*****NOTE: I have modified some lines from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and have used them here. I was listening to the track of FotR when I wrote this, and when I got to the part where Celemirë and Arwen are talking, the saddest tracks were on! Holy Orli/Valar, it fit the mood so well! I have also used 'Ai! Aníron…'—the theme song for FotR—and will provide the translation at the end. Thanks for the wonderful reviews, and enjoy!
Chapter Nine
Celemirë and Legolas were up rather early the next morning. They were out strolling in the gardens of Imladris when Thranduil appeared. He smiled at Celemirë graciously.
"Le suilannon!" he said.
Legolas bowed to his father and said:
"Adar, manen le?"
"Im vaer." Thranduil replied to his son. "Are you ready for the wedding, Celemirë? You must be very happy. It is a smart match."
"It is a smart match. Eldarion is the sort of man any woman would dream for. I am happy for him. May they dwell together happily." Celemirë said. "You are staying, hîr nín?"
Thranduil nodded.
"I was invited by your sire, your brother, and your uncles! I cannot disappoint them all, now can I?" the elven-king asked with a wink.
The trio laughed warmly. Celemirë saw her mother far ahead on the path, and excusing herself, hurried over to her. Arwen did not seem to notice her daughter approaching until Celemirë placed her hands on her mother's shoulders.
"Naneth!" Celemirë cried.
Arwen turned around slowly. Celemirë was shocked to see tears in her mother's eyes.
"What is wrong?" Celemirë asked gently.
"I am saddened, sell nín, by many things. Returning here, to my home, has made me realize the bitterness of my choice. I used to walk these same paths with my sire and brothers, and when she was here, my mother. Those are the days I long for, when I did not yet know your sire and I did not face the choice of immortality or mortality. Now I realize how much my father suffered internally because of my choice, and my brothers' choice as well. Nae!" Arwen said sadly.
Both were quiet for some time. Then, Arwen continued:
"Now, you and Eldarion are leaving, following in the wake of your sisters. Time has passed so quickly for me, Celemirë, since I have married your father," she said, then laughed bitterly. "Listen to me! I have become a mortal-I do not feel that time is present anymore! The day for me used to last an eternity. Now it seems to last no longer than an hour. The end is near. My time will come. I will fade away, and become lost to my immortal kin. I wonder if any will remember me after I go. Will my father, mother, grandmother, or even my own daughter—my most beloved daughter, Celemirë—remember me? Or will I become forgotten? Or will I become only a vague memory? Will my brothers and I fade from your minds after we are gone?" Arwen said quietly.
Celemirë did not know what to say. She had never seen her mother this anguished with grief before. Celemirë reached out and embraced her mother. The two wept in each other's arms.
"Gweston, naneth, that I will never forget you. How can I forget you, mother, when you are part of the reason that I am here? How can I forget you after all you have done? You fulfilled for me one of my greatest desires, to be of the Fair Folk, an Elf. I do not think you will ever be forgotten, neither you nor my uncles. You are Arwen Undómiel, the Evenstar of the Elves, the one whom all claim to be the likeness of Lúthien Tinúviel come again to earth. You will not be forgotten." Celemirë said softly. "Estelio nín!"
Arwen smiled at her daughter between tears and sobs. Celemirë thought it best to leave her mother to herself. She returned inside, where she found Legolas alone on a porch. He saw great distress in her face.
"My mother, she is…overwhelmed." Celemirë told him.
Legolas looked at her for further explanation, but received none. They went shortly afterwards to the great dining hall. Celemirë noticed that both her parents were missing. Everyone else was present.
"Has anyone seen Arwen?" Elladan called.
"She is occupied with certain matters." Celemirë told him quickly.
Her uncles looked at her curiously.
Preparations for the wedding began immediately after the meal was over. Celemirë sent her three handmaidens to assist Siana. Legolas went with Elladan and Elrohir, who were preparing Eldarion. Celemirë stayed in her chamber, not wanting to see her mother, and also because she was feeling slightly ill. Pregnancy was not something she was used to.
After awhile, though, Celemirë ventured out into the house. Elves were going about their various duties. She found her mother sitting with her father, their hands clasped together, looking into each other's eyes. King Elessar was singing to Arwen in Sindarin. Celemirë recognized the song; her father used to sing it when she was smaller very frequently.
"O môr henion i dhû:
Ely siriar, êl síla
Ai! Aníron…Undómiel
Tiro! Êl eria e môr.
I 'lîr en êl luitha 'uren.
Ai! Aníron…"
- Celemirë waited a few moments before entering. They turned to look at her, hands still clasped together.
"Maer aur, sell nín," King Elessar said. "Manen le?"
"I would be fine if I were not bearing-" Celemirë began, the stopped.
"Ah, I know. Your mother told me. You are carrying Legolas' child."
Celemirë blushed.
"It is nothing to hide, Celemirë. In fact, it will show in due time! I presume you are here to ask about it?" Elessar smiled.
Celemirë nodded.
"Celemirë, the pregnancies of elven women differ from mortal women's pregnancies. We carry the child for a year; thus the child's conception day is always one year and two days before his or her birth. We have exceptional amounts of pain during childbirth and we often feel very tired. And we do have pain in the very beginning, severe usually. Our mortal sisters have lucked out in some things. They carry their children for nine months and do not have the amounts of pain we have." Arwen said. "Yet, it is well worth it in the end, Celemirë."
Celemirë hesitated before asking:
"You carried us for a year as well?"
Arwen smiled.
"I did, even though I gave up my immortality."
