First chap = disclaimers

Special Thanks to Lossenianel who has helped me through my conundrum on this story. (Waves hi) This is for you.

Ambrose: First, thank you for the wonderful review. Ah, grammatical errors. Those come purely from the fact that I spend approximately 1 minute proof reading. I usually finish my stories late at night, so when I go back and read them later, I usually find hoards of nasty buggers. I'm just too lazy to go back and repost fixed versions.

  The scene where Celebrian fakes her death is indeed pretty hard to grasp the first time through. I rewrote it so many times, that I just gave up and posted what you saw.

   With her disguise, I originally wrote a scene explaining the intricacies of her false identity, but it was even more horrid than the death scene, so I cut it. I just couldn't get it to flow in with the rest of the story.

    Glorfindel (Smiles) you know I think he's trying to charm his way into being a popular elf. I do have a general plot for a Glorfindel story, but I need to develop a strong OC lady first—you know not Mary Sue-ish.

SperryDee: Yeah, well perhaps you should give Elrond a pep talk ;) But seriously, he only gave up because Celebrian signaled him from the doorway. She didn't want another kin slaying to start over her.

Isa: now that you mention it…

Nemis: (Quickly pushes Nemis out of Galadriel's way) Thanks!

Cassie-chan: Well I do promise a happy ending but how soon depends on what the elf muses do.

Arabella Thorne: Your idea does have merit…

Ahem, well some of you may have noticed wayyyyy back when that I mentioned inserting some extra 'new' characters. I've decided not to do that until I write a different fic. Short chapter ahead, sorry.

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Glorfindel sighed. At the moment, he wished he'd stayed dead. He had thought he'd seen the worse of Elrond's temper. He was wrong. The only thing worse than a brooding Elrond was a brooding, angry Elrond. What on Middle Earth did Elrond need another waterfall for?

Ever since Celebrian left, Elrond had gone about 'beautifying' his sanctuary. It had become his latest obsession. It was better than starving himself by pining over her, but he'd become very cranky when anything went wrong. All Glorfindel could hope for was that Celeborn could hold up his end of the deal they had made.

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Celebrian moped around her mother's golden trees like a wraith. Her hair was a stormy grey from several washings designed to remove the dye. Eventually, Galadriel had declared they should just shear Celebrian's locks off and be done with it. Celebrian had been ready to agree.

Only Celeborn had been able to talk them into just waiting for it to fade. He used the argument that silver was close to grey. Amazingly, it worked. He swore it was the first time in a decade that anybody had taken his suggestion seriously.

With quick steps, Celeborn neared his daughter.

"Celebrian."

"Ada, what is it you need?"

"I believe you need something to preoccupy yourself with. I suggest archery." With that he produced a bow from behind his back.

"Archery?" Celebrian wondered when her father went batty. Maybe he'd always been that way and no-one noticed because Celeborn was always following Galadriel around.

"Yes." He nodded enthusiastically.

"All right then, give me a moment." Celebrian strode off to put on a different dress. Archery did not thrill her, but her father had been the only supportive elf in Lorien. She owed it to him to be nice.

An hour later, they were tromping through the forest shooting at whatever struck her father's fancy.

"You know, when I would be out fighting orcs, we used to wrap a message around an arrow and shoot it high into certain trees. Eventually, another band of elves would come to that message tree and retrieve the last message posted. It was actually a very good way to keep others from reading your correspondence as only a few would know what trees the messages were in. Take that tree, I think it would be perfect for a message tree. Don't you?"

Celebrian found herself at the mercy of a very pointed glance from her father. What did he just say? Something about a tree and secret messages. Did that mean what she thought it did?

"Ada, do you mean…"

"Now Celebrian. Don't get fantastic. It's just a normal tree, how would I know if my personal messenger happened to climb up there and fetch notes on his way to other places?"

"Thank you!" Celebrian cried as she slung herself around her father's neck.

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Glorfindel whistled as he entered Elrond's study (termed affectionately by the kitchen staff as Elrond's lair.)

"It is a beautiful day!"

Elrond glared at Glorfindel. Sometimes he thought his friend lived up to the human fallacy concerning blondes.

"It's raining sleet out, Glorfindel."

"Must you always put a damper on my outlook by pointing out trivial things? If continue to act this way, I will just toss this letter out into the wonderful weather."

