Normal length chapter really. Haven't got anything to say, so on with chapter 18!

Faerlain

Rayame325 – Yes, poor Leggy! Thanks for reviewing.

Lindele – I have done quite a few nasty things to that poor Elf Prince haven't I? Teehee! But the trouble is, I just can't help myself! Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 18: Right or Wrong.

The next few weeks passed swiftly. Mirkwood Elves started returning to Mirkwood, group by group. Legolas recovered, and was up and about as soon as he could be.

Thrálindë and Torfithien were both awake, and both started apologising profusely to one another. Thrálindë for being such a mean, cold-hearted cow, and Torfithien for ever abandoning her best friend.

Elrohir and Thrálindë had made-up, and the tension that had arisen between them and Elladan soon dissipated completely. Everyone was friends again, and everything looked to be going well.

But Celebrían was still ill.

For several weeks now, she had lain in the healing ward. She had awoken a couple of times, but only for brief minutes. There was someone by her side constantly, so if she ever did wake up, she was never alone.

Arwen and the twins were always ready to rush to their mother's or father's side if needs be. Glorfindel and Erestor were still handling the paper work, and the comings and goings of Elves to and from Rivendell. Everyone was just now waiting for Celebrían to wake up, and stay awake.

One afternoon, Elrond was at her side as always. He was milling around the room, tidying up, and doing numerous odd jobs to keep his mind occupied. He kept glancing over at his wife, but there never seemed to be any changes.

As he was putting a vial of healing potion into a cupboard, he heard something. He spun round on his heel, and saw Celebrían shifting in her sleep. He hurried to her side and took her hand. "Melamin? Melamin, pole-tenalye nillo?" (Can you hear me?)

"Elrond…?"

"Aye mela, ná-sa nillo. Etera'lya hendu nin." (Aye, it is me. Open your eyes for me.)

"Elrond…melamin…"

"Celebrían, etera'lya hendu nin. Saes melamin?"

"Nante tuluva! Nante tuluva nin!" (They will come! They will come for me!)

Her eyes were wide open now, but they could not see the room or Elrond. The dungeons loomed in on her, the darkness enveloping her from all around. The chains dug into her wrists and ankles, the gag in her mouth marred her breathing. She could feel the blood trickling over her skin.

"Nante harne-elye, ve te harne-nillo! Lelya, lelya!" (They will hurt you, like they have hurt me! Go, go!)

The walls closed in around her, the darkness grew. Elrond was there, she knew not why. But he had to get out of there! Her chains echoed in the silence as she struggled to break free…

And then the light returned. She blinked, and looked around. She was no longer in chains, her mouth was free, and there was no nasty taste in her mouth like before. She was laying in a soft bed, with thick, warm covers over her. A face slowly appeared.

"Elrond?"

"Aye melamin, I am here."

She felt a cool hand press her forehead and she relaxed. She shut her eyes. "Am I home now? Am I safe?"

"Yes, you're home and safe."

She opened her eyes again, and gazed up at her husband. "Amin mela lle Elrond."

He smiled. "Amin mela lle Celebrían."

The word soon spread that Celebrían had awoken properly. Her children rushed to the healing room, and were delighted to see her sat up in bed, chatting merrily away to Elrond. They ran to her side, and hugged her as tight as they dared.

Legolas and Celeblaith soon heard the news, and went to find their mother. All three made their way to see Celebrían, and more joyous reunions were made.

Over the next week, Celebríans' strength grew, and she was able to stay awake, and talk for longer. Eilianu, Arwen, and Dolenmíl were nearly always with her.

But soon, Legolas knew he had to return home. Thranduil was all alone in Mirkwood, and would be feeling the loneliness. But he did not wish to leave the twins just yet. He called Eilianu and Celeblaith to his room, and talked with them about it.

"I understand what you are saying about Adar feeling lonely, but I do not want to go home yet either."

"I am leaving in two weeks time. I have already decided. Celebrían has recovered well, and I am no longer needed here."

"There. Naneth is going, so I can stay here."

Legolas glanced at his mother. She just raised an eyebrow. "You're her mother," he said simply.

"But you are her brother. You brought her here."

"So?"

"It is your decision."

"That isn't fair. You're her mother – you make the decision."

"It was your idea to bring her to Rivendell in the first place."

