Work Text:
Celebrían thought that it was entirely unfair that Elrond had given her his map. The hand drawn map was one of Elrond’s prized possessions and something that he swore that he would never part with (though, technically, now that they were getting married, he wasn’t about to be parted with it). Celebrían loved the map.
Now, her problem was trying to find a gift that would either match or exceed what she had been given. Her mother suggested a collection of books on mannish tales. Her father darkly suggested a healthy dose of sanity. Celebrían found neither of these suggestions to be helpful.
She spent several sleepless nights puzzling over what to give Elrond. Then she had the most wonderful idea. She informed her parents the next morning during breakfast.
“I am going to find Maglor!” Celebrían announced.
Her father promptly choked on his tea.
“Why-” Celeborn had to pause to hack tea from his lungs “- why do you want to find Maglor?”
“Why, to give him to Elrond, of course,” Celebrían rolled her eyes.
Celeborn looked very disturbed. Galadriel’s face was a mask of calm, but Celebrían could feel the worry seeping out of her mother.
“Brí, sweetie, even if you managed to find my cousin, he won't be stable,” Galadriel said cautiously.
Celebrían crossed her arms. She just knew that Elrond would love having Maglor back.
“I am going. Either you help me find him, or I’ll just go without your advice,” she said stubbornly.
It took Celebrían several hours of intermittent pleading to change her parent’s mind. In the end, Galadriel did agree to help. She consulted her mirror before telling Celebrían that her best guess was that Maglor was haunting the shores near the mouth of the river Isen.
Celeborn tried to send a squad of soldiers to guard his daughter, Celebrían emphatically turned him down. She felt pretty sure that the presence of armed elves would only drive Maglor away. Celeborn relented on the one condition that Haldir and four companions of his choice would discreetly tail Celebrían, just to ensure her safety. Celebrían wanted to argue against that as well, the look on her father’s face told her that this was not something he would bow from.
The trip itself was uneventful and dreary. This spring was particularly wet, as though the Valar were trying to wipe away the remains of the war that had occurred. The coast finally came into view.
It was there that Celebrían faced her next challenge: how to find Maglor. Her mother’s Foresight had been sparse in exact details. Celebrían wandered the area around the river delta. She found nothing. A further week of searching proved just as fruitless. Celebrían was beginning to wonder if she would be successful. After a further week of searching, Haldir approached her and advised that she would need to return soon as the food supplies were running low. Celebrían knew that he was right.
When they set out back for Lothlorien, they began their journey by riding along the banks of the Isen. The sandbanks and fens gave way to sparse forests. They were passing through a thin copse of trees when Celebrían heard something.
It was singing. Faint and scratchy, but singing nonetheless. After gesturing to Haldir and his men to stay where they were, Celebrían reigned her horse in and leapt off to follow the singing. It wasn’t difficult to follow.
Not far from the river bank, Celebrían found Maglor.
His face was much as Celebrían remembered it from the frantic day at the beach that he had rescued her. It was weathered and thin. The rest of him had changed much in comparison. His cloak was now gone, revealing the threadbear nature of the clothes underneath. His matted hair was singed at the end. Celebrían wasn’t sure that she wanted to know why. His gnarled hands were tenderly untangling a small bird from a trap. His soft singing was a clear attempt to keep the bird calm.
Celebrían crouched down in front of Maglor. He was too engrossed in his tending to the injured bird to notice her.
“Hello,” she said softly once the bird was free.
Maglor jerked violently. Cradling the bird to his chest, he hissed and bared his teeth.
“Woah. Easy. I’m not here to hurt you,” Celebrían paused, “Do you remember me?”
Maglor paused to actually look at her. His brow furrowed like a child that had yet to learn control over emotions.
“Artanis?” Maglor growled in confusion.
“No. Artanis is my mother. I’m Celebrían,” Celebrían said soothingly, “You rescued me and Elrond from an Orc many years ago, do you remember?”
Maglor perked up at the name ‘Elrond’.
“Elrond. Little Star,” Maglor’s eyes darted back up the wide riverbank, “Elrond. Little Star.”
“Elrond’s not here-” Celebrían started.
Maglor turned back to her with a growl.
