In the last weeks before the departure, anxiety spread through the company
like a wildfire. Several times Elrond found himself gazing dreamily at
Celebrian. Gil-galad noticed the changes.
"Something has come over you." Gil-galad said to him one day. "I have not yet figured it out, but I see the changes in you."
"It is Lady Celebrian, my lord."
"The Lady Celebrian and I are kin from afar. For her mother is the brother- daughter of my father's sire. Has she upset you in some way?"
"Alas yes." Elrond said, "For though she has not offended me, I have found that I desire the treasure of Celeborn."
Gil-galad smiled understandingly. "So you have fallen in love at last."
"It seems." Elrond said, "But I do not think I will have the good graces or good will of Master Celeborn in such a matter. She is much younger than I. And so it may seem to him."
"Have you spoken to Lady Celebrian?"
"No. I cannot find the words."
"Talk to her."
Elrond sighed. He had been in love before, but never like this.
A week before departure, Celebrian came to Elrond to tell him Gil-galad wished to see him in his chamber. He followed her to the citadel, secretly savoring Celebrian's presence. She gently pushed the door of Gil-galad's chamber open, beckoning Elrond to go in. With Gil-galad was Elendil and Isildur. They smiled to see Elrond.
"Elrond, in two days time we shall depart. I trust you are ready?"
"To the best I can be."
Gil-galad turned to Elendil. "Elendil, my friend, through many dangers we have traveled together. Now comes the ultimate test for our friendship. Isildur, great is the pride in your heart for Gondor your home. Also, great is the wrath for the sorrows of Akallabeth. Now is the time for that anger."
Isildur stood up. "Also great is the love for my wife and my sons. Especially my young Valandili Estelinde. I shall fight to return to them." With that, he left.
Elendil followed, leaving Gil-galad and Elrond alone.
"Elrond, my son, come." He called Elrond to him. He pulled the ring, Vilya, off his hand. "This will be the last time we will truly speak together in such a manner. I will not survive this war."
"Speak comfort to me, lord. Perhaps you have seen wrong."
"Perhaps. But nonetheless, though I love you, I say to you, if I should fall upon the batteplains of Mordor, let me fall."
"My lord?"
"Silence, Elrond. As a son you were to me, if but for a little while. Here, take this." He handed Vilya to Elrond.
"My lord, you cannot offer me such a gift."
Gil-galad smiled.
"I am not offering it to you, I'm giving it to you. For my heart bodes that long after I am gone, you will have need for it still."
Hesitantly, Elrond took the ring and put it in his pocket.
Gil-galad smiled. "I do believe," he said, "That there is someone you should say goobye to."
Elrond nodded, and quickly walked away.
"Something has come over you." Gil-galad said to him one day. "I have not yet figured it out, but I see the changes in you."
"It is Lady Celebrian, my lord."
"The Lady Celebrian and I are kin from afar. For her mother is the brother- daughter of my father's sire. Has she upset you in some way?"
"Alas yes." Elrond said, "For though she has not offended me, I have found that I desire the treasure of Celeborn."
Gil-galad smiled understandingly. "So you have fallen in love at last."
"It seems." Elrond said, "But I do not think I will have the good graces or good will of Master Celeborn in such a matter. She is much younger than I. And so it may seem to him."
"Have you spoken to Lady Celebrian?"
"No. I cannot find the words."
"Talk to her."
Elrond sighed. He had been in love before, but never like this.
A week before departure, Celebrian came to Elrond to tell him Gil-galad wished to see him in his chamber. He followed her to the citadel, secretly savoring Celebrian's presence. She gently pushed the door of Gil-galad's chamber open, beckoning Elrond to go in. With Gil-galad was Elendil and Isildur. They smiled to see Elrond.
"Elrond, in two days time we shall depart. I trust you are ready?"
"To the best I can be."
Gil-galad turned to Elendil. "Elendil, my friend, through many dangers we have traveled together. Now comes the ultimate test for our friendship. Isildur, great is the pride in your heart for Gondor your home. Also, great is the wrath for the sorrows of Akallabeth. Now is the time for that anger."
Isildur stood up. "Also great is the love for my wife and my sons. Especially my young Valandili Estelinde. I shall fight to return to them." With that, he left.
Elendil followed, leaving Gil-galad and Elrond alone.
"Elrond, my son, come." He called Elrond to him. He pulled the ring, Vilya, off his hand. "This will be the last time we will truly speak together in such a manner. I will not survive this war."
"Speak comfort to me, lord. Perhaps you have seen wrong."
"Perhaps. But nonetheless, though I love you, I say to you, if I should fall upon the batteplains of Mordor, let me fall."
"My lord?"
"Silence, Elrond. As a son you were to me, if but for a little while. Here, take this." He handed Vilya to Elrond.
"My lord, you cannot offer me such a gift."
Gil-galad smiled.
"I am not offering it to you, I'm giving it to you. For my heart bodes that long after I am gone, you will have need for it still."
Hesitantly, Elrond took the ring and put it in his pocket.
Gil-galad smiled. "I do believe," he said, "That there is someone you should say goobye to."
Elrond nodded, and quickly walked away.
