If fate holds a purpose
You feel fate will lend a hand
It saves face deserts you
It deals grace from underhand
And every time the past's awakened
Every time your soul start breaking
The Tea Party- "Soulbreaking"
Truth and Consequence
As Celebruthiel and Legolas were leaving the courtyard hand in hand, she turned to Legolas and paused.
"What is it, my beloved," Legolas questioned at her hesitation.
"I promised Arwen I would explain my behavior last evening. But I am afraid. What will she think of me now?" Celebruthiel whispered.
Legolas sighed as he pulled her into his arms. "Oh Kala, she is your sister and she loves you. That will not change, just as it has not changed for me. Would you like me to come with you?"
"I wish I had the strength to say no. I know I should do this on my own, but I cannot. I do not have it in me to accomplish this alone," she replied softly. No, Celebruthiel had used up all the strength she possessed attempting to push Legolas from her life. That one task had nearly broken her and she hadn't yet recovered.
Celebruthiel and Legolas found Arwen and Aragorn beside the great hearth in the Hall of Fire. The festivities had already begun, as Bilbo Baggins, a relation to Frodo and the first bearer of the Ring, sang of the defeat of Smaug, the dragon under Lonely Mountain.
"Did you wish to speak to me?" Aragorn asked, looking at Legolas, thinking he was seeking his council about their upcoming departure.
"Actually I was looking for Arwen," Celebruthiel replied, fighting the urge to run. "I would like to speak with you, with both of you actually."
"If it would be easier, I do not need to attend," Aragorn said softly, trying to ease the panic he saw in Celebruthiel's eyes. "For I have already spoken with you father on this subject."
"Do you know it all then," Celebruthiel asked in a whisper, surprised for she had received no indication that Aragorn was privy to the entire truth.
The other three had to strain over Bilbo to hear Celebruthiel's words. Arwen couldn't fathom what awful news Celebruthiel had to speak of to cause such distress. She had spent a good part of the previous evening trying to guess what would cause her to disavow Legolas. First thought was there was someone else, someone Celebruthiel loved more. But this Arwen just could not believe of her sister. Celebruthiel's heart was not this fickle. Then her thoughts turned to Legolas, but his reaction said it all. There was no one else for him. Neither her father nor the wizard seemed surprise with Celebruthiel's reaction, though they were still distressed over it. Arwen's thoughts then had turned to the Ring and the reason for the Fellowship. But she could not connect them to Celebruthiel in any way.
"Maybe we should remove ourselves from this place," Arwen stated, feeling as if the room's entire attention was placed on them, while in truth, they were barely noticed.
Legolas grasped Celebruthiel's hand and led them out of the Hall of Fire, down some stone steps, through a small courtyard. From there he took the eastern path that led to a small bridge, which spanned the Bruinen. On the other side was a large stone structure, a gazebo of sorts that offered both solitude and privacy as there was only one entrance and their words would not be overheard due to the large waterfall behind the structure.
"So you know it all then," Celebruthiel repeated, louder this time, though her voice still sounded strained to her ears.
"I believe so," Aragorn replied, feeling guilt over knowing Celebruthiel's past without her confidence. "I know as much as Legolas as I was there also."
"And so I am the only one not clued into this secret," Arwen stated simply, without accusing anyone for this fact.
"Yes. And though it terrifies me to my bones, I must tell you all, Celebruthiel said softly. She looked at Legolas for reassurance. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Then Celebruthiel pulled away from him, feeling suddenly lost and alone. She separated herself from the other three. She gazed out into the Bruinen, feeling the spray from the waterfall touching her face. It somehow calmed her and now that she was faced with this moment, she was not certain how to proceed. As the moonlight touched her pale skin, Celebruthiel noticed her arms radiate a translucent glow. Unlike Arwen or her brothers, Celebruthiel was the only one who's skin reflected the evening night. She'd been told it was a gift from her mother. She absently wondered if this was true.
Celebruthiel could sense Arwen's patience was starting to wan and so she turned to her.
"I am not the child of Elrond of Rivendell and Celebrian of Lorien," Celebruthiel stated, thinking of no easy way to say what needed to be said. There was none.
"What?" Arwen questioned. "How can this be?" She reached for Aragorn's hand as he and Legolas attempted to fall back, to blend into the stonewalls. "I don't understand," she whispered, her confusion evident on her face. It was a look Celebruthiel knew had mirrored her own when she'd asked Saruman the same question.
"I am the offspring of a terrible time in history, when the Elves banded with Men to fight a scourge so awful, it isn't even safe to name out loud. And it would probably be wise for me to stop right here, but we can have no secrets between us, dear sister. I am the child of Galadriel and the evil fought and thought defeated." By the time Celebruthiel had said her piece, she was wringing her hands and tears coursed down her cheeks.
Arwen shook her head in disbelief. "How could this not be known?" she muttered.
