"Why do you wish us to come, father?" Arwen's question held no knowledge of the real reason and Elrond was not thankful, knowing that he would have to tell her, indeed, have to tell all his children.

"I…wish my family with me, is it such an odd request?"

Elladan sat upon a window sill, the half moon bathing his face eerily as he looked out with a harsh glare. Elrohir was as blind as Arwen and stared unknowingly at his father. Celebrian had her hand in Elrond's as she gazed out the window, as Elladan did, blankly.

"I would like us to set out tomorrow if you can all get ready in such a short time…" Elrond said with a forced smile as Elrohir and Arwen gave him true smiles before they went from his study to prepare. Elrond looked to his other son who still stared out of the window, watching a deer with little interest. "Do you intend not to join us, Elladan?" Elrond said with a chuckle but his face quickly lost the humor when Elladan didn't move.

The younger elf watched as rain slowly spattered on the window, blurring his vision of the escaping deer.

"Elladan, what is wrong?" Normally, Elrond would have arisen and gone to his son's side but he didn't trust his legs at the moment, it seemed like all the strength he had depended on through the ages was slowly draining away.

"Visit your long ago home before you die, is that the plan?" Elrond was stunned not only by the question but by the monotone voice used to deliver it. "And when Arwen and Elrohir see your body in the faded gardens it will be our responsibility to tell them that their own father lied to them." Elladan turned his cold eyes to his father.

Sighing heavily, Elrond said. "I did not wish this…"

"Do not speak to me such lies!" His son hollered in reply. "If you do not wish this then sail! Go to the havens and sail!"

Elrond looked up to see tears sparkling like jagged crystal in his son's eyes. Elladan's face was no longer cold and his voice had broken. "You chose not to take ship to the west because you wanted to stay with us, see us through the coming days of darkness…you know fully that this will not happen now, death is taking you like a mortal man…so sail now and we may yet meet again…"

Elrond slowly shook his head. It is too late, I am a victim of my own stupidity…I believed that I could protect my family no matter what tore me within…"

Celebrian clutched his hand tightly. Elladan stared at his father in disbelief for a moment before storming out of the room.

Elrond cast his eyes to the ground and did not watch their son leave them but Celebrian did and returned her gaze to her husband when he had. Elrond felt the strong but gentle arms of his wife encircle him, attempting to bring him up from the sorrow in which he dwelled more often then not.

"He does not understand the burden of family or ones duty to ones people like you do-."

"But he soon will," Elrond said, cutting her off, "He is eldest, he will bear the burdens of Imladris' ruling, of the crown of the Noldor should he so choose to claim it and the guilt of letting down his people should he choose not too…"

Celebrian curled her arms tightly about her husband, "I will not let it break our son, I will not let anything break our family…if I can help it…." She whispered, laying a kiss upon Elrond's temple before helping him up and walking with him to prepare the arrangements for their journey.

~*~

The people of Imladris bid farewell to their Lord and Lady along with their children and the Lords Glorfindel and Erestor. They were all whom were to travel and not even an escort would accompany them. No one in the fair valley knew that there was anything wrong save that their Lord was still susceptible to the occasional weakness from the poisons lingering within his body. This trip was simply for his benefit, so that he might gaze upon the sea and walk upon the land where his friend of old, the High King had walked. That was all that was thought by the people of Imladris.

Elrond and Celebrian however, had chosen this time to tell Elrohir and Arwen of their father's ailment and the eventuality of his death. This made the mood of the trip much more solemn then it was intended to be though Glorfindel attempted to remedy this on several occasions through horsing around quite literally. But, for the most part, the first days trip was silent and peaceful but a tension emanated from Elladan and was met equally with tension from Celebrian who would cast an easing glance at her son ever so often.

While they prepared the nights meal, Elrond and Celebrian spoke the truth to their children while Elladan went off with Glorfindel and Erestor, supposedly in search of fire wood.

"I wished to stay as long as I could, to see you all through the coming darkness…" Elrond said, almost pleadingly as his children looked at him and he was certain he could see their hearts breaking as surely as his was. Elrohir wrapped his arms around his sister as tears began to pour down her cheeks.

"But ada," she sobbed, "Why can you not stay?" The way she looked at her father made him go to her side immediately and hugg her head to his chest.

"I cannot foresee the work of the Valar…for I wish that I could stay and be with you always…" He said quietly, stroking his daughters hair.

A great deal of the night was spent in tears and embraces but Elrond eventually found his way into Celebrian's arms and spent the night in them, gazing at the stars.

"How long has it been?" Celebrian asked, playing with Elrond's braids absentmindedly while her other arm was wrapped protectively around her husband's chest.

"Ages…I have not had the chance to travel this way in so long…so much to do, so many things hindering." He replied, clasping the hand that lay upon his breast.

"I'm certain you will be the better for it." Celebrian said, but Elrond did not respond immediately; he seemed lost in some other thoughts, in another time and another place.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

"It's alright little one, I won't hurt you…or your brother."

"You are just as Maglor was, you wish us for bargaining."

"I wish no such thing."

