Chapter 4: Meeting after an age
In the evening after the conference, Elrond wandered through Lothlorien's gardens to clear his head. It hurt from arguing with hardheaded elves who thought they knew the best solution to everything. He approached his favorite spot, a small grove that had a tiny brook running through it. Elrond enjoyed sitting on the miniature wooden bridge which arched over the bubbling brook, and allowing the calming gurgle of the water to relax him and help him think. He was caught unaware, however, by the presence of a lady, already taking advantage of the grove's peace and quiet. Her back was towards him when he arrived at the grove.
Startled, he said, "I'm sorry, lady, I did not realize there was anyone here. I will leave." The woman turned towards Elrond, as he moved to depart from the grove.
"Why Elrond," she said, "you do not wish to see me?" I'm rather disappointed." Elrond turned towards the lady with surprise evident in his eyes. The woman who stood in front of him was almost as tall as him, only a head or so shorter. Her presence, however, shined out from her, brighter then the full moon, which hung above them, lighting the grove. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Her soft, golden, coiled hair was swept back from her face, and hung loose to her waist.
"Celebrían?"
"Has it been so long you do not recognize me?" She paused. "Perhaps if I come closer, you will remember." She glided towards Elrond, amusement reflected in her deep, gray eyes. She stopped just inches away from Elrond. "Do you remember me, now?" she asked, lightly placing the back of her hand to his cheek.
"Celebrían," Elrond replied, his voice wavering slightly. He grasped her hand, and lightly drew it off of his cheek and kissed it. "I did not think you would want to see me." He continued to hold her hand, his dark eyes glittering dangerously.
"Where did you find such an incredible idea? Of course I want to see you, I fear it has been an entire age since I saw you last."
"I do not know what type of company I would be this evening, Celebrían. I have much on my mind, and the solutions are not quick in coming."
"Your presence is more than enough for company." A smile shined in her eyes. "Much can be accomplished, even in silence."
Elrond stared at her for a long moment before speaking. "Would you walk with me, then?"
"I would be delighted," replied Celebrían.
They took to a small path that wound around, following along the brook. Fittingly, the path was just wide enough for two people to pass by, side by side. Mellyrn closed in the path on the left, their golden branches hanging over the path and giving the elves a feeling of seclusion. They walked in relative silence; the only sounds were the brook rushing over the rocks, and the soft swaying of the trees, created by a soft breeze that blew through the gardens.
They stopped at a bend in the river, where the bank was long and cleared of shrubbery, and suitable for resting. Without warning, Celebrían turned towards Elrond, encircled his waist with her arms, and drew him towards her.
"It's not your fault, you know." Elrond looked at her in confusion.
"What?" he asked, defensively.
"Gil-Galad's death—it isn't your fault."
Elrond broke eye contact with her and looked beyond her, at the running brook. A single, solitary, silvery tear slid down Elrond's cheek. Celebrían raised her hand and brushed the tear away. She slid her hand around to the back of his head and pressed his head down, close to hers, so that their noses almost touched. Elrond had no choice but to gaze into her eyes.
"It's not your fault," she repeated. "And the fate of the One Ring is not your fault either. Isuldur had his own agenda—and it was twisted by the ring. You want to blame someone? Blame Sauron—but do not blame Isuldur, and do not blame yourself. It is not your fault, despite what others might say. At least you tried to help, at least you were there." Her voice was strong, but as she spoke these last words, it diminished. She looked up at Elrond, as she ran her fingers through his hair. Tears welled in her eyes. "At least you were there," she repeated softly. Elrond drew her closer, partially to comfort her, but mostly to comfort and support himself.
"How did you know?" he asked softly.
"Because, Elrond, despite that I haven't seen you in an age, I know you better then anyone still alive on this Middle Earth—and I know what happened in that conference—the who, the what, the why. I knew where your mind would be wandering this evening."
