Weeks passed as the moon ended its waning season and returned to its full light and the coronation of Amroth as King of Lorinand came with much bitter-sweet celebration, as the Hall of the Former King was once again filled with music and laughter. People from all around the kingdom and even an emissary from Greenwood came to the celebration, bringing with them the sounds of the northern kingdom and even their mighty king accompanied by his gentle Silvan wife, who was at this time laden with child. With their emissary came, from the land of Imladris, one traveler, dressed in Doriathic gray, who upon removing his hood and cape was quickly embraced by the prince of Lorinand and called father. At this time the coronation began, and Celebrin stood in the back of the large crowd beside Alphindil who sat in a chair straining his neck to try vainly to see over the heads of elves. Upon a raised platform Amroth knelt before the throne of Lorinand as Galadriel and Celeborn together lay the newly cleaned crown upon his head, the crown, which now shone brightly, had one last and final crest upon it, the crest of Amroth, a golden tree beside a silver swan. And the music was played as guests began to sit and some began to dance, merriment was the focus of that day, and for many it was so, yet in the corner of the grand hall Alphindil sat, and smiled most of the time, yet would grimace in pain as with his right arm, the only he could move, he massaged the ache of his neck and the temples of his forehead. Noticing his friend's pain Celebrin took up the massaging of the aching muscles and in a whisper said,
"I can seek some tea to calm the pain..."
"Do not dare! ... Forgive me, I did not mean to sound so, the teas numb me entirely, to where I cannot hear or see clearly, it is better to live with the pain, than to not experience this..."
"How does the arm...feel?"
"Not at all...just like yesterday, and the legs are no different...do not wait on me as you would a child...go, dance, it is a time of joy."
"I cannot..."
"Do what he says Elornion, my daughter wishes for a worthy dance partner...I will sit with him if you wish."
Startled by the voice of Celeborn, Celebrin bowed so quickly that his head flushed with blood as he returned to stand up straight. At this Celeborn laughed, a laugh filled with strength and gentle joy, his ancient eyes looked at the youth before him and without word of reply moved Celebrin toward the dance floor and pushed him forth saying in laughter,
"Go, your lord commands you!"
As Celebrin walked off, Celeborn sat beside an uneasy Alphindil who of all present was not used to sitting along side such company, only to serving them. Instead in silence they watched as two elves moved, hand in hand to the dance floor, one with hair as brilliant as the silver moon, the other with raven hair that reflected the pattern of the stars in the firelight. One was dressed as a princess of the Eldar, nay even as Luthien herself, the other dressed as any common elf. Together they smiled as the center of the hall was cleared in their unusual wake and a wild tribal beat was beaten on the drum, and was joined by flutes and stringed instruments, the beginning so slowly and in the rhythm of the heart beat, the music of the woods. The two dancers circled one another, in steps taught flawlessly from birth, and clapped as the drum beat its slow but quickening rhythm. Their hands joined as they bowed and began to move to the music of the woods, almost primal, awakening the deep spirit forces of nature within. Her skirt moved as water upon the mountainside and spun as the wings of a butterfly, their feet moving with one another, as flawless as if they were made to move together, in one unified rhythm. The maiden's father smiled at the sight, proud as any would be for a daughter who became so fair in the maturity of her long age, so strong she seemed then, so happy to simply move and dance to a music that beat faster and played the very heights of the mountains to the bottoms of a large river. Alphindil smiled a wiry grin to see Celebrin so happy at dancing, something he had not done since they lived in Mithlond, his thought trailing to memory until a voice beside him spoke,
"They move in rhythm, do they not, so naturally..."
"Yes, they do."
"They have never danced before have they?"
"Once, when she asked him to teach her, a story too long to tell..."
"He taught her? Of course he did, a duty to him no doubt."
"He was obliged, he enjoys it."
"A fine servant he has been to me, even when it was a thankless duty..."
"Yes, he has always been so..."
"Such loyalty must be rewarded, do you not think so?"
"What gift would you give him my lord? For all he has done?"
"The greatest jewel in my eye, do you not agree?"
Celeborn looked at the dance floor again, at the two dancers who moved to the clap of the hand and the beat of the drum, spinning as two birds in flight upon the rolling hills of the river valley. Alphindil then knew of what the Silver lord spoke, and he frowned in doubt of this thought, his mouth becoming stern in wishing to speak of truths he was bound never to reveal. Celeborn saw his reaction and spoke sternly,
"Do you not agree?"
"I...do you wish for my council my lord?"
"Of course, you know him best, and I have seen how often my daughter confides in you...unless, you wish her for yourself."
His eyebrow rose in questioning, and his stare blazed through Alphindil, yet the secrets held in the mind and heart of Alphindil were hidden well, and he spoke truthfully,
"That is not my wish, my lord, though I love your daughter, it is only as friend and sister..."
"Then what is your council?"
"I...I think my lord, that you should ask her yourself, she speaks to me seldom of these things, only of the day and other such trivial matters."
Alphindil, always terrible at lying when he spoke of such private matters, squirmed beneath the stare of the Silver Lord as he said the last phrase; Celeborn driving from the interrogation said,
"And of the matters of his heart? Surely you know those?"
