High Princes of Tirion
by Nemis

Well, it’s two years and a day after I first began posting this. I had planned to be finished by now, truth be told, but it didn’t turn out that way. ;) (Thanks for reminding me of the anniversary, Pulsarkat, I probably wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t mentioned it.)

Thank you to everybody who has been around in those two years (and especially those who have been there from the very beginning and are still hanging around, all of you talented writers who I simply I don’t review enough). I’d offer you chocolate elfies, but I’d rather give you all a big hug. :)

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Chapter Thirty-Eight     What Lies Beyond

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‘How can you expect me to simply call everything off as if it means nothing to me? So many preparations have been made, so much work has been done, the entire city of Tirion is awaiting it with bated breath. Have you any idea what will happen when everything is cancelled? The rumours? How people will react?’

In fact, Elernil did know, or could at least imagine something of what the consequences would be. Sitting in the chair he had risen from when Ereinion had entered, only moments later followed by Aewendîs, he listened to her speak from by the window, her back towards him, and heard her mention everything that he had listed in his head himself, long before he had even contemplated going to Fingolfin.

‘Had I been able to speak with you earlier, it might not have come to this. But I thought you did not want to see me. I thought that perhaps you did love him.’

She turned around abruptly, breathing deeply as she met his eyes. She wanted to speak, then shook her head and turned away again, hugging herself as she looked out over the gardens behind Fingolfin’s halls. Hesitantly Elernil pushed himself up from his chair and walked over to her, careful to leave her enough space to go wherever she pleased. Away from him, if that was what she preferred. She remained where she was.

‘If you do love Ardhion this does not matter,’ he began. ‘You can go back to your parents and go on with the betrothal ceremony tomorrow. I promise I will not stand in your way, not if that is what makes you happy. But do not do this because... I do not wish to do this out of spite, as if I would not want him to have you if I cannot have you. But if you care more about... someone else, you should not let this go on.’

Aewendîs shook her head.

‘Ardhion offered me something, something tangible. No one else ever did.’

‘Then everyone else was a fool. Is a fool. I am a fool. I should have offered it, I am offering it, if you still want it.’

‘What are you offering me, Elernil?’ she asked, not meeting his eyes.

‘I can only offer you a fool for a husband. Only you can decide how much it is worth that this fool loves you, and would care for you, if you allowed it. I love you, Aewendîs, and I should have told you I did before, long before today.’

‘You say that so easily now...’ she whispered.

‘Because I am in abject terror of what can happen,’ he told her softly. ‘As matters are, I speak because I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If this changes nothing, you go out and betroth yourself to Ardhion tomorrow. If it changes something, I might be given a chance to make up for my past mistakes.’

Resting a hand against her warm cheek, Aewendîs was torn between reason and the longing to believe him. Had he told her these things months ago, she would have fallen into his arms and would be in the same situation now, only with no doubts as to the elf to whom she was to betroth herself. But she had responsibilities towards Ardhion, responsibilities to her family.

‘I deserve you believing I speak of these things lightly,’ Elernil continued, chipping away steadily at her resolve, she was well aware. ‘I deserve it if you tell me I mean nothing to you, and that you will go to Ardhion tomorrow and take his ring without a second thought. Would you decide to call off the betrothal you have some difficult steps ahead, do not think I am not aware of that. But better now than in a year’s time. Better now rather than take another step towards living a lie. I will stand beside you. If you do change your mind, I will be there. If you want me to be.’

‘Will you stand beside me as I tell Ardhion?’ she asked, doubting still, doubting ever. ‘Will you be there when I have to break this to my parents?’

‘I will be beside you. And I will tell them all that it is my fault. That I was stubborn, and stupid not to tell you sooner, and that I will do everything I can to make up for their losses.’ Catching her hand he squeezed it lightly. ‘I cannot be the only one thinking this is all a nightmare?’

Aewendîs looked at him standing beside her, lost as soon as her eyes met his. She could pretend all she liked, but the decision was already made. It was made when Ereinion stepped into the garden this morning to ask her to come. Whether Elernil took the first step or if she did, neither of them could tell. But then her arms were around his neck as he held her firmly, whispering his thanks against her skin, finding her lips with his only a moment later.