Celemirë colored slightly. She took leave of her parents, and spent the remainder of the time in her chamber, lying on the bed, clutching her stomach in pain, and gasping slightly. Legolas came in a few hours later.
"Celemirë, are you all right?" he asked.
Celemirë smiled weakly and replied:
"This child should be worth all this pain!"
Legolas went over to her and kissed her forehead.
"It will be."
The three handmaidens appeared soon afterwards. They helped Celemirë change into a different dress and did her hair. They also served her a special drink, which lessened the pain considerably.
Legolas and Celemirë took their places beside their family: Legolas next to his sire, Celemirë next to her mother. King Elessar was seated on the opposite side of Arwen. Elladan and Elrohir were between Prince Imrahil and Prince Faramir. Everyone else was seated wherever they felt comfortable. Just as the wedding was about to start, Eomer arrived. Elessar laughed and stood up to greet him.
"Ai! You will have to forgive my late invitation!" he said.
"Forgiven," Eomer said.
Gimli came to Legolas and embraced him. After the newcomers were situated, the wedding started. It was done in much the same fashion as Celemirë's was done—Elf fashion. When Eldarion and Siana were made husband and wife, everyone cheered and clapped. Celemirë wiped away tears of happiness. Beside her, Arwen was smiling broadly, but in her eyes there was a pained look.
There was a great feast afterwards, which was held outside. There
were so many types of food and drink present that Celemirë did not know where to begin. Yet, when she tried to take the first bite, she found that she was unable to eat. The pain in her stomach had returned. Not to dampen anyone's spirits, she forced herself to eat. After the feast, she congratulated Siana and Eldarion, then was carried back to her bedchamber by Legolas.
"I feel guilty, though." Celemirë whispered.
"Do not feel guilty. They will understand." Legolas replied.
"No one knows, save for my parents." Celemirë told him.
"Then I shall inform them!"
Celemirë called, but Legolas hurried away, a wide smile on his fair face. Celemirë sank back weakly against the pillows. Elenath came to her a few minutes later.
"Is there anything to help me that is stronger than the drink you gave me?" Celemirë asked her.
"I fear not." Elenath said. "I apologize."
Celemirë thanked her and dismissed her. She lay in the bed staring out into the night, listening to the soft music that was drifting on the night air. Legolas returned after an hour.
"What are you doing back so early?" Celemirë asked him.
"Do you not wish me to be present at your side?" Legolas asked, looking into her eyes.
"I never said-" Celemirë told him, as he placed his mouth on hers.
They remained in Imladris for a fortnight. Celemirë spent the majority of her time resting. After a fortnight, Legolas decided to go to Rohan. He wanted to see the Glittering Caves and Fangorn Forest, and show them to Celemirë as well. Gimli was delighted when he heard.
"You will enjoy the Glittering Caves, my lady!" he said to Celemirë.
Celemirë smiled at him.
"I promise you, you will love them." Legolas said.
As Legolas' promised, Celemirë loved the Glittering Caves. Their breathtaking beauty made her forget her pain while she was there. When they left, Gimli gifted to Celemirë a beautiful necklace with a crystal pendant from the Caves. She thanked him profusely.
Next, they went to Fangorn Forest. Celemirë was awe struck at the ancient forest, and was delighted when they met Fangorn. He bowed curtly to Legolas, his green eyes glowing brightly. Fangorn showed them Orthanc, and how it had changed under the care of the Ents. The place was once more green and lush. Legolas smiled.
"The Ent-wives would be proud," he said quietly.
They returned to their home and were welcomed back joyously. The Elves of Ithilien congratulated Legolas and Celemirë on their expected child when Legolas informed them. Celemirë blushed.
"It is wonderful to be back in our home." Celemirë said that night as they lay in bed. "I have missed it much."
Legolas smiled to hear her say "our home".
"I have missed it as well." he told Celemirë. "How is the pain?"
"It has lessened this day. It was very severe from when we were in Imladris until now." she replied.
Legolas, who had been gazing outside, turned to Celemirë and drew her closer to him. She looked at him with her gray eyes that he loved so dearly, tracing his ears with her fingers. Legolas closed his eyes, enjoying her delicately soft touches. He was taken completely by surprise when he found her mouth on his, her tongue sliding into his sweet recesses. Legolas had forgotten how sweet her taste was to him.
They rolled over so that Celemirë was underneath Legolas. He cupped her breasts with his hands, then moved them down until they were on her stomach. He kissed her stomach several times, holding her down firmly but gently by her hips.
"I love you," he whispered.
"So do I, Legolas."
"You are going to be the mother of my child!"
"And you, the sire…"
Legolas moaned as she spoke. He felt lust for her, and nuzzled her neck and face. Celemirë pressed him firmly against her, wrapping her arms around his neck. She then placed her chin on his shoulder, and buried her head in his silk-like blond hair. Legolas felt her bite his ear gently, and he did the same to hers. They lost themselves in each other's scent. Celemirë finally pulled away from him. She was tired. She slipped into elven rest, her head on Legolas' chest.
Sindarin Translations:
- Le suilannon: I greet thee
Nae: alas
Gweston: I swear
O môr henion i dhû:
From darkness I understand the night:
Ely siriar, êl síla
- Dreams flow, a star shines
Ai! Aníron Undómiel
- Ah! I desire Undómiel
Tiro! Êl eria e môr.
Look! A star rises out of the darkness
I 'lîr en êl luitha 'uren.
- The song of the star enchants my heart
Ai! Aníron…
- Ah! I desire…