High Princes of Tirion
by Nemis

A/N: I wanted to point everyone to a story which I cannot deny influenced me somewhat this chapter (and just because I had the honour to beta it ;)).

It’s Alena’s, and you can find it here: The Other Shore

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Chapter Fourteen     Past Resurfacing

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Arriving before the gates of Tirion, the City’s splendour waiting beyond, the four Elves halted and Ereinion looked at Elrond.

‘You are certain?’

The dark-haired Elf-lord nodded, smiling. The horse beneath him seemed eager to continue, sensing his master’s impatience.

‘If I go into the city I will most likely be held up, and run the risk of missing them. I shall ride from here.’

Sitting forward in the saddle Glorfindel once more put forward the question he had posed several times before during their journey back from Oromë ’s halls.

‘Do you wish me to accompany you?’

Raising a hand, both to thank his friends as well as take his leave, Elrond shook his head.

‘No need, I shall be quite all right on my own. Navaer!’

‘Navaer, Elrond!’ echoed the reply, swept up by the wind as the lonely rider began his journey further east, towards the sea. Elrond refused to think, to let anything but the road, the ride, his surroundings, occupy his mind.

And still, not much time could have passed, when he heard the sound of approaching hooves.

Not giving it much attention, there was nothing special about another traveller, he had passed several during the short period he had been on the road already, the exclamation which accompanied the nearing rider made him slow.

‘Elrond! Daro!’

Surprised, Elrond slowed, to find Ereinion bringing his horse alongside his, having slowed down from a gallop.

‘I just thought... I wanted to thank you.’

As the he stretched out his arm, Ereinion’s eyes met Elrond’s. Without hesitation the other caught it.

‘Don’t thank me. There is no need. Instead, I thank you,’ Elrond smiled.

Bowing his head, Ereinion chuckled. Then he looked up again.

‘Are you certain you do not wish to have company?’

‘Very certain,’ Elrond replied. ‘Now be off you.’

Grinning, Ereinion gave a nod and complied, riding off. Elrond watched, until he too, continued his journey.

—~~*~~—

Celebriníel kicked the sand as she gazed over the water. She wished she had a boat, perhaps even a sail, so she could be out there, if only for a little while. Here, she could only take a few steps into the grey wetness before she was forced to return. There would be silence out on the water, she thought. Disappointedly she waved at some Elves in boats, who returned the gesture merrily. Most likely they had come from one of the port-towns nearby. There seemed to be small harbour-towns aplenty here, northward upon the borders of the Sundering Seas.

She looked back, searching for the two lonely figures walking somewhere behind her, one with silver hair, one with dark.

If Ada had been here, he would have taken me.

She could only remember one time she had been on water, when she had been with Ereinion and Elernil, long ago it seemed, even to her. Ereinion had taken them to where the small waterway met the larger one, and from there they had drifted along the stream in a simple wooden boat.

It had been exciting, and she recalled liking the motion of the water, the lapping of the waves against the sides of the craft.

At Imloth, she often walked to the river with her parents, to throw sticks into the water on one side of the bridge, only to run to the other side and watch them drift by.

Once, Ada had helped her fold a fleet of paper ships, which they had drifted down the stream.

Thinking of that, it was all of a sudden, in the distance, that she could distinguish a tall figure, looking out over the sea, much as she had been doing just now. Without having to think much, she began running, for how could she not recognise him?

The wet sand near the shoreline made it easy to walk fast, and as her dress fluttered around her, she kept her eyes fixed on the Elf, his dark hair being tugged at by the wind, his eyes still staring, but not at the sea, she thought. He was staring beyond the sea.

‘Ada, Ada, Ada!’

She was certain he would catch her in his arms, and he did, pressing her against him, her head against his shoulder. His clothing smelled of travel, but in a nice way. Of wind and forests.

‘Suilad, Celebriníel,’ she heard the well-known voice say, but something was not as it should be, though she could not be certain.

‘Ada, what is the matter?’

He swallowed; she was close enough to feel it. Wriggling, she attempted to look up at him, but if there had been any sign of sadness, it had disappeared by the time she was able to observe his face.

‘Nana said you would not come, that we would see you when returning to Tirion.’

Elrond smiled broadly, watching her intently.

‘Ah, but I thought I might come nevertheless, to see if you were behaving yourself. Have you been?’

‘I wanted to go out in a boat, but Nana would not let me.’ Celebriníel replied, fingering the collar of her father’s tunic.