‘Do not make me regret this, Elernil,’ she told him softly when she could.

‘I would not,’ he replied, releasing her a little to wipe the insulting tears from her cheeks. ‘And not just because Ereinion will kill me if I did.’

She smiled at him through her tears, and right then and there, they both knew that it would be well. The difficult part would be to convince the rest of the city of Tirion.

-~~*~~-

‘Call it off,’ Ereinion said simply, making certain his words were registering with Aewendîs. ‘Do not make a fuss about it, simply speak to Ardhion first and explain the matter to him, then tell your father and leave it to them. You worry about the consequences, but realistically you have not even exchanged rings. Imagine going through a public return of rings. Now that would make people gossip.’

‘I know,’ she sighed. ‘Do not think I have not considered that.’

He smiled apologetically, looking behind him where Elernil and Celebriníel were walking arm in arm, no doubt discussing a similar subject.

‘I promise you there shall be something to take the weight of public scrutiny off you and Elernil soon. Come and stay with me or my parents if you wish to be away from home in the coming days, you are more than welcome.’

‘It should not be necessary,’ she said. ‘No one would want me to make the wrong decision, would they? My father might accuse me of being flighty, but he knows. He asked me about Elernil once, shortly before Ardhion came to me. I should have explained to him then, it would have made matters easier. Both Elernil and I have behaved foolishly. Perhaps we deserve each other.’

He smiled at her unhappy face and sat down beside her, catching her hand.

‘Perhaps you do. But instead of focussing so much on the immediate present, think of what lies beyond. The moments you will be able to spend in each other’s company, all the things waiting to be discovered and experienced together.’

Bowing her head, Aewendîs smiled, nodding slowly.

‘It was the thought of that which made up my mind, even before I realised it.’ Looking up, she watched him stare into the garden, knowing very well what drew his eye to it. ‘And what of you, then? Have you kept yourself from making your old mistake anew?’

He smiled.

‘This is so different. There is no way I could have remained silent on it, even if I tried, Eru be my witness. My own weakness might very well have been my rescue.’

Pressing his hand, she nudged his shoulder.

‘Have you asked her yet?’

He raised an eyebrow at her.

‘What do you think?’

‘Oh! Ereinion, she said yes? She must have said yes, I am really not paying attention, of course she did...’

He laughed, shaking his head.

‘I beg you to be quiet on the matter; we have not told anyone yet.’

‘I will not speak of it to a soul.’

‘She is not certain about how to announce it, and I do not think I am either. I have attempted to convince her to elope with me, but she did not consider that to be an option either,’ he added light-heartedly.

‘Right now, I would advise you to announce it suddenly and run, personally,’ Aewendîs smiled. ‘Which comes close to eloping, but is not quite that.’

He nodded.

‘I might just suggest that to her. I just might.’

-~~*~~-

‘What would you do if I came to you and said I loved another?’

Ereinion had observed Celebriníel’s silence since she had left Elernil’s presence but had not commented on it. Now it seemed he had to. Halting, he shook his head once.

‘Jump off a medium-height cliff.’ She poked his ribs firmly, making him smile. ‘All right, all right, I would let you go, but only if I was certain that you really loved that other. And I think I would fight to keep you.’

‘Will Ardhion fight to keep Aewendîs?’

‘I cannot say. I do not know how well he knows her. He might have suspected her doubts already. Or she might have hidden them from him well enough for him not to have noticed. If it is the latter, he might very well fight for her.’

‘So what will happen now?’ Celebriníel asked as she took his arm and motioned him to cross the street. ‘How will they break the news to everyone?’

‘Fingolfin will summon Ardhion and Aewendîs’s parents, and the matter will be discussed behind closed doors. From there, it is up to them. I hardly think her parents will simply supplant Ardhion with Elernil and go on with the ceremony. The festivities will be called off.’

‘You do not need to be there when this is discussed?’

‘Not really, I would have remained had Aewendîs asked, but she seemed to be able to handle it. It might even be better if I were not there. I was the one who came to collect Aewendîs, after all, and in a way I helped set this in motion. That, and I have my own duties to take care of.’

