Chapter 3
Celebhiril crossed her arms, watching Ereinion stuff things haphazardly into a bag. She shook her head.
" And explain to me again why you are going on a hunt without your guard?"
Ereinion glanced up from under his eyebrows.
" First and foremost, it may ease my sorrow; and Elrond's." Ereinion reached for a knife inspecting it. " And I need to see his abilities away from a perfect simulation. I want to see what he does when things go wrong; in different situations."
He grunted, stuffing the extra dagger into his bag. He began to close the bag.
Celebhiril stilled his hands. She turned the bag over, emptying the contents.
" Either you are doing this on purpose so I will pack your bag, or you have never learned how to fold or strategically place things, Gil-galad."
Ereinion grinned, hearing her nickname for him. She began to fold the extra clothes and place the other necessities as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, content to wander around his room. He sent her back a satisfied grin.
*Just as I planned. I knew she would be irritated with my lack of order.
Celebhiril turned, sensing his gaze.
" Ereinion, why I am packing this for you?"
Ereinion just grinned, approaching her again, nervousness biting in his stomach.
" Because you love me?"
Celebhiril waved a hand freely.
" Other than the obvious, Gil-galad."
Ereinion shrugged, taking her hand with a smile.
" Because we are betrothed?"
Her head swung around and she froze, staring at the two glimmering silver rings. Her eyes traced the rings a dozen times over before she looked up, searching his face with a gaping jaw. Her pale hand hovered over the rings, almost as if she was unable to accept.
" Are you being serious, Ereinion?"
Ereinion nodded, pressing his lips together anxiously and shifting slightly.
*I never thought she would be disinclined to accept.
Celebhiril's face dissolved into a smile and she threw her arms around him, seizing his lips in a kiss. He smiled, untangling their limbs after a moment.
" Is that a yes?"
Celebhiril nodded, holding her hand out to him proudly. He slipped her ring on and then handed her, his to put on his finger.
" Nothing could please me more."
Ereinion gently cupped her face his tone low and intimate.
" Nothing?"
Celebhiril pushed him away.
" You cheeky Elf!" She put a hand to her flaming cheeks.
Ereinion just raised an eyebrow with a smirk. She picked up a shirt of his, snapping it at him playfully. He caught one end, pulling her to him and then sweeping her up in his arms. She gave a semi-loud shriek that ended in laughter. Her hand came up to caress his cheek as they continued their joyful gaiety.
A loud cough came from behind them. The two froze, laughter falling prey to silence. Their wide eyes met with a degree of anguish. Ereinion set Celebhiril down, but neither dared to turn around.
" Face me."
The two obeyed immediately much like young army cadets. Galadriel glared at them both, sending their joy spiraling down into deep dread.
" Why are you in here, Celebhiril? You know it is far beyond improper to be inside the chambers of any Elf, even more so since the two of you are a official couple."
The sandy haired she-Elf mumbled a low response, biting her lip and looking close to tears under Galadriel's harsh gaze. Galadriel took a step towards the maiden with a tight face. Ereinion stepped between them, sending Galadriel a beseeching look.
" Galadriel, please. Let her be. Tis my fault anyways. I called her in." He glanced back, sending her a comforting smile. " Leastways, there was no more a private place to pledge our troth than here."
Galadriel put a hand to her throat, taken aback for a moment. A smile spread her once drawn face, causing her to beam with joy. She took Celebhiril's hands.
" Then forgive my sharpness. I should not have immediately taken the situation as I saw it." She took both of their hands then. " But I will forgive this misdemeanor for this reason, and this reason alone. If I see this again, I will not be lax in judgment."
Ereinion patted her hand.
" I will see that such a compromising position is never found again."
Galadriel nodded.
" With that aside, let us go announce this to everyone."
~*~
Ereinion mounted his black steed, pushing it to walk forward to Elrond's side. The half-elven glanced up from his work at adjusting the saddle before him. Both were dressed identically in muted greens and for those that might know no better, the two seemed to be siblings. Ereinion leaned over his horse's neck with a challenging grin.
" Are you ready?"
Elrond just made his lips purse slightly.
" Am I ready to be faced with wild beasts, the prospect of flooding torrents of rain and the inability to find a decent target?"
Ereinion just shrugged his shoulders with a chuckle.
" Never a dull moment though, Elrond. These hunts are always good for a story."
Elrond shook his head, his smile falling away.
" Last time Elros was with us."
Ereinion leaned over.
" He is with us in spirit. You should know though that he would not wish us to linger in grief, but remember the joy and love he had for life, however short it seemed to us Elves."
Elrond just shrugged, mounting deftly.
" Seems to me that you need to be taking your own advice to heart." Elrond glanced up. " You still wear black and it has been a few weeks."
Ereinion looked down.
" You are right. I hope these days away from duties will help ease this pain."
Elrond shook his head, appearing to be a tortured veteran of pain for a split second.
" Time only makes it hurt more."
~*~
The two galloped along, the trees passing by in a greenish haze as they continued south. The horses pushed forward excitedly, their masters giving them free reign to gallop. The dark mountains of Ered Luin were topped with the beginnings of frosty white signaling that winter was just around the corner. No looming or ominous clouds were on the horizon, but a feeling of silent alarm fell over the two, warning of deeds yet to come. No words were spoken between the two black haired kinsmen and even if they were, the thundering hooves drowned them out. And so they continued along, path unknown and yet known all the same.
~*~
Elrond held his hands as close to the crackling fire as he dared. He finally huffed and pulled on the extra shirt he had brought along, attaching his cloak tighter around his body.
" It is a clear three months before the snow should come." He grumbled loudly, stamping his feet to keep them warm.
Ereinion laughed, ignoring the chill of the air as he sat, his cloak splayed about him.
" Middle-Earth does not adhere to out weather charts. It prefers to do things in its own time."
Elrond simply tugged his thick cloak closer. A moment of silence fell before he spoke again.
" Why?"
Ereinion popped a few nuts in his mouth from a bag of provisions prepared for them. He sent Elrond a questioning look.
" Why what?"
Elrond played with his hands.
" Why did you choose me as your herald?"
Ereinion looked down. He finally glanced up.
" I can trust you with my life. You are wise and loyal, not to mention one of the best in swordsmanship. You can lead and also be lead, something I find important in anyone in a position I give." Ereinion played with his betrothal ring. " You will be perfect for the job."
Elrond licked his lips, finally addressing the question that hung in the forefront of his mind.
" But Orodlin was trained for this job."
Ereinion shifted.
" He is kin and I do love him like a brother, though I do not always like him." Ereinion sighed. " Sometimes I feel as if I cannot trust him; as if I grudgingly give him any credit at all. It is hard to describe, but there is something there."
Elrond nodded understandingly.
" Thank you for giving me this chance."
Ereinion nodded in reply. An awkward silence fell between the fidgeting men. Ereinion sighed.
" With that out of the way first off, now we can relax."
A rare grin appeared on Elrond's face.
" Aye, we can discuss exactly where we are headed and what we are hunting."
Ereinion leaned back, commencing to candidly give out the details of what he thought they should do, never once noticing the shadows looming upon the edge of the camp, waxing and waning with the whispers of the wind.