Beyond Canon
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The first homely house seemed packed beyond capacity during the past few days. It wasn’t that there were more elves living in it than usual, save for the fact that Galadriel and Celeborn were this week among those inhabiting the house. It wasn’t that there was a lack of rooms, for even with the ex-Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood being in the three-story home, only Haldir was displaced, and he had taken up temporary residence in the ‘bachelor pad’, the suite of rooms that the twins and Celebdreth shared. It wasn’t that the house had shrunk, or that the rooms were cluttered, or anything at all unnatural.

It was that it was raining.

For many days, in fact, water had fallen lightly atop the roof and slid down the windows. It was, of course, necessary, and so no one complained. Rain was rarely ever harsh here in Valinor, and one need not fear that it would give way to a terrible storm or cause flooding to occur. But the rain, once it began, did not stop for quite a spell, and so the family had been confined inside the house.

“Your move, Oro.” The three brothers sat in the main parlor, a Valasaila board on the table between Rumil and Orophin. Haldir was lounging in a chair off to the side, lying across it sideways so that his shoulders were against one of the arms and his legs draped over the other. A stuffed purple rabbit kept watch of the game from the top of the chair back.

Orophin scanned the board, eyeing up various sections. He had never much enjoyed this Noldorian strategy game, but there was little else he hadn’t already done since the rains began. Orophin glanced up at Rumil’s raised brows and look of fake indifference, knowing he had lost already. “A little help, Haldir. The vast empire of Oro-Land is soon to be laid waste to by the forces of the Rumil-Empire.”

Haldir did not move, did not look up, nor did he even open his eyes. For the better part of three hours, they had played, and Haldir was content to keep track of the game in his mind while he listened to the melody of the rain. “Sacrifice your capitol. Move back your troops to the borders, and then…” He contemplated a few things, hands folded across his chest, arms drooped lazily at his sides. A slow smile emerged on his face as he changed his strategy. “Disregard my former advice. Evacuate your cities, cut your troops across the whole of Rumil’s forces.”

“Haldir, that’s suicide!” Orophin scanned the board, counting his troops versus Rumil’s. “He has me outnumbered three to one.”

“I once fought in a battle where we were outnumbered one hundred to one. Cut his lines, Orophin,” advised Haldir again.

Orophin scowled, and looked at Rumil, briefly catching a worried look in the youngest brother’s eyes. “Well, then, it seems I am still taking orders from my captain.” Orophin dutifully repositioned his game pieces to split Rumil’s forces.

Ten minutes later, the game was over.

“Thank you, Hallidear,” Rumil said as he scooped the remaining pieces off of the board and into the wooden tray they were held in.

Orophin’s jaw dropped, and he turned in disbelief at his older brother. “You tricked me, you overgrown dwarf!”

Haldir shrugged, showing little emotion. “The rabbit made me do it.”

Seconds later, Haldir was fending off the large blue throw pillow Orophin had decided to throttle him with, arms protecting his face as he chuckled, listening to Orophin’s long list of outlandish insults. Orophin had made to reach for the rabbit after citing that the rabbit was evil, and Haldir had nearly fallen off of the chair as he struggled to grab the toy before Orophin did. “Hey! Be nice to Nibbles!” he laughed, tucking the rabbit under one arm protectively.

“Nibbles? You named it?” Orophin paused for a moment, pillow still raised above Haldir. “You named the stuffed rabbit. Unbelievable.”

“What’s wrong with Nibbles? It is a good name,” defended Haldir.

“It is a good name,” agreed Rumil, who was finishing up putting the game away.

Haldir nodded. “I’ve had so much practice since the first time I named someone.”

The pillow came down again, and this time Haldir was caught off guard. Curling his legs and arms over the rest of his body, he continued to laugh at Orophin’s verbal abuse until the beating abruptly stopped.

“Well, if you like laughing so much…” Orophin tossed the pillow aside with a wicked grin.

