Title: Mists of Valinor - The Meeting - Part 2
Author: Genesis Grey (helfireclub@hotmail.com)
Disclaimer: Tolkien's estate owns everything. I own nothing. If I did it wouldn't be fanfiction.
Authors Notes: Okay, it was only supposed to be two parts, but they *shakes her fist at Celebrian and Elrond* are being stubborn, wanna take it slow or something. ^_^ I plan to finish up their meeting in the next part and move onto their married life. Feedback is nice, I love and adore it! Make me write faster. (Okay, that's a blatant bribe.) Hopefully the next part will be up early April, unless I get really inspired over spring break and then it should be up next week or so. (Jury duty and a couple papers to write over break too, but I'll try.)
Question for anyone that wants more of this fic. Should I drop the side-story about Erestor being an exile or reveal what happened at some point or write about it in a short story?

Anyway, enough notes, love feedback! Tell me what you think, positive or negative, I really appreciate it all. Now, on with the fic!

::The Meeting – Part 2::

The evening meal was as grand an event as any thing in Lorien. The cups were kept full and the buffet never seemed to empty. Songs were sung and dancers moved about the crowd of elves, coaxing the occasional passerby to join them in their merriment. The Lord and Lady sat above it all with gentle look upon their faces as the watched the gaiety.

Celebrian gave her father a smile as Rumil pulled her out to dance; her earlier threats already forgiven, though she still felt a hot flash of embarrassment when she remembered her words. She laughed as the younger elf spun her around, nearly pulling her off her feet. As they twirled about she caught sight of Lord Elrond. He was standing off to the side speaking with Erestor. A frown appeared on her face. She needed to apologize, but she doubted Elrond's advisor would make it simple for her.

"Rumil, will you do me a favor?" she asked, pulling him to the side of the large talan. He nodded curiously as she inclined her head toward Elrond and Erestor. "Will you go and ask Lord Elrond's companion, I believe his name to be Erestor, for a dance or some such thing? I wish to speak to his Lord alone."

The elf looked over his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow at the dark haired advisor. "I don't know if he will accept such an offer, he gave me a frightful look earlier, but I will try. It will give me a chance to apologize as well."

"That is all I ask," Celebrian smiled gently as Rumil turned and walked toward the foreign elves. She watched intently as he gave Lord Elrond a dignified bow and turned to Erestor, asking him for a dance. She nearly laughed at the look Elrond's companion gave. He looked as if no one had ever asked him to dance before, though he grudgingly accepted.

For a moment she watched as Rumil and Erestor danced. It showed that the advisor didn't dance much, a few of the Rumil's maidens were giggling at them, but he was doing all in his power to cover up that fact. Celebrian took in a deep breath as she looked away from the spectacle and walked over to Elrond.

The elven lord looked up as she approached, bowing his head slightly when she was close enough. "Good evening, Lady Celebrian," he greeted as she came to stand beside him.

"Good evening, Lord Elrond. Are you enjoying the evening's festivities?" she asked, twining her fingers together. She felt a strange nervousness in her stomach as she spoke to him. It was a feeling she had never felt before.

"Indeed I am," Elrond nodded genially. "It is quite lovely here. The food and the song, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves." He raised an eyebrow and Celebrian followed his gaze to where Glorfindel appeared to be flirting with a large group of elven maidens. Rumil and Erestor had stopped dancing and were joining him, Rumil grinning and Erestor looking mildly uncomfortable. Elrond shook his head with an amused smile. "I must thank you for all the trouble you and your parents have gone to on our account."

"No trouble at all. It is a pleasure to have you and your companions here in Lorien," she said with a smile that quickly faded. "I would like to apologize for my actions earlier. I should not have yelled at Rumil in such a way and I certainly should not have threatened exile. Your companion, Glorfindel, told me of Imladris being a refuge. I was unaware.

