A/N:Get Ready For another surprise!

She opened her eyes. Sunlight poured in from the window, and silhouetted against it, she could see three figures talking. She struggled to sit up, and saw a thick bandage obscuring most of her forearm. She looked to her other arm, and saw that her wrist guard had been removed from this wrist too, and her half healed cuts had been cleaned and bound also. It was then that the three noticed she was awake, and turned to face her. She looked Elrond and Glorfindel steadily in the eye, but avoided Erestor's gaze. They made their way over to the bed. Elrond sat down upon it, whereas the other two stood beside him. They didn't say anything for a long time. It was she who broke the silence. "It was you, wasn't it?" she said to Erestor, fitting the pieces together for the first time. "Ÿou saved me. You watched over me at night. And you let it go unsaid all this time, when you knew…you knew."

Erestor met her gaze squarely. "Yes. I knew. And if I had not been on my way to tell you the truth last night, you would be in Mandos's halls this morning."

"Then you shouldn't have bothered."

"Why, Alimra, why would you do this to yourself! You were improving. You were living again!"

She looked up at him, and for the first time, her proud mask began to slip.

"Because it helps. You know all about helping, don't you Erestor? You're good at that. You know all about rescuing someone. Well I needed rescuing a long time ago, but I never was. I needed rescuing then. I don't now. What I needed and what I need now, are two very different things. So in answer to your question, it rescues me. When I need it to save me. It's reliable."

Elrond took her bound wrist in his hands. She tried to pull it away, but he held on to it. "You cannot live this way Alimra."

"That's the beauty of it, Lord, that's the point"

"Why will you not let us help you? Why must you resort to this…this…butchery?" asked Glorfindel sadly.

"It staves off death a day longer, whilst bringing it closer. It staves madness for another heartbeat. It is the one thing that is as reliable and as inevitable as the pain I suffer daily. Dancing used to be my release. But not now. It is but another weakness. And I was dealing with it just fine before you decided to help."

"We can help you stop this. It cannot possibly make you happy." Elrond said, compassion making him weep inside for this girl, who had been through so much, and who thought she had so very little to go on for.

"It fights the battles."

"But it will not win the war, Alimra. Let us end this struggle. Let us help you. Do you want to be happy?" Erestor said, his voice growing softer and softer.

Alimra looked up at Erestor, and for the first time, it occurred to her that maybe there could be something to go on for. She shoved that thought out of her mind quickly. The music. That was all. His music. Nothing else.

"Do you?" Glorfindel repeated.

"Yes." she whispered, unable to look them in the eye.

"Then tell us why you drive yourself to such lengths to end it," whispered Erestor softly, sensing a pain within this elleth akin to his own. "trust us. Trust me."

And then, her voice wavering, she told them her story. She unloaded the burdens that she had been forced to bear alone for the last six years. And they listened. They didn't try to interrupt her, or judge her, they sat and listened, and tears ran from her face, and Erestor, Elrond and Glorfindel felt tears fill their own eyes at the hidden depths to her pain. She had been through more than they had ever guessed.

"The first time, it was an accident. It was a shard of glass from a broken bottle from the bar, and it was the night after I first started at the tavern. That night, my innocence was taken by the innkeeper, and in exchange, he gave me some coin to buy the herb my mother needed. It was just enough. But as the glass cut my hand, it felt as though all the disgrace and horror and disgust I felt at myself for what had happened to me melted away, trickling out of my veins along with my blood. That was where I began."

She went on, telling them all.

"And finally, she died in my arms, after begging me to come here and find my father. She said to speak her name, and that he would know me."

Elrond looked at the other two, before Erestor said, "and what was her name?"

"Celebrían"

&(&(&7

Elrond paled at the mention of his wife's name. Glorfindel reddened. Erestor tensed, before saying: "but it cannot be your wife Celebrían Elrond! For she has resided with us here since her breaking a the hands of the orcs! I saw her just this morning. She is not dead, and she cannot die!" Elrond sat heavily upon the bed. "Not my wife…but my daughter." Glorfindel remained silent. Elrond shot him a glare. "Glorfindel, I think you had best explain the true reason behind my youngest daughters mysterious departure from Imladris all those years ago. Nearly twenty nine to the day."

