First chap = Disclaimers

Oh, shoot. I've been putting off writing this chapter for ages. Remember that angst classification? It returns here.

PTG: Thanks for pointing out that mistake; I'm usually a little more careful than that

For those who tend to get squeamish easily, I would highly recommend not eating during this chapter. It boarders a little on the R side, but I think it's still PG-13

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Elrond sat sipping his tea in his study. Celebrian had been gone for a short time, yet he missed her deeply. It was odd. They had been together for so long, but he still ached when she departed for her parent's home.

He laughed at the chill he had felt when he bid her goodbye. After so many years, did he still fear her mother would not allow her to return? It was such a ridiculous worry. Galadriel had become close to him since Arwen's birth. She no longer threatened him.

Arwen. The thought of his daughter brought a smile to his lips. As a young adult, she had driven Glorfindel insane with her training. She had picked up a penchant for swords that had the elder elf worried sick for years. Thankfully, she had dropped her bloodthirsty ways after she became an adult much preferring to slay with her tongue than an actual blade.

Celebrian had said that Arwen was the embodiment of a female Elrond: An impossibly beautiful and calm exterior that held deep passions underneath. That phrase had totally mortified their daughter, yet Elrond had to admit that Arwen had inherited some traits from him that even the twins had not.

A sudden pain had Elrond's teeth biting into his tongue. His stomach roiled, and he spewed the last three cups of tea he had drunk onto his carpeting. His head pounded with a thousand voices that were overridden by the feelings of pure anger and disgust.

He vaguely heard his roar of pain as he clutched at the corner of his desk. So engrossed in his inner turmoil was he, that he did not notice the hands that helped him to sit down. Blue eyes stared into his for a moment before Glorfindel started yelling orders to gather armor and ready horses.

"Adar!" One of the twin's voices carried through his haze. "Arwen collapsed in the gardens."

A wave of lesser agony crossed Elrond's mind as he realized that Arwen too felt Celebrian's tumult.

"Elladan," Glorfindel's voice held a commanding tone, "Go fetch Elrohir and ready yourselves for battle. Fetch your father's armor also. GO!"

Elrond's mind began to wander as Celebrian's pain resurfaced in his mind. A sharp wrenching of his ear brought him back to where his body was.

"Peredhil, you must stay with me." Glorfindel had not called him that in ages. Not since he had reached his maturity had he commanded Elrond in such a tone.

Elrond nodded and despite his agony blocked some of Celebrian's emotions out. "She is in Red Horn Pass. There are Orcs; half the party is dead all ready."

Glorfindel nodded. "Change and compose yourself. I will make sure we have provisions."

Elrond nodded and shuffled to his room, their room. Resolutely he pushed that thought from his mind. He would do no good wallowing. Slowly, he methodically turned off all of his emotions as Gil-Galad had taught him to do. An emotional warrior got people killed in battle. Emotions fueled any fight, but one had to keep a logical stance in order to win.

Viciously, he tied his hair back. It made him look severe, but he did not care. He had to give at least an illusion that he was in control. He stalked out of his rooms and went to put on his armor.

Glorfindel was there tightening his breastplate. "I have sent someone to look after Arwen."

"Good. I think it best if we move as two forces when we attack. Depending on the terrain when we reach them, I should like to attempt to surround the party."

"Agreed. You wish for me to lead the second force?"

"I do. Take Elrohir with you. I shall take Elladan. Divide the rest of the troops as you see fit. Do you have my bag?"

"Elladan has strapped your healing supplies to your saddle already. All is ready."

Elrond nodded and marched to the stables. The party was on their way minutes later.

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Screams echoed madly as Elven warriors descended on the Orcs. The vengeful hate inside of Elrond flowed in the form of Orc blood that spattered on his armor. Archery was all well and good, but he had felt the need to impale the foul creature on his blade.

He was not the only one. Elladan fought beside his father screaming words that could only have come from the men that the twins had encountered in their journeys. For his first true "battle" Elladan seemed to be doing quite well.

The entire troop seemed to be doing quite well. Elrond's eyes saw Elrohir hacking an arm off one Orcs only to swing low and sever the leg of another. One sight gave him pause. Glorfindel appeared to be the very embodiment of horror.

