Chapter eleven

"I do not wish to speak with him," Elemiriel said finally, after moments in thought, "Even if he does wish to apologise…I am not ready to hear him." Accepting this, Tinwë bid her a good day and went back to inform her cousin. Not looking to see what Celeglin's reaction would be, Elemiriel made her way through the hall to sit with her lady. "I see you have made some friends?" Celebrían said happily "Yet why the sad face?"

"Celeglin," Elemiriel said simply "Yet again he has left me feeling, humiliated and humbled…I wish I knew why he did it!" she burst out quite suddenly.


"Do not look at me like that! It is not my fault" Celeglin told his cousin as she walked back to him,

"I beg to differ, but it is your fault dear cousin!" Tinwë argued "If you would only explain and calm your temper once in a while-"

"No!" Celeglin cut her off in mid-sentence "I will not explain and have myself looking like a weak and poor fool!" Tinwë sighed in annoyance and had a good mind to leave him, "It is not so easy for me, unlike you who still has parents to rely on and still has some semblance of family life. I know your family care for me as a son, I am grateful yet it is not the same. I have not even one memory of my mother or father…you do not know how hard it is!" With that, Celeglin strode off outside, before he let his emotions get the better of him.

Breathing deeply once outside, Celeglin walked to a small secluded spot of the gardens and sat down on a stone bench, pulling out his dagger and laying it in his lap. Why can I not have a simple life? Why must my past interfere so much with the present? Without needing to look, he traced the name carved into the blade of the dagger. Sighing he knew he could not continue to avoid Elemiriel and vowed he would apologise before he left Imladris again.


Days had passed since Tinwë had told Elemiriel that Celeglin wished to speak with her, and Elemiriel had still successfully managed to avoid Celeglin. She saw no point in forgiving him when in days he would end up making her feel miserable. Within the boughs of a large oak tree, Elemiriel was least likely to come across Celeglin and being up in a tree again reminded her of her home in Lorien. She had often come to sit up in the tree, it was calming and quiet where she could wish and think in peace.

"Who is it?" she called out, hearing someone approach the tree,

"It is Celeglin – if you wish for me to leave I shall go," peering through the leaves she saw Celeglin standing patiently below her.

"What do you want?" she asked civilly.

"May I come up?" Elemiriel bit her lip, she wanted so much to forgive him and enjoy being in his company once again…but…

"Let us talk," she eventually said to him.

It only took a few minutes for Celeglin to climb up and sit himself beside her. "The way I acted that night…it was wrong and unjust. I had many things on my mind; I was angered at being wounded, I was frustrated for reasons that I cannot-" Elemiriel touched his hand and he ceased his hurried explanations

"A 'sorry' will suffice," she said gently.

"I apologise," Celeglin said, thankfully smiling at her.

"All is well," Elemiriel said happily,

"Indeed it is, I could not stand having you as an enemy for another day! You truly are a terrible foe…" attempting to push him from the branch, Elemiriel could not help laughing. It felt good to be friends again.

"I also am glad we are friends again as I must leave Imladris again tomorrow – it shall not be a long trip as far as I know…the Lord Elrond has only requested I take a message to Cirdan. I could not leave knowing we were still on bad terms."

"I agree … though all I ask is that you return home and treat me kindly this time."