"Gandalf," Celebruthiel bit out, as still the rivers of resentment flowed in her veins.
"Actually it was the White Council," Legolas corrected, sensing Celebruthiel's bitterness toward Gandalf for the first time. Her gaze flew to his sharply.
"So Saruman lied about something, his part in this deception." Celebruthiel clutched the rail behind her. She felt her knees start to give, but refused to allow it and forced herself to remain standing. "I had thought something odd with his behavior, that he was trying too hard to gain my loyalty. Now I see all." Celebruthiel used the railing for support as she walked several feet to a nearby bench. She sank on to it. "Sauron knows I am here."
Arwen ran to her. "You are safe here," she whispered as she knelt beside her sister, clasping her hand to her chest.
"Am I?" Celebruthiel asked, her gaze piercing Arwen's. "Can I truly be safe anywhere?" You don't understand. I can hear him calling. He is not yet strong enough to bend my will to his, but." She couldn't continue.
"If he gets the Ring," Aragorn finished for her. "It all comes down to the Ring. This will not happen while there is strength left in me to fight." Aragorn knelt beside Arwen, taking Celebruthiel's other hand.
Legolas smiled as he watched Arwen and Aragorn surround Celebruthiel in a show of support. He could sense her relief across the gazebo.
"Oh my brother of noble blood, I do not wish this from you," she murmured. Then she stood, pulling away from both Arwen and Aragorn. "I don't understand why you both are willing to stand by me. I feel so tainted while you are so pure," she revealed in a whisper as she resumed her original spot overlooking the waterfall.
"Pure, Celebruthiel, is the last thing that can be associated with me," Aragorn bit out. Celebruthiel turned to him in surprise. "The blood of Isildur runs thru my veins. It is because of him that Sauron still lives to plague us."
"You are right, then. This is your fault," Celebruthiel replied. Three gazes turned to her, two in surprise, one in anguish, only to find her smiling broadly. Aragorn released what sounded to be a sigh of relief. "Maybe we both need to take our own advice," she commented almost humorously, "for I believe you will overcome this which frightens you so. You are not Isildur and you will not make the same mistake."
"And how can you be sure of this?" he asked softly.
"Because I have faith in you," she replied as she moved to Aragorn and placed a hand lovingly on his cheek. "I have faith in you," she repeated before she moved past him to where Legolas waited for her in the shadows. They linked arms then silently moved off to spend what could be one of their last evenings together.
You feel fate will lend a hand
It saves face deserts you
It deals grace from underhand
And every time the past's awakened
Every time your soul start breaking
The Tea Party- "Soulbreaking"
Truth and Consequence
As Celebruthiel and Legolas were leaving the courtyard hand in hand, she turned to Legolas and paused.
"What is it, my beloved," Legolas questioned at her hesitation.
"I promised Arwen I would explain my behavior last evening. But I am afraid. What will she think of me now?" Celebruthiel whispered.
Legolas sighed as he pulled her into his arms. "Oh Kala, she is your sister and she loves you. That will not change, just as it has not changed for me. Would you like me to come with you?"
"I wish I had the strength to say no. I know I should do this on my own, but I cannot. I do not have it in me to accomplish this alone," she replied softly. No, Celebruthiel had used up all the strength she possessed attempting to push Legolas from her life. That one task had nearly broken her and she hadn't yet recovered.
Celebruthiel and Legolas found Arwen and Aragorn beside the great hearth in the Hall of Fire. The festivities had already begun, as Bilbo Baggins, a relation to Frodo and the first bearer of the Ring, sang of the defeat of Smaug, the dragon under Lonely Mountain.
"Did you wish to speak to me?" Aragorn asked, looking at Legolas, thinking he was seeking his council about their upcoming departure.
"Actually I was looking for Arwen," Celebruthiel replied, fighting the urge to run. "I would like to speak with you, with both of you actually."
"If it would be easier, I do not need to attend," Aragorn said softly, trying to ease the panic he saw in Celebruthiel's eyes. "For I have already spoken with you father on this subject."
"Do you know it all then," Celebruthiel asked in a whisper, surprised for she had received no indication that Aragorn was privy to the entire truth.
The other three had to strain over Bilbo to hear Celebruthiel's words. Arwen couldn't fathom what awful news Celebruthiel had to speak of to cause such distress. She had spent a good part of the previous evening trying to guess what would cause her to disavow Legolas. First thought was there was someone else, someone Celebruthiel loved more. But this Arwen just could not believe of her sister. Celebruthiel's heart was not this fickle. Then her thoughts turned to Legolas, but his reaction said it all. There was no one else for him. Neither her father nor the wizard seemed surprise with Celebruthiel's reaction, though they were still distressed over it. Arwen's thoughts then had turned to the Ring and the reason for the Fellowship. But she could not connect them to Celebruthiel in any way.
