Disclaimer: The characters belong to Tolkien. I am just having fun making up their personalities.
Rating: PG-13.
Author's Note: Thanks to Advice button, for reviewing Of Elflings and Adolescents and A Winter Evening in Imladris! And no, I have not read the books, and yes, I picked up Elladan and Elrohir from reading other people's fanfics. And Glorfindel, and Erestor, and Celebrian, and Thranduil, et cetra, et cetra...;) Hopefully I will be able to read the books soon! Thank you for reviewing!
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Tears of Yesterday
Chapter 4: Fading Light
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"Do not ask this of me."
The two shadows remained motionless by the window. The bedchamber had been meticulously cleaned. The sun was dipping over the western horizon.
Celebrian smiled as her fingers stroked the pale face that rested on her lap. Large, pleading eyes trembled beneath her gaze. Those dark eyes that had ever been strong, tender, wise - they had never looked so vulnerable and lost. She had become his greatest weakness, his death sentence.
"Do not ask this of me, Celebrian."
She brought her lips down to kiss his forehead. Her fingers slowly twined themselves in the thick darkness of his hair. She loved his hair. She had always been enchanted with the rich cascades of the tresses, the warm coals that glowed with his eyes. So different from her own, so rich, dark. All-embracing.
"If you will not let me go," she whispered, a glistening smile in her eyes, "I will stay."
White teeth clashed, grinded against each other. Somewhere afar, a nightingale was beginning to sing.
Celebrian tensed. A pale hand gently pressed against his mouth, halting the vicious onslaught of teeth that threatened to tear the beautiful red skin apart, taste the copper tear of blood. She shook her head, and bent down to kiss his gentle mouth. His lips tasted crimson.
"You cannot heal if you stay." The hands around her knees clenched painfully. "And I cannot let you go alone."
The sun was setting.
Silver blond hair tickled his skin. She breathed softly onto his neck. "You must decide." She nuzzled his skin, kissing it once again.
Elrond remained still, eyes locked on hers, as sunlight succumbed to the looming mountains that stood afar. The brilliant rays were extinguished, blocked by the impenetrable shadows. Celebrian leaned back on her chair, looking down at the tall, stately elf that now clung to her knees and kissed blood in her lips. Sorrow etched on her face, her fingers idly stroked his hair.
"You must decide." Another soft kiss.
The sunlight was fading. Darkness would come.
He slowly reached out and held her hand. She stroked his, lovingly, as he clutched her hand tight. His skin was pale, trembling. His head slowly bowed, and buried itself on her lap. His voice was an inaudible whisper, a tearing battle, a despairing defeat.
"I will let you go."
Celebrian smiled.
And the shadows remained still, as the light dimmed around them, fading into a gentle song of darkness.
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The last day was spent in the garden, watching the sunset together. She stood by the flowers, walking among them peacefully, while he stood a distance away, watching. The crimson sky streaked into a million tears.
Gentle fingers touched a pale flower. The lady straightened her back and turned to smile at her husband, who continued to watch wordlessly.
"Imladris is a beautiful home."
Mutely, Elrond nodded. Celebrian moved to another flower.
"I love this valley as I love the home in which I was raised – and I am happy that my children will grow up in this beautiful place."
Her husband did not speak. He continued to watch her silently, and she finally turned to fix her gaze upon him. When her pale blue eyes looked into his, he swallowed.
And then, he smiled.
Celebrian's eyes froze, riveted on the quiet smile wrenched forth from the dark gray tempest of his eyes. She quickly covered her mouth as a ragged breath caught in her throat. Elrond's smile did not falter.
"They will be well," he said quietly. A promise.
Celebrian smiled back in reply, silver tears disappearing under her hand as she shaded her eyes from the setting sun.
"I wish to visit my parents before I set sail." Far away, a trill of a bird could be heard. "Will you accompany me?"
The evening breeze was beginning to cool against their skin.
"Of course."
The pale figure glided across the garden, silently approaching the immobile elf. Elrond swallowed, eyes locked onto those of the quiet enchantress that approached.
"What else would you have me do?" A hoarse whisper.
Light fingers touched a tight jaw. Shimmering eyes softened as another smile seeped from the ghostly light of the hollow orbs.
"I would have you forgive." Slowly, a smooth forehead met his, and they lowered their lids, her fingers upon his face. "I would have you forgive yourself, and love the elf that I love with all my life."
The crickets began to sing.
In the hush of the evening, a hand slowly reached up and curled around the fingers that gently held the face of the dark-haired elf. Elrond closed his eyes. A quivering breath escaped his lips.
