My,my. School Work sure does take away the writing time. Even though I'd rather write about Elrond than Michael Porter's Model for Competitive Advantage, I've still gotta write term papers.

Don't own. Don't make money.

Thanks for all the reviews! I'm skipping ahead a few years in this chapter, but seems how we're talking about Elves here, it really doesn't matter. BTW: I know that the elves call Gandalf, Mithrandir. But, it's easier for me to type Gandalf, so live with it. And, yes, I am using poor Gandalf for the purpose of advancing the plot. Forgive me.

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   Glorfindel sighed and endeavored to lose himself in the mysterious gardens of Imladris.

This had the makings of a very tough three weeks. Over the past four years, Celebrian was forced to hide whenever visitors came who might recognize her. She, in fact, spent little time with anyone that lived permanently in Imladris for that reason.

   For the next two weeks, Gandalf would be staying at the elven haven. That meant that Elrond would steadily become more morose and lord-ish. Without a strong enough dose of his beloved during the day, Elrond had the tendency to become very unhappy.

   The following week though, would be worse. Then Glorfindel would have to spend nearly every waking moment making sure that Elrond or Celebrian or the both of them didn't do something improper. Unmarried elves doing certain activities would not sit well with the lady's parents once they discovered where she had been.

   Ahh, yet another problem to worry about. Celebrian could not marry without both of her parents' approval. It would be an infraction of elven rules. She could only marry without permission from her closest relatives if she struck out on her own and built her own elven haven. But, Celebrian was not that ambitious, nor would she be able to stand the separation from Elrond.

     There was little doubt that the instant her parents found her, they would drag her back to Lorien and force her to be miserable for the rest of her life. That left Glorfindel playing chaperon. He basically had to make sure the two were not alone for more than ten minutes together.

     He shook his head maybe ten minutes was too generous. He could still recall the time they had been discussing a minor building project for Imladris. He had gone down to the kitchen for a quick snack. The peculiar shade of red on Elrond's face when he returned had never left his mind.

    Maybe the crude comment had made Elrond a touch testy. But honestly, Glorfindel really wanted to know how Elrond could have gotten her into his lap so quickly.

    Glorfindel sighed when he heard Gandalf's arrival announced. Time to go start his blissful three week journey.

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      Elrond smiled absently as Gandalf talked of the rumors of the outside world. Orc sightings were still down. Spider sightings were up. There was fighting amongst a couple of Dwarf families. Assassinations among Men….

"You'll forgive me if I do not find my news as amusing as you do."

Quickly, Elrond's eyes snapped back from the window he had been staring out of, but he was not fast enough. The old wizard strode over and peered out of the window.

"Very pretty. But I thought that you preferred ladies of lighter hair colors."

Elrond swallowed hard. He fought hard to keep from looking too relieved when Gandalf turned away from the window.

"Perhaps we should have some tea, and talk of your news in a less distracting area."

"Agreed."

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       Glorfindel frowned when he heard the sound of hooves galloping along the paths of Imladris. No party should be returning yet, and there were no guests coming. Straining his hearing he found something even more peculiar. There was only one horse. Usually those who sought Lord Elrond's advice came in at least a group of three.

    Glancing around, the guards did not appear wary. It was a friend then. One who could be identified and trusted on sight. Hurrying his steps, he found the horse left outside an entrance to Elrond's personal house, not at a stable.

    With a bound, he went up the steps following the footsteps that echoed down the halls. A flash of silver hair caught his eye. Silver? What was Celebrian doing with… Oh, No, not now. Glorfindel broke out into a full fledged run towards Elrond's study. He got there just as their guest was about to open the door.

"Lord Celeborn, what a pleasant surprise. We had no warning of your arrival otherwise we would have made special arrangements."

"I'm sure." Celeborn's voice dripped with ice as he shouldered past Glorfindel.

Gandalf watched amused as all color practically drained from Elrond's face. Turning he saw what had so frightened Elrond. Celeborn was normally the picture of placidness. Even when talking of his distaste for Dwarves, his face seemed so calm one would think he was speaking of the color coordination between his tunic and his robes. Placid, however, was the last thing he could be called at the moment. Alabaster skin was red as an angry dawn. Limpid eyes were now as hard as the gems of Dwarves. Hands that normally hung by his sides were wrenching and twisting his riding gloves.

"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!" His voice reverberated through half the house.

  Elrond was just standing there stupefied. He had the look of a mouse about to be attacked by a hawk. He moved his lips, but no sound issued forth. He cursed inwardly, now was a fine time for a human trait to rear its ugly head. Elves were eloquent and fast to speak eloquently in all situations. Humans had the nasty tendency to be scared speechless.

