Tis only a shortish chapter and i like the next one more...so you get both!

Chapter thirteen

Elemiriel felt a tug on the hem of her dress and didn't bother to look down, "If you planned to sneak up upon me, you failed," she said making space on the sturdy tree branch for Celeglin to sit beside her. "How long have you been back?" she asked him,

"Two days," he replied, stretching out in the branches of the tree,

"And you only see me now!" Elemiriel berated him, raising an eyebrow

"I had a message to give, my horse to care for, myself to care for and I had been neglecting my time in the forges," Elemiriel smiled at her friend.

"So, tell me of your journey and the Grey Havens," she said, sitting herself comfortably on a branch opposite Celeglin. How she wished to be sat close to him…

"It was so calm there, the sea was amazing – much more beautiful that it was at Belfalas…the sun was setting upon it when I arrived, the view from the gates…ah…you would have loved to have seen it." Celeglin murmured,

"It sounds as though you really loved being there," Elemiriel commented, slightly worried that he would be making more frequent trips there

"It was not just the Havens…it was the thought of knowing what was over the sea…" Celeglin said, his eyes closing as he reassured himself he had made the right decision "I thought about leaving…about just getting on a ship the day I arrived, leaving all behind," stopping, Celeglin sighed and saw the alarmed look on Elemiriel's face "Yet, I knew it was not my time, and so I am still here."

"For that I am glad," Elemiriel said genuinely. What does he hide that could make him think of leaving these lands? It seemed her curiosity would only grow with every fragment of information Celeglin would give her. Will I ever truly know him?


"We are preparing to visit Lorien, to visit my wife's kin before my children are born and before the mountain passes become full of snow," Elrond informed Celeglin, children? Celeglin thought to himself, he had not been aware that twins were to be born to the Lord Elrond and his wife. Putting his thoughts away, he continued to listen to his Lord "You are assigned as head guard for the journey, as I am aware that the pass through the misty mountains has become dangerous of late. The Lord Glorfindel will remain here in my stead and so cannot take the role of head guard – choose a company and have them ready for two days time."

"It will be done my Lord," Celeglin said, before leaving the room.

He smiled, a journey would be good, he had been home for too long it seemed since he had visited the Havens. Most of his time had been spent in the forges or in the company of his friends. Elemiriel had become firm friends with Tinwë and even when Celeglin did not intend to spend time with her, she was often with Tinwë and Tathariell in the family rooms.

It is strange he thought that we first hated the other…


"You must come!" Elemiriel pleaded with Tinwë over their needlework, "You can see the beautiful mallorn trees and I do not wish to be alone with your cousin for too long as I fear we shall only have a disagreement – and I do not wish to be miserable for my stay at home…"

At that precise moment, Celeglin entered the warm room and Elemiriel shifted uncomfortably on soft cushion she was sat upon as she looked at him, hoping he had not heard.

Smiling he strode over and sat next to them, pushing one of his braids behind his ear. Leaning over Elemiriel's shoulder he tried to see what she was sewing. The silver lines of intricate embroidery stood out against the blue cloth but Elemiriel had ceased the movement of her needle and held the cloth to her so he could not see,

"Do not stop on my account, I shall be gone if the fair maidens wish it?" Celeglin said as he prepared to rise,

"No, it is late and I must ready my belongings for the journey to Lorien," Elemiriel said folding the cloth and securing her needle in the fabric, "I shall see you on the morrow."