"As you wish."
He could never deny her.
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The room was dark. Moonlight did not enter the silent chamber. And the crickets did not sing tonight.
She was breathing quietly, evenly. Her pale hair shone in the darkness, without the aid of the moon. And it would be the last time that her hair would shine upon this bed, that her warm body would lay upon it. For they would leave for Lothlorien the next day, and she would never return.
A silken mass of dark hair shifted softly. The muscled body rippled under the blankets, turning soundlessly away from the unmoving figure of fragility that lay beside it. And curled in against the sheets, quivering, blanketed in the covers of darkness.
It was warm, this comforting dark.
He started when a ghostly hand snaked its way around his body. The body tensed, forcing itself to hold still. Warmth pressed tenderly against his back, and tresses of pale hair brushed against his neck. A hushed breath swept over the silent tremors of his form.
"Shhh..."
The arms wrapped around him fully. Gentle lips caressed the trembling neck, and a soothing cheek rested against it.
The crickets did not sing tonight.
"Hush...don't cry..."
The moon did not enter the silent chamber. But darkness was comforting.
Enveloped in the river of infinite warmth, he clenched his teeth. And raked his shaking fingers into the sheets.
"It is not your fault...hush, my beloved, do not cry..."
And above the tender whispers that caressed the trembling silence, the moon did not enter the darkness of the night.
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To Be Continued
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Someone Reading: You're really spoiling me, the way your compliments make me blush and grin like a fool for days and go to my head. If I become big-headed about my writing skills some day, I'll blame it on you. Tee hee. Really though, perhaps half or so of it is my writing, but the other half of the process is entirely you, the way you take the time to taste and feel my writing, before just swallowing it down. And your deep understanding and emotional abandon when reading never fails to amaze me. With reading such as yours, the entire process of communication is at its pinnacle, blooming with the full richness and depth that can only be conveyed with such collaboration between reader and writer, which is a joy to the writer, and...ok, I'll stop digressing here. ;) Thank you so much for such an incredible reading, as well as an incredible review. I am honored and incredibly fortunate to have you reading my stories mellon nin. Till next time! ;)
KissTheRainGirl12489: Yes, don't we all hate this part. Sigh. It's coming soon. Anyway, thank you for reviewing!
Coolio02: Ooh, you needn't be sorry! I should be thanking you for reviewing a chapter which isn't even the latest update! Thank you so much! ;) And I am definitely glad that you're back on FF.net too. Hehehe. I really am giddy that you felt I captured emotions well and painted the wounded Lady's scene nicely. I'm happy that you were able to visualize my scenes so well, and you should be complimented for that reading skill! ;) And your lovely compliments are beginning to inflate my confidence...;) Thank you so much for such sweet words!
kenzimone: Tee hee hee, yes, that is my intention. Love everyone in the story that I portray, unless I mean for you to hate them. Love them all! Ahh, the art of manipulation...::evil grin:: Seriously, though, I am flattered that you are sharing my visualizations of the characters. Thank you for your review!
Unsung Heroine: Yes, that has always been on my mind. I am a family-person, so separating with a spouse (though I have none) like that always seemed so odd to me. I thought there has to be a reason. Well, I don't know if I am doing a good job portraying it, but feedbacks are helping me out! Thank you for reviewing!
Brazgirl: Aww, you liked the hugging scene? Maybe I'll make them hug more often...hehehe. Just kidding. Anyway, I am sure that Erestor means well. ;) There are some people who express their love and concern in...er...different...ways. ;) Anyway, thank you for reviewing! And I should complain to FF.net for being biased toward you and not giving you alerts...::grumble::
Achika: Oh yes, poor everyone. Hehe. And that other Celebrian that you like sounds very interesting. Hahaha. Thank you for your review!
Unni: Hi! As the writer I am half-tempted to just tell you to figure it out, but I will be helpful this time and tell you that Erestor is Elrond's friend and wants him to be happy...;) Does that help? Hehe. I'm glad you're on summer break. I'm on break too, and am now writing fanfics day and night. ;) That is why I update more frequently. Well, I hope my stories are interesting enough to keep you occupied for at least some part of your day! ;) Thanks for reviewing!
Zammy: Ooh, new reviewer! I am happy you decided to drop by! I hope this chapter was to your liking!
Sesha: Ooh, really? Thank you! That is really sweet of you. ;) I have no idea how good/bad I am, so I just have to blindly trust others' judgments...and yours are kind! I hope I made you happy with this update! ;)