The Daugher of Elrond {Ongoing} Of Every Race Saga Book II

Chapter 10: The Misty Mountains

Celebwen stood, dazed by Elrohir's message. It echoed in her mind; "Lindir has asked that I tell you that you are to meet him tonight in the eastern garden before we leave." Then he had added, "Don't bring anyone with you." Celebwen snorted at the memory.

"Since when has Lindir made my brothers his confidents?" she asked aloud to herself.

That evening, Celebwen, her brothers, and the rest of the Elves in Imladris were feasting. Elrond was having it in their honour. Celebwen peered down the table. She was seated a few chairs down from her father, who sat at the head of the table. Elladan sat near the other end, on the opposite side. Elrohir was positioned 4 or 5 seats down, on the same side of the long table as Elldan. Lindir sat on the same side she was, only several seats down. She looked at him for a moment. Their eyes met, but then Lindir's gaze was caught by something else and he turned away. Celebwen looked to what he had seen and Elrohir looked at her and winked. She blushed and stared at the stonework on the ceiling. Eventually, the feast was ended and the Elves made their way to the Fire Hall to spend the evening in song. Celebwen and her brothers would leave soon, but, she sighed, there was the meeting with Lindir. She would find out what was behind this.

She walked to the garden. The full moon shone through the branches of the rowan tree which at its base sat a wooden carved bench. A stream passed nearby and she could see in the distance Elves singing and laughing in the Fire Hall. The cool breeze blew through the branches of the tree, causing her golden curly hair to blow with it. A twig crackled and she turned to see Lindir enter the garden. He seemed uncertain. "Is it true that you asked to see me here tonight?" he asked.

"Certainly not. I would ask the same thing of you," she said.

"I did not say anything of the sort and if I would have thought of that, I would have asked you myself."

"Ha, I knew my brothers were up to something." Lindir walked closer to her till they stood next to each other. "Well," she continued, "We might as well stay here. Knowing them, they have made every possible excuse for people to stay out of this area and they won't expect us back till later." Lindir sat down on the bench and Celebwen followed suit. A awkward silence fell between them.

"Do you miss Lothlórien?" Lindir asked.

"Yes, I suppose I do. I miss the wide woods, where one may wander at will with nothing, but the wind to break the peacful silence. I miss the Elves too. Somehow they're different from the Elves of Imladris."

"Interesting," he replied. That was when Celebwen realized for the first time, though she had always known it, that Lindir had never traveled beyond Rivendell. "Do you look forward adventuring into the wild with your brothers?"

"Yes, I've looked forward to it all of my life, but still I feel a sense of dread."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I have this sense that something is not right. This feeling that something bad is going to happen and that there's nothing I can do to stop it."

"Well, I hope nothing bad happens to you, Celebwen." He said this last part slowly. Celebwen looked up and met his eyes. She felt her cheeks grow hot and looked away. Questions flooded her brain, tumbling over themselves. She sighed, very quietly, so that Lindir couldn't hear. What was going on with her?  She stood and walked a few paces till she stood by the stream. She looked up, with closed eyes, feeling the moonlight wash over her. She heard Lindir gasp. She smiled to herself. So he didn't know that either, same as Haldir. "Celebwen?" he asked puzzled.

"Yes?" she said, turning to face him. He now stood, an astonished look on his face.

"W-why do you appear so?" he asked again, dumbfounded.