Chapter 22
Elrond was busily packing, rolling a shirt and stuffing it into a worn saddlebag. He swiftly attached a nearby dagger to his slim waist. Celebrían entered, smiling dimly when she heard him issuing gruff orders to Erestor and Glorfindel. Elrond turned, pausing with an arched brow when he saw her dressed also to travel.
"My mother sends word for me to come to Lindon. I hope you will not mind my presence upon the trip."
Elrond shook his head.
"The more the merrier." He returned to the business of giving orders, trying to ignore the knowing sparkle in Glorfindel's eyes. " And by Eru, Glorfindel, go throw yourself off the bridge and into the river."
Celebrían's shocked expression made the two other lords laugh. Glorfindel bowed gallantly with a sweeping motion.
"Away I go to do my lord's bidding."
Elrond shook his head again with a partly bemused smile, putting a hand to his throbbing head with a sigh. Any other time he would have enjoyed Glorfindel's repartee, but Elrond's thoughts were consumed with the coming council.
" Now I remember why I keep telling him he should participate in the Halls of Fire's nightly singings," Elrond said absently before stuffing another shirt into the saddlebag.
Celebrían slid closer and touched his arm, tilting her head a bit to try and capture his full attention.
Erestor made himself scarce, watching discreetly as he packed a few other clothes for Elrond.
"You are sure I will be no bother?" Celebrían asked with a hint of apprehension.
Elrond shook his head again, a light smile tugging on the corners of his mouth as he glanced at her warmly. He placed a gentle hand on her upper arm, tenderly squeezing it.
"No bother at all. Now were it Erestor or Glorfindel, then they would be." He sent his head advisor a pointed glance and then arched an eyebrow dangerously.
Erestor took the hint and finally left the room. At that point, Elrond allowed the luxury of a quick kiss. Celebrían remained in his arms, fiddling with his hair.
"Ereinion finally called the council?"
Elrond nodded, his eyes clouding slightly.
"Aye, it took him long enough."
"Mother said it is not only to declare war, but to officially name the heir. Do you know anything about such?"
Elrond refused to meet her eyes. He was an awful liar. If he even tried to answer it in any way, she would immediately know the truth.
"He spoke of it."
"Well?"
"You will just have to see what he says."
~*~
Elrond helped Celebrían off her snowy white horse, glancing about. It was a magnificent showing of Elves.
"Loríand Elves," Celebrían breathed.
"Tis Amroth, prince of that realm. I believe that must be his father beside him. Amroth is rumored to be the courter of Lady Nimrodel."
Celebrían looked up with a slight darkness in her eyes, hearing his reverence when he said the lady's name.
"I have heard she is very beautiful."
Elrond just shrugged as if that detail was of little consequence and continued to scan the Elves with a cool gaze. Celebrían's felt her heart lighten.
*So beauty is not a key issue for him. Good.
"Who are they?" Celebrían whispered, motioning with her eyes.
Elrond glanced at the tall fair-haired Elves standing off to the side, almost sullenly. They had the looks of great archers and Elrond remembered their prince vividly.
*Too arrogant for their own good.
"The taller one is Thranduil, Prince of Greenwood. I have never seen his father, so I can only guess that that one standing in front of him is Oropher. I believe Oropher knew your father in Doriath, did he not?"
Celebrían just nodded, keeping a tight hand in his. The Elven leaders were formidable, dressed in finery and talking quietly. Elrond took it all with an ease she could only admire as he sent each respectful, yet detached nods.
"Elrond," Amroth called to the Elf.
Immediately, a deluge of Elves surrounded Elrond.
"What has Ereinion spoken?"
"Tell us what is going on."
"Who is the heir?"
Celebrían was pressed into Elrond, leaving him no choice but to put an arm around her waist and to draw her close, though it seemed neither minded it utterly.
"Ereinion shall say it all. You will just have to wait."
Amroth broke through the throng and ushered Elrond off to the side.
"My father, Amdir."
Elrond smiled, his eyes darting between the two.
"And you are…?" Amroth kissed Celebrían's hand.
