Drabble: True Silver

[martal0712.livejournal.com]

Title: True Silver

Chapter: not applicable (single drabble)

Author: Marta (melayton@gmail.com)

Rating: G

Warnings: heterosexual relationship (Celeborn/Galadriel) but not sexual

Genre: Romance

Summary: Celeborn's first impressions of Galadriel in Doriath

Author's Introduction: Hey guys. I do not usually write fic set exclusively in the times of the Silmarillion, though that backhistory often plays a part in my stories. So setting a whole story, even a drabble, in the First Age is new territory to me. I'm mainly interested in canonical stories. Is there anything here that contradicts what Tolkien wrote? Also, I'm interested in technical things. How would you improve this piece? (Keep in mind that it's exactly 100 words for a reason.)

Related Links: At my LJ, http://www.livejournal.com/users/martal0712/ . Will soon be at my personal site, http://www.freewebs.com/aure/





True Silver
I remember our first meeting, Artanis. You rivaled even Melian's beauty! It seemed the One had captured Elbereth's fires in your radiant garland. But then I saw the jewel-studded mithril clasp, and I scowled. Cold metal should not constrain hair that longs to dance in the evening breeze.

Months later, you threw the band aside and asked for a lock of my hair with which to bind your braid. You would leave delved and forged rocks to the Naugrim, and adorn yourself with beauty worth having. That made me smile. Perhaps you are not so like your kin after all.

*****
Note: According to the index of the Silmarillion, the name Galadriel means "maiden crowned with a radiant garland".

Comments

[nelyo.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, there is nothing here contradicting Tolkien's; it is not stated when they met the first time -- and I *must* to congratulate you for the 100-words drabble! I have written a few and it is really hard (at least to me, but I'm not english native, as you'll notice).

Now on business: I liked it a huge lot, and believe me, I'm no fan of C&G, nor to flatter. But I loved how did you portray him and, on the other hand, it made me think in the Two Trees, since Galadriel and Celeborn's hairs would be like Laurelin and Telperion shining in Doriath =)

[martal0712.livejournal.com]

Hi Nelyo,

Thank you for your lovely feedback.

As far as I know, there is nothing here contradicting Tolkien's

Good! I like to read and write stories that are extnesions of the book (or movies, where appropriate), so I try to make them as canon-compliant as I can.

I *must* to congratulate you for the 100-words drabble! I have written a few and it is really hard (at least to me, but I'm not english native, as you'll notice).

I commend you on your English. It's very good! Much smoother than I would be in my second language.

Drabbles are like any other art form. They're not so hard if you choose the right kind of subject. The real trick is finding a story that can reasonably be told in 100 words.

I liked it a lot, and believe me, I'm no fan of C&G, nor to flatter.

*blush* Thanks!

it made me think of the Two Trees, since Galadriel and Celeborn's hairs would be like Laurelin and Telperion shining in Doriath

Excellent way to put it. I actually thought of Galadriel's hair that way, but I couldn't have Celeborn have that thought since he never would have seen the trees (as I'm writing him as a Sinda, I mean.) So I settled for the next best thing: the stars that all those elves seem to love so much.

Thanks for all your feedback. I'm glad you like it.

Marta

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Hi Marta. I always like a good drabble. I think this is lovely. You've managed, with very few words, to create a feeling of love and a sense of the depth of this relationship.

A small query. Celeborn refers to her as Artanis. Well, she was Noldor to her fingertips, but don't you think he'd have called her by her Sindarin name, Galadriel, which he would have been in the habit of using and which he possibly gave to her?

Kei

[martal0712.livejournal.com]

Hi Kei,

I think this is lovely.

Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

A small query. Celeborn refers to her as Artanis.

I went back and forth on this issue. When I put in Galadriel it felt so common, that the name lost all significance. Perhaps that's because I'm seeing her through the lens of a primarily LOTR reader, where everyone called her that. So I compromised and had Cel call her Artanis (which would have been the name they were introduced using, I think? Cel later names her Galadriel, IIRC) while hinting at the meaning of Galadriel in her description by using the phrase "radiant garland".

