Prologue
"Elrond." The man sitting at the desk turned and gave a weary smile to his wife. She looked close to tears. But she had looked so for many a night now. "Yes my love?" He responded carefully. "Oh Elrond. I'm so sorry. I love you all...but...you knew it would happen. I just...I have grown weary at last of my days in Rivendell." She cried. The man wished that he could forestall time forever before she said this final sentence. And that he would sit there on and on and never hear what it was that his wife wished. Not that it mattered. He had prepared himself for this nearly twenty years before. "Yes." He chose his words carefully so as not to show his heart was breaking at this news. "I knew. It is just I got so used to the fact that you might actually heal..." "Oh Elrond! I'm so sorry! I just long for the Havens! It is all I can think of! I tried to heal and stay here and be happy, I just couldn't. I'm so, so sorry! Truly!" The woman cried, sobbing, "It's okay Celebrian. It's okay." And he held her for many minutes. "Elrond?" The woman said once she had composed herself. "I would like to visit my sister and mother once before I go." "Of course My Love." And they sat in silence for the rest of the night.
"Celebrian My daughter. You come with sorrow upon you. What saddens your heart?" "Oh dear mother, I have lost all love for my home. I long for something more. I have decided that the Gray Havens may bring the joy of life back to my heart. Yet I loathe leaving Elrond and my children. And you, Father and Lillith as well." The elder of the women sighed. "Alas, your sister no longer dwells in the Golden Wood. She left twelve years ago. She returned a year ago only to leave again. Though she did leave one thing behind. Come with me and I will show you.
There lying in the nurses arms was a sweet looking babe. She had hair already growing on her head. It was curly and a lovely red-blond. "She...She is very pretty." The younger woman said. But as they walked on she wondered how the girl could have curly reddish hair. After all, Her sister had the same mystical straight blond as her mother. In fact, Celebrian's hair was the closest to curly that any elf had ever had.