I got a review for one of my other fics and it gave me faith that people do read (even though you dont review 'shakes fist' ...i jest :p) but it also made me realise i havent updated in a while heh, could use various excuses but i wont. here is chapter, enjoy.
Chapter twenty-one
Tinwë waited under the trees outside the forges, seeing Celeglin leave the buildings she stood up. Noting that Celeglin firmly looked back to the floor upon seeing her, she smiled grimly in determination.
"You will stop and talk with me cousin," she said forcefully, moving in front of him so he could not walk away. "You may shut yourself back in that forge again for the afternoon – for the rest of your life, if you wish, but please heed my words," Tinwë waited for him to respond, when he did not walk away she took that as a sign he would listen. "Why do you avoid us – your family? Why do you ignore her? The one who loves you?"
"You could never understand!" Celeglin replied harshly
"I could at least try if you let me," Tinwë retorted, staying calm "Please, talk with me,"
Sighing, Celeglin nodded and walked with Tinwë to an area of quiet gardens,
"Is it that you do not love her in return?" Tinwë asked gently as they sat down upon a pale stone bench, Celeglin was quick to reply
"No!" he said forcefully with a horrified expression, then "No, of course not,"
"Then why ignore her? Why shut yourself in the forges all day?" Tinwë cried exasperated already,
"Love is too dangerous Tinwë! Have you forgotten what it did to my mother! It ultimately killed her – how can I do that to one I love? How can I risk doing Elemiriel harm?" Celeglin exclaimed in frustration glancing about at the well tended shrubs and bright blossoms as if they had the answer
"Celeglin you are foolish!" Tinwë said sighing and taking his hands, "Though your mother died of grief over your father's death, the love they had was what gave them life! Love gave them joy! Can you not see you hurt Elemiriel more by shunning her love?"
Celeglin let his cousin's words sink in and then hurriedly looked up at his cousin, "But what if-"
"You cannot let your past affect your own love. What happened to your parents will not necessarily happen to you," Tinwë said firmly "I see now that you also hurt yourself in keeping your feelings back. Please do not live in the shadows."
Tinwë sighed and smiled as Celeglin hastily embraced her and ran to the direction of the halls.
Arriving outside Elemiriel's door, Celeglin knocked briskly upon it, his mind a flurry of thoughts and emotions. The fact he had been a complete fool barely touched his concience as he was too eager to tell Elemiriel he did love her and too eager to worry for anything else other than her. After a while, he realised there had been no reply, or even any sound of movement.
Celeglin was about to knock again when Celebrían walked around the corner, "Do you know if Elemiriel is in?" he asked
"She should be…" Celebrían said, a slight worry in her voice "She has not left her rooms often of late," Knocking on the door, Celebrían called lightly through the wood.
There was no answer. Celeglin and Celebrían exchanged worried looks and Celebrían slowly opened the door and peered around it. Nothing. Not just the absence of Elemiriel…there was no trace of her ever being there. She had left.
"When did she leave?" Celeglin anxiously asked Celebrían as his eyes searched the room for some clue of where Elemiriel had gone.
"I do not know…she spoke of going back to Lorien last night – I did not think that she would leave so soon!" Celebrían exclaimed as Celeglin paced the room "She must have left early this morning…"
'back to Lorien' the words echoed in Celeglin's head. Elemiriel was alone, and the mountain pass was dangerous… It would all be down to him if she was harmed, even if she had left in the late hours of night she would not have reached the pass yet; it would take many more days, though who could guarantee safety even before the pass – there was time to find her.
"I should have made sure she took an escort…I should have said something last night…" Celebrían said guiltily
"It is no fault of your own. Inform my family," Celeglin said firmly, before striding from the room. Breaking into a run he reached his own rooms and snatched his sword down from its place on the wall. Grabbing his cloak on the way out of the door he hurried to the stables.
Let nothing have happened to her he prayed desperately as he rode out of the main courtyard Let nothing have happened…
