The Children of Nen
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that belongs to J.R.R.T.
A/n: Hey everyone! Thanks to Helkardowen, for my first review of this story.
And thanks also to my beta Ral.
Here goes chapter two of CHILDREN OF NEN
Chapter two: Lost love
Cellin woke with the sunshine beating down on her through the two windows in Elrohir's room. She rolled over painfully and noticed her brother sleeping on the floor next to the bed. She leaned over and brushed the stray golden hairs away from his innocent, sleeping face.
Nendil stirred, his open and distant-looking eyes suddenly cleared. "Cellin?!" he shot up and asked quickly, "Are you feeling well?"
She laughed softly. "I'm fine Muindor." (Brother)
He flashed a brilliant smile and said, "Good. You had us all worried."
She looked around the room and asked softly, "How long was I asleep?"
He seemed reluctant to answer but said quietly, "You have been asleep for two days muinthel." (Sister)
Cellin looked at him shocked. "Where are Naneth and Adar?" He shook his head and sat down on the bed next to her.
"Don't worry so much. They are home, waiting for your return. Lord Elrond advised them to worry not and wait for news of your waking." She nodded and rested her head back down on the clean white pillow.
Suddenly there was a small tap on the door and a dark haired elf slipped inside the room with a try full of food. She was beautiful beyond belief. Her grey eyes betrayed her as the sister of Elrohir and Elladan; Arwen.
"Oh thank the Valar you are awake!" She said and walked forward with the tray.
Cellin smiled and said softly, "Arwen, it does my heart good to see you again." Arwen nodded and placed the food next to Cellin on the bed.
"You must regain your strength before Elrohir and Elladan come in here. You will need all the strength you can muster with those careless fools."
Cellin laughed and took a sip of the red wine on the silver tray. She placed the silver cup back on the try and took some of the elvish bread. "I don't think I can eat all of this Arwen."
Cellin just caught the worried look that Arwen shot at Nendil before she took a bite of the bread. She chewed it thoughtfully and then put it down. The truth was that she wasn't hungry at all. Nor was she weak. Cellin felt as if she could march to battle at any given moment and still have energy for the victory celebration. Normally she might have been a little hungry but she wasn't now.
Nendil was about to plead for his sister to eat when Elrohir and Elladan burst into the room. "Cellin!" They both said at once. Cellin laughed sweetly and pushed the tray away. Elladan walked up to her and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. "It is good to see you awake!"
Arwen was getting visibly angry. "You two really must leave. Cellin has to recover her strength." Elladan was about to say something when Cellin sighed and quickly jumped out of the bed, barely jostling the tray of food.
"I am well sweet Princess! My feet cannot bear to be confined in bed. My spirit seeks the sun from other places then this room."
Arwen shook her head and picked up the tray. "For ones so old, you all act so young." Elrohir was silent as Elladan responded.
"For one so young you act so old. You should not be so concerned with the duties of royalty. Come sister! Come and join us in our merry ways!"
Elrohir put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Let her go. She wishes not to make a fool of herself such as we do constantly."
Elladan looked at his brother's somber face and asked, "What troubles you brother?"
Elrohir shook his head. "I have received news from father." The room quieted and Arwen put the tray back down on the bed. Her beautiful grey eyes clouded over in fear.
"The band of orcs has been tracked. We leave in the morning."
Nendil rose from the bed and asked with a worried gaze, "They have returned?" Elrohir nodded.
"Then I will accompany you. If my father leaves then I shall not be far behind."
Cellin and Arwen watched on as the brothers talked. Finally Cellin broke into the conversation. "What are you speaking of?" Elrohir looked at her with a somber face.
"A band of orcs has hung loose around the borders. They have tried to attack but cannot get past. The power of the elves is too great. Yet recently an elvish child escaped from his mothers arms. He got lost in the woods and...wandered too far past safety...he is...dead."
Elladan nodded and continued for his brother. "The father of the child went looking for him along with three others. They found the child strung up in the forest, dead. When they reached him orcs stormed them in incredible numbers. The father and two others have been killed. The surviving elf in sorely wounded and may not live."
