Chapter 36
Celebrían turned over, expecting to find her husband's warm body to lean into to escape the cold winter chill, but the bed was strangely cold. She opened one eye groggily. She propped herself up on one elbow to watch her husband. His uncovered back flexed as he leaned a gentle hand down into the nearby cradle. Celebrían stood softly.
" They sleep."
Elrond turned his head slightly.
" I know."
She draped an arm around his waist, a hand falling on his dangerously low trousers.
" Come back to bed."
Elrond shook his head. He leaned an elbow on the cradle edge, propping his head up. Celebrían smiled.
" And why not?" She leaned down towards his ear. " The first time they cry tonight or tomorrow, they are your children."
Elrond sent her a smile allowing her to pull him towards the bed.
~*~
Elrond watched with a sinking heart as his wife walked out of the bedroom. It was his turn to play babysitter. He glanced over the cradle edge. Immedietly, he was met with cooing. Elrond could not help but pick up the conscious one. The boy's midnight black hair stuck up every which way. Elrond tried to smooth it, but portions still stuck straight up. Elrond went to the window, seeing many Elf-lords outside with their horses.
He glanced back at the cradle, making sure the eldest was still sleeping soundly. Elrond looked at the one he held and watched its gray eyes dart towards the window, trying to see beyond the bright sun. Elrond gently shaded the child's eyes. A little hand stretched out towards one of the horses, though Elrond knew the babe could not see it. The name rolled off his lips before he could stop it.
" Elrohir."
Elrond glanced over his shoulder, hoping he was alone. Thankfully, he was. He then bent beside the eldest, replacing the youngest and then tilting his head.
" Elladan."
Elrond ran a hand over the back of his neck.
*I guess I shall run the names by Celebrían.
~*~
" Ada?"
Elrond glanced at his 6-year-old son.
" Yes, Elrohir?"
" How come I have only one Daeradar and Daernaneth while everyone else has two?"
Elrond just froze, his head turning to look at the boy. Elrond had hoped neither child would notice the absence.
" Well, Elrohir," Elrond pulled the boy into his lap. " My father and mother went over the Sea when I was younger than you."
Elrohir laughed.
" Ada, you were never younger than me."
Elrond smiled, watching the boy run off to be with his brother. Elrond rubbed his chin.
*I believe that child is right for once.
~*~
Elrond sat in the council meeting, his eyes every now and then floating to the window. Glorfindel cleared his throat, sending Elrond a pointed look. Elrond just sighed.
*I do not need to worry about being killed. This Elf will bore me to Mandos.
A scream suddenly sent chills down his spine. Elrond rose, pushing by towards the door, recognizing the scream without realizing it.
Elrond sprinted down the halls, sliding to a stop by the door leading out. Celebrían's steps came down the hall as she carried Elrohir. Elrond ran outside.
" Elladan?" He yelled.
Elrond's heart began to beat faster.
*Where is he?
Elrond glanced back at his frantic wife before his gaze lighted on his other son. Elrond bent in front of Elrohir.
*I always knew where Elros was. Maybe…
" Elrohir, do you know where your brother is?"
Elrohir gave a small nod.
" Where?" Elrond asked gently.
" He wanted to go swimming, but Nana told us not to go until you got out of your meeting."
Elrond's heart stopped. The river was especially fast this time of the year.
~*~
Elrond ran down the small path that led to the well-known swimming area. His eyes searched every inch of the river as he sped by it. Elrond's breath caught when he saw a hint of peach among the blue river. The body was borne quickly away. Elrond stripped off his outer tunic and then got a running start, kicking off his shoes as he went. In an effortless motion he dove in. The cold water stung at first, but Elrond kept his eyes fixed on the tiny body before him.
*Blessed Eru, let me reach my son.
~*~
Celebrían ran into Glorfindel as she ran towards the council room.
" Elladan is missing."
Glorfindel ran a hand over his face.
