Chapter 4
Artanis laid against her warm lover as she slowly began to fly from her dreams. She felt his gentle fingers tracing slow patterns on her bare arm. He took great care in trying not to wake her. She turned over so she could face him, gentle cupping his cheek and kissing his soft lips.
" Good morning," she whispered.
Celeborn pushed a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear. He stole another kiss with a despondent sigh.
" There is only a hour or so before dawn."
Artanis yawned, stretching as he sat up. Her eyes drifted down his smooth chest to the pooling sheets at a scrumptious area of his body. She pursed her lips slightly watching him reach for his leggings nearby.
Both froze hearing a soft knock. Celeborn's wide eyes glanced back at her. She quickly pushed him into her bath area, closing the door. She pulled on a robe and answered the door.
" Artanis!"
Artanis could only smile weakly.
" Finrod, Orodreth, Angrod and Aegnor, what a surprise."
~*~
Artanis sighed one great big sigh of relief when her brothers left her to go and ready themselves for breakfast. She opened the bath door and found Celeborn sitting on the cold floor. His chin lay on his now-covered chest as he slept peacefully. Artanis smiled as she knelt beside him.
" Celeborn." She whispered.
His eyes fluttered open and Artanis found herself having the most inane thought.
*He has such pretty eyes; a soft silver color edged with a dark slate gray with sparkles of white gleaming here and there.
Artanis shook her head slightly. Celeborn rotated his stiff neck, running a hand over it. He straightened shifting his taut shoulders. He glanced up at her.
" I must have…" He trailed off, his eyes staring cautiously behind her.
Artanis turned her shimmering head. Behind them stood Finrod, frozen in mid-reach for his forgotten cloak.
Artanis stood, her brow furrowed slightly with embarrassment and worry. Her eyes fell on the sword at Finrod's side.
*By Ilúvatar, why did he have to wear that today? He always forgets it. Why did he remember today of all days?
She crossed her arms, tilting her chin boldly.
" Why do you enter my chambers without knocking?"
Finrod's fiery eyes had already latched themselves onto Celeborn.
" Why is he in your room?" There was no trace of friendliness in Finrod's voice.
Celeborn rose, smoothing his robes and then glancing at Artanis. She turned to her brother.
" I have absolutely no idea." She turned to Celeborn with an apologetic glance. " Why were you in there?"
Celeborn's easy grin surfaced as he clasped his hands behind his back. He hoped it would soothe the rage he could see plainly in Finrod's eyes.
" Well, Artanis, I was told your door here stuck. I was asked to fix it. They forgot to tell me how well it stuck. I must have fallen asleep before you came back from dinner." He stretched with a yawn. " Duty has deprived me of some much needed sleep. I am sorry for frightening you."
Artanis' face wore an obvious look of relief. She sent him a secretive smile before glancing at her brother.
" You should have known there was a perfectly explainable reason for this."
Finrod just nodded, turning as if he was leaving. Artanis glanced at Celeborn.
*You had me worried for a moment.
Celeborn ran a hand over his neck.
*Thank you for almost letting my head become a Noldo mantelpiece.
Artanis laughed softly, running a soft hand on his shoulder.
*Your head is safe. I always receive what I ask for.
Celeborn's eyes darted up behind her. He nudged her slightly, an indifferent look on his face.
Finrod stood by Artanis' bed, holding a familiar shirt. The silver-gray material matched what Celeborn wore and it bore the tell-tale tree embroidered in silver.
" Whose is this, Artanis?" Finrod's voice was dangerously quiet.
Celeborn and Artanis could only stare at it. Celeborn almost groaned. He had forgotten one piece of clothing; one piece and Finrod just had to find it.
*Artanis, what do we do?
Artanis strode forward and snatched the shirt from Finrod. Finrod's mouth tightened as he glared at her. She returned a just as smoldering glance his way.
" Out, Finrod. 'Tis no business of yours what goes on in my chambers."
Her brother looked offended for a brief moment before he shook his head. Artanis hated the look of hurt disbelief in his eyes when he looked up at her.
" When did I, your favorite brother, fall from your grace?"
Finrod trudged out of the room, closing the door with an audible click.
~*~
Celeborn entered the dining room with his usual smile. Many of the courtiers were not surprised when Artanis entered with him. It was no small secret that the Captain of the Guard was seemingly entranced with the Noldo. Thingol had seemed overjoyed at the proposition that his Captain of the Guard might wed a Noldo princess. Today though, Thingol seemed to stew like an about-to-burst thundercloud. Celeborn approached swiftly and sat, allowing Artanis to join her brothers.
" You are late." Thingol's low voice showed he was quite unhappy with someone.
" Forgive me, my lord. You will have to speak with the Noldo, Artanis, as to my tardiness. She seems to take quite a time to dress and that female stuff."
Artanis turned from her chair nearby with a smile.
" I was waiting for you, Celeborn, if I remember correctly. I could have swam to Aman and back before you were done."
Thingol's fist slamming against the table sent all eyes that way. He stood half-way. Melian stood also, perceiving what he had to say.
" Leave us. All save the Noldor." She glanced at Celeborn when he rose. " Not you, Celeborn. You must hear this also."
Thingol leaned across the table towards Finrod sitting across from him. The king's eyes were narrowed and his lip curled in disgust.
