A/N: Oh wow... I thought I posted this with the last chapter. Sorry guys!
::Lothlorien - Part 5::
Celebrian smiled as she covered the sleeping twins snuggled in her bed. Throughout the trip her sons had only slept in their own talan once on the third day, choosing the comfort of her presence to the unfamiliar twin beds. She let out a sigh and stroked back a bit of silver hair. It was a touch bothersome not having the bed to herself and being woken by loud giggling and pillow fights. But when they were sleeping so peacefully it was hard to imagine they could be such little terrors.
Elrohir let out a sleepy noise as he rolled on to his side and pulled the blankets with him. Elladan grunted and futilely attempted to tug them back, relenting only when Celebrian produced another blanket to put over them.
As they finally settled into a restful sleep she rose from the bed and took a seat across the room to continue reading a history of the Silvan people she had been meaning to finish. Cracking the spine she began looking for the spot she left off, but somehow the black characters just weren't as interesting as they had been. With a sigh she folded the book in her lap, leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes.
The sounds of the Golden Wood filled her ears even as her mind traveled to thoughts of Imladris. A smile turned her lips as she imagined the Hall of Fire, filled with the sounds of laughter and playful bickering.
In her mind's eye she could see Glorfindel telling of his various escapades before whisking the wallflower maidens from the benches and spinning them around in a dance that was uniquely his own. Lindir's dulcet tones ringing above all else as he sang and wove tales of history and fantasy. In the corner Nenwen and the other counselors good-naturedly squabbling amongst themselves as Erestor shook his head, occasionally interjecting to correct a misnomer or three.
The smile tugged harder at the corners of her mouth as she imagined the twins weaving in and out of the way as elves coaxed them to dance or tell one of their tales. And presiding over it all was her husband. The image of Elrond sitting in his grand chair, the slightest smile on his face as he watched the evening's merriment, and his sons regularly bouncing to his side, vying for his attention. It was lovely and it made her heart ache.
She missed Glorfindel's flirtatious overtures and boisterous laughter. She missed Lindir's voice and companionship as they traipsed through the gardens trading stories and explanations; he telling the history of Imladris and she the various plant life in Lorien. She missed Nenwen's soft voice as she plotted some mischief behind Erestor's back and the knowing sigh of the chief counselor as he turned to diffuse her tricks.
Most of all she missed Elrond.
She missed the comfort of his arms draped lazily around her shoulders as they whispered sweet words of love to one another. The scent of his skin and robes, of dusty scrolls and healing herbs. The sound of his deep and melodic voice, his rare barks of laughter combined with his soft smile. She even missed the haunted, lonely look in his ancient gray eyes, the look that so utterly confounded and frustrated her.
She sighed and opened her eyes, gazing over at the sweet sleeping children that bore the marks of her husband's heritage more than her own. A small laugh escaped her lips as the full weight of the realization settled in upon her.
She missed Imladris.
---
Celebrian entered the library in a swirl of pale skirts in search of Imladris' chief counselor. All through the winter she had seen little of Erestor, save when she summoned him to help with the children.
Even her four guards had crossed paths with her more often. Orophin often had stories about how they were getting along famously with the marchwardens, and at least one of them had taken an interest in a maiden. Only Ingdor, Lorien's head librarian, seemed to have tales of Erestor, and many of those revolved around his attempts to get the counselor out of the library for a breath of air.
As the Lady of Imladris walked through the labyrinth of shelves a sly smile crossed her face when she caught sight of the couch where she and Elrond first kissed so many years ago. Her heart fluttered a little at the memory and the tips of her ears felt as if they were burning. Approaching the couch she touched the leather of the arm fondly.
"My Lady?" a voice called.
Celebrian whirled to face the elf that had called to her. He was seated at one of the lecterns, bent over the scroll he had been diligently translating. He rose from his hunched position until he was straight-backed and proper as ever, gazing at her with a curious look.
"Ah, Erestor," she smiled as she bushed the silver hair behind her shoulders and hoped the blush had faded from her face and ears. "Ingdor said if I wandered the library long enough I would find you," she said, sweeping across the space between them and leaning over the top of the lectern. "Is this where you have been holed up all season?"
"Your parents possess a most impressive collection," Erestor nodded in answer as he rolled the scroll up and placed it back in its protective tube. "I have managed to copy several of the more interesting tomes to take back to Imladris for study."
Celebrian let out a light laugh and gave the counselor a smile. "At this rate you'll not need to leave the valley ever again," she said with a shake of her head. "Have you ever thought of raiding the libraries of Greenwood or Mithlond?"
Erestor raised an eyebrow as he wrapped the leather strap around the cylinder and began to tie a perfect bow. "Greenwood's library was burned during the war with Sauron," he replied in a forlorn tone, setting the protected scroll aside and looking back up at Celebrian. "And I have been to Mithlond many times before. The head of the library and I are on good terms. He usually sends any request I make along with the messengers."
