic, which is discontinued. As far as I know, this is an A/U. Enjoy!
Chapter 11: Discussions and Decisions
By the time Elladan and Elrohir brought Celebrian back three weeks later, I had regained a veneer-at least-of my usual calm. When I saw her, I came extremely close to losing that veneer.
She looked worse than dead.
Her guards all came up and bowed before me. I, personally, carried her inside, and began the attempt to heal her.
* * *
Three days later, I stumbled, completely exhausted, out of Celebrian's private room. Darevan was waiting for me.
"Any luck, milord?" he asked softly.
I shook my head. "What use is it, Darevan?" I whispered.
"What do you mean, milord?"
I stared at my hands. "All of this power-I have been told I am the best healer in two ages. And yet-and yet. What use is it all, if my power does not seem to work on the people who matter to me? During the war-I couldn't help Gil-Galad. Dammit, Darevan, I never *wanted* this! I never *wanted* to rule here, you know that! And now-oh, dear Valar-now, I can do nothing- *nothing*-for Celebrian! What *use* is it? I can command miracles-everyone says I can. And yet I cannot save my cousin or my wife! What *use* is that power? What use am *I?*"
Darevan was silent for a moment. "I don't know what to tell you, milord. All I can say is-you help those you can, and you accept the fact that you have limits, and you cannot pass those limits." He sighed. Then he gave me a wry smile. "And you are going to do *no one* any good falling asleep on your feet."
At any other time, I would have smiled. Now, I just nodded and allowed him to steer me to my bedroom. Once there, exhausted though I was, I couldn't fall asleep. All I could think about were Celebrian's eyes.full of pain.and worse than that.
Complete and utter trust.
Trust that was completely and utterly misplaced.
* * *
Three weeks after Celebrian's return, I leaned back, rubbing my temples. I had tried everything, exhausted all of my knowledge, and nothing was working.
"Elrond?" she whispered. I jumped. I hadn't realized she was awake.
"You should be asleep."
"Can't." She shifted position slightly. "This isn't going to work."
For answer, I tremulously kissed her fingers.
"Elrond." she paused for breath. I almost stopped her, then realized what she was trying to say was important, otherwise she wouldn't be making the effort it obviously cost her to say it. I held my peace.
"Elrond," she continued. "I'm going to leave."
I closed my eyes. I suspected this was coming, but it still hurt. "When?" I whispered.
"As soon as the boys have their ceremony."
I nodded. "Now sleep."
Once she was asleep, I leaned down and kissed her very, very softly. Then I left, unwilling to wake her with my tears.
Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings does not belong to me. JRR Tolkien has that happy pleasure. Had that happy pleasure. Anyway, the characters in this story do not belong to me. This is purely to please myself and those besides me who enjoy this sort of thing. I also do not own the song "Enchantment Passing Through." That honor goes to Elton John and Tim Rice. The wedding vows come from Dragons of Autumn Twilight. If some of the words don't fit, remember that these vows are *ancient.* When they were written, they fit, and elves are.well.set in their ways? Oh, btw, Anaiyah and Tyrennafaile are original characters. *Their* stories will be related later.
Author's Notes: This is an Elrond/Celebrian get-together, mainly from Elrond's point of view. If there are any complaints as to how this is done, ::coughcough, Elrond's relationship to Gil-Galad coughcough:: register them politely. Please. I got some slightly less-than-polite comments on my Galadriel/Celeborn fic, which is discontinued. As far as I know, this is an A/U. Enjoy!
Chapter 11: Discussions and Decisions
By the time Elladan and Elrohir brought Celebrian back three weeks later, I had regained a veneer-at least-of my usual calm. When I saw her, I came extremely close to losing that veneer.
She looked worse than dead.
Her guards all came up and bowed before me. I, personally, carried her inside, and began the attempt to heal her.
* * *
Three days later, I stumbled, completely exhausted, out of Celebrian's private room. Darevan was waiting for me.
"Any luck, milord?" he asked softly.
I shook my head. "What use is it, Darevan?" I whispered.
"What do you mean, milord?"
I stared at my hands. "All of this power-I have been told I am the best healer in two ages. And yet-and yet. What use is it all, if my power does not seem to work on the people who matter to me? During the war-I couldn't help Gil-Galad. Dammit, Darevan, I never *wanted* this! I never *wanted* to rule here, you know that! And now-oh, dear Valar-now, I can do nothing- *nothing*-for Celebrian! What *use* is it? I can command miracles-everyone says I can. And yet I cannot save my cousin or my wife! What *use* is that power? What use am *I?*"
Darevan was silent for a moment. "I don't know what to tell you, milord. All I can say is-you help those you can, and you accept the fact that you have limits, and you cannot pass those limits." He sighed. Then he gave me a wry smile. "And you are going to do *no one* any good falling asleep on your feet."
At any other time, I would have smiled. Now, I just nodded and allowed him to steer me to my bedroom. Once there, exhausted though I was, I couldn't fall asleep. All I could think about were Celebrian's eyes.full of pain.and worse than that.
Complete and utter trust.
Trust that was completely and utterly misplaced.
* * *
Three weeks after Celebrian's return, I leaned back, rubbing my temples. I had tried everything, exhausted all of my knowledge, and nothing was working.
"Elrond?" she whispered. I jumped. I hadn't realized she was awake.
"You should be asleep."
"Can't." She shifted position slightly. "This isn't going to work."
For answer, I tremulously kissed her fingers.
"Elrond." she paused for breath. I almost stopped her, then realized what she was trying to say was important, otherwise she wouldn't be making the effort it obviously cost her to say it. I held my peace.
"Elrond," she continued. "I'm going to leave."
I closed my eyes. I suspected this was coming, but it still hurt. "When?" I whispered.
"As soon as the boys have their ceremony."
I nodded. "Now sleep."
Once she was asleep, I leaned down and kissed her very, very softly. Then I left, unwilling to wake her with my tears.