AN: I BROKE 100!!!!!!! ::happy!dance:: Domo arigato, minna-chan, especially to seishi, Moonangel, Silver Dragonfly, JaminJellyBean, Loopy Lu, and Senshi's Tenshi (thanks for the email-review!).
And yes, seishi, I am staying true to Tolkien and Boromir will meet his fate. MWHAHAHA!!!!!! It won't be the end of pairings (there will be others of... ahem... 'interest'), but Boromir will probably be the main one and the one that causes the most pain. You shall see... MWHAHA!!!!!!!!
Onto the fic and more evil hints! "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN or definition, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted.
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Several days later found Celebithil still struggling to explain the ancient mythology of the elves to Boromir. He found it hard to believe that Two Trees, the golden Laurelin and the silver Teleperion, had once lighted the world. Celebithil, never having seen the light of the Trees nor even the light of Valinor, could not easily explain it. Despite the dark hour in history, she was almost relieved when she reached the part of the tale after the destruction of the Trees.
"All of Valinor mourned at the loss of the light and the joy. Yavanna, the Giver of Fruits, and Nienna the Sorrowful combined all their powers of growth and healing. But it was to no avail. At last, as hope faded, the tree Teleperion bore one last flower of silver, and Laurelin gave a single fruit of gold. These Yavanna took, and both Trees withered and died. From these fruits, bearing the last light of the golden Laurelin and the silver Teleperion, were crafted the vessels of the Sun and the Moon."
"Vessels?" interrupted Boromir suddenly through half-closed eyes. "Sea-worthy crafts?"
His remark caught Celebithil off guard. She could have sworn he was dozing in the shade of the tree, with the lazy afternoon sun warming the air around them. [AN: FYI, they are under that tall tree from the last chapter, the one that stretches up to the heavens.] She overcame her surprise and smiled.
"Nay, the mighty Sea itself would not be worthy of such vessels. But yes, they are ships, as men call them. Ships destined for the Seas of heaven."
"The Dome of the Sky and the Floodgates," murmured Boromir, recalling mankind's first view of the sky. [AN: See the beginning of Genesis of the Bible.]
"Yes," said Celebithil with a smile. "Now, chosen to guide these two vessels were two Maiar, two servants of the Valar: the maiden Arien of the burning eyes, tender of the gardens of the Trees, for Anar the Fire-golden--the Sun; and Tilion, hunter and lover of all things silver, for Isil the Sheen--the Moon. Arien was strong-willed and powerful and closely followed that path that Elbereth set for her. But Tilion was unsteady, unsure of his path and drawn to the brilliance of Arien. He longed to come near Arien in her splendor, but the fiery flame of Vasa would darken the vessel of Rana." [AN: 'Vasa' and 'Rana' are just the Noldor names for the Sun and the Moon.]
"Are you sure Tilion never reached Arien?" Boromir mused, looking at her steadily, after Celebithil had concluded the tale.
Celebithil smiled. "Our histories do not say. But many times the Moon had blocked the Sun or the Sun, the Moon. [AN: Eclipses] But none are sure where Tilion and Arien are during this phenomenon. Why do you ask?"
Boromir spoke slowly and deliberately as he continued to gaze at her. "Because you are the brilliance of Arien and the splendor of the Moon, like the offspring of both."
Celebithil blushed and looked down, smiling self-consciously. But she could still feel his eyes upon her. Slowly, she lifted her head and met his gaze. She never recalled looking so deeply into his eyes before. Those wonderful brown eyes that she could feel steadily penetrating her soul. Those deep pools of chocolate that she could feel herself getting lost in...
It was a moment before Celebithil realized how much she had leaned forward and how close she was to him. His breath was hot on her cheeks while her heart pounded wildly in her ears, blocking out all other thought.
"Boromir," she whispered hazily as she continued to be lost within his eyes. "Why do I feel so strange when I'm around you?"
Her warm breath tickled his ears and drove him insane. "Do you feel the same way I do?" he replied in the same dreamy way, still gazing.
Celebithil's heart was pounding so loudly that it was a struggle to even form words, let alone form coherent thoughts. "I don't know," she said hazily. "How do you feel?"
"Like this." Rapidly he broke his gaze and close the distance between them, making contact with her lips. Feeling her soft sweetness, he passionately let out all the loneliness and desperation that had build up inside of him over the years as he denied his instincts [AN: instincts to find love, not just to be a warrior.] He refused to let go and held her tightly and deepened the kiss, sending her vision of the swirling galaxies that danced across his eyes. Finally, finally . . .
He pulled back and let her go, allowing oxygen and clear thought to return to both bodies. They panted for breath as Celebithil stared at him strangely, shocked beyond words, neither smiling nor frowning but completely speechless.
Boromir lowered his eyes and felt completely ashamed of himself. "Forgive me, my Lady. I acted rashly and uncouthly, stepping far out of my place. I am a fool, not even worthy to look upon you. I shall leave now and trouble you no more."
