Celebrían

Celebrían is an Elven noblewoman, the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, wife of Elrond, and mother of Arwen, Elrohir and Elladan. She was Lady of Rivendell. Her name means "silver queen" in Sindarin.

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 S.A. 1350. She married Elrond in T.A. 109. She was born in Ost-in-Edhil sometime before 1091 Second Age. However, The History of Galadriel and Celeborn mentions her as early as 1350 S.A., but Tolkien considerably emended this manuscript, so this date may have been subject to change as Tolkien's mythos evolved.

After Sauron's invasion of Eregion in 1697 S.A., 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 1700 S.A., 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 (Imladris). Half-Noldor, half-Sindar, it was there that she wed Elrond, himself half-Elven (peredhel), in 109 Third Age. Together they begat three children, Arwen "Undómiel" Evenstar in 241 T.A., preceded by the twins Elladan and Elrohir in 130 T.A.

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 Amdir, and ruled the silvan Nandor-folk there.

In T.A. 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 fear and torment" she no longer wished to stay in Middle-earth, passing to the Grey Havens and over Sea in the following year.

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." . Thus it passed that after 500 long years, at the Haven of Alqualondë in Tol Eressëa, Elrond and Celebrían were finally reunited, sometime after 3021 Third Age (the Ringbearers sailing on September 29, 3021 TA). However, Elrond was then "sundered" forever from his beloved daughter, Arwen and his sons.

Björn Fromén has composed an evocative poem, Celebrían's Farewell to Elrond, Valinórenna; this is available at here.