"And that is no excuse, but I would have you know why I did such a thing," she said, holding up her hands to prevent Elrond from interrupting. "When King Oropher came to Lorien many decades ago a similar thing happened and he became enraged when he thought our words of discipline were not enough. He took it upon himself to punish the elf that had offended him and she left for Valinor in shame not long after. I did not wish such a thing to happen again." Celebrian felt herself blush a bit as she looked at the ground, hoping Elrond did not think she was in anyway comparing him to the former King of Greenwood. She just wanted him to understand her reaction.

"Ah, I understand now," Elrond said and she looked up, watching him nod. "I met King Oropher a time or two during the last alliance," his voice trailed off momentarily before he continued, "he was a rather… excitable elf as I recall. I can see why you would be worried." He looked at Celebrian and gave her a slight smile. "You seem rather fond of the three of them, I can understand you would want to protect them."

Celebrian smiled as she let out a breath of relief, glad Elrond was the understanding sort. "Yes, I am," she nodded sadly as she looked over to where Haldir was teasing one of the marchwardens. "Their father died during the war and their mother faded from grief soon after. I've looked after them as a kind of elder sister since then. They are old enough to watch over themselves, but I worry." She shook her head and looked back up at Elrond with a smile. "I am sorry. I should not be speaking of such sad things during such a pleasant occasion."

"Those times are still close in the everlasting minds of elves and I do not grudge you to think of them," Elrond said gravely before responding to her smile with a gentle one of his own. "But for now let us speak of happier things." He looked around and gave a gesture. "I have never seen Lothlorien before now, though I have spoken with your father many times and your mother once before in Lindon, it is indeed as fair as the tales I have heard sung."

"So I have been told," Celebrian said with a light laugh. "I know there is much beauty here, but I have never been outside of Lorien, and rarely departed from Caras Galadhon. I am afraid I take much of it for granted." She looked around and smiled. "But, yes, it is very beautiful here. I am lucky in my birth, though at times I wish to see more of the lands of Middle-earth now that the darkness is gone."

Elrond winced almost indiscernibly and Celebrian wished she had held her tongue. It appeared she could say nothing right in front of the elven lord. Just being near him made her stumble over her usually eloquent and well spoken words. "I would like to see more of your home before I travel back to Imladris," Elrond said and Celebrian's head jerked slightly as she turned to find the half-elf looking at her. "Perhaps you would be so good as to show me around?"

"It would be a pleasure," she replied with a cordial nod, though she felt as if her head was swimming. "Perhaps tomorrow? That is, if my parents do not have other plans for you."

"I do not believe so," Elrond said, a slight perplexed look on his face as he cast the Lord and Lady of Lorien a sidelong look. "Lady Galadriel indicated she would summon me at some time before I departed, but other than that..."

"Yes, mother does tend to be a bit secretive and enigmatic," she said and let out a light chuckle, "even for an elf. Do not let it worry you."

"Lord Elrond, may I speak with you?" Erestor said, coming up suddenly beside them. He looked a bit ruffled and there was a blush on his high cheekbones. He bowed to Celebrian and she noticed some of the cold fire in his stare had dimmed, though it was not gone. "Forgive me, my Lady, but I must speak with my Lord if you will allow it."

"Of course," Celebrian said, though for an instant she wished she could deny Elrond's dark haired advisor. She feared he would speak ill of her, but she reminded herself that elves were not so petty. With a forced smile she gave a slight bow to Elrond. "I will see you in the morning, Lord Elrond. I shall come to escort you about my home after the dawn, if that is to your liking?"

"It is," Elrond replied, nodding and giving thanks for her company before turning to speak with the slightly addled advisor. Celebrian turned to walk away as she caught sight of her parents, sitting high above everything. Her father had a pleased expression on his face as he watched the dancers, but her mother was looking directly at her, a slightly melancholy look on her eternally young face. As soon as their eyes locked her mother smiled and turned away, leaving Celebrian both confused and a bit worried.

---

"May I enter?"

Celebrian looked up and elegantly arched an eyebrow as her mother stood in the doorway. "Certainly, mother," she smiled, turning back to the mirror as she parted her long silver hair over her shoulder, "I was just brushing my hair before I retired for the night."