“Oro…” warned Haldir, rabbit still under one arm. He tried in the next second to escape, but his position on the chair had been precarious at best. He now found himself trapped, Orophin sitting on one of the arms, keeping Haldir’s legs pinned down, while he tickled his older brother mercilessly. “Saes, Oro, Saes! Daro! Daro! Daro! Rumil!” Haldir’s call was frantic, masked by his continuous laughter, and he turned his head enough to see that he had been deserted.

“It would seem Rumil is the best strategist of us all,” Orophin said, “for he has well grasped the idea of retreat.” He looked down at Haldir. “Do you yield?”

“Yield! Yield what?” Haldir was making an attempt to squirm over the side of the chair, but to no avail.

“Yield the rabbit! That evil bunny has cost me three games of Valasaila this week!” Orophin swiped at the rabbit, but Haldir clutched it even closer.

“You leave Nibbles out of this!” warned Haldir, sobering up a bit.

Orophin, a bit taken aback at Haldir’s sudden change in attitude, moved back onto the floor. “Huh. You are way too attached to that thing.”

“It isn’t a thing. It’s a rabbit.”

“Yes. Ai, we really have to find you an elleth, brother.” Orophin shook his head, then listened as he heard footsteps coming from down the hall. “Ah, our sister approaches.” A few moments later, Celebrian peered into the room, then glided in, frowning when she saw the misshapen pillow on the floor.

“Good day, Celebrian, and how fairs the weather in your part of the house this afternoon?” asked Orophin, tossing the pillow to join it’s less abused comrades on the couch.

“The weather is miserable in more ways than one. I need to speak with Haldir,” she answered bluntly. Orophin cocked his head to the side, gave a nod, tried once more unsuccessfully to snatch the rabbit, and was gone from the room.

“Clebri?” Haldir repositioned himself on the chair, trying to smooth down his frazzled hair.

“It’s been over a month, Halli.”

Furrowing his brow, Haldir tried to think of what had gone on a month prior. Searching through past events, he remembered the conversation in the kitchen. “Oh. Then you’re not-“

“Hush!” Celebrian leaned forward on the rocker she had sat upon. “I don’t want to take the chance Elrond will hear!” she hissed. Haldir nodded, and Celebrian leaned back in the chair once more.

“Well, this could be a problem, then.” Haldir thought a bit. “The two of you…I mean, you have been…well, I do live in the next room.,” he finally settled on, and now dodged the blue pillow as it was thrown at him.

“Of course. It’s not for want of trying, believe me.” Celebrian crossed her arms, fuming a bit. “We’re like…like…well, excuse me for saying, but we’re like rabbits up there, and still nothing.”

Haldir nodded once more, placing Nibbles back behind him on the chair back. “Maybe you just have to relax. Maybe you’re trying too hard.”

“How can I relax, Halli? I lied to him to get him to build a nursery that will have no use here in the house.” Celebrian narrowed her eyes at Haldir’s mirthful expression. “And what, dear brother, is so funny about that.”

“Well, I do not want to be the one to ruin a surprise,” he began mischievously, “but whether you have a child or no, the room will still be well used.”

Celebrian sat quiet for a moment. “Who is it?” she finally demanded.

Haldir shook his head, grinning.

“Tell me, or you’ll get tickled again,” warned Celebrian.

“Oh no, I will not be the one to announce this news.”

Celebrian drummed her fingers on the side of the rocker. “I’ll just have to ask around then.”

Haldir narrowed his eyes, still grinning. “Maybe they don’t want everyone to know.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have opened your big, fat mouth.”

Brother and sister glared at each other, mindful of the other’s movements. Celebrian glanced at the doorway, unguarded, and took off for the second floor. Haldir was on her heals, grabbing at her dress in an attempt to slow her down. Up the stairs, around the hall to the second flight, and up again they went, the pounding of their feet accentuated by the pounding of the rain. On the third floor, Celebrian dashed for the door to the bachelor pad, triumphantly throwing the unlocked door open.

