Celebrían (IPA: [keleˈbriːan]) was an Elven noblewoman, the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, wife of Elrond, and mother of Arwen, Elrohir and Elladan. She was a Lady of Lothlórien and a Lady of Rivendell.
Biography
Celebrían's birth date is unspecified, and she first appears (in the Unfinished Tales) as having gone with her mother from Eregion to Lórien around SA 1350. She married Elrond in TA 109. She was possibly born near Lake Nenuial between the years SA 350 and SA 400.[1] But as the entry in Unfinished Tales mentioned that this date wasn't definite, it is possible that her birth was in Ost-in-Edhil sometime before 1091 Second Age.[2] However, The History of Galadriel and Celeborn[3] mentions her as early as SA 1350, but Tolkien considerably amended this manuscript, so this date may have been subject to change as Tolkien's mythos evolved.
After Sauron's invasion of Eregion in SA 1697, Celebrían and her kin fled from Ost-in-Edhil through the mines of Moria, eventually reaching Lothlórien (then called Q. Laurelindórenan). It is uncertain as to whether or not Celebrían was present at the Founding of Rivendell, about SA 1700, but as her parents were, we can most likely conjecture that she was.
Sojourning with the Nandor in Lórien for many a year, Celebrían and her parents eventually travelled to Rivendell. Half-Noldor, half-Sindar, she there wed Elrond, himself Half-elven (peredhel), in TA 109. Together they begat three children, the twins Elladan and Elrohir in TA 130, and Arwen Undómiel Evenstar in TA 241.
Meanwhile (though this spans 2,000 years), Galadriel and Celeborn had returned to Lórien and set about rejuvenating the Wood Realm after the death of their king Amroth, and ruled the Silvan Nandor-folk there.
In TA 2509, on a trip from Rivendell to Lórien, she was waylaid by orcs in the Redhorn Pass of the Misty Mountains (Caradhras), captured and tormented, receiving a poisoned wound. Her sons rescued her and she was healed by Elrond, but after horrified and haunted by the fearful memories of her torture[4] she no longer wished to stay in Middle-earth, and passed to the Grey Havens and over the Sea in the following year.[1][2]
Etymology
Celebrían was a Sindarin name that means 'Silver queen'.[3]
Behind the scenes
Tolkien has said that "after the destruction of the Ruling Ring the Three Rings of the Eldar lost their virtue. Then Elrond prepared at last to depart from Middle-earth and follow Celebrían."[5] Thus it passed that after 500 long years, at the Haven of Avallonë in Tol Eressëa, Elrond and Celebrían were finally reunited, sometime after TA 3021 (the Ring-bearer sailing on September 29, 3021). However, Elrond was then "sundered" forever from his beloved daughter.[6]
Björn Fromén has composed an evocative poem, Celebrían's Farewell to Elrond, Valinórenna.
Template:House of Galadriel
References
- ↑ Unfinished Tales; 1982 Unwin/Hyman ed. ("UT")
- ↑ The Complete Tolkien Companion; Pan Books, 2002 (ISBN 0-330-41165-9)
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Middle-earth
- ↑ Unfinished Tales pg. 234
- ↑ First appearing in the Annals at that date.
- ↑ UT III:4
- ↑ PM 235-236
- ↑ PM 243
- ↑ Tyler, p. 195
External links
Celebrían at Tolkien Gateway- The Encylopedia of Arda
- Fromén, Björn, Valinórenna