"Would you like me to help?" Galadriel asked, entering the room and holding out her hand. Celebrian looked over her shoulder, briefly giving her mother's out stretched hand a look before she smiled and handed her the silver-handled brush. Turning back she shook her hair down her back, watching as her mother took a handful and began to work.

"You've not done this in ages," she said pleasantly as her mother dealt with a slight tangle. As a child she had always loved when her mother played with her hair, brushing it and braiding it as they spoke of stories and histories and thoughts and dreams.

"No, I have not," Galadriel replied in her misty voice as she let the sliver strands fall from her long fingers before taking up another handful of hair. "It is a shame. I did enjoy how we would speak on those long ago nights."

Celebrian chuckled. "Those are indeed fond memories, mother. You and father have given me many over the decades. I thank you," she said as her mother stroked some of the silvery hair over her shoulder. She pursed her lips together as a stray thought crossed her mind. The look her mother had given during the feast. "You gave me a frightful look earlier…" she said in a questioning tone.

For a moment there was silence, but then she saw the slight shake of her mother's head in the mirror. "Do not worry about such things. They have not come to pass and they are no fault of yours," she replied, her hand stroking gently over her daughter's head as if it were the last time she would get a chance. "Do not worry. You are a sweet child and I would not have you worry over things that cannot be changed."

"Mother?" Celebrian said, turning to face the Lady of the Galadhrim. It was strange for her mother to be so forthcoming and it worried her greatly.

Galadriel smiled and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Cease. I told you not to worry," she said gently as she leaned away, gesturing for Celebrian to turn around once more as she began to brush the long silver locks again. "Now, I must ask you," her mother said as her voice took on an almost uncharacteristic amused tone. "Did my eyes deceive me or are you not the least bit enamored with the Lord of Imladris?"

Celebrian blushed. "Of course not," she replied, even as she remembered how she wished to run her fingers though his dark tresses, the warm press of his body as he saved her from falling. "He intrigues me; perhaps that is what you witnessed."

"Perhaps," Galadriel said with a light smirk upon her elegant lips.

---

If it had been in her breeding Celebrian would have cursed as she half-ran down the stairs toward the talans that housed Lord Elrond and his companions. Somehow she was late, even after waking early to bathe, dress, and brush her hair to a fine sheen she was still late. At any other moment she would have found it humorous to be overdue in gentle Lorien where time virtually stood still, but not today. She nearly groaned when she caught sight of the Elrond standing on the stairs waiting for her.

"Good day to you, Lady Celebrian," he called pleasantly.

"Good day, Lord Elrond. I must apologize for my tardiness," she said as she came to a halt beside him. "I do not know how I manage to do everything in my power to offend your lordship. I assure you it is not intentional."

"You have yet to offend me," Elrond said, holding out his hand, which she gratefully accepted. "I thank you for escorting me about your home and allowing me to impose on your valuable time."

"It is no imposition," Celebrian replied, leading Elrond down the stairs as she marveled at how much the elven lord's presence calmed her. He had such an aura of mystery and melancholy about him that somehow relaxed her worried mind. "You have seen a bit of the upper part of the city where we live and hold our feasts," she said, remembering she was a guide and not out for a casual stroll. "I thought I would show you a bit of the natural beauty that lies below."

"I had begun to wonder if the Galadhrim did nothing among the roots of the mallorn," Elrond said quietly as they continued their descent.

"Many of us do not," she responded with a slight laugh. "I think there are a few among us that have not set foot on the ground in their lifetime. But I find I like it down there. Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil often play about the roots while I examine histories and other manuscripts." She let out a sigh. "I will miss them when they go to do their work watching over the outskirts of our land. They are training for it now," she said, wishing she did not continuously turn the conversation to other elves. She wanted to ask Elrond about himself, but something about him forbid it. Or perhaps she feared what his answers would be. A part of her was still uneasy at the thought of his mortal blood.