Celebrían felt Elrond tense beside her and she smirked inwardly, but made no comment.
"I am Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel."
"Tis no wonder you are so beautiful."
Celebrían nodded graciously, leaning her head on Elrond's shoulder.
*This is one time when I will shamelessly reveal my feelings. This Elf is so conceited.
Amroth apparently understood her body language, and if not that, Elrond's dark eyes were enough to freeze the fires of Mordor.
Ereinion made his entrance, dressed in his kingly raiment and bright shining crown. He made eye contact with Elrond bidding him by gaze alone to follow. Elrond had no choice but to lead Celebrían in also, unwilling to leave her with Amroth. The King greeted Celebrían with a brotherly kiss on the cheek as they re-entered through the door he had exited from.
"Celebrían, you are welcome to sit in beside Elrond, if you so wish," Ereinion said softly, " All the Elves shall know of this council and its decisions soon enough."
A brilliant smile lit Celebrían's face up and she nodded once with an excited sparkle in her eyes. Ereinion gave a small headshake accompanied by a smile when he caught Elrond's fond glance at her.
"I would most wish it. I have never been privy to a council, but from my father's stories, it is a thing to behold," Celebrían said softly, though a tremor of anticipation wove itself in her voice.
Ereinion smiled sadly brought back to the matters at hand.
"I fear today's council shall overrule them all."
~*~
Elrond sat on Ereinion's right hand, as was only proper given he was the King's Vice-Regent; only this time, Celebrían sat in the place his wife would one day sit. It caused murmurs at first, but Celeborn quickly ended them, and switched seats with Círdan so he could sit beside his daughter. Galadriel remained where she was.
Ereinion stood and silence fell. He looked over the assembly of Elves, men, and even some dwarves.
"My good Eldar, faithful Atani and hard working Dwarves, you have all been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. We all know that Sauron has been at work since the downfall of Númenor." Many eyes turned to Elrond at those words. The serious half-Elvin's eyes remained on the king, though he felt a hint of anguish at the mention of the Darkness that had fallen over his brother's kin. " But we must decide whether we think that the generations after us deserve freedom or bondage under such evil."
"Why does he lay the choice before the assembly when it is obvious what the answer should be?" Celebrían whispered.
Elrond glanced at her, leaning towards her so that they could converse softly.
"Because Sauron is a deceiver. He plays with the mind, using it as his arena to try and trick the weak minded into believing he is good. He did so to Celebrimbor."
Celeborn cleared his throat softly. The two quickly became silent.
"Greenwood has not been threatened yet." Oropher stood. " Our boundaries remain untouched and we have the strength to keep it that way. Why should I join in this war led by a Noldo? I have known your forefathers and their actions were sometimes done out of wrath. I do not wish to follow a Noldo king of unsound mind."
Ereinion remained silent, trying to contain an eye roll.
*Sometimes I hate the Sindar. They have never trusted the Noldor. I doubt they ever will.
Ereinion leaned forward, a troubled look on his face as he rubbed his chin.
*That is a quite large problem. I shall need his great archers if we truly do go to war.
Elrond rose slowly, gathering all eyes to him as he organized his thoughts.
"You may be safe now, but what in a century or two? You know the consequences if you do not participate. Remember the old fortresses, of Gondolin, Sirion?" Elrond's eyes bored into Oropher. " Doriath?" The Sindar looked down at his feet at the mention of his old home. " Either directly or indirectly, those were destroyed by Morgoth. Morgoth's power is only a bit more than Sauron's." Elrond's robes crinkled as he placed his hands on the railing before him.
"The story shall go as follows: Sauron shall prey upon your boarders with no avail. Your archers will become tired and the Enemy can begin to make even more of those wretched orcs so that they can defeat even the great Greenwood archers." Elrond's voice rose to capture every person's absolute attention. "They will conquer even the impregnable fortress of Lindon if Sauron does indeed have an endless supply of orcs. Not even the power of any craft the Elves possess could keep Sauron at bay."
His stony gaze swept over all; his words sending chills down every individual's spine. "No Elf, Man, Dwarf or single living creature of the free-folk from man to child will be saved. Sauron comes for all. He is no respecter of age. He wants you all," Elrond paused dramatically, his voice lowering, " Under his power."
