A/N: Thanks everyone for reviewing my first chapter. I should have updated this sooner, but I won't be making any excuses. Thank you to my beta, Hell on Stilts!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Tolkien and a bunch of other people do.
This chapter starts about two months after Celebrian first sees Elrond. After noticing Celebrian's love for the Sea, he decides to take her there.
Chapter Two:
Celebrian stood on the sandy shore. Her slippers were still on her feet, and all she wanted to do was to take them off and run through the lapping waves. But she felt Lord Elrond's gaze upon her, and all she could do was press her arms against her side, hoping it would hold her back.
"I still find it surprising that you have never seen the Sea until now," Elrond suddenly spoke. "It seems too beautiful to miss."
Indeed it was beautiful. Truthfully, it was beyond that. Celebrian's eyes followed the line of the ocean's border and felt everything she ever cared about drift away from her into the far horizon.
She never seriously wondered the reason for her never being taken to see this part of the world, but as she stood there with her dream right in front of her, beckoning to her, an idea struck her so suddenly that she almost gasped out loud.
Her mother never wanted her to see this.
Celebrian glanced over to Elrond and saw that his eyes were still on her, so filled with affection that she was not ready for.
She looked away. "I would love to reside near here someday."
She saw him nod out of the corner of her eye. "The Lady Galadriel does not approve of you visiting these sorts of places," he said as though he was reading her mind.
Celebrian swallowed. "I know."
"She is doing her best to protect you. She loves you dearly, and does not want to lose you."
She finally turned her head to fully look at the Elf standing beside her. His features were pleasant, that she was sure of. His jaw was sharp, and his mouth stern, but he held a mysterious gracefulness that went beyond the careful arch of his eyebrows and the intelligence behind his eyes.
"I thank you for taking me here, my lord," she finally said, and then realized she was blushing.
Elrond smiled faintly and bowed in response.
Celebrian turned and found herself taking both her slippers off and walking towards the water. "I need to feel the ocean before we leave," she said to the Elf behind her.
Once her pale bare feet touched the water she let out a breath. The small waves washed over her ankles and itself back, over and over in a cycle that was starting to make her head spin.
It felt so natural, for her to be connected to the Sea like this. It was a pity her mother, so wise with her years, never realized how much her daughter needed this moment of tranquility and escapism.
No, Galadriel had always known about it.
The wind picked up and blew Celebrian's long hair away from her face. She hear the faint footsteps of Elrond behind her, but she continued to stare straight ahead as though she were searching for something beyond the palace of Ulmonan buried deep in the ocean's water.
"You look drained, my lady. Perhaps we should be heading back."
She knew it was Elrond's voice, she was sure of that, but his words seemed foggy, almost distant, and when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she felt the waves drag her in.
Yet she was in peace. The Sun was shining far above her, the grassy hills green and lush. Towering trees circled around her, and she heard music and laughter. Elves were dancing underneath the shade to a song that sounded as ancient as the land she was in.
At last! She cried. I am where my soul has been residing.
And then she heard a voice, his voice.
This place is not for you. Not now, at least.
She turned to the piercing eyes of Elrond Half-elven. His gaze was unwavering, and his grip on her arm was tight.
No! She tried to scream, but it only turned out to be a choked sob. Let me stay!
When she opened her eyes Celebrian realized she was dripping wet. Elrond was carrying her in both arms over to their horses. She felt slightly unnerved for him handling her so, but she was shivering cold, and although she wasn't too pleased to admit it, his body offered her some warmth.
"Why did you take me away?" She asked as Elrond draped her riding cloak over her shoulders.
"What you saw in that dream was not the place you seek," he responded as he helped Celebrian onto her horse. "The water would be over your head if I had left you there."
"I would have been able to wake up myself." She said indignantly.
Elrond laughed, which sounded strange to her ears. "Such brashness for an elf-maid," he said, almost to himself. "Your place in this world is far beyond others in so many ways."
Celebrian was not sure if she understood what Elrond was saying, but she had one question to ask. "What was it that I saw then, if it was not the Blessed Realm?"
It took a while for him to respond, actually he was already on his own horse and they were heading back on the road to Lorien before he answered. "I believe that you will find out in good time, Lady Celebrian. But I think that you should take your mind away from the Sea for the time being, and put your mind on other things."
With a sigh, Celebrian closed her eyes and only saw the graceful movement of the dancing Elves.