"You mentioned that to me once before when you were speaking to me about the duty of the marchwardens," Elrond said as he watched the low boughs of the trees sway gently in the wind. Celebrian hoped she was not boring him too much. "The colors are truly amazing here, the leaves almost appear blue."

"Yes, they say it is because my mother dwells here," Celebrian said as she pursed her lips. It would not be wise to continue on that topic. Many guessed why Lorien remained so beautiful and strange, but few knew the truth for certain. It would be better for it to stay that way. "Would you care to see one of my favorite places?" she asked as they reached the grassy floor.

"I would be pleased to see anything you wish to show me," he replied with an almost playful tone in his voice. Celebrian felt herself blush and she desperately hoped it didn't show on her cheeks.

"This way then," she said, leading Elrond around one of the large roots of the mallorn. "It is a bit of a walk I'm afraid, but I believe it to be worth it." She pulled her skirt up over her ankles with one hand to keep from stumbling over the hem; perhaps her finest gown hadn't been the best choice for traipsing around with the elven lord.

The silence was deafening between them. Elrond seemed content to watch the scenery as she led him, but it made her extremely uncomfortable. She wondered exactly when she had become so talkative and afraid of silence, though it only happened when she was around Elrond. She cleared her throat. "If I might be so bold, what was it that your advisor wished to speak with you about yester eve? I do not mean to pry if it is personal or matters or of governing Imladris, of course, but I am curious."

An amused smile formed on Elrond's stern face as he looked over at her. "It was nothing. Erestor simply is quite unsure around large groups, especially females. He wished to discuss how long our stay in Lothlorien would last. Your city is far larger and with many more elves than we have become accustomed to," he answered. "Imladris is a rather small community, only a few hundred dwell there now. Many have gone to the Havens as of late, sailing to Valinor."

Celebrian felt a surge of delight at the foreign lord telling her of his home. "I do not think that I would wish to sail to Valinor any day soon," she replied, carefully stepping over a protruding root. "I would miss the mallorn trees that only reside here in Middle-earth or so my mother tells me. But some day all elves will leave." She let out a forlorn sigh; it was sad to think there would come a time when elves would no longer be a part of the world.

"All things have there time," Elrond mused out loud. "After elves, for better or worse, will come the time of Men and after that… only the Valar know what will come then."

Celebrian cast a sidelong glance at the elven lord that walked beside her, for a moment he seemed aged and weary, like a mortal man. As if the weight of the world pressed down upon him. He turned toward her, feeling her eyes upon him, and gave a slight smile that erased all the age instantly and once again transformed him into the strange elven lord she felt herself fascinated by. "But, for now, it is best that we live in the times that we have. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Indeed," she nodded with a light laugh as she turned away and smiled. His expressions were as infectious as they were charming. "Ah, we are getting close," she said excitedly, noting the way the lesser trees were gathering close around them. The walk seemed much less of a distance with Elrond at her side. "This way," she murmured as she pulled him around one of the trees and over another that had grown at an odd angle. "I am sorry. I forget that it is a bit difficult to get around here."

"It is not that difficult," Elrond said, letting go of her hand to move his robes to offer freer movement as he walked over the tree. "I am surprised that a Lady of Lothlorien would go though this much to get to any place though."

"When you see it you will not think it strange at all," Celebrian smiled as she jumped over the other side of the tree, holding out her hand to Elrond. "Trust me." She hoped he would not find it disappointing.

"Of course," he said, taking her hand again.

Celebrian couldn't help but grin proudly as she pulled him into the clearing. She had found the little oasis during a childish fit when she had run from her parents over a foolish argument, a flight of fancy that she could not even recall now. She had run into the ever-lit Lorien night, through the trees, stumbling like the child she was until she came to a rest here. "This is it," she said with a wave of her hand.