"You really will never need to leave the valley again," Celebrian sighed, but smiled in amusement.
Neither of them said a thing for a moment. Celebrian still mildly flustered at the memories the library invoked and Erestor pursing his lips, working up the courage to speak.
"My Lady," he began as he started rolling the copy of the scroll he had made. "The winter has passed. While I realize you are enjoying the time with your parents in this lovely place, and your sons, who have not shown up for their studies for over seven days," he frowned pointedly at this and Celebrian averted her eyes so that he could not see the merriment there. She knew her sons were avoiding their tutor and she had allowed it. They would not be in the Lorien much longer after all.
The counselor heaved a sigh. "I was wondering when we will return to Imladris. I have been gone too long by my reckoning. I can only imagine the mess Glorfindel and Nenwen have made in my absence."
"You truly do not trust anyone, do you, Erestor?" Celebrian asked as her eyes returned to the dark-haired elf. Though Erestor had be come more amiable, even friendly towards her over the years, she was still constantly disturbed by the cold distrust he showed toward his own kind.
"It is what I trust them to do that troubles me, my Lady," Erestor answered as he tied the copy and set it neatly beside the original.
Celebrian shook her head. "I suppose I cannot begrudge you that worry. I would have the same distress were I in you place," she said as she imagined the glee on the seneschal and the counselor's face when they heard Erestor would be traveling with her to Lorien. "To be truthful I was searching for you to discuss that exact thing. I have been told the snow over the Redhorn Pass has melted. The surveyors say the melt-off will dry and it will be travelable within a week or so."
Erestor nodded. "Perhaps you should speak to your parents about plans for departure at your earliest convenience. They will loathe seeing you go."
"And I will loathe to leave them," Celebrian agreed sadly. It seemed unfair that the parents she loved and the home she had always known should be separate from her husband and the home and friends she had accepted. "But they know I will come again and that should lighten the burden of my leaving. Though the twins had just become comfortable here," she said as Erestor nodded sympathetically. "Enough of that for now. What is it you have been copying all these long days?"
"Ah, mostly Silvan and Sindar histories. A few lays that I believe Lindir will find interesting and some information about the building of Lindon Lord Elrond had requested I look into," Erestor answered, rolling the recent translation under his hand subconsciously.
"What is that one?" Celebrian asked, reaching forward and picking up the original so she could read the carefully printed wording on the side. "'The Exodus of Oropher,'" she read. "I did not know you were so interested in the elves of Greenwood."
"I am not," Erestor replied as Celebrian set the tube back down again. "But Nenwen is always fascinated with how the history of Greenwood is recorded. I thought she would find that particular scroll interesting."
"With the exasperation you showed earlier at your fellow counselor I would not think you would wish to gift her with such a thing," the Lady of Imladris teased as Erestor shook his head, rising from his seat and gathering the copy and his various writing implements.
"Well, she is my wife, my Lady," Erestor answered with a faint smile as he placed the tools in his satchel and tossed it over his shoulder, gesturing for her to lead the way from the library.
But Celebrian could do nothing but stare in surprise. How in Manwe's name had Erestor managed to get married without her notice?
---
The days passed too quickly and already it was time for Celebrian's departure. The horses were saddled and the provisions packed. Erestor was making the last of the preparations, ordering the guards around as Celebrian and her sons bid the Lord and Lady of Lorien goodbye.
"My heart always feels as if it will break asunder when we part, dear daughter," Celeborn said, reaching out and taking Celebrian's hands. "You will send word to us more often I hope. We are always eager to hear the tales of your exploits in Imladris and of our grandchildren." He gazed over her shoulder at the twins enthusiastically whispering to each other.
"Of course I will," Celebrian smiled sadly. It always felt as if she hurt her father the most when she departed. "I have so enjoyed my stay here. I do not wish you ever to think otherwise. But I must return my children to their father and their home."
"And yourself to your husband," Celeborn said sadly, reaching out and stroking her cheek. "I wish you a safe journey daughter. From this moment on your mother and I will eagerly await your return."
Celebrian smiled, squeezing tight the hand she still held as she cast a look over at her mother. The Lady of Lorien beamed back at her before turning toward the still whispering twins. "What is it the two of you murmur so softly of?" Galadriel asked the twins as Celebrian and Celeborn exchanged glances, amused that she had asked with the spoken word.
They jumped at the sound of her voice and then looked at one another thoughtfully for a moment, as if debating who would be the one to speak up. Finally Elladan stepped forward. "We just remembered that you said you would tell us a story when we first arrived," he answered dejectedly as Elrohir looked at the ground and kicked at a stone.
"You are right," Galadriel nodded. "Alas, it would not be much of a story if I told you one in a hurry now," she said and the twins nodded in agreement. Celebrian barely kept from letting out a sigh of relief. Celeborn's hand tightened on hers in understanding. The stories of Galadriel were rarely for the ears of children.
