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Unwritten Tales of Love and War in Middle-Earth - Page 6

© Michael Martinez

The Second Age proved to be a roller coaster ride for both the Eldar and the Edain. The Noldor established a mighty realm in Eregion which, after accomplishing great deeds, was destroyed. The Sindar founded many realms among the Silvan Elves in the east, but eventually only two of those realms survived the terrible wars with Sauron. The Edain founded Numenor, returned to Middle-earth, built an empire there, and then were largely seduced by evil and led to their own destruction. Every time that Elves and Men built up something great, Sauron succeeded in tearing it down. If evil was therefore more successful than good was during the Second Age, love, at least, had a chance to flourish. In so doing, the way was prepared for the conclusion of the long story in the Third Age. Sometimes love produced nothing lasting, however. For example, if we accept (as is indicated by "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn..." in Unfinished Tales) that Celebrimbor was, for some reason, in love with Galadriel, his preoccupation with the Rings of Power and her love for (and marriage to) Celeborn nullified the equity of the tragedy. That is, Celebrimbor's unrequited love achieved nothing dramatic. On the other hand, one consequence of Celebrimbor's folly was that (according to one version of events) Elrond met Celebrian in the refuge he founded in Imladris. Although Tolkien doesn't say much about Celebrian in the Second Age, she was apparently moving around the map. She joined her parents in Imladris after the War of the Elves and Sauron. So, why did it take so long for Elrond and Celebrian to get together? It would be almost 1850 years before Elrond married Celebrian. Presumably, motivation was not the problem. Celebrian came from "good" stock. That is, her female relatives were known for their beauty (Galadriel, Luthien, Earwen, Finduilas). Elrond was undoubtedly struck by Celebrian's beauty when he first met her. And the Eldar often knew early on whom they would marry, but Elrond and Celebrian had apparently been kept apart for many centuries. She must have been more than a thousand years old before she met Elrond. Was the long delay in their meeting instrumental in setting the pace of their relationship? Celebrian seems to have been a free spirit, of sorts. Why else move back and forth between Rivendell and Lothlorien during the Third Age? On the other hand, we are never told exactly what Celeborn's feelings toward Elrond were. Not that Celeborn should have hated Elrond, but Tolkien does present Celeborn as a bit haughty. Suppose Celeborn didn't feel Elrond was quite good enough for his daughter? Thingol initially felt the same way toward Beren. And when Elrond perceived Aragorn's love for Arwen, he deemed Arwen to be above Aragorn. But Elrond's love for Aragorn tempered his judgement. And perhaps something more: Elrond knew well the story of his own great-grandparents, Beren and Luthien. Perhaps in reaction to Celeborn's initial opposition to Elrond's suit for Celebrian, Elrond had a strong personal reason not to oppose Aragorn suit's directly.

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