The departure of Celebriel had thrown Imladris into an uproar. Thinking that she would attempt to return to Lorinand, Elrond had sent scouts to the south to apprehend her. His efforts had been in vain, for the search party had found nothing. Her horse had come back, minus saddle and bridle, but of her mistress, there was no sign.
Celebrian was torn between anger and worry. She had not expected that Celebriel would attempt such a thing and wondered if her sister could fend for herself in the wild. She had left with little besides her bow and arrows, a few clothes and some food.
Elrond tried to soothe her, "Glorfindel tells me she is well-trained to live in the wild, my lady, she had good teachers in Lorinand. She helped hunt game and cook on the trip north, I do not doubt that she can fend for herself.
Mithrandir arrived and discovered that Celebriel had taken flight. It did not surprise him, and he wondered why Elrond had not taken precautions to prevent her. Had he looked more closely, her unhappiness would not have been hard to see and perhaps a way could have been found to prevent this.
He, Elrond, Glorfindel, and Gildor Inglorian were sitting around a table in Elrond's study, debating what course of action they should take. No one seemed to be in agreement on what to do, so sure they had been that she would be apprehended on the way south.
"Have you sent any men north to see if she took refuge with Thranduil?" Mithrandir asked. "Perhaps if she suspected that you would pursue her if she headed south, she decided that the best course of action would be to seek refuge in the Greenwood."
"Would Thranduil give her shelter?" Gildor asked, "After all he has no ties to her, does he?"
"They are kin through her father Celeborn of Doriath," said Elrond, "I sent a messenger to him to tell him she was missing. I made a mistake, I did not suspect that she would travel to the north so sure was I that she would attempt to return to Lorinand. I concentrated my efforts in the wrong direction and now she has slipped through our fingers."
"Well, what is to be done?" asked Gildor, "We have found no trace of her to the south, it is if she has vanished."
"I can go to Thranduil and see if she is there," volunteered Glorfindel, "Keep in mind that if he has given her shelter we cannot force her to leave. She has reached the age of her majority and is free to make her own choices, as long as they are not rash ones. Perhaps she is lost in the wilderness, though I do not believe that that is the case. If she is there I will ask her to come back, but that is all I can do."
"Mithrandir, what do you think?" asked Elrond.
"I think Glorfindel's course of action is the best. She has known him since childhood, she may be more inclined to listen to him. If she decides she wishes to stay with Thranduil, I think we must honor her wishes. She will be less than amenable if we try to force her. Leave her to herself and I think she may decide to return—at some point."
"My wife would not be pleased to hear that, she is angry that I have let Celebriel slip through our fingers. She is also angry that Celebriel has acted so rashly and possibly put herself in harm's way. We had nothing but good intentions when we brought her here, but perhaps we should have taken into account that she would take matters into her own hands. Neither Celebrian nor I am truly surprised at this." Elrond sighed and pushed himself away from the table.
Thranduil had not yet given his word that he would give her shelter in the Greenwood, but Celebriel felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. For the first time since leaving Lorinand, she felt a sense of freedom.
The day after her arrival she had bathed and dressed in a green velvet dress Thranduil had given her. Legolas had given her a knowing smile when he saw her, and she could not help smiling back. Thranduil was kind to her and Legolas was friendly, and the informality of the elf-king's court was a welcome break from the Noldor in Imladris.
As he watched her Legolas thought it might not be so hard to comply with his father's wishes. If he agreed to marry Celebriel, it would certainly not be a marriage of love, but he believed he could genuinely like her. She had a ready smile and high spirits and had proven that she was tough and could take care of herself which had surprised him.
Who could not help but admire her, he thought? And the fact that she was heartbreakingly beautiful did not hurt. If he could persuade her to marry him, he was sure he would not regret it. She would be more than a wife, she would be an equal partner.
He was surprised that his father did not want her for himself, but Thranduil was wise and he no doubt was sure that she would find his son a more desirable match. He had placed no urgency on Legolas's accompanying his goal, though the sooner it was accomplished the better. His father was right, she must not feel that she was being coerced, or hurried. Trying to force her hand would do no good—she might decide to run back to Lorinand.
The elves had finished the evening meal, and the tables had been removed for the dancing that would follow. Legolas watched as she danced with first one partner, then another. The dances were similar, if not the same, as those in the Golden Wood and she knew the steps to all. Her unbound hair flew around her shoulders as she dipped and swirled, and presented a very appealing picture.
"Go dance with her," Thranduil whispered to him as the dance ended, and Legolas went and took the place of the elf she had been dancing with.
