Elrond Halfelven stood alone by the river, bow in his hand. He had been
relieved of his sentry duty nearly an hour before, but the young elf that
had relieved him seemed all-too-eager to step in, and didn't seem overly
adept in his defense tactics. Elrond scowled, knowing that the two were a
dangerous combination. He had decided to linger, in case trouble should
strike. It was growing dark when he heard Gil-galad's strong voice calling
him back. He folded his bow and sprinted back.
Gil-galad stood in his private chamber, accompanied by Cirdan, Celeborn, Elendil, and two female elves. The elder he recognized as Celeborn's wife, Galadriel. The younger he could only guess was their daughter, judging by the silver-blonde hair, resembling both her father and mother's hair, and by the keen gray-blue eyes that she had gotten from her mother. Her face held the adamant solemnity that filled her father's, and the enigmatic beauty of her mother's. Yes, Elrond decided she was definitely their daughter.
Celeborn spoke: "Master Elrond, I believe you have met my wife, Galadriel."
Elrond nodded.
"But I am not sure you have met Celebrian, my daughter."
Elrond nodded graciously to Celebrian. She blushed, returned the nod, and turned her attention back to Gil-galad.
Gil-galad stood forward and spoke. "Once again, darkness closes in on us. For some, our homes and all we know are lost from the treachery of the Enemy. Some of us have been more than personally effected by Morgoth Bauglir and Sauron the Deceiver. So I call you together now for it is time to decide if we are to turn and flee this world, or if we shall stand and fight."
Cirdan was the first to speak on Gil-galad's words.
"Nay, lord, we shall not flee. I say now is a time for calling together all our brethern and our kin and stand and fight as we have stood and fought before."
Elendil nodded his head to Cirdan, in clear agreement of his words.
"I stood and watched as my home, the home of all my forebearers since the days of Elros Tar-Minyatur, fell, and was reduced to merely memory. For this act, I speak on behalf of both my sons and my people. Revenge will be ours!"
Elendil's voice was sharper and crueler than any had ever heard it before.
Celeborn stirred uncomfortably.
"I have a family." He said. "Once I nearly lost them due to my constant meddling in the affairs of the world. I could not in good heart leave them again to a cold home and fear. If you ask whether or not I am angry that my people can no longer seek even solitude from the evils that now grows in the world, yes, I am angry. But I cannot leave my family. And I will not resolve to send the family of another to fight in my absence."
Celebrian stood with her eyes fixed gravely upon the floor. The expression on her now ashen face was difficult to read. She faced her father and took his hand.
"Virtuous sentiments, Father, and certainly fathomable. However, greater is the need of the families of all the world. Greater is the need of all the wives and children than are ours. Greater comfort would reside in my heart to know that you were standing alongside the most gallant of our kin. Of our people. Greater comfort would I have than if I knew you had stood back and said farewell to all your people and your friends, perhaps for the last time. Secure your army, and aid your brethren."
Elrond looked at her, admiration in his face.
Celeborn heard the solemn graveness in her voice. He turned to his wife.
"Altariel, meldielto-nin, man car-note avele-u?" [Galadriel, my beloved, what cousels do you offer?]
Galadriel met his eyes.
"No counsel have I to give, lord, to tell you yea or nay in this choice that is before you. For this is a heavy burden. One so heavy that I would never lay it upon you. But if you should take it of your own free will, than I shall say that your choice is right. Here now, hark and heed the words of your daughter."
Celeborn's eyes fell gravely on his daughter and his wife. "So has spoken my wife and child, of whom I hold wisest and most doting of anything in the world. So I shall march with you."
Elrond stood up. "So here comes for my say. With Gil-galad, my leige-lord and king I stand always."
Gil-galad stood up again. "So here ends our debate. We shall depart in three years time."
Elrond remained long after the others had left, Celebrian's words reeling in his mind. For the longest time, he would speak of it to none save Gil- galad, but from that moment on he loved Celebrian Celeborn's daughter.
Gil-galad stood in his private chamber, accompanied by Cirdan, Celeborn, Elendil, and two female elves. The elder he recognized as Celeborn's wife, Galadriel. The younger he could only guess was their daughter, judging by the silver-blonde hair, resembling both her father and mother's hair, and by the keen gray-blue eyes that she had gotten from her mother. Her face held the adamant solemnity that filled her father's, and the enigmatic beauty of her mother's. Yes, Elrond decided she was definitely their daughter.
Celeborn spoke: "Master Elrond, I believe you have met my wife, Galadriel."
Elrond nodded.
"But I am not sure you have met Celebrian, my daughter."
Elrond nodded graciously to Celebrian. She blushed, returned the nod, and turned her attention back to Gil-galad.
Gil-galad stood forward and spoke. "Once again, darkness closes in on us. For some, our homes and all we know are lost from the treachery of the Enemy. Some of us have been more than personally effected by Morgoth Bauglir and Sauron the Deceiver. So I call you together now for it is time to decide if we are to turn and flee this world, or if we shall stand and fight."
Cirdan was the first to speak on Gil-galad's words.
"Nay, lord, we shall not flee. I say now is a time for calling together all our brethern and our kin and stand and fight as we have stood and fought before."
Elendil nodded his head to Cirdan, in clear agreement of his words.
"I stood and watched as my home, the home of all my forebearers since the days of Elros Tar-Minyatur, fell, and was reduced to merely memory. For this act, I speak on behalf of both my sons and my people. Revenge will be ours!"
Elendil's voice was sharper and crueler than any had ever heard it before.
Celeborn stirred uncomfortably.
"I have a family." He said. "Once I nearly lost them due to my constant meddling in the affairs of the world. I could not in good heart leave them again to a cold home and fear. If you ask whether or not I am angry that my people can no longer seek even solitude from the evils that now grows in the world, yes, I am angry. But I cannot leave my family. And I will not resolve to send the family of another to fight in my absence."
Celebrian stood with her eyes fixed gravely upon the floor. The expression on her now ashen face was difficult to read. She faced her father and took his hand.
"Virtuous sentiments, Father, and certainly fathomable. However, greater is the need of the families of all the world. Greater is the need of all the wives and children than are ours. Greater comfort would reside in my heart to know that you were standing alongside the most gallant of our kin. Of our people. Greater comfort would I have than if I knew you had stood back and said farewell to all your people and your friends, perhaps for the last time. Secure your army, and aid your brethren."
Elrond looked at her, admiration in his face.
Celeborn heard the solemn graveness in her voice. He turned to his wife.
"Altariel, meldielto-nin, man car-note avele-u?" [Galadriel, my beloved, what cousels do you offer?]
Galadriel met his eyes.
"No counsel have I to give, lord, to tell you yea or nay in this choice that is before you. For this is a heavy burden. One so heavy that I would never lay it upon you. But if you should take it of your own free will, than I shall say that your choice is right. Here now, hark and heed the words of your daughter."
Celeborn's eyes fell gravely on his daughter and his wife. "So has spoken my wife and child, of whom I hold wisest and most doting of anything in the world. So I shall march with you."
Elrond stood up. "So here comes for my say. With Gil-galad, my leige-lord and king I stand always."
Gil-galad stood up again. "So here ends our debate. We shall depart in three years time."
Elrond remained long after the others had left, Celebrian's words reeling in his mind. For the longest time, he would speak of it to none save Gil- galad, but from that moment on he loved Celebrian Celeborn's daughter.