A shallow pool lay in the middle of a clearing with clear water that shimmered in the blue tinted light filtering through the leaves of the trees. On the far side there was a rock of light gray, about the size of an elf with a flat top as if someone had long ago cleaved it long ago to make the perfect place to sit and admire the scenery. Around the pool the diminished trees formed an almost perfect circle, obscuring the little oasis from the surrounding area and shading it from the bright light of the sun. No sound could be heard other than the light rippling of the water and the twist of the trees in the wind that echoed about the clearing. It was a very peaceful place.

"This is indeed a beautiful place," Elrond said, releasing her hand as he walked around the pool, looking into the clear water. "I can see why you like it here."

Celebrian said nothing. There was a strange feeling in her stomach, a nervous churning that she could not remember feeling before. For some reason she wanted Elrond to be amazed by her little oasis, to think it was special above all things in Lorien. Perhaps to think her special above all things in Lorien. She shook her head in annoyance at herself. She was a Lady of Lorien, the sole daughter of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, oldest of those who still dwelt in Middle-earth. A foreign lord should not make her feel so nervous.

Smiling she stepped forward to ask if Elrond wished to see some of the other sights that the grounds of her home had to offer. Her ankle twisted under her, slipping on the damp grass, and for the first time in her life she fell, rather unceremoniously, into the shallow pool with a loud splash.

"Celebrian, are you hurt?" Elrond called in surprise as she sat up and pushed the wet hair out of her face , lamenting her favorite gown, now completely soaked. Idly she noticed how nice her name sounded when Elrond said it with out the title attached.

She let out a little laugh. "I am unhurt, my Lord," she said with a sigh as she managed to her feet. Her ankle felt a bit weak and there was a sharp pain that ran up her leg. "I must apologize for my behavior, but your presence makes me a bit nervous and I act in a way quite unbecoming."

"If I may be so forthright, my Lady Celebrian, you have the same effect on me," Elrond said, holding his hands out to help her out of the water. She blushed at the thought she could be effecting the elven lord the way he was effecting her. He certainly didn't show it. He pulled her out of the water and she marveled at the color of his hair again, even as her ankle gave out and she fell against his chest with a slight cry of pain. "Are you certain you are unhurt?" he asked in a concerned tone as he sat her on the dry ground and knelt beside her.

"My ankle hurts a bit, but I did not think it a problem," she said, distinctly aware of Elrond's proximity as he hovered close to her. She winced as pain shot up her leg and demanded attention. "Though it appears I was mistaken."

"May I?" Elrond asked as he leaned over her outstretched leg and gestured at the hem of her gown. She recalled her father mentioning that the Lord of Imladris had some skill in healing. She nodded as he pulled her skirt up to her knee and gently touched her ankle. She wondered if the strange sensations that ran through her body were because of the pain or the elven lord touching her, maybe both. "I think you may have a sprain," he said thoughtfully as his fingers moved over her lower calf and foot, "the ankle is beginning to swell, but I do not believe anything is broken."

"I would not have thought myself such a bumbling idiot," she frowned as Elrond tore a piece of his robe and wrapped her ankle with tender care so not to tie it to tight. "Now how will I get back?" she moaned, more to herself than anyone.

"Simple. I will carry you," Elrond said, rising and easily lifting her from the ground without further preamble. Celebrian let out a small yelp as she wrapped her arms around his neck instinctively, kicking and burying her face in his neck before pulling away.

"I can't ask you to do this," she said, amazed at the strength in Elrond's arms as he carried her away from her little refuge, somehow managing over the tilted tree and through the dense woods that surrounded them. He let out a light laugh. "You have not asked me to do anything. I offered my services to you, my Lady."

Celebrian relented to his carrying her without further discussion. She was deeply embarrassed. In fact she could not remember feeling so much embarrassment in her entire life. But being carried in the arms of the exotic elven lord calmed her and for a moment she imagined what it would be like for Elrond to hold her in a different fashion, a more intimate embrace. The fantasy was almost worth the mortification.

"Lady Celebrian!" Haldir's voice rang through the air, filled with shock and dismay. She looked up as the young elf and his brothers ran toward her. "Are you well?"

