I do not own the characters or settings of this story.
They all belong to JRR Tolkien and his estate.
I have borrowed and expanded a little on his story and I hope he will forgive me for the intrusion.
A CUP OF SORROWSChapter 1Frodo stood at the rail, watching the rainbows form and reform in the spray of the waves breaking against the bow. Although he was feeling quite chilled he did not yet want to return below decks to the confinement of his small dark cabin. The breeze changed direction suddenly, slipping beneath his cloak to force a shiver, making the canvas sail above his head snap and crack and sending the crew scurrying to tighten rigging.
He turned his back to the chill draft and found that he was not alone, for a tall figure stood at the opposite rail. Dressed entirely in grey he would have been indistinguishable from the steel grey of the sea and sky beyond him, if it were not for the long black hair, whipping about his face in the wind.
As if he sensed Frodo's gaze the elf turned and smiled faintly.
"Good day to you Master Frodo."
"Good day to you Lord Elrond."
"Are you not taking luncheon?"
Frodo shook his head. "I'm not really hungry."
The elven healer's eyes narrowed as he assessed the little hobbit.
"Are you feeling unwell? If the sea does not agree with you I can arrange something to settle your stomach."
Frodo sighed. He was getting tired of everyone asking him that. "No, just not very hungry. I find I am not as interested in food as I once was."
"Nevertheless, you should eat."
Frodo sighed again and turned back to the rail, pulling his cloak more tightly about him. The breeze carried his words back to Elrond. "Now you sound like my Uncle Bilbo."
Strolling across the deck to stand at his side, Elrond too bent to lean against the rail. "Then your Uncle is correct."
"Then why are you not eating, Lord Elrond? I have seen you at very few meals since we set sail," Frodo retaliated.
The elf stared off into the distance. "I too, have not felt much like eating."
Frodo stepped closer and looked up curiously. "Not for the same reason as me, I hope?"
Elrond looked down. "That would depend on what your reason was."
Tired of trying to put people off with excuses, Frodo took a deep breath and decided on the truth. "I worry about what I will find at the other side. Whether I will find healing or not," he blurted.
Frodo was surprised to see Elrond nod, his eyes reflecting Frodo's uncertainty. "I too worry about what I shall find when I step off the ship," came the confession.
Frodo blinked in surprise. "But I thought . . . I never imagined . . . But you are going . . . home," he stammered.
A rueful smile settled on Elrond's face. "You, of all people, Frodo, should know that coming home is not always the pleasure we would like it to be."
The Ringbearer winced. "But you are going to be with your wife. Surely you are looking forward to that?"
"Perhaps." Elrond frowned. "Like you, I have given up something I know for the unknown . . . for a hope. It would seem we have much in common."
"I do not understand." Frodo shivered as the wind worried its way beneath the edges of his cloak once more, a reaction not missed by the elven healer.
"Perhaps we should go inside. We could share a late luncheon and I will tell you of my hope and my fear," suggested Elrond.
Even now, try as he may, Frodo had not rid himself of his curious nature, unhobbit-like though it was. "Very well." At the very least it would keep his mind from his own worries.
The two turned and climbed down the stairs to the companionway. Instead of walking to the end and into the dining room, Elrond led the way to his own cabin and ushered Frodo inside.
The little hobbit looked around curiously as the elf excused himself to fetch some food. The cabin was much like his own . . . small and enclosed. Along one wall was set a bunk, which looked as though it had not been slept in, and a small bedside cabinet. A washstand and a narrow wardrobe, on the door of which Elrond had hung their cloaks, graced another wall and the only difference to his own cabin was the small desk by which he now sat. On a tiny table, by the porthole, were set four pots of earth, each carrying the seedling of a tree . . . two oaks, and ash and a willow.
Elrond returned a few minutes later with a tray, which he set upon the bed, drawing up both Frodo's chair and another for himself. The tray contained a wide variety of dishes and the healer pointedly filled a plate for his guest with small spoonfuls of several items and set it before Frodo, along with a glass of cool white wine. For himself he selected only some bread and cheese and a few grapes, although he also poured himself a glass of wine. Not wishing to seem ungrateful, Frodo tasted some of the contents of his plate and, after a few mouthfuls, actually found he was beginning to enjoy it. It was more relaxing, somehow, sitting here quietly with the calm elf rather than under Bilbo's critical eye.
