Chapter Six: Nevermore

Niphredil the Green stood on a cliff overlooking the valley of Imladris. She leaned on her staff to keep her balance in the raging wind. Storm clouds gathered in the sky. Her hair was blown back by the wind, as was her heavy cloak. She held her hat in place with her left hand. Alone, dwarfed and glorified at the same time by the majestic weather and a landscape where all sizes smaller than that of the mountains were so insignificant that the differences and distances were dimmed. One couldn't say if the wizard was tall as an elf or small as a hobbit. Even her face, serious, lost in thought, was ageless.

Celeborn stared at her. They had met many times, and he had thought by now he knew all of the young wizard's surprises. Yet he saw now a new facet of the jewel that was Niphredil's half-mortal soul. He climbed up the path, feeling the wind as he stepped into the open, wondering if Niphredil held herself in place by magic or by strength and will alone – both she had aplenty.

'Hail, Sereg Anarien, Istar Galen!' He greeted her. The woman didn't move. She spoke:

'Hail, lord of Imladris, who once reigned in Lóthlorien.'

'Once and no more.' Celeborn's features were cast in shadow.

'Nevermore. I was expecting you. You will be happy to know that I personally delivered the message you gave me into the hands of Samwise Gamgee, who will soon sail West unless he already has.' Niphredil told him.

'I thank you.' Celeborn sounded relieved.

Now Niphredil turned to face him. Celeborn saw tears in her eyes.

'Why do you cry, my friend? It is I who have been separated from my wife. Did you, perhaps, send a letter to your father? Is it a pain to see his companions age, those who were younger than Frodo?'

'No. I have said my farewells, and I do not regret my choice any more than you regret yours. It was another sorrow that a visit to Bag End reminded me of. You see, Samwise's heir is his son, one Frodo Gardner. He has a wife and nine children. It was close, very close, that I would have become his wife. I saw in time it was not my path. I have chosen to fly against the wind. I have chosen to bring to this age a power of the past. The price is loneliness.' Niphredil faced the wind, allowing it to blow the tears away.

'It need not be.' Celeborn's voice was quiet, yet firm.

'What do you mean, my lord?' Niphredil turned to face him.

'Well, certainly the Istari of old were lonely men. But you are not bound by the oaths of their order. You serve all life, but by your own choice. You were not sent from the West – quite the contrary.' Celeborn pointed out.

'I was banished.' Niphredil looked away again.

'Well, you're not the only one who was. The Noldor would understand.' Celeborn persisted, stepping closer.

Niphredil laughed.

'My treachery, though great, was much more down-to-earth than theirs. I'm a down-to-earth person, really, lord Celeborn. I may walk in Mithrandir's footsteps, but I am Radagast's apprentice. I've become what I am by choice. I am alone by choice. You of all people should understand.'

'I see. But I am not parted from Galadriel forever. You once had an understanding with Legolas, son of Thranduil. What happened?' Celeborn's eyes twinkled with youthful curiousity.

'Life happened. He deserves better than me.' Niphredil fingered her staff nervously.

'Few elves marry at all, these times. I had hoped he might…'

'Find happiness with a half-mortal crazy little hobbit woman who also happens to be the last living wizard? Why would anyone hope such a thing?' Niphredil looked at him quizzically.

'Ask your companions. Their bloods are mixed and will be mixed further, if what I've glimpsed comes to pass. And this will eventually be a blessing to all the races involved. Assuming, of course, that a race like your mother's has need of blessings, being more likely to bestow them than benefit from them.' Celeborn looked at the landscape beneath them.

'I will bear in mind your advice. Lord Celeborn, have you spoken to Legolas recently, by any chance?' Niphredil asked, and Celeborn could tell by her voice that it cost her a lot of pride to ask about Legolas.

'Indeed I have. He spoke of your quest, and the prophecy. And he told me you would most likely pass this way, and asked me to relay a message.'

'Making the lord of Rivendell his messenger, is he now?' Niphredil smiled, joking, for she knew Legolas was anything but proud.

'He did not foresee you would not enter Rivendell. The message was simply that you may count on the assistance of his people once you enter the Greenwood, and that lady Neldoren wishes to see her son.'

'So he did not, for example, ask you to discuss my loneliness and my choices?' Niphredil teased Celeborn.

'No. That I did on my own volition. It seems to me he has come to accept the situation. There is one other matter, however, that I would like to discuss. On behalf of myself and the lords Elladan and Elrohír.'

'I am listening.'

'It seems a hasty decision has been made, and perhaps ought to be unmade. I have come to invite you and both your companions to Rivendell.'

'Then let us go to them.' Niphredil was proud, but not so stubborn she would refuse the hospitality of Imladris.

They found Neldohír and Narannon some way up the hill, practicing with their weapons. They were evenly matched and quite skillful by now. Neldohír was very deliberate with his strokes, and it seemed Narannon could not foil him though he tried – perhaps it was the Ent blood that made him consider where a human would be hasty, or perhaps some elven instinct.

'We have a visitor,' Niphredil announced. Both lowered their blades at once at the sound of her voice, and Neldohír managed a clumsy bow.

'My lord Celeborn.'

'Prince Neldohír.' The elf-lord nodded his head in aknowledgement.

Narannon just stood and stared. Celeborn spoke to him:

'Narannon Peradan, I have come to offer you my apology and an invitation to join your companions in Rivendell. Our hospitality is yours.'

'I accept the invitation, and the apology, most gratefully, my lord.'

And Narannon, the half-orc, bowed deep to the elven lord, as graceful as any courtier.

Lord Celeborn departed alone as he had come, and the three companions packed their belongings, tidied the place they had camped in so that no trace remained of their stay, and entered Rivendell some hours later. This time they were welcomed at once, for Celeborn had informed all his subjects of the arrival of the Istar Galen and her friends, and warned them very sternly not to comment on Narannon's appearance.

The company was glad to be united at last, and Elena especially had missed Niphredil. The remainder of their stay was enjoyable but uneventful, and when they departed to cross the mountains they were well provided for by the three lords.