Celeborn

The Lord of Rivendell is Celeborn (‘Silver-tree’), husband of Galadriel and a lord of the Sindarin Elves.

Celeborn was a prince of Doriath in the First Age and for a while abode in Eregion before crossing the Misty Mountains to settle in Lothlórien, where he was Lord of the Galadrim.

In the War of the Ring Celeborn led the forces of Lórien into Mirkwood, where Dol Guldor was thrown down and the southern regions of the forest cleansed and renamed East Lórien . For a time he was King of East Lórien, but with the departure of Galadriel he grew weary and left his folk there.

Celeborn now dwells in Rivendell and is Lord of the household, yet none are sure if he will remain so for long, for the Sea calls him. He is considered Lord of the house, for he is older and more venerable than the Sons of the Elrond.

The Sons of Elrond

Elrond’s sons, Elladan and Elrohir, chose to remain in Middle-earth when their father departed over the sea. In part this may be because the hatred they share for the Orcs for their mother’s torment is still unabated, but they both also love Middle-earth and still find joy in its realms.

The two brothers are identical twins, and were until recent times almost indistinguishable.

Elladan

Elladan is the first-born of the twins, and it seems has always born the greater weight of responsibility. It was Elladan that chose first to remain in Middle-earth, and it has been rumoured that he greatly rued his father’s decision to depart over-sea, ‘escaping’ the evil that remained in Middle-earth.

Elladan is driven by a terrible, restless desire to extinguish the Orcish menace. In recent years he has taken to wandering the lands of Middle-earth, leading a changing party of knights and ladies in his ceaseless quest. He is often a dour fellow of few words and fell, but is known at times to enjoy song and find laughter from some hidden spring. He has the mastery of all forms of combat and gathered much lore from his father, even knowledge of magic and enchantment though he rarely uses such.

Elladan’s hair is long and dark, and in the Fourth Age he has taken to wearing a long beard of dark hair. Flashes of grey have begun to show.

Elrohir

Elrohir is the image of the Noldor Elven-lord, clean-shaven with long, black hair and flashing black eyes. He wears cloaks of silver, bound with a belt of mithril and a long sword of ancient lineage.

Elrohir disapproves of his sister’s choice of mortality, but his hatred of the Orcs and love of his siblings has kept him in Middle-earth.

Elrohir has become more interested in the active use of magic since his father’s departure. Elrond always counselled restraint in the exercise of enchantment. Elrohir finds little use for restraint and spends many hours in his secret chambers, deep in the research of arcane devices. He often argues with his brother over the wisdom of such dabbling.

Glorfindel

Glorfindel is a great lord of the high-elves and, in many respects, the mightiest Elven-lord of Rivendell.

Glorfindel alone of Middle-earth’s Fourth Age has passed through the fire of death and returned. It is told that he fought against a Balrog in the siege of Gondolin and was slain with his foe, but returned from the deathless lands to Middle-earth in the Third Age to aid the free peoples against Sauron. This is an exceptional tale, as few have come from the West over the sea since Númenor was destroyed and the world broken in the Second Age. It is told that Glorfindel was great friends with Gandalf, and may have travelled with the Istari when they came to Middle-earth.

When Gandalf and Elrond departed Glorfindel chose to remain in Middle-earth for a time. In part this was to maintain a watch over the restoration of the Northern Kingdom, and Glorfindel often acts as advisor to the King and Lords of Arnor in such matters.

To look upon, Glorfindel is a tall, blond Elven-lord. As one who has come from the deathless lands he has a shine to him, like a great white light burns within.

Celandur, Elven Jewel-smith

A master jewel-smith, refugee from Eregion and assistant to Celebrimbor in the making of the Rings. He has been diligently working on the enchantment of gems since Rivendell’s foundation. He is still fascinated by his craft, such that he will not seek the havens.

Gilraen, Elven-lady

Fair beyond the measure of men, the beautiful Elven-lady Gilraen has lived a quiet life in Rivendell since the fall of Eregion. She sings and tells sorrowful tales beautifully, yet harbours a dreadful sadness - she was one of those most swayed by Sauron’s charms when he came to the city of the jewel-smiths as Annatar. In the quiet darkness before dawn she walks, sleepless in the shadows of the gardens, and cries out with remorse for the friends and family who were betrayed, slain and lost. She blames herself still and cannot bring herself to seek the blessed lands where she might face those who died.

Íracáno, Master Swordsmith

Master of the skills of sword-smithing and armoury, Íracáno is a mighty Elven-lord. It was he that, with the aid of Elrond’s and Gandalf’s enchantments, re-forged Narsil into Andúril. A refugee from Eregion, he has not been idle in the centuries since the city’s fall.

Níralissë, Librarian of Imladris

Níralissë is a treasure-trove of knowledge and lore, gleaned over the long centuries as mistress of Rivendell’s library. She herself carried many weighty tomes from the fall of Eregion across the leagues to Imladris.

Deneldír, Cartographer of Rivendell

A Sindar Elf of the people of Elwë Thingol, Deneldír is tall with long silver hair and - unusual for Elves, but like his kinsmen Círdan - a long silver beard. He has travelled far and wide across Middle-earth and the oceans - even to the shores of Valinor and back - yet now resides in Rivendell and pores over the great collection of maps, perhaps because as Sam said, ‘There’s a little bit of everything here’.

Súmë, Bard

Súmë is unusual for an Elf; he stands shorter than most, and has a portly stature. He claims his portentous belly serves only to magnify his voice, and it is true that his dulcet tones are the favourite of Imladris’ residents. He is a jolly fellow, with a demeanour to match his grandiose form. He is of the kin of Fingolfin and one of those who went to Valinor and returned to Middle-earth over the Helkaraksë. He fought in the war of the Silmarils and dwelt in Nargothrond, then fought again in the Last Alliance. Yet he wearies not of Middle-earth, for of all things he delights most in the company of mortals. He finds them curiously poetic, perhaps because of his own survival through such dreadful odds.

Ingwilendë, Keeper of the Treasury

A venerable Elf, a survivor of Gondolin’s fall, Ingwilendë was horribly maimed by a Balrog. He is consequently rather dour, and keeps himself to the treasury and its outer chambers, where he exhaustively catalogues the treasures and reads books brought to him by Níralissë.

Dorban, Elder Dúnedain

Dorban is a venerable Dúnedain lord. He was instrumental in the re-building of the Northern Kingdom, and trusted counsellor of Eldarion. Now near the end of his days, he has chosen to retire to Imladris, where he loves to read. Súmë are he are great friends.

“Then I need say no more,” said Celeborn. “But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know.”

- Fellowship of the Ring