"May I?" he said to her and took her hands as the harp began to play. The dancers circled the room and Legolas spun her gently around, catching her eyes and smiling. She smiled back, seeming utterly at ease.
"Tell me, my lady," he said, "Are you happy here? Has my father made you feel welcome?"
"Yes," she answered, "Very much so. The Greenwood is beautiful and shows the signs of the coming spring. Alas, that I cannot be in Lorinand! Soon the mallorns will blossom as the first leaves of spring burst forth. I miss wandering beneath the golden bows, there is nothing so beautiful as Lorinand in springtime."
"But there are other types of beauty that may be found in other places," he replied to her, "Soon the woods here will be alive with wildflowers and the trees full of young green leaves. If you are still here," this he said carefully, not wanting to insinuate that would make her panic, "I will take you to the town of Dale in the spring. It is a beautiful place to pass the time in. I think you would like it."
"Perhaps, if I am still here," she said coyly, "I have only lately realized how small my world has been, and how little I have seen of it. I studied the maps in Elrond's house and have wondered if I might travel to places like the kingdom of Gondor someday." She shook her head and lowered her eyes, "I am wondering if it will be safe for too much longer, I heard talk of things that I hope do not come to pass although I fear they might."
"What do you mean?" he asked, concerned, he knew as well as his father did that there were rumors of evil things starting to stir in the north.
"Elrond fears that something might come from the Ered Lithuin, an evil or worse. The northern kingdoms of men have not been secure due to all the fighting amongst themselves. Something is telling me I should not stay away from Lorinand for too long, I think Amroth may need me."
"But for now you are safe here," Legolas assured her, "We are well guarded here, and it will be hard for any enemy to find its way here."
"That's what my kin in Beleriand thought and now all the great elf kingdoms are gone. Sauron was able to fool and deceive Celebrimbor, and now Eregion is no more. Lorinand is isolated and vulnerable, who knows what threats might await my beloved land? I will tarry here for a while if your father allows it, but I know I will be needed there someday, it is only a matter of time."
"Then why not stay here where you are safe?" said Legolas and bowed to her as the dance finished and left.
He rejoined his father as he sat on his throne in front of the fire. He took a glass of wine from a servant and stared pensively at the flames.
"Well?" said Thranduil, "What did you learn?"
"She will never stay here, she is determined to return to Lorinand," Legolas replied, "And I do not think anyone can persuade her differently."
"Then you must try harder," Thranduil told him, "I am determined to have her stay here. She does not wish to return to Lorinand yet, so you have time. Do your best, convince her that it is in her best interest to remain here. Imladris will be looking for her, make her see that she can find refuge here. If she leaves, she will be forced to return to Elrond and it is clear that that is not what she wants. The longer she stays, the easier it will be to convince her to remain."
Glorfindel tightened the cinch of Asfaloth's saddle. At first, hopeful that he would succeed, now he was doubting the wisdom of his mission. If Thranduil was allowing Celebriel refuge in the Greenwood, there would be no hope of budging her. All along she had said that she intended to leave Imladris and it looked like she had made good on her word.
The four elves that Elrond was sending with him rode up and joined him. Though few from Elrond's house made the trip to the Greenwood, the way was well established with the only true difficulty of the trip going through the High Pass, which was kept open, save in winter.
"What am I going to say to her?" he asked himself, again, "Come home to the place where you are so unhappy? Come home, knowing you will only leave again?" They had all been so sure that they could convince her to remain, knowing full well they were depriving her of a life that suited her in a place she loved so well. True, she had adapted herself to the lifestyle of the Silvan elves which had alarmed her parents and the rest of the Noldor. She was, after all, high born and of the kindred of Finwe.
Elrond came to him, bearing a packet that was to be given to Thranduil. "Why are you so glum, my friend?" he asked, "Surely this will be a pleasant trip."
"A pointless one, old friend," he replied, "We should have left her in Lorinand, at least now in the Greenwood she will be well protected—if she is indeed there."
"She is," said Elrond, "I have had word. I do not expect her to be convinced to come home, but at least we will know that she is well. I think it will be to her benefit to be away for a while. The Lord and Lady are thinking about coming to Imladris if that is the case she may be more willing to return in the future. And yes, we made a mistake bringing her here, but it was with good intentions. Maybe fate is playing itself out and things are exactly as they were meant to be."
"Perhaps," answered Glorfindel, more curtly than he intended. As he and his company began to ride out he rehearsed the words he planned to say to her: "Celebriel, I have come to take you home."