Chapter 25

                  Celebrían entered Elrond's room just as he attached the last piece of armor.  Her eyes glazed with tears, knowing full well this could be the last time she ever saw him. Elrond turned, his sword in hand and paused.  Celebrían wrung her handkerchief between her hands before running to him and embracing him.  Elrond allowed the merging of lips, knowing this could be the end of it all.  He felt it would be the end of it.

                  " I shall miss you," she said softly, tracing the grooves of his armor.

                  " I shall see thee across these shores," Elrond replied.

Her eyes searched his fearfully.

                  " You spoke not of your own demise."

Elrond looked down at their hands, gently squeezing hers before replying.

                  " Ereinion will not fall."

Celebrían's lips trembled and she felt the tears cascade down her cheeks.

                  " Why?"

Elrond looked down, knowing how much this was killing her.

                  " Because I could never fill his shoes."

~*~

                  Celeborn frowned, seeing his daughter's upset face as she exited with Elrond.  Elrond paused beside his horse.

                  " Put this in my drawer please."

He pulled off the chain with Vilya on it.  Celebrían clasped it, more tears threatening to boil onto her cheeks.  She felt Elrond's quick kiss on her cheek before he mounted.  Celebrisse gently led the girl back to stand between her and Erestor. 

                  Ereinion glanced at Elrond.

*What did you give her?

Elrond shrugged.

*I cannot take Vilya to Sauron, now can I?

Ereinion nodded before taking up the lead.  He pushed his horse into a canter.  Elrond and Glorfindel's horses fell in on either side with their troops following.  Elendil and his sons caught up to them.  Elrond glanced back only once at his beloved home.

*Goodbye, Imladris.  I hope you fare well in the hands of Erestor.

~*~

                  They rode and rode and rode.  The charred landscape began abruptly from the beautiful landscape they had been enjoying.  Ereinion looked at his troops grimly.

                  " We have just crossed into the dragon's lair."

Elrond lifted up his chin.

*We have just crossed into Mandos.

A large gate loomed before them manned with innumerable creatures.  Ereinion pressed his lips together a sad light in his eyes.

                  " Let it begin."

~*~

                  Galadriel turned her eyes to the South from her balcony in Lindon.  Her daughter sat beside her, just as melancholy.  Celebrían finally gave an exasperated sigh.

                  " It has been nine years, Nana.  If it is taking this long then surely we are defeated."

Galadriel merely sent her daughter a measured look.

                  " If you wish to leave, then the ships forsake these shores daily."

Celebrían plopped back in a chair.

                  "No.  I will wait."

                  " What if he is dead?"

Celebrían lifted her chin.

                  " Then and only then, I will forsake these shores."

~*~

                  Elrond put a hand to his throbbing head.  He wiped his eyes, the dust and dirt flying into them as he tended to a patient.  Elendil stood beside him, his eyes watching carefully.

                  " Can you save him?"

Elrond laid his head against the chest, confirming his worst fear.  He slumped, sitting in the dirt beside the fallen man.

                  " He is dead."

Elendil covered his eyes.  Elrond sighed.  Anárion was dead.

~*~

                  Ereinion grimly surveyed the battlefield.  He finally slumped down against a rock.  Many Elves watched silently as he jumped back to his feet, hurling a stone as far as he could with a yell.  The sound of clambering feet came.  Elrond and Glorfindel slid to a stop before their king.

                  " What in…" Glorfindel trailed off, " Oh."

Ereinion faced them, his chest heaving angrily.  The king was seething.  He looked ready to kill with just a single glance.

                  " My men are dying," he sent Elrond a pointed glance, " And no one is healing them."

Elrond pressed his lips together, his eyes hardening and he turned on his heel, sitting not too far away.

                  Glorfindel pulled Ereinion off.

                  " A word, please?"

Ereinion sat on a rock, reaching for Aeglos.

                  " What is it?"

                  " Anárion just died in Elrond's hands.  Elrond can do nothing when they are already dead," Glorfindel leaned in farther, his eyes blazing, "Elrond has been working around the clock with no respite and now he has to take this verbal abuse from you?  You are the only family he has left.  You need to apologize for I do not see you working to the extent he does."

Ereinion sighed, leaning his head against the rock.

                  " I am going to die, Glorfindel."

