Chapter 23

                  Celebrían enjoyed the sound of the crashing waves as they walked along the beach.  She swung his hand playfully, before dancing ahead and teasing the water with her feet.  Elrond watched her as she frolicked like a young child; yet she was as graceful as the curling waves.  She was the personification of joy.  Celebrían paused, glancing up and noted his eyes analyzing her.  She rejoined him, holding up her soaked skirts.  She took both his hands, stilling his steps.

                  "What were you thinking a moment ago?"

Elrond shrugged, glancing at her sopping wet skirts with a smile.  Celebrían flushed slightly, but Elrond tipped up her chin.

                  "You are so joyful.  It seems to bubble up from inside and flow out.  And it certainly does not bother me."

With a renewed smile, Celebrían tugged on his hands, her light feet seeming to barely touch the ground.

                  "Dance with me."

                  "I believe Elrond should retire.  Tomorrow will be long day."

                  The two turned to see Celeborn watching them coolly.  Elrond nodded, kissing Celebrían's hand formally.  He bowed his head respectfully to Celeborn before leaving the two alone.  The Elf-maiden sighed, letting the water splash her suddenly heavy feet.

                  "Walk with me, Kel."

Celebrían dragged her feet as she sauntered alongside her father, daring a glance over her shoulder at the fading figure of Elrond.  She glanced back at her father, hearing his harsh cough.

                  "I do not like this apparent flirting I see between you and the lord of Imladris.  Surely you know Ereinion is trying to pick a bride for him from among the Loríand Elves?"

                  Celebrían lifted her head slightly, almost proudly.

                  "You are an awful liar, Ada."

Celeborn shrugged.

                  "I am trying to save you from heartache.  Elrond will never love you the way you deserve.  His books and Imladris will always come before you."

Celebrían tilted her head, ignoring the pain it brought to her even though she knew it was far from the truth.  She met her father's strong gaze head on, glad she bore her mother's fiery blood.

                  "I think otherwise, Ada."  She looked up at her father.  " I believe that no matter what you or Nana say, you will not be able to tear apart our friendship."

Celeborn's lips tightened.  He had not expected his daughter's defiance.

*I had hoped this was just another passing fancy.  I guess it is not.

                  "I do not want to see you by Elrond's side anymore.  You are not the lady of Imladris," he looked down at her, " I do not want rumors spread about your honor."

Celebrían shrugged.

                  "Maybe I will follow Nana's path and take on a lover, and then marry him once I know he is good in bed."

Celeborn whipped her around, his hand like iron around her upper arm and a condemning finger waving dangerously in her face.

                  "Now you listen here, young lady, you will never speak of your mother and me like that.  I will admit that we were lovers, but I love her and she loves me.  What do you think created you?"

Celebrían bit back tears at her father's vice-like grip on her arm.  She raised her eyebrows before taking on the tight faced expression her father bore.  Her cold voice surprised even her father.

                  "I am exhausted from my travel.  I believe I shall retire.  Sleep well, Ada, by Nana's side."

Celeborn watched her go.  He picked up a rock from the sand and flung it as far as he could.

*Well then.  I believe I shall find Elrond a bit easier.  He will not disrespect his elders.  Especially if I say the words came from Ereinion.

~*~

                  Celebrían watched the sunrise, or more so she watched Elrond as he inspected the beautiful dawn.  He had been standing, just staring across the Sea for an hour now.  She began to approach him, but then noticed her father doing the same.  She quickly moved out of eyesight, but not hearing range.

                  "Elrond, may I speak with you?"

                  Elrond did not answer, surprisingly enough.  He continued looking across the Sea.  He finally glanced at Celeborn.

                  "If you are here to tell me to stay away from your daughter, you are wasting your breath."

Celeborn was stunned; it was as plain to see as the burning orb rising on the horizon.

                  "I am her father."

                  "Yes, you are."

Celebrían hugged her waist with a happy smile.

*He is truly serious about me.  He is challenging my own father.

                  "I am looking out for what is best for her.  She deserves someone her age."

Elrond shook his head, turning his unnaturally dark eyes to Celeborn.

                  "If you are seeking to use her as a political playing piece, then by all means, tell me, and I am sure linking Imladris and Lindon together would be a wonderful move."

                  "So you think of only politics?"  Celeborn challenged.

                  Elrond looked at Celeborn, never noticing the maiden watching.

                  "No, I am being selfish for once in my life.  There has always been something there every time I looked at her."  Elrond ran a hand over the back of his neck and then scratched his unshaved chin.  " I spent all of last night trying to find out what it was.  Now I know that I love her."

Celeborn chuckled.