"Actually, it wasn't. She wanted to come, we got a letter from the twins asking us to come, and so she came with me. I asked Adar, and he agreed to it. I never even mentioned that she should come with me. I wasn't even planning to come here anyway! I was invited."

"But you let her come. So it is up to you whether she returns to Mirkwood with me, or stays here with you, and returns home later in the year."

"I am still here!"

Mother and son looked at Celeblaith, who was stood in the middle of the room, hands clenched at her sides. "I am not dead; do not argue over my body. Thank you. Now, if you were even listening to me, I want to stay here."

"But Cel, you've been through a lot. Perhaps it would be better if you went home..."

"No! I have come this far; I am not going back just yet. Legolas, please. I understand your reasons for staying here, and I have mine."

"Oh yes? And what are they exactly?"

Celeblaith blushed a little, but kept her gaze firm. "I want to stay with Dolenmíl and Arwen. I wish to see Lady Celebrían make a complete recovery, and…"

"And…" he pressed.

"None of your business."

It was Legolas' turn to raise an eyebrow. "None of my business? Celeblaith, I am not stupid. Who have you met now?"

"No one."

"Yes you have, I am not completely stupid, no matter what the twins might say. Come on, what's his name?"

"How do you know it's a 'he'?"

"You've just made it plainly obvious to him," Eilianu told her, smiling. "By denying it further, you're just digging yourself into a deeper and deeper hole." She looked at her son. "She has her reasons, as do you. I think we should leave it at that."

"Fine. But I shall not be returning to Mirkwood until winter probably."

"You will be back for the New Year?"

"Of course."

"Well then, that is settled. She stays here with you. Now, I must go and start packing my things up. I seem to have spread myself around the House." She left the room, closing the door behind her.

Legolas looked at his younger sister. She was sat on the window ledge, gazing out towards the Mountains. "Cel?" he called softly.

She looked round at him, almost surprised to see him still standing there. "Yes Legolas?"

He walked over and sat beside her. "Come on, who is he?"

She squared her shoulders. "I already told you, it might not be a 'he'."

"I thought we could tell each other anything."

"We can, it's just…"

He grabbed her hand, and linked his smallest finger through hers. "Cel, come on. Linked forever, remember?"

She looked down at their linked fingers. Was she drifting away from Legolas? From her older brother? Already?

She tightened the link. "Linked forever," she repeated. "Forever and ever."

"Then tell me what is bonding you to Rivendell in such a way," he said softly, without breaking their link.

She sighed and looked at the floor. "Ok, you were right. It is a 'he'."

"Who?"

She looked back up at him, and took a deep breath. "It's Rilma."

"I love this peacefulness, don't you?"

"Aye, it's lovely."

The girls sighed, and stretched out further beneath the tree. "If only life was always like this."

"Stop dreaming Thral."

Thrálindë laughed. "A girl can dream, can't she?"

"Yes," Torfithien agreed. "But you are really dreaming. Life will never be as peaceful as this for all time. That just isn't how life is."

"Oh well, I just keep on dreaming. I…"

"WHAT?!"

The two friends sat bolt upright as the clear shout rang through the Valley. "What on Middle-Earth was that?" Torfithien asked.

Thrálindë shrugged. "Goodness knows, but it came from the House."

"Perhaps one of the twins is having yet another argument with Arwen or Prince Legolas."

"Maybe." They listened for a while longer, but didn't hear any more shouting. They settled back down underneath the tree and continued to talk.

"WHAT?!"

"Legolas please just listen to me…"

"Cel, you said he broke your heart!"

"No, no he didn't, not really." She sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "Look, you've said it plenty of times before. You can't help who you fall in love with."

"Yes, but…you don't go back to someone!"

"Actually, he came back to me."

"He is not worthy of your love!"

"Oh yes? And I suppose you are! You don't understand Legolas. When people are in love…that's just it, they're in love. Surely you know about that?"

"Of course I bloody do! It's happened to me enough times. I just don't think he's right for you."

"What do you know? You've never even met him."

"The state you were in when I returned home was enough to prove that he was worthless. You were crying!"

"And? We all cry."

"That's not the point! I heard you."

"What?"

"A night or two before we got back. Singing. 'My brother, I love you.' Those were your exact words."

