Chapter 27
Elrond's mind flew as he tried to locate the pouch in his many pockets.
*I picked them up this morning and then where did I put them?
His fingers connected with soft velvet and he sighed in relief. He looked up at her, searching her eyes.
" I know not if these are premature, but I should try," he said softly.
*I pray I am not doing this in a foolish stupor.
He hesitantly produced the pouch, never noticing Celebrían's smile grow.
*I am swearing my life to this Elf, by Eru.
Elrond nervously emptied the pouch, revealing the two silver rings. Celebrían smiled at his trembling hands. Elrond tried to still his hands.
*I hope she is not seeing what a fool I am.
Celebrían leaned over, her gentle hands stilling his trembling ones. Elrond looked up.
*Here goes nothing…
" Shall I wait to present these?"
Celebrían fingered one, her eyes glancing over the beautiful craftsmanship. Elrond had produced only the best for her. Her ring had a beautiful diamond in the center surrounded with sapphires jutting from the silver band. His was plain and simple, without any adornment. Elrond felt as if he was about to die from anxiety.
*She is hesitating.
Celebrían hid her smile.
*I am pausing to look at the rings.
Celebrían tilted her head up, her face totally stern. Elrond's heart fell. His eyes turned to the ground and he began to close his hand over the rings. She stopped him.
" What are you doing, Elrond?"
He looked back up and saw the smile she tried horribly to conceal. His eyes lightened with hope.
" You need not think the offer is premature. I would have taken a ring before you left for Dagorlad. I know exactly who I want and time only makes the heart grow fonder."
Elrond chuckled at the last phrase, closing his eyes in relief.
*How I love this woman. What would I have done if she refused?
" You have been reading in the Library of Lindon."
Celebrían nodded.
" Aye. You were not there, so your writings are as close to your soul as I can get without actually having you beside me." She allowed him to take her hand. " Your works are fascinating."
Elrond glanced up at her.
" Thank you."
" Thank you, Dineth," Celebrían corrected as the ring slid onto her finger easily.
Elrond glanced up, his lips turned up in a slight smile. Celebrían slid his ring onto his finger. She then smoothed his long hair, gently kissing his lips. Elrond looked down at the ring and the weight of what he had just did fell on him. Celebrían caught the change.
*Dear Eru, I just asked her to marry me. What…How…Me…Mandos…
Celebrían tipped up his chin.
" Do not begin to analyze, Elrond. Leave this be. I love you; you love me. That is all that matters," she said softly.
Elrond gently cupped her face, his eyes delving deep into hers.
" I do love thee."
She hugged him and then tried to pull away. Elrond gave a small yelp. Celebrían looked at her hand before beginning to giggle. It turned into full-out laughter. Elrond soon joined in.
" The ring…is stuck," Celebrían managed through giggles.
Elrond turned his head.
" Can you remove it?"
Celebrían carefully tried to untangle his tresses from the ring.
" There."
The two looked at each other and the laughter began again.
" Would you two quiet down in here?" an angry Glorfindel stuck his head inside.
Two innocent little faces looked up at him.
" Sorry, Glorfindel," Celebrían bit her lip, trying to not laugh.
Glorfindel simply glanced at the both of them again, his eyes lingering on the glimmer of light. He showed no surprise on his face, though inwardly he smiled.
*I will get my revenge, you two little innocent Balrogs. You just wait, Elrond. Everyone will know of this engagement.
~*~
Elrond walked her back to her room. Celebrían swayed like a sapling in the wind, her eyes half-open. Elrond supported her, seeing her weaving was caused by the lack of sleep. She gave him a drunk-like smile, at her door.
" G'night."
Elrond leaned down kissing her cheek.
" Go to bed, Bree."
She just smiled again, leaning against her door. She pushed it open and disappeared inside.
Elrond sighed, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets. His right hand seemed unnaturally heavy with the new weight of the ring.
*It feels almost like the heaviness of death.
He chuckled slightly, aimlessly ambling out into the gardens. He clasped his hands behind his back, closing his eyes to breathe in the sweet fragrance. His delicate nose picked just a hint of an unfamiliar scent. He began towards it.
*Where do I remember that smell?
Elrond came to a standstill. His eyes misted as he stared at the garden surrounding the place they had laid Ereinion to rest. Elrond closed his eyes.
*Lindon. Tis the one place where Aeglos grew.
He gently fingered one flower with a sigh.
*How I could use his council now.
His eyes turned up to the stars.
*Where are you, o hailed father when I have needed you? You are in the skies distant and faraway and sailing far from me. I am glad I have never needed your guidance, for I doubt I would have taken it from one as distant as the Valar.
He crossed his arms, brushing them briskly as he returned inside. High above, the light of the Gil-Estel dulled and did not brighten again that night.
~*~
Glorfindel slid into the breakfast hall at an alarming rate. Many Elves stared at his disarray of clothing and hair. Glorfindel sent them all a charming smile, smoothing his robes, while his eyes searched for someone.
" Erestor," he finally spotted the dark haired Elf.
Erestor looked up and then took a double take.
" By Eru, what hit you, Glorfindel?"
Glorfindel rolled his eyes, taking a moment to use a silver plate as a mirror.
" They wear silver rings," he said in a low voice.
Erestor's head darted up, his eyes searching Glorfindel's profile with wide-eyes.
" How do you know this?"
Glorfindel sent him a smirk.
" I saw them last night. The two were making a racket in his study."
Erestor's eyes widened at that. Glorfindel said nothing more, letting Erestor hold the false impression of what the "racket" was. Erestor craned his neck, trying to see over the many Elves.
