THERE! I finally fixed all the problems...Thank you everybody for all of your reviews. With special thanks to Nienne of Sorrow (hope I spelled that right) for pointing out the errors, it helped.
The sun slowly sinks below the great trees.
I sit and stare at the leaf-covered floor.
My friend Eldir gathers his things, awaiting
the journey to come; the winding road.
"Do not regret your passing, nor fear what lies ahead."
He says to me; his words mean nothing.
There is a light within his eyes, a bright excitement
which I do not share.
I look out off the balcony, at the pale branches of great mallorns;
the leaves slowly flitting towards the ground.
The rest of the Elves hasten, packing their things away.
They all anticipate the journey. I sink back in my chair.
I stare at the yellowing leaves, fluttering down from the bright canopy.
They float down like graceful snow, collecting in drifts on the floor.
The city of Lorien shines in the rising sun.
I do not wish to leave.
I hear the rustle of old parchments being
Hastily stuffed into bags, my kin dare not miss this ship.
Slowly, I rise from my chair;
I feel weary, laden with my woe.
I walk toward the spiraling stair.
The stairs wind around the great trees trunk.
I look at the graceful white houses, suspended in the boughs.
I cannot leave this place.
With a sigh, I descend, gazing at the woods.
I hear Eldir's hasty footfalls behind me.
He passes me, weighed down by his bags.
The look I wear seems to scare him;
a worried gaze, a shadow across his face.
He lays his hand on my shoulder,
Then continues on his way, a good friend he is.
But he will not sway me.
I have known this place for eight-hundred years.
It was here that I was born; I must stay.
My foot hits stone, I have reached the bottom.
From here I take a path through the flowers.
I pause at a stream, watching it trickle over the roots
of the grey trees. I sit on a large stone.
I always came here, with my books; reading till dusk.
I dare not leave.
The first party of Elves take leave.
Already, they begin to sing.
A slow, sad melody, as they depart, forever.
My family will leave next.
I have one last night to stay in this place.
One final eve of watching stars through the trees.
My father approaches; he is packed as well.
I dare not leave.
It is evening now; I sit on the veranda.
I remember my father's words:
"Do not despair, for we pass into something better…
I speak of a hope that you should embrace.
do not reside here, only death is here.
We pass into life. Eternal life,
ever blooming ever growing, do not regret."
But I do regret.
The next day begins early; we are leaving.
At least they are, I have made my choice.
We all meet around a fountain; to say farewell to our homes.
The procession begins to move.
I do not follow; my father beckons for me to come.
I shake my head. He does not protest.
He is merely sad, for he knows I am adamant.
I dare do not leave.
I watch them leave with mixed feelings.
Once they pass into the mist I go back to my house.
It seems cold, colder than it was last night.
I spend my first night alone. I gaze out at the stars.
More leaves have fallen from the boughs.
The trees grow bare. I miss the others bitterly.
I have the house, and the memories.
But now they mean nothing.
The following day dawns like all others
But it is strangely empty. I walk by the stream.
It is frozen on the edges, the yellow leaves
are turning brown. I walk to my sitting rock, books in hand.
It is not the same. I look out into the forest.
I now realize how alone I am, there is nothing.
I drop my book and begin to run.
To the edge of Lorien, but I know it is too late.
The others are a day ahead of me.
I know I cannot reach them.
It is too late, I made my choice, and it was a foul one.
I sink to my knees and look around me,
Already, the trees begin to die.
