Eldirn was Elrond’s chief astronomer, and often consulted together with him about celestial matters. After Celebrian sailed West, she fell in love with him, although she never let him know. They were, however, dear friends.

This close friendship raised concerns among Elrond’s councillors, a small group of whom believed they were having an affair, and were scandalized. Elrond disdained the whole notion, and would hear none of it, knowing neither he nor Eldirn would ever stoop to such.

A humiliated Eldirn, however, slowly retreated from Imladrian society to the lone comfort of her observing rooms, only coming out at night to stargaze or when Elrond requested her presence for some reason, such as creating star charts at the birth of a child. When she did emerge, as Elrond required of her at various celebrations and councils (to prevent her from becoming a complete hermit), she bore herself proudly amid jibes and whispered comments, trying to ignore them. Invariably, however, Elrond’s attempts to encourage her in these outings instead only encouraged further gossip.

Her story, in her own words, as told to Newra Peredhil:

“If I could have changed my feelings, I would have. But I cannot.

“As I have already explained, your father and I were ever close, and that friendship became closer after the departure of your Naneth. You probably do not think of him in those terms, but your Adar is a very handsome, charismatic ellon. And Vilya…well, the wearing of Vilya served to enhance that effect. Not that I craved power, not at all. But Vilya’s effect on its wearer was such that it increased natural abilities and attributes. Elrond was already extremely handsome, charismatic, wise, and intelligent. But once Gil-galad bestowed Vilya upon him, those attributes increased sevenfold.

“I am not sure that Elrond was ever aware of that effect upon himself, or upon those around him. But it was there, nevertheless. I am a scientist, trained to observe, and I watched those qualities suddenly explode when Elrond returned with that Ring. I am not certain if anyone else was ever aware of it. I never spoke of it, as it would have been dangerous to do so while Sauron yet walked Middle-earth.” Eldirn paused thoughtfully. “You know, I have often wondered — given Vilya’s ability to enhance, what would have happened, had Gil-galad not given Vilya to Elrond before his last battle? Gil-galad was one of the fiercest, canniest warriors I have ever known. Had he been wearing Vilya, would he have died? Would, perhaps, he have conquered Sauron himself, and destroyed The One, and all that came later have been erased? Well, it matters not. That is not what happened…

“At any rate, it was not long before I began noticing Elrond in a…a different light. How tall, how strong, how wise. Altogether a beautiful ellon.

“Then there came a dreadful day. Well, I suppose I should say it was a night, for it was during night that the events transpired.

“I wished to make some observations of a particularly faint star. The Valar had chosen to make this star vary in brightness, and it fascinates me to this day… But I decided to leave Imladris with my telescope and notebooks, in order to get farther away from the lights, and get better observations. This proved to be a decision that was…less than wise. We had no idea another party of yrch was scouting so near Imladris.

“I was captured, and very harshly treated. They wished information about Imladris, and had begun setting up to extract the information via torture, when I called out in desperation to Elrond. He heard my thought, and his rage came through clearly in response.

“Elrond was ever a kindhearted ellon, and it took a truly immense evil to arouse his wrath. But I ‘heard’ him plainly that day, ‘NO MORE! After what was done to Celebrian, I will have none other of my House in the hands of these foul creatures! I am coming, Eldirn!’

“And come he did, at the head of a war-party from Rivendell, Elladan and Elrohir at either side. He fought as an ellon possessed, he and his sons. None could stand before them. The scouting party was exterminated, to the last orc. Then he freed me from my bonds. I was not in the best shape, as you might imagine, and he picked me up and carried me to his horse, ordering the twins to attend what was left of my equipment, Eru bless him.

“Then he carried me back to Imladris and tended my wounds. Two were poisoned, and it took many days for me to recover fully. I was dear friend, counted as part of his House, and he treated me so, tending me personally, for many hours each day. By the time I was recovered, my heart had become fully his.

“I never let him know, of course. I knew of his deep love for his wife, and would never have come between them. But I often saw him in my dreams, and I cannot say that none ever saw a wistful look on my face when he passed, although I tried not to show it. This is almost undoubtedly how the gossip arose. Had he been single,” at this she grinned wryly, “it would have been very different. But he was not free, and did not wish to be, and so I hid my heart as best I could. Ever after has it been thus. I am as a gwathel [sister] to him, no more, no less.

“But know this: Out of love for Elrond, I offered him, to raise you as if you were my own. Not to usurp your Nana, never, but to ensure you had love and wisdom around you. I would have been honored to have been entrusted with rearing you. Even that, in the end, was denied me. By then, the rumors had started, Galadriel was a doting grand-naneth, and Elrond felt it best you should remain in Lorien.

“As I have said, if I could have changed my heart, I would. But I cannot. And so I have before me a doom that is dreadful to comtemplate.

“Little one, I can never sail West. No refuge Valinor to me, seeing my heart in the arms of another for all the Ages, fearing to show my love, fearing to accidentally come between them, wanting only his happiness, and never able ever to have him. So I will stay here, and eventually fade, and die of grief and loneliness.”

She is devoted to Elrond and his entire house, although not all accept her for the aforementioned reasons. She is intelligent and very knowledgeable about the heavens.

She is quite aware of her mental communication ability, and the strengths and weaknesses thereof; Elrond helped to train her in it, as her long-distance ability doesn’t work so well up close, and has a tendency to mentally “deafen” those nearby. If being used for long distance, she must know the person she is trying to reach. Elrond believes she has the capability to reach from Middle-earth to Valinor in communication; she isn’t nearly as sure.

Eldirn grew up in Ost-en-Edhil, the capital of Hollin, and trained under the astronomers there. Eldirn’s parents — in fact, most of her relatives — were killed when she was a young adult, during Sauron’s attack to obtain the Rings of Power, and Eldirn knew little of her ancestry as a result. Those that yet remained, and might have told her about her ancestry, either fled West, or required a mental healing none in Imladris had the capacity to give.

But Elwing, Elrond’s mother, had had two brothers, Elured, and Elurin. They were both captured and left in the woods to starve during the assault on Menegroth. They were assumed to have died as children.

After much research, however, Elrond decided one or both of his uncles had survived, and he believed Eldirn was descended from one of them, probably several generations further down the line. That would make her somewhat distantly related to Elrond, and also, as he, directly descended from Melian the Maia. This would have explained her ability, and given him reason to believe that she, like their Maia ancestor, could communicate with Valinor. He therefore includes her as a member of his House, a beloved sister.

She has yet to try to deliberately contact Elrond (or anyone else) in the West, however, fearing he might discover her true feelings; and knowing that he has finally re-joined Celebrian, she does not wish to interfere or cause the Peredhel pain. What she does not realize is that Elrond has known for long years of her love, and is honored by it and by her respect for his integrity and marriage.

She has decided that the West is closed to her, lest she somehow inadvertently come between Elrond and Celebrian. But Middle-earth is empty for her, with Elrond gone. She has accepted that her eventual fate will be to die of grief, alone in Middle-earth.