The 'Life in Imladris' Arc – stories focused on the inhabitants of Rivendell.
Deception and Heartbreak

Disclaimer: This fictional story is completely made up for fun and no profit is made from it. Any similarities to real events or other writings is purely coincidental.

Please leave me a review or constructive criticism. I want to be a better writer. Thank yous and translations are at the end of the chapter.

Chapter Ten

Celebrían's maternal instincts alerted her to the distressed sounds coming from the nursery, drawing her from her peaceful rest. She slid gracefully from the large bed she shared with her husband and hurried to the smaller room where she discovered the blond elfling struggling through a nightmare.

"Legolas," she said softly, jostling his arm to wake him. "Legolas." The elfling jolted awake, crying out in the dark. "Child, it is I, Celebrían," the Lady of Imladris said softly, brushing matted hair away from his forehead. "You are safe here."

"He tried to kill me," Legolas whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut as if it would stop the dream from replaying in his mind.

"Oh, mirë," Celebrían sympathized, wanting to cry herself as she witnessed the child's anguish. She hugged him tightly to her and rocked slightly back and forth until Legolas' tears faded and his breathing evened out, though he was still awake. "Would you like to tell me of your dream?"

"He was here, in Imladris, and he wanted to kill me," Legolas told her around hiccups and sniffles. Celebrían stopped him from wiping his nose on the back of his night-shift's sleeve and located a handkerchief for him instead.

"The same one who killed your nanny?" Celebrían asked, sitting next to him again and wrapping her arms around him.

"Yes." Legolas shuddered as the memories assailed him in combinations of real events and horrible nightmares.

"You know who killed her?" Celebrían questioned with both hope and despair. If Legolas knew who the murderer was, it would be simple to send word to Thranduil. However, there must be some reason why Legolas hadn't told his father immediately.

"He came in my room and Merilië tried to make him leave, but he stabbed her," Legolas hiccupped. "He said that if I told anyone who he was, he would kill my ada."

"I see," Celebrían replied softly, stroking his silky locks. She did see… she now understood why Legolas hadn't told anyone about the murderer yet. Even though a logical adult would understand that the threat was empty, a child would take it to heart. "You know, Legolas, it is only you and I here in this room. If you tell me, he will never know and I know that by telling someone such an important secret, it makes you feel much better."

"He said if I told anyone," Legolas stressed, wiping at his eyes.

"How would he know if you whispered it in my ear? We can pretend you were telling me a silly joke and none would be the wiser of our little trick."

"I do not know," Legolas hesitated. He did not know what he would do if his father left him, just as his mother, and now Merilië had.

"I promise Legolas, that if you whisper to me who killed your nanny, in a few days all of your problems will go away and your father will not be harmed at all."

"Truly?"

"Truly," Celebrían smiled. Legolas frowned and for a moment Celebrían worried that she was have to try a different tactic, but Legolas seemed to trust her and eventually he nodded slowly. He turned in her arms so he could whisper the name of his nanny's murderer in her ear. "Thank you, mirë," Celebrían smiled, placing a kiss on his temple. Legolas, however, seemed rather shaken, as if he expected the mysterious character to suddenly burst through the nursery door, waving a dagger threateningly. Noticing this, Celebrían picked him up and settled him on her hip before walking out of the nursery and heading towards the balcony. Legolas clung to her nervously, feeling very exposed on the open balcony. However, he also felt safe with Celebrían and he had seen Elrond lying on the bed in the room. If anyone attacked them, he or she would not be able to escape again.

"Has anyone ever told you the stories of the stars, my prince?" Celebrían asked, turning his attention towards the glittering white specks scattered throughout the pitch black sky.

"Some," Legolas replied.

"Then I shall tell you a few more. Do you see that bright star over there?" She pointed with her free hand and Legolas nodded to show he could see which star she meant. "That is the star of Eärendil. He was Elrond's father…"

"Nightmares?" Elrond questioned when Celebrían returned to bed an hour later, after putting a drowsy Legolas back in the nursery.

"Yes. He told me who killed that poor elf-maid."

"He knew?"

"He witnessed the whole thing but the murderer threatened to harm Thranduil if Legolas told anyone, so of course, he didn't."

"How did you convince him to tell you?"

"I told him that the elf would never know if he whispered the name to me and we pretended it was a secret joke between us."

"So it was an elf?" Elrond questioned, his heart sinking. He could not believe another elf had resorted to kinslaying after the terror caused by the last wave of slaughter.

"Yes," Celebrían sighed. "We should send word to Thranduil immediately."

"I will do that first thing in the morning," Elrond promised. They both lay there in the silence, unable to sleep now that both were awake, even though the sun still was a few hours away from rising.

"Did you know that Elrohir fancies one of the elleth from the East?"

"I did not. When did you learn that?"

"Tonight at the Hall of Fire. He was exchanging looks with her all night and in jest I called him on it and he turned the most delightful shade of pink," Celebrían laughed.

"I'm sure he did. Elladan was always the more outgoing when it came to the young maidens," Elrond smiled.

"Legolas informed him that all elleth are yucky, so he should not be embarrassed to insist he didn't like the one I pointed out."

"I almost wish the twins were still at that age," Elrond admitted. "They have grown so fast."

"They have, but they have grown into beautiful young elves. I do believe it is time to start educating them on the proper way to court the maidens."

"Maybe in a few more years," Elrond cringed. Celebrían laughed and leaned over to kiss him.

tbc…

please review.

Translations:
mirë (Q) – "precious thing"
elleth (S) – "elf-maid"

Thank you:
Arian – Glorfindel wasn't very nice, I agree. Fortunately, things look up for Lindir soon.

Arialas – Lol, thank you!

Ellfine – It is about time Glorfindel told someone, so he can start getting over it. Thanks for the review. :)

Seeing-spots – Everyone feels for Lindir… I'm glad, because that means I've created a character that people can relate to. Very soon, Lindir gets a surprise visitor who brightens his spirits for a bit.