Glorfindel stood at the balustrade overlooking his home. His daughter and her friends shouted and laughed below him among the birches that encircled the house. Over the tops of the trees, their leaves turning gold in the autumn sunlight, he could see a faint sparkling, the faraway shine of the Anduin. And the Great River led to the Sea Glorfindel sighed. He felt old, as he had never felt before, in all his long life of more than five thousand years.

He heard a light tread on the stone behind him as Alasse came out of the house behind him, and he turned. She was holding her hair up with one hand and was fighting with the comb as it refused to enter the thick coil. One of the teeth broke, and the comb fell to the floor, shattering. Alasse put her hand down and stared at the shards of the comb at her feet. Her hair, freed from its coil, tumbled down her back, wreathing her face in an aureole of auburn waves as she bent to pick up the remains. She put them in her pocket and moved forward to where Glorfindel stood. He slipped his arm about her slim waist and they stood together for a while, gazing out over the peaceful land. Alasse was the first to speak.

"I'm glad it's over," she said. "First the Great War, then Morgoth... I'm glad you're back. Things are starting to resemble normality again." She ran a finger over the balustrade, and looked at Glorfindel.

He didn't reply, but took her hand and rubbed it, feeling with his thumb the callouses and scars covering his wife's palm. He lifted it and carefully kissed the exact center, then took Alasse in his arms and kissed her equally carefully. It was their first kiss since his return from the War against Morgoth a week before. Both had been unusually quiet during that time, almost avoiding each other's company, and Glorfindel felt all his pain rushing out at the feel of his wife's hands on his shoulders, at the touch of her soft mouth on his. He caressed her hair, running his fingertips through the silken waves, while Alasse put her fingertips to his face, sweeping them all around as though trying to memorize what he looked like.

At last, they pulled apart, hearing the cry of a small child: "Nana!" As Goerfindel finished climbing the steep path up to the balcony, Alasse bent down and picked the baby up, cuddling him close. Glorfindel brushed his fingers over his son's golden-red locks, fighting basck tears at the sight of the little boy looking at him with suspicion. After all, they had never met, Goerfindel having been born several months after his father's departure for war. In the trees he could hear Earasse singing a lay, her sweet voice carrying up to where he stood. Without thinking, he joined in, and Alasse hummed along.

I ramar nwalkar maranwo,

mape tye haya nyello,

ar lende ore udin ya

ya uoiale nuva quantina.

The cruel wings of destiny

Carried you away from me

And left a heart unstilled

That never will be filled.

As their voices trailed away, an answering voice called out from in front of the house.

"Ho, Glorfindel, I would know your ugly tones anywhere; come out, I know you are there!"

Quickly, Alasse behind him, Glorfindel made his way to teh front porch, and looked out. On the road there stood a white stallion, bearing two riders. Glorfindel felt a grin spread over his face as he strode toward the road, arms outstretched to greet the newcomers.

"Hail, my prince," he called. My home would be yours, had you not insulted my singing voice."

Legolas roared with laughter as he slid off his horse and held out his hand for the yound woman riding sidesaddle behind him. She slipped off, her long skirts billowing around her, and waved to Alasse, and the two women embraced, laughing. Glorfindel and Legolas clasped hands, then reentered the house, while Alasse and Almarea, their arms linked, talked happily.