A/N: Sorry about the horrible delay!!! I'm still trying to adjust to college life.

Brazgirl: Dude, you're so awesome. Thanks for still reading!

Sidenote: Well, I feel like a total idiot. After I rewrote the story in an effort to "canonize" it, I didn't realize that I had still made a huge mistake. I quote from the Encyclopedia of Arda: "Celebrían wed Elrond of Rivendell (III) 109..." That warrents a giant "D'OH!" from me. But, since I really, really don't want to try to rewrite this, and since she and Elrohir and Elladan are such important roles, I'm just going to say it's AU in that they wed a few centuries early. Hey, it's artistic license. :-p

The two months passed quicker than I had hoped. While most of my time was devoted in training the men, I tried to spend equally as much time with Gwendolas. We would walk in the gardens often, myself being content to just being with her. Most of our time was spent in our chambers, myself simply holding her close, memorizing her scent and touch.

Two weeks before we were to depart, I rode with a group of guards through the woods, heading for the river. We reached our destination within a few days, making camp along the river. Each day we watched the ford, waiting for the party we were to meet. The men talked amongst themselves often, yet I did not converse with them. My mind was filled with apprehension, knowing that I would ride to war in only a few weeks time.

Upon the third day of our wait, we heard a horn blowing near the base of the Misty Mountains. It belonged to one of our scouts, several guards springing to the river bank and looking outward. "The party has arrived, my lord!" I heard one yell. I made my way to the bank as well, looking out across the small plain and seeing the dim shapes of half a dozen horses.

Within a few hours, the party reached the Ford. Our scout and a guard led the pack, dismounting once they reached our shore. Two of my men bounded forward to hold the horses, the scout and head guard turning to the two female riders behind them. The guard came alongside the Lady of Imladris, helping her to the ground. Beside her, the scout took another lady off of her horse.

I bowed before the Lady of Imladris. "Lady Celebrían," I acknowledged.

The wife of Elrond smiled warmly. "Your highness, I hope we have not made you wait long."

"Not at all, my lady." I led her to our encampment, the lady following her mistress. My men brought wine and food for the travelers, the horses being led to the stream for water. Celebrían and her mistress followed me as I led them to my section of camp. I motioned for them to sit on several logs, the Lady sitting opposite me. Several of my men brought goblets of wine and small platters of food, offering them to the Lady and her mistress.

"I trust your journey was well?" I asked, taking my own goblet.

"As well as a long ride can be, my Lord," she answered, a slight smile on her face. "The path was stable, and we met not a drop of foul air. I can only pray that my husband and sons meet such fair conditions when they follow." Celebrían lowered her eyes to the ground for a moment, turning her head away as she took a sip of her wine. "You ride with your father to this dispute as well?"

"Aye, my Lady."

The Lady Celebrían turned to her mistress, murmuring a few words to her. The lady nodded her head, rising to her feet and leaving us. The Lady of Imladris eyed me. "My Lord, come sit with me."

I was obliged to fulfill her request, rising and taking the seat that her mistress had previously occupied. Celebrían took one of my hands, eyeing me. "I entreat you, my Lord, in this coming battle, while fairing for yourself, that watch over my sons and husband as well."

"Lord Elrond is a skilled warrior, my lady. You have not reason to fear for him."

She gave me a wary smile. "What kind of wife would I be if I did not? Or mother, for that matter."

I nodded my head, breathing a sigh. "I shall do what I can, my lady. But I entreat you to return the favor."

"What would you have me do, my lord?"

"You have seen your husband leave for great lengths of time. Gwendolas has not." I paused momentarily, collecting my thoughts. "My lady is with child."

Celebrían chuckled softly. "So my mother and the Lord Glorfindel have informed me. I congratulate you."

I bowed my head in thanks, then met her eye once more. "Will you promise me, my lady, that you shall take care of Gwendolas? And my child?"

She smiled warmly. "An earnest request. I ask you to watch over my husband and sons, and you ask me to watch over your wife and unborn child. I believe it is a fair compromise." She looked away, scanning her eyes over the troops. "My mother fears this war."

I blinked. "What has the Lady Galadriel seen?"

Celebrían's eyes drifted to the ground. "Death. All she sees is death. She told me that one whom I hold in my circle shall lose a father."

"You fear it to be Elrond who falls," I surmised.

"Or my own father," she acknowledged, meeting my eye once more. "She spoke also of things she cannot see. She knows only what they are, not what they mean."

"Such as?"