The feel of gentle hands, rough with battle and long life, were so comforting that the child could not help but give into them and the ache of tiredness and hunger. Even abandoning his brother to the elf whom he vaguely recognized but could not place, not in the muddled confusion of the past weeks.

He could feel himself being lifted along with his brother, up from the warm waters by the stranger who held them protectively to his chest. The elder's voice reverberated in the small half-elven child's ear through the elder's chest, kindly and elvish, it was soothing, like his father's had been.

"Eärendil's children," he said, "send word that they are free of Maglor."

"Into who's care shall I say they have been delivered, my Lord?" What seems a distant voice asked.

"The High Kings care…" It was the last of the words the half-elven child had heard from the elder before he slept.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

"Elrond?" Celebrian's worried tone broke the memory cycle and Elrond looked up to meet her eyes.

"The air of the dead…be good for me…" He chuckled at the absurdity of it but pondered it a moment. "His life is still there…or at least the feel of it was…when I left that place long ago."

Celebrian held him closer, fearing that depression would take him but it didn't and her husband slept with peace, still seemingly lost in another world.

The journey recommenced the next day with everyone in a sad and ponderous mood save Elrond who rode on with a smile upon his face, close to Celebrian. But the weight of death was still clearly visible on his face and no one suspected for a moment that he was recovering.

They passed over various hills and small streams, some which Arwen had never seen before, but her brothers, Glorfindel and Erestor knew quite well. Celebrian was reminiscing about the time after their marriage when Elrond and she had ridden across these plains endlessly for a month, free of the responsibilities that called to them, completely alone with one another.

These thoughts ran through her head as she watched her husband but something had changed. There was no longer a smile upon his face but a placid look of pensiveness. He rode with a stiffer posture as though he were riding to battle and his horses pace had increased ever so slightly.

'Elrond…' She whispered in her mind.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

"Elrond!" The holler had come as a warning from the King, to no one else but him. The boy's horse had spooked and reared, tumbling him to the ground. Again the King's voice sounded in alarm but he was much nearer now, his horse close to the boy.

He leapt from the beasts back and to the boys side in one fluid motion as the boy attempted to move.

"Lay still little one." He whispered as his hands probed the boys back, making certain he was well. "You're alought like your father, he was always able to take a fall from a horse and receive little damage."

"Curse! It hurts Ereinion…" The boy hissed as the King helped him up from the ground.

"Can you ride?" The King asked, certain that the boy couldn't without loosing his balance. The boy made a small noise of discomfort and Gil-galad picked him up with a soft embrace and placed him on his horse before he tied the bridle of Elrond's horse to his own and climbed up behind him.

The boy relaxed against the broad chest of his elder and allowed an arm thick with muscle to encircle him as the other flicked the reins ever so lightly and started the horse off again.

"We'll reach Lindon soon…"

"Elros will be happy to see you." Elrond said, groaning a little at the pain.

"He'll be even happier to see you-."

"You say foolish things, any child is happier to see their father than their brother…" Elrond had not realized what he was saying but quickly became silent at the end of his sentence.

"He will be glad to see his family." The King answered, being neutral about the entire thing, relieving pressure from the boy.

"That he will Adar…"

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

Elrond's breath almost stopped as the memory was lost to the depths of his mind again, but the words of the King remained along with the sound of his voice and Elrond felt his throat tightening. He could feel the King's presence around him, the sound of his horse as it led his. Elrond closed his eyes for a moment and regained his composure as his family continued riding without suspecting the memories the area evoked in him.

As the small party crossed the river Lhûn, Ered Luin became clearly visible before them and they knew their journey was almost at it's close. The air began to carry the scent of the sea as they moved closer to the looming mountains and the sky was clouding, bringing the promise of rain upon the coast. So the party found themselves riding in a slight haze as they continued, though no one minded, Elrohir was even waiting for the rain to start fully.

When the Ered Luin was reached, the ascent was slow as the path meandered and was slightly muddy but, again, no one seemed to mind or notice. Erestor and Glorfindel were talking of the many times they had ridden on this path with the children as Celebrian sped up a bit to reach Elrond's horse.

"Meleth nin?" She said softly, reaching out and laying her hand upon her lovers arm.

Elrond looked at her and smiled. "I both love and hate this place…so many things I said and so many things left unsaid…" Elrond turned his face back to the path ahead and Celebrian watched him look intently about, seemingly for a marker. She heard him make a small, pleasing sound, "There…"

Off to the side of the wide path was a stone into which was carved a symbol that one couldn't make out from horse back. Celebrian and the others watched as Elrond climbed down from his steed and knelt before the stone. Wiping away some moss that had grown upon it, it was visible to Elrond that the symbol was a crest, within which were many stars.

Glorfindel and Erestor sat upon their horses with solmen looks on their faces. Both bowed their heads and closed their eyes for a moment. Celebrian and Elladan looked upon the stone with expressions alike to Glorfindel's and Erestor's as Elrohir and Arwen looked upon it with slight confusion but said nothing.

"I must go for a short while-."

"We will wait adar." Elladan said shortly.

