Celeglin sees himself reflected in the mirrors depth. He is training in the use of the sword his uncle patiently teaching him the steps, their blades slowly moving as he tries to master the complex sequence. Then he is sitting alone, a sombre expression upon his face. As the image fades he wonders if he always looks so grim…

A woman stands, leaning against a marble pillar in the soft moonlight, she cries silently to herself. It can not be his mother, her eyes are blue and her hair is pale. Elemiriel? He wonders…What is wrong with her? But before long the image changes again:

A place he can only imagine to be Eregion is the next image, the holly trees are all that remains…it is desolate, except he sees a figure standing in-between the trees, he cannot tell who and then the same scene is darkened and filled with rushing movements of elves and foul folk alike. Celeglin sees the glint of blades in the moonlight sees fair warriors fall under cruel blades and blood seep from wounds. A woman stands in the gap between the trees, franticly scanning the battle grounds of what was once her home, a cloak draped across her pale nightgown; she stands out in the dark. Celeglin sees she is with child and suddenly realises: this is Mithlin, this is his mother. "Mother" the words escape his mouth in a gentle whisper. Before he can look any more the image has changed.

A figure he knows to be his uncle stands wiping his blade off in a doorway, the figure moves and Celeglin sees what he would call a reflection of himself if he did not know better. He sees his father. A bandage stained with red is wrapped tightly around his fathers arm and Celeglin sees that all the other elves around are injured in some way. They have been fighting harshly, a proud and noble seeming elf addresses them, it can only be Celebrimbor.

So this was the last stand…Celeglin thinks to himself as he steels himself for what he may see next. The small group huddled in the doorway suddenly rush forwards, Celeglin cannot draw his eyes away as they attempt to slash their way through the masses to leave. He notices Celebrimbor is not leading the group and he knows what is happening at the doorway…

His heart leaps in anticipation every time an enemy advances towards his father, knowing he could see death. Then he sees what his father did not; a blade coming from the side. Celeglin wants to scream a warning, anything, but he knows it will come to naught. He sees his father's body stiffen as the blade is thrust through him, and then there is bright sunlight in a corridor. Mithlin runs blindly down it…not another death! Celeglin tears his eyes away, unable to watch any more…

"Enough!" Celeglin cried as he pulled away from the mirror. Galadriel noticed his eyes were glassy with tears as he had been watching and she knew he had seen his parents. Celeglin hid his face in his hands, ashamed to be seen crying in such great company. Feeling the lady lay her hand on his shoulder he looked up at her "Do not be ashamed to cry, it is natural for one who has endured the sorrows you have."

Celeglin wiped his eyes and stood up, facing the Lady "Thank you for your words with me, for all you have done this night" he said, struggling to keep his voice level.

"I hope your mind is somewhat at some rest, Celeglin," the Lady replied with a small smile before walking away and leaving him standing alone in the clearing.

Taking a deep breath, Celeglin straightened up and eventually let his hand fall from the dagger at his side. He had finally seen them, after so many years of imagining he had a real image to hold inside his head.

Walking back to Elemiriel's family talan seemed a great struggle for Celeglin as all the images were rushing through his mind. Particularly the image of his father's death was in his mind…the jerking motion of his father's body in reaction to the sword thrust, the slow movement of the sword towards him, the look on his father's face…Celeglin desperately tried to block the images from his mind yet he knew he would carry it with him forever.


Apologies for irregular updates...times have been busy but this chapter is a personal favourite so please review and give as much feedback as possible : )