![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
curiouswombatA set of drabbles written for the 'facial expressions' prompts at Tolkien Weekly. They are centred on Elrond as he sailed West at the end of the Third Age - hoping to see his wife again...
Let’s Start a Brand New Story…
The voyage seemed endless. Elrond did not count the days, focusing solely on what was; not on what had been, or might be to come. Galadriel, he thought, did likewise. Both left beloved kin behind and knew not what to expect of the kin ahead.
He sat, daily, in the bow as if in meditation. In reality he sought Celebrían’s fëa; dreading arrival without their bond renewed, for that would mean she dwelt in Mandos.
The moment came at daybreak - a joyous awakening. And, for the first time in hundreds of years, Elrond's memory of her wore a smile.
She's Waiting at the Harbour...
Celebrían! She was at the harbour side.
Elrond could see Galadriel’s eyes fixed on her daughter – her gaze hungry, her very being focussed on the silver-fair figure.
'She will want her mother.' Elrond decided, 'And I have responsibilities…'
He must organise help for the hobbits, make sure they disembarked safely… He approached the two he thought of as ‘patients’ but, before he said more than a couple of sentences, Bilbo cut in.
“Gandalf will take care of us. You have another priority. Go, Master Elrond, be reunited with your lady wife.”
And, much to Elrond’s surprise, the elderly hobbit winked.
She Knew Him So Well
She knew him so well. They had, after all, been bound for over twenty yéni.
It was wonderful to feel him again, through their fëa bond, after so long. It was clear to Celebrían, though, that Elrond’s emotions were more complex than hers.
All she felt was joy to see him; even if there were no sign of the children on this ship. But Elrond was tired, anxious, sorrowful, whilst also relieved and hopeful. However, he was also avoiding her…
Then his eyebrow lifted so clearly that she felt it. She hoped Naneth knew what the elderly hobbit had said!
The Lady in Waiting
Throughout the voyage Galadriel watched Elrond. Her daughter’s husband, she could not think of him as ‘son’, tried hard to maintain a dignified, expressionless, straight face; as was only right. But he looked weary – that could not be disguised by expression.
They had no way of knowing whether Celebrían awaited them hale and whole, was still as damaged as she had been when last they saw her, or had been gathered up by Lord Námo and dwelt with him.
The Lady only ceased to worry about Elrond’s own sanity and survival when she, too, saw Celebrían, smiling, upon the quay.
Behind The Mask
Approaching the quay he was suddenly very conscious of just who he was and where he was. He was not an Elf. This was ‘The West’ of which he had heard tales since his childhood.
Somewhere inside was a tiny doubt; a fear that, despite his heritage, they might turn him away. But he had many years of practice – he knew how to make his face a mask of tranquillity.
But in the end, as he stepped off the gangway and into the arms of his wife, not even Elrond Half-elven could maintain that non-expression. His smile lit all Aman.
Reunion Complete
After all their years apart, to feel that first flickering of their fëa bond as he sailed the straight way - that had seemed enough.
Then to look over the rail of the ship and see her whole and well – that had seemed enough.
When he took her in his arms, and felt her heartbeat against his chest – that had seemed to be all that he could ever want.
But each time he had been wrong.
Now, as they cried out together, fëar soaring, physical bond renewed, Elrond knew that even eternity reunited with his Celebrían would barely be enough.
.................................................
Disclaimer: The characters in this story do not belong to me, but are being used for amusement only, and all rights remain with the estate of JRR Tolkien.
.................................................
Those of you who saw them over at Tolkien Weekly might have noticed that I swapped the order of a couple of them around. I think it works better...
Let’s Start a Brand New Story…
The voyage seemed endless. Elrond did not count the days, focusing solely on what was; not on what had been, or might be to come. Galadriel, he thought, did likewise. Both left beloved kin behind and knew not what to expect of the kin ahead.
He sat, daily, in the bow as if in meditation. In reality he sought Celebrían’s fëa; dreading arrival without their bond renewed, for that would mean she dwelt in Mandos.
The moment came at daybreak - a joyous awakening. And, for the first time in hundreds of years, Elrond's memory of her wore a smile.
She's Waiting at the Harbour...
Celebrían! She was at the harbour side.
Elrond could see Galadriel’s eyes fixed on her daughter – her gaze hungry, her very being focussed on the silver-fair figure.
'She will want her mother.' Elrond decided, 'And I have responsibilities…'
He must organise help for the hobbits, make sure they disembarked safely… He approached the two he thought of as ‘patients’ but, before he said more than a couple of sentences, Bilbo cut in.
“Gandalf will take care of us. You have another priority. Go, Master Elrond, be reunited with your lady wife.”
And, much to Elrond’s surprise, the elderly hobbit winked.
She Knew Him So Well
She knew him so well. They had, after all, been bound for over twenty yéni.
It was wonderful to feel him again, through their fëa bond, after so long. It was clear to Celebrían, though, that Elrond’s emotions were more complex than hers.
All she felt was joy to see him; even if there were no sign of the children on this ship. But Elrond was tired, anxious, sorrowful, whilst also relieved and hopeful. However, he was also avoiding her…
Then his eyebrow lifted so clearly that she felt it. She hoped Naneth knew what the elderly hobbit had said!
The Lady in Waiting
Throughout the voyage Galadriel watched Elrond. Her daughter’s husband, she could not think of him as ‘son’, tried hard to maintain a dignified, expressionless, straight face; as was only right. But he looked weary – that could not be disguised by expression.
They had no way of knowing whether Celebrían awaited them hale and whole, was still as damaged as she had been when last they saw her, or had been gathered up by Lord Námo and dwelt with him.
The Lady only ceased to worry about Elrond’s own sanity and survival when she, too, saw Celebrían, smiling, upon the quay.
Behind The Mask
Approaching the quay he was suddenly very conscious of just who he was and where he was. He was not an Elf. This was ‘The West’ of which he had heard tales since his childhood.
Somewhere inside was a tiny doubt; a fear that, despite his heritage, they might turn him away. But he had many years of practice – he knew how to make his face a mask of tranquillity.
But in the end, as he stepped off the gangway and into the arms of his wife, not even Elrond Half-elven could maintain that non-expression. His smile lit all Aman.
Reunion Complete
After all their years apart, to feel that first flickering of their fëa bond as he sailed the straight way - that had seemed enough.
Then to look over the rail of the ship and see her whole and well – that had seemed enough.
When he took her in his arms, and felt her heartbeat against his chest – that had seemed to be all that he could ever want.
But each time he had been wrong.
Now, as they cried out together, fëar soaring, physical bond renewed, Elrond knew that even eternity reunited with his Celebrían would barely be enough.
.................................................
Disclaimer: The characters in this story do not belong to me, but are being used for amusement only, and all rights remain with the estate of JRR Tolkien.
.................................................
Those of you who saw them over at Tolkien Weekly might have noticed that I swapped the order of a couple of them around. I think it works better...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 15/11/2011 12:00 pm (UTC)