High Princes of Tirion
by Nemis

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Chapter Sixteen     Departing and Arriving

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It was nearing the hour of midday, and the small group of elves stood waiting just outside the small building which served as stables. No one was engaging in last minute talking, apparently there was nothing that needed final discussion.

After yet another examination of the courtyard and its surroundings, Elrond looked at Celebrían. His wife returned a lenient look as she stood by her horse, reaching up to scratch the animal absently behind the ears. With a shake of the head Elrond turned to Glorfindel, who smiled.

‘She will come.’

Frowning, the dark-haired Elf-lord took some steps forward and scanned their surroundings again. He sighed quietly.

‘If she wanted to go back to Imloth so badly, you would expect her to be here when we leave.’

Elrohir came walking up, Elernil and Arinmîr at his side, the latter dressed for riding. Again Elrond turned to Celebrían. He had somehow expected either Elernil or Arinmîr to be with his daughter, and was somewhat surprised seeing both young elves here. It meant wherever Celebriníel had gone, she was most likely alone.

Celebrían left the horse, and neared Elrond to place a comforting hand on his arm.

‘Give her time, El-nîn.’

He smiled weakly.

‘It is not as if we can leave without her.’

Tilting her head, Celebriníel watched a bird come down from the higher branches of the nearby tree to collect some of the crumbs she had left there. She smiled as it tilted its head too and observed her as well.

‘Suilad, fileg.’

It twittered shortly, and Celebriníel chuckled.

‘Promise to sing here often while I am away?’

The bird looked at her, before it hopped to the edge of the stone and flew off again, returning to the tree and disappearing in the leafage.

Ereinion rested a hand against the frame of the balcony doors. He had finished what he had been working on, and before going on to the next document that needed his attention, decided to check up on the girl that had decided to sit on his balcony over an hour ago.

Her arrival he had noticed, he did not think she had been especially careful to hide it from him, but she had not entered, had not spoken. Only now did he realise she was not supposed to be here.

His voice was gentle, almost soft as he spoke.

‘I sincerely doubt your father will appreciate it when he learns you are seated on my balcony. Especially while he was so adamant to leave for Imloth.’

She looked at him.

‘I wondered if you could not come with us? Even if only for a little while?’

The High Prince smiled, stepping onto the balcony, nearing the railing on which the girl was seated.

‘I promised I would come, only I cannot at present. Do you not trust my word?’

Celebriníel looked up at him.

‘I cannot explain it. It just seems we shall not be seeing you soon if you do not come with us now.’

Raising an eyebrow Ereinion sat down on the stone.

‘And you plan to sit here until I come?’

With a chuckle Celebriníel shook her head.

‘Not really.’ She slid off the stone and nodded. ‘I shall go now.’

‘Good,’ he said, rising as well, trying not to let a broader smile slip over his lips due to her seriousness.

‘I shall accompany you back.’

They went inside, walking out of the study and down the stairs, departing the house through the front gate. It seemed strange, somehow. Not like it had been before. Looking back, Celebriníel smiled at the house, before bringing her gaze forward again, seeing the white walls and terraces of the City of Tirion reflect the sun.

Ereinion walked beside her, deep in thought. He had surprised himself with his reaction to Elrond’s leaving. He would miss them all, but at this point he had enough tasks to busy himself, sufficient pursuits to keep him occupied. And yet, there were no more elflings to gather in his gardens, there was no more fruit to be placed on his balcony.

He shrugged. Imloth was not two hours away. He could go if he so pleased.

Somehow he was able to do now what he had not been able to previously, when he had loathed to come to Tirion. Let go.

Not noticing the tall green hedges which made up the entrance of the house that was their destination, the High Prince was surprised to find himself nearing the stables, discerning Elrond, hands behind his back, observing them.

Celebriníel caught his arm for a moment and smiled.

‘Thank you for bringing me.’

He nodded as he returned her smile.

‘My pleasure, Briníel.’

She sped away, slowing only as she neared her father, placing an apologetic hand on his arm, making him smile as well. Continuing on, she disappeared into the stables, no doubt to find her own horse.

‘We had expected you to come sooner,’ Elrond called to Ereinion. ‘But I suspect you were caught up in matters of importance.’

They both grinned. Ereinion took on an air of played sincerity.

‘I suspect it is fortunate I came at all. Your daughter reminded me of your departure, or I would have most likely only remembered after you had already left.’

Elrond nodded, playing along.

‘We are fortunate indeed.’

It took only a moment before they both chuckled. At the same time Celebriníel came out of the stables again, leading a horse.

After embracing shortly, Elrond shook his head at Ereinion.

‘Only two hours away.’

