I also have this theory about Celebrimbor’s thing for Galadriel. None of this is to diminish any feeling, because he is certainly convinced, but I wonder how much was the crush on the older, cool girl as an awkward young fellow and then, later, how much was a workaholic wanting to love someone but not wanting the details of a relationship to get in the way of the work. I’m thinking both play into it in the sense that he chooses the first person he felt that way for who’s also pretty wonderful and unattainable. A significant amount of guilt re: the family deeds might make clinging to something that can’t work still more appealing. Clearly, I view LaCE as I view Catholic doctrine.

Still working on Celeborn and the past.