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It took our heroes of the Fellowship 22 days, over rough terrain, passing through the nightmare of Moria, to reach Lorien. It takes Elrond, Arwen and their entourage 20 days to reach Lorien. Tolkien makes no mention of this journey other than on his calendar in Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings. Looking at Karen Wynn Fostad's maps I note that there is no road that directly links Rivendell to Lorien and I am moved to wonder what path Elrond chose to follow. Did he take the West Road to the Anduin River and then journey by boat down the River or did he follow along the edge of the mountains like the Fellowship. I think I favor the river path.

Whichever path he took, I imagine that it was a journey of leisure and pomp. This is a journey of joy but one that is tinged with a bittersweet sadness. The King is restored, waiting one thing to seal his place on the throne and his union with Arwen. Elrond is preparing to give Arwen, his cherished daughter over to Aragorn, a man who he has loved as a son. Elrond knows that she has chosen the doom of men and that he will never see her again, but I believe he also knows that this union will make for a long and glorious chain of human Rulers for Middle-earth as it passes into the age of men.

They journey to join with Celeborn and Galadriel; parents of Celebrian, Elrond's long lost but beloved wife, grandparents to Arwen. I imagine them floating down the Anduin. I imagine the elves singing songs about the love that Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn had for each other. I imaging flowing banners and gaily colored clothing. I imagine great feasts and vivid poetry. It is a time to honor the passing of an age. But, it is also time to honor the birth of a new one.

Elrond and Arwen left Rivendell on May the 1st and arrive in Lorien on this 20th day of May in 3019 of the Third Age.