"What is it a threatening letter from Galadriel or a threatening letter from Thranduil?"

"Well, I'd say from the handwriting it was written by a lady. Although, after what you two did while I was gone, I think 'hot blooded woman' would be more appropriate."

Elrond jerked the letter from Glorfindel so sharply that he ended up with a paper cut.

A soft smile played across his lips as he saw his beloveds scrawl.

"Did she say anything about me?"

"Go away Glorfindel. I mean it."

Glorfindel nodded and walked out.

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Celeborn quietly snuck into his wife's room armed with one-hundred wild flowers.

"Pleasantries will get you nowhere husband."

" 'Riel, it's been five months. Surely your heart is not pure ice?"

Galadriel fought the smile that threatened to cross her lips. Celeborn could be so needy sometimes. It wasn't like things were bad now. Celebrian had been unbearable for a while, but she seemed to find solace in writing. What she wrote Galadriel did not ask. She knew that her daughter made no letter that was sent to Imladris, and that was her only concern.

The announcement of Celebrian had not gone over well, but the more specific details had been withheld so there was no shame brought to either house. It was said only that she had not wished to marry and had taken refuge from her dear friend Elrond. Rumors abounded, but none could confirm anything. Galadriel sighed, she really should send Glorfindel a present. The elf had a divine gift for covering things up.

Galadriel turned from her mirror to face her husband.

"Perhaps you would be so kind as to escort me to dinner with the King of Mirkwood tonight?"

Celeborn warred within himself, then nodded. It was better to regain is Lady's favor at the moment than to defend his daughter who probably could care less. He loved his daughter, but he really wanted her tucked away at Imladris. Either she was brooding inconsolably, or she was writing meaningless love struck drivel to Elrond.

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Celeborn closed his eyes. Dinner had not been a good idea. Thranduil kissing up to Galadriel was bad enough on his stomach, but the way they conversed about Elrond was sickening. The funny thing was: Thranduil's comments bothered him more than Galadriel's. She had a reason. Thranduil had no right to attack Elrond and malign his character so viciously.

Disgusted, he shoved his chair away from the table. "I believe my appetite has left me. Forgive my absence, I feel I need a purer air than is delivered here."

Thranduil sighed. "He has poisoned his mind you know. Celeborn has not always had the best of judgment, and Elrond is a master at gaining the trust of others."

Galadriel tried to brush off the comment. "Celeborn merely wishes to make Celebrian happy."

"True, but Elrond moves purely from a tactical standpoint at all times. No doubt Celebrian would be a pretty feather in his cap. Controlling her father's point of view would bring him one step closer to achieving his selfish goal."

Galadriel squirmed, while she did feel Elrond was being self-centered, she also knew that he did love Celebrian because he loved her, not because she would bring him something.

"Celeborn is not easily controlled."

"No, but he can be easily deceived as was your daughter when in Elrond's grasp."

Getting no response, Thranduil continued. "Elrond did some irreparable damage to your daughter, but such things could be overlooked for such a beautiful lady. She has a rather large dowry does she not?"

Glaldriel appeared calm. She looked at him, then over at the weapons display hanging on the woodland wall. She decided her tongue would be her best weapon.

"My dear Thranduil, I would sooner have my daughter chained to the bedpost of Elrond for the rest of her life, than to purchase some union with you. I suggest you leave now. There is only one who has my husband under her control, and that would be me. If I ask it, his confused mind would be more than happy to wrap your family jewels around the biggest trunk in Lothlorien."

Grandly she swept from the room. Golden hair trailed behind her as she searched for her husband. He was angry, she knew, but he was also very susceptible to her charms.

She spotted him over by the stables rubbing something on a saddle.

"That would not be Thranduil's saddle would it?"

He spun around. "Yes."

"You are putting what on it?"

"Oil of verlass root"

"Itching oil?"

"It should wend its way through his breeches about half way back to his kingdom."

He looked at her. She was smiling. He frowned and looked back at the saddle.

"I sent him away. He did not need to disturb you like that. Perhaps you should leave before he comes to collect his tack."

His glance returned to her face. Her lips were pouty. Oh, no. He'd fallen for that trick too many times. Unfortunately, his brain didn't always agree with the rest of him. Galadriel's hand caressed the tip of his ear.

"Husband, I'm lonely. Keep me company?"

Oh, well. What was one more time?