"What will you do to protect Imladris?" Oropher challenged. " It has already been breeched by Sauron. The lady beside you can attest to that."
Celebrían's face flushed with anger as she saw many questioning eyes turn upon Elrond. He was undefeated, yet she had just proved to be Imladris' only weakness. Elrond leaned over the balcony Ereinion and his council sat upon, his eyes dark like the storm clouds about to burst forth with rain.
"Yes, Imladris is not perfect and was breeched. It only goes to show Sauron can get into even my mind to make sure I sense no evil upon my borders. With regard to the lady, she is fine, no ill was done."
"Yes, I can see that, but what will you do with this war?"
Elrond lifted his chin and fixed a stony gaze on the insolent Elf.
"Tis an easy answer. I will follow his majesty. He is the king and last I checked his mind was as sound as yours."
A stare-down began between the two conflicting Elves. Oropher angrily conceded first, sitting down and muttering under his breath. Ereinion glanced at Elrond with a barely perceivable grimace, once the half-Elven took his seat again. Ereinion had never seen Elrond so challenged.
"Very nice. I think you just got your first battle wound."
Elrond pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head.
"I must be losing my touch."
Elendil stood, his mind clearly heavy with thoughts.
"Can you not remember beautiful Númenor, o faithful Atani? The beauty that lay upon those shores now rests with Ulmo as a result of Sauron's leadings. Should we just let him take our home like that without any retribution on our part? I say no. I say we go to war, cast down this dark lord. Form an alliance."
"Aye!" Ereinion jumped up, his eyes sparkling as the idea snowballed in his mind, gathering weight as it rolled about. " An alliance of Men and Elves. Together, we shall gather a host to throw down Sauron. If the Elves of Aman could do it with the help of the Valar, then surely without their help, we can do the same. We can defeat them." Ereinion leaned over the balcony. "Morgoth was a Maia and it took a host greater than a hundred times of what we have here." Ereinion lifted his hands with a somewhat victorious smile, as if they had already won the war. " Sauron is merely one Maia, one. No matter what devilry he invents, we can defeat it. Are you with me?"
A loud cheer came and many of the council leapt to their feet.
"But if we do not prevail, then all is lost," Elrond mused, placing a fist against his lips to continue to contemplate.
Ereinion glanced at him oddly. The King's brow furrowed.
*There is a lot of noise. I must have heard him wrong.
"What?"
Elrond looked up, shaking his head in surprise as if he had not expected anyone to hear.
"Nothing, forgive me, I was speaking my thoughts aloud."
"But repeat what you said," Ereinion ordered, sitting back down and lowering his voice.
Elrond sighed, his fingers idly tracing the inside of his thumb as his mind continued to churn.
"But if we lose, then all is lost. If Sauron takes Arda, then what hope have we for this land?"
Ereinion sat stunned as if the half-Elven had slapped him across the face.
"I thought you were on our side." Celeborn leaned over.
"I am, but we must think this through before acting." Elrond rubbed his chin; closing his eyes against the severe headache he could feel beginning to pound between his temples.
"Did you see something?" Ereinion asked suspiciously.
Elrond stood and smoothed his robes, fixing the high king with a pleading look.
"I ask leave for a moment."
The High king nodded after a brief hesitation, concern, doubt and a trace of hurt shining in his gray eyes.
"Granted."
Celebrían watched Elrond with immense concern. She could see the headache building by his edgy mannerisms. With all her heart, she wished she could follow him, but one glance at her slightly incensed father made her stay where she was. Ereinion leaned across Elrond's now empty chair, touching her arm with a concerned look. He made a motion for her to leave. Celebrían sent him a thankful smile as she stood, lifting her heavy skirts and then hurrying out the door.
~*~
Crashing waves reflected in his clear gray eyes as Elrond gazed out across the Sea. How he wished he could hurl his misgivings into the water and watch them sink to the bottom. He ran a hand over his slightly puckered forehead.
*What was I thinking to say such a thing aloud? I have failed Ereinion by undermining his intentions.
