The Bruinen flowed from the side of the mountain and broke in melodious chorus, and the small cottages of Imladris began to rise as full fledged homes in the forest, intermingling the styles of different lands. And the nightingales sang their soft song in the evening light, singing songs learned from birth, by Melian the Queen of a forgotten realm. The scents of Evermind and sage mingled in the night air, releasing all from the worries of the day, dressing wounds with their healing scents, healing hurts in their joyous keeping back. All who dwelt there forgot the worries and the cares of what lay beyond its borders, all save for the guards, and the soldiers that slept uneasy, waiting for battle to resume...waiting for Sauron to strike against them yet again.

Celebrin stood upon a balcony, watching the river flow silently, undisturbed, in the midst of the growing land. This was different for him, different from the city he was used to in Mithlond, different yet familiar, more Sindar, more to his liking. The stars were not covered here, and he rejoiced in that, he had a Lord again, and he- oddly enough- rejoiced in that as well. He gently touched the emblem of Celeborn and Galadriel that was fastened to his silver-gray armor, which lay on his bed. In his robe, Celebrin felt the release of the day's watch leave him, the armor was heavy, he had not worn armor in a long time, full armor that is. His bones and muscles grew tired of holding it up, yet as he marched along the river, guarding this land it became easier to do. His green robe felt soft on his form, yet for some reason he felt cold, lonely was the more appropriate term. Then a knock upon his door repulsed that feeling away when the sound of a friendly voice entered his room, uninvited yet not unwelcome,

"How did your day fare my friend, Captain of Celeborn the tall and Galadriel?"

The mocking manner of his words, only endeared their reunion as they embraced; Alphindil had been away, called by Elrond Peredhel, with the rest of the contingent from Mithlond. It struck Celebrin odd that his friend should not be in the gilded armor of Erenion Gil-galad, but in clothes fair and washed.

"That question should be asked of you Alphindil. I expected you to return when I did from my patrols, yet something kept you no doubt. What are the words from Elrond Peredhel?"

To this his friend gave a slight sigh and held firm his friend's arms,

"The contingent from Mithlond has been ordered to return to Lindon, across plains already crawling with orcs and some other evil malice, unknown to any. We leave tomorrow morn, behind the train of Elrond."

"Then our dreaded parting must be suffered at long last Alphindil. I will not say I am glad at this, for it is evil to my heart. But you must go. I have my Lord and you have yours to defend."

Celebrin who had known no other companion than Alphindil was roth to hear this news, because it meant a parting he did not wish for, but knew would always come. Like any Sindar of his kind, his heart grew cold in defense of this true yet harsh news...it showed in the coolness of his voice and the bitter tone of his words and in the ice-cold expression on his face. Rather than suffer true emotion he froze behind this dark exterior, one that only his friend could endure for long, yet the elf in front of him apparently was not in the mood to accomidate his friend's idiosyncricies. With a sigh and weary voice he responded to the other's cold demeanor with the fire he inherited from his Noldorin kin,

"Why are you cold to me at this hour? Not but a few minutes ago you were glad to be with me... you are angry."

"Yes, but not at you... never at you. Only my self for bringing this upon us."

"Celebrin, our paths were destined in this way, there is nothing you could have done to prevent it, there is nothing I would have done. Even beloved couples must part ways in times like these."

"They are bound in more ways than we will ever know Alphindil. Such paths and partings are bitter to bear when one has known no other but the friend's he has, and they must part ways to paths uncertain."

"...I am tired mellon nin, too tired to say my farewell here, knowing I must convince you that what I do is of my free-will. Will you see me off tomorrow morn?"

"I will."

And with that he left the room of Celebrin, half expecting those to be the last words between them. His thoughts ran rampant with angry and selfish words of how his friend always shied away from uncomfortable situations and was wary of trusting others, especially of the Noldor, unfairly he thought. Such a mind had left Celebrin with one confidant, himself, and in that Alphindil cursed himself and his persistance to become friends with the Sinda who grew too cold for any other.

In the following morning, the host from Imladris stood gilded in their armor, the archers cloaked in blue inlayed with stars, the cavalry in green, and the main army in scarlet cloaks, beneath which shone their shining armor. And behind them stood the host of Mithlond, arrayed in similar fashion, though they stood behind the banner of the Ered Luin, rather than under that of the Half-elf, and once again in the rear of the leaving garrison sat Alphindil of Gondolin upon his white steed, affectionately named Turgon, though it was mare. He turned his face towards the group of elves bidding them farewells and fair journeys, in a fool's hope that his friend would come riding from the stables in his light gear to ride with them and return to Mithlond. But it was not so, for Celebrin did not even come to bid him safe journey. As he crossed the ford upon the river Bruinen, his heart remembered that despite his longings for the woods, Celebrin had remained with him in Mithlond. Forgetting all ties to his fellow Sinda, and enduring life with the proud Noldor under the rule of Erenion, something that was indeed hard to endure for a Sindar of Doriath. He wished to seek out his friend at that point yet, it could not be so, for they would part the garrison into secret paths, and none could return to Imladris, without leave from Elrond who was far ahead.

Yet before him he saw a rider upon a white horse as well, in silver gray armor, bearing a banner that bore a silver tree beneath a sky of stars. And the person in armor spoke to him in a familiar voice,

"It seems I was assigned to bid the last farewell to the Lord Elrond from the White lady and the Silver Lord...Forgive me for missing your departure."

"All is forgiven Celebrin, if you will bid me farewell now."

With a smile upon his face and laughter in his voice Celebrin rode towards his friend and took a place beside him. As they rode Celebrin extended his fisted hand in offering to his friend and into the cupped hand he let fall a deep blue stone that was cracked and broken, yet somewhat mended with a dark binding, set on a silver chain of mithril. This gift was known to Alphindil and before he spoke to try and persuade his friend to not give him such a treasured thing Celebrin spoke,

"I give the elf-stone of my mother so that you may have part of me with you...and know that I expect you to return it when all this evil is over."

And they embraced before the path of the army split into paths unknown, and at the cross-roads they said their last farewells and the banner of the Silver Lord and the White Lady passed back into the road to Imladris. And the gilded army parted ways and continued their road to the West, to bring aid to the host of Erenion Gil-galad and hope for the enemies of Sauron the Deceiver.