Part I

Chapter 1: Careful Correspondence
Lothlórien
Third Age 108

Lord Celeborn lifted his eyes from the parchment at the knock on his door. "Come," he called. The door opened and in peered the face of the lady he had been expecting.

"Uncle." Upon entering Caladhel bowed in greeting to her elder. "You sent for me?"

Celeborn rose to his feet to greet his sister's child, holding out his hands to her. "Yes, please come in. I thought you might appreciate a reprieve. I know how much you enjoy embroidery." He shot her a knowing grin.

Caladhel was warmed by her uncle's thoughtful rescue. "I swear, if I have to stitch one more flower onto your daughter's wedding gown, my fingers will fall off!"

Celeborn chuckled at the expression that graced her face and the finger she held aloft. He took her hand in his and examined the offending finger. It did look a little worse for wear. He laid a kiss upon the callus forming on the tip. "My poor child. I believe I have a task better suited to you."

"Oh?" Caladhel could not hope to hide the eagerness in her voice. She did deplore needlework. Normally she would have her Aunt Galadriel's staunch support in the matter, but for the love of her daughter and the joy in her eyes Galadriel sat beside Celebrían for long hours, putting personal touches on her daughter's wedding garments. It was only by the grace of her uncle's summons that Caladhel was set free.

Celeborn took Caladhel's arm in his and led her out upon his private walkway where they wandered leisurely beneath the stars. "I have need of a messenger to deliver word of Celebrían's marriage to the Greenwood."

Celeborn's request was a surprise to Caladhel and that emotion registered clearly on her face. She had acted as envoy for her uncle before on business to Imladris and Lindon – as well as a few times to the kingdom of men in the north – but to send her as a messenger? Surely there were others who could deliver a simple wedding invitation? Caladhel did not mind sacrificing the sewing party for a month's freedom abroad if her uncle requested it, but it was, to her mind, an odd request.

"Can one of the wardens not deliver an announcement to King Thranduil? There are those among them who journey to Greenwood often enough. Haldir or Nessimon?"

Celeborn shook his head and a frown graced his face. "I think it best this particular announcement be delivered by a member of my house, not a courier."

Caladhel looked up to study her uncle's expression. She read his unease clearly enough, for it was written on his face. She wondered at its cause. Surely, her uncle had not promised his daughter's hand to the Sindarin king? Caladhel herself had never met this distant relation of theirs who ruled in the east, but between what she had heard of him and what she knew of Elrond, Caladhel would choose the peredhel Lord for Celebrían a thousand times over.

"Do you believe Thranduil will be angered that you give your daughter's hand to the Half-elven?"

It was the very question that caused Celeborn to rethink sending one of the wardens in favor of his niece. There were many who had been displeased by Celebrían's choice in husband and with Celeborn's decision to support it.

"I cannot say. Thranduil was inscrutable even as a child and with the passing of ages becomes ever more so. I will say he never showed interest in Celebrían during their past encounters. If anything, he seemed to find her lighthearted nature distasteful. That, however, was before his father fell and Thranduil crowned king. His counselors will now pressure him to marry and secure an heir for their realm."

What Celeborn did not share with Caladhel was his relief that his daughter would no longer be named a possible match for the King of Greenwood. For though he had reservations about Elrond's worthiness, he knew without question the Peredhel's heart belonged to his daughter utterly and his love for her shone in every glance he cast her way. Thranduil, in contrast, was far too cold and reserved to be a proper match for his daughter. And while Celeborn feared joining with Elrond might diminish his daughter's light, he was certain Thranduil's spirit would quash it entirely.

Caladhel easily divined from her uncle's words what it was he hoped for her to accomplish. "So then, you do not simply wish for me to deliver the news, but also to judge his and his counselors reactions to it?"

Celeborn smiled down at her and nodded. He had long ago grown accustomed to how quickly his niece saw to the heart of matters. It was why he chose her for more delicate assignments when he could, for she knew instinctively how best to approach difficult situations. This was never so much the case as it was when he sent her into the kingdoms of men. Caladhel was always able to draw more knowledge from the councils than the lords accompanying her. For where at times men would hold their tongues in the presence of an elven lord, they were not always so careful before Caladhel. She once brought Celeborn news of an entire conversation a group of counselors had before her in the old language of Numenor, believing she would not understand them. She had gleaned much from it, and all the while pretending to work her embroidery. It amused Celeborn greatly to think that the only time his niece did needlework was when she was acting as his spy.

Celeborn only hoped that Caladhel would not divine the other reason he sent her, for her anger could be as terrible as Galadriel's when sparked. Celeborn hoped the presence of Caladhel at Thranduil's court would be a reminder to the King's counselors that there were other noble ladies of Lórien with whom they might form marriage alliances, ladies with temperaments that were, perhaps, a better match for their king. Celeborn would not divulge these thoughts to his niece, but he was not fool enough to imagine she would remain blind to this particular motive for long. Caladhel, herself, would know that he would never pressure her to marry any lord against her will, but she might still resent being used as a distraction.

They had wandered as far as the steps leading down to Celebrían's quarters when Celeborn took both Caladhel's hands in his so that he faced her. "You will take on this task for me, then?"

"Of course, Uncle," she answered. "When do you wish me to depart?"

Celeborn believed the sooner the task was done, the better. "I will write the proper letters tonight and have Haldir assign you an escort. You may leave on the morrow."

"I will be ready at dawn." Caladhel rose on tiptoe and placed a kiss on her uncle's cheek. "I will have to break the news to Celebrían." She bowed her head and turning, took off down the stair to find her cousin.

Celeborn watched her go, hoping he had made the right decision. He turned back along the path toward his study to write letters to Thranduil and his counselors. It was going to be a long night.


A/N: In my genealogy, Thranduil and Celebrían/Caladhel are 3rd cousins. The girls are great-granddaughters of Thingol's brother Elmo and I gave Thingol an unnamed sister who is Thranduil's great-grandmother. That relationship would justify Oropher feeling he had the cred to start his own Sindarin kingdom in Greenwood and since Tolkien was so fond of leaving out all the 'unimportant' women in his stories (at least he gave Fëanor's half-sisters names, even if they aren't in The Silmarillion) I feel justified giving Thingol a sister, too. Also, the LACE states that elves did not marry 1st cousins, unless they were children of half-siblings so 3rd cousins is no problem. Elrond and Celebrían are 3rd cousins once removed in the same family tree.