Celeblaith felt her face pale. "How do you know it was me?"

"I can recognise your voice anywhere."

"Yes, well…that was then. And this is now. He's changed."

Legolas let out a short laugh. "Ha, I highly doubt it. That's what they all say."

"You're just jealous!"

"Me? Jealous? I think not."

"Yes you are. Because I'm in love and you're not. Because you can't have the thing you want more than anything."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm in love with the person I want to be in love with, and he loves me in return. You love Dolenmíl, but she doesn't love you. Not in the way you would wish for anyway."

Legolas glared at his sister. "Do not speak of things you do not know about," he hissed. "As for me loving Dolenmíl…that is not true."

"It is! I know it is. I have seen the way you act around her. You wish for her to be your, but she isn't. She's Elrohir's, and I don't think you have ever truly forgiven him for taking her away."

Her cheek stung with the impact of Legolas' hand on it. She raised her hand to it, and found it burning where he had slapped it.

"You dare to say such things! You don't know anything about Dolenmíl and me. You think you do, but you don't. You know nothing about how we met, or what happened during the time of the Dagnir-o Lóre. Do not criticise or accuse me of doing things, or having these feelings. They are not your to know." He stormed out of the room, banging the door shut.

Celeblaith stared at the door after he had slammed it shut. She lowered her hand from her cheek. It still stung. Looking in the mirror, she could clearly see the mark. She felt the tears come then, and she let them fall. He had never hit her before.

Why do I always have to mess things up?

She wiped the tears away, and left her room. She wandered down the hallways, looking for someone, anyone, to talk to. Anyone besides her brother or Dolenmíl.

She spotted Arwen sitting on a stone bench in the gardens, and started to walk over. But then she saw that the Elven Princess was not alone.

Legolas was with her.

Celeblaith stopped in her tracks, and hid behind a tree. She knew she shouldn't listen really, but…

"I just don't understand it," Legolas was saying. "I love her. I only want her to be happy."

"I know that, and I'm sure she does. But you can't get in the way of love Legolas."

"I'm not getting in the way! It's just…when I returned to Mirkwood after being away for almost six months, she was literally heart-broken. Rilma and she had already been together for a while, then separated. I am not going to let her get hurt like that again."

Arwen sighed and slipped her arms round his shoulders. He leant against her, and they sat in silence. Celeblaith felt a lump form in her throat. She knew her brother was only looking out for her, but he had to let her go someday. She was growing up. And growing up involved falling in love with the right and wrong people.

Though she was sure Rilma was a right one. When they had met again a couple of nights ago in the gardens, he had been so…sweet, and compassionate. He was acting just like he had been when they had first met back in Mirkwood. And she loved that. The feeling of being wanted, of having someone to love and care for you.

She sighed, and turned to listening. They were talking again.

"I know that she's growing up, and I can't hold her back forever, it's just…"

"I know what you mean Legolas. But I also know exactly how she feels. At least there is only one of you. I have two to contend with. It's a lot harder, trust me."

He gazed at her, sorrow etched all over his perfect features. "I am not trying to stop her falling in love, or having someone fall in love with her. I'm just looking out for her. Surely that's what every good older brother should do?"

"Aye, but they should also know when the time has come to let their younger siblings go. Not forever, just a little bit. You and Celeblaith are like that." She crossed her fingers. "And nothing is going to break that bond between you."

"I hope you're right." He straightened up. "I'm not going to stop her being with Rilma, but if he does anything to hurt her…"

"Don't start threatening people Legolas; it's not good for appearances sake."

He laughed whilst she smiled, and that relaxed the tension that hung in the air. Celeblaith smiled too. Legolas did understand, he was just worried for her. She came out from hiding.

"Legolas!"

He turned as she ran down the path, and flung herself into his arms. He gave Arwen a confused look. She just shrugged, but smiled.

"I'm sorry," Celeblaith whispered.

He held her tighter and kissed her cheek. "Its ok, I understand," he whispered back.

Arwen left them to it. As she turned the last corner, she glanced back. Legolas and Celeblaith were laughing and talking together, Celeblaith perched on Legolas' lap. She grinned to herself, and walked off.

Everything was turning out fine.

Just a couple more to go! Then that's it. See you soon.

Faerlain