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Return to Valinor
by DLR 2003

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Chapter Fifteen

Culurien looked up and her eyes met Elrond's.  She raised an eyebrow with disdain.  "What is this, come to help at last?"

"I had a vision," he began.

Her eyes widened.  "Of what?  Tell me!"

He tried to calm her with his steady gaze.  "Of Elanna, screaming in fear."

Her hand went to her mouth.  "Oh dear Elbereth, where are they?"

Elrond shook his head.  "I know not, only that it is a dark place."

Culurien snorted.  "That is helpful, I am so grateful for your valuable insight."

He stared at her for a long moment, his eyes glittering, biting his tongue as she glared back at him.  "I understand you are worried, but I would thank you to be civil please."

Culurien turned away from him, fighting back the tears that abruptly threatened to erupt and ran her hand across her face.  They both looked up at a sudden commotion in the hallway.

"My Lord and Lady, thank Elbereth, there you are!"  Lindir came to a halt before them, breathless.  "I have news from Caladir; Glorfindel has found something in the cellar."

"The cellar?"  Culurien paled.  "What is it?"

Lindir touched her shoulder with reassurance.  "Good news, I believe, fear not."

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Nana, Nana!"  Elanna ran into her mother's open arms while Elrond quickly collected Elethîr from Glorfindel.  He laid him gently on the kitchen table and made a rapid examination.

Culurien crossed to them, hugging Elanna tightly.  She began to panic at the sight of her son's still form.  "Oh Eru, no, he is dead!"

Elrond looked up briefly.  "He is not dead, calm yourself.  He is not concussed, his eyes are normal, apparently he has fainted."

"He is bleeding!"

"Superficial wounds only."  Elrond caught Glorfindel's eye and lifted his eyebrow.

The blond elf shuddered slightly.  "Rats."

Culurien made a dismayed sound.  "Oh no, infection . . ."

Elrond glanced up at her.  "I know how to treat animal bites, thank you."

Culurien closed her eyes as angry tears threatened once more.

Glorfindel looked at both of them with concern.  "They are safe now, everyone may rest easy."

"Due in no small part to your efforts, thank you."  Culurien gave him a kiss and an embrace.

"Indeed yes," Elrond concurred as he picked up his son.  Elethîr stirred in his arms and cried out, striking blindly with his fists.  "Get away from me!"

Elrond held him tightly as he struggled and stroked his face.  "They are gone, be calm, they can no longer hurt you."

The child opened his eyes and began to sob.  "Oh Ada, why do you not love us anymore?"

Elrond's eyes widened in amazement as his jaw dropped.  "That is not true, Tithen-iôn, why would you think such a thing?"

"Why indeed?" whispered Culurien with anger.  "You ignore them, you have no concern for their well-being and you wonder why he should think this?"  She set Elanna down on her feet.  Elrond stood stunned as she pulled Elethîr out of his arms.  "I will tend to his wounds, do not trouble yourself.  See to the needs of your guests, by all means.  Come, Elanna."  She brushed irritably by Elladan who stood in the doorway listening.

There was silence for a long moment as everyone stared after her.  Elladan stepped forward and placed his hand on his father's shoulder.  "We are causing problems for you, Adar, I am sorry."

Elrond shook his head, still in shock.  "You cause nothing; I have created this problem myself.  She is right.  I am a poor excuse for a father."  He too left the room before anyone could make a response to that remarkable statement.

Glorfindel and Lindir exchanged a worried look.  "I will go after him," Glorfindel murmured.  Catching up with his friend was easier said than done, however, as the lord of the house ignored his pleas to tarry. He was able to lay a hand on Elrond's arm just as he crossed the threshold into his study.  "Mellon-iaur, wait please, allow me to have a say.  You and Culurien both are not seeing this clearly."

Elrond stepped wordlessly away from his friend, never meeting his eyes.  He closed the heavy door, effectively separating himself from the world as he turned the key in the lock with a sharp click.  His hand dropped to his side and he stared at the small ornately fashioned metal rod for some time.  He heard footsteps retreating down the hallway as Glorfindel eventually accepted his need to be alone.

Failure.

The word loomed up like an immense wall before him, a more effective barrier than the door could ever be. 

Failure, once again.   

He ran his fingers through his hair as he sat on the stone window-sill, gazing unseeing at the grounds below. 