‘I see,’ Celebriníel replied, giving him a look that was only half-serious. Giving her a smile in reply, he took her hand.

‘I was given some advice this afternoon. To announce our betrothal and run, not waiting for anything that would follow it. And it might not be as bad an idea as it sounds.’

‘Could we do that?’

‘We can do anything we like.’ He winked at her.

‘So you keep saying,’ she remarked with a grin. ‘But since you bring this up, it must mean you have given it more than just some casual thought.’

‘Well, not much more than some casual thought, I must admit,’ he said apologetically. ‘But some. There shall be a meeting at Fingolfin’s halls soon, it is meant to discuss matters within the family; marriages, betrothals, arguments, that sort of thing. It is usually more about arguments than marriages and betrothals, but nevertheless. We could announce it then, and make for Imloth once the meeting ends. We would be out of the city by the time word is out.’

‘So you say. And when is this meeting going to take place?’

‘I honestly cannot remember,’ Ereinion said merrily. ‘But your brother will know.’

She smiled.

‘Somehow I think Elrohir will soon have other things on his mind.’

‘Yes. Which reminds me, one of the secondary consequences of announcing our betrothal soon is that it might also take some of the public scrutiny away from Aewendîs and Elernil.’

Nodding thoughtfully she met his eyes.

‘We will have to tell my parents. And yours.’

‘We might break it to them now, before they hear of what is currently happening in my grandfather’s halls.’

‘Perhaps we should inform them of that first, and then break the news of our betrothal.’

He frowned at her teasingly.

‘Are you using Elernil as a cushion?’

She breathed deeply and nodded.

‘If we are to be his publicly later on, why can he not be mine now?’

‘Because I do not plan on speaking to them of Elernil before he has been able to speak to them first. They would blame him for not speaking, and he would not be very grateful to me for it.’

‘I suppose you are right. How do you plan to go about it?’

‘I am clueless,’ Ereinion shrugged theatrically. Usually he was good at talking himself in and out of situations, but this one could prove to be one of those he would break his tongue over and ruin instantly. Celebriníel’s eyes glimmered in amusement when he met them.

‘What else is new?’

Her hair danced as she fled from his pretended offence and tickling fingers. Nerves were ruling them both on their way through the city, and the only way to spend it seemed to be in teasing each other until they found themselves opposite the house that was to be their destination.

Extending her hand, Celebriníel had found some courage Ereinion thought he was currently lacking. But he caught her hand nevertheless, and let her lead him across the street, entering the gates. At the front entrance she halted him, somehow sensing his apprehension.

‘Do you want to go into the gardens first? Or do I run the risk you will flee if we do that?’

‘I might flee yet,’ he whispered, looking down at their hands meeting. ‘And I am not entirely certain why.’

‘He will not bite. He has worries, yes, but he has them because he does not have all the answers. Just like you and me and everyone else. He knows as well as we do that betrothals can span years. He knows.’

Ereinion raised a hand to touch her face, brushing his fingers past her cheek.

‘Are we talking each other into this?’

‘If we could be betrothed by simply saying yes to each other here in the doorway, would you do it?’

He looked up at her directly, not wavering.

‘Yes.’

‘Then I do not think we are talking each other into this. Though I might be talking you into telling my father, but that is a different matter entirely. I could go alone, of course, if you would prefer that.’

Breathing deeply he shook his head.

‘I have to face him one of these days, so better now than later. It would hardly do to keep away from him until the day we announce it, would it?’

Touching his cheek she smiled comfortingly, making it easy for him to remember why he was here, as his stomach fluttered pleasantly at the same time. What had he told Aewendîs? Think of what lies beyond? To have her come home to him from the library, cheeks red in enjoyment of her afternoon, to listen to her new findings, as he sometimes did now? The images came to him quite clearly, suddenly, of her fingers brushing some hair away from his face, a warm languid kiss on his cheek, lovemaking in his bed at Imloth, such a transgression of thought before, but an actual possibility now.

Dragging himself back to the present he found Celebriníel enraptured with looking at him, as if she had been able to read all his thoughts off his face, as if they had been written there. He smiled, feeling hot, suddenly much surer of what they were about to do. Stepping closer he kissed her, wishing to feel her warm lips on his more than anything he could think of. One of her hands tangled in his hair lightly as she pressed closer, gasping softy as he pulled her against him.

