"How do I look?" asked Elrond, turning to his wife.
Celebrían scrutinized him. "You circlet is crooked," she laughed.
Elrond frantically tried to straighten it.
"Here, let me fix it," Celebrían giggled, reaching out and setting the twined silver ring aright. "Honestly, I don't know why you're so worked up these last three days."
"Is it not obvious?" Elrond asked. "Today is the New Year's festival!"
"Indeed it is," she agreed. "And you have it every year. So why are you so worried now?"
Elrond looked at her earnestly. "Do you want the truth?"
"I may regret it, but yes, I do."
He sighed. "Because of your parents."
Celebrían choked on a fit of laughter. "My parents?" she finally managed to ask.
Elrond nodded sheepishly.
'Why are you worried about my parents?"
"Well, I'm not really worried about them. I'm worried about what they think of me."
Celebrían laughed. "They love you," she said. "If they did not think you were good enough, believe me, they would have stopped at nothing to keep me from marrying you.'
Elrond was skeptical. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. They're my parents."
Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel rode at the head of their procession, the large escort that would accompany them to Rivendell. The Lady was mounted on a gleaming white stallion, her husband on a midnight-black. Celeborn was restless, much to his wife's chagrin.
"Will you stop fidgeting?" she finally snapped. "You're making me edgy!"
"Well, I am edgy!" he snapped back.
Galadriel smiled fondly as she recognized his annoyed tone. "And why, pray tell, are you so edgy?"
"Don't play with me, Galadriel. You know very well why."
"I'm sure Elrond is a wonderful husband," Galadriel assured him.
"But you don't know that. Celebrían is our – "
" – our only child. I know. And Elrond was always very courteous and kind around us."
"Around us. The key word in that sentence is us. And now that she's going to have the baby so soon, she can't back out of the marriage," Celeborn argued.
"You worry too much, darling," Galadriel said, patting his knee.
Celeborn just sighed.
"Everything all right?" asked Haldir, one of the captains of the Lothórien guard.
"Yes, Haldir," chorused the Lord and Lady.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Haldir."
"Positive?"
Galadriel's eye was twitching. "Go away, Haldir!"
Haldir went away.
When he was out of earshot, Celeborn said, "That Elf is too nosy for his own good."
"He's going to get into a lot of trouble some day," Galadriel added, nodding her head in agreement.
They looked at each other and grinned.
A plan was beginning to form.
Reviewer Responses:
Ithiliel Silverquill: That's all right, dear! You reviewed it anyway! And no, just because it's normal does not mean it's fun. I remember incidents that scared the heck out of me when my mom was pregnant in the past. And you want Erestor to braid your hair? HEY, 'STOR! GET OVER THERE AND BRAID ITHILIEL'S HAIR! Enjoy!
Kalayna: Oh, yeah, I can see it. I think the exact opposite. I think he would be very messy at times, just because he's so…calm in the book. He seems almost laid-back to me. Thank you!
Malara: Yeah, they are. Sirius is Narcissa Malfoy's cousin, and Arthur is Sirius' second cousin once-removed, I believe. Don't know for sure. I'm glad you liked it!
Miss Piratess: Thank you! And I would love to braid his hair too! There's so much of it! XD
Mirfein: Thank you! I'm very glad you like it! And wow – I'm on your fav. lists! Thanks again!
swee-haret179: I'm really sorry, but I'm not allowed to e-mail or IM or anything. Thanks for the thought, though! (hug)
A/N: The New Year's celebration will be continuing for a few chapters, methinks. It will be a fun incident to write. Oh, I have so many ideas!
Those poor Elves.