“You hurt him? You hurt him!” Maglor’s hackles were raised.
With surprising tenderness, he set the little bird down safely behind him to free up his ability to use his hands.
“No, no, not at all. He’s back home, just fine,” Celebrían promised, holding her hands up in surrender.
Just like that, the fight left Maglor.
“Home…” Maglor whimpered, pulling at his hair, “Can’t go home. Maedhros says I did bad. Can’t see Little Star. Can’t go home.”
“Yes, you can,” Celebrían said gently, “Elrond misses you a lot.”
It took Maglor a moment to process what Celebrían said.
“Elrond misses me?” he sounded lost, “Why?”
“Because you’re his father,” Celebrían shrugged.
This comment made Maglor break down in tears. He scrubbed at his eyes as he dissolved into babbling Quenya. At least, Celebrían assumed that it was Quenya. She had never actually been taught much of her mother’s birth language. Celebrían let him incoherently talk to himself for several long minutes. Then she laid her hand on his shoulder. He jumped in fear.
“Come on,” Celebrían sighed, “Let’s at least get a decent meal into you.”
It took her almost an hour to coax him up towards where the horses were (Celebrían was thankful to see that Haldir and the other elves had drawn off to give them space). She threw together a quick meal of dried rations. Maglor sniffed it suspiciously before scarfing it down. Once they were done eating, Celebrían offered to see to Maglor’s injuries.
After glaring at her for a long while, Maglor hesitantly let her close to his withered hand. Celebrían didn’t need to have much medical experience to know that there was little she could do in the wilderness. Even still, she applied a salve and fresh bandages.
“Maglor,” Celebrían hummed as she finished up, “I would like you to come home with me.”
“Why?” Maglor whispered.
“Because Elrond misses you.”
Maglor gave her a scrutinizing glare, scrunching up his nose.
“No. Why?” He asked instantly.
Celebrían finished tying off the bandages. Maglor immediately tucked his injured hand to his chest.
“I….” Celebrían blushed, “Elrond gave me a wonderful gift for our engagement and I didn’t have anything. So I have decided that I can give you to him. If you’ll come, of course.”
“Slave?” Maglor drooped as he asked this.
“No! Valar no!” Celebrían shook her head.
“Thrall?” Maglor tired again.
“No! You’re his father,” Celebrían scolded, “I want him to have you back.”
Maglor nursed his hand and looked very lost. His eyes went out of focus. Celebrían let him sit there undisturbed. His shoulders hunched further and further down.
“Maitimo says I should trust you,” he finally mumbled, eyes still glazed over.
Celebrían took that as an agreement from him to come along.
It was no mean feat to get Maglor all the way to Lothlorien. Maglor spent most of the time widely swinging back and forth between complacently following Celebrían (and continually sniffling about meeting his doom) and frantically trying to escape (only to get herded back to Celebrían by Haldir and his riders). On occasion, Celebrían had to hobble Maglor to make sure that he stayed in camp. Either way, it took nearly twice the time that it had taken for Celebrían to ride to the coast.
Finally, Caras Galadhon came into view. Maglor’s ear twitched several times. He looked both irked and terrified.
“I don’t have it, ‘Tanis. Threw it away. Leave me alone,” he growled sullenly.
Celebrían sighed. Of course her mother would begin the interrogation before they had even set foot in the city.
Celebrían took hold of the reins to Maglor’s horse so that he would be slightly less inclined to bolt. They made their way to the private gardens reserved for the ruling family. Celebrían knew just where to find the most concealed back entrance. Leaving the horses outside, Celebrían pulled Maglor into the gardens.
Once inside, Maglor sank to his knees. The terror and irritation of before was replaced with utter amazement. He slowly crept over to the nearest flower bed. It was full of gladiolus flowers. He deeply inhaled their scent.
“Ammë,” he murmured, “Maitimo? Did you see that Ammë was planting here?”
Maglor stroked the flower closest to him. He continued to talk to long dead relatives about the vibrant flowers in front of him.
Once she was certain that Maglor wasn’t going to wander off, Celebrían went in search of her finacé. She couldn't wait to show him her surprise.
She was fairly certain that she had the best engagement gift ever.