‘Why would you want to go out?’ he asked.

‘I like the water,’ she replied. Then she looked at him inquisitively. ‘Ada, what is beyond the sea?’

Slowly he lowered her onto her feet again, and she placed her hand in his.

‘If you go far enough,’ he said, his eyes once again fixed on the horizon. ‘There is land.’

‘Do Elves live there?’

Celebriníel watched her father nod slowly.

‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘But not as many as there once were.’

‘Not as much as here?’

‘I think not.’

‘Did you ever go there?’

He smiled, finally looking at her.

‘I was born there.’

‘You were?’ she asked, surprised. ‘Like the people in the songs?’

‘Songs?’

‘I read songs about a place called Imladris, Nana likes them much, they were in one of her books. But when I tried to find it, to see where it was, Erestor said it was not on the map of Aman.’

Nodding slowly, Elrond smiled.

‘Tell me about the songs.’

‘One is about an Elven-lady who waits for her husband in the Gardens of Lórien, where Daeradar and Daernaneth dwell, I think he was an important Elven-lord. She sings about Imladris, and it sounded like a very nice place. I think her husband was the Lord there, like Finarfin is the Lord of Tirion.’

‘Did she love him?’ Elrond asked, his grip on her hand increasing. ‘The Lady loved the Lord?’

He was aware of what the answer was, more than anything he was aware of in his life, but yet he asked. He had to ask. Somehow it suddenly needed to be confirmed, even if only by a young girl.

Celebriníel looked up at him.

‘They share their dreams, and they kiss a lot, so I suppose... Have you ever been to Imladris?’

Her father was silent for a long while, but Celebriníel did not worry. Often he was preoccupied, but never did he forget her questions.

‘Imladris was a very nice place. Summer always lingered in its gardens.’

Content, the elf-child smiled.

‘Ada, do you think the Elven-lord joined the Lady?’

‘Yes,’ he said at once, and chuckled.

‘Yes?’ She had thought because of his questions, he had not known what it was she spoke of.

‘And they were very happy, and they were given a little child, a girl.’

‘Just like you and Nana?’

‘Exactly like me and your Nana,’ he laughed, and lifted her again. ‘And the girl had silver hair, but never kept her braids. And she constantly asked questions.’

‘Did the Lord mind?’

‘He did not,’ Elrond smiled, kissing her forehead.

‘What was the girl’s name?’

‘I do not remember.’

‘You always remember everything.’

‘I do?’ .

‘Yes. ’

‘She was called Meluihên...’

‘Ada...’

‘Yes, my Celebriníel?’

‘She cannot have been called Meluihên.’

‘Why not?’

Celebriníel considered it for a moment.

‘Do they call children that often?’

‘Hmm, I do not know.’

‘You know everything.’

‘Perhaps she was not called meluihên all the time.’

‘You are teasing me.’

He smiled.

‘Yes, I am.’

‘What was her name?’

‘They named their daughter Celebriníel.’

With another kiss on her forehead he set her down and caught Celebrían’s hand, for she and her companion had by now reached father and daughter. There was not a moment’s hesitation before they embraced.

I felt it, she told him, pulling back and fixing her eyes on his face.

Worry not, he replied, before turning to the other Elven-lady.

‘Suilad, Naneth.’

Elwing smiled and let herself be pulled into Elrond’s firm embrace.

‘Good to see you, ion-nîn.’

Celebriníel pulled her mother’s hand.

‘Nana, I told Ada of the songs of Imladris!’

Smiling, Celebrían placed her hand on her daughter’s head. The other she extended to Elrond, who gratefully took it.

Looking from Celebrían to Celebriníel, Elwing extended her hand to her granddaughter.

‘Come, Celebriníel, we shall walk on and see if we can find some provisions.’

‘Can we eat them here on the beach, Daernaneth?’ she asked. ‘Please?’

‘We can,’ Elwing replied.

As the two walked off together, Celebrian looked at Elrond.

‘You spoke to Ereinion?’

‘I certainly did,’ Elrond smiled, stepping closer, in need of the physical contact.

Rubbing her hand over his chest, she rested her head against his shoulder.

She had felt his thoughts very clearly, possibly already before Celebriníel had noticed her father stand by the shore. He had allowed her to, whether or not entirely conscious of it, which indicated he wished to speak of it.

‘You were thinking of Arwen?’ she queried, meeting his eyes.