His Valar blessed hair had been loosed in the struggle and was becoming soaked with Orc blood. There were times when it was all too easy to forget that Glorfindel had once been a Lord of Gondolin, to believe that he was merely a friend to cheer and to guide. Only in battle did he show his inmost struggles.

He barked commands and killed with anything handy. That meant anything. He had learned quickly from his encounter with the Balrog. He had spent years training every blow to be the deadliest it could. A weapon made a blow more deadly, if that weapon happened to a part of your previous foe, so be it.

But, Glorfindel was not the elf that Elrond wished to observe. Letting out a cry that was more of a scream for his mate than a battle cry, he plunged ahead. Laying by a tree, bound with leather cords Celebrian's body shuddered with every breath.

Despair flooded Elrond's mind as he focused only on her. She was unresponsive when he reached her side. Blood caked the side of her mouth; her dress was muddied from being drug along by the band of Orcs.

Elrond lifted her up and began to carry her away, ignoring the battle around him. He barely registered his sons moving to flank him protecting their parents from harm. He bypassed the small area where other Elves were being treated. He opted instead to move to the place where someone had tied his horse after he dismounted into the heat of conflict.

He quickly treated her with the limited supplies he had before he mounted his horse with her and began to ride back to Imladris. Logically, his brain protested that he would ruin his mount by taxing it so hard, but he was beyond caring.

He was halfway home when another rider approached from the other direction. Behind the rider trailed another horse.

"My, Lord. Lady Arwen bid me to bring you her horse."

Elrond breathed a sigh of relief. Glorfindel had picked that horse out for Arwen specifically for her love of speed. Elrond said nothing, but dismounted his horse and quickly drug himself and his beloved upon Arwen's mount.

The fresh horse moved quickly down the path and pounded towards Imladris.

He was not surprised to see Galadriel as he entered the gates of his home. She gently helped Elrond remove Celebrian from the horse. He did not ask why she was there. He knew of her vision years ago. It did not astonish him that she would have felt this happen.

Her presence here instead of at the battle told him that she knew she would have been no help there.

Not talking, they laid out Celebrian on a sickbed and began to cleanse and tend to her wounds. Salves were applied and herbs poulticed and spread on to draw out poisons. While Elrond stitched up a nasty gash on his wife's thigh, Galadriel calmly washed her daughter's silver strands.

Six hours later, neither had removed themselves from the room. None had entered except to bring hot water and supplies when demanded.

"Elrond, you should not stay in here. You bring the filth of battle. It will not help her. Go, clean yourself. I will steady her mind while you are gone."

Elrond nodded. Despite his soul demanding no departure, he knew the wisdom of her words. Only the thought that he could endanger Celebrian caused him to move.

He washed as quickly as possible, but it was not easy. He had forgotten how all out engagements caused grime to settle so completely into a person.  As soon as he was done, he began his way back to his wife to stand vigil.

A figure blocked his way.

"Lord Elrond. The mission is completed." Glorfindel's voice sounded hollow at his proclamation of victory.

Elrond's eyes went over his friend's face. He had returned sometime earlier than now. The fact that his face was clean told of bathing. That meant that there had been no finesse in the finish of the conflict.

Glorfindel read his mind. "When we were certain that there were no more survivors, I ordered an all out attack. We pulled the swordsmen out and filled the area with arrows."

Elrond nodded. In the dim light in the hallway, patches of Glorfindel's hair looked dark. Glorfindel's hand caressed where Elrond looked.

"The color of battle does not always show on one's skin."

Elrond nodded and moved around his friend. He noted the small gathering of family outside of Celebrian's sickroom. Elladan and Elrohir stood next to their grandfather. Opening the door to the room he saw Arwen sitting by the bedside as Galadriel put away supplies in the room.

Galadriel touched Arwen's shoulder and departed, leaving Elrond and his daughter to tend Celebrian.

So it continued. The three of them revolved in their care of Celebrian. Two always in the room while the other begrudgingly did what was necessary elsewhere.

Gently, they coaxed Celebrian back from her despair. Eventually, she opened her eyes and beheld her family.

There was great joy for hours when she awakened. That same joy turned to sorrow when she could no longer stay in Imladris. It was too painful, and she was beginning to slip away.

With a heavy heart, she decided to leave.