Cellin looked away in horror. Arwen showed no visible response to the news but her hands were shaking badly.
Nendil walked over to her and took the tray and set it down on the dresser nearby. He stepped forward and Arwen wrapped her arms around his neck. Elves had the ability to comfort complete strangers of their own kind and feel comfortable about it. Nendil's bond with Arwen, however, was more then that. Cellin and the twins knew of the affection that the two shared was much more then friends. Cellin knew that Nendil loved Arwen.
Elrohir looked back to Cellin. "Elladan, Nendil and I, along with twenty others, travel at dusk tomorrow. Your father is leading the party. We shall hunt down the orcs and kill them."
Cellin looked back at Elrohir with a look of disgust,
"You would lead twenty elves to their deaths? These are no ordinary orcs.
You speak of surprise and using children as bate. What orc does these things? These plans have well been thought out. Do you really think they do not expect an army to defend Rivendell?"
Elrohir gritted his teeth. "What would you have us do? We cannot cower in fear any longer from these beasts! I will not stand by and see another, like my mother, be destroyed. First a child then a father, what next? Soon we shall wake up to the sound of mourning. Mothers shall weep over their children while we pretend to take action. I will no longer stand by and watch such suffering among the immortal."
"You make them suffer! Why cause more pain by taking away brothers and fathers? Are they not as valuable?!"
"Don't speak of things you do not understand Cellin! Your fear of losing your brother would stand in the way of riding us of this threat forever?!"
"You cannot rid us of this threat. Evil is everywhere! More will come Elrohir! More will come. You forget I also know the pain of losing one held dear. I will not risk that again!"
Her face went from anger to sorrow as she spoke of her dearest friend.
"What would you have us do?"
The angry question flowed through Cellin like water in a river bed. She walked over to a wooden chair across the room and sat down. "I don't know...I don't know." The defeat in her eyes shocked Elladan.
Arwen had long ago stepped away from Nendil as she watched the exchange between Elrohir and Cellin. Cellin's green dress had been changed. Arwen had made sure that she had a clean white one on. It was a bit wrinkled now but it still flowed beautifully down her body. The head bandage had been changed and it was clean, with no blood.
Cellin rested her head in her hands and said softly, "I'm sorry Elrohir. I'm sorry." Their elven ears picked up the soft reply and their keen eyes watched as Elrohir walked over to Cellin and, kneeling in front of her, embraced her in a his arms.
"I will bring them back safely. I promise you."
Cellin nodded, holding back her tears. When Elrohir let her go and stepped back she said resolutely and determined, "I am coming with you."
Elrohir, Elladan, and Nendil all responded at the same time with a firm, "No"
Cellin rose from her chair, fire in her eyes, and said, "Why not? Other female elves fight with you. I can fight just as well, if not better, then them and you know it."
Elrohir sighed and said in aggravation to Nendil, "You deal with your sister!" He threw his hands up and stormed out of the room.
Nendil turned to her with an unyielding face. "You are not going and that is an order." Cellin walked up to him and jabbed his chest with her finger. "Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?"
He smiled and pushed her hand away. "Your brother."
In a couple hours Cellin was home. Her mother had scolded her for not
telling anyone about her head and also for going into the lake with Nendil and not telling anyone. "You could have been killed! Or drowned!" she had said. "Sometimes I wonder if you have gotten the complete wood elf side of your father. Reckless and stubborn! Oh my dear Cellin I could have lost you yesterday!"
Nendil had left with Elrohir, Elladan, and their friend Adandil. She didn't know where they went off to because she was too mad at them to ask. Arwen had accompanied her home and Cellin returned the dress Arwen had left her.
Now she was outside in her favorite tree, watching the sun rise higher in the sky. She had changed from the white dress, Arwen had leant her, into a soft violet one that her mother had made. It came to her knees and then fanned out in a translucent material that came to her calves. The sleeves came to her elbow and also fanned out in the see-through violet tinted material.
Thoughts rushed through her head. This morning was the first time she had ever spoken of her friend' death since he had happened long ago. Pain filled her soul and she knew it wouldn't be long before she would break down. There was so much more to that story...so much more she yearned to tell...so much that she couldn't...