"Riddles," she answered, questioning in her eyes. "She spoke of riddles in the dark, and of a riddle of bane. She saw the tower of Minas Tirith transfigure into a phoenix, the crown of the king atop its head. She said that the phoenix disappeared into ash, yet when it rose again, around it's neck where two emerald serpents." She shook her head. "Things that have not yet come to pass..."

"The Lady of the Woods sees much. I would not dwell on the future, yet keep your thoughts on the present," I advised.

The Lady of Imladris nodded, then eyed me quizically. "Are you not afraid, my lord?"

"Afraid, my lady?"

"Of this war, of fighting in it... It does not frighten you at all?"

I let out a small sigh, then turned my gaze to the river, watching it make its way down the brown banks. "The only fear I carry is that my child shall never know his father."

Celebrían raised an eyebrow to that. "You are so certain that Gwendolas bears a son?"

I felt my cheeks heat slightly. I had let my tongue slip what my heart wished. "Wishful thinking, my lady, forgive me. I have not spoken to Gwendolas of it..."

"Yet you do desire a son?"

I turned my gaze back to the fair wife of Elrond. "Yes, I do."

She gave a small smile, then let out a small chuckle. "I do admit that I am biased on such an opinion... Elrond prayed so much to Eru that he would bless me with a son. Instead, he gave me two." She smiled once more, then looked at the ground. "I love my sons, and yet... I have always desired a daughter."

I gave her a warm smile and patted her hands. "There is still time, my lady. Who knows what the future holds. When this war is over, my son may be there to welcome your daughter into this world."

The lady of Imladris said no more, but simply smiled.

At first light, we hurried down the forest path, hoping to make good time. Though my men and I could have made it in a hard days ride, from before dawn into the depths of the night, we had to resolve to a much slower pace with the party from Imladris.

Upon the third day, we saw the gates of the city draw near, my mean giving out a cheer and urging their steeds faster. The guards opened the gates wide as my men and I rode through. People began flooding out from the city, and amongst them, I spotted Gwendolas.

Without standing on ceremony, I halted my steed and slid from its back quickly, scooping an approaching Gwendolas up into my arms and finding her lips. I held her tight as I kissed her, breaking apart from her only when I heard one of my mean clear his throat behind me. While still holding my wife, I turned toward my man, seeing the lady Celebrían at his arm.

Gwendolas detached herself from me and took the hands of the Lady of Imladris, placing a kiss on each of her cheeks. I heard a small giggle erupt from Gwendolas as she spoke lowly to her companion.

"My Lord?"

I turned, seeing one of my father's advisors approaching, bowing his head to me. "Your father wished to speak to you. He is awaiting you in his study."

"I shall be there shortly," I replied, bowing my head in return as the man dismissed himself.

I turned to Gwendolas and placed a kiss upon her head. "Make the lady Celebrían comfortable. I shall see you anon."

She looked back to glance at me, a small smile on her face. I returned the smile, then turned and headed into the city.

As my father's advisor had told me, I found Oropher in his study, pouring over a large map. He did not look up as he addressed me. "The Lady of Imladris is safe?"

"Yes, father. Gwendolas is seeing to her comfort."

"That is well." Oropher's eyes were on the drawn river. "How fares the river?"

"It is quite low. I see no imminent dangers with the ford."

"Good. That shall make our travel quicker." He stopped looking at the map, raising his eyes to me. "And how do you fare, my son? I need not remind you that we must depart in a short three days."

"I am well, Father," I answered, slightly hesitant. My father sensed this, his perceiving eye boring into me, persuading me to continue. "I am both anxious and nervous."

My father gave a small chuckle as he stood from the map and walked toward me. He smiled as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "You would be a fool if you were not, Thranduil. I have yet to see one who rides to war without either."

"Are you nervous, Father?" I questioned.

The smile slid from my father's face, replaced by a grave expression. "I do not deny that I am nervous."

I gave a small smile and clapped my own hand onto his shoulder. "You would be a fool if you were not," I repeated.

With this, he smiled once more. "The men are assembled and ready to leave in three days time. We need only the word that our horses and provisions are laid ready."

"I shall see to it," I said, giving my head a small bow.

My father's smile disappeared once more. "Before the sun rises in three days, my son," he began, looking into my eyes. "We shall ride for Mordor. And to war."

"I shall not fail you, Father."

My father gave no reply, yet I knew what he was saying. He feared for my life, yet he was proud that I would be there with him. I gave the slightest hint of a smile once more, showing that I understood.

Oropher patted my shoulder once more. "Go, my son. Go to your wife and give her comfort. We ride at first light on the third day."