Celebrimbor: 30-Day Character Study by cloudyhymns

Day 12: Down Memory Lane, Part Two

Four of Celebrimbor's rites-of-passage and many smaller moments.

Rites of passage are, for Celebrimbor, less clearly defined than they would be for others. While it's unclear how old he was when he left for Middle-Earth, there is little doubt that the bulk of the First and Second Ages were unpredictable and violent--unsurprisingly, Tolkien does not indicate that Celebrimbor ever married or raised a child, as Elves (with admittedly a few exceptions) did so in times of peace. Likewise, we don't hear much about the little things, and hear much more about the big ones--but don't worry, we'll get to them! That just means I get to be a bit creative.

Celebrimbor's rites of passage in the texts are primarily ones where he makes the decisions about who he will be and commits fully to the path he sets out to walk. They are as follows:

1. Leaving Aman for Middle-Earth
  
Did he follow Curufin? I don't believe he did at first. But he almost certainly left his mother behind (I believe this is explicitly stated in The Unfinished Tales, but I don't have those in front of me at this moment.)
  
Why, then, would Celebrimbor go across the sea? If I had to guess, it would be out of a mix of loyalty and the desire to learn, rather than any desire to rule or have lands of his own. He knew that to leave would be to be as an Exile, yet did so. It is, of course, still possible that he was taken across the sea by Curufin quite young--but that would be a startling omission on Tolkien's part, particularly because we know in great detail the fates of the rest of the Fëanorians. Celebrimbor does not end up extra crispy, and neither is he killed in the first Kinslaying--so perhaps he was elsewhere, particularly if we are considering half-Teleri Celebrimbor who lived for a time with Celeborn. 
  
Therefore, let us consider that Celebrimbor went to Middle-Earth as an Exile of his own accord. I cannot help but wonder if he was aware of the death of Fëanor at the time--my suspicion would be no, and he could have been motivated by the desire to learn more from him. I am also curious if Celebrimbor would have been interested in exploring Middle-Earth, particularly in its darkened state--having roamed Valinor with his kin and seen much of what it had to offer, Middle-Earth's natural world have seemed vast and varied, with many metals and stones unique to it in particular. Why is that? From the breaking and re-shaping of the Earth itself, from crust to mantle, under the hands of the Valar and Maiar.
  
Another option which I haven't seen considered before would be putting his skills to the test. Celebrimbor strikes me as someone who likes to work hands-on, and never seems content to let others do the work for him when he could learn by experiencing it himself. All the survival and wilderness skills he would have learned from his Fëanorian family would be put to good use on the difficult journey and on the ground in Middle-Earth. Additionally, if Celebrimbor spent time at the Havens, it is likely that he learned from the craftsmen and shipwrights of the Teleri, and I strongly suspect that he would want to sail in a boat he helped make himself. (Note that his name, as discussed on Day 10, is listed in NoME as being a common one amongst the shipwrights of the Teleri.) While this is just my headcanon, I find it a suiting one.
  
2. Sundering Himself from his Kin
  
After reconnecting with his father and them overlapping in Nargothrond for a time, Celebrimbor disavows him (and Celegorm) and gives his loyalty to Orodreth instead. Once again, this is Celebrimbor setting out into the unknown; while a portion of Curufin and Celegorm's people who entered Nargothrond after the Bragollach would have presumably stayed after the princes were run out, Celebrimbor's behavior was certainly an outlier. As discussed in Day 1, he is not known to have answered the summons to the Siege on Angband, and is not listed amongst those who fought in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad--so he was most likely *not* bound by the Oath and made his own decision not to fight.
  
In fact, we don't hear about Celebrimbor fighting--we hear about Celebrimbor surviving. Except for, well, you know, Eregion in the Second Age--but that's a tale for another time, isn't it?

The following two rites are commonly discussed in fanon and canon, and I won't be touching on them quite as much so I still have time to touch on the little rites-of-passage, too.
  
3. Establishing Groundbreaking Relations
  
By contrast, the next life-changing event Celebrimbor is known for is becoming a silver-smith amongst all the Elves, equal to the Dwarves with whom he collaborates and learns from/teaches in turn.
  
Celebrimbor's name has begun to come true here--if it's a mother-name of prophecy or foresight, he is forging it in Moria-silver. He settles into his own in Eregion, beholden to High King Gil-Galad, but relatively separate from Lindon's oversight. He's adaptable and amiable, capable of establishing close relationships even as an outside and in hostile situations like those between the Fëanorians and the Elves of Nargothrond, and even the contentious interactions between Elves and Dwarves. (Note that the survivors of his people, the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, later follow Elrond and go on to become the first Elves of Rivendell; therefore, I think it reasonable to assume that Celebrimbor, even as a ruler, is rather chill, found of the arts, and very fond of a party.)

4. Forging the Rings of Power
  
This time, Celebrimbor's rite of passage is rivaling the craft of Fëanor and breaking the familiar patterns (see Day 7). He both repeats some of the shortcomings of his family line (putting art above all else, for one, and pride, for another), while changing others (building community, welcoming others, healing, etc.), and both parts are essential. Of course, Celebrimbor cannot survive this--but, at least for one moment, I'd like to think that he fully broke the lingering evil of the Oath, despite never being under it himself.

Some smaller rites-of-passage that I associate with him include:

• Cuddling Huan for the first time (he's a dog person forever after that)
• Sleeping out in the open while traveling with his father and uncles for the first time (very young)
• Hunting for the first time (He refuses to shoot squirrels. Celegorm has to teach him to shoot birds instead, even though those are much harder LOL.)
• Sailing for the first time
• Watching the smiths in the halls of Aüle for the first time
• Seeing some of Fëanor's works for the first time
• Attending his first Festival where the Valar are present (with his mother, presumably?)
• Learning that his great-grandfather was just straight up murdered (and the Silmarils stolen) while attending one of them and then never being able to stop thinking about how Mandos KNEW
      - If he was in attendance, how would he have avoided the Oath?
      - Urgh.... more thinking to do here!
• Watching a boat he helped build make way on her maiden voyage

That's a wrap for today! There are so many other rites-of-passage that I have in mind for him, but they don't quite fit.... maybe next time!