Chapter 20
Elrond sat up in his study, looking out towards Loudwaters. It was long dark before he was pulled from his thoughts. A worried Celebrisse touched his shoulder, making him pause from his furious writing.
" You work too much, Elrond. Galadriel has already left and your guest was very much alone at dinner."
" Galadriel left?" Elrond looked up in surprise, " Why?"
" Celeborn bid her haste back to Lindon."
Elrond shook his head as he glanced at the tray Celebrisse had brought.
" I am not hungry."
Celebrisse nodded. She looked over him worriedly.
" All this over Númenor is really getting to you. You do not eat or sleep. Do not think Erestor and I are blind to it. I hope you find peace."
Elrond clasped her hand with a small smile.
" Thank you, Celebrisse."
The woman smiled before exiting. Elrond sighed.
*It is no longer Númenor that I worry about, but myself. What is wrong with me? I suddenly feel…strange. I must have a cold coming on.
~*~
Celebrían suddenly found herself in the arms of the one she sought. She looked up in surprise as he gently righted her.
" Be careful going around corners, lady."
" Please call me Celebrían."
Elrond hesitated before nodding.
" As you wish."
He extended his arm. She took it with a smile.
"
You enjoy walks?"
Celebrían nodded.
" I took them by the beach and usually Ada always came with me. I must say that this is a delightful change."
Her smile was joyful. Elrond managed a slight one. His nose picked up on the distinct smell of jasmine. He glanced down at the one that had to carry the scent for that flower had never bloomed in Imladris. Twas a intoxicating scent he could become used to.
" I am glad. How are your studies?"
Her gentle laugh tinkled like a tiny bell.
" Nana told me you would ask me of that."
Elrond shrugged with an amused expression.
" I guess I am predictable.
Celebrían looked up at him.
" I am learning everything I can. Tis why Nana sent me here. She wished for me to learn more under your guidance."
Elrond nodded.
" Then I will be happy to oblige."
Celebrían suddenly wished she were older. Elrond had this persona about him that drew her to him. Maybe it was his seriousness.
" Do you never smile?" she asked suddenly.
Elrond glanced at her, suddenly serious.
" There is no one that can make me smile."
" Nana told me that when I was a child I could make you laugh."
" That was a long time ago," Elrond's face turned even darker.
" That was before Sauron sought to seduce your brother's family."
Elrond nodded, finding it rather pleasant to find a woman able to speak of it intelligently.
" The Númenóreans are dear to me."
" And there is no reason why they should not be; they are your brother's people, through I believe that the blood of the Eldar flows so thin in them, they are almost like mere Edain. I have heard Ereinion speaking that there is a tiny remnant of ones called the Faithful."
Elrond nodded.
" Aye, it is sad to hear."
Both caught each other's gaze. Soft laughter ensued.
" Surely you know you are beautiful," Elrond said.
Celebrían's eyebrows rose.
" And surely the maidens chase you relentlessly."
Elrond laughed.
" Then I see we are in the same boat."
Celebrían nodded, his eyes caressing his profile.
*I would give anything just to catch your eye.
~*~
3319
Galadriel returned to Imladris with somber news.
" Númenor is no more. It has disappeared under the Sea."
Elrond nodded, his eyes falling closed.
*I foresaw this, yet, I knew not its meaning until it was too late.
Celebrían touched his shoulder comfortingly. Deep friendship had grown between them. Elrond glanced back at her thankfully.
" Were there any survivors of my brother's blood?"
Galadriel nodded.
" Elendil and his sons. Though I have met only Elendil, we pray his sons are safe as well."
Elrond nodded.
" They shall be."
He turned on his heel and left.
Galadriel turned to her daughter.
" This can never be."
Celebrían's eyes fell.
" How do you know, Nana?"
Galadriel touched her daughter's arm.
" You are like a beautiful young blossom tree. You are still so young. He is already a strong deep-rooted tree, set in his ways. He sees only your beauty; he will never see beyond that."
