Chapter 33

Months later

                  Elrond sat alone, his bottom lip between his teeth.  He had escaped from the festivities below.  He had barely been able to see his fiancée before she was whisked away by many maidens.  He looked at the silver ring on his finger.

*Tis the last time I shall wear this ring.  A gold one shall replace it in a matter of minutes.

                  " You do know that this is your wedding and that most grooms remain at the festivities."

Elrond looked up slightly.  He had known the steps easily.

                  " I am not like most grooms, Glorfindel."

Glorfindel gave an easy shrug.

                  " That is true.  Galadriel sent me for you while everyone else is herded towards the ceremony site."

Elrond stood, brushing off the pristine white robes as he walked beside Glorfindel.

                  " You are nervous?"

Elrond gave a timid nod.

                  " Aye."

                  " She looks beautiful."

Elrond's head swung up.

                  " You've seen her?"

Glorfindel nodded.

                  " For a moment.  The dress becomes her."

Elrond waved hand, motioning for his seneschal to hurry.

                  " Come then, you are far too slow."

Glorfindel just chuckled to himself. 

*This shall be far more enjoyable than anything else.  Watching Elrond stumble over words.  Priceless…

~*~

                  Celebrían paced the room, her skirts swishing obnoxiously loud in the room.  Her parents watched with amused smiles from cushions.

                  " Why is Elrond not here?  Where is he?"  Celebrían asked worriedly.

                  " I sent Glorfindel only minutes ago, Celebrían.  Elrond will be here," Galadriel soothed.

As if on cue, a knock came.  Celebrían froze, turning towards the door.

                  " Come in," Celeborn called.

                  Glorfindel entered first, followed by Elrond.  Celebrían and Elrond's eyes immediately connected on each other.  She extended her hands and Elrond took them, placing a quick kiss on her cheek. 

                  " You look beautiful," Elrond said softly.

                  " So do you," Celebrían nervously fixed his perfect collar.

The two were oblivious to the other three in the room.  Glorfindel just shook his head.

                  " If you two can bear to tear yourselves from each other, I would like to follow a tradition here," Galadriel said.

                  The couple turned to face them.  Galadriel gave a small smile.

                  " I have my gift for Elrond," Galadriel said, then looked down, " And we have Celebrían's gift from Eärendil."

                  " What?!" Elrond exclaimed.

Galadriel gave a small shrug, looking at Celeborn.

                  " There was one thing recovered from the haven at Sirion after Maedhros and Maglor took you and Elros."  Celeborn stepped forward.  "Ereinion had it for many years and passed it on to me to give it to you, Elrond, when the time was right.  This time is as good as any, though it goes to Celebrían as tradition goes."

Tradition was for the father of the groom to give the bride a gift; and the mother of the bride, something to the groom.

                  Celebrían took the silver necklace.  Elrond glanced at her, before she passed it into his hands.

                  " Go on.  You may look at it.  I will not keep it from you," Celebrían replied.

Elrond turned it over in his hands.

                  " It is burnt," he looked up.

                  " We do not know how it came to stay at the havens, for your father had left long ago."  Celeborn gave a small shrug.  " It was the one thing recovered from the site, other than you and your brother."

Celebrían lifted up her long silver hair so Elrond could clasp it around her neck.  Galadriel then stepped forward, her eyes meeting Elrond's.

*I can give you no greater gift than my daughter and I can give you no greater power, nor beautiful jewel, for you already bear Vilya.  Instead, my gift is this.

                  Elrond looked down as she placed something in his hands.  He smiled slightly, nostalgia coming over him.  The tiny bottle bearing Vingilot was still the same as it had been centuries ago.

                  " Thank you," he said.

Galadriel smiled slightly.

                  " I thought you would like to have it."

Elrond nodded.  He glanced over at Erestor.

                  " Can you place this in my study?  Somewhere where it cannot be broken."

Erestor nodded, taking it carefully.  Celeborn clapped his hands.

                  " Well, who's ready for a wedding?"

~*~

                  Glorfindel studied Elrond carefully.  The Elf had been silent for the last few minutes.

                  " You do know that most grooms are also joyful?"

Elrond simply looked up.

                  " I do not know how they can be.  I feel as if I'm about to lose what little I ate."

Glorfindel chuckled.  Elrond simply sent him another scorching glance.

                  " Where is a certain maiden when I need her?"  Elrond muttered.  " I will see that you two are married so you know of what I speak."

Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " But I am not like you, Elrond.  I will enjoy my wedding day."

Elrond turned to reply, but Glorfindel quickly began the way down the aisle to the front.  Elrond had no choice but to follow; and the procession began.

~*~

                  Elrond and Glorfindel stood side-by-side, waiting for Celebrían.  Elrond looked at his feet for a moment before he heard the soft exclamations.  He looked up and his breath caught again.  Though he had already seen her, as she emerged from the gardens into their sight, she seemed to glow.  Escorted by her parents, the last rays of sunlight glimmered upon her, not touching her, almost as if they were afraid to mar such perfection.  Elrond's stern expression softened, causing Glorfindel to merely shake his head.

*And a lady is Imladris' weakness.  That is usually the way it is.

                  Celebrían tried to make her parents walk faster, but finally gave up.  They were content with the leisurely stroll.  She gave a small sigh, her eyes meeting Elrond's.  His eyes were so dark, she swore she could see her reflection in them.  His dark locks danced freely as a gentle wind ruffled them.  She smiled at him as they finally came to stand in front of him.

                  Celeborn hesitated, gently kissing his daughter's cheek before placing her white hand in Elrond's.  The father then moved off to the side to observe the rest of the ceremony.  Glorfindel and Galadriel both placed a hand upon the couple's interwined ones.

