"May I see them?" Galadriel asked Celebrimbor when they were done discussing counsel matters, trying not to sound too eager.
Celebrimbor pulled out a leather box wrapped in a plain and thick cloth, and Galadriel's pulse sped up.
He opened it slowly, picking up the thinnest of the rings, set with a white stone and he showed it to her in the palm of his outstretched hand, eyeing her carefully.
"This is Nenya, the Ring of Water, of Adamant. Made from mithril and with a white stone." Celebrimbor told her, the loving pride in his work evident in his voice.
As she stared at it, her deep and ethereal eyes glinted with a rare hunger and her breath caught in her throat. Celebrimbor watched her closely, and he did not miss the gleam of her eyes. He could see and sense her lust for the Ring, even though she tried quickly to mask it from him.
"Galadriel." He said softly, and she tore her eyes away from the ring in his hand to his own eyes. "You need not try to hide your desire for a Ring from me, I know you too well for that."
She looked apologetic, but said nothing.
"And yet I know that your honor and fairness run deeper in your heart than any pride or hunger for power you have ever possessed. I would trust anything to you- and Nenya is yours, if you want her. I fear these Rings shall be as much a burden as a gift, however. As I am sure you know."
Galadriel smiled one of her radiant smiles, her eyes filled only with kindness and nobility now, as she outstretched her hand and Celebrimbor slid the silver and white ring onto the third finger.
"It is beautiful, Celebrimbor." She said, enchanted by it.
"A beautiful Ring for a beautiful Lady." He told her, and she glanced up at him quickly, knowing his long feelings for her, though she only loved Celeborn, and Celebrimbor knew that.
"I made it with you in mind." He shrugged a little.
"You have more of my thanks than I could ever give." Galadriel told him. "And the other two Rings?"
"I shall entrust them to Gil-Galad, as you suggested, and he shall do as he sees fit from there." Celebrimbor answered her.
"You know it will not be long before Sauron learns of your treachery to him." Galadriel told him quietly. "You will be in much danger. Would you hurry with the delivery of the Rings to Gil-Galad, and seek protection here? Lorinand can be enough of a stronghold that Sauron should not harm you here."
"We shall see, my lady." Celebrimbor answered. "I fear more for the fate of the Rings now than I do for myself."
"Noble of you." Galadriel told him, with a hint of dryness. "Yet you should take care for yourself, as well."
"I do promise I shall try." Celebrimbor told her, and she nodded, knowing that her offer for him to stay here was all she could do for him, but that Gil-Galad would do the same, and Celebrimbor would likely find it easier to take him up on his offer than hers.
They were silent for a few moments, Galadriel looking at Nenya while Celebrimbor stowed Narya and Vilya away hidden in his pocket.
There was a quiet knock on the door and, making sure the other rings were out of sight, Galadriel called for whomever it was to come in.
It was Celebrían, who apologized for interrupting, but Galadriel waved it off saying they had finished counsel anyhow. Celebrían did not miss Nenya, glowing slightly to her on her mother's hand. Though it would be masked from most, already, she was too close to her to miss it, though she knew enough to say nothing of it, not yet
"Will you dine with us, tonight?" Galadriel asked Celebrimbor kindly.
"It would be an honor." Celebrimbor said gratefully. "I shall set out in the morning, so this shall be my last chance!"
Galadriel stiffened at his words before realizing he meant his last chance on this visit, not as she feared he meant, his last chance ever. Though she did fear that was the truth- she did not think Celebrimbor was taking the threat of Sauron seriously enough to protect himself, as he should.
Neither Celebrían nor Celebrimbor noticed, so she led the three of them to the dining chambers.
Galadriel, deep in thought about Rings of Power, Sauron, and Celebrimbor, startled slightly when she heard light footsteps behind her.
"I apologize, Naneth. " Celebrían told her mother with a slight amused laugh. "I should have been louder sooner to alert you to my presence.""No worries." Galadriel smiled warmly as Celebrían came to stand beside her.
They were on one of the balconies of a wooden platformon one of the larger trees at the heart of the forest, surrounded by the lush green and gold leaves of the night-darkened wood.
"May I see it?" Celebrían asked softly, glancing at her mother's hands that she had kept so carefully guarded during dinner.
Galadriel smiled and lifted her hand with Nenya for Celebrían to see.
"It is beautiful." Celebrían told her softly, watching what she could see of the Ring, for she could not see it clearly, with amazement. "But as is everything Celebrimbor makes. Do you feel different?"
Already, Galadriel felt as if it was a part of her, though also, it's power felt foreign as well.
"It feels different." Galadriel told her. "It does feel as if it were made for me, as it feels familiar somehow, but the power of it is so strange a thing."
Celebrían looked at her mother and saw the same thing in her; she was as familiar as anything to Celebrían, yet there was also a new power to her and she was more ethereal than ever before. She looked older than she usually did, too, like she was remembering more of her younger days.
"What is it?" Galadriel finally asked, noticing her daughter had been gazing at her for a while.
"You look different." Celebrían told her with a shrug. "Can you tell me of what was decided today?"
"I will. But not here." Galadriel said, and she led her to the sitting room of her and Celeborn's chambers, where they would have privacy.
She told her most everything that had been decided between her and Celebrimbor; that there were Three Elven Rings that must remain hidden from Sauron, that she was given Nenya, and that the others would be entrusted to Gil-Galad.
"But, won't Sauron guess who possesses these rings the moment he finds out they exist?" Celebrían asked her. "Even if you keep them hidden from his sight, he will guess without any need of powers that they were given to the highest Elves- to Gil-Galad and yourself, will he not?"
"Likely." was all Galadriel said in answer.
"Then Lorien will be in as much danger due to the Ring as it is strengthened by it." Celebrían said. "You are sure you believe using them in secret is for the best?"
"Perhaps it would be most wise to destroy the Three and let Sauron never learn they existed. But we failed to find the strength to do so, and perhaps that is for the best. Through no gifts or wisdom can we predict what lies ahead, we may need these Rings as a defense in times to come."
"If you think it wise, then it must be." Celebrían told her after a moment, and Galadriel smiled her thanks.
Not that Celebrían's opinion counted for nearly what her parents' did among high counsels, but she would always support her mother, and both her parents valued her opinion.
After a while Galadriel spoke again.
"Celebrían, I wish to give you something." She carefully undid the clasp on the Elessar she wore, the stone Celebrimbor had made her all those years ago, to strengthen the magic in Lorien, to ensure the preservation of the trees and grasses around them. Now, Galadriel placed it in Celebrían's hand, smiling as her daughter looked at her wide-eyed.
"I shall need it no longer, Nenya will replace its power for me. I wish for you to have it now."
"If you are sure…!" Celebrían said, slightly breathlessly, looking at it in her hand.
Galadriel smiled and rose, taking the brooch and pinning it to her daughter's dress.
"It is yours." She kissed Celebrían's brow. "Wear it well, and may it serve you well!"
Celebrían thanked her graciously."But I have not your powers, and I can not wield it as you did. How will it work for me?"
"Only time will tell." Galadriel answered. "I believe it is like these Rings of Power, though less so, but all the same it was made by Celebrimbor. It gives power to the bearer according to your own powers and wishes, and I think you will learn what that means in time as you have it."
Celebrían nodded, and they both sat in silence for a while more, each in their own thoughts, wondering at what might lie ahead when Sauron grew in his own power.