Still chuckling, Ereinion caught Celebrían’s outstretched hand, embracing her tightly, though he still addressed Elrond.

‘I am aware of it. I do know.’

Pulling away, but resting a hand on his upper arm, Celebrían smiled.

‘We shall expect you to come in the not too distant future.’

Giving a short nod of the head, Ereinion laughed.

‘Then I shall have to come.’

—~~*~~—

Elladan pressed a light kiss against the Elf-lady’s temple, and she smiled, keeping her eyes firmly closed.

‘Be you gone, if you intend to rouse me from this pleasant slumber.’

He chuckled and ran his fingers through the soft hair at her temple, bringing her face to meet his.

‘Ah, lady, pretend I am a mere fabrication of your mind, come to brighten your dreams.’

Tenderly he kissed her, and she smiled, pressing closer to him, resting an arm around his chest.

‘If you were but that, I would never wish to wake.’

Moving his fingers through her hair, he was careful not to untangle the plaits he had personally woven into some tresses of her hair earlier. With a content sigh, Aurehen pressed her forehead against his chest, fully intending to doze further.

‘I wonder if all shall change now that they are returning.’

With a groan Aurehen buried her face against him.

‘Must you always compel me to face the present?’

Smiling, Elladan traced her side with the tips of his fingers, feeling her press her lips against his skin.

‘Well, unless you wish to greet everyone from here, I think we must face the present, sooner rather than later.’

‘How long until midday?’

‘It is long past midday, meleth-nîn.’

‘And when will they arrive?’

‘Around two hours past midday.’

Sighing overdramatically, Aurehen turned unto her back.

‘Very well. If rise we must...’

‘Hmm,’ Elladan mused. ‘Perchance we do not have to rise right away...’

Laughing, Aurehen looked at him.

‘You have something in mind, ‘adan?’

Shifting closer, he smiled, pressing his lips against her neck.

‘I just might.’

Elladan took some quick paces and ascended the steps, joining Aurehen who stood waiting for him, fastening a last catch of her dress.

With a grin he placed an arm around her waist and nodded.

‘They have arrived.’

However much the couple had enjoyed the time together, without the entire household around them, they were both happy to see the rest of the family return to Imloth.

The period spent in Tirion had not been excessively long, but nevertheless, perhaps because of the previous years in which everyone had lived together, it seemed high time that they returned home now.

A happy shout sounded, and a silver flash came towards them, followed by a darker one.

Aurehen laughed as both Celebriníel and Arinmîr ran up to embrace her.

‘Well, I am glad to see you two are getting along,’ she remarked.

‘A little too well, I sometimes fear,’ Elrond replied as he and Celebrían ascended the stairs as well. Elladan greeted his parents enthusiastically as Aurehen looked at her brother.

‘So you will continue your studies here?’

Arinmîr nodded.

‘And when I have learned enough, I will return to the City.’

Elladan grinned.

‘You’ll have to read all the books in the library first, though.’

‘Perhaps we can freshen up and have something to eat first,’ Elrond proposed, continuing on, eager to settle into his normal routines again.

—~~*~~—

His eyes closed, Elrond leant against the railing, feeling the wind toy with his hair, the scent of something sweet, he was uncertain what exactly, being blown up from the gardens.

There was no need to open his eyes to know his eldest son was sitting close by, together with Aurehen. Erestor stood near too, also silent. They had been speaking, but the conversation had halted, and now all were simply enjoying the breeze, exceptionally warm for early spring. The next moment a hand was placed on his stomach, but it did not startle him.

A cheek rested against his shoulder and Celebrían looked out over the garden towards which he had his back turned. Somewhere below, their daughter was no doubt planning a great adventure, but he told himself not to worry.

‘So when will Glorfindel return?’ Elladan asked. ‘Or is this restricted information?’

Celebrían turned and smiled.

‘I suspect as soon as his affairs allow him to.’

‘Or when Anariel allows him to,’ Elrond added, still keeping his eyes closed.

Aurehen chuckled.

‘Is it truly that serious?’

‘Who can say, really?’ Elrond replied, opening an eye. ‘Glorfindel can be very particular.’

Shaking her head, Celebrían’s smile broadened.

‘Glorfindel would not be anywhere he does not wish to be.’

‘But he will return?’

With a nod, Elrond smiled.

‘He said he would. As soon as he had ascertained Ereinion was doing well on his own.’

—~~*~~—

‘Have you finished your lessons yet?’

Celebriníel grimaced at her mother, who was seated behind her father’s desk, some of the old manuscripts she liked so much lying in front of her.

‘I was looking for Erestor. I need help finding some specific maps.’