For a while they ate in silence and then Frodo's eyes were drawn back to the seedlings by the window.
"Have you brought those to remind you of Imladris?"
Elrond followed his gaze and took a sip of wine before he answered. "Yes . . . and . . . no. Celebrian (my wife) and I planted a tree each time one of our children was conceived. As they are not travelling West with me I have brought seedlings from their trees to remind me of them."
Frodo counted them again and still came up with four. "I thought you had only three children . . . the twins, Elrohir and Elladan . . . and the Lady Arwen. Who is the fourth?" He looked up to find Elrond's grey eyes filled with sadness. "I'm sorry . . . I didn't mean to pry."
"No Frodo. I am not offended. In fact the willow bears greatly on the story I am about to tell you. I do have four children but, unfortunately, one did not live long in this world." He settled back in his chair . . . his voice soft and clear as he began his tale.
0o0
Something tickled his ear and Elrond tried to brush it aside. He thought he had succeeded when the annoyance returned. Sighing, he brought his eyes into focus and found himself staring up into twin pools of silvered blue.
"You!"
His wife laughed in response and ran her tongue delicately around the rim of his ear again.
Reaching up suddenly he grabbed her shoulders and rolled to the side, taking her with him until Celebrian lay amongst the pillows and it was he who looked down into her eyes. He bent to place a kiss on her lips and she reached up to meet him, returning his ardour with a strength of her own until they were forced to draw apart to catch their breath.
Celebrian giggled softly. "You should be careful, my love. Such actions have consequences," she announced archly.
"I do hope so," Elrond replied, mischievously as he started to lay a trail of kisses across her shoulder.
Still giggling, Celebrian pulled away from him. "Other consequences," she emphasised, her eyes twinkling.
For a moment Elrond was confused, then his hand slipped to her belly and he reached out with his healer's senses. There . . . a faint flutter . . . the tiniest of heartbeats running counterpoint to Celebrian's own. His eyes widened and then he dipped down to kiss her again.
It was some time before they continued their conversation. From her place, nestled within the protection of her husband's arm, Celebrian murmured, "So, is it a boy or a girl?" She felt his answering chuckle.
"Why do you always need to know? Is it not enough that there is another life to show for the love that we share?"
Celebrian ran a finger across his chest, feeling his body's response to her touch. "There has to be some advantage to my being married to the wielder of one of the three mighty elven rings of power." She was disappointed when the comment brought only stillness to her husband.
"I wish you would not mention it so openly . . . even between us," he whispered.
"I am sorry, my love." Celebrian snuggled closer in apology and Elrond responded by placing a light kiss on the crown of her head.
"It is a girl child."
Celebrian smiled. "The twins will be pleased."
Elrond laughed. "Oh, they will be ecstatic!"
0o0
The twin's reactions were mixed but it would be fair to say that ecstasy was not one of them. Breakfast was nearly over when their mother and father made their announcement.
"A boy or a girl?" Elrohir demanded with no preamble, very reminiscent of his grandmother.
"A girl," his father replied in kind.
Elladan glanced at his brother and grimaced. "Not more silly doll's tea parties and temper tantrums?"
Celebrian stepped in, noting her husband drawing breath for one of his more caustic replies.
"Yes, more dolly's tea parties. And, as I remember it, temper tantrums were not the exclusive domain of little girls."
To their credit, both twins ducked their heads in embarrassment.
"So you are not happy?" their father asked quietly.
"Oh, yes father," both rushed to reassure him, their voices in perfect unison. "It will be lovely to have a young one around again."
Celebrian squeezed her husband's hand beneath the table. "I told you they would be happy."
Celebrian had to slap him on the back as Elrond nearly choked on his tea.
0o0
Galadriel stepped back from the water's mirrored surface and smiled. Another girl child. Celeborn would have to be told that he was a grandfather again. She hoped he would be able to hold in his happiness long enough for Celebrian or Elrond to tell Arwen of her new sister themselves. The honour did belong to them after all.
It would not be long to wait. The couple would want to consult Galadriel's mirror for the child's future . . . at least Celebrian would. Elrond had never been fond of the mirror. He considered it too fickle, making no distinction between what would be and what could be. But Celebrian had always managed to get her way on this matter in the end. In that respect she was very much her mother's daughter.
And they would have to travel soon, or Celebrian would not be able to ride. Galadriel emptied the silver basin and hurried to bring her husband the good news.