As this tale is drawing to a close I can't believe that it started with my friend setting me a task of writing something that featured male lead character, hollin and a romantic tragedy in From Evil to Sorrow and is now at chapter 25 of a sequel. Hope you're all enjoying it so far!

Chapter twenty five

Clattering hooves upon the courtyard stones sent Elemiriel running from the gardens. The past months had been hard upon her… and many others; all had been fraught with worry and distress. They will all be unharmed…they will all be fine…

Coming to a halt in the courtyard she saw many minor injuries, she saw guards of Lorien, she saw Celeglin unharmed, she saw the fell faces of Elladan and Elrohir. She saw the pale form being carried in Elladan's arms, and so did Elrond from where he stood in the doorway.

There was a chill silence; moments seemed to pass by as all present watched the face of their Lord. Voice wavering, Elrond ordered his wife be carried to their rooms, and sound slowly returned again to the courtyard.

"Celeglin!" Elemiriel cried softly as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, "I never said goodbye!" she managed to say, holding in tears of relief. Drawing back she reached down to where she had felt bandaging under his clothing.

"It's fine," Celeglin assured her, moving her hand away from the healing wound and then finding himself in her embrace again he hugged her back tightly.

"What happened?" Elemiriel asked heavily looking Celeglin in the eyes,

"Times are bad," Celeglin said, leading the way inside and to their rooms "There were many orcs…his powers grow strong again, they serve him as well as their own foul purposes. Elladan and Elrohir went right down into the darkness to find her. It was easy for them to get by unnoticed, guards from Lorien had come and we caused enough havoc at the entrances to their foul lairs to distract them. Though it was a hard and desperate battle for there were many set against us."

"And what of Celebrían?" Elemiriel asked, her voice clearly showing the worry she felt. Celeglin studied his wife's face unsure of how to answer,

"She is severely poisoned," he said in low tones "Her body has suffered many wounds and the toll upon her mind is unknown to me." He squeezed Elemiriel's hand comfortingly "Elrond is the greatest healer I know of and above all her husband; we must have faith".


Elemiriel sat in the afternoon sun half-heartedly stitching a new gown, beside her Arwen sat with her needle and thread moving even less. Celebrían's wounds had been healed yet she still lay listless and Elrond feared the poison still lingered in her blood, unwilling to relinquish its hold upon her.

"I fear we will lose father too," Arwen said breaking the silence, her voice threatening to turn into a sob

"Oh Arwen," Elemiriel sighed compassionately as Arwen slightly tilted her head back and took a deep breath.

"I sat with them yesterday… it was terrible!" Arwen said miserably, "Mother seems a statue and father simply sits, he seemed unaware of anything else". The dejected look in Arwen's eyes was unsettling. Elemiriel shifted her stitching work and put a comforting arm around Arwen's shoulders "It is difficult for us all," she soothed ignoring her own anxieties, Arwen sniffed slightly, "Do you wish for me to speak with your father?"

"Please," Arwen said softly "I need him. We need him". Elemiriel did not have to ask to know Arwen was speaking of her brothers too, and they were the ones who had rescued Celebrían, seen the extent of her torment.

"I will visit them and I will speak with your father," Elemiriel said as she stood up, offering a hand to Arwen she helped her up and embraced her comfortingly "We must not lose faith".


Cautiously looking inside the grand room, Elemiriel saw the Lord kneeling next to a bed where her friend lay motionless as if in a horrid parody of death.

"My Lord," she said quietly, her voice sounding harsh in the silence. Elrond did not move or even turn to look at her. Swallowing, Elemiriel moved into the room and continued to speak "My Lord please; your children suffer too, they need also, you must rest and heal your own sorrows with them. Please go and rest if nought else. We are all concerned for your family," slowly, with heavy seeming movement and as if hearing Elemiriel from afar, Elrond stood up.

His noble face looked haggard in the shadowy room, Elemiriel was deeply shocked; she had not thought the Lord could become so worn.

"I cannot leave her – I must heal her…"

"My Lord you have done all you can." Elemiriel said quietly, trying not to upset the Lord "I can watch over her, if there is any change I will send for you immediately". Relieved to see Elrond heading for the door, if resignedly and with a backward glance before leaving, Elemiriel took up his place of grieving bedside vigil.

Her friend who had always been so merry, so…so alive was simply an unmoving figure; cold and emotionless. The silvery blonde hair spread out across the pillows and the pale face was alabaster white, barely a trace of life. Elemiriel reached out and held her friends hand tightly, praying Celebrían would heal and would recover in mind.