Finally releasing her he could only smile, and used the feeling of happiness coursing through him to enter. It did give him courage, as if he was drunk on it, he thought, entering the cool hallways of the house.

The house was remarkably quiet, making Celebriníel suspect most of its inhabitants had gone out to see the preparations for the celebrations. A sense of disappointment mingled with relief came over here; she had automatically assumed her parents would be here, where they could very well be elsewhere. They might have a little more time in which to plan how to exactly do this.

As they stood waiting, listening, attempting to judge what their next step would be, the sound of soft voices came to her from one of the garden rooms. She had heard them often enough to know to whom they belonged. As had Ereinion, it appeared. Quietly they made their way there, still hand in hand, and stood in the doorway a moment, watching Elrond and Celebrían sit quietly together, speaking of matters to be taken care of at Imloth. It was Celebrían who discovered them first, looking up with a smile.

‘Ah, you have returned from the city. Briníel, we wanted to discuss something with you, but you were gone early this morning.’

Celebrían rose from the seat she had been sharing with Elrond, who released her hand slowly, apparently reluctant to give it up, nodding at Ereinion in acknowledgement as he sat up straighter and cleared his throat.

‘After the festivities your mother and I shall be going back to Imloth. Now we want to leave the choice up to you whether to join us or not...’

‘There will be no festivities,’ Ereinion interrupted, less gentle than he had intended.

Celebrían turned from the window.

‘No?’

Ereinion shook his head.

‘My cousin has decided not to go forward with it after all. And there are certain circumstances which make it a rather delicate matter... I am... not at liberty to say more of it now. But the ceremony will be cancelled, and I expect the festivities will be also.’

‘We are sorry to hear that.’

Ereinion nodded, staring at his hands a moment.

‘There is something else I should speak to you about though. And you must forgive me, for I fear I shall fumble with words a while before I get it right.’

There was something in the way that he said it that made Celebrían return from the window, rather than remain there. His mere tone of voice had made it quite clear what it was he wanted to pronounce, strangely enough, even before he could speak the words. Perhaps for the better, giving Elrond enough warning to prepare.

Celebriníel motioned him to sit down, which he did, then whispered something Celebrían could not quite catch. Ereinion shook his head in reply, pulling her down to sit beside him, hands together, fingers entwined. It seemed his strength came from her presence.

As she reached Elrond, she found him sitting back in his chair, a hand to his chin, infinitely more comfortable than Ereinion. If Celebrían had worried he had not caught what lay beneath Ereinion’s earlier words, those worries were now expelled. He knew what would come. The question was whether he would let Ereinion stumble on alone, or dispel all awkwardness quickly by revealing that he knew.

Ereinion breathed deeply, summoning control as he would have in a council.

‘I...’

‘Perhaps it is a good idea for this to stop,’ Elrond interrupted slowly but clearly, watching the confusion on Ereinion’s face a moment.

‘Stop?’

‘Hmm, yes, you acting as if I shall forbid you to enter my daughter’s presence ever again if you say something I do not like.’

He could not keep back as smile as Ereinion’s confusion turned into a reddening of his face and ears.

‘I cannot help but consider you might think it is all going too fast...’

‘I might,’ Elrond said, leisurely rising from his chair. ‘But in the end it is not my decision, and it never has been.’ He met Celebrían’s eyes, then turned to watch Celebriníel, who smiled at him in reply.

‘He asked me, Ada, and I accepted.’

Elrond did not return her smile, not at once, but let an intake of breath he had not realised he had been holding escape first. He felt Celebrían’s hand come to rest between his shoulder blades, a comforting gesture he did not think he had ever appreciated more. It was easy to embrace Celebriníel as she rose to her feet, and if her beaming smile had not convinced him already, she whispered enough to him that would.

‘I love him. I wish for this.’

He embraced her more closely. Apparently, that was enough.

‘So the time has come.’

‘Yes,’ Ereinion replied, also rising, more nervous than he had been willing to show before but also more relieved.

Releasing his daughter, watching her embrace her mother, Elrond turned to Ereinion.