Elrond swallowed. He had ridden here to be with the person who knew him better than anyone else, who was able to chase all his dark thoughts and qualms away... On the road, he had longed for her, forgetting what he was riding towards. As she was able to comfort him, the sea at the same time could increase many of his doubts.

He observed her for a moment, trying to give a look of not comprehending. Then he sighed, increasing the physical contact.

‘Most of it has gone, the sadness, but the sea... Sometimes I hate it, for it always separates me from those I love. It continues to, it will until the end of Arda, even if she is no longer... And it reminds me, Celebrían. It always reminds me...’

Looking at him, she caught his hand.

He knew she was reminded of their eldest daughter often too. That she was even when only looking upon his face. But much of that sadness had passed, especially after the others had joined them on Aman. After they had been given Celebriníel.

Elrond rested his cheek against her forehead, glad when her arms slipped around his waist.

‘And to think I was quite cheery riding up here.’

‘Ereinion is well, then?’

Sighing contently and closing his eyes, Elrond nodded.

‘I think I can venture to say Ereinion is quite well.’

Celebrían smiled.

‘It seems quite like my husband to lift someone’s gloom and then take it up himself.’

‘Yes,’ Elrond said softly.

Feeling him breathe out, Celebrian closed her eyes too.

Gently guiding her face up, he looked at her for a moment before kissing her, feeling the wind increase, pulling at their hair, neither of them caring. Celebrían withdrew, just enough to be able to whisper.

‘I missed you, El-nîn... Only mere days, and yet I longed for you to return more than ever.’

There was very little she could have said that would make him more contented at this moment.

He could not explain why it was he felt this way now. Perhaps it had been the conversation with Ereinion. It had uncovered many old hurts, and very possibly those had also caused same newer hurts to surface.

‘I love you so much...’ he whispered.

‘I worried for you, after leaving Middle-earth,’ Celebrían returned softly. ‘I once told you that you would not lose everyone you loved. But when I heard of Arwen ’s choice, I feared...’

Touching her face with his fingertips, Elrond shock his head.

‘I knew you were waiting. Of all things I knew... You just... I...’

Embracing her tighter, he closed his eyes, trying to will the thoughts away.

‘Do you wish to go, my love? Back to Tirion?’ she asked him.

Withdrawing enough to watch her face, he shook his head once more.

‘I am here now, as are you, and all is well. And I should be satisfied.’

Turning to the sea again, he let himself be caught by it once more.

It were Celebrían’s fingers entwining with his that brought back his attention.

‘It is allowed to not be content at times. But I am uncertain if it is discontent you feel. Perhaps mere moments of restlessness. Short moments in oceans of time.’

He nodded slowly, drawing her close another time.

‘Does it fade?’

With a wry smile the Elven-lady rested her head against his shoulder, her eyes now fixed on the grey mass before them.

‘It would not be the truth if I told you it ceases to exist entirely. But the passing of years reduces it. Sometimes I suspect it to be gone.’

‘Ereinion said to me these are the things that shape us.’

‘He can be wise when he wishes it.’

They stood silent a long while, until they both locked gazes and smiled.

She’s coming again...

Elrond chuckled.

Indeed...

Turning to the direction into which the two figures had walked not long ago, they could see their daughter returning, no doubt to tell them to come and eat.

Celebriníel smiled broadly upon reaching them.

‘Briníel!’ Elrond returned her smile, catching her hand. ‘How now, my princess?’

‘You are coming?’

‘Why would we not come, meluihên?’ Celebrían asked as she stroked her daughter’s hair and glanced at Elrond.

Celebriníel looked up at the both of them, very tall in comparison to her still small form.

‘I think perhaps you wanted to be alone.’

‘Just for a bit,’ Elrond said, teasing his daughter. ‘But you found us, did you not?’

The girl nodded, looking at her feet.

‘When are we going home?’

As they began walking, Elrond looked at her.

‘You mean Tirion? We shall leave tomorrow, as planned.’

‘No,’ Celebriníel shook her head. ‘No, I mean Imloth.’

‘Hmm,’ Elrond replied, looking at Celebrian. ‘I think we are to stay in Tirion until spring, and then go back to Imloth.’

‘Why do you ask?’ Celebrían continued, smiling at Elrond.

Celebriníel sighed.’

‘It’s boring in Tirion.’

‘Boring?’ Elrond laughed. ‘It has been called many things, but boring?’

His daughter did not seem to like his response.

‘At Imloth,’ she tried to explain, ‘you both have more time for me... In Tirion, you are always busy, and so many people come to Elrohir’s house. And I am not allowed to go out alone.’

