Celeborn: Book Profile

Celeborn was the Lord of Lórien, and Galadriel’s husband. He was described by her as “the wisest of elves”, was around the same height as his wife, and had silver hair, long and shining. There was no sign of age upon him – nor Galadriel, except maybe in the depth of their eyes, “for these were keen as lances in the starlight, and yet profound, the wells of deep memory.” (FotR, The Mirror of Galadriel)

His history is obscure. Tolkien changed his mind about his race, his family, how he met Galadriel, and how he lived his life many times over. By the last sets of revisions, he was a Telerin elf, grandson of Elwë and Olwë’s brother, Elmo.

In the most widely-known late version of his story, he met Galadriel in Alqualondë, in Aman, where together they built a ship and planned to sail to Middle-earth. They were about to seek leave from the Valar for their plans when Fëanor’s rebellion started. The two then had nothing to do with the rebellion, and indeed, were active in the defence of Alqualondë. Celeborn’s ship was saved from the Noldor, and horrified by the kinslaying, the two immediately set sail into the darkness without waiting for Manwë’s permission to leave. They reached Middle-earth before Fëanor, and were welcomed at the havens by Círdan.

When they later received permission from the Valar to return into the West, they refused it, partly because Celeborn would not leave Middle-earth. So they departed over the Ered Lindon into Eriador before the end of the First Age, dwelling for a while around Lake Neniual (Evendim).

In about SA 700, they moved eastwards and established the Noldorin realm of Eregion. Fifty years later, they started the construction of Ost-in-Edhil. When Sauron’s power had grown stronger, in the second millennium of the Second Age, he managed to turn the Gwaith-i-Mírdain against the Lord and Lady, and Galadriel then left Eregion, passing through Khazad-dûm to Lórien.

Celeborn refused to enter the dwarven caves, and he remained behind in Eregion, eventually making his way to Imladris. Either in the late Second Age or early Third Age, Galadriel came to Imladris and found him there. After living for a while in Belfalas, they moved back to Lórien.

“For the Lord of the Galadhrim is accounted the wisest of the Elves in Middle-earth, and a giver of gifts beyond the power of kings. He has dwelt in the West since the days of dawn, and I have dwelt with him years uncounted; for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains, and together through ages of the world we have fought the long defeat.” (Galadriel, FotR, The Mirror of Galadriel)

by atalante_star