Chapter 8

                  They had been traveling for three days straight following the obvious trail of destruction.  Finrod pulled the company to a halt.

                  " Take a quick rest."  He called.  " We will begin again soon."

He caught sight of his sister sitting by herself.  She examined the edge of her sword, ignoring him as he sat beside her. 

                  " They are not dead, Finrod."

Finrod put a hand on her sword.

                  " What if they are?"

Galadriel shook her head.

                  " I refuse to succumb to grief afore the truth is found."

Finrod stood.

                  " They will be dead, Artanis.  You have seen as well as I have.  They are eating these Elves.  You see the remains.  They will all be dead.  It is useless."

                  Every Elf was staring at them.  Galadriel rose.  She pushed her brother.

                  " Who are you to claim to know everything?"  She shook her head.  "There is always hope, always."

Finrod shook his head again, watching her walk away.

                  " Tis a fool's hope, Artanis.  Twas a fool's hope that let us believe FĂ«anor's words.  Twas a fool's hope that made us think we could defeat Morgoth."

Artanis looked at him over her shoulder.

                  " Finrod, it is a fool's hope that keeps us all alive."  She put her sword in her sheath.  " Arise, Elves.  We ride again."

~*~

                  Celeborn felt the distinct touch flutter into his mind.  His eyes flew open and he sat up.

*Galadriel?

A surge of pure joy flew through his mind.

*Hold on, my love.  We are coming.

~*~

                  Their journey had come to an end.  The Elves formed a perimeter around the unsuspecting orcs.  Ever so silently, they crept about, like shadows on a dark night.  Galadriel found the prisoners and their guards.  Emotionlessly, she slew the two guards before they could raise any alarm.  She threw down her sword and bent beside Celeborn.  He was as pale as death.

*Blessed Eru, no.

                  " Celeborn?"  She shook him.

His eyes fluttered open.

                  " Am I dead?"  He whispered.

She gently kissed his chapped lips.  Celeborn licked them, raising a hand to her cheek.

                  " I am most certainly not dead."

                  She pulled him into a sitting position and then eyed the chain.  She contemplated a moment before putting a hand on the spike and beginning to murmur.  The shackles fell from their ankles.  At that, the other captive Elves awoke.

                  " Artanis?"  Orodreth rubbed his eyes.  " How?"

                  " You can thank the Sindar, Oropher, later for alerting all of Nargothrond.  Now come.  We dare not linger long whilst the other Elves are at work."

~*~

                  Finrod greeted the captives once every orc was dead. 

                  " We are glad to have found you safe and alive."

With a smile, Fingon waved his hand, all the more cockier now that his chains were gone.

                  " The wits of the Noldor would have overcome sooner or later."

Many Sindar bristled at that remark, glancing intently at their captain.  Celeborn silenced their objections with a hard look that did not go missed by any Elf.

                  " What, Celeborn?"  Fingon asked, speaking Celeborn as if it was a curse.

Celeborn shrugged.

                  " I simply know the situation a bit better."

                  Fingon bristled, crossing his arms.  There never had been any love between him and Celeborn.

                  " Let us not bicker."  Finrod began.

                  " No, let him tell us how he knows this."  Fingon interrupted.

Celeborn raised his sleeves, revealing two pink scars that resembled bracelets around his wrists.  Galadriel even gazed at them in surprised.  She had never noticed them before.  Celeborn drew the sleeves back over his wrists.

                  " Those they chain around the wrists, they mean to eat.  None of us were chained that way, save a few that we never saw again.  Chaining us by our ankles is a sure sign that they," Celeborn paused, glancing up at Fingon.  " They meant to make us like them."

                  Fingon shrugged.

                  " So you were captured once?  So have I been, as of now."

At that a Sindar stepped forward for his Captain's honor.

                  " How dare you speak like that to our Captain!  He is wiser than you newcomers, having met up with orcs more times than you ever will.  You Noldor have not seen the horrors we have in our lands."

Fingon moved forward to challenge the insubordinate Elf.  Celeborn made a motion at the guard.  The Sindar bowed his head and stepped back to his place.  Galadriel put a hand to her cousin's chest.

                  " You have just escaped orcs.  Rest Fingon.  Let your dislike be put aside for a moment."  She said softly.

                  Fingon sent her a brief nod, but saved a smoldering glare for Celeborn.  Finrod sharply clapped his hands, upsetting the silence.

                  " Nargothrond is not too far away.  If we double our persons on the horses, we shall reach it quicker."

~*~

                  Galadriel and Celeborn sat away from the warm fire.  She laid her head against his chest.

                  " You are not hurt?"

Celeborn continued to smooth her hair.

                  " I am fine, Galadriel.  The memories cannot be forgot, but I am fine."

She sat up, searching his face.

                  " Share them with me?"  She asked, trailing a hand over his cheek.

Celeborn shook his head.

                  " The pain lessens in time."

Galadriel saw his resolve and settled for laying her head on his shoulder.

                  " I hope you are not this stubborn when we wed."

Celeborn smiled down at her.

                  " It would be different."  He tilted up her chin.  " Then we are one; and the memories are borne between us."

                  Finrod settled beside Galadriel.

                  " Glad to see you two well."

Galadriel glared at her brother.

                  " Go away, Finrod."

Finrod chuckled.

                  " I just wanted to check on you."

Galadriel sat up, pushing him.

                  " I am fine.  You know that.  Go bother Orodreth or Fingon.  Eru knows Fingon needs someone to burst that ego of his."

Finrod patted her shoulder.

                  " May I remind you that that is your job and yours alone?"

Galadriel sighed, standing and pulling her brother with her.  She kicked the bottom of Fingon's sole when she found him.