"Well enough," she called back to him, a little disappointed as Elrond lowered her to a sitting position on one of the mallorn roots. She had been so absorbed in the warmth of the elven lord's hold she hadn't noticed how quickly they had returned to the lower levels of Caras Galadhon. "I've managed to hurt my ankle while walking about, thankfully Lord Elrond was kind enough to help me. Would you or one of your brothers run and fetch me a healer?" she asked as the three came closer. Almost instantly Rumil turned on his heels and dashed up the stairs as Haldir and Orophin exchanged glances.

"If you do not put pressure on the ankle it should heal quickly enough," Elrond said to her as he pulled away. "I'm sure your healer will have something to numb the pain in the mean time."

"I must thank you for carrying me," she said, pushing her damp hair behind her ear as she waved for the remaining two brothers to get her a cloak. She was a bit disappointed that Elrond had moved away. Already she missed the heat of his body and shivered almost inconspicuously. "You have been very kind to me, far beyond what a stumbling fool like myself deserves," she sighed and shook her head. "I cannot believe I fell."

Elrond smiled kindly at her. "Do not be hard on yourself. When I was young I fell into the rushing flow of the Bruien because I dallied to close without a care. If not for my brother I would have been carried to the sea," he said, obviously lost in the memory before he shook his head slightly. "We are elves, not the Valar, we all make such errors."

Briefly she grimaced at the mention of Elrond's brother. She could not fathom choosing to be counted among the kind of Men and not elves. But she smiled appreciatively at his story, partly because it comforted her and partly because it gave a brief amount of insight into the enigmatic lord.

"Celebrian!" a voice called before she could respond to thank Elrond. She looked over her shoulder, surprised to find her father hurrying toward her with Rumil and a healer beside him. "Your mother told me you were hurt. Though she did not say how badly," Celeborn said as he came to a stop in front of her, stroking a stray strand of hair out of her face and nodding to Elrond to acknowledge his presence.

"Lord Elrond thinks it is just a sprain," she said, pulling up her skirt slightly to show her father the wrapped ankle. "I slipped and fell in my pool, as you can see from my damp clothing. I sent Haldir and Orophin to gather me a cloak. Lord Elrond was kind enough to carry me back."

"That was quite kind of you, Lord Elrond," Celeborn said with a nod of thanks to Elrond and Celebrian noted an amused tone in her father's voice.

There was a slight chuckle as Celebrian noticed both Glorfindel and Erestor approaching with Haldir, Orophin, and her cloak. The foreign blond seemed quite amused as he came closer, though Erestor was as sour as ever. "We noted these young ones making a bit of a commotion and thought to find Lord Elrond by following them," Glorfindel said good naturedly as Haldir handed the cloak to Celeborn who draped it over Celebrian's shoulders. "It appears we were correct."

"Is there something that needs my attention?" Elrond asked, moving farther from Celebrian's side.

"A message from Imladris. It does not appear urgent, but it would be best if you read over it," Erestor answered, raising an eyebrow at Celebrian's wet appearance. "The messenger is waiting above."

Elrond looked over at Celebrian and Celeborn. "If I may, I will go see what this message is," he said and Celeborn nodded a cordial dismissal before he looked over a Celebrian. "I must thank you for showing me around, though our time has been cut short. I much enjoyed it."

Celebrian bowed her head slightly. "When my ankle heals perhaps we might continue," she said gently as the healer unwrapped her ankle and began applying a soothing balm. She noted the smirks and quirked eyebrows of Haldir and his brothers, casting them a sidelong glare she silently promised to start a few rumors among the maidens about them.

"That would please me greatly," Elrond said with a bow to both her and her father before turning to follow his companions up the stairs and out of sight. She let out a sigh as she watched him go and looked down at the torn fabric that had been cast aside by the healer. A torn piece of Elrond's robe. It made her smile as she remembered his gentle fingers caressing her skin.

"You see, daughter, Lord Elrond's company is not as dreadful as you thought it would be," Celeborn said with a laugh as Celebrian's cheeks began to glow a bright red.

TBC...