His stay in Lórien had helped him to accept Arwen's choice, to feel a certain peace in his soul, no longer dwelling on the anguish he had felt while still in Middle-earth.  Now however, he could feel all the old doubts and worries coming back, threatening to assault him once more, and as they rose within him, he knew that he possessed the strength to diminish, in fact defeat them.  Perhaps this is what the healing of Lórien provided, not an erasure of the memory, but the power to overcome it.

He closed his eyes and made a conscious decision to let these feelings have their own way, to lead him wherever they would.  To overcome them through strength of will alone would in effect, belittle them, dismiss them as unimportant, and he would not do that, not where his children were concerned, he owed them at least that much.

His precious children, who thought he no longer loved them.

Was it just the events of the day, or had it been building over time?  Had he always been too busy over the years with the renovations to the house, addressing the needs of the tenants, indulging his own interests?  Was he indeed his father's son?  He shook his head, puzzled.  Surely in Middle-earth there had been much more to claim his attention as Elladan and Elrohir were growing up.

It is not as though they had to contend with their Ada having a secret family.

He sighed.  This was true.  He should have prepared them.  Not only did he fail to prepare them, he failed to address the issue as it occurred.  He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands.

What was he thinking of?  What business had he really, having children again at this advanced age?  His instincts, insights and visions, were all apparently unreliable, outmoded and useless after three millennia of idleness.

Visions. 

Why had he had no inkling of trouble until it was nearly too late?  Why had Culurien known and he had not?  He thought back to the last vision he had experienced, nearly twenty years ago, just before the birth of the twins and remembered how that had not occurred in time to be of any help to them.  He began to wonder if Elves could become senile eventually and considered that the Atani blood that ran through his veins would most likely hasten that event.

The night deepened and became day and still he had no answers to the tortuous questions that plagued his mind.

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Culurien brushed Elanna's hair as they both watched Elethîr sleep.  The task was finished and the child settled in her lap, contented, yet restless somehow.  "Nana?"

"Yes, Tithen-sell?"

"We are out of the cellar and the rats are all gone, why am I still so afraid?"

Culurien felt her stomach tighten.  Perhaps because I am as well?   "What are your fears, can you tell them to me?"

Elanna shook her head.  "Nay, I cannot."  She hesitated.  "You are very angry with Ada."

Culurien nodded slowly.  "I am, yes."

Elanna looked up at her mother's face.  "Should I be angry as well?"

Culurien met her eyes.  "What is important is that which you do feel, not that which you think you should feel."

Her daughter sighed.  "I should be happy because we are safe but in fact, all I want to do is cry."

Culurien rose and gently laid her into the bed beside her brother.  "Try not to worry, Tithen-pen, everything will be better soon."  She sat back down and watched her daughter fall asleep with her fingers in her mouth, a habit she had found comforting when she was much smaller.

Culurien chewed a fingernail and tried to ignore the churning feeling in her stomach.  Eventually she came to a decision; not so much a decision really, but an escape, a postponement of a decision.  She pulled a valise out of the closet and began filling it with clothes.

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glorfindel stared at the carved wood of the door that had been so abruptly closed in his face.  After six thousand years of friendship he knew enough not to pursue the matter anymore at this moment.  Perhaps Culurien would be more receptive.  Wait a bit, though, he considered, allow time for her to settle the children and calm down. 

Elladan found him on the terrace gazing at the stars.  "How is Adar?"

Glorfindel shook his head and grimaced slightly.  "I wish that I knew."

Elladan lifted his eyebrows.  "You spoke with him?"

"Nay, I did not; he has retreated behind a locked door."

Elladan pulled up a chair and sat.  "It appears that some things never change, even here in Aman."

Glorfindel snorted.  "Indeed, the lock on his study door in Imladris certainly never rusted from disuse."  He folded his hands and frowned a little.  "The events of today cut much deeper than some minor spat, though.  I could see it in their manner."

"Yes," said Elladan.  "The look on Adar's face when Elethîr said . . . what he said."

Glorfindel nodded.  "And then Culurien . . . it was the same as if she had simply just thrown a spear through him."

"I could try to speak . . ." Elladan began.