Her eyes scanned the horizon for any signs of danger. She had never thought of her safety before. After what her brother and the twins said she was constantly on edge.
After a while she settled down into her perch.
It was at least three hours before she decided to go home.
As she started her walk she began to sing an old song her grandmother had taught her. It was soft and sweet. The words flowed from one to another and held meaning unlike the rest. To place those words in common tongue would do them no justice.
"My love, why have you left me?
My dear, why have you not returned?
I know some where you'll find me.
I know some where out there.
When the skies are blue
All I see is you and my heart breathes again
When you love me I can spread my wings
When you whisper to me I know I can
After all this time it's true
No matter what separate us I will forever belong to you."
When at last she reached home she sighed and smiled.
The cottage was made of grey stone and had numerous plants and flowers around it. There was a small pool out front and there were water lilies in it. Pink and lavender flowers covered the walls along will vines and there was a small grey stoned well with a brown wooden bucket hanging from a rope, just above the rim of the well.
Cellin entered into the wooden door and she could hear her mother singing softly as she cooked. As she walked down the narrow hallway and entered the living room she gazed at the paintings hanging from the walls. She noticed the living room was different somehow. There was a new bookcase across the room and the sunny manner of the house sent a warm and comforting feeling through her.
When she entered the kitchen Cellin's mother turned around, wooden spoon held high.
"Cellin I would like you to meet our guest. Your father sent for him. He is an old friend and he has journeyed long to reach us in time for the fighting tomorrow."
Just as she said that a tall elf walked into the room. His semblance was that of an angelic being. He had long silver hair and shockingly cold blue eyes. His eyes pierced right through her and she looked away nervously.
He spoke with a soft and strong voice and every syllable was said with precise accuracy. He had broad shoulders and a tall build. His head was held high but throughout his strong appearance she saw gentleness beneath his eyes.
"You must be Cellin. I have heard much of you and I see now that not all of the words spoken hold close to the truth. You are much lovelier in person Milady."
With a slight bow he said, "My name is Sildathar."
Cellin bowed and smiled faintly. She noticed how he scrutinized her closely and seemed to pick up every detail of her stance. His eyes never left her and she felt herself lose the warm feeling she had gained when she entered her house. She felt exposed and cold in his gaze.
Her mother smiled at Sildathar and nodded. Then turning to Cellin she shook her head. "Just look at you! Your hair is a mess with branches and there remains wildness in your eyes!" With an exasperated sigh she smiled and continued.
"You have your father's spirit." Her eyes ventured off into a dream before she shook her head and said more firmly, "Go find Nendil. He is very late. I believe he and the twins are by the river. Oh and if Sildathar does not mind I would wish for you not to go alone. Your father will not return for dinner tonight. He and Lord Elrond are planning for tomorrow's attack."
Sildathar bowed. "It would be my pleasure to escort your daughter. It is the least I can do for your generosity."
Cellin nodded and left the room. Her spirits, which were high before, had now sunk. The last person she had wanted to see was Nendil. Now she had to also be forced to speak with Elrohir. The elf accompanying her was also not exactly a thing she looked forward to.
Cellin left the cottage with Sildathar closely walking next to her right side. The elf was a strange thing to her. She had never met some one so... striking... before.
She sighed. To her utter dismay and horror she found herself crying. Silent tears ran down her cheeks and fell to the grassy floor below. What caused this?
She knew it was because the separation was close. Last night she had heard her parents speaking of sending Nendil away to Mirkwood as they had originally planned. It would not be long now. What was worse was that she knew that Nendil would go willingly. He had changed. His desire to see new things and find himself had often left her alone, waiting.
She found herself waking in the morning only to find he had already gone. He hadn't waited for her. She pretended not to care but deep inside she knew she was losing him, slowly and painfully. He had forgotten her. But she would follow in his shadow until he remembered. she would not so easily forget the promise that lay between them.
Sildathar put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from walking. They were deeper inside the forest now. The sun cast lazy beams down on the leafy ground and a fall breeze blew around, equally lazy.
Cellin looked away from his liquid silver-blue eyes and hoped he would not see the salty tears that graced her sharp elven features. But he did.
