Chapter 40
Elrond sat down at his wife's feet, listening to her play the harp. Celebrían pulled him to his feet, making him sit in front of her.
" Place your hands like this." She whispered.
Elrond effortlessly began to strum the strings. Celebrían sighed.
" It took me three months to master this and it takes you all of three seconds."
Elrond chuckled softly, glancing back at her and seizing her lips.
" I enjoy pleasing you, Hervess."
Celebrían pushed him playfully.
" There are many insinuations in that sentence, Master Elrond."
The twins came to a halt outside their mother's study. The gentle harp had provided cover for their steps.
" As if you do not provide enough when you speak."
Silence fell again.
" Is all well again, Elrond?" Celebrían asked.
The twins shared a glance.
" No, it is not, Celebrían. I told you all those years ago I would be a horrible father."
Celebrían gave a loud exclamation tugging his downcast chin around to face her.
" You listen to me, Elrond Peredhil, just because they are in that rebellious stage does not mean everything is your fault. If it was not for you and the power you have, this child I bear now would be our first."
A short silence fell. Elrond sighed this time.
" I wish they were boys again, Bree."
" Me too. They were terrors." Celebrían laughed.
Elrond's deep timbre laugh echoed.
" I would give everything for just a moment of the adoration they had for me then."
Elladan shook his head, walking away from the door. Elrohir sighed.
*We have done more damage with our words then Sauron can do with any force.
~*~
Glorfindel found his two pupils packing. He paused in the doorway of the elaborate and enormous chamber that housed the twin princes of Imladris.
" And why are you two packing?"
Elrohir turned with a sad look in his eyes.
" Ada is sending us to Mirkwood."
Glorfindel nodded.
" Aye, but that is not until your birthday, a clear four months from now."
Elladan shrugged, a despondent sigh on his lips.
" Ada gave it to us early. He is displeased with us."
Glorfindel bit his upper lip as he lounged in the doorway.
" Does this have anything to do with the sulking lord I have seen slouching about Imladris?"
Elrohir unexpectedly threw his shoe across the room. The mirror it hit shattered into a million different pieces. The twins shielded themselves from the flying slivers.
Pounding footsteps came down the hall. Both Elrond and Celebrían slid to stops just outside the room.
" What happened?"
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow at their unkempt appearance. Celebrían straightened her dress, smoothing the material when she felt the scrutiny.
" How did the mirror break?"
Elrohir gave a small, indifferent shrug, turning back to his packing.
" Do not worry yourself, Nana. No one was hurt."
Elrond turned his eyes to Glorfindel. Glorfindel shook his head, holding up a hand before Elrond could even speak.
" Do not even ask me. This is your family's mess, not mine to dabble in."
Without another word, Glorfindel left. The three male Elves eyed each other warily. The tension was palpable in the room.
Celebrían suddenly slammed her foot against the floor.
" That's it. I have had enough!" She glared at each Elf in turn. "Settle this dispute now."
Elrond made a move towards her with a strained look on his face. She held up a hand, causing him to freeze in his tracks.
" No. I shall risk your anger and a cold bed to do this." Her voice lowered, seeing Elrond's unwillingness to comply with her wishes. " I am pregnant, Elrond. Do you really want to exasperate me?"
The silvery haired lady turned and marched out. Elrond shoved his hands into his pockets.
" She was twenty times worse than this during her first pregnancy."
The twins managed nervous chuckles.
Elrond paced around a bit, surprised at his own nervousness as he glanced around the disorganized room. He paused, seeing a bottle with a ship in it.
" Círdan gave them to us when we were eight." Elladan said.
Elrond nodded, glad for the idle chatter.
" Círdan is a master at these small models." He turned and glanced at his sons. " He is the one that recreated Vingilot for Elros. Surely you have seen it in my study?"
" Aye, Ada. You have shown it to us various times."
The twins sat side by side on one of the beds, watching their father as he ambled about the enormous room. Elrond finally paused, turning their way.
" I sense Mirkwood is not pleasing to either of you."
