High Princes of Tirion
by Nemis

I bow to everyone on LiveJournal who helped me out by voting, but my special thanks go to Rose Red, who came up with the wonderful idea of twins (and some of the... specifics ;))).

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Chapter Twenty-One     Births and Admissions

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Crossing the room for about the seventh time, patiently studying the faces of those gathered waiting yet again, Ereinion reached Elrond, who stood by the window, gazing outside with a small smile on his lips.

‘You are not needed inside?’

Elrond looked at him, then shook his head, still that selfsame smile on his face.

‘Somehow,’ he said, ‘I believe both Aurehen and Elladan are very content with me right where I am.’

‘Ah,’ Ereinion nodded, before tilting his head slightly. ‘And you do not have that irresistible urge to be there? Be helpful?’

Raising an effective eyebrow, Elrond did not need to explain, but nevertheless continued to.

‘I trust Celebrían knows what to do. In a sense, she has more experience in the matter than I. And it is a birth, Ereinion. I am not a midwife.’

‘I recall a feeling you had, something to do with infirmaries and those in them, of always wanting to know everything, be present, no matter what.’

‘Quite a different matter.’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Most assuredly.’

The High Prince crossed his arms and raised an inquisitive eyebrow, a distinct attempt to emulate his friends gesture of before.

‘Celebrían forbade you to enter, did she?’

Elrond made a dismissive sound and looked outside again. It took some time before he answered, quietly, but again the smile playing around his lips, causing Ereinion to chuckle amusedly.

‘She did.’

—~~*~~—

A definite red glow was distinguishable on his cheeks as Elladan walked around the bed. He was handed a dark-haired and grey-eyed baby girl by Aurehen’s mother Aryanrë. With a shake of the head, he looked at Aurehen.

‘She is beautiful...’

Celebrían smiled as she stroked the head of the small child lying in Aurehen’s arms, then looked up at her son.

‘They both are.’

‘Let me get Ada,’ Elladan grinned, holding his daughter close to his chest, before carefully making his way into the next room, where most of the household was gathered. Elrond neared from the other end of the room at once, and with a broad smile Elladan handed the small girl over to his father.

‘Adar, meet my eldest daughter.’

It only took a moment before Elrond tore away his gaze from the small girl in his arms.

‘Elladan...’

From the far end of the room, Elrohir, sitting beside Mîrlinde, chuckled loudly.

‘By Elbereth, that look on your face, Adar, was worth every minute of keeping quiet all that time.’

Slowly, Elrond studied the faces of those assembled in the room, as he handed the child over to Aurehen’s father, Dîrhûn.

Celeborn smiled knowingly, his arm through Celebriníel’s, who looked too innocent to deceive her father. Galadriel avoided Elrond’s gaze as she neared to examine her great-grandchild. Ereinion and Elernil had wisely commenced in an articulate discussion about... Elrond did not believe they themselves knew for certain. Glorfindel adequately hid any hint of knowledge he might have had on the subject, and Erestor simply kept his face devoid of anything, though his eyes twinkled.

‘Come,’ his son smiled, taking his arm.

Even if he felt slightly irritated due to the little secret that had been kept from him, it all felt trivial as Aurehen at length handed him the other girl, essentially identical to the first.

For a moment he was reminded of his own firstborn, now long grown and independent, and he shook his head as he sat down on the foot of the bed.

‘What, El-nîn?’ Celebrían asked him as she rested her head against his shoulder from behind, watching the child with him.

‘Nothing, absolutely nothing...’ he whispered, as small fingers closed around his larger index-finger. ‘Just somewhat overwhelmed.’

—~~*~~—

Elrond laughed with Ereinion, despite having just been informed of the High Prince’s imminent departure. But there would be enough taking place soon to occupy him, he knew. And he looked forward to it.

It was Elrohir, together with Celebriníel who stepped onto the balcony as well.

‘Adar, Naneth lets you know Aurehen and the twins will soon rest, so if you wish to say goodnight to your granddaughters you should do so presently.’

‘Excuse me,’ Elrond winked at Ereinion, ‘my grandfatherly duties call vehemently.’

As he reached the threshold he looked back.

‘You do not wish to accompany me?’

With a smile, Ereinion shook his head.

‘Give Aurehen my best, and tell her to be strict with the youngest members of the household. For I sincerely suspect their grandfather will spoil them to no end.’

Chuckling, Elrond left, and Celebriníel stepped onto the balcony, Elrohir still in the doorway. Ereinion looked at his friend’s son.

‘So, are we to expect any additions on your side, Elrohir?’

Smiling broadly, Elrohir raised an eyebrow.

‘I would find it highly unlikely. We shall leave further expansion of the House to my sister here.’

Celebriníel frowned.

‘In which case I advise you to not hold you breath, muindor-nîn.’