" Do you know-"
" I told you, Nana. He went by the river. I told Ada and he listened to me." Elrohir interrupted.
Glorfindel and Celeborn sprinted by. Celebrían put two hands to her face, sinking to the floor. Elrohir leaned against her and then looked up with a smile. A hand brushed Celebrían's hair.
" Elrond will find him, dear."
Celebrían hugged her mother fiercely, sobbing into her shoulder. Galadriel held her daughter close, biting back memories.
*I know only too well how it is to lose a child…
~*~
By the time Glorfindel reached the banks, he found Elrond bent over a lifeless body. Elrond was busily trying to resuscitate the tiny blue-colored boy. Celeborn bent beside Elrond, offering to help. Elrond took it with a stiff nod. Elrond placed Vilya over the young boy's heart.
*Please, Blessed Eru, I'll do anything…
Elladan's tiny body suddenly arched up before he began coughing violently, expelling the liquid from his lungs. Elrond closed his eyes, biting back tears with a sigh of relief. Celeborn let out a pent up sigh also.
" Elladan, you really had us scared."
The little boy looked up with his silver-blue tinted eyes. His eyes fell on his father and he bit his lip. Elladan put his fists to his eyes, his tiny body shaking with sobs that broke Elrond's heart. The boy was scared out of his mind from the near-death experience. Elrond helped the boy up before gently picking him up. Elrond fumbled, grabbing his tunic from on the bank; and then wrapped it around the shivering boy. Without a word, Elrond moved by the mass of Elves. Elladan laid his head on his father's shoulder, before pulling back.
" I'm sorry, Ada."
Elrond ruffled his hair slightly.
" I think you learned your lesson, Elladan."
Elladan nodded with a slight face.
" I don't like water."
~*~
Celebrían gave a happy yell, seeing her soaked husband approaching with a squirming boy in his arms. She took the boy in her arms, hugging him tightly.
" Nana," Elladan's lips curled when she pressed a kiss to his cheek.
The boy furiously rubbed at it. Celebrían just laughed, before she dissolved into tears. Elrond quickly pulled her close so that she did not fall to the ground.
" Shh, Bree, everything's ok. He will be fine."
Celebrían pulled away, wiping her eyes. She looked at her now wet dress with a sigh. Her eyes then turned to the sniffling eldest.
" Both of you, inside. I will not be dealing with two colds at once," Celebrían began to shoo them towards the house. Elrond managed to motion Glorfindel forward.
" Tell Erestor I want plans for a railing along the river. I would not wish this to happen to anyone else."
Glorfindel nodded. He shook his head.
" I never knew you could swim."
Elrond wrung out his hair with a shrug.
" Neither did I."
~*~
Celebrían gently brushed her sons' hair from their faces. Both Elladan and Elrohir lay on either side of their father, all three sound asleep. She shook her head slightly, pressing her body against Elladan's gently. He awoke softly.
" Nana?" he rubbed his eyes.
She gently soothed him.
" Go back to sleep, dear."
She glanced up, finding her husband awake.
Celebrían gave him a soft kiss.
" How are you?"
Elrond gave a small shrug.
" Still a little shaky."
Celebrían ruffled his semi-wet locks. She glanced down, seeing his protective arms around the two boys.
" I never knew you could swim."
Elrond sent her a small smile.
" You are the second person to tell me that. Come here and I will tell you a secret." Celebrían leaned over Elladan. " I cannot swim."
Celebrían just shook her head. She ran a hand over his hair again.
*And you thought you would be an awful father.
Elrond just chuckled.
*That is still up for debate.
Celebrían shook her head, a hand running down his face.
*You saved your son's life. I think that makes you at least a good father.
Elrond ran a hand over Elrohir's head.
*I hope this one is not as mischievous as Elros was.
Celebrían just smiled.
*You know he will be just because you said that.
Elrond just laughed, the soft timbre lulling the two children farther into sleep.