                  Glorfindel refused to meet his eyes.  Ereinion looked down.

                  " I knew you had to know.  I want you to keep Elrond from me when it does happen.  I think he knows also for he has risked his neck countless times for me."

Glorfindel nodded.

                  " Elrond will not be by your side."

Ereinion stood.

                  " Thank you."

                  Ereinion turned from Glorfindel's side and approached Elrond bending before the Half-elven.

                  " I did not know about Anárion."

Elrond looked up dully.

                  " How could you?  You were not there."

Ereinion looked down.

                  " Will you forgive me or shall I give you Aeglos so you can-"

Elrond rose quickly.

*I hate this place.  I hate death.  I hate that idiotic Maia.

                  " Speak no more death.  I do not think I can take the death of another family member."

~*~

                  All the forces were mustered as they broke through the gates.  They led the charge towards the orcs and other beings.  There was a long clash, like thunder when the two sides collided.  Elrond busily was caught between the forces.  He jumped onto a high place, using his bow to pick off any near Ereinion.  Ereinion finally sent him an annoyed look.

                  " Would you let me…"

                  The forces cleared away and Elrond's jaw dropped.  He was pushed back away from Ereinion as the enemy army advanced.

~*~

                  Elrond finally caught sight of Ereinion after antagonizing hours of trying to find the Elf.  Ereinion and Elendil dueled with Sauron.  Aeglos flashed like the bright stars and Narsil like the Sun.  Elrond held his breath.

*Duck.

Almost on cue, Ereinion ducked.  Elrond mustered all his strength, trying to move towards his king.  Another downpour of enemy soldiers washed towards them.  Though he fought with every fiber in his being, Elrond found himself being thrown back in the river of bodies.

~*~

                  Celeborn turned his head, his eyes hardening when he saw the trio dueling.  He turned towards them also, seeing Elrond's head not too far away.  Celeborn's mind flew back to the last war of the Elves.

*I saw Fingon die that way.  I will not-

Celeborn jerked out of his thoughts, too busy trying to save his neck and keep his feet to form a logical thought.

~*~

                  Sauron seemed to be giving up.  Glorfindel's eyes clouded with worry.  It was not in Maiar blood to give up.  Glorfindel jumped from his place, saving Elrond's neck, literally.  A glint of light caught every soldier's eye.  Elendil sailed like an eagle, his flight ending abruptly against a stonewall, extinguishing the light in his hand.  It was then Glorfindel's sharp eyes noted the crimson blood staining his King's garments and matting in his hair.  Elrond smelt that familiar pungent smell and his sword moved quicker.  He somehow retrieved another sword and was busily picking off double the orcs.  The Elves and men were slowly coming to the aid of the king.

~*~

                  Ereinion met Sauron's hate filled gaze head-on.

*I do not fear you.

Sauron's lips twisted up into a somewhat discernable and grotesque smile.

                  " You should.  I have waited centuries for this moment: to watch you plead; to watch your perfect Elvin blood spatter on the ground; to hear the last breath leave your chest as your soul is surrendered to Mandos.  Believe me, this is a great pleasure."

Ereinion's eyes narrowed.

                  " I will not plead or beg; and I as sure as the Void will not give up until you lie dead beside me."

Aeglos flashed with another blow to Sauron.  Sauron's eyes searched Ereinion's.

*I was never great in war.

His lips turned up.

*But I have always been a bit good with words.

                  " I watched your father and grandfather die just like you will."

                  That was the opening Sauron had counted on.  Aeglos halted for just a split second with its mortal blow.  That was more that enough for the cunning Maia.  The sharp point at the end of Sauron's mace thrust itself deep into Ereinion's stomach.  Aeglos' light dimmed and then faded as the spear fell from its master's hand, never to be used in combat again.

~*~

                  " No," Elrond whispered.

Glorfindel swung around when the half-elven behind him left out a war cry, bounding away.  Glorfindel's eyes closed for a split second before he followed.

*By Eru, no…

~*~

                  Ereinion put a shaky hand to his stomach, looking at the blood covering it, unseeingly.  He took a labored breath, putting a disbelieving hand to his abdomen.

*So this is how Ada and Dardar died; and they accomplished nothing.  I have accomplished nothing.

A shaking came at his shoulders.  Ereinion tried to focus his eyes on the blur before him.  His knees buckled and the arms slowed his fall.

