The House of Pleasure (2/?), by Kaylee Arafinwiel

[kayleearafinwiel]

B2MeM Prompt, Card and Number:  O68 The Language of Flowers, Book Title 2, Cliches, Fluff, and TLC, Color Burst 3 Yellow, Color Burst 8 Spectrum, Elements of Elrond, Emotions, The End, Family Affairs (sort of, anyway), Horror, The Lord and Lady of Imladris, Love in Middle-earth, Mary Oliver, Relationship
Format: chaptered fic
Genre: femslash
Rating: M just in case
Warnings:  Mentions of previous torture, scars, mutilation etc. 
Characters: Celebrian, Olwe's wife, OC
Pairings: Celebrian/Elrond, possible Celebrian/OC
Creator’s Notes (optional): Okay, so this is starting to look like a chaptered thing...I didn't expect that.
Summary: Celebrian's stay in the House of Pleasure continues.

Overwhelmed, Celebrian allowed herself to be led along meekly, grateful when they entered a private room with a massage bed and a fragrant bath waiting. Another elleth, simply robed, waited to bathe her, but Silpiel gave her obeisance to the older elven woman. “Mistress.”

“Silpiel, thank you. Celebrian, there you are, dear child,” the woman said. Celebrian started at the voice, and looked into eyes just like her mother’s. This elleth was far older, though, and after a moment mentally replacing simple white robes with fine blue silk in her memories, she realized. “Anamille Eärillë!”

The Queen took Celebrian into her embrace and kissed her brow. “Come, child, let me see to your comfort. All is well and all will be well.”

Dizzily, Celebrian placed herself in her great-grandmother’s capable hands. Yes, she supposed, eventually it would...

Eärillë led Celebrian to the bath, slowly undressing her. Celebrian shivered as every scar, every mark of what the yrch had done to her was exposed for all to see. She had to remind herself that Lord Irmo had healed the worst of it, that what was left would fade in time. At least I have my ears back, she thought, wanting to cry. But Eärillë did not shy away, did not flinch from her great-granddaughter’s disfigurement. She simply helped Celebrian into the copper tub, steaming with warm water. “Would you like assistance with your bath, inyë?”

Celebrian looked down, flushing with shame, and nodded. Surrounded by the water, she felt weak as a kitten, and shivered despite the warmth. Silpiel looked at her queen questioningly, but Eärillë merely rolled up her sleeves past her elbows and knelt by the tub. She took lavender scented soap and began to wash Celebrian tenderly, speaking gently as she did.

“Do not fear, my child, you are safe here. No harm will come to you, and no one will touch you in a way that you do not approve. I know terrible things have been done to you, but this is a place of healing as well as of pleasure. None here wish you ill or seek to harm you. Do you understand?”

Slowly, Celebrian nodded. She closed her eyes as the floral soap was rubbed over her with soft cloths, luxuriating in Eärillë’s gentle touch. “I believe you, Anamillë Eärillë,” she whispered.

“Good,” Eärillë said. “Lean back, my dear, and I will wash your hair for you.”

“There isn’t much to wash,” Celebrian sniffed, but she leaned back obediently and allowed Eärillë to work a soothing lotion into her rough scalp and close-cropped silver tresses, which did not take long

“It will grow back,” Eärillë promised, as she helped Celebrian rinse off. She took out a bottle of oil, anointing Celebrian’s brow with a few drops. A different floral scent came to Celebrian, and she breathed it in. “What is that, Anamillë?”

“It is called gladiolus,” the Queen replied. “May it remind you that your character is strong, even while your body is weakened. You will be strong again, my dear,” she reassured Celebrian. “I will take care of you.”

As Eärillë helped her from the tub, and Silpiel set about emptying it, Celebrian leaned on the Queen and did her best to believe Eärillë’s promise. You will be strong again...I will take care of you. “Thank you,” she whispered. “What...what happens now?”

Eärillë helped Celebrian dry off. “If you would like, you are welcome to a healing massage, my dear,” she said gently. “If you are too tired for that now, you may sleep. I will take you home.”

Celebrian thought it over, and nodded. “I would like to go home and try to sleep, please,” she told Eärillë - even though she suffered keenly from insomnia, barely remembering what sleep was, she needed to try.

The Queen smiled gently, and brought a white shift, followed by a sea-blue light silk dress - a perfect commotion of silk, with opal buttons and honey-gold trim for Celebrian to wear. Silpiel helped her into soft leather slippers, and when Celebrian was dressed, Eärillë brought a warm woollen cloak for Celebrian to wear over all. The hood covered her shorn hair well.

As they walked through the building, whispers followed their footsteps, and a plethora of scents assaulted Celebrian’s senses. If she shut her eyes, she could just imagine being back home again, truly home in Imladris. The twins had tried to conceal their whereabouts after half destroying the apothecary she and Elrond had so well-stocked. Yet another prank, she sighed, remembering. It had made her angry at the time, and Elrond had advised her to cool her temper, though he hadn’t been happy either. But he had been wise to counsel patience, Celebrian thought. It had been better in the end.

The end - those words galled her. Celebrian stifled a sob, grief overwhelming her. To what end would they come? Would she ever be blessed with her boys’ elfling pranks again? True, they were grown and warriors proven, but they still had their mischievous side - didn’t they? Or would mourning for her have torn it from them? Oh, Naneth, Ada, she thought, please, take care of Elrond and our children! I miss all of you so much - do you mourn me as I mourn you?

A vision of Galadriel, so warm and loving, rose before Celebrian. She fell to her knees, weeping and stretched her arms out to Galadriel. “Please, Nana, don’t leave me…I love you, I’m sorry…”

Hush now, my dear, Galadriel whispered in her mind. My brave child...you are ours, never forget it. Someday I will see you again. You are not alone, Celebrian. I promise. The vision vanished with a rush of cool air through an open window, and Celebrian wept harder. Eärillë lifted her great-granddaughter up and kissed her brow. “Oh, my dear, I know, but you must try to calm yourself,” she murmured. “We need to take you home. Can you manage that?”

Celebrian buried her face in Eärillë’s silver-white hair. “I can’t think straight. I want to go home,” she whispered. “Back home.” Back to Imladris, among the woods, rivers, and waterfalls she so loved.

There was nothing the Queen could say to that. She merely hugged her great-granddaughter close and let her weep.

Comments

[erulissedances]

Oh dear, there is no Imladris in the West. What a pity.

- Erulisse (one L)

[kayleearafinwiel]

Not yet, no, but there will be eventually, I'm sure. Thank you, nettenya. *hugs*

[senalishia]

This fic has a great mood--warm and safe enough to sorrow in. I loved Galadriel being there for her.

[kayleearafinwiel]

Thank you Senalishia!

Even though it was just a vision, I like to think Galadriel really was there for her somehow - perhaps watching Celebrian in her Mirror.

[alexseanchai]

♥

[kayleearafinwiel]

<3

[independence1776]

Hi Kaylee, could you please put the entire story under the cut? Thanks!

[kayleearafinwiel]

Sorry! It was just a recap of the end of the last chapter, so I really didn't think of it as part of this one. I will correct that.