"Maybe we should remove ourselves from this place," Arwen stated, feeling as if the room's entire attention was placed on them, while in truth, they were barely noticed.
Legolas grasped Celebruthiel's hand and led them out of the Hall of Fire, down some stone steps, through a small courtyard. From there he took the eastern path that led to a small bridge, which spanned the Bruinen. On the other side was a large stone structure, a gazebo of sorts that offered both solitude and privacy as there was only one entrance and their words would not be overheard due to the large waterfall behind the structure.
"So you know it all then," Celebruthiel repeated, louder this time, though her voice still sounded strained to her ears.
"I believe so," Aragorn replied, feeling guilt over knowing Celebruthiel's past without her confidence. "I know as much as Legolas as I was there also."
"And so I am the only one not clued into this secret," Arwen stated simply, without accusing anyone for this fact.
"Yes. And though it terrifies me to my bones, I must tell you all, Celebruthiel said softly. She looked at Legolas for reassurance. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Then Celebruthiel pulled away from him, feeling suddenly lost and alone. She separated herself from the other three. She gazed out into the Bruinen, feeling the spray from the waterfall touching her face. It somehow calmed her and now that she was faced with this moment, she was not certain how to proceed. As the moonlight touched her pale skin, Celebruthiel noticed her arms radiate a translucent glow. Unlike Arwen or her brothers, Celebruthiel was the only one who's skin reflected the evening night. She'd been told it was a gift from her mother. She absently wondered if this was true.
Celebruthiel could sense Arwen's patience was starting to wan and so she turned to her.
"I am not the child of Elrond of Rivendell and Celebrian of Lorien," Celebruthiel stated, thinking of no easy way to say what needed to be said. There was none.
"What?" Arwen questioned. "How can this be?" She reached for Aragorn's hand as he and Legolas attempted to fall back, to blend into the stonewalls. "I don't understand," she whispered, her confusion evident on her face. It was a look Celebruthiel knew had mirrored her own when she'd asked Saruman the same question.
"I am the offspring of a terrible time in history, when the Elves banded with Men to fight a scourge so awful, it isn't even safe to name out loud. And it would probably be wise for me to stop right here, but we can have no secrets between us, dear sister. I am the child of Galadriel and the evil fought and thought defeated." By the time Celebruthiel had said her piece, she was wringing her hands and tears coursed down her cheeks.
Arwen shook her head in disbelief. "How could this not be known?" she muttered.
"Gandalf," Celebruthiel bit out, as still the rivers of resentment flowed in her veins.
"Actually it was the White Council," Legolas corrected, sensing Celebruthiel's bitterness toward Gandalf for the first time. Her gaze flew to his sharply.
"So Saruman lied about something, his part in this deception." Celebruthiel clutched the rail behind her. She felt her knees start to give, but refused to allow it and forced herself to remain standing. "I had thought something odd with his behavior, that he was trying too hard to gain my loyalty. Now I see all." Celebruthiel used the railing for support as she walked several feet to a nearby bench. She sank on to it. "Sauron knows I am here."
Arwen ran to her. "You are safe here," she whispered as she knelt beside her sister, clasping her hand to her chest.
"Am I?" Celebruthiel asked, her gaze piercing Arwen's. "Can I truly be safe anywhere?" You don't understand. I can hear him calling. He is not yet strong enough to bend my will to his, but." She couldn't continue.
"If he gets the Ring," Aragorn finished for her. "It all comes down to the Ring. This will not happen while there is strength left in me to fight." Aragorn knelt beside Arwen, taking Celebruthiel's other hand.
Legolas smiled as he watched Arwen and Aragorn surround Celebruthiel in a show of support. He could sense her relief across the gazebo.
"Oh my brother of noble blood, I do not wish this from you," she murmured. Then she stood, pulling away from both Arwen and Aragorn. "I don't understand why you both are willing to stand by me. I feel so tainted while you are so pure," she revealed in a whisper as she resumed her original spot overlooking the waterfall.
"Pure, Celebruthiel, is the last thing that can be associated with me," Aragorn bit out. Celebruthiel turned to him in surprise. "The blood of Isildur runs thru my veins. It is because of him that Sauron still lives to plague us."
"You are right, then. This is your fault," Celebruthiel replied. Three gazes turned to her, two in surprise, one in anguish, only to find her smiling broadly. Aragorn released what sounded to be a sigh of relief. "Maybe we both need to take our own advice," she commented almost humorously, "for I believe you will overcome this which frightens you so. You are not Isildur and you will not make the same mistake."
"And how can you be sure of this?" he asked softly.
"Because I have faith in you," she replied as she moved to Aragorn and placed a hand lovingly on his cheek. "I have faith in you," she repeated before she moved past him to where Legolas waited for her in the shadows. They linked arms then silently moved off to spend what could be one of their last evenings together.