Four sets of eyes looked up from the card game they were playing. Only Elrohir had the decency to hide his cards in his lap. Celebrian gawked at the pictures that were visible on the cards that were turned up on the table.

“Good day, my daughter.” Celeborn was sitting comfortably in one of the chairs around the small oak table, glass of wine in front of him. “Did you come to play cards?” When he received no answer, he added, “If you wish, you can join us. We have room for another player.” Both of the twins were blushing now, and Elladan was making an effort to strategically move the cards that were face up out of Celebrian’s view.

Unable to avert her eyes from the table, Celebrian stepped forward, looking over the shoulders of her sons, who both glanced nervously at one another. To her horror, she heard herself ask, “What are you playing?”

“It’s a variation on a card game played by men. Usually, they bet while they play, but I wouldn’t think of taking anything from my grandsons, so it is more of a practice game. Besides, the cards themselves are reward enough,” Celeborn decided, maneuvering the cards in his hand. Completely unashamed, he tossed two of the cards from his hand and motioned for Celebdreth to deal out the appropriate number of cards.

“I will save the discussion of what something of this nature is doing in my house for later,” Celebrian said, though still unable to look at the faces of the elves around the table, looked up to the ceiling and asked, “does anyone know who in this house is with child?”

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged looks as if this was a trick question. “Uh, Nana? Aren’t you the one with child?” Elrohir carefully stacked the cards, face down.

“I. Yes. Yes, I am. I meant, does anyone know who else in this house is with child?” It was Celebrian’s turn to blush, and Haldir hid his snicker from where he was leaning against the frame of the door.

“Two elflings? In the same house?” Celeborn waggled his brow, tossing the rest of his cards onto the table. “It would seem I am to become a grandfather once again, and now, twice.” Pushing back in his chair, he rubbed his chin. “I’m going to guess…Valarda. I know she and Orophin have sworn off elflings, but I expected one day they would change their minds.”

“You’re guessing? You mean you don’t know?” Celebrian’s shoulders slumped, and Celeborn frowned.

“You mean you don’t know?” Celeborn looked at each of the other elves, each of them shrugging or shaking their heads. When his eyes settled finally on Haldir, the elf merely smiled.

“Ah, so the good Captain is not telling.” Standing up now, Celeborn held out an arm for Celebrian. “Well, then let us find out for ourselves.” Leading the procession, the elves left the suite and walked right across the hall to the rooms that Elrond and Celebrian shared. Celeborn knocked on the door abruptly. “Elrond?”

It was a few moments before the door opened. The Lord of the First Homely House had been partaking in a hobby he rarely felt he had time for, even now – pottery. Old linens were thrown across the floor under the wheel that stood past the elf in the door. His arms were covered to his elbows in slick, grey matter, though he was wiping them now, as well as the doorknob, with a ripped cloth. “Something the matter?”

“A question, and a moment of your time for you to answer it.” Elrond nodded at Celeborn’s request as he cleaned his hands, and the old elf continued. “Are you aware of the fact that you have more than one elleth under this roof expecting a child?” Elrond blinked, looking for a moment at Celebrian, then back to Elrond. “I shall take that as a nay.”

Elrond removed the apron he had been wearing, tossing it and the clay-caked cloth near the potter’s wheel, then went made his way past the other elves. “Who is it?” he asked, briskly making his way down the flight of stairs.

“Grandpapa guesses it is Orophin and Valarda,” answered Elladan, bringing up the rear of the group, just in front of Haldir, the only elf lazily taking his time on the steps.

Elrond approached the door nearest the landing and rapped upon it. Inside, there was a bit of a scuffle, and Orophin slowly peeked around the door. “Yes?”

“Is there anything you want to mention to me?” Elrond asked.

Orophin looked past the half-elf, noting the crowd behind him. “Not that I can think of.”

“Is there anything Valarda wants to mention to me?” Elrond asked.