                  " Ereinion?"

                  Elrond placed his hands on the wound, beginning to watch the flesh grow back.  He was pulled back and a sword thrust in his hand.

                  " Fight now; heal later.  He is too easy a target," Glorfindel ordered.

                  " I can heal him now," Elrond protested, " If he loses any more blood, not even the health of the Elves will save him."

Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " I would rather the both of you alive at this moment."

                  The ground began to shake and a gritty dust blinded them.  The two Elves were thrown onto their backs.  Elrond wiped his eyes, turning his head to spit out the sand.  Círdan pulled him up.

                  " Isildur has the Ring."

Elrond stood, frozen between his duties.

                  " He will only listen to you," Círdan added softly.

Elrond looked back at the fallen king.

*Go.  Destroy it.  I will be fine.

Elrond nodded, jogging after Círdan.  Glorfindel bent beside Ereinion.

                  " You are not ok, Ereinion."

                  " I know," Ereinion grunted, his eyes closed.

                  " You cannot leave this place, Gil-galad.  You still have much yet to do."

Ereinion simply turned his head, holding a hand out to his spear lying just out of his reach.  Glorfindel picked it up, pressing his lips together before he placed the dull blade into Ereinion's hand.  Ereinion's eyes were dark with pain.

                  " Watch him."

Glorfindel nodded.

                  " I will."

Ereinion's eyes rolled back.  Someone else bent beside Glorfindel, allowing the golden haired to wipe his suddenly blurred eyes. 

                  " He is still alive," the silver haired lord said, " Help me move him to a tent."

Glorfindel nodded.  Celeborn glanced at another Elf.

                  " You.  When the Peredhil returns with Círdan send him directly to me."

~*~

                  Elrond's shoulders drooped as he watched Isildur clasp the Ring to his chest and walk off.  Círdan just shook his head.

                  " We were so close," Círdan murmured.

Elrond scuffed a foot against the ground.

*Failure.

It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

~*~

                  Celeborn shook his head.  He looked up at Glorfindel.

                  " Get Elrond.  Ereinion will not last the night."

                  " Thank you for that encouragement," came a breathy voice.

Celeborn looked down at the young king.  He brushed away the strands of hair clinging to Ereinion's dirt smudged face.

                  " I am sorry.  Maybe Elrond can do something.  He always had the skill for finding a new cure."

Ereinion weakly shook his head.

                  " There is no way to put skin and blood back over my stomach now."

~*~

                  Elrond's shoulders laid drooped and he dragged his sword behind him.  His right arm felt numb and he was sure to keep his eyes rooted to the ground.  He did not wish to speak to anyone.

                  " Hail, Elrond, king of the Elves of Arda."

Elrond's head darted up, staring at the dirt-smudged Elf.  His eyes widened in horror.

                  " You lie."

                  " Aye, be you quiet," a sharp voice came.

                  Glorfindel materialized from the darkness.  He sent the soldier a smoldering look.

                  " Speak not what you do not know."

Elrond grabbed Glorfindel's arm, searching the Elf's eyes.

                  " Tell me."

Glorfindel shrugged.

                  " He is not dead."

*Yet...

~*~

                  Celeborn looked up at the tent doorway when Elrond entered.  Ereinion's eyes were barely open.  Celeborn rose and touched Elrond's arm, pulling him off to the side a bit.

*See what you can do.  There was too much blood lost.

Elrond pinched the bridge of his nose.

*If you could do nothing, then I doubt I shall fare any better.

Celeborn just gave a short nod.  He motioned for Glorfindel to follow him out.

                  Elrond sat beside Ereinion.  The King's eyes slowly focused on Elrond, the pupils oddly dilated and unfocused, looking akin to one that is drunk.

                  " I will not survive the night if I read Celeborn and your expressions."

Elrond shook his head, pushing away reality at that moment.

*He cannot die.  He is Ereinion Gil-galad.

Elrond hoped his voice would sound assuring.

                  " You are an Elf.  You will make it through.  You have seen worse."

Ereinion shook his head gently.  Elrond bit his lip.  It was an odd and sickening feeling to see the powerful king so helpless and suffering.

                  " It is like my soul is suspended from me.  As if all I must do is let go and then I will be gone."

                  " Then hold onto it for Eru's sake."

