When Celeborn had left Eleniel alone, he went to the gardens. He needed some fresh air after his "failed proposal". Or no- he did not feel it as "failed". He had learned something from it. That it was impossible to find replacement for Artanis. And unfair. Eleniel was worth way too much to be used as a replacement for another woman.

He sighed. During the last months, he had experienced that life was not easy, for the very first time. Before the arrival of Artanis and her brothers, life had been easy for him, but so dull and- empty. He had been empty. Now, he had problems, he felt depressed, he was extremely frightened that Artanis would marry Galathil, but at least he knew that his life would never be as empty again as it had been. Not with Artanis in it, or even the thought of Artanis. Artanis filled his mind, his soul, his thoughts. His heart.

He sighed again, as he sat down with his back against a tree.

As wanted to lay his hand on the grass, he startled.

He felt… another hand!

The next moment, two extremely frightened persons stood opposite each other.

"Celeborn!"

"Artanis!"

They both laughed with relief.

"I am sorry, I thought it was- I do not know whom I thought it was!"

Celeborn smiled. "It's okay. I was kind of frightened as well."

But I am still frightened, he thought. That you, Artanis, are going to marry my brother…

He had to find out whether his brother's proposal had been successful or not. But how? He could not just ask it, of course- but he had to know it!

"Will you join me on a little walk, Milady?" he then asked. He would try to find it out; he hoped that she would tell at least something to her nice almost-brother-in-law.

She smiled. "I would love to, Milord."

As they walked further and further into the gardens, Artanis told him some things about her youth in Aman.

"You know, Celeborn, I was a tomboy. A real tomboy. Do you know what my mother-name is?"

He shook his head.

"Nerwen. Man-maiden. It really fits me. Sometimes, I like that name more than I like "Artanis". Noble maiden. It means so little."

Celeborn nodded. "Yes. You know, Artanis, you should have another name. A nicer name. One that really fits you."

She smiled. "Have you got any ideas?"

And on that moment, Celeborn invented a name for her, a name that would once be one of the most well-known of Middle-Earth. She was not Artanis. She was not Nerwen. His Galadriel she was, Galadriel of the golden hairs and the white hands. Galadriel, the radiantly crowned maiden of the Noldor. Yet, he could not tell her. Maybe he would tell her later, if he knew that… He could not tell her.

So he shook his head. "No, I have not… And for that matter, giving an epessë is a privilege of family members or- of a lover."

He desperately tried not to blush. Still, he was sure he did. Of a lover…

But Artanis did not notice it. She stared at the ground and muttered

"Yes. Yes, maybe it is…"

"You can always ask my brother…"

She nodded again.

"Yes. Yes, maybe I can."

They walked on. Suddenly, she seemed to awake and she laughed.

"Well, I think I do need another name, for I do not like Artanis, and concerning Nerwen; I have not climbed in trees for years."

She laughed again her deep, melodious laugh. But suddenly, Celeborn smiled and took her hand.

"Climbed in trees? Artanis, come with me. I have something to show you…"

As he stopped in front of a very large tree, he smiled again as he pulled out of the branches- a ladder. A ladder made of rope, looking very fragile and thin, but Artanis knew it was hithlain rope- very, very strong indeed.

"What is this, Milord." she laughed. "Thou cannot expect a Lady like me to climb this ladder?"

But the next moment, she was halfway, and kept climbing and climbing.

"I haven't climbed a tree for years, Milord!'

He laughed.

"Still, you have certainly not forgotten how to do it!"

As the ladder ended, they arrived at a talan, a kind of tree-house, but without a roof. Still, it was nicely made. There even was cut out a hole in the tree-trunk, which could be used as a little cupboard!

Artanis gazed and gazed, and then laughed.

"Celeborn, this is wonderful! Have you made this on your own?"

Celeborn smiled and sat down.

"No, not entirely on my own. Galathil and I have made it when we were kids. But now, he has long forgotten it. It is my shelter, now. Nobody but me knows it still exists."

She smiled as she sat down next to him.

"Nobody but you- and me, now. Are we really the only two people who still know it?"

It was clear that she just wanted to know "Does Eleniel know about it?", but Celeborn totally missed the point.

"Well, I think so. I mean- Galathil does not remember it –his memory is as bad as a memory can be!- and… Who else knew of it? Oh, Eleniel. But- I think she too has forgotten it. If someone's memory is worse than Galathil's, it's Eleniel's!"

He laughed, and Artanis smiled vaguely.

"You know, Artanis- when all the excitement and fussiness of the palace becomes too much for me, I hide here. It's the perfect shelter."

"But now, there is someone who can always find you!" said Artanis.

"I do not care if you can always find me." said Celeborn.

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