A second later, the door was wretched open, and Valarda wiped her initial shock at the large group assembled from her face. Behind her, on the floor, a large sheet with large colored circles lay momentarily forgotten. “No. Is there something you want to mention to me?”

“You’re not pregnant, are you?” blurted out Celebdreth, unable to deal with the suspense.

“By the Valar, no, I should hope not!” Valarda crossed her arms in front of her. “Who is spreading such filthy rumors?”

A few thumbs were tossed in Celeborn’s direction, and the old elf shrugged. “It was only a guess.”

“Not a very good guess, I might add,” huffed Valarda.

“Well, there is someone who is going to have an elfling. Besides me!” Celebrian said, quite crossly when Valarda overemphasized pointing at her.

“Says who?” demanded Orophin. Everyone’s head turned in the direction of Haldir, who was leaned up against the wall, next to the door leading to the rooms inhabited by Rumil and Nenniach.

“He told you, and he didn’t tell me! Traitor! Both of you!” Orophin stormed from his room, and not bothering to knock, opened the door across the hall. “Rumil! You have a whole lot of explaining to do!”

Rumil looked up from the game, shocked at the sudden outburst from Orophin, but then again, not so shocked. Nenniach did not look phased in the least as she moved her knight across the board, capturing the rook. “Can I help you?” he asked, not a trace of emotion as he pushed a pawn forward in to the fray.

“When were you going to tell me you were expecting another child?” Orophin questioned, moving into the room. Rumil frowned, thought about this for a moment, then looked at Nenniach quizzically.

“Don’t be silly, I’d have told you if we were expecting another one.” Nenniach retrieved the knight, setting it back down on her side of the board. “Clearly, Orophin is in error.”

“Well, someone is in error,” Celeborn laughed. “Unless this is some sort of game Haldir is playing, there is someone in this house, other than Celebrian,” he added, patting his daughter’s hand, “that is going to have a baby. Now, ruling out the entire male population, for without a doubt we can, that leaves very few possibilities.” He looked at Nenniach, who simply shook her head, then to Valarda, who adamantly shook hers. He gave a cold stare and a harsh frown at Haldir. “Enough of this, Haldir. Who is it? If this is some new foresight you have, truly, you should inform us all.”

Haldir wiped the grin from his face, and stood silently. Finally, sighing, he said, “I promised her I would not tell.”

Celeborn looked ‘round the room again, then turned to leave. He was going to have to consult his wife about this. With Celebrian still at his side, and the rest now following behind, he took to the stairs, leading them down to the first floor. After looking through the kitchen, dining room, parlor, and all other ways, Celeborn entered into the hall once again, mystified as to where his wife had gone.

Outside, he heard the song of birds, and he lifted his head to look out the front doors, where sunlight streamed in. The rain had stopped, leaving the grounds damp and the plants shimmering. Through the window, he could make out an elf with long golden hair walking across the beach. “Galadriel.” He smiled and swept past the others to the doors, then paused, as if a sudden realization had come to him. Over his shoulder he looked, eyes meeting Haldir’s “Galadriel,” he said again, softer now, then opened both of the doors to the outside, and made his way down the steps, leading the others behind him.

The sand was wet, not only from the crashing waves. An elleth, clad in flowing silver-white, walked barefoot along the shore, hair flowing behind her. She looked up, noticing those gathered on the porch, smiled at them, and then looked down, but not at the ground.

Celeborn began to approach slowly, but ended up running across the grass to the beach where his wife of so many long and wonderful years stood, hand outstretched to him. He took hold of her hand, then pulled her close, sealing his lips against hers as tears began to flow between them. As they broke for air, Galadriel brushed away the drops that glistened at the corners of Celeborn’s eyes. A moment more, and she returned the greeting, each of them embracing the other. A collective sigh sounded from the porch.

“I have to say I was wondering about Nana. It had seemed as if she’d put on a bit of weight,” whispered Orophin to Valarda. Rumil kicked him in the shin in warning.

Valarda nodded, whispering back, “It did seem as if she was a little more glowy than usual.”
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