Ereinion just stared at Elrond's sharp outburst.  Ereinion shook his head.

*You knew he would not take this well.

                  " Call in Celeborn, please, Elrond."

                  Elrond rose and did as told.  Celeborn entered, his eyes dark with worry and uncertainty.  Ereinion motioned to the crown lying on a table not too far away.  Celeborn bowed his head and understood.  Celeborn picked up the crown, ignoring Elrond's piercing gaze.  Ereinion motioned Elrond close so that he could rest a hand on the half-elven's shoulder.

                  " I, Ereinion Gil-galad, high king of Arda," Ereinion's voice faltered, " Pass the right of the crown to my heir, Elrond Peredhil, son of Eärendil."

Elrond shook his head, furiously rubbing at the rivers running down his cheeks.  Ereinion was really dying.  The Elf was going to leave the shores of Arda and never return.  He was about to forsake Elrond.

*Just like everyone else.

Ereinion clasped Elrond's shoulder.

                  " Be strong, Peredhil."

The hand fell and Elrond stood, turning away from the bed, a hand shading his eyes. 

                  Celeborn looked at the half-elven with sympathetic eyes.  He rose, clasping the Elf's shoulder.

                  " He sleeps now."

Elrond just nodded.  Celeborn looked down.

*He is your future son-in-law and you cannot comfort him.

Elrond wiped his eyes, turning.  Celeborn took a step back, seeing the stern expression firmly in place.  Elrond's eyes turned down to the crown in Celeborn's hands.

                  " He will not wake again," Celeborn said softly, extending it to the heir.

Elrond took it.  He took his seat back beside Ereinion's side and consented to playing with it.

~*~

                  Elrond kept a hawk-like watch on Ereinion.  A groan came from the bed hours after the camp had died down and retired.  Elrond leaned over, easing the king's pain.  Ereinion's eyes opened a bit.  He hoped Elrond did not hear the labored breathing.  Elrond let the tears come again, this time, not caring who saw.

*He is dying.  He can barely breathe now and there is nothing I can do.  All my readings are for naught now.

Ereinion took Elrond's hand, seeing the crown dangling in the other.

                  " Bury me at Imladris?  At my favorite spot, where the sun peeks over the hills and lays its fire in the Valley."

Elrond laid his head down on the edge of the cot.  Ereinion closed his eyes feeling the tears biting his eyes.  When Elrond raised his head up, Ereinion simply tipped up Elrond's chin.

                  " Do not mourn for me for I go to a better place to wait for you."

Elrond just nodded.  Ereinion closed his eyes, a peaceful smile gracing his grime-covered face.

                  " Namarië," Ereinion whispered.

And then it happened.  The room dulled.  Ereinion's body lay still and dormant, the fëa resurrected to Mandos' halls.  Elrond stood.  He tried to push away the tears, biting his lips before they trembled and the tears cascaded down his cheeks. 

*I am now truly all alone.  There is no one left.  It is all hopeless.

~*~

                  A shadow of what Elrond had been exited the tent.  His unseeing eyes swept over them all.  Isildur stepped forward, the Ring attached to his neck.

                  " How is the king?"

Elrond's empty eyes fell upon him.

                  " His majesty, Ereinion Gil-Galad is dead."

Celeborn was the first to make any move.  He pointed to the mithril circlet Elrond held.

                  " It is your duty."

Elrond stared at it a moment before placing it upon his head.

~*~

                  Celebrían laughed, watching the young girl run around.  Celebrisse sat nearby, watching them with a smile, as she rested her hands on her once again large abdomen. 

                  " Ataralasse," Celebrisse said softly, " Go see what is holding your father up."

The girl danced off.  Celebrían smiled.

*She is her father's joy.

As if to prove it, Erestor came around the corner, holding the giggling girl.  He deposited her into her mother's lap, giving Celebrisse's cheek a quick kiss and continuing on his way.

                  " What is it?"  Celebrisse asked.

He looked back.

                  " The King's, Glorfindel's and Celeborn's forces just arrived at the gates."

                  " Ereinion's, Glorfindel's and Celeborn's?"  Celebrían's face fell as she scrambled up.

*Please dear Eru, no.

~*~

                  Celebrían smile faded into relief.

*He is safe.