Without looking back, Elrond followed an over grown path for a somewhat long way until he reached a crest that allowed you to see the whole of Harlindon and Forlindon. He gazed out for a moment and struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to arise.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

"It's beautiful Ereinion."

"I thought you'd like it up here little one." The King said, staring out in respect opposite to the boy's wonder. "You will have rule of all of this someday…"

The boy seemed to grow angry at this. "Do not say things such as that! You will guide me forever, you will guide the whole of the Noldor forever!"

The King sat down and continued looking out. "I cannot promise you that…"

"Promise me nothing for you needn't, I would give my life ere I let yours be taken."

Gil-galad watched the boy, now becoming a man, stare at him intently and believed every word he said even though he shook his head. "My star will shine over you forever, dead or no, never forget this. Even if one of is taken before the other, I will always love you, ion nin."

The boy swallowed his tears and looked out again. "And I you adar…"

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

Elrond turned from the view to the mound of stones, covered in rich green mosses now, which had a blade dug in at the head of it. The blade had been there for ages but showed no sign of it. The metal still shone like a new day's sun and the engravings upon it were clear to read. A sad smile crossed the Lord of Imladris' lips.

"Hello old friend." He said quietly, for that was what he had thought of Gil-galad in the end. After so many years spent together as adults, calling him father seemed strange and childish but he had lost no respect and love for him. Within a short time, he had become inseparable from Gil-galad, their bond had been one of the deepest Elrond had ever shared with anyone and to this day, rivaled his with Celebrian.

Elrond kneeled before the mound of stones, stones which he had thought to harsh for his King, his friend, his father but stones which he had placed because digging was impossible and he would settle for no other spot. He placed his had upon one of the larger stones at the foot of the mound and the memory of laying it there came upon him quickly.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

"Ereinion!" The cry was lost even to his own ears as he pounded to where the form was, dropping his sword recklessly but caring little.

Dropping down next to Gil-galad, Elrond lifted his torso in his arms but knew at once that life had gone from the body. Blood drained from the King's forehead without stopping and Elrond looked on in horror as Aeglos slipped from Gil-galad's hand where, clutched tightly, it had taken down many.

"Ereinion…" A whispered plea to someone who was too far gone to hear. But even as he cradled the limp body, a cry went up and the dark figure that had loomed not so distant fell, leaving a shaking human with a broken sword. But Elrond cared little, the human's strike had come far too late and only after his father was killed. He doubted the man who's forefather had been as a son to the elf he held even noticed that he was gone and he was right, the man stared at the ring in his hand without blinking.

Elrond would have cursed him but no longer felt the need to do anything save get his King from the battle field. He did exactly that. The men that he should have been commanding saw him mount a horse with the King's body in front of him and ride.

Elrond rode until his mind was dazed and his body ached more than it had ever before. He rode until he came to the spot where he had pledged to die before his father and there he stopped. Sweating and craving water like a dog overworked in the heat of summer, he laid his friend to rest and made his grave to befit a warrior and a King. He drove his sword deep into the ground at the head of the mound and laid himself next to the mound.

Breathing heavily and certainly nearing death, the man felt everything ache until his world was blinded by it. Then he lost consciousness and awoke what seemed ages later in his own bed in Imladris with Glorfindel scolding him on his complete stupidity but leaving him alone when he saw no response from his Lord. Elrond noticed nothing in the splendor of his home save a spear, still dirty with mud and thick, green blood at the foot of his bed. He stared at it for more than a day and a night without rest before he got up and cleaned it.

Even after that, Elrond spoke with no one and ate very little for two weeks until someone came to visit him. Celebrian had said nothing to him at first either but in the end Elrond had broken down when she had wrapped comforting arms around him.

"Hush." Was the only thing she had said and Elrond could keep tears from his face no longer. It was the last time he had cried.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`

Now, however, he found that it could be that way no longer as tears slipped through his tightly shut eyes.

"I'm sorry Ereinion…I can no longer watch over your people anymore…"

His grip on the stone in front of him threatened to crack it and Elrond let go, rising from the grave to look out over the landscape again. The breeze that hit him dried his tears quickly and he left the outlook for the last time, placing his stern demeanor on and greeting his family.

Celebrian approached him with a worried look but Elrond shook off her hands when she placed them on his arm.

"I'm fine meleth nin. I…needed to say good bye…one last time…" He said quietly, mounting as he did. The party watched Elrond go ahead of them a bit before following. No one knew what to say or do or how to ask if he really was alright. So they followed and he led, down from the place where he had nearly lost his life thousands of years ago, wishing for the presence of his oldest friend.

~*~*~*~

Ion Nin-My son

Adar-Father

Ered Luin-Blue Mountains

This was supposed to have other things happen but it just got way too long…so beware the next chapter, bring hankies galore…and weapons for killing me of course…

Yeah, El was supposed to drag Ring boy's sorry butt up mount doom but, hey, it's AU and in this case, Gil was more important than Ring boy.

~*~*~*~
Will you be there
Just give me time
To face my life

Will you be there when I open my eyes

-Memory Bliss
~*~*~*~