Chapter 49
Elrond sat beside Legolas' bed, pouring over a healing book in the dim candlelight a waning candle offered. The rest of the room was blanketed with an unquenchable darkness. He heard her slippered feet on the ground and turned his head slightly. She was a vision, all silver and white. Elrond felt a longing tug at him. He held back, a hand going to his chest. Upon a silver chain, he still wore her wedding band.
" How is he?" Formality ruled her tone.
Elrond glanced at him silent patient.
" Not as well as I would like."
" You will find a cure. You always do."
Elrond just shrugged, closing his book with a dull thud. He rose, taking her hand.
" Shall we take a walk?"
Celebrían hesitated before nodding.
" It has been many years since we last talked."
They ambled along silently in the gardens. Celebrían stole a sideways glance at her husband. His simple beauty had never ceased to astound her. His face was long and some years were upon it; but he looked neither young like the Firstborn, nor old like the Edain. His ebony hair shone, a bright contrast to his light gray robes. It seemed to Celebrían that a star was lit upon him for he shone. The light of the Gil-Estel seemed to follow his path and the stars twinkled brighter above him wherever he walked.
But for all his beauty and wisdom, he is still stubborn and old.
Elrond finally glanced at her.
" Thank you for coming to see the twins."
Celebrían bristled slightly, sending him a sharp glance.
" They are my sons. I heard they were hurt and I did what any mother might: I came." She paused, trying to change the subject. "Now when will you let Arwen come to Lórien?"
Elrond was unfazed by her direct challenge. Before Arwen had reached maturity, Elrond had made sure the girl did not leave Imladris. Now that Arwen was older, Celebrían ever pushed for the girl to join her.
" Arwen chooses as she wishes. Take the matter up with her." Elrond replied wearily.
Celebrían sighed, seeing that she would get no further with him. She spied the chain and ring around his neck.
" Is that my wedding ring?"
Elrond nodded with a wry grin, lifting it up so that they both could see it fully.
" The one and same that we pledged our love with." His eyes turned to her silently. " And then you threw at me when you no longer did."
She immdiatly bristled.
" I threw it at you because you are a mean old Elf that would not understand me."
" Would not understand or would not bend to your wishes?" Elrond confronted.
By Eru, I have already lost her. I can afford to argue with her.
Celebrían turned, her eyes burning bright.
" See! Again you do not understand me."
Elrond shook his head.
" There was a time when I was able to challenge you and do so without you flying off to your blessed Lórien. What happened?"
Celebrían turned her head angrily. Elrond caught her arm as she began to walk away. He pulled her close to him.
" Elrond Peredhil, release me-"
Elrond only leaned in further, a fire blazing in his eyes.
" When you can tell me one instance that I ever denied you any of your wishes, that is the day I become unworthy of being your husband." He leaned in even further so their lips were nearly touching as he spoke. " And now you think of all you have denied me with this fued: my wife, my entire family as a whole, a friend, the other half of me. I think that you are the one being stubborn and selfish, not I."
He released her, turning and gliding away. He glanced back at her.
So I can remember her. I doubt she will ever return to me now…
Celebrían watched him go, frozen to the spot. She tilted her chin defiantly.
" Stubborn, I?"
She threw her hair back and took off after him.
All in the breakfast hall noted the smoldering anger between the lord and lady of the house. Celebrían had given Elrond a tongue lashing the night before and he had not appreciated it.
" Pass the wine please." Elrond said.
Celebrían pointedly ignored him for the umpteenth time that morning, continuing her conversation with Celebrisse.
Arwen suddenly slammed her hands on the table, causing a loud clatter at the table she sat at with her brothers and Kalaina. She rose as silence fell all around the room. She walked up the few stairs to her parents' table, picking up the silver pitcher of wine. She filled her father' glass to the brim.
" There you are, Ada, since the guest beside you has not the manners to be of any assistance."
Elrond touched her hand with a small smile.
" Thank you, Undómiel," was all he said.
The Elves were stunned to hear no reprimand. Elrond glanced at his beautiful wife with a defeated sigh. He had given up.
Elrond studied the ring he had put away so log ago.
Vilya…
He put it on, heading towards the healing houses.
This is my last hope…
Thranduil stood, seeing the healer.
" Is all hope lost?" The father asked.
Elrond shook his head.
" Just hidden, good King, just hidden."
Elrond placed his right Vilya-bearing hand on Legolas' chest, beginning to utter soft words of Quenya. Elrond felt the magic take over him, as another language emitted from his form, both dark and musical. It was the completeness of the vision that took him that left Elrond unawares.
He was in a room. Elrond glanced around a bit, slightly confused. Why, it was his study. Elrond's eyes were directed to a gold Ring around a hobbit's neck. The One Ring. So it was not lost. He watched as his future self proclaimed that these two hobbits (one was the Ringbearer, the other his trusty servant) would be accompanied by Mithrandir. Elrond once again was confused. The Istar had only just arrived. The wizard must have a large part to play in events to come.