A slender arm linked through his. Celebrían kept her gaze on the waves, even though his eyes burned like fire on her. She glanced up with a small smile when his fingers brushed her tousled silver waves.
"You are a tough debater. You think from all sides, even the ones you do not wish to address."
Elrond sighed, gently kissing the top of her golden-silver head in thanks for her unfailing support. He was grateful for her words, but could not dispel the feelings inside him, mainly the thought that he had betrayed his king and closest friend.
"Why did Ereinion send you?"
Celebrían shrugged laying her head on his shoulder.
"Most likely because he could not leave himself. My presence does not matter at the moment. Only when they wish to undermine your power do they address me."
Elrond glanced down at her.
"I am truly sorry for Oropher bringing that up."
Celebrían shook her head.
"I am safe here in Lindon."
A smile tugged at edges of his mouth, not quite turning his lips upward, but it brought a long absent sparkle to his eyes. He took her white hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze, causing her to squeeze his back.
"And whenever you are by my side, I shall personally see to it that no orcs lay a hand upon you."
Celebrían smiled back at him and it seemed to Elrond that Anor could not have been more brilliant. She clasped his arm a bit firmer, her smile increasing.
"Then I believe I shall never leave your arm."
He did smile now, a slight dimple showing for once. Celebrían arched an eyebrow invitingly and he accepted the invitation. He gently caressed her lips with a kiss before pulling back.
"I believe we should return before they begin questioning things far from those pertaining to war and I forgot entirely about the council inside."
Celebrían laughed, but nevertheless let herself be swept inside, her arm still intertwined with his.
~*~
It was a practiced eye that scanned the council, yet even centuries of experience in this kind of politics could not prevent the ire rising in the smoky gray orbs. They debated petty issues, completely ignoring the doom at hand. Ereinion glanced over at a window out at the stars and sighed.
*Are they not tired yet? We have been debating since dawn.
Glancing to his right, Gil-galad smiled in spite of himself. Celebrían's head lay on Elrond's shoulder as she tried to stay awake. Ereinion's eyebrows shot up when it seemed his herald was in the same predicament.
*I could see them as king and queen, presiding over a council such as this. If only I could live to see such a thing.
Elendil glanced up at Ereinion with an irritated headshake at the folly of the Edain's thinking. They were not going to get anywhere tonight. The high king stood, clasping his hands gently.
"I believe we shall adjourn for-"
"Who is the heir?" an Elf interrupted him.
"Aye, who have you named or do you have a son somewhere?"
The council seemed to freeze and all eyes turned to the high king. Ereinion bit back a groan. Ereinion had hoped to leave this undeclared for at least another day, for Elrond's sake, if nothing else. For his part, Elrond kept his gaze downcast, though a flush lit his cheeks. He glanced up slightly at Ereinion. The king sent him a sympathetic look before turning to address the waiting council.
"There is only one other in the line of Fingolfin fit to rule and that is Elrond Peredhil. He is the rightful heir since I have no son nor any children."
The Elves began to murmur amongst themselves. Ereinion raised his hands, regaining all attention.
"This council is adjourned until the morning."
~*~
"Congratulations," Celebrían whispered.
Elrond just smiled slightly, already sick of the protestations of joy he could see. He dreaded leaving the council room for he was sure to be surrounded by maidens. Celebrían pulled him up on his feet, adjusting his robes. She looked up with a small infectious smile.
"If you wish an escort to make sure you return to your room without a maiden hanging onto your arm, I believe I can assist you with that."
Elrond nodded, allowing her to lead him off.
Celeborn watched with a furrowed brow.
"When did this happen?" He asked Ereinion, making a sweeping motion at his daughter and Elrond. " Yesterday she was using his arm to cut her teeth on and now she's using her lips to find his heart."
Ereinion shook his head and grinned at the other lord.
"This is just the beginning."
Celeborn growled deep in his throat, eyes darkening considerably with sharp displeasure and causing Ereinion's merriment to halt.
"It is going to end here…now!"
AN: Thanks to my wonderful betas. I would write absolute crap without your help!!