                  " Manwë Súlimo, alae i erthad uin Elrond ion ned Eärendil a Celebrían iell ned Galadriel (Manwë Súlimo, behold the union of Elrond, son of Eärendil and Celebrían, daughter of Galadriel)," Glorfindel began.

                  " Elbereth Gilthoniel, alae i erthad uin Elrond ned Imladris a Celebrían ned Lórien (Elbereth Gilthoniel, behold the union of Elrond of Imladris and Celebrían of Lórien)," Galadriel finished.

                  Elrond met Celebrían's eyes as he began to open his mouth.

                  " Ilúvatar, galu am i erthad (Ilúvatar, blessings upon the union)…"
Celebrían smiled at his unusually soft voice.  She squeezed his hand before beginning her part.

                  " Eru, aen manadhpant (Eru, may it be full of fortune)…"

                  " A uireb (And eternal)," The couple finished together.

                  Galadriel and Glorfindel handed the couple the rings.  Celebrían smiled at Elrond's trembling hands as he began to gently take the silver ring off.  She looked up and caught his nervousness as he extended his hand to her.  She then took off his silver ring and replaced it with one of gold.  Elrond glanced at her curiously seeing Elvin script around the band.  He did not remember having it etched on.  Celebrían smiled.

*It says the vows upon it.

                  Galadriel cleared her throat.

                  " You may kiss your bride any time you wish, Elrond."

Elrond's cheeks flushed a bit before he claimed Celebrían's lips in a sealing kiss.  A cheer came over the Elves once the kiss began.  Celebrían turned to face the Elves with a huge grin; and even Elrond's stern façade dissolved into a half smile.

                  Elves came to congratulate them, swarming about with their well wishes.  Atarlasse came and draped her arms around Elrond and Celebrían's shoulders.  She smiled at Elrond.

                  " Now are you not glad I told you to write that letter to her?"

Elrond shook his head with a smile.

                  " I never had to send it."

                  " But still, were it not for me, this day might never have happened."

Celebrían just arched an eyebrow, squeezing Elrond's hand with a mischievous smile.

                  " Oh, it would have happened alright.  You did not need to worry about that."

                  Elrond smiled down at Celebrían, a real smile gracing his face.  Celebrían looked amazed.  She turned to face him as the other Elves began to wander off to leave the newlyweds in peace.  One of her hands began to play with his collar.

                  " We are married," she looked up at him with a smile.

Elrond let his forehead rest against hers.

                  " Not yet…"

Celebrían laughed, granting him a kiss and then pushing him.

                  " You are lucky I love you, Peredhil."

Elrond simply watched her with a small smile.

                  Celeborn touched his daughter's arm.  Celebrían turned and then threw herself into her father's arms.

                  " Do not cry, Ada.  I will visit you."

Celeborn returned the hug.  Elrond stood silently, not wishing to interfere.  Celeborn looked up at Elrond.

*I pray you never have a daughter so you do not know the heartache of parting.

Elrond felt his wife return to his arms.  Galadriel ushered her husband away and Glorfindel had already mysteriously disappeared.

                  " Well," Elrond looked around at the empty courtyard.

Celebrían tugged his head down, inducing a passionate kiss.

                  " I love thee," she whispered. 

Elrond cleared his throat as Celebrían leaned against him alluringly.

                  " May we continue this elsewhere, M'lady?"

Celebrían sent him a cheerful smile, tugging on his hand.  The two took the quickest route towards their chambers.

~*~

                  Celebrían gently drew patterns on his bare chest, her sleepy eyes opening a bit more.  His strong arms held her captive against him, causing her head to rest against his neck.

*We are truly married now.

She smiled.  After all the years of waiting, she found that it had been well worth it.  Her cheeks flushed in the early morning light.

                  " Tis a beautiful blush there," came a deep murmur in her ear.

                  Celebrían looked up, finding her husband awake.  She lifted her lips for a kiss.

                  " Daer aur, Herven."  Celebrían said softly.

Elrond gently laid another kiss on her forehead.

                  " Good morning, Celebrían."

She began to rise, reaching for her robe nearby.

                  " Tis almost breakfast-" she began.

Elrond tugged on her wrist.

                  " We are not expected."

She turned from the fastening of her robe with a furrowed brow.  Elrond sat up, the sheets pooling at a delectable area of his body.  He licked his lips slightly.

                  " I have arranged it so that if you wish to go to Lórien, we can."

Celebrían just froze before a smile overcame her face.

                  She crawled back over the bed, throwing her arms around his neck.

                  " Just the two of us?" she asked, straddling his waist.

Her mischievous lips captured his.  Elrond pulled back with an aghast look on his face.

                  " Why, I arranged for chaperones."

Celebrían caught the twinkle in his dark eyes.

                  " Liar," she laughed.

Elrond simply kissed the base of her neck, trailing them upwards.  Celebrían gently pushed him against the pillows, lying on his chest. 

                  " What if I told you I did not wish to go to Lórien?"

                  " Really?"  Elrond's uneasy face made her smile.

                  " Aye," Celebrían looked down.  " I heard of all the duties you have to perform.  I am not deaf.  I believe it is too-"

Elrond put a finger to her lips.

                  " I have left Imladris in Erestor and Glorfindel's care before and it is still standing."  Elrond looked away.  " Leastways, I told my counselors my leave was at your bidding."

Celebrían laughed, pulling the covers over them as Elrond began to divest the robe from her again.  She leisurely began an attack on his bare skin.

                  " And who are you to go against the Lady of Imladris?"

AN: The vows are part of Nemis' story 'A tale of Elrond and Celebrían'.  They are her creation and not mine, so all credit for those go to her.  The actual ordering of the ceremony is mine.