                  "I thought once I loved this-"

                  "You do not understand.  She is the only thing I find more fulfilling to be with than my books.  You know my love for books.  I am practically a walking book myself."  Elrond shook his head.  " If you wish to know, I have not touched a book while in your daughter's company.  You can ask her yourself."

                  "Elrond, I am going to waste my breath."  Celeborn lowered his voice.  " Stay away from Celebrían."

~*~

                  Celebrían took a seat beside Elrond as the council re-adjourned.

*Did Ada speak with you?

Elrond glanced at her with a puckered brow.

*How do you know?

She shrugged.

*I was at the beach.  I saw…heard…

Elrond covered his face with a hand, before using it to rub his eyes.

                  "Dearest Eru, I feel like a fool."

Celebrían giggled, glancing at her father still speaking with Ereinion.

                  "I love fools, especially one that is the lord of Imladris."

Elrond looked up at her almost hesitantly, their eyes locking together.  He leaned over, gently kissed her and then moved away just as quickly.  Celebrían's hand trailed down his cheek with an adoring light in her eyes.

                  Those that saw just froze.  Ereinion's words trailed off in mid-sentence and Celeborn's red face looked as if it would burst any second.  Celebrían leaned over, taking Elrond's hand in hers.

*Together we can face the wrath of Ada.

Elrond squeezed it.

*Facing the sword, you mean.

Celeborn took his seat in a stony silence.  Ereinion leaned over, with a barely concealed smirk.

                  "That was an unexpected display.  I believe you have the Elves taking bets over who will be your queen."

Elrond just shook his head with a slight flush.  Ereinion rose to begin the council again.

~*~

                  Three hours later, the council was agreed.

                  "In a two month's time, every force will be gathered at Imladris.  Then we will continue over the mountains and down the Anduin to Mordor."  Ereinion finished.  "This council is dismissed until then."

Elrond drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.  Ereinion looked over at him as the crowd began to diminish.  He wore an overly drained expression that was not usually one of his many faces.

                  "It has just begun, Elrond and I am already tired."

Elrond's lips lifted a little.

                  "You are quite old.  Maybe it is you that is aging?"

Ereinion crumpled a piece of paper, throwing it at his Vice-Regent.  What was Elrond to do but retaliate?

                  "I will never know what possessed Eärendil and Elwing to have children.  They were terrors in themselves as children."  Galadriel brushed up, halting the paper wad fight. 

Celebrían giggled softly, seeing their guilty faces.  Ereinion sent Celebrían a teasing wink before he threw a piece of paper at Galadriel.  Galadriel spun around and her gaze landed on Elrond.

                  "Elrond Peredhil, come here this instant."

                  "But-" Her scorching glance cut off his words.

Elrond stood, sending his last paper wad hurtling at Ereinion.

                  "I am not protecting your back in war."

Ereinion shrugged.

                  "I will not need it leastways."

~*~

                  Elrond walked beside Galadriel, his hands clasped behind his back as he enjoyed the fresh breeze.

                  "I know Ereinion threw the paper, but I needed to speak with you before Celeborn beheads you in war."

Elrond looked up, his eyes almost bearing a frightened look.

                  "You are displeased also?"

Galadriel shook her head, her hair down for once.  She paused, allowing the breeze to sift through her silver and golden strands.

                  "I am pleased actually."  She glanced at Elrond.  " My daughter could do no better unless she set her eyes to Ereinion, but Ereinion's gaze is neither on male nor female, but at his job."

Elrond let out a pent up breath.

                  "I expected the same reaction from you as Celeborn."

                  Galadriel shook her head with a smile.

                  "He forgets that he was thought unsuitable by my brothers.  They had an idea that I would marry a just-as-fiery warrior from Valinor.  They all tried to take me from him, but that only made me more determined to go on with the wedding."  She looked at him.  " I suspect it would be the same with you."

Elrond shrugged.

                  "I understand why Elros gave up his immortality now."

Galadriel faced him, her eyes searching his.  She gently touched his cheek, a sad smile on her face, as she seemed to be lost in the memories.

                  "Then that is all I need to know," Galadriel raised her eyebrows, " I see the two of you happy for a very long time."

~*~

                  Celebrían sat on Elrond's bed.  She figured this was the best place to hide from her father.

*I am such a coward to refuse to face him

                  "Elrond?"

Ereinion entered, stopping with a smile when he saw her.

                  "He is not here," she said, " He is still with Nana."

                  "I am not."  Elrond entered.  " I knew not my room was a gathering place."

                  "I came to tell you to hurry back to Imladris.  You have many preparations to make and little time to do it in."

Elrond nodded.  He glanced at Celebrían.

                  "Do you have traveling plans yet?"