The elfling's feet carry her quickly over the grass – far more quickly than she should be going, as she has been told many times – and she wears a smile as she goes. Sunlight falls between the leaves in the ceiling of tree branches overhead, making her blue eyes squint and brightening her silver hair almost to white.
She has been distracted in her journey and one fist is wrapped around the evidence, the stems of the white blossoms she has collected. Then she remembers, and finds her way eagerly again.
The first time when her mother sat alone for a very long time, and did not speak to anyone, her father told her not to worry. He said there are times when naneth needs to think, and when she finds her way through she will be right again. Then Celebrían began to worry, and she told her father she wished to make her cheerful. This had made him smile. And then he had told her he would think of something to do, and this had made her not worry so much.
She is out of breath when she arrives, but does not mind. Her mother sits very still. It appears that she is watching something, but Celebrían does not see anything there. It means she is lost in thought. When she runs up, her mother turns. It takes a moment before her face becomes calmer, and she smiles.
"You've found me, then," says the golden-haired lady.
The girl nods, pleased. "Were you hiding?"
Her mother shakes her head. "Nay, I was thinking."
Galadriel extends her arms and Celebrían tucks herself into her mother's lap as she gathers her up. Now all seems content.
"What are you thinking about?"
The lady sighs gently. "People. Ones who are dear to me."
"Me and ada?"
This makes her mother's smile widen. "And also others."
"Others here?"
She shakes her head. "Across the great Sea. In the place where I lived before I was here."
Celebrían has heard her speak of the Sea. "They are far away there."
"Indeed." Her mother nods. "And I wish always to remember them."
She gently pushes harmlessly untidy strands of long hair out of her daughter's eyes, the result of playful wind and a playful afternoon. Then she chuckles suddenly as she understands.
"Did your father send you here, then?"
Celebrían nods, eyes bright. "He said company would make you cheerful."
She hears her mother laugh then, a sound that she always likes to hear. The lines that had creased her forehead are gone now. This is a good sign, the girl decides.
Galadriel then notices what her daughter had gathered on her way. She brushes her fingertip over the pale petals, which still cling hopefully to their fist-worn stems.
"These are lovely ones you have found today."
Celebrían looks down at them. She had forgotten them, but now remembers why she had brought them. Her blue eyes brighten as she extends the flowers to her mother's hand.
Galadriel's smile widens. "For me, then?"
The elfling nods. "You like these ones."
"I do, very much." The Lady accepts them in her palm, and kisses the top of her daughter's head. "Thank you, sell-nín."
This delights the elfling. "Do you need to think more?" She begins to wonder, now that her task is done.
Galadriel considers this, then decides. "I think I may have done enough for one day." Heavier thoughts are pushed aside. "Now I have company that is more important."
She squeezes her arms tight around her daughter. The elfling giggles, muffled against her mother's robes. The afternoon sun is still fair. Her task has been successful, and she is happy.