Glorfindel rose and put a hand on his shoulder.  "Perhaps tomorrow.  Give him some time."  He ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh.  "I will make an attempt with Culurien; let us hope that her youth has prevented her from developing the stubbornness that seems to grow with age."

Elladan smirked.  "You are calling my Adar stubborn?"

"Indeed, yes."

"A very good judge of character you are."

Glorfindel winked at him as he left the terrace.

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"You cannot be serious." 

Culurien avoided his eyes.  "Indeed I am."

"Look at what you are doing, running away and hiding, just as the children did.  Nothing will be solved this way."

Culurien sighed.  "I cannot explain it; I just feel the need for distance, separation.  I must take a step outside and gain perspective."

Glorfindel was uncharacteristically at a loss for words.  "But . . ."

Culurien laid a hand on his arm.  "As you know, Erestor and Gwendolyn leave in the morning for the coast to dwell with her parents for a few years while she gives birth and so her mother can be near to assist her.  We will simply travel with them.  Alqualondë is on the way."

Glorfindel remained persistent.  "You cannot simply leave without talking to him."

"He is in his study?"

Glorfindel nodded reluctantly.

"Then there is naught he will listen to save his own thoughts for quite some time."

Glorfindel decided to plead.  "You did not see his face after you left the kitchen earlier.  Please, do not do this."

She turned and looked him in the eye.  "I am sorry.  I have to."

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Lindir picked up the old tray of untouched food from the small table beside the door and set the fresh one in its place.  He sighed and turning to leave, walked straight into Glorfindel who had approached with elvish silence from behind.

The plates and cutlery crashed noisily to the stone floor, but not before they deposited their contents down the front of Glorfindel's tunic.

"Ai, Mandos!" cursed the blond elf loudly.

Lindir scrambled for the fallen dishes with an oath of his own.  "Your pardon, Lord."

Glorfindel eyed his tunic with distaste, brushing at it uselessly as he stooped to help clean up the mess.

"Whatever are you two doing out here?"

The two kneeling elves looked up to see Elrond standing in the doorway gazing down at them with his arms folded across his chest.

Glorfindel stood.  "Oh thank Eru, finally.  I must speak with you."  Lindir pressed the new tray of food into his hands.  "Why, thank you." Glorfindel said absently as he brushed past Elrond into the room.

Elrond sighed and closed the door once more.  "So speak."

Glorfindel set the tray down on a table and faced his friend briefly before turning back to the tray.  "What is this?  It smells quite good.  Do you mind . . . ?"

Elrond waved his hand.  "By all means."

Glorfindel paused guiltily in mid-bite.  "Will you not have some?"

Elrond shook his head.  "Nay, I am not hungry."

"Are you certain?"

Elrond rolled his eyes.  "Eat.  Please."

"Well, only if you are sure."  There was a long pause.  "I had no idea Caladir could cook anything like this, why does he not do it more often?"

Elrond smiled a little.  "He tries to tempt me with fancy delicacies.  They are difficult to prepare and impossible to produce on a large scale."

Glorfindel snorted.  "Perhaps I should make it a habit to lock myself into a room and pine away."

Elrond's eyes flickered.  "I believe you had something to say?"

"Indeed I do."  Glorfindel wiped his mouth with the napkin.  "While you have hid in here ignoring our pleas, Culurien has departed."

Elrond stared at him, his face an expressionless mask.  "Departed?  From Ondomar . . . Arda . . . what?

"She and the children are gone, they left two days ago."

"Gone where, if you please?"

"Alqualondë I believe."

Elrond sighed and sat down.  "To see Iswende, no doubt."

Glorfindel nodded and waited expectantly.  "Well?"

Elrond looked up.  "Well what?"

Glorfindel's eyes widened.  "You are not going after her?"

Elrond was perplexed.  "Why?  She will be back eventually."

Glorfindel sighed with exasperation.  "How in Arda can you have lived as long as you have, been married twice and still know nothing about females?"

Elrond rubbed his temple and frowned.  "Apparently all my faculties are deserting me for I know naught of raising children anymore as well.  Did she tell you why she was leaving?"

"She felt she needed to put some distance between you in order to see things clearly."

"I can see the logic of that."

Glorfindel blinked.  "Logic?  We are talking about relations between males and females.  Logic does not exist in that world."  He assumed a sage expression.  "May I give you some advice?"

Elrond sighed.  "No."