Elrond's face softened. "You have always seemed to know my mind better than any, except perhaps Elros." Silence rang between them for a moment. "I wish he was here, he would know what to do. Ah, the folly of it all." Elrond pushed away from her then, and walked to the edge of the water, staring at the patterns of the moonlight as the brook's ripples distorted and warped the moonlight into strange and unique patterns on the water's surface.
Celebrían let him stand there for a moment before coming up behind him. "Do you rue his decision?"
"More that I regret my own, I think—for I feel that I took the easy road. But to choose man's folly—their mortality—I know not where Elros found that strength."
"I have found, Elrond, that each soul has their strength in a different place. For, indeed, what boring creatures we should be if we were all strong and brave in exactly the same way? Elros found a way that made him complete. I don't think he could have dealt with the consequences of your choice, just as you cannot stand the consequences of being mortal. If he were standing here in front of you now, I think he would tell you that he did not know where you found the strength to choose immortality."
Elrond did not respond to this right away, and so, they sat, illuminated by only the moonlight, in silence. Elrond's eyes glistened with unsaid words. Suddenly, he cleared his throat, and sighed, breaking the silence. Celebrían looked at him expectantly.
"Would you come back to Imladris with me?" he asked. Celebrían's head snapped up, eyes wide in surprise.
Before she could stop herself, she blurted, "Why?" and pulled slightly away.
Elrond seemed hurt by her action, but did not comment. Instead he paused to gather his thoughts.
"Because I need you. Your voice, your mind, your ideas—Erestor is an amazing advisor, but I need someone who can read me—who will know when I need to eat, or sleep, or to give me a word—or a million words, for encouragement." He paused. "Someone to sit with me on a riverbank and not say a word: just be there to sit with me."
Celebrían gazed at Elrond for an eternity, staring into his eyes, and it seemed as if she was searching his soul. Finally, she spoke.
"I'm not a housewife, you know," she said.
"Luckily I chose to be one of the Eldar, not of mankind." Elrond's eyes twinkled, and his mouth twisted into a wry grin. "I know the difference."
Celebrían snickered. "No, you most definitely are NOT a man. I noticed that about you a long time ago."
Slowly, a true smile formed on Elrond's face. "'Bría, you amaze me even more every time I see you."
"That's not saying much, considering how often you come and visit me."
"The same could be said of yourself."
"I think not! You're the one who has been running all over Middle Earth playing with your friends—I didn't want to intrude." Although Celebrían meant her words lightly, as she spoke the smile faded from Elrond's face.
"Unfortunately, some of my friends aren't here for me to run around with anymore."
Celebrían drew close to him, and held him, his head resting against her shoulder.
"I know, Elrond. I cannot imagine how hard this is for you. I feel their loss, but it is not nearly as great as yours."
There was silence for a long time after Celebrían spoke.
Elrond finally broke the silence. "So will you come?"
"I need to think about it, Elrond. Moving to Imladris carries certain implications and consequences, which must be discussed with my parents. It has to be that way, or not at all." Her tone lightened. "Contrary to popular belief, I actually am responsible for things around here. I don't just go wandering through the trees singing all day."
Elrond sat up, feigning affront at her comment. "Do you still believe I think so little of you? That I do not recall any of our earlier conversation?"
Celebrían smiled. "Well, you know, your kind can be hardheaded!"
"I'm sure that's how you see it!"
They grinned at each other and then turned their gazes back to the river, and they watched it flow by them, gurgling and bubbling as it meandered by. A hint of orange began to peak up over the horizon, but by the time the sun had made its way fully into view, the pair had fallen fast asleep, comforted in each other's arms.
Hey all…many apologies for not having updated in…well…however dang long it has been…EEK I feel so bad…it's even worse because this chapter has been sitting here, just waiting for the "ok" to be published….it was written way long ago…anywho…I hope peeps like it and write me many many reviews!!!!! Chocolate chip cookie to everybody…
reginabean
