Chapter 3
The Year 2851 of the Third Age
Elrond greeted the Istar.
" Mithrandir, it has been long since you have come to my halls.'
The gray robed wizard smiled kindly.
" It is a joy to come where there is only peace and harmony."
Elrond merely nodded his thanks for the compliment. Mithrandir's eyebrows arched.
" Dare I think that is the long absent lady of Imladris?"
Elrond glanced, seeing his wife coming slowly. She looked becoming, dressed in a gown of palest silver that shimmered in the sunlight.
" Aye. Celebrían," Elrond took her hand, " This is the Istar, Mithrandir."
Celebrían curtsied slightly.
" Tis a pleasure, Mithrandir."
" The same, m'lady."
Mithrandir moved on. Celebrían tugged on Elrond's sleeve.
" May I speak with you, Peredhel?"
Elrond glanced at her.
" I cannot leave now, Bree. Once your parents arrive, I am expected to begin the council. Mithrandir has brought me disturbing news from Dol Guldur."
Celebrían nodded with a sigh. Elrond tipped up her chin.
" Is it that important, elvëa vessenya (My starlike wife)?"
Celebrían shook her head.
" It can wait."
Elrond kissed her hand.
" Thank you. I will report directly to your study after the council."
Celebrían watched him go with a shrug.
" If he so wishes it."
~*~
Elrond rose, his eyes gazing over every member in the council. He nodded to himself. It was a beautiful showing. Galadriel finally tapped her fingers impatiently.
" Why have you called us so hastily, Elrond?"
Elrond's eyes turned to her and she closed her mouth, though her eyes never wavered from his. Elrond made a motion for Mithrandir to take the audience.
" I have recently returned from Dol Guldur." Mithrandir sighed. "Sauron yet lives. He is seeking the One Ring and seeking it, his very thought is bent on it. He is also seeking the other Ringbearers to bring them under his control."
" What of the three Ringbearers of the Elvish Rings? Why do they not openly assail Sauron? Surely their power-"
Elrond was on his feet.
" Hold your tongue, Saruman."
The white haired and robed Istar raised his head with a solemn look.
" I am merely commenting."
" Do not take the Elves for fools. No Ringbearer would openly assail Sauron. If you have read the volumes saved from Eregion, you would have found Celebrimbor's tale of the making of the Rings. Sauron never touched the Three, but they are still subject to the One. If the Ringbearers revealed themselves, you would have three Elves wielding Sauron's power. No good would come of it," Elrond finished.
" Why are you so antsy about this subject, Elrond?" Saruman asked.
Elrond lifted his chin.
" I wear no ring, Saruman, if you are asking me that. If you remember correctly also, these rings are what the last of the line of Fingolfin fought against. I will do the same."
Saruman tapped his chin. Galadriel's eyes met his for a second. Her eyes narrowed.
" I agree with Elrond. The Three are no match for Sauron, if the One is recovered."
" What do you propose then, Vessë?" Celeborn asked softly.
Galadriel turned her eyes to Mithrandir.
" You know the situation best. What do you suppose, Mithrandir?"
Mithrandir twisted his coarse gray robes between his fingers, his hands of sudden interest to him.
" I propose an attack upon Dol Guldur." He looked up. " The Dúnedain can be summoned from Gondor. Elves from all the Realms can come also. We drive Sauron back to Mordor. Thranduil would lend as much aid as we need for his forests to be clean again. He would lend his own children probably."
Elrond drummed his lips with his long fingers.
" I agree to it also."
Saruman shook his head, standing.
" I believe not that the One will ever be found again in Middle Earth. Into the Anduin it fell and long ago, I deem, it was rolled into the Sea. There it shall lie until the end, when all this world is broken and the deeps are removed."
Galadriel's heart sunk as many around the council began to nod their heads. Her stricken face met Elrond's. He only shook his head, glanced down at Mithrandir. Elrond then stood and the murmurs silenced.
" Nonetheless I forebode that the One will yet be found, and has been, and then war will rise again and in that war this Age will be ended. Indeed, in a second darkness it will end unless some strange chance delivers us that mine eyes hath not seen yet."
Mithrandir's eyes glanced at every one of the council members as he spoke.
" Many are the strange chances of the world," his eyes turned up to Elrond, " And help shall often come from the hands of the weak, when the Wise falter."
Saruman lifted his proud chin a bit more, catching the hinted reference. Elrond stood.
" How many agree with Saruman?"
Galadriel looked at her husband with a relieved look when he kept his hand down. He simply reached over, taking hers in his own.
