A year before the time The Hobbit is supposed to take place, Elven-King Thranduil and his son Legolas as well as companions from Mirkwood come to Lothlóthrien. During their stay there, Thranduil and Legolas meet the youngest daughter of Lord Elrond...
Haldir waited along with a few other Elves, including Celeborn and Galadriel, in the glade in their Elvish city of the Galadrim for Legolas. He would leave that night for Mirkwood. The full moon shone through the leaves creating silver shadows on the forest floor, making the forest seemingly made of silver. A strong breeze blew through the branches, causing the shadows to flicker and dance. Haldir looked up from his musings. Galadriel and Celeborn stood together, much like they had done the night Thranduil and his company had arrived months ago. To Haldir, it seemed much longer. What was taking Legolas so long? He wondered. Then, Haldir noticed that Celebwen wasn't there either. His heart seemed to leap into his throat. He looked at Galadriel, who suddenly looked up, a stern and sad look on her face. Their eyes met. Then Galadriel turned toward some trees on Haldir's right. As if on cue, Legolas appeared, running into the glade. Haldir glared at him, but Legolas didn't notice.
Celeborn stepped down and said, "Legolas, son of Thranduil, the time has come when you must depart for your home. The Elves of Lothlórien give you one of the few steeds we own to speed you on your way." Legolas nodded. He mounted and with a nod from Galadriel, rode off in the silver twilight. Galadriel turned, and spoke to Haldir, "Nyara Celebwen tul - sinome." (Tell Celebwen to come here.) Haldir ran off.
Presently, he came upon Celebwen standing still, looking at the forest floor. He stopped. The moon shone through the leaves of the trees about her, shining down on her golden hair and silver circlet making them shimmer as if they were made of the same light as the moon. The light sparkled off her silver and emerald pendant. And she, like all the Eldar, appeared to glow with a radiance like the shining light of the moon. He gasped softly. He had never seen her like this, so beautiful. For Galadriel had never told him that since Celebwen was the Midnight Star, at night was when she would seem most like the Elves of the Elder days.
Celebwen, startled by some secret thought, looked up to find Haldir standing under one of the trees nearby, gazing at her. She smiled and he came closer. Then he remembered the reason he had been sent here. "Celebwen, Galadriel wishes to speak with you." Celebwen turned pale, but walked with him back to the glade.
Galadriel raised her eyes when they approached. "Celebwen, I am called to Imladris. I will leave soon. Do you wish to come with me?"
Celebwen was surprised, but answered, "Aye, my Lady. I would be quite pleased to go home after all this time." Haldir looked sideways at her. Was Celebwen going to leave?
Galadirel smiled, "You can always return, but I think you should come."
"I may love Lothlórien, but my heart for now rests in Imladris."
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A few days later, Celebwen sat under a tree reading a book. The sound of galloping hooves made her look up. The horse stopped a few feet away from her. The rider, clothed in lavendar, jumped down.
"Arwen!" Celebwen cried and embraced her sister.
"Have you been behaving well?" Arwen teased her younger sister. She released Celebwen from a tight hug and embraced Galadriel, who appeared on the scene. They walked off, talking quickly. Celebwen and Galadriel were to leave for Imladris that day, but Celebwen had not known her sister was coming.
"Celebwen," a familiar voice behind her said. She turned around.
"Haldir," Celebwen said, "I thought you were on guard today."
"I was," he admitted, "but my brother offered to guard in my place. I wished to say goodbye to you." Their conversation was interrupted by an Elf who took the horse away. No one else was in the clearing nor near it. "Celebwen," he began again. "You will be away for awhile, won't you?"
"Aye, I think so, mellon."
Haldir smiled and then placed something in Celebwen's palm. She peered curiously at it. It was a leaf of Lothlórien, one that was pinned on the grey cloaks of the Galadrim. She handed it back to Haldir who then pinned her cloak fast with it.
Galadriel entered and another Elf with two horses appeared. They mounted and Haldir called out in farewell to the both. Galadriel and Celebwen galloped off.