Glorfindel looked at Alimra in wonder, reaching a hand out to her to stroke some of her white hair. She flinched away, unused to a gentle touch.

He looked aggrieved, before he nodded, saying "today seems to be a day for old secrets. I will tell all. Elrond, my friend, I am sorry that this had to happen, and Alimra, I am sorry that I did not find you, but in truth, I did not know of your existence." he took a deep breath, before continuing, all eyes riveted upon him. "Thirty years ago, before I had met my wife, I was traveling to Caer Loera with a group of eldar under my care. After living for so long without company, I thought it time to retire to the forrest, after Isara's mother died. The group of elves included your daughter, Elrond, who was questioning whether she belonged in Caer Loera even then.. We were attacked, as you remember, by a party of orcs, some of the last to plague us before Haldir, the Marchwarden destroyed any in this sector. And I remember. She was frightened, and poisoned by an arrow that left a lingering sickness within her that her eldar blood could not fight. I believe the orcs had taken a poison from what remained of Isenguard, that had lingering effects upon even elves. Alimra, you say your mother was sick, it was this poison that I think may have been the origin."

Elrond shook his head. "I sensed something had changed about her, but I never thought…"

"Yes. the poison even then spread through her. And she knew it. She was distraught, and I came upon her in a glade of Imladris, one of the last nights our people were to spend there, and she told me she did not think she could go on. I held her, and what had started as innocent comfort became more. She asked me to show her love, even if it were for only a night. When I awoke the next morning, she had gone. I returned to Imladris, where I met you Elrond, reading a letter."

'Yes. I still have that letter. It told of her choice to become mortal, and live out her time amongst men. I thought she had found a love. After my first daughter left me, I had not the will to stay and watch another fade, so I retreated to Caer Loera. I see now that she did have a love." he turned to face Alimra. She looked back at him. Somewhere, during the course of Glorfindels confession, Erestor had left the room. "So you are my father?" she asked of the golden Lord who had been so caring and sympathetic towards her since her arrival, and then faced the dark haired lord who had healed her and cared for her. "and you are my grandfather?"

Elrond glanced at Glorfindel, who nodded. "It would seem so." Glorfindel reached to embrace her, and although she tensed, she allowed him to, his arms staying gentle. Her mamma had always taught her that family was those you should love, no matter what. She relaxed against him, and felt as though for once, a piece of her life had fallen in to the right place. Elrond smiled, despite his anger at Glorfindel. He had a grandchild. At long last after all these years of despairing that the twins would never settle down with just one elleth, (preferably, one each) let alone reproduce, and he had missed Arwens children's lives nearly altogether. And then he felt a pang of sadness for the childhood he had missed. Glorfindels eyes were flowing freely with tears as he held to him the daughter who he had never known, and who he had missed growing up. He wept for her mother, gentle Celebrían, and anew for the torment his daughter had had to suffer at the hands of men because he was not there to protect her. He loved his wife more than his very soul, but Celebrían would always hold a small piece of his heart. And when one of these tears fell upon her hand, she looked at it in wonder. For maybe , there really were some left in the world with a compassionate and genuinely caring heart. Who cared for her.

poor poor erestor! What happened to him? Why is he so sad? Why did he leave? Tune in next chapter for 'The Eldar and the Restless'lol.

And ta for the reviews all.

Barbara Neal; Thankyou! That's so nice of you to say that, it really means a lot to me. I always worry a bit when I go playing with tradtion (hey, who needs the Grey Havens.lol.) so I wasn't sure how people would take the tory. So your review means a lot. Ta(longer chapter here!)

Ephona; thanks for your praise. It makes me want to get the next chapter up sooner. So here it is! Lol

Lady Anck-Su-Namun.; your wish is my command! New longer chapter! And no slash fest. As if.lol. poor Erestor. Must be sick of spending all his time with other men. Lol. I really appreciate your feedback, and ho you tell me what you like, and phrasing and so forth. It's very helpful, and very mch appreciated.

Let me know what you all think!