He promptly got up and walked hastily away, shaking with silent anger at himself. Celebithil, still shocked and unable to form words, silently watched him go. She silently touched her lips and, unable to stop herself, let loose a faint smile.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Celebithil?" asked the young Kemenuial ['Twilight of the Earth'] innocently, after observing her friend for several minutes since Celebithil had walked into the room. "Why do you keep touching your lips? Are they sticky or something?"
Celebithil looked up, her face still dazed. "Huh?"
Hinenmel ['Child of Love'] dropped the basket she was attempting to weave. "Oh, come on Ithil! There's something weird about you today. I just can't put my finger on exactly wha- wha..." She yawned widely as the others sweatdropped. "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "Perhaps I should adopt Ithil's practice of getting up after noon after late night."
Taurenreil ['Garlanded maiden of the Forest'] squealed. "So come on, Hinenmel! You were just getting to the good part! What did he say? Did he kiss you?"
As Hinenmel occupied the other girls with gossip about her date, Naurfea ['Spirit of Fire'] moved closer to the quiet Celebithil.
"I know the look you wear," she said quietly so that the others could not hear. "I know that face. I do not know who he is, but I know that he has found his way into your heart."
Celebithil looked up at her suddenly. "How did you... but I don't! . . . I don't even love him..."
But even as the words slipped from her lips, she knew it was a lie. Naurfea smiled. "You can try to hide the truth from others, but you cannot lie to yourself. I only hope that he is a good man, whoever he is, and that he will not hurt you."
"He would never--" began Celebithil, but Naurfea interrupted her.
"And I would hope," she said sadly, clear from her pained smiled that she felt betrayed, "that you would reveal to your friends this secret and the identity of this one who has captured your heart. Your friends, who have been there for you for everything and only want you to be happy. Don't build a wall between us."
"Oh Naurfea, I'm so sorry!" Celebithil cried. "I had no idea. I didn't even know myself until just now. I would never purposely separate you all from me... never. Amin hiraetha, but I cannot reveal his name. Not just yet. The time is not right..."
Naurfea smiled, genuinely now. "Be warned, Ithil. As soon as Hinenmel is back to her senses from her silly date, she will be on your trail. You cannot keep a secret, especially one about love, from that girl."
She winked and got up to move back to her work. "But Naurfea!" said Celebithil suddenly. "How did you know?"
Naurfea smiled self-consciously. "I know the look because I, too, wore it--when I first met Legolas. We know now that he must go his separate path, and I must walk mine, but for those first few weeks, it was bliss." Naurfea smiled in remembrance and hurried away.
"And Naurfea!" Celebithil called after her as she spun around. "Hennaid," said Celebithil with a smile.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The stars twinkled merrily above, as if mocking Boromir son of Denethor, below. He was still angry at himself, and no amount of kicking, breaking, or hitting seemed to relieve his anger. The kicked up piled of sand on the shore of the stream were evidence of his latest attempt. But nothing helped. He sank down to the ground in frustration as the waters babbled on, and the stars shone down.
"Boromir?"
That voice. The one voice the he desired so much, yet he wanted to be as far from as possible. That sweet elvish voice . . .
"Boromir." A soft hand touched his shoulder. He flinched away. He did not want her lofty pity.
She sat down beside him. "Boromir, I have walked this earth for one thousand, eight hundred, and fifty-two years. That is not long for an elf, but it is an eternity for a man."
Boromir growled. He had already said he was undeserving, wasn't that enough?
"But in those nearly two millennia, I have never been in love. I have many friends, many I am close to and care deeply for, but none have stolen my heart away. None," she smiled, "until now."
He slowly looked up, not daring to believe it.
"I know it now, Boromir. Amin mela lle."
"Should I dare to believe that means what I hope it means?" he questioned cautiously.
Celebithil smiled brilliantly. "Ume, Boromir. I love you."
Boromir felt like his world had turned upside-down as his impossible hope became reality.. "You... you mean it?"
In response, Celebithil leaned forward and kissed him lightly, with just enough passion that he knew it was only true.
"Amin mela lle, Celebithil."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The days flew by for Celebithil and Boromir, each more wonderful than the last. Never had the wonders of the elven realm seemed so brilliant to Celebithil as when this mortal man was beside her. She knew now how Luthien and Idril must have felt of old, and how her sister Arwen felt when she fell in love with Aragorn-Estel. It was bliss.
"But even when held captive by the crafty sons of Feanor, Luthien did not lose hope," Celebithil continued, telling the inspiring tale of her foremother as she lazily leaned against Boromir's chest in the shade of a tree. "With the help of the wolfhound Huan, the great hound-chieftain from the Blessed Realm, she escaped. Together, Luthien and Huan fled north towards the evil isle of Sauron where Beren, her love, was imprisoned.
"Alas, she arrived too late to save Finrod Felagund, High king of the elves. Luthien stood on the bridge to the isle and sang a mighty song. From the prison pits, Beren heard her voice, and with his last strength, he cried a reply and passed into darkness. But Luthien had heard him and sang a song of even greater power that caused the isle itself to tremble.
