Upon the day of deployment all the city was in a state of sorrow and
anxiety, for many remembered the pains of war from the elder days, the loss
of precious life. Many Noldor and Sindar alike, from Gondolin dressed in
their Noldorin attire, gilded and they bore the blue dress of Erenion
patterned with many stars, their helms glowed and shimmered in the sunlight
and their horses shone as white stars amidst all the people. And beside the
hall of Cirdan stood a house, decorated in dark wood, upon whose posts were
carved symbols of an ancient realm. Amidst all the Noldorin and sea-folk
architecture it stood out the most for it was made in the manner of the
woodland folk of Neldoreth who did not dwell in the trees or in caves. Upon
the lintel of the door was carved a sign that read "house of the Eledhrim"
and the oak door that was braced with bronze workings lay open to one
gilded in Nodorin armor, whose cloak was clasped with a black swan gilded
with mithril.
When he entered Alphindil saw his friend clutching his sword, speaking to it's thought, hearing it's song, something Alphindil had never learned how to do, nor did he wish to. He gave out a slight cough and recalled the attention of his friend. To his surprise Celebrin did not seem to take his being in armor well, he scoffed and then strided to the opposite side of the hall.
"I see you mean to leave to battle," he said, pouring some water for himself.
"You do not mean to tell me you did not think I would not follow my Lord for the defense of my land...and my friends. I know you would have me stay here and defend the ships with you, but I cannot, my place is with my people."
"Are we not your people too? Are not the Teleri your mother-kin?"
Alphindil was surprised to hear the anger come from his friend's mouth, something he had only witnessed once. He knew Celebrin would not march into battle under the banner of Erenion Gil-galad, he had too much pride for that, nor would he wear the armor of the Noldor. But he did not expect him to disapprove of him wearing the armor of his father-kin, or going beneath the banner of the High King.
"The Sindar are my mother-kin and always shall be, but I am Noldor also, adn owe my allegiance to Erenion Gil-galad. You would not begrudge me to set aside my oath to serve him...I would not ask the same of you."
"No I would not ask you to do that. But to come into this house wearing that..."
"You have lived among Noldor all these years, you said nothing, held no grudge, why now?"
"You know the reason why my heart burns when I see that armor, and those faces poised for battle. You know I would not dare touch such a thing, or ride beneath any banner of theirs even if it be Gil-galad's. I am not angry at you, for you were not there, their blood is not on your hands. I am fearful, that I will loose you."
"In these times such a thing is expected..."
"But I will not suffer to see my only friend, only as a corpse being brought back mutilated by the orc or troll in my last eye sight of him."
"You stay because of your wish, I go because of mine. You wish to remain here behind the walls..."
"Do you doubt my courage friend? Do you think I would rather stay here in the havens, while my Lord is out there, and all instinct tells me to go defend him who my family defended long ago. But to do that would mean marching under Noldor banner, and that I will not do."
"You are letting your pride diminish your wishes my friend. If the only way to your wish is to lay low your pride then is not that way best? You say you do not wish to be sundered from me, knowing I may die with no words between us, yet that is what your pride is doing now. Ride with me...and fear no more that we will be sundered by death unknown. If death take either of us it will be at one another's side."
"You ask me to do something that I cannot...not for pride or for love, I cannot march beneath the banner of a Noldor, I would disgrace my honor, if not to others then to myself."
"Then this fate is left to us... I will not leave you without being blessed by the only family I know...Would you begrudge me this last parting in peace?"
Celebrin looked into the eyes of his friend and knew then what he must do, though it bring him sorrow to do so.
"I told you many years ago, that I would not be parted from you... to that I hold true."
Alphindil knew only joy to hear that this was one parting he did not have to endure; not realizing the sorrowful eyes of his friend, he embraced him and laughed.
"I and my battalion leave at three hours to noon, meet me by the fountain where we ate dinner together last night."
And with that he left the House towards the stables to retrieve his friend's horse and his own. Celebrin left behind by his friend, swallowed the lump in his throat and saw the sword of his father Lin-gladaear, laying upon the bed, the sight of which only made the lump larger. In anger at his situation he yelled at it as if replying to a scolding,
"I did not bow down then, I shall not bow down now!," and with that he strided out of the room in haste.
When he entered Alphindil saw his friend clutching his sword, speaking to it's thought, hearing it's song, something Alphindil had never learned how to do, nor did he wish to. He gave out a slight cough and recalled the attention of his friend. To his surprise Celebrin did not seem to take his being in armor well, he scoffed and then strided to the opposite side of the hall.
"I see you mean to leave to battle," he said, pouring some water for himself.
"You do not mean to tell me you did not think I would not follow my Lord for the defense of my land...and my friends. I know you would have me stay here and defend the ships with you, but I cannot, my place is with my people."
"Are we not your people too? Are not the Teleri your mother-kin?"
Alphindil was surprised to hear the anger come from his friend's mouth, something he had only witnessed once. He knew Celebrin would not march into battle under the banner of Erenion Gil-galad, he had too much pride for that, nor would he wear the armor of the Noldor. But he did not expect him to disapprove of him wearing the armor of his father-kin, or going beneath the banner of the High King.
"The Sindar are my mother-kin and always shall be, but I am Noldor also, adn owe my allegiance to Erenion Gil-galad. You would not begrudge me to set aside my oath to serve him...I would not ask the same of you."
"No I would not ask you to do that. But to come into this house wearing that..."
"You have lived among Noldor all these years, you said nothing, held no grudge, why now?"
"You know the reason why my heart burns when I see that armor, and those faces poised for battle. You know I would not dare touch such a thing, or ride beneath any banner of theirs even if it be Gil-galad's. I am not angry at you, for you were not there, their blood is not on your hands. I am fearful, that I will loose you."
"In these times such a thing is expected..."
"But I will not suffer to see my only friend, only as a corpse being brought back mutilated by the orc or troll in my last eye sight of him."
"You stay because of your wish, I go because of mine. You wish to remain here behind the walls..."
"Do you doubt my courage friend? Do you think I would rather stay here in the havens, while my Lord is out there, and all instinct tells me to go defend him who my family defended long ago. But to do that would mean marching under Noldor banner, and that I will not do."
"You are letting your pride diminish your wishes my friend. If the only way to your wish is to lay low your pride then is not that way best? You say you do not wish to be sundered from me, knowing I may die with no words between us, yet that is what your pride is doing now. Ride with me...and fear no more that we will be sundered by death unknown. If death take either of us it will be at one another's side."
"You ask me to do something that I cannot...not for pride or for love, I cannot march beneath the banner of a Noldor, I would disgrace my honor, if not to others then to myself."
"Then this fate is left to us... I will not leave you without being blessed by the only family I know...Would you begrudge me this last parting in peace?"
Celebrin looked into the eyes of his friend and knew then what he must do, though it bring him sorrow to do so.
"I told you many years ago, that I would not be parted from you... to that I hold true."
Alphindil knew only joy to hear that this was one parting he did not have to endure; not realizing the sorrowful eyes of his friend, he embraced him and laughed.
"I and my battalion leave at three hours to noon, meet me by the fountain where we ate dinner together last night."
And with that he left the House towards the stables to retrieve his friend's horse and his own. Celebrin left behind by his friend, swallowed the lump in his throat and saw the sword of his father Lin-gladaear, laying upon the bed, the sight of which only made the lump larger. In anger at his situation he yelled at it as if replying to a scolding,
"I did not bow down then, I shall not bow down now!," and with that he strided out of the room in haste.