When I came across that Celembrimbor and Galadriel scene in The Unfinished Tales it stuck to me like glue. I like how you potrayed it. Especially the part that Celebrimbor loves her wholly even that driving amition, her love of power, which Celeborn would not look at so pleasantly. Galadriel is quite capable of love, and she loves Celeborn. It is strange however that when Celebrimbor overthrows Galadriel, Celeborn remains with Celebrimbor in Eregion, so that neither of them have her at that point, and it Celebrimbor that sees her first after that to give her Nenya. I wonder how that meeting went. I loved the line there that said "they should have destroyed the rings then but they did not find the strength" sorry I am going back to the book, but I think your story shows how they both desire power very nicely. Also both Celebrimbor and Galadriel were friends with dwarves and liked metal work, both things that Celeborn seems to disdain. Another thing, I wonder what Celeborn thinks about Galadriel wearing his rival's ring? And that ring eventually tears Celeborn and Galadriel apart, since its influence over her, the sea longing, drives her to leave Middle earth, while Celeborn remains. Your comparison of Celeborn to Finarfin was quite good. They both don't seem to have strong wills and neither are power hungry.

Such an awesome story! I love the relationship between Galadriel and Celeborn, and the way you have written them is perfect. Thanks so much for writing, and I look forward to reading more from you! :)

nice story

I cried. Really. The characters are beautifully portrayed, and it is clear you respect them. I particularly am moved by how you handled the confusion, arrogance, and self-loathing of Celebrimbor simultaneously with his talent, commitment, and love. This one goes in my favorites category.

I don't know how I forgot to review this earlier ah well.

"Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained."

You've managed to capture the nobility of spirit in Elrond's description of the Makers of the Three at the Council with exactitude, along with the "great sorrow" that he speaks of as accompanying that goal.

Another "Elé!"

Oboe-Wan, you have such a gift... This was truly beautiful. Tolkien could only be pleased that his creation could inspire you to yours.

This is...wow, brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I don't have much to say, all of the other reviewers have said all I wanted to say. Reading your reviews (I'm weird, I know) I have to agree with Deborah, this fic does have Biblical resonances. And I agree, everything goes in three, it says in the Bible that one's sins will be held 'till or after (I forgot) three generations. Excellent story!

This is really quite brilliant. It's hard to know what to say. Celebrimbor really is a hero here, and dies to save his people. It seems like the destructive fire of the Feanorians really has been transformed into something else in the third generation. Hmmm...'why does everything come in threes?' Three Silmarils, three rings, three generations of Feanorian jewelsmiths. It's lovely - and unexpected - that Celeborn and Celebrimbor could have a reconciliation, and that no one really holds it against Celebrimbor that he was in love with Galadriel.

You do a good job with the ambiguity of the three rings here. Yes, they were part of the same destructive creativity that made the Silmarils - but they are also different, as their makers are different. Celebrimbor may be confused, but his heart is in the right place. So at the end, his fire can become light.

And I'm not sure how I feel about Celeborn becoming a warrior, and not minding killing orcs. It seems he's lost a lot.

The business about taking down Celebrimbor's body or not is powerful, and has almost Biblical resonances.

Great story, as always.

Just popping in again to say it's absolutely perfect now. Thank you!

This is great! You make these characters come alive like I've never seen before, especially Celebrimbor. His death was truly heart-rending. This is real tragedy of the classical kind.

Ring-lore is difficult, because Tolkien left it sufficiently vague to make several interpretations possible. Just in case you're interested, I paid some attention to it in my ongoing story Mortal Shores (sorry for the BSP).

This is the best Celebrimbor story I've read yet - you've managed to capture the tragedy of his life perfectly. And the complex relationship between him, Galadriel, and Celeborn is wonderful. The story is like Arda Marred itself - its beauty comes from its pain.

Oh, Julie...

This is so beautiful. You wrote them all so well, I cannot help feeling all choked up. Wonderful, exquisite, fantastic.

Writing about the end of a tragic hero is very difficult, but the way you do it here comes close to perfection. The way he reaches out to Galadriel... it makes me wish once more she could have loved him the way he loved her, yet in the end he transcends to a higher plan.

I was sorry to see that Celeborn lost his sensitivity when it came to killing orcs; in a way, it's a blessing, but a very mixed one.

Finally, I do hope Galadriel took off Nenya before Sauron could invade her mind with the help of the One.

I didn't feel like signing in.

God. I lost myself. I forgot I was readign a fanfic on a computer I was just...seeing it. The whole thing was good, but the details surounding Celeborn's thoughts at the end were breathtaking, I could see him crying, sympathize with him and it broke my heart to think that he no longer had an awersin to killing orcs.

Beautiful piece.

ouch..I've been wondering whether there will be a second chapter. Oh poor Celebrimbor, have you read Spartacus? There's a scene in there that reminiscents terribly of Celebrimbor's end. Sorry, went a little off topic there, I love this Celebrimbor, poor guy. Great story, I love all the complexities in the characters, each subtle layer, well done.