"But watching from above, Sauron smiled. The fame of Luthien's beauty and the power of her song had gone before her, and he knew her to be the daughter of the Maia, Melian. He thought to make her captive and hand her over to his master, Morgoth, for great reward.
"But Huan the hound protected Luthien from all the monsters Sauron sent, even from Sauron himself. The great hound of Valinor defeated the shape-shifting Sauron and forced him to surrender mastery of his isle to Luthien. Sauron fled, and Luthien freed her love from his dark pits."
"Never fear, Ithil," murmured Boromir, having noticed the obvious similarities between the tale of Luthien and Beren and their own tale. He lightly kissed her ear. "I may be going to the realm of Sauron, but I will not let him capture me."
Celebithil smiled. "Well that's a good thing to know, as I don't have my own personal Huan running around to aid me."
Boromir laughed and kissed her again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
[AN: Days later....]
Celebithil couldn't help skipping on her way back to the tree-palace in the twilight. Another bliss-filled day of bliss-filled days. She hugged herself in glee. She couldn't remember a time before when she had ever felt so happy, so.... complete. And yet, she felt as if she had always felt this way, always with endless days of bliss and love and belonging. Always she had belonged and always she would belong, for all eternity.
Or so it seemed to her mind, clouded by the mists of love. Little did she know how rapidly and how soon her bliss would turn to despair.
"Eldasil Celebithil Peredhel."
She skidded to a stop and gulped. It was rare that anyone used her full name. The voice hadn't sounded threatening, though, only authoritative. Slowly, regaining the grace of a proper elvish lady, she turned.
Her grandmother was ascending from the garden with the pool. Celebithil stood waiting patiently for her.
She looked tired. For one of the first times since she'd known her, Galadriel looked old and weary. She gestured for her granddaughter to sit beside her, but Galadriel remained standing.
"Daughter of my daughter, blood of my blood, I need you to answer me truthfully. Does your heart hold feelings for the man of Gondor, Boromir son of Denethor of the Fellowship?"
Celebithil was shocked. How did she know? Beyond her friends, who had sworn secrecy, she had told no one. [AN: 'friends' here refers to the Inners + Hotaru, as Haruka and Michiru probably would have been less than happy to keep such a secret.] She had been careful not to let the secret leak out, knowing such a relationship would be frowned upon, especially as she was the granddaughter of the Lady of the Wood. Yes, her friends gossiped, but they would never break such a promise. Had Ertirhiril (whom she had not told) known and alerted Menelsul and Mirengaer? [AN: 'Lonely (female) guardian', 'Wind from Heaven', 'Jewel of the Sea' in order.] Had Menelsul freaked out or Mirengaer alerted Galadriel? Did her father know as well?
A thousand questions flew through her mind as Galadriel awaited her answer. But she had never lied to anyone and no thought entered her mind of doing so now. She nodded slowly.
Galadriel clutched the rock face, her face a mask of horror. "It is as I feared. It must be the curse of the Half-Elven, to love one so doomed to die," she said half to herself. Then she raised herself straight, and her blue orbs stared deep into Celebithil's crystalline ones. Her face was grave, yet pitying. "I beg you, for your own sake, do not cleave to him! Do not let your heart be taken by this mortal."
Celebithil was about to interrupt, but Galadriel continued. "The time of the elves is ending, my Silver moon. The Three can remain in Middle Earth no longer. Ere even another decade has passed, I will return to the Blessed Realm I left so long ago, your father with me. Your mother awaits us, Celebithil, and we will be welcomed home to a new and better life. Is the hope of a few mere decades really worth sacrificing the joy of immortality? Is it really worth sacrificing all that you can do and become?
"I..." began Celebithil, but Galadriel cut her off, fearing her answer.
"Remember who you are, Eldasil. Remember all your ancestors sacrificed to make you who you are. There is a great destiny waiting for you, my child, far greater than any life a mortal could give you. The ships are leaving. Ere this month has closed, your sister will be sent to the Havens. Yes, even Arwen will accept her immortality over love. The ships are leaving, my child. Will you be on them?"
Tearing her eyes away, she fled up the stone steps. Celebithil called after her, but she would not respond.
Even days later when she asked about it, her grandmother quickly changed the subject. It was not until later that Celebithil finally understood. And by then, it was too late.
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AN: MWHAHAHA!!!!! I could do the Foreshadowing!dance, but I think we all know what Galadriel is referring to. Dun, dun, DUN!!!
And I recommend you check out the full wonderful tale of Luthien and Beren in the Silmarillion. And while you're there, read the rest of the amazing tales that I could not squeeze into short summaries for these past few chapters. And FYI, the Sauron that capture Beren is the same Sauron that destroyed Numenor, the same Sauron that crafted the One Ring, the same Sauron of Mordor. He's got one big long evil history!
Next time is the departure. PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Any constructive criticism is welcomed as a way to make this fic even better. Domo arigato, minna-chan. Ja!
~Calli-chan