Celebrían nodded, putting aside whatever it had been she had been concentrating on.

‘Perhaps I can help you in his stead. What were you looking for?’

For a moment, the younger of the two silver-haired ladies seemed uncomfortable. Then she neared her mother and leant against the desk, much as she would when her father would sit there.

‘Gondor and Arnor.’

There was nothing on her mother’s face that betrayed that there was anything wrong with searching for maps which had these places on them. But she did not immediately rise to help and try to find them. Instead she looked at her daughter for a moment longer, and then collected a bound book from one of the desk’s drawers.

Opening it halfway through, it revealed a foldout map, and Celebrían motioned Celebriníel closer.

‘You know where to seek?’ she asked, folding the entire plan out on the desk.

With a shake of the head Celebriníel smiled.

‘Not precisely. That is why I wished to know.’

Celebrían chuckled.

‘What can you find?’

Following a central mountain-ridge northwards with her finger, Celebriníel ended up at a place where two rivers joined and became one.

‘Imladris.’

Then she pointed at the coast.

‘Lindon, Mithlond.’

Celebrían nodded.

‘Can you find Lórien?’

Again a confident finger found the correct position.

‘Arnor was here,’ Celebrían said, hovering her hand over the area between the Ered Luin and Hithaeglir. ‘I travelled through it quite often, both with my parents as well as with your father. But it was divided into three parts at a certain moment, before it was lost almost entirely. Gondor proved to be more continual.’ She indicated the area which lay on the bay of Belfalas.

‘Did you ever go there?’

‘I did,’ Celebrían smiled. ‘For the first time long before it would be called Gondor. I lived there for a while.’

‘And after?’

‘A few times. With your Adar.’

Celebriníel stared at the map a moment, then looked back at her mother.

‘And then Gondor and Arnor were united.’

‘They were,’ Celebrían confirmed, sitting back with a smile. ‘Though I do not think it was done as easily as you make it sound.’

‘True. I read the story.’

Again an almost unnoticeable hesitation, but Celebrían caught it nevertheless. Celebriníel looked at her.

‘I read about Arwen.’

Nodding, Celebrían smiled.

‘I suspected you might have.’

Thank the Lady you came to me, meluihên ... For I cannot predict how your father would have reacted on this conversation.

Elrond was on the verge of entering the study, Erestor beside him, when noticing Celebrían and Celebriníel, deep in conversation.

Placing a hand on his friend’s arm, they both halted and looked on.

His wife was seated, a hand thoughtfully under her chin, elbow on the armrest of the chair, while their youngest daughter leant against the desk. His heart jumped as he heard the youngest of the two speak.

‘But why would she stay in Middle-earth? If she knew it would mean death?’

Slowly, Celebrían reached for Celebriníel’s hand.

‘She would have come, had she not loved someone in Middle-earth. Cherished him more than life itself. A person who could not join her here on Aman.’

‘Aragorn Ellessar?’

Celebrían nodded thoughtfully.

‘Yes.’

‘You did not know him. I read... You were already here.’

Squeezing her daughter’s hand, Celebrían confirmed the statement.

‘I was, my sweet. But I know she loved him. I felt she did, somehow.’

Locking her eyes on her hand which rested comfortably in her mother’s, Celebriníel continued quietly.

‘If you had stayed, would she still have married him, you think?’

In the doorway, Erestor felt the Elf beside him clutch his sleeve. With a comforting movement he placed his hand on Elrond’s shoulder. Celebriníel had touched upon the subject, though only vaguely, with him a few times now, and he had more or less immediately informed Celebrían this conversation was certain to come.

If she did at all, Celebrían hesitated only shortly, even if she heard Elrond’s mental whisper of her name. Sitting forward, she caught both her daughter’s hands.

‘Ilúvatar alone knows what would have happened had I stayed. All could have gone very differently. But the past matters little, meluihên, and I think you should not worry yourself too much concerning it. It cannot be changed.’

With a smile she moved some of Celebriníel’s hair back.

‘There will come a time when you fall in love, and I suspect you will understand.’

Nodding, Celebriníel stepped closer to embrace her mother, and Celebrían rested her head against her daughter, who in turn rested her head on her mother’s. Closing her eyes for a moment, Celebrían sent a silent expression of comfort to her husband.

‘Did you feel so terrible you had to leave Middle-earth?’ she heard her daughter whisper, almost at the same moment.

Withdrawing a little, she nodded.

‘Your Adar allowed me to go. He knew there was no happiness left for me there. I had to heal here.’

‘Why did he not go with you immediately?’

Celebrían smiled, never avoiding her daughter’s serious eyes.