                  " You look like an orc, Fingon.  Mayhaps you need a bath to rid you of that smell."

Fingon's jaw fell.

                  " Why you impertinent little brat."

                  Galadriel laughed, slipping from his grasp.

                  " You never could catch me.  You still have your butter fingers, Fingon."

Fingon threw his hands up, seeing Celeborn.

                  " And you like her?"

Galadriel approached her cousin again.

                  " Of course he does, Fingon.  I only tease you because you upset so easily."

Fingon made a raspberry-like sound, taking his seat again.  Galadriel returned to Celeborn's arms.

                  " He deserved that."

Celeborn shrugged.

                  " He deserves a good kick in the rear if you ask me."

Galadriel laughed gaily, her spirits rising like the dancing flames into the sky.

~*~

                  Finrod watched Celeborn and Galadriel as the two rode beside him and Orodreth.

                  " I cannot believe I am seeing this."  Orodreth hissed.  " Artanis is tamed by the quiet Sindar?"

Finrod shook his head with a chuckle, glancing over his shoulder at his brother.

                  " She means to wed him also."

Orodreth's jaw dropped.

                  " That is why they have come?"

Finrod nodded, suddenly grave.

                  " He has come to ask my permission."

                  " What shall you say?"  Orodreth's tone was heavily guarded.

Finrod shrugged.

                  " I must allow it.  I gave Artanis my word."  He sighed.  "Leastways, I cannot deny her something she desires be it in my grasp."

                  " You never could."  Orodreth laughed.

Finrod joined in as they reached the entrance of Nargothrond.  Galadriel poked Finrod's side as she walked by, arm around Celeborn's waist.

                  " Remember what we talked about."

Finrod pushed an innocent look across his face.

                  " Talked about what?"

~*~

                  Celeborn walked alone towards the exit of the caves.  His soul longed for the trees that were strangely absent in Finrod's underground realm; but abundant with short, stout dwarves.  Celeborn's lips curled slightly.

*One creature I cannot bear.

He paused just outside the entrance, breathing in the fresh air deeply.

                  " So, you have tamed my headstrong sister?"

Celeborn glanced at the golden haired Finrod.

                  " I take it she spoke with you then?"

                  Finrod nodded with a small sigh.

                  " It scares me, Celeborn.  I guess I always figured she would remain by my side."  Finrod glanced at him.  " She was the one no one thought would ever settle down."

Celeborn shrugged.

                  " If you are uncomfortable with this, I can wait a few more years, even a decade."

                  Finrod shook his head.

                  " My sister has already threatened me with bodily harm.  Leastways, I promised her I would allow it if she told me why your shirt was on her floor that one morning."

Celeborn's head darted up, his eyes wide.

                  " Did-did she?"  He stammered.

Finrod nodded, his eyes darkening.

                  " It disappoints me and if I had not given my word, I would send her to Eithel Sirion."

                  Celeborn rose when the Noldo did, turning towards the cave entrance.

                  " I apologize for my actions." 

Finrod glanced at him sharply.

                  " It is over and done with.  I never wish to speak of it again."

With that, Finrod stalked away, leaving Celeborn behind.

~*~

                  Galadriel found the Sindar in their rooms.

                  " Where is your Captain?"  She asked.

One shook his dark head.

                  " He said something about the cave suffocating him and no doubt went in search of the exit."

Galadriel nodded absently, turning away.  At the door, she glanced over her shoulder, as if an after thought.

                  " Thank you."

~*~

                  She found Celeborn sitting just outside the entrance.  She sensed a restless agitation as he stared into the trees.  She settled beside him, feeling some of his emotion disperse.  Galadriel wound her fingers with his.

                  " What troubles thee, my love?"

                  Celeborn turned to face her.

                  " Your brother does not give his blessing."

Galadriel's brows rose.

                  " What?"

Celeborn pulled her close.

                  " He told me if he had not already given you his word, then he would not allow it."

Galadriel sighed.

                  " Give him time.  He is the closest to me of my brothers."  She tipped up his chin, laying her head in the crook of his shoulder.  " I love thee."

Celeborn just rested his head on hers, the gentle touch speaking clearly to her.

                  Neither noted Finrod's approach, caught up in their thoughts.

                  " They are all angry with us."  Celeborn murmured.

Galadriel nodded with a sad sigh.

                  " Aye, Finrod and Melian.  I do not know which is worse: the anger of my brother or the wrath of a Maia."

Celeborn chuckled.

                  " My parents will be disappointed, but I have little left of a reputation to uphold with them."  He trailed a loving hand in her hair.  " I believe they will fall in love with you, just as I have."

                  Galadriel laughed, pushing him away playfully, and kneeling between his legs.

                  " I would say the same to you of my family, but Fingon already bears to differ with my opinion."

This time Celeborn laughed with her.

                  " That Elf has had something against me from the moment he saw me."

Galadriel shrugged, a gentle finger tracing the crease of his lips.  Celeborn's eyes darkened as he gazed up at her.  She tilted her head alluringly, eyes fixed on his parted lips.

                  " Fingon is at the back of my mind."

Celeborn leaned up into the kiss. 

                  " Who is he?"

Galadriel laughed breathily.

                  " My father must have incredible foresight."  She caught Celeborn's inquiring glance.  " He always prayed that I would find a Telperion, a Celeborn, to complete me."

Celeborn smiled at her.

                  " He was right."

Galadriel resettled in his arms, winding a hand to absently brush his silver hair.

                  " Have you rings?"

Celeborn caught her hand, kissing her palm.  He sent her an impish smile.

                  " My lady, even I did, I would not tell thee."  His eyebrows arched mysteriously.  " It is my turn to keep you on your toes."