Elrohir smiled.

‘And I must inform you that your guess on hair colours was correct, as usual. Not very surprising, this time, though.’

‘No, indeed it was not,’ Ereinion smiled.

Looking from one adult to the other, Celebriníel raised a questioning eyebrow.

‘You have contests on children’s hair colours?’

Nodding earnestly, Elrohir grinned.

‘Just do not tell Elladan. He thought because it concerned his children we would not even try.’

At this, Ereinion smirked and turned towards the garden again.

Shaking her head, Celebriníel sighed.

‘That is just typical.’

‘Ereinion predicted your hair colour,’ Elrohir returned, smiling pleasantly. He could not help hold back a laugh as he watched Ereinion’s shoulders tense.

‘Truly?’ Celebriníel asked, resting a hand on Ereinion’s arm as Elrohir retreated.

‘Hmm, yes,’ he replied, trying to ignore her touch.

‘My brothers said dark-haired then, I gather?’

‘That they did.’

‘Why did you think differently?’

Ereinion turned towards her and thought for a moment.

‘I think your grandmother asked me at the time... I still cannot say how exactly I knew, but I just did.’

She smiled at him, and he could not help return it. He tilted his head.

‘You have not had any... problems with Arinmîr?’

Slowly shaking her head, Celebriníel gave him a reassuring look.

‘He stays with his parents, mostly, and I stay with Daeradar.’

Ereinion grinned.

‘Another one of those Elf-lords who scare away irritating young Elves naturally?’

Chuckling out loud, she nodded.

‘Precisely.’

‘Celebriníel?’

They turned as one, Celebriníel letting her hand slip from his arm, making Ereinion very self-conscious, to find Glorfindel behind them.

‘Yes?’ she asked.

‘Your father is looking for you.’

Gazing up at Ereinion, Celebriníel smiled and went inside. Glorfindel watched her go and stepped onto the balcony.

‘Does Elrond seek her?’ Ereinion asked, eyes fixing on the darkening sky.

Frowning, Glorfindel studied his face.

‘What makes you think he is not?’

‘I do not know.’ Ereinion shook his head. ‘Forget I asked.’

Glorfindel looked at him, and slowly unknotted his brow from the frown.

‘If you wish to talk...’

‘No...’ he glanced at the other Elf. ‘But thank you, Glorfindel.’

Nodding shortly, Glorfindel stepped back.

‘Be sure to ask, if you do... I mean, well...’

Turning and leaning against the balustrade with his back, Ereinion nodded, giving the other a more reassuring look than was in truth appropriate.

‘I will, be sure of it.’

Glorfindel left, and he turned again, facing the gardens.

‘Leave it to Glorfindel to find these things out,’ he mumbled.

‘Find what out?’

The last voice he would have expected, and he feared it belonged to the first person who had it in her to pull a confession from him.

‘Celebrían, my congratulations on your granddaughters.’

She smiled her thanks.

‘The third time you have congratulated me today, Ereinion.’

He feigned a laugh.

‘Ah yes, I admit my guilt.’

As the words left his lips he regretted them instantly. Whispering a fast entreaty to Elbereth, he hoped the Elf-lady had not noticed.

‘I do not believe such an admission of guilt is quite necessary, is it?’

He shook his head quickly.

‘Yes... No... No, of course not.’

Say it often enough and you will come to believe it, Ereinion, you fool, he told himself, pressing his lips together.

Celebrían moved beside him and rested her elbows on the stone barrier.

‘Do you know, grandchildren cause me to become conscious of all the foolish things I have done.’

Glad that she had brought the conversation into steadier waters, Ereinion smiled.

‘I would not believe you to do foolish things.’

She chuckled quietly, and looked down into the garden.

‘I made my first, and I believe greatest mistake when I came to Imladris with my mother to seek my father.’

Raising an eyebrow he looked at her, but she still stared into the garden.

‘What makes you say that?’

As if she recalled the moment long-ago of which she spoke, she laughed, more to herself than to anyone else.

‘I should have thrown myself at him then and there. It would have spared both of us a lot of individual heartache.’ She looked at Ereinion and smiled, as if to challenge him to prove the opposite.

‘At that time, I do believe the only way in which anyone could have made Elrond Peredhil take notice was to stretch oneself across his desk,’ Ereinion grinned.

Laughing heartily, Celebrían looked at him.

‘I should have.’

‘But you would have taken away all that pleasure I obtained from teasing him with you over the years that followed.’

‘Oh yes, of course, no, that would not do,’ she replied, trying to keep a serious face.

They were both silent briefly, both reminded of years past, mistakes made, and small moments which had more than made up for all those mistakes. Celebrían glimpsed at Ereinion before she spoke again.

‘He thought, though he will never admit it, that I was too young at the time.’