Elrond's eyes followed his future self's eyes. Arwen, Legolas and an unfamiliar Edain slipped in, tardy by the looks of it. Elrond watched as his elder self slowly walked forward as if burdened with a great weight. It took much strength to lay a single hand on Legolas' shoulder. The future Elrond glanced at the assembly, speaking in a tired voice.
" And Legolas shall be for the Elves."
Just as quickly as the vision came, it disappeared. Elrond gasped in a breath, realizing he had been holding it. Hands suddenly came, holding him down gently. Elrond forced his eyes open, stilling his motions. He squinted at his son. Elladan's face was consumed with both worry and relief.
" We are glad to have you returned to us, Ada. You have been out nearly two weeks."
Elrond rubbed his eyes.
" What?" His mind turned back to what he had done before he had fallen into darkness. " Legolas?"
Elrond put a hand to his throat, finding it dry and scratchy. Elladan handed him a glass of water.
" Whatever you did worked. He is well and lingers here only to make sure you-"
" Elrond!" a voice interrupted Elladan.
The young Elf could be seen running in from the long hallway.
" Speaking of Morgoth," Elladan muttered with a smile.
Legolas glared at him, catching the soft words. He leaned over, catching Elrond's arm.
" Thank you."
Elrond just nodded.
" You have too many things to fulfill to fade yet, Legolas Greenleaf."
Legolas just shrugged.
" Not me, Elrond. You are mistaken. I will never be great."
Elrond began to sit up, only to have his son begin to push him back down. Elrond glared up at his son, but Elladan withstood the fiery onslaught. Elrond sighed, complying with his eldest.
" Some things happen, Legolas, whether we wish them or not."
Celebrían stole into the room. She put a hand on the residing healer's shoulder.
" A moment please?"
The healer took his leave. Celebrían sat down beside the bed. Her white hand trailed down his cheek. A gentle rain pattered outside, accompanied by the sound of rolling thunder every few minutes. Lightening lit up the room nearly making it like day.
Celebrían gently pulled on a silver chain, revealing her wedding ring. She leaned over him, glad she had tied back her hair as she unclasped it. He stirred slightly, a pained look on his face, causing her to freeze. A tear rolled down her cheek when she heard the soft name he whispered.
" Celebrían, please, stay."
Celebrían took the necklace and then stood.
Farewell, Elrond Peredhil.
Celebrían turned to leave. She froze, finding a beautiful fury blocking the exit.
" What are you doing in here?" Arwen spat.
Celebrían pocketed the necklace without Arwen seeing.
" I came to say good bye one last time."
Arwen's eyes narrowed.
" You lie. Tell the truth. You are no longer Lady of Imladris; I am; and I will have you removed."
Celebrían moved forward.
" Why do you hate me?"
Arwen lifted her chin.
" Hate is too weak a word for what I feel when I watch what Ada goes through because of you. You are not here to watch him fade back into the woodwork of his study after you leave."
Celebrían crossed her arms.
" And what do you think I should do about this?"
" Stay." Arwen whispered. " Stay until next summer."
Celebrían shook her head.
" Tis not possible. The lady Nimrodel expects me back."
Arwen began to argue.
" Let her go, Arwen. Tis no use to try and bargain with her. She is as stubborn as you. It must run in your blood."
Both women turned to find Elrond slipping on his outer tunic. Arwen rushed to his side, seeing that he was still unsteady on his feet.
" Elladan will have a fit when he hears you are up."
Celebrían watched Elrond with a hidden degree of worry. Elrond seemed to not even notice that his necklace was missing. He glanced up and then groaned.
Elladan stormed in. He came nearly face-to-face with his father.
" I ordered at least two more days of rest for you. You are still weak and famished."
The two women held a collective breath. Elrond sighed, beginning to shake his head. Elladan crossed his arms.
" I am the head healer here and I have the power to override yours at the moment."
Elrond glanced at him with a frown.
" Fine, I will do as you order, lord Elladan."
Elladan chuckled a bit.
" And don't you forget it, Ada."
Elrond just shook his head.
Arwen watched her father return to bed. She glanced back at Celebrían with a malice filled glare.
" Elladan, please escort Celebrían of Lórien out of here."
Celebrían winced slightly, before allowing her son to lead her out.
Will she ever call me mother?
Erestor found Elrond's study torn apart and the lord was nowhere to be found. Papers were everywhere. Glorfindel stuck a cautious head in.
" Heads will roll when Elrond sees this." Glorfindel whistled.
Erestor's brow furrowed as he watched a paper fly from behind the desk.
" Elrond?"
They heard a muffled exclamation (or curse) preceded by a loud thump. A scowling Elrond appeared from behind his desk, rubbing his head.
" What are you doing?" Erestor asked. " You are covered in dust and we have dignitaries arriving at any moment."
Elrond shook his head, waving a hand as he shuffled through papers on his desk.
" I do not care. I have lost it."
" What?" Glorfindel asked.
Elrond paused, his shoulders drooping slightly. He looked up with an expression of anger, confusion, embarrassment and largest of all fear.
" I have lost Celebrían's wedding ring."