‘When will you announce it?’

‘During the upcoming meeting at Fingolfin’s halls, if you will permit it. The laws of the Eldar dictate that it shall stand for at least one year, at which point Celebriníel will have reached her majority.’

Ereinion was unaware of how much he had wanted the embrace until Elrond pulled him into it, shortly and firmly, both vow of friendship as well as consent. As he stepped back, holding on to his arms, Ereinion thought that in neither of his lifetimes there had been a moment when he was more happy.

‘I will take good care of her.’

‘Oh, I know,’ Elrond said with a small smile. ‘I trust you to.’

‘Is it going fast? It feels as if it is time for this, it feels as if I have known her forever, and this is only the logical next step.’

‘Who am I to answer that?’ Elrond said, with a shake of the head. ‘The two of you must decide, not anyone else.’

Nodding, Ereinion watched Celebriníel a moment, waiting arm in arm with Celebrían. Stepping aside, Elrond caught the hand Celebrían offered, and watched the embrace between Ereinion and Celebriníel follow.

Quiet chuckles and whispers followed, an almost hidden kiss, and then they separated again, both flushed, both glowing in happiness.

‘You were the first we told,’ Celebriníel said breathlessly.

Celebrían laughed.

‘Then get you gone and to Fingon’s house. I am certain they will wish to know as well.’

Ereinion nodded, bowing his head shortly.

‘Thank you. Both of you.’

Elrond smiled.

‘Go, before the rest of the city deducts what is gong on by your shared radiance.’

And they went, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible out on the street, not entirely succeeding. Ereinion hoped their laughter would be settled as something to do with the current celebrations, rather than future celebrations, but Celebriníel’s chuckle was enough to stop him worrying.

From the garden Elrond and Celebrían watched them go, and then decided on a stroll to allow for everything to fall into its proper place again. If Elrond frowned as they passed beneath the gate, it was more of amusement than anything else.

‘Did you notice?’ he asked thoughtfully, more occupied with what his mind was formulating than to be answered. ‘He did fumble. Or he would have, had I let him.’

‘He is not Gil-galad, I think you mean to say.’

‘Well, he is, of course. But different. I never knew him like that.’

‘Do not forget that when you knew him, he had more experience than you had, and now he finds you have the advantage over him in some ways.’

‘I am not certain whether that is what it is,’ Elrond remarked softly. ‘In Middle-earth he would have walked in and told me of his plans as he did so, revealing the information he thought was necessary for me to have, finishing before he had even reached the centre of the room. There was little opportunity for contradiction; it was what the high king had planned. Had he done that now, it might have been easier, but it would not have been right. However vague that sounds.’

‘I think you have said before that he does not hide everything he feels now as he did then.’

‘That might be the reason.’

‘Does it matter?’

‘No.’ He smiled. ‘Not at all.’ He was silent for a while, then laughed. ‘I do hope she puts him through the agony you put me through.’

Raising a teasing eyebrow, she smiled.

‘You expect them to wait as long as we did, El-nîn?’

‘If I recall correctly, the year before our marriage alone was pure agony, Brí,’ Elrond replied dryly, not meeting her gaze. ‘Which is what I was referring to.’

Continuing their stroll, greeting some people here and there, Celebrían lowered her voice.

‘Agony, hmm?’

‘Um-elleth...’ he brought his lips close to her ear so only she could hear. ‘You drove me insane, and you are well aware of this. I even suspect you did it quite on purpose as to take a kind of revenge on me for making you wait so long.’

‘Oh? And how did I accomplish this? To drive Master Elrond of Imladris insane?’

‘You still do it,’ Elrond said darkly. ‘Those so-called innocent touches which no one else notices, but make me...’ He did not finish the sentence, but gave her a meaningful look.

Pressing her lips together, Celebrían tried not to laugh out loud.

‘I see. I will be certain to inform Briníel of this.’

Elrond pursed his lips.

‘If you wish to estrange yourself from me, do indeed.’

Halting, she met his gaze resolutely, exacting some pressure on his hand.

‘Never that.’

Locking his eyes with hers, Elrond smiled and brought her hand to his lips.

‘Shall we go back?’

She smiled.

‘An excellent idea.’

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