polutropos

Celeborn's Early Life and His Courtship of Artanis

• Celeborn, second son of Galadhon, was born on the Great Journey by the mouths of the Anduin near Greenwood (then a much larger forest).
• His mother was among those who forsook the journey with Lenwë before the crossing of the Misty Mountains. Celeborn followed his father and brother onwards, being kin of Elwë, but he never forgot the place of his birth where his family was divided. Regretting somewhat his choice, there was no question for Celeborn that he would remain in Beleriand after Elwë went missing.
• Celeborn’s father Prince Galadhon was Thingol’s chief counsellor. While his elder brother Galathil took to a private, woodland life after the First Battle with his wife and their daughter Nimloth, Celeborn followed in his father’s footsteps, gaining much respect and influence in the court of Doriath.
• He was sensitive to the needs and thoughts of others and had a gentle manner that put people at ease. For this reason, he often acted as an intermediary between Thingol and the Sindar outside Doriath who still called him King. Celeborn was highly respected among the Sindar, even those who dwelt in the north and did not acknowledge Thingol’s overlordship.
• He enjoyed spending time with his brother’s family and being an uncle to Nimloth (and she loved him dearly), but Celeborn had no strong desire to marry or start a family of his own. While he had a few lovers over the years, he was very private about his romantic life and never led his lovers to believe he was interested in marriage.
• With his approachable yet regal manner, grace, and handsome appearance, there was no shortage of people in Doriath and beyond its borders interested in marrying him. But he politely declined all such advances.
• This all changed when he went with Angrod, who had just visited Doriath for the first time, back to Lake Mithrim as an emissary of Doriath. There he set eyes on Artanis for the first time and was struck dumb by her formidable intelligence and beauty. Literally, he did not say a word to her the whole time he was there. (He did manage to learn some things about her from Angrod, who promptly broke his confidence and told Artanis about the massive crush the Prince of Doriath had on her; but Artanis’ heart at that time was still heavy with grief and her thoughts could not have been further from matters of romance and didn’t give Celeborn a second thought.)
• When, some years (decades) later, Celeborn heard that Artanis would be visiting Menegroth, he got his act together. He would at least talk to her this time.
• And he did! They had an enchanting couple of walks through the halls of Menegroth and in the surrounding forest, connecting over all sorts of matters of philosophy and politics, and found they shared the same witty sense of humour.
• But it was not to last…. For almost as soon as she’d arrived in Doriath, Artanis made a connection with Queen Melian, spending all her time walking in the forests or locked away in a distant chamber of Menegroth, studying some secret arts. Soon, it was an open secret that the sister of Finrod had become the Queen’s lover. Well, Celeborn couldn’t compete with Melian.
• When Artanis decided to dwell in Doriath for a time, Celeborn’s hope was renewed. Eventually, she stopped spending every waking moment with Melian. Celeborn would run into her in Menegroth’s library or in the gardens now and then, and they would talk for long hours and a friendship blossomed.
• When the truth about the kinslaying at Alqualondë came out, Artanis became quite isolated for a time. There were those in Menegroth who did not conceal their distrust of her and hatred of his kin, even if she remained in the good graces of Melian and Thingol. Celeborn often visited her during this time and was a great source of comfort.
• One day, Artanis confided to Celeborn that she had ended her physical relationship with the Queen. (At which Celeborn was astonished: she had ended it?) She had realised desire was interfering with her ability to enjoy the deeper emotional and intellectual aspects of the relationship. But she needed to take some time away from Menegroth to move on… so she was going to stay with her brother in the newly-completed Nargothrond for a time.
• So Celeborn was once again left longing for Artanis’ affection, having made no progress towards confessing this longing to her — even though it was plain to most of Menegroth by then that he was smitten. They kept up correspondence by letters in the time she was away.
• To Celeborn’s great relief, Artanis returned to dwell in Doriath after only a few years. Celeborn was terribly nervous about confessing his feelings for her, especially since he had grown to cherish their friendship and did not wish to lose it. But he would be a poor friend to continue to keep the truth from her: that he loved her.
• So, not long after she’d returned to Menegroth, he invited her to walk to the top of the hill under which the city’s caves were delved. The trees were thinner there and the stars could be clearly seen. He asked her about her time in Nargothrond, and Artanis shared with him how she’d found it odd to be among the Noldor again; she no longer felt she belonged among them, but less did she feel that she belonged among the Sindar, even though Doriath felt more like home to her than any other place she had lived.
• Now, Celeborn had only intended to confide his feelings to Artanis that night, but hearing this he was possessed with boldness and eagerness and told Artanis that, while she was already welcome among the Sindar, if she really wanted to feel she belonged she could marry him.
• Artanis laughed at this. And laughed, and laughed, while Celeborn blustered through dozens of apologies. But it was not malicious laughter. When she finally collected herself, Artanis simply took his hands in her and said, “I thought you’d never ask.”