‘Either that, or he feared your father greatly,’ Ereinion teased with a smile.

Narrowing her eyes, she looked at him again, and he felt her rest a hand on his arm, just as her daughter had, only this did not disconcert him as much.

‘It is hard,’ she said, ‘to see someone you have known from childhood, all grown up, especially if you had already reached maturity years before. To be confronted with feelings you think are not allowed, not in place.’

He stared at her, not knowing what to say. How much did she suspect? Was this just an accidental conversation, or was she trying to help him, trying to tell him... Tell him what? Opening his mouth, he closed it again and thought a moment before deciding on an answer that would allow him as much space to move around in as was possible.

‘It is.’

‘He had good reason to not bind himself, though. For many years, there was that ever-rational excuse of duty...’ she spoke the final word with more than slight disdain, but there was no real anger. ‘Be very sure you have a good excuse, Ereinion,’ she went on. ‘Do not think responsibility, or propriety, is a good enough excuse to lie to your heart.’

She watched him a moment, then stepped closer and pressed her lips against his cheek. Ereinion closed his eyes, to find she had left when he opened them again.

—~~*~~—

Elladan sat cross-legged on the bed, the two elf-children lying in front of him, fast asleep. Curiously he touched a small fist, inspected a foot, only to place a protective hand on a small chest, all the while amazed at how small they were. Aurehen watched him, tired but content.

Finally he shook his head.

‘I feel like my father.’

With a smile Aurehen reached out to touch the head of the nearest of her daughters.

‘How do you mean?’

‘Elrohir and I, when Arwen was born, we never truly understood... My father, he lived for that, for this, his family. After we had reached our maturity, he wished another child greatly. I find I only understand this feeling now that I am a father myself.’

‘Your father is known for fostering many of your kin, of his brother’s line. In many ways, he was father to many children. But to wish for descendants of his own flesh and blood is understandable.’

Slowly Elladan nodded.

‘That it had to be him whose family was pulled apart is perhaps the more tragic.’

Aurehen smiled.

‘He does not seem to think it so. Celebriníel has healed much old hurt.’

Elladan nodded slowly, then lifted the eldest of his children tenderly. She did not wake, just moved her small arms a fraction and rested her head against his chest. He smiled.

From her resting position, Aurehen had watched him for much of the evening, how he had studied, listened, and simply watched over his children. Somehow he had seemed afraid at first, as if hands that had wielded weapons for so long a time were not able to be gentle. She knew how true the opposite was. She had known it even before.

Finally he rose from the bed, and carried the child to the small cradle which stood nearby. There had only been one until this afternoon, but very soon after the birth that a second cradle had appeared beside it. Aurehen sighed softly at the recollection of when she first discovered she was to give birth to twin girls. If twins were rare in Elvish society, twin girls were even more so.

What had it been that Elrond told her, on the eve of Celebriníel’s birth? Expect the unexpected when it concerns Halfelven children? Certainly true, she thought, as she watched Elladan put the second girl to bed, gently pulling a small blanket over her sleeping form.

This time he did not linger, and returned to her swiftly. Settling close, he rested a comfortable arm around her. Aurehen rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, even if she knew Elladan would not follow just yet.

The proud father sat watching silently, first at his wife, the mother of his two new daughters, who gave in to the rest she so much needed and deserved. But out of their own accord, his eyes wandered back to the cradles on the other side of the chamber eventually.

His ears strained themselves from time to time as to be able to hear every small sound. Several times he had to hold himself back from rising to make certain everything was well.

He would indeed speak with his father of this, Elladan decided, resting back against the pillows. There were sure to be some helpful suggestions to be obtained from a father of four, and foster father of many. But not now, he smiled. Vividly recalling the nights his parents had spent awake during the period in which Celebriníel had started to grow teeth, he decided it was better to get as much rest as they could, while it was still possible. With a kiss to Aurehen’s brow, he too succumbed to sleep, and the wandering of the fields of dreams.

—~~*~~—

It did not matter how he entered her rooms, or why he had come, only that he was there, with her.

His hands were cold when he finally touched her, circling her exposed flesh, and she could do nothing but lie back and submit herself to it. His lips were the direct opposite, hot, so very hot on her skin, travelling everywhere at once.

‘Im aníra dîn-mîl...’ she heard him whisper against her neck, and the words only made her draw him closer.

His mouth was on hers suddenly, her own hands slid over his body, and she felt an arm slip underneath her back, lifting her slightly, making her arch against him.

She could feel every muscle in his body, every sinewy curve pressed against her. There were no words to be voiced, she could only try to catch enough breath to enable herself to go on, as he moved, moved inside her, kissed her, loved her.

One of her hands found its way to his side, her other arm she positioned around his neck.

