Chapter 45

                  Erestor entered Elrond's study to put a missive on the lord's desk.  Erestor placed it in the middle of the table and then turned to leave.  The advisor then cocked his head with a confused expression.  Erestor turned, finding Elrond asleep in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. Erestor shook Elrond till he woke.

                  " Elrond, why are you in your study sleeping?"

                  " Ada, where is Nana?"  Both Elrohir and Elladan suddenly slid into the room.  " Celebrisse is looking for her.  Nana left the baby with her."

                  Elrond stood with an aghast expression.

                  " Glorfindel, someone find Glorfindel."  Elrond put a hand to his head.  " And get me a potion for this headache I am about to have."

Erestor put a steadying hand on Elrond's arm.

                  " Did you sleep in your study?"

Elrond nodded sheepishly.

                  " That would be why I do not know where Celebrían is."

Elladan barred his father from leaving.

                  " Where is she?"

Elrond gently moved his son aside.

                  " Check the stables.  I can bet her horse is gone, as well as her guard's."

~*~

                  Elrond sat in his study, drumming his fingers against the wood aimlessly. 

*She left.  She really left.

He sighed, glancing away.

*And I ran away from her. 

He turned his dark eyes to the window.

*I do not understand Lórien's call.  Surely she could have survived another month or so here in Imladris. 

                  Elrond's thoughts bolted when he heard a familiar crying.  He was out of his seat before it even registered.  Celebrisse bustled down the hallway towards him, attracting attention of all kind.  She put the crying bundle in his arms.

                  " I have done everything possible to…"  She trailed off.

The baby had begun cooing in Elrond's arms.  Celebrisse shook her head.

                  " Obviously all she wanted was you."

Elrond just smiled at her.

                  " Who does not want me?"

Celebrisse just rolled her eyes.

                  " I will refrain from answering."

Elrond smiled sadly this time.

                  " Thank you, Celebrisse, because I know of one person that definitely does not want to lay eyes on me."

                  Glorfindel chose that opportune moment to glide up.  He touched Elrond's arm with a worried look.

                  " Celebrían's guard left this morning, but not with her.  She went for a ride before breakfast.  None of them returned."  Glorfindel motioned for Elrond to follow him.  " Do you want to take a walk and talk about it?"

Elrond nodded.

                  " It would ease my mind."

~*~

                  Glorfindel clasped his hands behind his back as they walked along a forest path no one ever took.  Elrond shifted the babe in his arms; glad the area was fully shaded.

                  " So what happened?"

Elrond sighed.

                  " We fought."

Glorfindel sighed with a shaking head.

                  " That much is obvious.  What about?"

Elrond gave a minute shrug of his shoulders.

                  " She wanted to go to Lórien.  I asked her to wait until the child was older."  Elrond looked away.  " The call to Lórien has become progressively stronger with every year our marriage progresses.  She became overly dramatic saying she would die if she went another day without traveling towards Lórien."

Glorfindel closed his eyes.

                  " Please tell me you did not tell her this."

                  Elrond gave a nod.

                  " I told her that."

Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " I am not married and I understand women better than you.  Never ever tell them they are dramatic.  Never a good thing."

                  " I asked her if she would dare to forsake the baby."  Elrond continued, ignoring Glorfindel's words.  " At that point she called me, and I quote, ' An old fool set in his ways'."  Elrond's dark gray eyes bore immense hurt.  " She has never ever attacked me in this way."

                  Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " You calling her dramatic pales in comparison to her calling you old.  It may be true, but she should know better after a near two and a half centuries."

Elrond nodded, before glancing at the sleeping babe.

                  " And she left the girl."

Glorfindel sighed.

                  " Galadriel will be livid."

Elrond nodded.

                  " And I for one, am glad I am not Celebrían when Galadriel catches up to her."

~*~

                  Elrond lay all alone in their bed.  The baby girl was cuddled against his bare chest.  He watched her as she slept. 

*She will be a great woman.

Elrond gently touched her cheek.

*Looks like her mother, but with dark hair.

A pang in his heart made him close his eyes.  He shut off his mind, finding it too painful to think.  With a protective arm around the babe, he drifted off to sleep, one thought on his mind.

*Arwen…