Did Galadriel get a divorce?

[Black Breathalizer]

In reading some of the reference materials, it appears that Galadriel left Middle-Earth in the years after the ring was destroyed while Celeborn chose to stay. Any of you Tolkien experts out there know whether the two truly separated or what was the deal?

[Lefty Scaevola]

No divorce is available for elves. They marry once and forever(or at least until the end of the Earth), and do not even part at death. The only exception is when a dead spouse forever renounces (in the hall of Nandos) the possibility of returning to life.

[Finrod Felagund]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
The only exception is when a dead spouse forever renounces (in the hall of Nandos) the possibility of returning to life.

That's Mandos not Nandos. Don't you hate when you hit the wrong key!

[celeb-galad]

Galadriel and Celeborn were reunited in Aman. Celeborn only lingered a while because Middle Earth was his home and has always been, and he was loath to leave it. But Elves had to leave, or they would eventually fade. So Celeborn left sometime in the Fourth Age.

[Fat middle]

i think that at the end of LOTR Prologue it says that Celeborn parted in the last ship.

i like to think that he remained in ME till Sam was old and then took him to Tol Eressea like the other ringbearers, but probably he remained even more time.

[BeardofPants]

Heehee. Nandos is a portuguese takeaway chain here in NZ.

[Lady of Rohan]

Originally posted by Fat middle
i like to think that he remained in ME till Sam was old and then took him to Tol Eressea like the other ringbearers, but probably he remained even more time.

That would have been nice wouldn't it?

[Lollypopgurl]

Cool! Never thought of that!

About Celeborn leaving with Sam I mean.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Heehee. Nandos is a portuguese takeaway chain here in NZ.

Really? Is it a name?

[Artanis]

Hello BB, The following quote is from the prologue to the LotR:

It is probable that Meriadoc obtained assistance and information from Rivendell, which he visited more than once. There, though Elrond had departed, his sons long remained, together with some of the High-elven folk. It is said that Celeborn went to dwell there after the departure of Galadriel; but there is no record of the day when at last he sought the Grey Havens, and with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-Earth.

Some say this is ambiguous, but I think the last sentence really proves he sailed West, eventually.

As Lefty Scaevola said, the Elves did not divorce, it was against their nature. They could be separated by distance, or even by death, but they would always remain a married couple. Finwë is the only known exception that we know of, and he married again only after his first wife had died and refused to be reincarnated. Even then he needed permission from the Valar, who granted it only after long and thorough discussions, even if they did not recommend it.

[sun-star]

What kind of wedding ceremony did Elves have anyway?

[Lefty Scaevola]

There have customary rituals, but they are social rather that legal. To be married take no more that a declaration to each other (possibly, with the gloossed over by a modest JRRT, addition of consumation).

[azalea]

But I'm sure many had a party to celebrate, yes?

[Artanis]

From "Laws and customs among the Eldar":

Marriage, save for rare ill chances or strange fates, was the natural course of life for all the Eldar. It took place in this way. Those who would afterwards become wedded might choose one another early in youth, even as children (and indeed this happened often in days of peace); but unless they desired soon to be married and were of fitting age, the betrothal awaited the judgement of the parents of either party. In due time the betrothal was announced at a meeting of the two houses concerned,(6) and the betrothed gave silver rings one to another.

[snip]

After the betrothal it was the part of the betrothed to appoint the time of their wedding, when at least one year had passed. Then at a feast, again (7) shared by the two houses, the marriage was celebrated. At the end of the feast the betrothed stood forth, and the mother of the bride and the father of the bridegroom joined the hands of the pair and blessed them. For this blessing there was a solemn form, but no mortal has heard it; though the Eldar say that Varda was named in witness by the mother and Manwe by the father; and moreover that the name of Eru was spoken (as was seldom done at any other time). The betrothed then received back one from the other their silver rings (and treasured them); but they gave in exchange slender rings of gold, which were worn upon the index of the right hand.

Among the Noldor also it was a custom that the bride's mother should give to the bridegroom a jewel upon a chain or collar; and the bridegroom's father should give a like gift to the bride. These gifts were sometimes given before the feast.(Thus the gift of Galadriel to Aragorn, since she was in place of Arwen's mother, was in part a bridal gift and earnest of the wedding that was later accomplished.)

But these ceremonies were not rites necessary to marriage; they were only a gracious mode by which the love of the parents was manifested,(8) and the union was recognized which would join not only the betrothed but their two houses together. It was the act of bodily union that achieved marriage, and after which the indissoluble bond was complete.

Nice, yes? "Laws and customs" is a good read

[Lalaith]

From "Laws and customs among the Eldar":

Where do you have this?

And ..... Galadriel and Celeborn were apart other times before. When Galadriel left Eregion e.g. It is said that they often went different ways but finally got together again. Their marriage wasn't alltogether only happy and joy. They had fights but they still loved each other. Like a normal couple. Not this usual love/romance - beeing one forever - stuff.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Lalaith
Where do you have this?

It is in the precious "History of Middle-Earth 10, Morgoth's Ring"

What you say about Galadriel and Celeborn having been apart for long periodes is true, but I don't know if they were having fights. What do you base that upon?

[Elvellon]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Heehee. Nandos is a portuguese takeaway chain here in NZ.

I always knew that guy remembered me of someone.

[Lalaith]

What you say about Galadriel and Celeborn having been apart for long periodes is true, but I don't know if they were having fights. What do you base that upon?

I can't exactly tell a particular fight, but I think they often disagreed. Well, that wouldn't be fights, but they often didn't have the same opinion and so Galadriel went to this place and Celeborn to another. When I talked about fights I thought of Eregion and that I remember that they didn't agree about something, I'm not quite sure about what, but I guess it was because Galadriel knew that Sauron (not revealing himself as Sauron) was a bad person.
But if I'm wrong, tell me.

[Elvellon]

I think you are thinking of Celebrimbor, not Celeborn


Celebrimbor did love Galadriel, but she didn’t love him and liked more Celeborn. Celebrimbor did listen to Sauron in disguise but not Galadriel.

[Nurvingiel]

Two people who love each other can be apart for a long time, and still love each other.

They'd only get a divorce if they didn't love each other any more.