I will have to ponder. Interesting thoughts.

Marta

[nelyo.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, Marta; this is their first meeting and they should have been introduced "formally", using her father-name, Artanis; if we assume (I did it, at least) that the meeting is set before Thingol knew of Alqualondë's kinslaying (and it took him a few years to hear of it), quenya's use was not banned, still, from Doriath. And, OTOH, I guess it took the sindar a while, too, to translate the noldorin names into their tongue, it couldn't be so easy as this, for example: "Ah, hold, your name is 'Angaráto', huh, I will name you 'Angrod', ok?, for I cannot spell your name correctly" :)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

As this is written in the past tense, I read it as Celeborn reminiscing on their first meeting and the growth of their relationship. I thought that he would be more likely to think of her as 'Galadriel' than by a name he probably wouldn't have used for years, centuries, possibly Ages.

TRUE SILVER

[digdigil.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I'm the best one to comment on a drabble, because I've never written one, having been cursed with the 'long-windedness gene', but I like the theme of silver running through this; how it appears in the title, how it is described in both Galadriel's hair and the metal clasp that she wears to hold it.

Celeborn's obvious love for her is touching; and then the insight he has into her character at the finish makes for a nice little surprise ending.

I do have a particular interest in Galadriel, and featured her prominently in my story. It was fun to try to develop her character beyond what Tolkien had written. I do believe he left her quite unfinished. Celeborn is someone whom I have not written about yet.

Have you written anything else about this couple?

Re: TRUE SILVER

[martal0712.livejournal.com]

Hi Digdigil,

I am really, truly sorry it has taken me so long to reply to this. RL had been hectic, to say the least.

I don't know if I'm the best one to comment on a drabble, because I've never written one, having been cursed with the 'long-windedness gene',

I think that puts you in a unique position. If it works for you, I consider that an achievement.

Celeborn's obvious love for her is touching; and then the insight he has into her character at the finish makes for a nice little surprise ending.

Thank you. I tried to capture that without reducing to sentimentalism. i tend to go with the idea that Celeborn was a Sinda, and that to me means practical not particularly romantic. (Which is weird, given Thingol's head-over-heals love for Melian. I suppose my reading is based more on the portrayal of Celeborn and Thranduil in TH and LOTR than anything.

I do have a particular interest in Galadriel, and featured her prominently in my story. It was fun to try to develop her character beyond what Tolkien had written. I do believe he left her quite unfinished. Celeborn is someone whom I have not written about yet.

Interesting. My interest is opposite. Celeborn fascinates me, and Galadriel is nowhere near as interesting, though I do enjoy her.

Actually, I'm reading C. Tolkien's essay on C&G's backstory in the UT, and I'm thinking about writing an essay looking at what exactly Galadriel's rebellion was.

Have you written anything else about this couple?

A few things:

1. The Soul of a Sinda. A double drabble, two hundred words: http://www.freewebs.com/aure/soulofasinda.htm . This one is actually about Celeborn observing Arwen after the Ring War. No Galadriel.

2. Three for the Elven-lords. A true drabble: http://www.freewebs.com/aure/threefortheelvenlord.htm . Galadriel accepts her ring, Celeborn's POV.

3. Sam's Gift. http://www.freewebs.com/aure/samsgift.htm This time it's just Galadriel and, of all people, Sam. A gap-filler set around the scenes involving the Mirror and the Fellowship's departure from Lothlorien.

And I plan to write more!

Marta

Re: TRUE SILVER

[digdigil.livejournal.com]

Sorry to be so long getting back to YOU now. I forgot which day your posting was on, and couldn't find it until I approached Dawn Felagund for help! I just wanted to thank you for your reply to my comments and questions, and also for the links to your other writings. I am extremely interested in Celeborn and Galadriel, and wanted to read what other authors had written about them.

Thanks again,

Jenni.