To Travel With Wings

The years passed by, uneventful. As the seasons changed so did many of the inhabitants of Imladris. The young grew old and the old grew older. Peace lent prosperity and happiness abounded. Although the shadows yet lived, they were small and only remembered on dark nights. Soon, however, even these shadows began to fade until even the most wary let down their guard.



It hadn son some time since Glorfindel had pressed for completion and Silnar wondered when he would push again. The warrior felt the need to finalize their relationship, but Silnar yet refused. She was not ready for such commitment, such dedication. Others, however, were. It was during Rhîw, in the year 109 that Elrond and Celebrían were joined. Although it was winter in the surrounding area, no snow touched Imladris and all nature was yet green and fruitful.



A grand feast had been set for the day and all of Imladris was busy in preparation. Silnar had escaped the hectic atmosphere by sneaking into Glorfindel's chambers. The owner was with Elrond, acting in the place of his father. It was an important position and Silnar knew how pleased Glorfindel was. Elrond had placed a great honor on his long time friend.



Now, if she could only find a few minutes to relax. Silnar had felt so healthy and strong, but the excitement that had been culminating for little over a year had exhausted her. She thought it rather silly that Celebrían had insisted on following the ancient Ceremony word for word and action for action. It would have been much easier to just say a few words and invoke Eru. That was how she would do it, when she was ready of course.



Grimacing, Silnar shifted in her chair and contemplated her newest set of problems. Her darling lover had caught what she termed joining fever. The closer and closer Elrond's nuptials came, the harder and harder he pushed for an official betrothal. It would giver her a year still, he said. That would be plenty of time to accustom her to the idea. Hah! Obviously the warrior underestimated how short a year was.



Sighing, Silnar stood and walked to the open balcony, enjoying the fresh breeze. It brought with it the scent of snow and Silnar remembered how she used to frolic in the winter with Maedhros. Sometimes, she almost believed his memory held her back. She would, however, dismiss such an assumption in the next minute. Silnar had truly laid him to rest. No longer did she drift away into his memories, but into Glorfindel's. He was the lover in her mind now. She smiled to think of him.



No, Maedhros did not hold back. It was a kind of restlessness. Almost as if she was needed somewhere else, but could not get there. She had no idea where there was! Silnar just knew that someday soon, she would be needed, for something important. For a while, Silnar had convinced herself that her job had been to push Celebrían and Elrond together. She knew now that this was not true. The two would have found each other without her assistance.



It was good, however, that she was here to see the culmination of many years in matchmaking. Silnar had never seen Elrond happier and slowly, their relationship had begun to heal. It was, without a doubt, the influence of Celebrían. The gentle nis had wrought a great change in the somber Lord of Imladris. All loved the bright and shining lady who never frowned at anyone. She ruled with a gentle hand and firm voice.



Silnar knew that Galadriel had spent years preparing her daughter for this part of her life. In the long years of their friendship, Silnar had found that Galadriel knew a little of everything and a lot of many things. There was not much that could slip by the sharp gaze and mind of the daughter of Finarfin.



A low bell sounded the warning for dinner. Looking into a mirror, Silnar settled her hair and dress before deeming herself suitable. As Glorfindel's partner, she would stand next to him in the Ceremony, even though she played no part. For several weeks, Silnar had pestered him about his gifts, but the usually free speaking elf had told her not.


Down in the dining hall, the tables were groaning with food. All around Silnar elves of Imladris and Lórien conversed sharing stories and some songs. Wending her way through the crowd, Silnar found the head table and took her place beside Glorfindel. He smiled at her and grasped her hand, pressing a kiss to the palm.



"Where have you been hiding, love?"



"In a secret place," Silnar said with an arch smile. Glorfindel chuckled before Elrond captured his attention. Beside the Lord of Imladris sat Celebrían. She was resplendent in a long, silken gown of white. Around her golden head she wore flowers from Lórien. Haldir, the March Warden, as a gift, had brought them.



Searching the crowd, Silnar spotted the grim Warden in a corner, surrounded by some of his archers. Among them were his two brothers, Rúmil and Orophin. Silnar knew that Haldir had once courted Celebrían until Celeborn had put an end to it. She suspected the Warden was unhappy with the current situation and hoped he would behave himself.



The feast ended quickly for all were anxious to commence with the marriage. Together, Elrond and Celebrían stood forth and were joined by Galadriel, mother of the bride, and Glorfindel who was acting father of the bridegroom. Both joined the hands of Celebrían and Elrond and blessed them with ancient words that most had long forgotten. The two spoke in Quenya, an old and ancient language of Aman. To most in the room, the words were archaic, but understood. Galadriel invoked the blessing of Varda, while Glorfindel did that of Manwë, and both invoked Eru. All the Eldar in the room respectfully touched their hearts and bowed their heads.



After the blessing, Elrond gave to Celebrían his silverrothrothal ring and she to him. In return, Elrond placed a slender gold band on her right index finger. Celebrían retrieved her own gold band and placed it on his finger. They would keep the silver betrothal rings and treasure them. Smiling, Elrond quietly took her hand as Galadriel and Glorfindel presented their gifts.



Galadriel stood forth first to Elrond and placed on his head a thick circlet of mithril. "Although a jewel is customary, I chose instead this crown. It shall be a mark of thy station and power for many yet look to such symbols."



Glorfindel took her place and said to Celebrían. "For thee I bring a gift of Aman." He brought forth a ring of great age. It had been molded with metals known only to that great kingdom. Where there should have been a stone sat a shining ball of light. "This was the very first of my projects. My Noldo father taught me a great many things in metalworking. I took this to Varda and she plucked a star from the sky and inlaid it within the ring. She told me I would find a person who would need such a ring. There is a great power here though I know not what it is. Wear it always, and do not take it off for I believe there to be some protection."



Celebrían accepted the ring with a great smile. "Thank you, Lord Glorfindel." She slipped the ring on her other hand and the light grew very bright before dimming to a soft glow. "I shall treasure it always."



The Ceremony ended and many returned to the feast while others drifted away. Elrond and Celebrían stole away to complete their vows in the time honored way. Galadriel and Silnar moved outside onto the pathways to escape the noise.



"And now she is married," Silnar murmured. "Will you have another?"



Galadriel shook her head. "Maybe in Aman, where I may raise him as I wish. He will walk and be unafraid. He shall not need to worry about dark creatures and vile beings."



"Yes," agreed Silnar. "That is what Glorfindel and I have agreed to."



Chuckling softly Galadriel chided, "Why do you not accept him, Cuivië? He has waited so patiently."



"I do not know. I feel as if I must wait. Why do you ask?"



"Celeborn is anxious to return home. We have been gone much longer then we expected. I fear that I will miss your marriage."



"Should I marry it will be with no Ceremony. I wish only for quietly spoken vows between us. That will be enough."



Galadriel nodded. "I too, chose that route, only, however, because my mother was not here and Celeborn is Sindarin. It is only those who yet live in Aman that remember our ways."



"Do you miss it?" Silnar asked, quietly.



The Lady of Lórien thought before she answered. "Sometimes, I miss it very much, but I will never regret my decision to stay. I was not ready to leave Celeborn, and like you, there is more that I must do."



They walked for hours, up and around the pathways, talking of everything and nothing. Silnar knew that tomorrow, Galadriel would be gone. The lady did not like long goodbyes. It would be many years, Silnar knew, before she once more beheld her dearest friend.