Celebrían turned on her heel and ran away. Though she knew that only reinstated her childlike behavior, she threw herself across her bed. Celebrisse entered, gently caressing the young girl's hair.
" Shh, love, shh."
~*~
Galadriel left days later, taking the message to Greenwood. Elrond watched Celebrían dejectedly stare at her plate.
" Celebrían, what is the matter?" he asked softly.
She shrugged, pushing her chair back.
" I am not hungry."
Celebrisse stopped the girl from rising.
" Sit down and eat, Celebrían. You are wasting away. You will eat."
Erestor glanced up at his wife, making no move to interfere. Celebrían glanced at Elrond for any aid, but he continued to cut the dish of food before him.
" Let me by," Celebrían said, lifting her chin proudly.
Many of the others dining there, expected Elrond to say something, but the lord remained quiet, allowing Celebrisse to continue her discipline.
" Sit down. Here in Imladris, you are under my care and will follow my instruction. Now sit," Celebrisse replied.
Celebrían sat angrily in her chair causing Elrond to glance up at the chair's loud creak and her feet thumping against the floor. Elrond's brows rose seeing the dark look upon her pouting face. He cut the fruit carefully.
" Unless you eat, Celebrían and discontinue this childish act, you will remain here in the dining room," he said.
Celebrían picked up her fork, stabbing violently at the fruit. Elrond leaned over, stilling her hand. He sent her a warning glance. Celebrían nearly dissolved into tears. Elrond went back to eating though his heart panged at her betrayed face. She finished the chalk dust tasting food and waited to be excused.
Elrond followed her when breakfast was finished. She came to the banks of Loudwaters and sat on the ground, pulling her knees up to her chest. Elrond watched her cry. He moved forward, kneeling beside her.
" Celebrían, tell me what is wrong, please. I really care about what is bothering you."
" I hate being pretty and young," she whispered.
" Why?" he asked softly.
" Because that is all everyone sees."
Elrond rubbed her back.
" I see a young, wise woman that seeks to learn more. Yes, she does have a pretty face, but it only hides a beautiful and caring heart. These attributes I have seen die since your mother's visit."
" She says I will not have the one I wish to love me. She says he sees only my beauty and that I cannot change his ways."
Elrond helped her up.
" Nothing is impossible, Bree. Never forget that. You may have whatever it is you wish."
Celebrían smiled slightly at the irony.
*I wonder if his answer would be different if he knew it was he that I wish to love me?
" Would you mind if I join you on your walk?" Elrond asked.
Celebrían kissed his cheek.
" I would like to think alone. Maybe tomorrow."
Elrond nodded, kissing her cheek back.
" As you wish."
~*~
Celebrían now wished she had brought him with her. Orcs came through the trees like giant ants. Arrows whizzed by her head as she crumpled to the ground, curling into a ball. Someone lifted her up.
" It will be ok, Celebrían."
~*~
Elrond jumped to his feet angrily.
" What?" he glowered down at the messenger.
" Orcs have penetrated the Northern side of Imladris."
" What else?"
" Lady Celebrían was in their path. Glorfindel brought her in."
~*~
Elrond stormed out, glaring at the guards and Elves alike. Many withered under his gaze as he stalked by them to Glorfindel. Glorfindel lifted his chin, knowing the scorching was about to come.
" Orcs on my lands? This is unacceptable, Glorfindel."
Glorfindel nodded.
" There were many and they were bold enough to assault our strongest side."
Elrond took one step forward, a finger dangerously in Glorfindel's face.
" I want no excuses. I have heard Celebrían is deeply shaken by this since they nearly caught her on her walk, " Elrond lowered his voice, his eyes burning even more, " Her walk takes her on the safest parts of Imladris. I ensured that myself after I found out her love for walks. It should have been guarded like no other place in Imladris."
" Elrond."
Elrond held up a hand. Though the soldiers and lords could not hear Elrond's voice, they felt pity for their captain.
