Celebelen is said to have been the greatest healer to ever grace Middle Earth. She met Thranduil not long after his father founded Greenwood the Great and he became Prince of the Woodland Realm. He was freshly returned from his final battle with a dragon from the most northern borders of the realm, when he was laid out on a healing table.
The other healers tried desperately to fix the deep scars on his left cheek, until Celebelen entered. They recognized her and bowed lightly before her. When she entered Thranduil's vision for the first time, he arched a perfect brow but remained silent.
His first thought was that she was rather plain for someone so obviously Sindar. Her gold hair complimented her violet eyes, but that was all that was notable about her. She was too quiet, her silence bothered him for some reason. He was prince of this realm, everyone tried speaking to him, but she did not.
She worked hard, meticulous in her efforts, and respectfully ignoring any slight twitches of pain he decidedly did not make. When she was done, she told him quietly that he was free to move without pain. He sat up, and immediately touched where the injury had been. He surveyed her quickly, and bade everyone else to leave.
"The injury is fully healed, my lord," she murmured. "However, there will always be an echo of the scars that have been. You only have to burn through my healing magic with particularly powerful rage to reveal the wounds. And even then, my magic will not fade."
He nodded, "My attendants seemed to know you. Do you have a name?"
"I am called Celebelen," she bowed to him again, and stood erect, waiting for his dismissal.
"Why do they know you, Celebelen?"
"Because I am a great healer, and a master in such craft," she responded.
He was silent for a time, looking elsewhere. Finally, "Celebelen, should you not have urgent matters elsewhere I would bid you stay here in my father's court."
Her face registered shock, "Y-yes, my lord."
He nodded thoughtfully, seemingly to himself, "You have my leave to go."
She bowed deeply and quickly removed herself from the room.
In the weeks that followed, Celebelen felt Thranduil's watchful eye on her whenever they crossed paths. Mostly he watched her as she went to retrieve water when he stayed up to supervise the changing of his guard.
Thranduil felt strange around her. He heard tales of her quietly tending to the minor wounds of the soldiers who had been sparring. He was told that she did not allow even the slightest pain to go unattended once they fell under her hands. She seemed to never speak unless it was necessary, but her face was expressive. When she smiled many did with her. And so the Elven Prince felt his heart soften towards the young maid.
He would often visit his elk when he felt confused. When he came to his companion two days after he realized that he may have feelings for the elf maid, he found her there already. She was whispering to his companion soothingly.
"Why are you here? With my elk?" Thranduil asked.
Her gaze snapped up, startled by his sudden presence. "He was injured. He twisted an ankle the last time he ventured out into the forest. I spent a few hours here to help his healing process."
He stared at her, surprised.
She glanced everywhere else nervously, "I did not know he was yours. I apologize."
He raised a palm to stop her apology, "Thank you. He is precious to me."
She bowed to him quickly, and left before he could say another word.
He stepped close to his companion to pat his comforting fur while watching her retreating form.
He knew now, more than ever, that he had fallen for her.