Chapter
Three
Falling Like Rain
Celebrían ran up the stairs, the tears streaming steadily down her cheeks, until she reached her bedroom. She collapsed upon the bed, letting the tears flow into her pillow. Celebrían continued to sob. How could he do this to her? Elrond had confessed that he had loved her ever since he laid eyes upon her, when she and Galadriel sought Celeborn in Imladris. She had not known it then, not until he admitted it. But after that fateful day in Lórien, she knew that they would have to be together.
Celebrían stirred, turning her tearstained face to look outside the window. Though she stared, Celebrían could see nothing. Her hand scrabbled into the pouch sitting on the girdle of her gown, clamping around a brooch. Pulling it out, she looked at it. The eagle spread its wings proudly, the jeweled eyes glimmering. It was the Elessar. Hope that her mother had passed on to her. She held the brooch aloft, watching the eagle shine in the rays of the noonday sun.
Celebrían sighed and wiped the tears from her face angrily, staring at the ceiling. She would not cry here, nor would she wallow in her own self-pity. Nay, she would be strong and pull through this. As she calmed down, Celebrían realized something. Perhaps they were planning something for her. Perhaps there was a reason for this. Yes, there probably was, she assured herself. Her husband and children would not ignore her for no reason.
Celebrían swung her legs over the bed and headed over to the basin of water that sat by her shelf. Peering into it, Celebrían was shocked with her expression. Her eyes were red rimmed and her cheeks puffy. Taking a washcloth from the shelf, she dipped it into the water, scattering her reflection. She could not return downstairs looking so distraught. Nay, she thought, rubbing her eyes angrily. She would go like the queen that everyone thought she was. Straightening up, Celebrían took the cloth and wrung the excess water from it. Taking a deep breath, she began to wash her face. After a few moments of gentle scrubbing, Celebrían looked into the basin. Her cheeks were still pale and white, and faint lines were apparent around her eyes.
She sighed. It would do. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her gown that formed after she had lay down on the bed. The regal gown would never be the same. Celebrían turned around and trudged slowly down the stairs. When she reentered the feast hall, she saw that Elrond was standing by the door.
He held out his hand, and she took it. Holding her head high, Celebrían walked towards her table. She was trembling. Giving Elrond a sidelong glance, she saw that he had also noticed this and squeezed her hand.
Celebrían suddenly felt reassurance flow through her just as the warmth from being next to her beloved. "Elrond?" she murmured quietly.
"Yes, love?" he replied, holding her arm reassuringly.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"Don't you worry about it," he said soothingly.
They were approaching the end of the table. Celebrían looked around at the faces of the elves of Imladris. They all averted their glances, but continued speech. The familiar faces—her friends, her family, they all looked strange and foreboding. Celebrían sighed and looked outside. To her surprise, soft drops of rain were now falling. The steady pitter-patter beat against the ceiling of the Last Homely House. Celebrían looked outside wistfully, reminiscent of the days she spent frolicking in the rain back in Lórien. Elrond, once again, seemed to notice her expression, and guided her gently to her seat. Clearing his throat, he faced the crowd of elves. "May I please have your attention?"
The room fell silent once more. Elrond looked around before continuing, "As you may know, this marks the one hundredth year my lady Celebrían has been with us in Imladris."
Celebrían looked stunned. How could she have forgotten? Looking back at the elves sitting in their seats, she saw that they were smiling, pleased for their lady. Celebrían felt completely overwhelmed. Collapsing into her seat, all she could do was stare blankly. A line formed as enthusiastic hands pushed presents into her arms.
"Here, milady." An eager lad handed her a package wrapped roughly in brown paper.
A pair of shy hands inched their way closer to her. Celebrían looked down and saw that it was Súlanna. "Please take this," she murmured softly before dissipating into the crowd.
With shaking fingers Celebrían undid the intricate knot. Out came an elaborately woven gown. A dark, forest green velvet, it would bring out the shine in Celebrían's eyes and show off her slim figure perfectly. Celebrían searched the crowd, wanting to find the lass and thank her.
The shower of gifts continued. Celebrían began to feel overwhelmed, and she placed a hand to her forehead. Everything was blurring together. Elrond stood by her, looking at her worriedly.
And it was the last thing Celebrían remembered as she fell into a swoon.
Voices…familiar ones. Celebrían stirred, turning around. A fast paced, low voice conversing with two other worried ones. A chiming of a more feminine tone. Opening her eyes, Celebrían shook her head groggily. Elladan stood above her, peering into her eyes. Elrond held her hand loosely, his head in his hands. Arwen and Elrohir stood by the door, unsure of what to do. She blinked. They had disappeared. She was stuck in a fog. Haze lazed around her, obscuring her vision.
"Elrond?" she asked, her voice tremulous. "Where are you?"
Out of the thickness of the air around her Celebrían thought that she could here a voice. "Elrond?" she tried again, louder this time.
She was lost, wandering in the middle of nowhere. Voices emerged from the mist. These were not familiar ones. They were begging, pleading for Celebrían to release them from their pain. Celebrían's eyes darted back and forth nervously. She had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Once again, all went black.
