CH. 7
It was as Raliwen had said. After a few weeks Rian-Celine was at home with the ways of the Last Homely House. She helped in the kitchen, in the garden, in the library. All Rivendell worshipped her talents, and her beauty. For while fifteen years passed, making Rian-Celine 31, she remained as youthful looking as when she had first arrived: indeed more beautiful and Elflike than ever. The longer she was in Rivendell the more like an Elf in every way she became. And the more the twins sought her attention.
In different ways, she was sought by the other Elves too. Ever since Rian- Celine had introduced baked caramel apples to Middle-Earth, the kitchen begged her to be present at the preparations for great banquets. The fact that Rian-Celine was so great a cook inspite of being incapable of smelling or tasting enhanced their admiration. Simliarly, the nightly concerts of Elvish ballads went unheard by Rian-Celine, yet when at the joint behest of Elrond and his children she took up a harp and sang "Only Time" by Enya, the whole room presented her with a special corner and harp. From then on she was regularly called upon to perform.
Often Rian-Celine would sit or walk with Bilbo for hours, the two of them practicing silent communication. Bilbo told her tales of his journey, of Frodo, or of the irritating antics of the Sackville-Bagginses and she told him anything he thought to ask her. She noticed that when she hinted of the future he never seemed to hear. On one occasion, Arwen invited her to visit her room and talk to her. Rian- Celine went gladly. Arwen's rooms were beautiful, and it was obvious that among Arwen's talents interior decorating held a high place. She noticed a charcoal drawing on the desk. It was the bust of a man, young, handsome, with a rosebud mouth and messy locks. Rian-Celine was of the opinion the drawing needed help. Serious help.
"Who is this?" she asked quietly, though she knew very well.
'Estel. Years ago, when we first met. I have tried to draw him as I remember, but something is not right.'
'But, the Elves have a special power of memory. Surely you have no need to draw him?'
'For myself, yes, his face is so deeply engraved in my heart that this drawing seems nothing. But' Arwen smiled, with a great hope in her eyes. 'If we should have children...'
'I think you will,' said Rian-Celine carefully. She was learning that if she stated the future, nobody heard her. 'If you like, I could give you some pointers on drawing mouths, because to be honest, Estel does look...unnatural.' Arwen accepted gratefully.
When Rian-Celine desired a more active pastime, Elladan and Elrohir offered her swordfighting and archery lessons with pleasure. Since she had persuaded her mother to let her do archery before, Rian-Celine had no trouble matching the twins' shots. Swordfighting was much the same, for the twins trained other young elves when they were at home. For years the twins had maintained an unbroken record of winning every scrimmage against the juniors...and it was Rian-Celine who broke it.
Overall, Rian-Celine was very happy in Rivendell. No one shunned her because of her talents or beauty, the "royal family" (as she called Lord Elrond's family, never to their faces though) held her in high esteem, and both Elladan and Elrohir courted her most assiduously. They had reason: she was the most beautiful, talented and kind person they had ever seen, besides, perhaps, Arwen and Galadriel. Lord Elrond was aware of his sons' feelings towards this woman. So was Arwen, and she became rather jealous of the fact that SHE was not allowed to have a human lover, but her brothers were. Elrond sent her to Lothlorien for a few years to avoid a real quarrel.
Rian-Celine met Gandalf again several times over the course of fifteen years, but the times she found out Aragorn and Legolas had visited she had been out rangering with Elladan and Elrohir.
It was as Raliwen had said. After a few weeks Rian-Celine was at home with the ways of the Last Homely House. She helped in the kitchen, in the garden, in the library. All Rivendell worshipped her talents, and her beauty. For while fifteen years passed, making Rian-Celine 31, she remained as youthful looking as when she had first arrived: indeed more beautiful and Elflike than ever. The longer she was in Rivendell the more like an Elf in every way she became. And the more the twins sought her attention.
In different ways, she was sought by the other Elves too. Ever since Rian- Celine had introduced baked caramel apples to Middle-Earth, the kitchen begged her to be present at the preparations for great banquets. The fact that Rian-Celine was so great a cook inspite of being incapable of smelling or tasting enhanced their admiration. Simliarly, the nightly concerts of Elvish ballads went unheard by Rian-Celine, yet when at the joint behest of Elrond and his children she took up a harp and sang "Only Time" by Enya, the whole room presented her with a special corner and harp. From then on she was regularly called upon to perform.
Often Rian-Celine would sit or walk with Bilbo for hours, the two of them practicing silent communication. Bilbo told her tales of his journey, of Frodo, or of the irritating antics of the Sackville-Bagginses and she told him anything he thought to ask her. She noticed that when she hinted of the future he never seemed to hear. On one occasion, Arwen invited her to visit her room and talk to her. Rian- Celine went gladly. Arwen's rooms were beautiful, and it was obvious that among Arwen's talents interior decorating held a high place. She noticed a charcoal drawing on the desk. It was the bust of a man, young, handsome, with a rosebud mouth and messy locks. Rian-Celine was of the opinion the drawing needed help. Serious help.
"Who is this?" she asked quietly, though she knew very well.
'Estel. Years ago, when we first met. I have tried to draw him as I remember, but something is not right.'
'But, the Elves have a special power of memory. Surely you have no need to draw him?'
'For myself, yes, his face is so deeply engraved in my heart that this drawing seems nothing. But' Arwen smiled, with a great hope in her eyes. 'If we should have children...'
'I think you will,' said Rian-Celine carefully. She was learning that if she stated the future, nobody heard her. 'If you like, I could give you some pointers on drawing mouths, because to be honest, Estel does look...unnatural.' Arwen accepted gratefully.
When Rian-Celine desired a more active pastime, Elladan and Elrohir offered her swordfighting and archery lessons with pleasure. Since she had persuaded her mother to let her do archery before, Rian-Celine had no trouble matching the twins' shots. Swordfighting was much the same, for the twins trained other young elves when they were at home. For years the twins had maintained an unbroken record of winning every scrimmage against the juniors...and it was Rian-Celine who broke it.
Overall, Rian-Celine was very happy in Rivendell. No one shunned her because of her talents or beauty, the "royal family" (as she called Lord Elrond's family, never to their faces though) held her in high esteem, and both Elladan and Elrohir courted her most assiduously. They had reason: she was the most beautiful, talented and kind person they had ever seen, besides, perhaps, Arwen and Galadriel. Lord Elrond was aware of his sons' feelings towards this woman. So was Arwen, and she became rather jealous of the fact that SHE was not allowed to have a human lover, but her brothers were. Elrond sent her to Lothlorien for a few years to avoid a real quarrel.
Rian-Celine met Gandalf again several times over the course of fifteen years, but the times she found out Aragorn and Legolas had visited she had been out rangering with Elladan and Elrohir.