He said nothing to her but she knew he was curious. Cellin wiped away the tears and walked a bit faster, breaking the contact between them. She walked next to him as she tried to clear her head of his face.
When they arrived into the clearing Nendil, Elrohir, Elladan and Adandil were sitting by the river. Elrohir was polishing his bow and Cellin spied a map near the rock he was sitting on. Nendil was lounging with his back against the tree while Elladan and Adandil splashed waist deep into the river, trying to see who could become the wettest before sun set no doubt.
So this was where they had all gone off to.
Adandil was a friend that Nendil and Cellin had shared since they were young. Now however, he was more a friend to Nendil then Cellin. His long black hair stood out in contrast to his blue eyes.
When the two immerged out of the trees Nendil shot up from where he was sitting and silence swept over the group. Everyone noticed the silver companion who accompanied Cellin and they also took note to her cold manner and tone as she said wistfully, "Mother wants you home."
Surprising all of them Cellin turned to leave. Before she could get any farther she realized if she went home without Nendil her mother would be terribly displeased and she would no doubt have to perform little errands until Nendil returned. She closed her eyes and shook her head in aggravation and turned around, going to sit by the river, not far from Elladan.
Sildathar bowed. "My name is Sildathar and I have come to aid you. I am staying here for the remainder of my need. I hear that the orcs menace is closer to your borders."
Elrohir smiled and bowed his head. "You are welcome here. The more elves we can spare the better. My name is Elrohir and that wet blob over there is my brother Elladan. This is Nendil and that is Adandil."
Cellin was oblivious to the words spoken between the two. All she knew was that Sildathar had already forgotten about her and was sitting down by Elrohir, going over the map he had brought. Sildathar was a bit older then Cellin. She could tell by his eyes. That was the way to tell the age of an elf.
As she sat with her bare feet in the river she thought of how it was when the twins and Nendil used to include her in everything. She was acting selfish and childish and she knew it. That was probably what Sildathar thought of her as well.
Suddenly she looked at the river with a new light. This place was sacred to her. She remembered a promise she had made to herself to return here one day and retrieve the only thing she had left of her friend.
Cellin quickly rose from where she was sitting, grabbed the skirt of her dress. Tying it around her waist, she wadded out farther into the River. No one seemed to notice her. In one swift movement she dove under the surface.
The water was warm and clear but she knew that they could not see her. As she swam she reached a small bag under the water, anchored down by a large rock and tied shut with a rope. She moved the rock and, grabbing the bag, swam for the surface.
When she burst out of the water, her blond hair whipping around her wet face she refused to look at anyone, although she was sure they were looking at her. Oh how she wished they would ignore her.
When she got to the bank she sat down on a stone and opened the sack. Inside there was a small dagger that her best friend had given her. He had been killed by orcs and this was the only treasure he had.
The hilt was gold and three stones were imbedded in it. One was an emerald, one was a ruby, and one was a diamond. They represented the three things that both of them had held dear.
Emerald represented the green stage of their life when they were young and in need of a friend. Both of them had met and confided in each other like you would a diary.
Ruby represented blood. One time when the were little he had sworn to her that no matter how far away he was they would never truly be a part. He had to move to Lothlorien and they had both shed blood as their oath, much like she and Nendil had.
Diamond represented the clear streams of Lothlorien, It was there that she had given herself to him. They were young and both believed they were in love. They weren't however. Cellin knew that now. No one had ever found out her pledge to him in those clear streams. No one knew when he had given her this dagger there. It was the last thing she had of him.
She had kept it in this stream for as long as she knew. It was time to let old things go. She had tried to keep it next to her but it brought back so much pain. She, in fact, hadn't even been to this stream since she put it here. Now she knew it was safe. She would not dare come here alone, just as she would never say his name again. Her heart spoke it every day though.
Sírdhim...
She dropped the bag and put her hand to her mouth. Closing her eyes she saw his face. Sweet and soft green eyes...Long brown hair...
She lowered her hand. He had a grin much like Sildathar's. His was boyish and young; He was so full of life.