Alphindil searched his mind for thoughts of what Celebrin spoke of, of what thoughts he shared in the matters of love, yet surprisingly no thought came to his mind, save one, this he spoke of freely, not wishing to lie again to such a lord,
"He loves many things my lord; but truly loving something, to be honest, he has never shared with me, I think my lord he fears love and marriage, because of his parents' ill-fate."
"Ah...yes, it would be so."
Celeborn sighed remembering those ill-fated days when love drove two friends to become fey and abandon their child to foster care, looking into his own mind Celeborn was silent, until he spoke again a few moments later, gazing at the pair who had just finished dancing and were bowing hand in hand at the applause of the crowd around.
"Does he wish for it? Despite his fears?"
"I think, my lord, we all wish for it and... he has become lonely in his long years."
For an unknown reason it pained Alphindil to say these true words, and hearing Celeborn's joyful words after, pained him more it seemed,
"Then the gift for him will be an end to his loneliness, it is settled... they shall marry."
"A moment my lord, do not announce anything, until you have asked her thoughts of this...it would not be wise my lord...to mistake friendly love for romantic love."
"Yes it would be wise...I thank you."
It was then that Celeborn rose and returned to take his daughter's hand for a softer dance, allowing Celebrin to return to his seat. Celebrin sat beside a pondering Alphindil breathing heavily from the dance, listening to the music play and a voice sing softly of life before the breaking of the world, of Beleriand beneath the eternal light of the stars, and the world unmarred by invasion. Alphindil touched Celebrin's shoulder softly with his right hand after half an hour of silence saying in a whisper,
"I tire this night, if you would but take me to my bed I will be no burden for you."
"It is no burden to care for you my friend."
And with that Celebrin rose and helped Alphindil up, supporting him with his shoulders, allowing Alphindil to stand on two wobbly legs. Only one could move very little, despite no feeling in it, the other dragged exceedingly behind. Slowly they left the hall, and walked beneath the stars toward the House of the Healers. Yet pain shot through Alphindil's body and it seized in a painful cramp, causing him to trip and fall to his knees, crying out a curse beneath his breath. Celebrin sighed saying,
"Take my hand, it is only a bit further."
"Ai, what good is walking when it hurts to do so!"
"Pain comes in all forms, let me be your strength through it."
Again Alphindil rose, leaning on the support of his companion, their two forms slowly making their way to the house, again pain seized Alphindil, yet this time he did not fall. Laughing Celebrin took Alphindil in his arms and strode to the house the rest of the way saying,
"Enough with it."
And Alphindil at first gasped at the sudden action then laughed at how others looked at them, as Celebrin took large steps to the doorway of the houses. When they reached the doors Celebrin set him down and opened the large wooden doors to darkness within, save for a dimly lit lamp. Supporting his friend on his shoulders again they made their way to the bed of Alphindil and at last he helped him sit upon it with laughter and sighs. As Celebrin removed the tunic of his companion, Alphindil spoke regarding the dancing,
"You enjoyed it didn't you, the dance, I have not seen you as happy..."
"It was good to do it again, she moves well with the tune...
"And with you."
Celebrin stopped as he took a fresh tunic from the bedside, laid out by one of the healers; he then unfolded it, and placed Alphindil's arm into the sleeve, saying,
"Why do you say that?"
"The way you moved with her, it seemed...well...natural."
"I was her teacher, of course it did."
"There was more to it..."
"What are you aiming for?"
"Nothing, just a train of thought...
Celebrin finished dressing Alphindil for bed and upon saying his goddnight walked out of the house. And Alphindil slept, wondering why his companion hid what fears he had about his love for another, even hiding them from him, one who he confided everything to. Yet his thoughts were filled with uneasy dreams until in the late hours of the night when he heard hushed and arguing voices, the voices of a father and daughter; he sat up and heard from the open window the sounds of their conversation, the father spoke with a hale and strong voice,
"Why do you refuse? Is he not a good elf?"
"Of course he is Ada. And I would accept..."
"But?"
"He does not see me in the eyes of love."
"His smile begs to differ...as did your own, little one."
"It was the dance, we love it so..."
"But he is your match! I have knowledge of this, it is how I met your mother."
"So I am doomed to live with one who seeks duty before love?"
"You cannot see the truth of it, only through eyes of others!"
"I have eyes of my own Ada!"
"Then you do not see how much I cherish our time together, how different a person either of us becomes when the other is around! You are young and know little of the ways of love...Yes I choose duty before family, but so does she, do you not see the ring now present on her finger! Do you not see how we came here...to found defenses on her order! Yes it may seem that our love is distant and alien at times...but you cannot deny that it is not there! It is there my little one, and stronger then even you know."
"I...I am sorry. I did not know..."
"Ai my little silver queen, Celebrin is an honest and good person, he may seem distant at times, but he has of few people earned my deepest respect, and I know a heart beats beneath his breast..."
"As do I Ada, I have come to know his other persona well..."
"Then?"
"I cannot...do not sigh...you say I am young and know little of love, then why press me into it, never knowing what my heart will truly desire? I do love Celebrin, but I have entire span of my life to "fall in love", if I will it so."
"Alas how wise you have become, I will not press the matter then, yet if he were to ask me himself, then I cannot deny him the permission to try."
Alphindil lay down again, having heard the secret conversations his ears should not have heard; thoughts flowed through his mind as he gazed into the roof of the building, and beyond to where stars dotted the realms of his dreams.
Dont worry this isn't the end yet, more to come.