Ereinion, I love you... she told him hoarsely, overcome with all the feelings that were flowing through her. His fingers stroked her thighs, and she almost did not realise it, though the feeling contributed to the overall surge of desire in her...

With a gasp Celebriníel sat up, breathing intensely. It did not take more than a moment for her to realise it had been a dream. A lovely, terrible, deceitful dream.

Somehow she had managed to entangle herself in the sheets and with some difficulty she straightened them out, before she slipped from the bed. Stumbling to the other side of the chamber, she rested her hands on the sides of the basin and took a deep breath, before splashing her face with lukewarm water.

‘Oh, Elbereth,’ she whispered, looking at her reflection in the small mirror above the basin, her cheeks red, her ears the same. Her next urge was to chuckle. Never had she dreamt in quite this manner before. So what was it precisely in the High Prince that caused her to react like this?

He was kind, not too unpleasant, she smiled. He sometimes seemed uncomfortable in her presence, and yet he seemed to seek her out. And somehow he was a mixture of past and present, in a way she could not explain. Ereinion was both old, as well as young. Of Middle-earth, like her parents and brothers, as well as undeniably of Aman, as she was.

But this dream...

‘Cari-im mîl hon?’ she asked her own reflection.

She waited for an answer a moment or two, knowing very well it would not come.

Then she returned to her bed and curled up, attempting to find some rest again.

—~~*~~—

On the other side of the house, there was another who had been woken by a dream, but unlike Celebriníel, he took no effort to find sleep again.

How strange, Ereinion thought as he leant against the post of the balcony door. It was not usual that a dream would wake him so completely.

And such a dream, he sighed.

At least he had learned that which he had wanted to find out. And somehow, he felt better because of it.

These dreams, he thought, would merely have to be kept private. Very private.

And he would go back to Tirion in the morning, as he had told Elrond on the balcony. He would use this time to write that letter. It would have to be a nice letter. But not too nice...

With a grin Ereinion shook his head, recalling a flicker of the dream, allowing it into his thoughts shortly, savouring it a little.

Im aníra dîn-mîl...

‘Ereinion, you are an incorrigible romantic,’ he reprimanded himself, and entered his chambers again.

—~~*~~—

The following morning, Celebrían was surprised to find Ereinion pulling on his gloves while descending the stairway. She had risen early, seeing to some matters that had been forgotten due to yesterday’s events.

‘So where does the High Prince go at this early hour?’ she called to him.

He smiled at her broadly, and began pulling off the gloves again.

‘He goes home,’ he smiled, catching her hand a moment to give it a small shake. ‘For I need to give my mind other affairs to concentrate upon.’

She nodded.

‘Elrond knows you are departing?’

‘Elrond knows.’

‘Briníel will not be pleased if you told everyone except her.’

With a secretive smile, Ereinion offered his arm.

‘I have left her a note. Your daughter’s fury is not something I wish over me again. Especially not hers.’

Taking his arm, Celebrían looked at him intently, not easily letting his last words pass by.

‘At least you head off less heavy-hearted than you did before.’

He smiled and looked at his feet a moment.

‘I leave less heavy-hearted than I came as well.’

Gently enquiring, Celebrían could not help but wonder.

‘So what was said in Tirion was true?’

‘If it spoke of the youngest High Prince being in a foul mood...’ he started ominously, but with a distinct tone of amusement audible in his voice.

‘Gloomy, rather than a foul mood, I was told,’ Celebrían spoke in reply.

He shook his head with a smile.

‘I was foolish.’

‘How so?’

Ereinion looked at her a moment and halted, trying to judge once again how much she had already guessed.

‘I allowed my feelings to cloud my mind. And by allowing it so, it consumed too much of me.’

Giving his arm a slight squeeze, Celebrían nodded.

‘And now?’

‘Sometimes, some of my former wisdom is allowed to return to me,’ he smiled. ‘This has happened. I realise I can wait.’

‘But for what exactly, Ereinion?’

He chuckled, and took a deep breath.

‘Coming of Age, something indicating either love or something else. I do not know exactly. For now, knowing that I love, and that I am trusted in return is enough.’

Celebrían looked at him.

‘Do you wish to speak of it to me? Truly speak of it?’

He returned her gaze, and took her hand up in manner of goodbye. There seemed to be more inner peacefulness over him than there had been for a long time.

‘I merely wish to tell you...’ he said slowly, a dreamy look in his eyes, ‘that I love your daughter.’

Then he released her hand and turned around with a blissful expression on his face, to disappear into the direction of the stables.

‘Now why,’ the Elf-lady mumbled to herself, ‘do I suspect that you did not mention that to either Elrond, or in your note to Briníel?’

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muindor-nîn: my brother

Im aníra dîn-mîl: I desire your love

Cari-im mîl hon?: Do I love him?

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