Elladan shrugged.
" If we leave, then we shall miss the birth of our sibling."
Elrond's eyes flickered in surprise.
*And I thought they were displeased with the coming child.
" Then you two feel no disapproval at your mother and I having another child?"
Elrohir nodded.
" We spoke out of turn, Ada. I am sorry for it."
" I too," Elladan interjected.
Elrohir smiled slightly.
" I hope it is a boy." He jabbed his brother in the ribs.
Elladan rolled his eyes. Elrond only shrugged, a smile playing on his lips.
" I pray it is healthy and an easy delivery."
" Nana says we took her to Mandos' edge," Elrohir laughed.
A shadow darkened Elrond's face.
" You did. The three of you should not be here this day."
" They say you performed a cut through the womb." The healer instinct in Elladan got the better of him.
Elrohir made a face.
" Do you two mind not speaking of such… appalling things?"
Both Elladan and Elrond chuckled at the youngest's sickened grimace.
Elladan glanced at his father, sensing the Elf was in a far better mood.
" I do not want to leave for Mirkwood until after Nana has the baby."
Elrohir nodded in agreement.
" Count me in also."
Elrond clasped his hands together.
" Then I shall send word to Thranduil." Elrond paused, biting his lips slightly. " I have not been totally honest with you two about this deal either."
" What do you mean?" Elrohir asked with a hint of wariness.
" In return for Thranduil training the both of you in his woods and such, I would train his two younger children in healing, lore and proper court protocol. The youngest's mother recently died. All the children were close to her, so Thranduil sees the lessons and the new place as a way for them to cope with the grief."
Elrohir nudged his brother.
" Looks like we got the better end of the deal."
Elrond simply raised an eyebrow.
" The two of you are expected to attend these lessons."
The twins groaned.
" We will have to sit in these classes again and take care of two elflings?" Elrohir sighed.
Elrond surveyed the two.
" When did I give any indication that these two were not of age?"
Elrohir straightened.
" Well, I just-"
Elladan nudged him.
*Just be quiet, Elrohir. You have dug yourself a deep enough hole.
Elrohir huffed a bit. Elrond chuckled.
" The two are about your age; one the exact same age, the other a year younger. Ah!" Elrond pointed at Elladan. " One is an excellent marksman. Twill give you someone to compete with unlike your brother." Elrond leaned in. " I heard he put even Thranduil to shame."
The twins exchanged a glance. They did not bother to challenge each other with weapons because it was always a draw. Elladan glanced at his father with a sigh, plopping his chin in his palm. Elrond gave a small shrug.
" It shan't be as bad as you think."
The twins only exchanged a glance behind his back.
~*~
Elrond entered his chambers and then poked a head into the bath area. He found his wife fully dressed sitting on the ledge with her feet in the steaming hot bath. He knelt beside her, beginning to massage her tense neck muscles.
" Better?" Elrond asked softly.
Celebrían only shrugged. Elrond sat beside her, not bothering to put his legs in the bath. He could feel the irritation emanating from his wife. She was still annoyed by his and his sons' behavior. Celebrían rose abruptly, her skirt's rustle breaking the silence. Elrond looked down at his hands.
" When did the lord of Imladris lose his lady's favor?"
Celebrían turned back, with an apologetic look, but he was gone. She sighed, picking up her skirts.
" Glorfindel?"
The golden haired Elf slid out of a room with a wide-eyed look at her call.
" What is it? Are you ok? Need I go find Elrond?"
Celebrían could not hide a smile. She touched his arm.
" I am fine. I do need you to find Elrond though. He is angry with me." She looked up. " Talk to him for me, please?"
Glorfindel sighed.
" Why am I the mediator between you two?"
Celebrían smiled.
" Because other than me, you are the only one Elrond listens to."
Glorfindel contemplated for a moment before returning her smile.
" I guess you do have a point. Off I go, my lady, to do your bidding."
Celebrían giggled, watching him jog off and then disappear around a corner. She then shook her head.
" He is living proof that the longer that one lives here, the more outlandish they become."