Memories-
By- Evenstar of Hogwarts
Summary- Celebrian fondly remembers her daughter Arwen the night after Elrond sails and informs her of Arwen's decision.
Author's Note- I'm choosing to have Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, Erestor and Celeborn sail with Elrond and Galadriel. Though I think the twins and Glorfindel would have stayed behind to watch over Arwen, their introduction in Valinor is necessary for Celebrian to feel the pain of having everyone but her daughter with her. So, R&R
Celebrian sighed as she looked at a faded painting, the only memoir of Imladris she had taken to Valinor. It was Celebrian's favorite painting. It portrayed her, along with her husband, Elrond. Their sons Elladan and Elrohir were standing on either side of their parents. Glorfindel stood on Elladan's left whereas Erestor was on Elrohir's right. And between Elladan and Elrohir was the flower of Elrond's house: Arwen.
Arwen. Celebrian sighed as she thought about her daughter. She had been eagerly awaiting the day her husband and children would sail to Valinor. When the previous day, she heard word of their coming, she had been as excited as an elfling. Her husband, Elrond, her twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, her parents, Celeborn and Galadriel, her dear friends Glorfindel and Erestor were all on the ship. She looked around for Arwen, but on not finding her, asked Elrond the reason. Deep inside, though she had a feeling she would not like the answer much. And how right she was!
Upon learning Arwen chose to walk the path of Luthien, she wept many copious tears. How she wished to surrender herself to mortality, now that her only daughter was sundered from her forever.
Her only daughter. Celebrian laughed as she thought of how she had always joked that Arwen was an ellon in disguise. It was true after all.
Celebrian smiled as she thought the day she gave birth to Arwen. She had always wanted a little girl. Partly as being the only female in the family, she hoped to discuss things such as sewing and dresses with a daughter. Another reason was she hoped her daughter would be able to control her brothers. Celebrian always believed an elleth to be quieter and less troublesome than an ellon. Arwen was to prove her wrong.
Ever since the day she was born, Arwen had the whole household wrapped around her finger. Elrond would take many a day off to spend time with her. Elladan and Elrohir found time to play with her. Glorfindel and Erestor indulged her at every opportunity. And Celebrian herself? Well, Arwen's charismatic and innocent appearance didn't fool her. She knew the innocence was merely a mask that hid a devilish, scheming mind.
Even as an elfling, Arwen was free spirited and wild, always preferring the outdoors. Whenever her parents had forbidden her to go out, playtime had been spent enacting battles of the First Age.
She had been devious and mischievous, preferring to spend time having adventures with her brothers and Glorfindel instead of sitting and sewing. Her ambition was to become a warrior. Celebrian had been surprised when she heard this; not many ellith would like to be warriors. She had shrugged it off as a passing whim then.
When she was the human equivalent of three, she met Legolas. Legolas was very much like her, even the same age; mischievous and with an ardent desire to be a warrior. Arwen had been over the moon when she had been informed that she was soon to receive her very first lessons in archery, sword fighting and horseback riding. She and Legolas had been forever having contests; Legolas having the upper hand at archery, Arwen besting him in sword fighting.
Arwen had never been like any normal elleth. Spending most of her time with her brothers and Glorfindel, the three had a bad influence on her. She was forever playing some or the other prank. The colour pink had been detested. Dresses were barely tolerated, having to be worn only for the most formal occasions, the rest of the time decaying at the very back of the closet. Arwen always liked wearing a tunic. Speaking of Arwen's tunics, there hadn't been a single day when she hadn't torn it. She would come back home, covered in streaks of mud, the hem of her tunic ripped and her raven hair looking like a raven's nest. Her Evenstar pendant was the only piece of jewelry she had liked. All other jewels were discarded.
Lessons had always been a thing of dislike. As Erestor put it, "Arwen had intelligence, only she liked to put it to use only when there was an examination; employing her creativity in pranks and other such mundane things the rest of the time." Celebrian had never allowed her to neglect her studies, though Arwen felt that time could be spent in a much more fun way.
Temper and stubbornness were the traits common to the Peredhil household. When angered, Arwen could come up with the most inventive ways to extract revenge. Celebrian chuckled as she remembered the time Glorfindel had refused her the pleasures of riding on his stallion, Asfaloth rather harshly. Arwen proceeded to put itching powder on Asfaloth's saddle.
When the time had come for Arwen to decide her profession, she had surprised many by announcing her decision to be a shield maiden. Not many ellith had taken this course. But of what others thought of her, Arwen didn't care. Her heart was set on being a brave warrior.
Glorfindel started training her on the most complicated moves of sword fighting and archery. Celebrian chuckled as she recalled an incident when Arwen had returned home with a sprained ankle. Celebrian had shouted herself hoarse at Glorfindel.
When the time came for Arwen to go on her first patrol, Celebrian had given her leave, but only after a lot of coaxing and pleading. After a successful first patrol, Arwen had been in many a tight spot. She had braved her way through many battles with Orcs.
Celebrian still shuddered as she thought of the day Arwen returned from one of her patrols unconscious. Elrond had stitched up her various wounds. She took around a day to wake up. Celebrian could never rid herself of the image of Arwen lying pale and motionless. However, she was none the worse for the adventure and continued going on patrols.
Even as an adult, the Evenstar had turned her nose up at councils; sitting through them because her father had made it compulsory. Celebrian recalled a rather interesting incident when Arwen had fallen asleep during a particularly boring council to discuss trade relations with men. Writing down reports after her patrols was a chore Arwen considered tedious and time consuming. She always said her brain froze at the sight of the quill.
But, behind the temper, stubbornness, mischief and the tomboyish habits, was a kind heart. Arwen was never extremely mean. Scuffles with people ensued but she soon made up. She was popular among elflings. However, discussing things like dresses, sewing, dolls and ellyn never happened. Arwen preferred to discuss weapons, horses, Orcs, trolls and Balrogs. Glorfindel had soon found himself an unwilling partner in the discussions of the last topic.
True, Celebrian had never been able to discuss the typical elleth things with Arwen. But other discussions had been much more enjoyable. Arwen had never been perfect. But for Celebrian she was. There was a tiny hint of regret that she had never enjoyed time with her daughter doing the things an elleth does.
Arwen was the best daughter, sister, friend, student and wife anyone could hope for. Celebrian knew Aragorn would treat her well. He must, or he would have Celebrian, Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Celeborn, Galadriel, Glorfindel, Erestor and many others to answer to. Celebrian knew her Arwen was happy in Middle Earth. The only problem was, she was never going to return. Celebrian was never going to see her perfect daughter, Arwen again.
