A Meeting in Valinor
Elrond comes back from his first real meeting with Eärendil tired and unsure what to do. He gets some help from an unexpected source.
Dw this isn’t hating on any of Elrond’s parents. Pure fluff :)
Elrond had returned to his house and was lying with his head in Celebrian’s lap. He’d told her how the meeting had gone and flopped on the sofa, drained, before she’d soothed away some of his oncoming headache as she’d done many years before. Now he lay with his eyes closed, soaking in the summer rays as she read.
Celebrian jerked suddenly, and Elrond shot up, hand going to the knife in his boot. Some habits wouldn’t change.
“Ai! relax! It’s just me!”
Elrond’s face slackened.
“It cannot be...”
Celebrian looked between the two, eyes lingering on the semi-familiar features before her. Round ears. Beard. Warm grey eyes, wise yet playful. Elven cut, navy tunic with silver embroidery, and brown hair brushing his shoulders. She tensed at the closed expression on Elrond’s face, reaching for her own dagger as the figure shuffled nervously.
“Hello, Ada.”
Elrond released a strangled sound and the man ran to his open arms, desperately clutching the elf. Elrond pulled back, hand smoothing down unruly hair as if he’d done so many times before.
“Estel, how- You’re *dead.*”
Celebrian relaxed at the name, a gentle smile lighting her face as the human spluttered between tears. So this was her lost son.
Aragorn smiled tremulously as he replied.
“Exactly as you used to say Ada, Illuvatar’s mind is unknown in regards to the fate of men, and I guess I was allowed to come here.”
Elrond hugged him again.
“How’s Arwen?”
“She’s doing well, recently became good friends with Andreth.” A strange look came over Aragorn’s face and his foster father laughed, kissing his forehead. He turned to his wife, and it was then that Aragorn froze, seeing the elleth before him. He shot to his feet, bowing low before her.
“Milady, I-“
Celebrian shot the half-elf an exasperated look and grabbed one of the man’s hands, pulling him up. Aragorn looked at her, confused.
“Mil-“
“Call me ‘Milady’ again and I’ll toss you out the front door. Elrond said you used to call me Naneth.” Aragorn flushed, eyes on his boots and Celebrian laughed. “I take no insult, son of Elrond! It is only right considering you were not only adopted into the family, but also married my daughter.”
The Dunedan gaped, and she pulled him onto the sofa between herself and her husband, voice softening at the sorrow in Aragorn’s eyes.
“There is no need to feel guilty Estel, I long foresaw Arwen’s choice and understand she was loved and taken care of by the best of men.” She pulled him into a tight hug. “Thank you for giving her happiness. She was so sad after the orcs, I feared she’d never smile again.”
Aragorn froze for a moment, then buried his head into her shoulder, apologies spilling out his mouth. Celebrian rested a hand on his head.
“None of that now, I’m glad Arwen was able to find her strength again, even if it led her down a different path.” She pulled back and squeezed his shoulders. “And I’m glad to meet *you.*”
Aragorn bowed his head then settled back against the sofa. A comfortable silence filled the space until Elrond spoke.
“Not that I’m not glad to see you, ion-nin, but why are you here?”
Aragorn turned to face the half elf, a mischievous glint in his eyes as Elrond raised an eyebrow.
“Well this should be interesting.”
“I had some... unfinished business to attend to.”
“Is that so?”
Aragorn sat on a chair in front of the elves, and both of them straightened. He winced at the expectant look on his foster father’s face, reminded of every scrap he’d been pulled out of in Rivendell, then later as a ranger.
“It may have had something to do with your earlier conversation.” The look didn’t change and he sighed in defeat. “Ok fine. It had everything to do with it. I had a conversation with Earendil. Interesting man. Surprisingly relaxed.”
Elrond smiled tiredly and Celebrian took his hand.
“Interesting indeed. He… wasn’t what I expected.”
Aragorn’s laugh echoed, loud and warm and *human* in a way Celebrian knew her husband missed dearly. So many of Elrond’s friends had been mortal, so much of his family.
“Now that’s an understatement!” The man smiled wide. “In any case, I had a quick conversation with him after you left. He says he’d love to take you sailing and have a proper heart to heart.” The smile dropped to something more somber, more gentle. “He also says he understands if you need more time, and will wait as long as he needs.”
Elrond seemed to simultaneously age and relax.
“If you’d take my advice…” Aragorn began hesitantly, waiting for Elrond’s warm nod before continuing, “I think you should take him up on the offer.“
Elrond gave real thought to the words and Celebrian wondered just how well this man judged characters that Elrond was willing to take another chance. Any elf would have been shut down by now. Had been in the past.
“I do not know if I can.”
A familiar stubborn glint entered Aragorn’s eye. A fearlessness Celebrian was delighted to see.
“I say this with respect Adar, but you have to stop running away from this.”
The half-elf startled at the sharp words, but Aragorn continued before he could fully recover. Smart kid.
“For your own sake, you must face him. Just as you must one day face Elwing, Maedhros and Maglor… but this is a good place to start.” He leaned forward to take his father’s tightly clenched hands. “What did you tell me when my heritage was revealed? When I was terrified the weight of my past might drown away my present?”
A suspicion began to form in Celebrian’s mind, threatening to break out in a bright laugh and smothering hug for the son she’d never met. Of course. Of course.
Elrond closed his eyes and took a deep breath, wryness and pride in his eyes when he looked up at Aragorn.
“The past is but a small part of you. You are so much more your history, no matter what anyone else says.”
“Wise advice, no?”
“Seems a little narcissistic to agree, but I suppose it is.”
Squeezing Aragorn’s hands back, Elrond sighed and slumped back, eyes closing for a long moment. Aragorn glanced at Celebrian, who returned a small, reassuring smile. It was about time someone smacked some sense into her husband’s head, and this one knew how to push all the right buttons.
“I am afraid, little one.” Elrond finally whispered.
Aragorn grinned boyishly, and Celebrian’s suspicions were confirmed.
“That’s why I’m here.”