" They are not here yet," Erestor said in a disappointed voice.
Glorfindel shrugged.
" It just gives me more time to spread the news."
~*~
Elrond stared down at the silver ring contrasting against his dark green robes. He twisted it nervously, allowing a servant to braid his hair. His mind was so faraway, he did not notice the hands move away and two new ones take over. Elrond twitched his nose as the smell of jasmine pricked it.
*Who wears…Celebrían…
He looked up in the mirror and his stern expression lightened.
" You need not do this, Bree."
Celebrían smiled back, her fingers nimbly finishing the braiding.
" I came to hurry you along. I did not know you took so long to ready yourself…"
Elrond watched her as she continued talking. Her lips smiled and moved animatedly, as her eyes shone with the same radiance as the sun.
*How was I, the Peredhel, blessed with the child of light?
His expression darkened slightly.
*How long will this engagement last before she comes to her senses?
Celebrían watched his face darken and her eyes became worried. She sensed his thoughts and sat on the bench beside him.
" Elrond, do not doubt this," she said softly," I would not take the ring only to return it later. No matter how beautiful it is. You know I am not that kind of a woman."
Elrond turned to face her.
" Forgive me, tis just-"
" I know," Celebrían quieted him, " Come now, we have breakfast to face."
Elrond made a face.
" It shall be like the time I was named heir."
" Aye, women will try their hardest to bed you before I do."
Elrond's mouth was half-open as he stared down at her. He was by no means innocent having had Ereinion give him "the talk", but to hear her speak of it so flippantly… Celebrían giggled slightly, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
" There is no use in ignoring what awaits…"
" A bed?" Elrond raised an eyebrow.
Celebrían laughed and then pushed him, a tiny blush lighting her cheeks. Elrond did not retaliate, merely taking her hand. He lifted it to his lips, gently kissing it, causing Celebrían's blush furthered its coloration.
" You look exquisite this morning, Bree."
Her eyes shone with pride at his compliment.
" Thank you," she stopped him so she could adjust his robes, " You look quite…like yourself."
Elrond chuckled a bit, though his stomach lurched when he noticed how close to the breakfast hall they were.
*I have to survive this morning with its endless jokes and comments. How I dreaded this. I should have wed her last night.
Elrond bit the inside of his lip as the picture of Celebrían's angry parents came to mind.
*I am glad I did not.
He caught her worried glance up at him. He smiled reassuringly, squeezing her hand and eliciting a smile from her. She lifted a hand to trail down his jaw with the lightest of touches. Elrond leaned his head down, stealing the quickest of kisses. Celebrían went up on tiptoe, trying to obtain another. Elrond obliged, before pulling away. He ran a hand down her cheek, cupping it.
*I believe I can face anything as long as she is by my side.
Elrond smiled slightly, his gaze still on her standing beside him. He extended a hand to her. Celebrían took it, her eyes as apprehensive as his.
" Here goes nothing," Elrond said cheerily, causing her to smile.
They pushed open the doors to the hall.
~*~
Elves surged forward, seeing that the rumor drifting about was true. Congratulations and well wishes seemed to suffocate the two. Celebrían admired Elrond's poise as he took in everything with a polite, yet distant expression. Her face mirrored the uncertainty she felt. He looked down at her.
*Can you breathe?
She just ducked her head slightly.
*Not with all these wishes falling upon me.
~*~
Glorfindel crossed his arms smugly, seeing the crowd around the couple.
*Revenge has been dealt.
Erestor chuckled, slowly rising from his seat when Elrond caught his eye. The Elf moved to try and save the couple.
" Who told?" Elrond asked softly once they escaped.
He did not need to be told. His gaze fell on the Cheshire-cat smile his head of security wore on his face. Elrond's eyebrows rose challengingly. As Elrond passed Glorfindel, he managed to "accidentally" run into an attendant. A bowl of fruit and juices collapsed on Glorfindel's head. Celebrían bit back a giggle, releasing Elrond's hand. She placed her hands on the sticky material, taking a napkin to wipe off Glorfindel's shoulders.
" Tis only what you deserve, Glorfindel; and I believe it is better than anything Elrond could have done to you. He left his dagger in his room this morning."
Glorfindel's face blanched slightly as he continued wiping off the sticky substance. Celebrían kissed his cheek.
" Enjoy your breakfast, Glorfindel."
Glorfindel rose abruptly and left the room.
Celebrían rejoined Elrond, taking her seat and allowing him to push in the chair behind her.
" Already turning an eye to one of my advisors?" Elrond asked in a soft teasing voice as he filled her goblet.
" Actually, I told him to enjoy his breakfast," Celebrían placed her napkin in her lap, " I do believe he will keep to his own business."
Elrond gave a soft snort.
*That will happen when dead Elves…
Elrond mentally cursed himself, closing his eyes. He had walked right into his nightmares. He took a deep breath, cutting into the plate laid before him.
" Elrond, you did embarrass him greatly. He left," Celebrían said softly. Her sharp gaze caught Elrond's trembling hands. " What is it?"
Elrond shook his head.
" I will be fine."
Celebrían nodded.
" You will speak to Glorfindel later?"
Elrond nodded.
" And you will tell me what bothers you later?" Celebrían further inquired.
Elrond sighed.
" Yes, I will tell you later."
Celebrían smiled up at him.
" You are easy to persuade when you are grumpy."
Elrond looked at her with a faux miffed expression. Celebrían just laughed. Elrond shook his head.
" Please do not give that secret away to any counselors."
Celebrían leaned over.
" I think that it would not matter. Only I can persuade you against you."
Elrond finished chewing the bite he had taken.
" Point taken, counselor."