She noticed the crown upon his brow and the state of mourning that the Elves were in.  Celeborn approached his daughter, hugging her.

                  " Let Elrond be.  Ereinion is dead."  He whispered gently in her ear.

Elrond looked up at Celebrían, his eyes connecting with hers.  He then turned his head away and swept inside.  Celebrían dropped her head.

~*~

                  " Elrond?"

She hesitantly entered.  He looked up at her from over a book.  His eyes returned to the book as he took a sip of his tea.

                  " Yes?"

Celebrían was dumbstruck under his piercing gaze.

                  " I am sorry-"

He shut his book with a loud slap as he stood.

                  " You should return to Lindon."

Celebrían followed him.

                  " You push me away?"

Elrond glanced back at her in mid-reach to replace the book in his vast personal library.

*Dear Eru, she is still as beautiful as the day I left.  Curse this war.  Curse all I lost.  Curse myself.

                  " I need time to think."

Celebrían nodded.  She pulled Vilya off her neck and placed it in his hands.  She then lifted her head high as she walked out.  Elrond watched her go, placing the necklace around his neck.

*I will never call for her.  She knows it too.

He glanced back at the crown shimmering upon his desk with an air of distaste.

*First I must rid myself of that. 

~*~

                  Elrond found his room and began rummaging through a chest.  He found the worn out blanket.

*Even old Elves can be childish.

The faded and thin blanket bore the mark of Idril.  It was the same Eärendil had cried into when his parents forsook him.  Elrond had found no solace in it during Elros' death and doubted he found find any in lieu of Ere…of HIS death.

                  Elrond shook his head, pulling it around his shoulders and moving away from the window.  Lightening flashed, revealing that a storm approached.  He slid down a wall beside his window and stared out it vacantly.

*I cannot even bear to say HIS name anymore.

Elrond closed his eyes.  He pulled his body into a small ball and prayed that Arda would end in the next second.

~*~

                  Glorfindel shook his head.  His black robes would have made his invisible, but his bright yellow hair defeated his stealth.  Erestor glanced up from his managing of Imladris.  His desk was covered with papers and it looked as if the Elf had not slept for many nights. 

                  " Do you need any help?"

Erestor sighed, dropping the papers he held.

                  " I need Elrond to resume his rule."

Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " Since there is no way in Arda that is going to happen, what can I do?"

~*~

                  Elrond moved mechanically.  He looked at Vilya around his neck.  He violently tore it off his neck, breaking the chain and hurled it into a drawer.  He dressed and then entered his study.  Both Erestor and Glorfindel looked surprised to see him.  He sent them nods.

                  " Forget this paperwork, I can handle this.  I want every relic having to do with the high king to be moved to a room on the other side of the house.  Mark it with his mark and then leave that room to be."

                  " Elrond," Glorfindel began.

He received only a scorching glance before Elrond walked towards his books, pulling a few out to do with politics.  Erestor and Glorfindel walked down the hall.

*I thought when he cut himself off at Elros' death was bad.  Now he is trying to forget that Ereinion even existed.

Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " What do I know?  I am only a warrior."

~*~

                  Elrond pulled his arms close to his body as he watched the Elves place the body into the ground and then cover it up.  Elrond did not wear the crown, for he had outmaneuvered the laws. 

*Thank Eru I found that passage allowing independent rules with the rulers answering to me if wrongs are committed.

The Elves moved away and returned to Imladris at his bidding.

                  " You are all free to go," Elrond said to his household.

He crouched beside the grave, knowing that with Ereinion lay faithful Aeglos.  A little body crouched beside him.

                  " Everyone is sad just like you."

                  Elrond looked down at the caramel brown haired girl.  She smiled up at him.

                  " You shouldn't be-"

                  " Ataralasse."

Both glanced up at Erestor.  Elrond waved a hand.

                  " She is fine, Erestor.  She can stay if she wishes."

Ataralasse smiled victoriously, perching herself beside Elrond.  Erestor sighed.

                  " If you really wish."

Elrond looked down at the little girl.

                  " So why did you want to stay with me?"

She grinned a sunny smile that reminded him of Celebrían.

                  " Because I wanna see you smile."

Elrond ruffled her hair.

                  " You will wait a long time then."

He rose.  The girl followed, her hand attached to his tunic.  Elrond glanced behind him.

*Great.  I have a shadow.