" Celebrían is the daughter of the two most important political figure in Lindon," Elrond began.
Glorfindel hid a smile.
*Not to mention someone you find rather attractive.
" If this gets back to Lindon-"
Glorfindel had taken enough of Elrond's criticism.
*The nerve of him, thinking I am incapable of this. I was doing this job long before his father was even conceived, make that his grandfather also, maybe even great-grandfather, on Beren and Tuor's sides, of course.
"No harm was done, Elrond. And I assure you it will not happen again." Glorfindel's eyes burnt with anger as he took a step forward also. "Forget you that I was the guard of Gondolin? That I fought alongside Fingon and Turgon in the battle, Nirnaeth Arnoediad? I am no green elfling."
Elrond put a hand on Glorfindel's shoulder.
"I know. I am sorry for speaking in anger. I should never undermine your knowledge and prowess in this."
Glorfindel smiled, accepting the apology.
"Go and see to Celebrían. She is quite shaken and I believe that you are the only one to soothe here."
~*~
Celebrían closed her eyes tightly, pulling the covers close to her as she shivered. She felt a soft pressure on the bed beside her and a comforting hand caressed her face gently. As soft, low words of Quenya were whispered, she felt the first onslaught of relief flow through her. Her eyes flew open when the comforting presence left.
"Please," she sat up.
Celebrían pulled up the covers over her body. The lord of Imladris glanced back at her from his position by the large window.
"How are you?"
"Scared, frightened, feeling foolish that I refused your presence on my walk."
Elrond's eyes softened, now seeing her red-rimmed eyes and the tears making their way down her cheeks. He crouched by the bed, and gently brushed away her tears with his thumbs. Celebrían buried her face into his hands. He pulled her close, allowing her to cry.
"Lay down, love,' he whispered, standing up.
She did so, allowing him to fix the blankets up to her neck. He gently kissed her forehead.
"Sing me a song," she asked hopefully, "Of Lúthien?"
Elrond nodded, kneeling beside the bed. He gently began to sing her to sleep. She finally drifted off. He pulled a cushion from a nearby chair, putting it under his head. The nightmares were sure to come.
~*~
Celebrían awoke screaming. Two hands attempted to hold her still as she writhed. Elrond glanced over his shoulder at Glorfindel, Erestor and Celebrisse.
"Help me," he said.
The three took his place, trying to hold her still, lest she hurt herself. Elrond climbed on the bed, his hands hovering around her head. He entered her mind, finding her surrounded by orcs. Her face lit up when she saw him. He took her hand, pulling her from their midst. They turned back to the light behind them. Celebrían relaxed on the bed.
Elrond put a hand to his head already feeling the onslaught of a headache. It was hard for him to enter a pure blooded Elf's mind, for they had shields around their mind so no mortal could enter. Erestor saw Elrond's apparent weakness.
"Was that necessary? It will put you out for a good day," Erestor admonished, nodding for Glorfindel to head back to bed.
Elrond just held his throbbing head, concentrating on staying awake.
"Room. Bed."
Erestor nodded. Celebrisse turned off for her room also.
"Let me help," Celebrían took his other arm.
"You should rest," Erestor said for Elrond.
"If I do, I shall awake screaming again."
"Let her be," Elrond whispered.
Erestor immediately motioned for Celebrían to be silent. The two escorted him towards his room, thankful there was no one in the hallways. Elrond went straight to his bed and was instantly asleep.
"Go to your wife," Celebrían shooed Erestor out.
She saw to removing his shoes and then easing him from the heavy and ornate tunic. He was dead asleep. Celebrían unbraided his hair, running her fingers through the silk before pulling the covers over him. She looked around, suddenly feeling out of place. She smiled, slipping under the covers and laying beside him.
"I may get this chance only once, Elrond. To behold your beautiful face when I wake."
She laid her head on his chest, drifting off, and her dreams orc-free.
AN: I love my betas!! Thanks to them and to you for reading this. Do you think you could take two seconds and write a little review. Much love if you do!!