Glorfindel ignored him.  "If you do not go after her immediately, you will regret it the rest of your immortal life."

"You said yourself that she desired separation."

"And she has had it for two days already.  By the time you get to Alqualondë it will be another two days.  Very soon she will wonder why you do not care enough to come and bring her home."

Elrond knitted his brow.  "Are you certain?  Perhaps she actually needs this time apart for quiet reflection.  I feel that same need as well, but unfortunately all and sundry spend the day pounding on my door, yelling and flinging crockery about." 

Glorfindel folded his arms across his food-soiled chest.  "It has been quite some time since you visited Ereinion, has it not?  I hear Alqualondë is very nice this time of year; the sea air will be a nice change for you.  Do not forget to take those books that you purchased for him in Tirion last month."

Elrond arched an eyebrow.  "Perhaps you would be good enough to pack a bag for me, lest I fail to remember."

"Certainly, I am always happy to be of assistance to you."

Elrond patted his friend's arm with something resembling annoyance in his eyes.  "Thank you, I am forever in your debt."

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iswende frowned.  "What was that you said?  I am sorry, one moment please."  She clapped her hands.  "Children please!  Outside with you, immediately!"  She sat back down again.  "They are so excited to see you and the twins."

Culurien smiled a little sadly.  "I wish it could be under happier circumstances."

Iswende patted her hand.  "Do not fret; all will be happy again once Elrond arrives."

Culurien sighed.  "That is one thing I worry for; I am not at all certain that he will come."

Iswende leaned back in her chair.  "Now why would you think that?"

"Elrond is simply not inclined to be impulsive in that manner, he is more . . . logical."  She sighed again.  "Sometimes exceedingly logical.  I have never known him to do anything in the heat of the moment.  He ponders every move for at least an age."

Iswende sighed as well.  "A pity.  Impulsiveness can be quite romantic."

Culurien nodded.  "Indeed.  I will not be sitting with bated breath, though."

Iswende put her arm around her friend's shoulders.  "Well, that will be fine also; we will have plenty of time to talk."  She smiled mischievously.  "About all of his shortcomings." 

Culurien smiled.  "In my present mood, the list is endless."

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elrond knew oaths in at least twenty languages and voiced most of them quite loudly.  He wiped the water from his face and wondered why it always seemed to be raining in Aman at the most inopportune moments. 

He sighed and ran his hand down the horse's leg while the animal nuzzled him in the ear.  Elrond straightened up and addressed him in Quenya.  "Alas, Tallarca, bruised and tender it is, but not fractured, be grateful for that."  The horse proceeded to be very grateful.  Elrond gently pushed his head away and grimaced.  "Enough kisses already.  Do not take offense, but you are not my first choice for a bed-mate."

The horse seemed a little miffed, and Elrond patted him with a sigh.  "Yes, I am aware it was not your fault that a rabbit decided to dig a hole exactly where you placed your foot, but all the same, you could have made more of an effort to keep me seated, I do not appreciate being thrown off into the mud."

The horse demonstrated his remorse by nibbling the elf's ear once again, but Elrond was not in a mood for apologies.  "I suppose now, that I shall have to walk the rest of the way?"  The horse looked at him sadly and Elrond snorted.  "Nay, Tallarca, I am not carrying the saddle-bags for you, do not even consider it.  Just be happy you do not have my weight to contend with as well."

Elrond began to walk forward, pulling the reluctant animal by the reins.  "You have nothing to sulk about, stop it.  At least you are not covered in mud."  The rain commenced to pour down in torrents and he muttered the few oaths he had not used already.  I reserve the right to sulk entirely unto myself. 

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ereinion opened the door himself and stood blinking at the apparition on the doorstep.  He rubbed his eyes and continued to stare.  Well, it certainly sounded like Elrond . . . "What in the name of all the Valar happened to you?" 

The being that sounded like Elrond only growled in response.

Ereinion eyed the dripping muddy figure warily.  "I suppose you wish to come in."  This comment induced an even louder growl that became intelligible finally.

"Where is my wife?"

The former high king raised an eyebrow.  "And a very good morning to you as well."

"Please.  I am in no mood for pleasantries; I just wish to see my wife."

"Hmm, yes."  Ereinion coughed.  "Perhaps a bath . . . ?"

