The Lay of Lithôniel Valiana and Fëanáro Erumaren
Thus is told the tale to Elven babes of the last pair of Lovers listed in the Book of Ages to build a successful union of elf and Man, although theirs was a most peculiar ending, and far removed from those of Beren and Luthien, and that of Aragorn and Arwen. It is said that Lithôniel, daughter of Elrond's son Elladan, bore the Evenstar, the beautiful jewel worn by her aunt Arwen before her. How she came by it is not told of often, but it is common knowledge that at the Elf babe's birth, Arwen herself acknowledged the child as the Most Beautiful and worthy to bear the Evenstar, and the Valar had long since prophesied that the Evenstar's destiny was always to return to Valinor "on the wings of blessed love" as Elf minstrels sing. Elladan hoped in vain that his daughter would not bear this harsh destiny, afraid of the possible foreshadowing of the same ending as that of his sister Arwen Undomiel. He secreted the child away in the heart of The Golden Wood, but she ventured far and on a time met a Prince of Men who had long searched for some rumor of the Elves left in Middle Earth. He forsook his lands in Eriador and lived in the forest, not being able to stay away from his love. Five years equates to the length of this clandestine romance.
Walking in Lórien's shadowed dome,
Hand in hand, and heart in heart,
Strong Fëanáro, straight and tall,
And Valiana's eyes, his home.
The golden leaves fell slow as time
Passed slowly by the lovers two
And lost in love and mirth and rhyme
As Destiny's threads around them drew.
O! Lithôniel Valiana fair!
Her skin of alabaster, pale,
And eyes of honeyed morning dew,
And feverfew was in her breath.
O! Erumaren, song of Kings!
A mortal Man of virtues rare,
Who could withstand the Demon's glare,
Whose sword cleaved throngs with golden light.
Elfmaid and Man forged secret bond,
And strayed far from watchful Elfking's eyes,
As Evenstar and Elessar before
When hid from Half-Elf Lord Elrond.
And all the silver kisses giv'n did strengthen love,
Their hearts that flew with wings of dove
Until when she might come of age,
And make decisions wise and sage.
How dearly bought was love unknown,
By break of heart and ache of bone
For lover's arms in night's embrace,
His tears upon her Elven face.
O! Lithôniel Valiana loved!
Her Mortal love past all regret,
At every chance she held him close
When in Lórien's lonely arms they danced.
One morn as sun peeked over dale,
And silken hair held Princeling's eye,
Came Elvenking from throne of gold,
And saw them, his wrath he could not hold.
And Evenstar, remembered he
Her sacrifice for love as this
And sorrow filled his eyes with hate
For mortal Fëanáro's fate
Entwined with daughter's, known too late.
All men he hated since Isildur's fall,
Whose failure waxed ruin on all the World,
And Elves had suffered not the least
To Sauron's rule, slain 'neath his feet.
All men he shunned since sister's fall,
And looked not upon his daughter's chest
For Destiny cruel had harsh decreed
That Evenstar lay upon her breast.
He leapt from shadows, sword bejeweled
With death for both, his pride's demand
Was foolish in this act of vice,
And Prince of Men saw heart of ice,
His own sword drew to keep the peace,
And Valiana took to sprightly feet.
O! Lithôniel Valiana lost!
In Laurelindórenan's glow,
As Fëanáro's life hung high
In balance, and his heart did slow.
O! Fëanáro, Prince of Light!
Did her Father stand and fight,
For love alone held him in sway,
And would not leave him harshly slain.
They stood in stance, as Valiana fled
And Elvenking did speak at last
Of lover's past whose lives had failed,
And called love of gold False, and of brass.
Fëanáro offended shook
With rage, but to his knees he took,
To break this farce of pride and envy
And build some oath or bond of trust.
His fealty gave to Elvenking,
Words of love and loyalty,
And rose at last to face his fate,
Etched upon her Father's face.
But lust for blood was stronger still,
And wrath broke Father's sterling will,
And Prince fought fearsome, strove his best,
The swords flew fast, never at rest.
For days on end, numbered by nine,
They fought and Valiana ran, to pine.
Flash of light, and peal of clash,
Blows countered at every crest.
Far fell Prince to Elven strength,
Breathing ragged and flesh torn asunder
But Elvenking stood tall and fair,
Death etched ever in his stare.
And Fëanáro watched his blade rise high
And breath escaped him, one last cry
To Eru, God on High, that he
Might join his love beyond the Sea
In Valinor, in arms of silk, to live in love,
Be free from bane,
And Eru smiled and gave assent
And changeling Prince broke free of pain.
He stood again, healed, strength returned,
Blood within so hot it burned,
Suddenly Prince would not be spurned,
His eyes steel grey with Elven life.
Eru decreed that Man be Elf,
And love be justly cleansed of strife
To live in Lòrien long as they might
'Til draw of life seemed darkest night.
This wish was given, to take to Sea,
And Fëanáro, Prince of Elf and Men,
Raised high his sword o'er field and fen,
And Dwimordene's trees shook with wonder
As mortal chains were burst asunder.
His eyes found Elvenking in haste
And beheld his lover's Father's fall
To mortal wounds in mortal flesh,
Eru's will had bequeathed to all
The destiny so justly deserved, and still
Valiana ran, with sorrowed trill.
O! Fëanáro, Man and elf,
Whose arms rule now Lothlórien,
Called out his fair love's name afar,
And Valiana's fear was tamed.
O! Lithôniel Valiana mourned!
For fear of mortal Lover's death,
Unknowing of Eru's hidden plan,
That strongest Man be fairest Elf.
Returned she now to graceful arms,
To watch her Father's dying breath.
His eyes closed unto final rest,
The Halls of Mandos calling to.
They stood on golden hill's summit,
And thanked Eru on High as one
And Prince of Men took up Elven crown,
And never returned from Lòrien.
O! Lithôniel Valiana Queen!
With hair of honey, clear and clean,
Lived with Love in Eru's arms,
And sailed for Valinor as one.
O! Fëanáro! King of Elves, Tree-Friend
Whose devotion immortality did win,
Did proud the elves his manhood gave
To Elvenking, golden trees his grave.
And King and Queen ruled Dwimordene,
The golden wood in peace and calm,
Until the day when shadows crawled
And Valinor's haunting whispers called.
O! Fëanáro Lithôniel!
O! Lithôniel Valiana pure!
Is lost to Middle Earth for all.
In Valinor her grace abides
With Elf-Man Prince, their hearts alive.
O! Fëanáro! Golden King
Of whom Elven minstrels dance and sing,
Immortal Man and Elf since then,
Sing of they, as of Beren and Luthien.
Thus Ends The Lay of Lithôniel Valiana and Fëanáro Erumaren
What became of them once they passed out of Middle Earth is not known, as they passed out of knowledge and song as well. It is guessed that they live on in Valinor, walking hand in hand on the Blessed Shores, the Evenstar shining still brighter than any celestial body. It is also said among the few remaining elves that on Midsummer's Night, if one looks to the West, he may see the illustrious light of the jewel from afar, giving light and hope to the seemingly lost and fallen of Middle Earth.