‘He made a promise, a long time ago, and felt it his duty to bring those matters to a close first.’

Gently she touched Celebriníel’s face.

It was understandable there were such questions, and she would gladly answer them all. But preferably not with Elrond standing in the doorway. Celebriníel finally seemed to notice the two others as well. She nodded.

‘I shall go on with my studies now.’

Smiling, Celebrían let her go and watched her walk over to Erestor, smiling up at her father and catching his hand for a moment before leaving the study.

Elrond finally crossed the threshold, after Celebriníel and Erestor had left for the adjoining library. Celebrían smiled as he neared. Catching the hand she offered he shook his head.

‘I... I am thankful you were the one who had to deal with that question.’

Allowing him to pull her up and against him, she smiled, pressing her face into the folds of his clothing, enveloped by his arms.

‘The next question shall be yours to answer though,’ she whispered. ‘And I suspect it will have something to do with the grammatical structure of Quenya.’

Elrond smiled.

‘Even though I am not the linguist of the family, I think I shall be quite able to answer any such questions. Though you would be better able to explain them to her.’

Celebrían looked up at him.

‘We could help her together.’

He nodded.

‘I would like that.’

‘Well good,’ she smiled.

Gazing down as he took her hands in his, Elrond shook his head once.

‘I apologise for not coming with you then.’

Bringing up one of his hands she pressed her lips against his fingers.

‘You are here, now. That is the only thing that matters. And I know well how close you came to joining me.’

With a chuckle, Elrond nodded, moving his face towards hers.

‘Very close.’

Throwing her arms around his neck she smiled.

‘Yes...’

‘I love you,’ he whispered, just before meeting her lips for a kiss.

And I love you...

—~~*~~—

It was as he replied to Celebriníel, engaging in a word game, requiring answers and replies to and fro, that Elrond’s eye caught a small group of riders on the road further away. He smiled.

‘I think we might have guests...’

For a moment considering it part of the game, Celebriníel frowned, then followed the direction her father was staring into. Both tried to distinguish the riders for a moment, but she was the first to recognise them.

‘Daeradar and Daernaneth!’

With a smile Elrond watched his daughter dash off, following her in a less hurried manner.

Arriving at the stables, Celebriníel found her mother already waiting, as if some secret whisper had told her of the imminent arrival of her parents.

Dismounting, Celeborn’s eyes glimmered as his granddaughter threw her arms around him.

‘Suilad, Daeradar...’

‘How you have grown, tithen-pen,’ he smiled, looked down at her, at least a head taller than the last time he had seen her. Celebriníel did not release him as she stretched a hand out to Galadriel and held it a moment. Celebrían came forward to embrace her mother, exchanging a knowing smile with her father.

Elrond had reached the stables as well by then, and caught the arm Celeborn offered, smiling at his daughter’s behaviour. Greeting Galadriel, he turned again to feel Celebrían catch his hand for a moment.

‘You should have sent word,’ he smiled at Celeborn, offering his arm to Galadriel. ‘For now we shall have to hurry and bring everything in order.’

Celeborn grinned.

‘Knowing you, I do not believe it is necessary. Anticipation is one of your greater talents.’

‘You know me too well,’ Elrond nodded with a grin, before he began to lead Galadriel towards the house, meanwhile inquiring after the journey.

Celebriníel smiled and looked up at Celeborn.

‘I will go help Ada though.’

The silver-haired Elf-lord let his granddaughter’s hand slip from his grasp and watched her meet up with her father, who placed an arm around her shoulders. Celeborn smiled at his daughter and she placed her arm through his.

‘Perhaps because she was born on Aman, there is something ... I do not know ... She is like me, resembles me when I was younger.’

Celebrían smiled and nodded.

‘She is very fond of you.’

‘As I am of her.’ Celeborn said, pausing a moment before taking a deep breath. ‘Have you considered what your mother proposed?’

With a shake of the head, Celebrían met her father’s eyes.

‘Briníel will probably decide to go with you, if Elrond allows it. It depends on what she will wish to concentrate her studies.’

They were both silent for a moment. Celeborn seemed to consider the notion.

‘Healing can never be a bad thing to learn.’

With a weak smile Celebrían gazed into the distance.

‘I merely wonder if her own father would not be as good a teacher in such matters.’

‘Then do not let her go.’ Celeborn said gently, smiling comfortingly. His daughter looked at him.

‘It might not be my choice, Adar. If she wishes to go, who am I to keep her?’

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fileg: small bird

Mithlond: Grey Havens

Ered Luin: the Blue Mountains east of Harlindon

Hithaeglir: the Misty Mountains

tithen-pen: little one

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