The knowing eyes glanced at them as words formed in their minds: I would not tell such young ones the horrors of the world. Shame on both of your for such thoughts. But a smile graced the lips of the Lady of the Golden Wood as she turned away from her blushing daughter and laughing husband and back to the children, speaking aloud again. "But, when such a thing is spoken the promise must be kept. You will have to come and visit me again and soon. Then you will have the payment of your story."
"That would be wonderful," Elrohir grinned as Elladan leaned close to Galadriel and whispered something Celebrian had to strain her ears to hear. "I would have come again even if you didn't tell us a story," he said before shyly pulling away.
Celebrian looked at her father as he smiled at the scene, Galadriel reaching out and ruffling Elladan's dark hair while Elrohir maneuvered around to hug her around the waist. "You two shall grow to be valiant young elves," she said gently as Erestor extracted himself from the guards and approached the family.
"My Lady Celebrian, we are ready," he announced sternly as Elladan made a face and Elrohir frowned. "Continue to make faces like that, my young Lords, and they will freeze that way." Both children jumped in surprise, touching their faces as the surrounding adults laughed.
"Celebrian," a voice called even as another corrected with, "Lady Celebrian."
The Lady of Imladris turned and smiled as the three brothers barreled toward her, earning the now commonplace glares of uptight counselors, save Erestor who simply sighed and returned to his mount. "I am here. I am here," Celebrian called to them, "I have not left yet."
"For that we are glad," Haldir said with a deep bow that Orophin and Rumil followed, almost tripping over themselves. "I do not believe my brothers or myself would forgive ourselves if we did not have a chance to say farewell to the lovely light of our Silver Queen."
"I sometimes wonder if he would flatter you so were your husband here," Celeborn mused with a smirk as Rumil and Orophin sniggered. Celebrian hid a giggle behind her hand as the twins look confused, disentangling themselves from Galadriel to join their mother.
"I should think the Lord of Imladris would know the truth of the matter," Haldir responded as he and his brothers rose to their feet. "But truth now, we shall miss you and your ever so adorable sons." He glanced at the twins. "Even if they do not care much for myself."
"We like you and can't wait to come back to play more," Elrohir said as Elladan blushed guiltily and nodded in agreement. Celebrian patted her eldest son's head comfortingly.
"When you return we will teach you yet another way to get under Eliria's lovely skin," Orophin said, earning a laugh from Elladan and a worried look from Elrohir. "As well as continue your schooling with the arrow. Or, perhaps, by then it will be you that has a lesson for us."
"Glorfindel did say he would teach us more about swordplay when we returned," Elladan eagerly told Orophin.
"Be sure to remind him of that," Celebrian said as she ushered her children toward the waiting guards and counselor before turning back to her friends.
"Celebrian," Rumil said quietly, leaning close. "I thank you for allowing what happened in the garden, though I recognize I am not supposed to know the circumstances," he whispered and pulled away, smiling at her happily. Celebrian took his hand and cocked an eyebrow as he mouthed: Eliria told me.
"Fair enough. I hope to hear more of that soon," she grinned, releasing the hand and turning toward Haldir, gently patting his cheek. "Do not give your brothers or my parents too much trouble while I am gone. Just enough to keep them alert."
"Of course," Haldir said, his usual smirk almost faltering for a moment as he touched her hand with his own. "Please, take care of yourself, my Lady. We truly would be lost without your light."
"Flatterer," Celebrian said, pulling her hand away and holding it out to Orophin and Rumil who each kissed it in turn. She cast a look over her shoulder and winced at the perturbed look upon Erestor's face. He would be unpleasant for the first couple leagues of their journey if they did not go soon. "But now I must go. Fare thee well my friends," she grinned at the brothers, meeting their eyes before turning to her parents once more. "And fare thee well, my beloved parents."
"Be safe. Be happy," Celeborn said, holding his daughter's face and placing a kiss upon her brow. She managed a smile before quickly hurrying on to her mother, lest the tears that stung her eyes begin to show.
"May Earendil watch over you, daughter," Galadriel said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "In good times and in bad."
"Thank you," Celebrian smiled as she backed toward her waiting mount, turning as Eliean tapped her shoulder and helped her into the saddle. "I shall miss you all," she said as the marchwarden leading them to the borders of Lorien moved, quickly followed by Erestor and Gwinwing. Vorgnor and Galmir were next, Elladan and Elrohir seated behind each respectively, waving and hollering goodbyes at the Galadhrim that had gathered to see them off. "'Til we meet again."
"'Til we meet again," her parents agreed. Behind them Haldir, Orophin and Rumil nodded, even as Eliean whispered they needed to go or they would lose sight of their guide, as well as her children. With a last tearful look at the parents and friends she so adored Celebrian turned to begin the long journey home.
TBC...