"Now.  Immediately.  This very moment, unless you have a wish to draw swords with me."

Ereinion stood to the side and waved his hand in a sweeping gesture.  "I believe she is in the library, you know the way."

Culurien stood; the book in her lap dropping to the floor and her hand rose to her mouth.  "Mellhîr . . . ?  Is that you?  What are you doing here?"

He crossed the room rapidly.  "That should be obvious, I have come to bring you home."

She shivered at the sudden sensation of his warm breath in her ear.  "Suppose I am not ready to come home?  I am very angry with you."

He bit the edge of her earlobe and breathed in deeply, relishing the smell and taste of her skin as she opened the clasp at his neck and his mud-stained travel cloak fell to the floor.  "And I am angry with you as well, you have acted quite childishly." 

She covered his throat with fiery kisses as she began to unfasten his tunic.  "And you have been the most stubborn, pigheaded elf in Aman."

He ran his fingers under the edge of her neckline pushed the dress down, baring her shoulder and bent to caress it hungrily with his lips.  "Which is true, but that is still no excuse for your behavior."

She succeeded in divesting him of his tunic and it joined the cloak on the floor.  Pulling the bottom of his shirt free from his breeches, she reached under it and grazed her fingernails across his chest.  "You admit it then, that I was right and you were wrong."

He sank to his knees, pulling the bodice of her dress down with him.  She tilted her head back and moaned as his tongue and teeth transferred their attention to her breasts. 

"There really is no right and wrong to this matter, no black and white.  You cannot look at it in such simplistic terms."  He reached up beneath her skirts and she gasped as his fingers danced around her heat.

She ran her hands through his wet hair and parted her legs in encouragement, struggling to keep her balance.  "See?  It is as I said.  You are stubborn as the day is long."

Breathing as heavily as she, he pressed harder as her blood caught fire.  "Who is calling whom stubborn, hmmm?" 

"I . . . you . . . you . . . are . . ." Her eyes glazed over as the spasms suddenly coursed through her body and she cried out loudly as she leaned heavily against him, totally losing the ability to support her own weight.

He picked her up as he rose and their lips locked together, effectively silencing anymore quibbling.  He dropped her rather heavily on a nearby desk, scattering papers to the floor and ripped open his breeches with one hand while he lifted her skirts with the other.  The abrupt joining of their flesh stole his breath away completely; his blood was pounding so fiercely that he thought it likely to burst out of his ears at any moment.  Oh, the throbbing, agonizingly exquisite pressure. .  . Must . . . have . . . relief . . . Her fingernails dug into his back as he moved with mad urgency within her and he felt her muscles tighten as she gasped and arched up to meet him.  Oh Eru . . . yes . . .  That was all it took to break down the dam and unleash the ensuing torrent of sensation which engulfed them utterly.

Iswende scowled at the trail of mud down the hallway.

Ereinion noted the direction of her gaze.  "Elrond has arrived."

"Has he indeed?  And they are in the library?"  She crossed hurriedly to the closed door.

Ereinion looked at her in surprise.  "Whatever are you doing, Meleth-nîn?"

"Listening of course.  Shh."  She pressed her ear closer.  "Not that I can hear anything."  Her face paled suddenly.  "Oh no!  Culurien cried out, he must be beating her!"

Ereinion was incredulous.  "Elrond?  Are you serious?"  He snorted.  "He is kinder than summer, please."

Iswende was not convinced.  "I know what I heard, we must do something!"

Ereinion rolled his eyes and stepped up to the door.  Very carefully he turned the knob and peered through the crack.

"Well?" she whispered after a minute.

Her husband closed the door with a smirk on his face.  "Come, sit down and relax, all is fine."

Iswende protested.  "I would wish to help my friend if she needs it."

Ereinion's eyes danced merrily.  "Unnecessary, Elrond has the situation well in hand, I assure you." 

"But . . ."

"Sit."

She sighed and picking up a book, tried to read but her attention wandered.  Luckily, it was not long before they heard the click of the door unlatching and she leapt up to the astonishing sight of her houseguest very disheveled and streaked with mud.  "Culurien . . .?"

That lady smiled contentedly.  "Could I trouble you for a bath please?"

"Why certainly, but . . ." Her eyes opened wider as another even muddier, barely dressed person emerged from the room as well.