    Celeborn began an angry stalk towards the Lord of the house. Glorfindel began to move to intercept him. At that point, Gandalf decided to step in before another kin slaying started.

"I believe you will find her down in the gardens."

"The gardens? I passed them on my way. There is none there but maidens with Noldor dark hair."

"I believe that you will find the younger Lady of Lothlorien has changed her hair color. Perhaps Glorfindel could escort you down to find her."

A short nod indicated Celeborn's acceptance and he spun on his heel to leave, quickly followed by Glorfindel. Gandalf walked over to Elrond who had just begun to recover his faculties.

"You knew it was her this afternoon?"

"No, I knew it was her before I came. I knew she was not dead when her funeral was held."

"How?"

"There are things in this life that even the elves do not know. I intend to keep it that way."

"But, how could you know when the Lady Galadriel did not know?"

"Fate has a way of keeping secrets from those who would change its way. Galadriel dared to intervene, so she could not know until she could not or would not damage what should be."

They were interrupted when Celeborn and Glorfindel returned with Celebrian in tow.

Gandalf smiled enigmatically.

"I believe this is a private affair. I believe that we should leave them to discuss this matter, Lord Glorfindel."

The fair headed elf looked at Elrond. With a nod from his Master, Glorfindel moved out with Gandalf, closing the door behind them.

A moment of awkwardness prevailed. Celeborn spoke first.

"Four years I grieved for my only child. Four years I felt the bitter tears of the pain that only comes from the death of one's child. Then one night I find myself awakened by a strange feeling. The urging to go to my wife's mirror could not be assuaged. So, I crept out to it and what did I see? My daughter, alive in the arms of a half-elven man. I left for Imladris the next morning. I have been riding non-stop. I brought no entourage with me."

"Adar, you cannot take me back with you."

"Has this half-elven man swayed you so much that you would defy the wishes of your father? Had you no thought as to the pain your parents have been through?"

"I have thought often about my parents. I thought of how they would rob me of the only thing that brings me happiness. How they would force me into a marriage where I would be unhappy merely because they found the man I love inferior. Inferior because of his kindness to all who seek his sanctuary, Dwarves included. Inferior because of his human blood. I will have you know that I love him. No other shall I respect. I love him, even his human half. I will not leave him alone again."

"I have no quarrel with Elrond's background, nor would I have a true complaint about his policies if he would truly make you happy and safe."

"Then why should I be taken from him? I am happy with him. And his army is stronger than many."

  "You cannot be with him. It is for your own good. Your mother foresaw it."

"Foresaw it? Why was I not told when it concerns my own life? She may be powerful, but she does not know all of what may happen. Is it not my choice as to the risks I wish to take?"

"You are young, and the decision has already been made. You must ride back with me tomorrow."

Elrond grit his teeth. He had been content to let Celebrian fight with her father, but he had no intention of letting her go. Four torturous years with her nearby had proven to be the best he had had since his early childhood. He would not allow him to take her.

   With a lunge Elrond pulled his hunting knife from its sheath and pointed it at Celeborn's throat.

"I think it is you who is in danger from being in my presence. You will not take her. Not even if I have to declare war on your city."

Elrond expected a fight. He did not expect Celeborn to simply turn away from the knife and stare at the wall.

"I have feared this moment since I set out from Lothlorien. I have been so pained these last years. I begged and I pleaded. I would do anything to see my child again. I would give anything. I meant it. I swore that I would give her anything she wanted. Then, I saw her in the mirror."

"Ada, if you thought the two were connected, why would you attack us so?" Celebrian's voice quivered with tears and confusion.

"I thought I could still keep you if he did not care. If all you were to him was a pretty bobble or a political advantage, I could take you back with me. But, a man who swears the deaths of many troops for the love of one woman, he has a passion that should not but touched."

"You provoked me on purpose?" Elrond questioned with disbelief.

"One day, you will understand how it is for a father to give away his daughter Elrond. You do not wish for anything to harm her. The man she loves must be above all others and worship her every move." Celeborn added a small smile.

"You may have my blessing to marry. Galadriel though, will not give her consent."

"Then all is in vain. When you do not bring Celebrian back, she will send her guard for her."

"She would if I had told her what I had seen, but I did not. I did not wish to raise her hopes and ire with what I had seen. I thought perhaps it was simply a glimpse of what had been, not a glimpse of the future as I believe it to be now."

"Then we must still live as though I am dead?"

"You must continue as you have, yes. Although I know you yearn to have the privileges of marriage," Celeborn looked pointedly at Elrond's quickly down cast eyes, "You must stay as you have been while I work on changing my wife's views on certain subjects."

"Oh, Ada, an age could pass before she changes her mind."

"Then you must be patient. Do not fret, Celebrian. I have more sway with your mother than even you know of. She will change her mind."