A short interlude to transition to the new stuff.

Chapter 16- Interlude: Of Archery and Impending Journeys

------------------------------------

1 Echuir 1981 of the Third Age

881 years later

------------------------------------

Mithlond...

The loud thwack of an arrow imbedding deep into a target resounded throughout the practice field, the shaft vibrating wildly as it absorbed the impact of the soft target. She smiled to herself and placed her bow at her feet and leaned against it, eyeing the arrow. It was better, but still not as good as she should be doing for being an Elf with spectacular aim and eyesight. And at least she could now stand on the practice field and practice archery freely without having to worry for her father to come and take her bow and quiver away.

And there were two reasons she could now attribute that to, and was supremely thankful for.

For one instance, her father had taken to spending more and more time in the Falas, away from the day-to-day happenings of Mithlond and Arda. It provided him the opportunities to become more and more disillusioned with what was actually going on in the main land, but as he spent his time in the Falas and running things there, it did not matter very much. There had been rumors that he could have perhaps found a dalliance there with one of the Isle folk, but Silaerín never felt the need to go digging into her father's personal life.

It just did not seem to be worth it, besides the fact that since Elladan's departure and her father's realization of what exactly had happened the night before the departure, he had not spoken one word to her- not even in scorn. That had worried her for a while, that she had admitted to him what happened, and then he just looked at her blankly, shook his head and walked away from her. And even though he would not deign to speak to her, he still held a certain control over her so that she would not dare leave the Havens without his consent. It was an odd sort of relationship they shared now, neither smothering nor completely free of his disagreeableness, but his ideas of locking her away in her room until she decided to leave Arda, or married Bainon, had diminished all together.

Perhaps it was because he felt defeated now that Celin had seen past their father's double standard for them and had taken her side. When Celin first stood up to their father, it was shortly after her grandfather returned to the Havens. Her father had engaged her grandfather in a discussion about what would happen now that she had given herself to Elladan. Her grandfather had only shrugged his shoulders and told her father that he trusted her to make the choices she was now faced with. That had sparked the largest argument, and her father went off on a tangent on how Elves were not supposed to be so loose, and that it was no good to have his daughter interested in a peredhel... it could only lead to bad things. Celin, then, unexpectedly, stood in front of their father, nose to nose, telling him exactly what he thought about his father's ideas on Elrond's family. Silaerín realized then that her brother had spoken the truth that night he interrupted her and Elladan, and she was surprised. And if she was surprised at Celin's turnaround, their grandfather had been flabbergasted by it.

After that incident, it would seem to her that her father's power complex had been taken down a few notches, and reality had set in. Perhaps he realized that he was being too unreasonable, and that he should loosen his standards for her, and tighten them for Celin. But that still did nothing to lift his ban on her traveling to other places rather than to the Falas with him. If the realization had done anything, it was alienate her father even more from his family in Mithlond. Silaerín believed that to be the driving force behind his slight change... he did not wish to be completely alone.

Celin's new appreciation of her had been the second thing to allow her the freedom she so desperately wanted, not only from being her ally, but also including her in other things like archery practice. Besides that, he had even shown her how to use a sword, which she had picked up much more quickly than she did the use of the bow and arrow. With spending more time with her brother, she was allowed to be rid of her ladies more and more. All together, her life had turned quite lovely over the past years with all of the changes, even if she was still separated from Elladan and he had not come back since his departure.

However, his notes were frequent, and that was enough for her. That was enough just to know that he thought of her, and to know how life was in Imladris and out in the wilds. She understood his lifestyle, and she appreciated the fact that he was a captain and lord, first and foremost, with other things to worry about than only her, even if it meant being apart for almost nine hundred years. It was his life and she was happy just to be a part of it.

"You are getting better, Silaerín," said her brother. Their lessons had become more frequent as of late, as though he were preparing her for something, but she had pushed it from her mind, just glad to be finally honing her skills. "You are close enough to the eye of the target more consistently, and I think that you could sufficiently use your bow in a battle."

Silaerín laughed, "I will never find myself in battle, Celin. You know that Adar would never allow it."

Celin chuckled, "Conceivably, my sister, you may need it if you travel to such places at Imladris or... Lórien."

"When will I ever visit Lórien?" she questioned with a sarcastic scoff.

"In a weeks time," Celin replied with a smile. "I have just learned today from Grandfather that Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel are now taking up the rule of Lórien. And for that, they are to host a large celebration."

Silaerín paused, "They are going to have a celebration in wake of Amroth's disappearance?"

"Aye," Celin said. "It is to be a Spring festival for the new loa."

"Adar?"

"He knows about it, but he has decided not to go," Celin said.

"And he allowed me to go?" she asked, suspicious of this journey.

Celin nodded his head, "Well, Grandfather will be going, of course, but Adar said I must accompany you, as must Bainon and Galdor."

Silaerín could not believe her ears, "You are not jesting with me, are you?"

"Nay, Silaerín," he said with a small laugh. "We are to go to Lórien for at least a month's time, as there will also be councils."

"And I shall see Elladan again," she sighed happily, walking over to Celin and embracing him. She kissed his cheek and ran off towards the dwelling, to go find her grandfather. The excitement now was just too great, and to wait one week to even start the journey was going to be as horrible as these past two millennia that she had been sequestered to Mithlond. But she supposed she could live with it, as long as she was allowed to travel with her father's approval, not having to worry about any mishaps or misinformation with him.

The only problem was, she did not know if she was more excited to be allowed to travel to a new realm, or the fact that she would be seeing Elladan again.

1 Echuir- corresponds in Rivendell Reckoning to February 1st in modern time.

Loa- also known as coranar, or "sun-round". The period of one year for Elves.

Adar- father