silverdefender | Open RP Post

It's dangerous to keep bonds open, even those between parent and child, or husband and wife. Less so, now, maybe. But though Morgoth is defeated, Sauron is at large, fled from Eonwe rather than taken into custody.

(The Valar, as ever, remain careless with their own kin, and hers will doubtless be the ones to pay the price)

The Silmarils, too, are gone, and with them the last of her cousins, and Beleriand is crumbled beneath the waves.

The world has changed, and is changing, but some things remain the same.

It's not unusual for elven partners to walk apart, she knows it well. Even her own parents spent at times several years apart after their children were old enough to fend for themselves. But here, in Middle-earth, she worries, as no one in blessed Valinor ever had reason to. She has had no word past the time he promised, and she dare not open the bond, not when she has no idea what she might find on the other end. What use are her vaunted strength of mind now, when it is too dangerous to use? Even her Mirror is not helpful, clouded by her own fears.

Surely, at least, she would know if he died.

(But there are worse things than death, in Arda Marred. They learnt THAT lesson in the First Age)

Is he captured? Is he wounded?

Surely, she would know if he died.

All she can do right now is smile for their daughter, smile for their people, and watch the borders, anxiously.

The years apart weigh on him as he ghosts along the edges of the enemy's camps, darting in to sabotage when he could. So many times he'd almost been captured before he could slip free. He's had to keep his end of every bond closed, not daring to give potentially false hope to his loved ones until he could find and go to them.

It wasn't entirely difficult, once he slipped past the worst of the hoards. But by then, he only discovered the last place his family had been. Not if they were still there. Not even if they were still alive. He still doesn't dare open those bonds.

Not until he hears a strange rumor where it was believed he were the one who had been captured or killed. The knowledge itches at his heart, gnaws at doubts before he shoves them away.

Finally he sees the borders of the Greenwood, and takes a breath once he steps into the sheltering boughs. He moves along the path his heart knows, and eventually he senses others watching him, following him. He does nothing to reach for a weapon, only pushes his hooded cloak back to reveal his face as he pauses on the border of Lothlorien.

"I seek my Lady Galadriel," he calls calmly. "Where might I find her?"

My lord Celeborn! is the gasp from the border wardens. The Lady looks for you, every day - quickly, quickly, this way - she says nothing but the whispers all say, she is beginning to despair.

Galadriel sits in her waiting room, weaving hope into the cloth that will become the cloaks of the wardens, and has none for herself. It has been so very, very long, and he has sent no word, nor has there been rumour or whisper of him. If he is not dead, then he must be taken, for surely he would return to her else? No longer has she hope then, but he loved his people, and for his sake, she puts all her Art into her work, to keep the borders secure.

(is there a whisper, at the edges of the bond? she turns away, not daring to hope)

She does not weep - Nerwen Alatariel Aranfinwiel does not cry useless tears since the Ice - and her hands do not shake, but her heart aches, within her as she works.

He doesn't smile. Perhaps he has even forgotten how to.

But his heart lightens when he hears the news - she is here! Celeborn nods and follows till it seems they fly to where his heart is. Even if she's begun to lose hope, she is still here.

His gaze roams their home as he runs with the border wardens, feeling the peace and safety ease at the fraying edges of his spirit. Eventually he's led to where the Lady works...then he's left alone to knock on the door.

No, he doesn't let himself reach for their bond just yet.

She weaves hope and protection and her heart whispers hope to her, but she tunes it out. There is only the work of her hands, the work that will keep her people (his people, their people) safe.

"Come in." She answers the knock absently.

Just her voice brings a flicker of a smile back to his lips. He opens the door and lets it close quietly behind him before finally brushing mentally against their bond.

What to say? All words silence when he sees her again. All he can do is go to her.

She stills at the familiar brush, her breath catching, her hands, normally so steady, trembling.

No, no, no, impossible...

The trembling is what finally gets him to move to her, kneeling beside her to reach for those hands.

"Galadriel..." A sigh. A breath. Life. Sorrow and rejoice. Love. All in just her name.

She lets him take her hands with numb disbelief, lifting her eyes to his.

"Celeborn?" Normally, she'd never allow herself to sound so weak. But this... unhoped for, unlooked for... this is joy

She doesn't have to be strong around him. Celeborn loves how she relaxes with him - always has. She enchanted him from the first moment he'd seen her.

Now is no different.

He brings her hands up to press kisses to her fingers, eyes never leaving hers. "I was lost. No more."

A sob, and she flings herself into his arms, dropping her barriers to let him in.

"Celeborn"

Oh, you're here, you're safe, you came back to me!

He catches her and lifts her up as his mind embraces her just as warmly as his arms. Turning, he sits where she had and settles her in his lap to just hold her close. He rests their heads together as he takes in her reality.

Always, beloved. I will not leave without you again.

She curls close, physically and mentally, weeping tears of joy.

I feared... she does not finish, too many memories of horror jangling through her, too many losses on both their parts.

Never leave me again.

Her warmth washes away the worst of the chill of loss and horror. He lets their noses nudge together as he gazes into her eyes.

You were right to fear.

He doesn't need to hear the rest of it to know.

I won't.

Reaching up she tips her head to kiss him softly.

You... were not taken?

For a moment, her mental voice sharpens, a blade ready in case he needs it.

Edited 2022-10-18 14:20 (UTC)

He returns the soft pressure.

They tried. Many times.

Her voice is the shine of a blade, vicious and proud.

I am glad you are safe

Of course. He would have been a fine prize, after all, one of Elu Thingol's last surviving kinsman on these shores, and her husband, with no considerably prowess of his own.

He delights in that fierce strength too. He kisses her again.

Every time I thought I could return to you, you had moved on or I ran into more of the Enemy. I have been trying to get back to you almost as soon as we were parted.

But he'd refused to lead the Enemy straight to her. So he'd led them around in the process of frustrating them and weakening them.

Now they are a little weaker.

Because she hadn't wed a weak Elf.

She nuzzles back into the kiss.

You underestimate yourself, husband she purrs back at him. She's pretty sure they're a lot more than 'little' weaker.

And you returned to me, that is all I wanted

His grin is feral. Does she need any other proof of that?

Celeborn finally raises a hand to gently dry her face - and just to touch her some more.

No, beloved. They were the ones who underestimated me. And paid the price.

He hums softly, nudging their noses together.

As I always will.

She kisses the grin, pleased.

Good.

And then kisses him again.

Thank you

It is unfair to make him promise that, probably. So many have not returned, to her, or to him. But she is selfishly glad that he has, all the same. Probably, she should be more cautious - this could still be a trap - but his spirit is warm against hers, moonsilver bright and deep as the roots of old trees.

"You need to rest." She murmurs aloud.

Open RP Post

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stares at last tag wow that's a lot of errors I THINK ITS BEDTIME FOR ME

lol NINI <3

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