The twilight sky, faded in lavenders and blues, seemed to glow slightly as did the people below it. Clear voices, high and merry, were on the wind in a mingled sound of song and laughter. As always in Rivendell, life was breathed into the frail valley by the elves who lived there and brought beauty to all they passed.
"We have but a moment," Aragorn said softly to Arwen as she dragged him away from the rest of the fellowship. "The company is due to set out at any minute."
-"I could not let you leave without a proper goodbye."
She tried to hide it, but Aragorn could see the tears in her eyes.
"Man lû vin achenitham?" (Translation: Will I ever see you again?)
-"I can make no promises. This errand puts much at risk, and I remain Isildur's heir."
-"You are Isildur's heir, not isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate."
Aragorn clenched his fist, frowning. "The same blood runs through my veins. The same weakness."
Moving closer, Arwen placed her hand on top of his. "Hebo estel. (Have hope) Fear not the darkness of the past."
Her line of sight passed to the Evenstar, as she stroked the silver pendant.
"You are wearing it."
-"How could I not?" Aragorn took a moment's silence, steeling himself.
"Why do you do this to yourself, my lady?"
She pushed him away slightly. "Why do you say this, Elendil?"
-"You have a chance for another life. One far from death, destruction and loss."
She sighed in realisation and, leaning in, whispered in his ear.
"I choose a mortal life."
-"You cannot mean that."
-"Linnon am meleth vîn (I sing for our love). Elendil, I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than walk all the ages of this world alone."
"Aragorn!"
Aragorn looked up, then bent in and kissed Arwen softly on the lips.
"Le melon. Namarie." (I love you. Farewell.)
-"Belain na le (The Valar be with you)."
As the ranger left the shadows to join his comrades, he thought for a moment he heard a female voice singing in the high Elven speech of Sindarin:
Snow-white! Snow-white! O lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western seas!
O light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!
Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!
Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the sea!
O stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sown
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown!
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees,
Thy starlight on the Western seas.