"A bath big enough for two.  My husband has arrived."

Iswende had a hard time closing her mouth.  "So I have heard.  Suilad, Elrond."

"Mae govannen, Iswende.  My apologies for descending on you in this abrupt fashion."

"You are always welcome, no matter what the circumstances."  She collected herself.  "A warm bath, yes.  You do look as if you . . . need it."  She smiled indulgently at them as she left to fulfill the request.

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elrond sighed with satisfaction as Culurien slipped her arms around his waist and settled against him in the heated water.  "So they are feeling no ill effects?

She traced a circle on his chest with her finger.  "Not physically, no.  Elethîr's hands are healing; there were no other injuries as you know.  Emotionally, however, that is a different story."

He nodded.  "I need to have a very long talk with them, indeed."  He wound a lock of her hair around his thumb.  "I hope you do not seriously think that I have stopped loving them.  I was trusting to instincts, to foresight through visions, and apparently that has failed me, I am sorry." 

"I have an instinct as well, you know."  Her cheeks dimpled with a smile.  "It is called being a mother."

He chuckled and held her tighter.  "And we shall put all of our faith in that from here on in."

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"May I ride Tallarca?"  Elethîr quivered with excitement.  "Please Ada, may I please?"

Elrond smiled and raised a mock-serious eyebrow.  "Well I do not know, are you certain you are up to it?"

Elethîr began to bounce up and down.  "Yes, yes, I can hold the reins, my hands are all better, see?"

Elrond gravely inspected the appendages in question.  "Indeed they are."

"Please?"

"Well . . . the cart is a little small for all of us . . ." He caught Culurien's eye and winked.  "All right, then, if you think you can handle him."  Elrond shortened the stirrups and gave his son a leg up into the saddle.  He grasped the horse's bridle and addressed a few quiet remarks to him in Quenya.  Culurien looked on in amusement as the stallion nodded his head in agreement and gave his master a quick nuzzle to the ear.

Elrond turned to embrace Iswende and Ereinion.  "It is settled then, a month from now; you will all come to visit.  We will have a big family get-together to introduce Elladan and Elrohir to everybody."

Ereinion smiled as he returned the embrace.  "Indeed yes, I look forward to meeting your sons."

Elrond climbed into the cart and took up the reins.  "Until then.  Namárie."

Culurien had a hard time keeping her eyes away from the sight of her son riding the big white horse behind them.  "I am trying to keep from being a nervous mother."

Elrond glanced quickly to the rear as well.  "Tallarca is still nursing his injury; he is unlikely to bolt anywhere.  If it is too much of a concern, I could tie the reins to the back of the cart."

Culurien smiled and shook her head.  "That would take most of the excitement out of it, I think.  Look at his face; we could not possibly take that happiness from him."

Elrond looked and grinned.  "He will be fine; the horse will not let him fall."

"You sound fairly certain of that in spite of the spectacle you presented to me three days ago."

"Ah, well, it is because of that incident that I can speak so confidently, the animal lives in fear of his life, should he cross me again."

"Now I know you jest, as if the day would ever come where you would harm an innocent creature."

Elanna poked her head up out of her mother's arms.  "Did Tallarca let you fall off, Ada?"

Elrond chuckled.  "Indeed he did, I landed head-first in a mud hole."

"So now you are angry with him?"

Elrond shook his head and smiled.  "Nay, he tripped into a rabbit warren which he would not have done had I not been so foolhardy to cut across fields in my haste to arrive here."

Elanna thought about this for a while.  "Why were you in haste?"

"I was impatient to see my family."

"You missed us?"

Elrond shifted the reins into one hand and reached out to stroke her face.  "Of course I did.  We spoke of this, Tithen-sell, do you remain unconvinced?"

"Nay, not really."  A smile dimpled her cheeks and she looked for a moment like a small dark-haired version of her mother.  "I just like to hear you say it."

"Come here." 

She climbed into his lap.  "May I help you drive?"

"You may indeed.  Here, you hold the reins and I will hold you."

Elanna sighed happily.  "I could not really believe you did not love us anymore."

Elrond's eyes glistened.  "Let there never be any doubt in your mind on that account.  There is no force on Arda that could change my love for you."

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tithen-pen- Little one. S
Tallarca- Swift foot. Q
Meleth-nîn- My love. S