Nargothrond was now permanently under the rule of Orodreth, and at first Telpenaro served him with the same dedication as he served Finrod. Though one day he was at his home, and thoughtfully examined the pendant that King Finrod had once laid on his neck. The pendant looked otherwise as mainly as beautiful ornament made for a Lord, but once he pulled the hilt of the pendant, he revealed the hidden sword made with incredible details, all the way from leaf shaped blade to the symbols on the blade.
”The symbols of my life, and all that I have known...”, he though to himself. No other jewelry would replace the piece. But soon he felt a change within himself, and he looked at the blade with new eyes. ”But perhaps it is time to move on, to know something else. I think I have seen enough battle, for now.” In his mind a thought was formed of becoming a smith. Perhaps that way he could choose another path, and still stay in the service of the court.
He presented his idea to the head of the guard, and he was approved to have the studies of a smith, as soon as they would find someone to replace him in part time job. It did not take long until they found a young and eager Elf to fill the spot, and after giving him a few words of advice and encouragement, Telpenaro started to take his lessons with a hammer and anvil instead of a spear.
It took some time for Telpenaro to get hold on the studies properly at first because he was an eager student and wanted to rush to create more advanced things, and did it with a lot of trial and error. But he was also persistent with his studies like he was persistent on a battlefield, and eventually the weapons he created started gain good reputation within the guard. He left his job as a guard entirely, and was now approved as the full time smith of the guard. He largely drew the inspiration of his designs from his pendant.
Around this time Telpenaro went to the garden of his mother again. The rare flower that his mother had planted for him was still blooming beautifully, but next to the plant he saw a maiden who was talking to someone out of sight. ”No, my son is no longer working as a guard of the King, but he is still renowned for his service and his work for them is only different now - just not as dangerous”, the voice of Gillaswen answered to her, and the maiden turned her face to more clear angle for Telpenaro to see.
Telpenaro could not hide his amazement. ”Celuwen...? Is that you?”, he said with a trembling voice. The two walked slowly towards each other and embraced. Gillaswen smiled and left them alone while Telpenaro looked at Celuwen's hands, and to his surprise there was no ring on them. ”Alcarestel was here for a time. I thought that you two had married”, he said slowly.
Celuwen smiled with amusement and answered: ”Nay. He has the temper of the Fëanorions, which you must have noticed. I never quite found someone that I could share my heart with”. She looked at Telpenaro's bare fingers and barely audibly whispered in her thoughts: ”Not after you”. Telpenaro read her lips and his pale green eyes looked at her directly. ”So many years... and I never told you that I felt the same”, he said.
They talked for a long time and felt like back in Dorthonion again, and there was nothing to stop them to be together. Celuwen decided to stay in Dorthonion, and one day they shared a long-awaited kiss at last. After that Telpenaro had plenty of time to court her.
One day another Man entered Nargothrond who was also of noble origin of Man such as Beren. His name was Túrin and many of the Elves seemed to admire him. ”He is councelling King Orodreth to build a bridge over the river and to launch an open attack against Morgoth”, one of the guards said to Telpenaro while he was repairing his sword. Telpenaro shook his head and sighed. ”One of Finrod's ideas for Nargothrond was secrecy. And now Orodreth wishes to forsake such idea?”, he answered. When the bridge was built, it was mighty to behold, but Telpenaro was still doubtful.
Meanwhile he was planning to propose the betrothal to Celuwen. When it was time, Telpenaro went to his mother's garden and picked one of the flowers from the rare plant, waiting for Celuwen. Though he waited for a long time and nothing was heard of seen – it was quiet, even strangely so. Telpenaro went back into the hallway and saw a streak of smoke rising, and shortly after that growls which he could recognize anywhere, along with the sound of breaking doors. ”This is where the smell of Elf flesh came from! Get him!” a great number of voices shouted.
The enemy had arrived, and they were taking prisoners from Nargothrond, though the garden was in one of the last areas that the enemy had not yet raided. Telpenaro was unarmed and looking for escape. He remembered a window in the garden which was now covered with vines. He tore the vines apart like a curtain and opened the window, and covered his passage with the vines afterwards. He heard growls in the garden behind him and tried to stay quiet and out of sight. When the growls had went further, he climbed down the rocks to the bushes out of sight of the enemy, and managed to swim to the opposite riverside of Narog.
Peering in the distance he saw a sad sight: many of the surviving nargothrondrim taken by a large force of the enemy, and he knew that his parents and Celuwen were very likely among them. The main doors were now guarded by the dragon Glaurung, and he let no one pass. Telpenaro was dripping with the river water, mixed with the bitter saltiness of his own tears.