Suddenly Cellin opened her eyes and looked into Nendil's. He stared at her with worry and uncertainty. A tear slid down her cheek and she grabbed the bag.
Standing up quickly, she left the circle of friends and headed deep into the forest.
Elrohir had put down his bow long ago. The elves all looked at Nendil in puzzlement. He shook his head and quickly ran after her, followed closely by Elrohir. Elladan sighed and wadded ashore. He sat down hard and started to talk to the silver elf next to him.
Nendil and Elrohir caught up to Cellin quickly. Nendil took the bag from her hand and Elrohir grabbed her shoulders, stopping her from walking.
Cellin spun around and made to grab for the bag. "Give it to me Nendil! Please..."
The pleading in her voice and the remains of tears that flowed down her face made Nendil open the bag. The dagger inside was beautiful he had never seen it before in his life.
Cellin, surprising Elrohir at her strength twisted away from him and snatched the bag from Nendil. "Leave me be!"
Nendil looked at her oddly and wiped her cheek with his hand. Elrohir watched her as sorrow leaped into her eyes and she backed away from him.
"Cellin? What is wrong with you?" Nendil said as he walked toward her.
The soft reply was firm and she straitened her face to that of a determined and stubborn Cellin that he remembered. "Leave me be Nendil. I have no wish to speak with you."
He flinched. "What have I done?"
She clutched the bag even harder in her fist and shouted, "I no longer know what has become of you! Oh, how many times have I waited for you? I have lost all of you. I used to always have a place in your time but I fear I am losing you minute by minute. Go! Go off on your hunt! Go to Mirkwood! Find yourself Nendil! Just always know that I have not forgotten. 'In all blood is true' I have not forgotten"
Nendil grabbed her arm as she was about to leave and pulled her to his chest After a few minutes of struggling she finally relaxed into him and cried.
"I will never leave you Cellin Music Water. I will never leave you. I know that that isn't the only thing that brings out your tears. Will you not tell me what this bag has to do with it?"
Cellin sobbed and pushed closer to him.
Elrohir shook his head and made a motion to the lake. Nendil understood and nodded. Elrohir walked off as the twins stood there.
"He gave it to me."
Nendil pushed her away for a minute. "Who?"
Cellin took a deep breath and spoke his name softly, almost reverently, "Sírdhim."
He looked at her with shock. "May I see it?"
Cellin nodded and handed the bag to him. As Nendil examined it she could almost hear Sírdhim's voice telling her never to forget him.
"I did not know he gave it to you."
She nodded. "When Adar took me to Lothlorien...I...he...we..." She stopped, unable to finish. Fresh tears ran from her eyes. Nendil apparently understood her completely because he lowered the bag and stared at her with a blank expression.
"Cellin..."
She nodded and he pulled her close to him again. The thought of his sister with some one and the fact that he had died, leaving her alone, made him shutter. Normally elves died from that. Broken hearts killed in the kingdom of elves.
"How..."
She said softly, "I loved him. He told me that if he died to promise him I would live on and grow to love again."
"Cellin that is impossible."
She nodded. "I know. I loved him but somehow he gave me the strength."
He still looked at her with disbelief. "Why have you not told anyone of this?"
She shook her head, surprised, "I couldn't ever do that, not then, the sorrow was too great."
He nodded and looked back down at the bag. "Elves die...Cellin...They die from such things."
Cellin nodded and looked up into the trees with a sad smile. "I have been dying a little everyday. Some part of me protests that he is still alive. They never really found his body...I think that wishfullness; that part of me that is waiting for him, is what made me stay in this world. I gave myself to him and that bond is forever true. We knew it then, if he died I would have to still be bound to him, but I was willing and I will never regret it, for the rest of my life I will never regret it."
Nendil watched her as she spoke. He had never seen his sister this helpless. In the sun he finally saw the hidden life and pain she had so effectively hid from the rest of the world, from him. He found that he was shedding a few tears himself. He wasn't there for her when she held this pain so near to her heart. She could have died, he realized.
"I love you sister. Do not hope for something that may never come to pass. I could never live on with out you."
She smiled and cried harder. "I love you too Muindor...with all my soul."