‘I see,’ Elrond said, looking down at her amusedly. ‘We shall have to find a solution to that then.’

—~~*~~—

Ereinion descended the stairs alone, rather quickly, pulling his rich robes further around him.

He unnecessarily observed his feet, and felt some of his braids fall forward. Straightening his back again, he felt them fall back to his chest and he smiled at Elrohir, who stood waiting at the bottom of the flight of stairs.

As soon as the High Prince had reached the ground floor, the two elves continued together, their strides matching.

On their way, many a waiting council member nodded, and Ereinion courteously returned the gesture, his grey eyes content, yet carefully assessing all they rested upon.

Finally arriving in the Council Chambers, there were some handshakes, polite exchanges of no real length.

As was usual, they were among the last to arrive, and did not have to wait long before the Council commenced.

One of the first to speak before the true debates would ring against the ancient marble walls, Ereinion stood before the assembly, gazing up from the paper before him, to see the council members watching intently.

‘I do understand that some within this chamber would rather have me continue my observations of Council protocol a while longer...’

A murmur arose and Ereinion winked at Elrohir, who was seated near, also listening closely. If he looked on somewhat protectively, Elrond’s son was also aware he could do nothing. Up here, Ereinion was on his own.

Ereinion’s voice seemed remarkably clear as he continued.

‘I might remind them, or I might not, that I was already leading councils such as this one when some were mere lads running around with wooden swords. But I shall not rob the Council of its precious time doing so...’

Grinning broadly, but not entirely expecting this kind of reply, Gildor looked at the High Prince, as around them some amused laughter rang out. Ereinion held his gaze, a small smile on his lips. Gildor gave him a nod and returned the smile.

So this is when it changes... Ereinion thought.

‘Indeed not,’ he resumed seriously, returning to the papers before him. ‘For we have many an important issue to discuss...’

—~~*~~—

Celebriníel sat in the window, arms around her knees, simply looking out.

Years later, she would sit in that same window, only not like this, but much more as was deemed proper for a lady.

But for now, she was merely a girl, no longer a child, but just over halfway to her maturity.

A pair of arms encircled her from behind and she felt a kiss being placed on her head.

‘Hello you.’

‘Hullo,’ she smiled, not breaking her eyes away from the window, but nevertheless leaning back into the embrace.

‘You know Ada and Nana worry for you a little, do you not?’ the Elf asked her, and she shrugged.

She was well aware Nana wanted her to make more friends, but it was hard when there were so few children around the house and gardens. And there was a side of her that wished they would not make such a fuss about it.

After Elladan and Aurehen had left for Imloth again, to take care of it while Ada was not present, there were few people left with whom she could play.

Elernil had little time now that his errantry for Ereinion began to become more important, and Ereinion was always busy, even though he came often to Elrohir’s house, where she lived too.

Ada had the most time, but often he took her to the Halls where the High Council met, and even though she enjoyed going there, and listening to stories, it was not the same as when he would play hide and seek with her, or something similar. Nana would sometimes join them, but she and Mîrlinde were also often occupied.

‘Now I spoke to Aurehen, you see,’ the Elf continued, ‘and until the time comes when you go back to Imloth, she believes there is someone who would very much like to play with you.’

Elrohir looked down at his sister, and met her clear blue eyes, which were shimmering just like their mother’s could.

‘Who?’

‘Her younger brother.’

‘When will he come?’ she went on asking.

‘He is already here,’ Elrohir smiled, as he released her and stepped away, bringing a boy, most likely somewhat older than Celebriníel, a little taller, into view.

‘Celebriníel, meet Arinmîr, Arinmîr, this is Celebriníel.’

Slipping off the window seat, Celebriníel stood face to face with Arinmîr, and two pairs of eyes thoughtfully observed each other.

He was dark-haired, as Aurehen was, but not by far as dark-haired as Ada and her brothers were. He gave her a small smile and she returned it, all of a sudden thinking of something to do.

‘Suilad,’ she grinned, and he mirrored the greeting.

‘Suilad, Celebriníel.’

Then she walked past him, looking back to see if he would follow.

Arinmîr looked at Elrohir, who gave a consenting nod, and followed after, Celebriníel by now making her way down the hall.

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navaer: “farewell” (Sindarin form of Quenya “namárië” (invented/reconstructed by Ryszard Derdzinski))

daro: “wait” (Sindarin)

ion-nîn: my son (Sindarin)

Arinmîr: morning jewel

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