" How many with Mithrandir?"
Only Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond and Círdan sided with the gray robed wizard. Elrond sighed.
" Then we will do as the majority has spoken."
Saruman approached Elrond.
" I believe you have just revealed the Three Ringbearers with that vote."
Elrond gave nothing away with his stony expression.
" I revealed nothing. I would wish to undermine Sauron before he seeks the death of those I love."
" Like that dream? Your vision of Celebrían in Caradhras?"
Elrond's eyes hardened. Saruman leaned down.
" Sauron knows what you hold dear. You best pray the ring upon your finger is never needed to be used against him."
" I have no ring."
Elrond abruptly turned away. Saruman took leave of the council and began to make a mental list of ways to find the Ring, for in his heart, he desired to wield it.
~*~
Elrond entered his study and slammed the door shut. He pulled Vilya from his finger, watching it tumble onto his desk. He laid his head upon his desk, resting his chin upon his hands as he stared at the sapphire ring.
" I thought you would forget."
Celebrían entered. She pulled him up, placing the ring back around his finger. She led him into her study, pushing him to sit upon a bed of cushions.
Elrond closed his eyes as she settled behind the harp, gently beginning to strum a favorite melody of his. He could feel every tendon in his body beginning to relax.
" What is it you wished to speak of?"
Celebrían merely began to sing with the harp. Elrond did not question her further, letting the notes carry his tension away.
Arwen paused at the door with her grandparents. The gentle hum of the harp greeted them. She smiled at her father's relaxed form lying upon a few cushions. Everyone in the homely house had heard his study door slam. Galadriel caught her daughter's eyes. Celebrían let the song end.
" Go on," Elrond bade, lifting a hand tiredly.
" We have guests, Elrond."
Elrond opened one eye before sitting up slightly.
" Galadriel, Celeborn, Arwen."
Arwen plopped beside him, giggling when she received a kiss pressed to the side of her head. Galadriel smiled. Elrond was as devoted to his work, as he was to his family.
" That was the worst council I believe we have ever had."
Galadriel nodded. She glanced at her daughter.
" Please play, Celebrían. You have always had such a talent."
" Elrond plays better than I," Celebrían replied.
" Then you play, Elrond. I wish to hear some music."
Elrond rose slowly, taking Celebrían's place. Celebrían leaned over her husband's shoulder, guiding his hands for the first few measure of the song. Galadriel sat beside her granddaughter, scooting for Celeborn to sit also. Mithrandir and Círdan entered a few moments later. They stood in the doorway, allowing the music to push away the anger at Saruman's protest and win. Elrond finished, glancing up at his daughter. Arwen silently removed herself, closing the study door behind her.
" Saruman knows I have a ring. He also knows other things that unnerve me," Elrond softly strummed the harp in an unknown melody.
Mithrandir leaned against his staff.
" I believe he has studied far too deeply into Sauron's devices. I fear he is turning to dark thoughts."
Elrond shook his head.
" I fear more for the Three at this moment." He glanced up, momentarily suspending the song, " Though many suspect their beholders, I have never heard any Elf make the absurd suggestion of using them to battle Sauron."
" He did that only to get your goat, in a matter of speaking," Mithrandir looked at the Elves, who were sending him odd looks, " Tis a Shire term for annoying."
The Elves nodded in understanding.
" Get your goat?" Círdan rubbed his bearded chin, " Interesting. I never thought anyone taking my goat was annoying."
Mithrandir rolled his eyes at the obvious teasing.
" I have yet to see an Elf with a goat."
Elrond laughed at that, surprising them all. Celebrían's face had spread into a smile also.
" Ask Elladan about his first pet."
~*~
Celebrían sat at the carved bench before her mirror, gently brushing her hair.
" Elrond."
Her husband glanced up from the papers he was trying to make some semblance of.
" Yes?"
" How do you think Elladan and Elros are?"
Elrond put down his papers.
" I believe they are fine."
" What about Arwen?"
Elrond was increasingly becoming worried at his wife's absentminded talking. He rose, taking the brush and beginning to brush her hair.
" Why all the questions, vessenya?"
Celebrían shook her silvery-gold hair.
" I do not know. I just think…"
*Are you trying to tell me something?
Celebrían looked up guiltily.
" I always have been a terrible liar."
Elrond lifted her hair up to gently begin to braid it, waiting, allowing her to collect her thoughts.
" I believe I am pregnant."
Elrond nearly jumped out of his skin.