When least expected

Chapter one Celeborn Remained

The huge mallorn trees of Caras Galadhorn, the city of Lothlorien, the golden forest, stood proud and tall. Even though the storm was trying to get them down, they refused to bend.

The rain was pouring down in an alarming rate and the wind blew harder and stronger than ever before, but that did little to turn the battle. Many storms the trees had fought and always were victorious. They had no doubt they would be again.

Soft murmurs could be heard as they spoke to one another, telling each other to stay strong, be firm, the storm would die. Even the young and little trees whispered words of reassurance, after all, the old trees said so. And they did catch most of the wind and the rain. No, the trees were not worried about themselves. But they did carry a burden.

They were all concerned about the elf. They watched him wither away. They saw how he took his daily walk amongst them. They saw he did no longer respond to them. He did not reach out to talk. They saw how he would stand on that one balcony every night, eyes set in the distance. They watched how he distanced himself from elf, tree and bird. They saw how he grieved. They saw how he hang on.

They had always cared greatly about this elf. Strong, poised, elegant, gentle and mellow. Every tree had watched the elf as he took his walks through the woods of Lorien. Every tree had watched the elf live and grow. And they had seen how he was watched. They had seen how he was followed. And they saw how he was blind.

The trees murmured about their worries. Wondering if they should convey in the elf’s shadow. But that one seemed to wither as well. They were worried beyond believe. It was that worry that had made the trees lose their golden shade, and not Galadriel’s absence, as most thought.

Suddenly the ash gave an alerting cry and shudders shook it’s core.

The elf was standing on the balcony. More pale and silent than the day before. He was lost in distance again. The trees asked the ash why it had cried, there seemed nothing wrong, beside the elf himself. But the ash was sure, they had to be alert. Something about the elf seemed different. Different from the way he was and the way he used to be.

The birds that had always been able to nestle safely in it’s branches told the ash they would follow the elf. That promise calmed the ash down and the shaking stopped.

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Haldir felt the rain drip on his face as he made his round. He looked at Rumil and Orophin who accompanied him. He and his brothers were the only Galadhrim left and no longer knew any free time. Haldir did not mind. He had never regretted his choice to remain.

But he sometimes wondered if he had been selfish. His brothers could not be happy here. They should have gone with Galadriel, but instead his choice had kept them here. He knew the sole reason for their choice had been their reluctance to be separated from him. The knowledge had slowly digested him. He no longer shone as he once did.

He looked up.

Celeborn stood on the balcony. Ever since Galadriel had left, the lord’s actions had become repetitive. a wha while it had looked like Celeborn was fading, but they no longer thought so. He grieved, but wasn’t fading.

Haldir felt extremely grateful. He begged the Valar daily not to take his lord away. He could not bare to think about life wit Cel Celeborn.

He sighed as he took in his lord’s still breathtaking features.

It had not taken him long to fall in love with that unattainable elf. Haldir had know from the beginning Celeborn belonged to Galadriel but that hadn’t stopped him from becoming a Galadhrim. He had tried to stop his feelings, but they were too strong. His love was what had driven him throughout life. The need to keep his secret love safe from danger, the need to get his approval. It had been his love that had gotten him promoted, from a mere Galadhrim to Head Warden. And later to Marchwarden.

His musings were interrupted by a punch in the side. Orophin needed his brother here and now, not lost in the past.

Even though Haldir had never allowed his feeling to show, Rumil and Orophin knew. They had seen it happen. They had seen Haldir fight his silent battle and lose. A battle he s fou fought daily, they knew.

Rumil looked up and took in the sight that Celeborn had become. It was time they did something. Celeborn had to stop grieving, or it would still claim him.

He gently dragged Orophin away from a daydreaming Haldir. “Brother, I think we have to do something. He does not look good.”

Orophin understood why Rumil didn’t want Haldir to hear. It would drive their brother to endless tears. “I know, but what can we do? He grieves the Lady. She should never have left him.”

Rumil shook his head. He knew Orophin blamed Galadriel for all their present troubles.

To Orophin it was Galadriel’s fault Haldir was this miserable, always had been, and now that they might lose their brother, that resentment only grew. For there was no doubt Haldir would follow Celeborn, even to the Halls of Mandos. It was her departure that made Orophin hate Galadriel so.

But his brother’s remark lit a light inside Rumil. “Why did he stay here? Why did the Lord not follow the Lady?”

He had just voiced the question every elf alive was asking themselves, whether they live in Valinor or Middle-Earth.

It had come as a complete surprise to all to learn of Galadriel and Celeborn’s looming separation. All had expected Celeborn to accompany his wife, but he had surprised them all.
And that had been the day the brothers’ fate had been sealed. They had forsaken the last chance to sail for Valinor. Andtherther of the brothers regretted it, save perhaps Haldir on occasions. He still felt guilty about forcing this choice upon his brothers. But Rumil and Orophin did not see it thus. They needed Haldir and if Haldir stayed, so did they. They knew the three of them would be happy wherever they were as long as they were together.

The two brothers went inside, letting Haldir alone, staring up at the balcony.

Inside they would discuss this further. They would try and come up with possible reasons for Celeborn’s decision, but the hours of their labour was going to be fruitless.

There were more elves that had remained behind, for various of reasons, but none had been able to figure out their lord’s choice. For a while they had believed it loyalty towards them. But when they had told the lord he could sail with Galadriel without guilt, Celeborn had smiled at them, thanked them but had not altered his choice to remain. And now all elves that still resided in Lorien were worried and concerned about their lord, who seemed to wither away before them.

Some elves would come and sit with Rumil and Orophin and try help solve the riddle, but not even toge wer were their efforts fruitful.

But the Galadhirm were stubborn.

Suddenly Orophin laughed out loud. “Rumil, brother, they still call us Galadhrim. But we’re not that any more.”

One of the other elves countered him “But you are. You still protect us. And the Lord.”

But Rumil understood. “It’s the name. Galadhrim. Galadriel.”

Now everybody in them unm understood. Orophin’s hatred towards their former Lady was no secret. The one who had spoken before hung his head in apology.

Orophin happily accepted. “No harm done. But with her not here, we can no longer carry the name, can we? We are not Galadriel’s followers, but Celeborn’s.”

“So you are Celebhrim.” The other spoke, trying to rectify his earlier mistake. Many laughed, but not long. It did not sound so bad and it was certainly true.

Suddenly Rumil stood. “It doesn’t sound bad, no, and you are right: it is certainrue.rue. I say Orophin, Haldir and I ask Celeborn to allow us that name.”

To that an applause roared. If their lord did, they would throw a great party. Even with their low number, they threw lots of parties.

The conversation went back to the issue at hand. Celeborn himself. But the discussion was stopped when Haldir’s distressed cries reached their ears. He was calling for the healer. Together with Rumil and Orophin the healer ran towards the sound.

End Chapter one
TBC
Note:
Rumil and Orophin are discussing Celeborn. So the him in their words refers to Celeborn and not to Haldir, as some might think.