" Ill you have done to me, kinsman. You have hid from me things, terrible things." Thingol's voice lowered. " For I know all the evil deeds of the Noldor."
Instantly, every Noldo was on the edge of their seat. Celeborn caught an agitated flurry of hands from Artanis as she began to play with her napkin.
" What ill have I done to you, lord? Or what evil has any Noldo done to you or your realm? The Noldor have done nothing to you or your people." Finrod said quietly, keeping his eyes away from the king's.
Thingol gave a small laugh, though his face remained cruel.
" I marvel at you, son of Eärwen," Thingol said, " That you come from slaying your mother's kin and yet you say nothing in defense, nor seek any pardon."
Celeborn glanced quickly at Artanis questioningly. She shook her head, putting a hand to her head. Finrod was silent, glancing at his brothers. Artanis finally looked up.
" Who told?"
Thingol looked slightly surprised, as did Celeborn.
" You killed Elves?" Celeborn stood, slightly outraged.
Melian put a hand on his arm with a headshake. Celeborn nodded.
" As if we are better," he muttered under his breath as he sat back down.
" I received letters from Círdan, along the coast." Thingol told them.
The room was silent again. The Noldor kept their heads down, unwilling to speak. Angrod suddenly stood, knocking his chair over in his haste.
He leaned across the table so suddenly, even Celeborn stood again as if to protect Thingol. Angrod's livid eyes met Celeborn's for a moment before turning back to Thingol.
" I know not what lies you have heard, Thingol, king of Menegroth; but know this: we came not red-handed. Guiltless we came here, save that we listened to the folly of Fëanor's words. No evil did we do on this road, but we, ourselves suffered at great length." Angrod paused, his anger fading away. " Yet we forgave it. We are tale-bearers to you, for out of our loyalty, have we been silent. Now the truth you shall know."
Angrod went on to speak against the Sons of Fëanor, telling of the spilling of blood at Alqualondë and the Doom of Mandos and the burning of the ships at Losgar.
" Why is it then, that we endured the Grinding Ice to bear the name of kinslayers and traitors?" Angrod finished.
The room was silent. Artanis could not meet Celeborn's eyes. Melian gave a sad sigh.
" Yet the Doom of Mandos lies upon you also."
The room returned to its silence. It seemed to stretch on for hours until Thingol gave a heavy sigh.
" Go now from Menegroth, but know that its doors are not closed to you." Thingol glanced at Celeborn. " But know this, never in my realm shall the language of the Kinslayers be heard. All the Sindar shall hear my command that the neither speak nor answer with the tongue of the Noldor. All that do, shall be known as kinslayers themselves."
The sons of Finarfin stood, but Artanis remained seated. Orodreth looked back at her with a confused look.
" Will you not come with your kin, Artanis?"
Artanis remained silent. Thingol waved a hand.
" Artanis is not turned away from here. She is free to remain here under one condition." Thingol paused. " She must change her name from the language of the Noldor to Sindarin."
~*~
Artanis found her brothers ready to depart. She first went to Finrod.
" I am sorry."
Finrod looked down at her.
" I feel as if you are slipping away from us, Artanis. I barely know who you are anymore."
Artanis hugged him, tears biting at her eyes. She looked up at Finrod.
" I think I am falling in love, Finrod."
His eyes softened and he caught sight of the silver haired captain speaking with another guard nearby.
" Do not be rash, sister. I do not know why his shirt was in your room, but I pray it is not why I think it is."
Artanis merely looked up innocently.
" After all those times when I covered for you and Amarië, you question me?"
Finrod just laughed, hugging her close. His voice still bore a hint of displeasure as he nodded.
" All is forgiven, Artanis."
Artanis looked up at him.
" I am of age, Finrod. Did you expect me to remain a child forever?"
Finrod sighed before he hugged her closer.
" I had hoped I would never find an Elf in your room." Finrod tipped up her chin. " And if it happens again, my sword shall be unleashed. Take care, Artanis. I do not allow Elves near you lightly."
Artanis held on close to him, burying her face in his chest with a smile.
" Are we allowed to join this hug?" Orodreth's voice broke the silence.
Artanis was squished by her other three brothers.
~*~
Celeborn watched from the corner of his eye, as she was smashed in a group hug by her brothers. Her laughter reigned in the small clearing like a song. He shook his head with a small laugh.
" What do you think she will rename herself as?"
Celeborn looked down at Melian with a small shrug.
" Artanis has always chosen what she wants."
Melian raised an eyebrow, poking him in the side slightly.
" Aye, I am sure you are quite familiar with that."
Celeborn flushed slightly. Melian smiled, seeing a joy about him that had been missing for a long time.
" She said you already had named her," Melian prodded.
Celeborn cleared his throat, seeing the Noldor mounting and preparing to leave.
" Galadriel."
He then walked away to give last instructions to the Noldor. Melian rubbed her chin.
" Galadriel." She nodded slightly. " At least this name fits."
AN: All information in this chapter is taken from The Silmarillion. A bit of history here in case you did not understand a part.
Spilling of blood at Alqualondë- Fëanor and his sons, plus Fingon and some of his people killed many of the Elves there in Aman over ships.
Doom of Mandos- Elves can now die by either sword or grief. Elves were not meant to die.
Burning of the ships at Losgar- the ships Fëanor killed for were burned here, making all of Fingolfin's people take the route through the icy wastelands. Many Elves died because of this.
