Chapter Two

I looked out of my window, trying to decide how much time has passed since my home was attacked. How much time had truly passed since my whole life had been ripped apart from the seams, and I had confined myself to my chambers to try to make sense of it all? Has it been days? Or merely hours? Time is truly a lost thing here. I from the trees I had fled to lifetimes ago to the city. It seems everything is fighting to pull itself back together, even Father and me. Despite the hole that Naneth left in our hearts that cannot be filled, we are back on the mend, and we are…recovering. The walls are repaired, the are streets cleaned, and the smell of smoke has finally vanished.

The men have vanished from the streets as well. They, along with my father and grandfather, have isolated themselves in a room, in hopes of making our home safer. Their meeting place is right below my chambers, so I can hear the rise and fall of voices and, occasionally, my father's name, always following "Prince", of course. Sometimes the men speak in the Common Language, other times in Elvish, depending on how heated the topic of discussion is.

But today, the room below me is deathly quiet. I managed to catch sight of a man embracing his children before entering his home. The council is over, then. I hear my father's steps approaching the door.

"What was that about?" I ask, my back to him and my arms wrapped around myself. I hear him moving around sitting on my window seat beside me.

"The king has taken all suggestions to fortify the security of our borders to heart, and he assures us that every logical measure is sure to be taken."

I glance down at him. "That is all?" When he sighed, I sat beside him, looking into his deep blue eyes. "No, Ada...there's something more. Something you're not telling me."

He takes a deep, shaking breath, taking both of my hands into his own. "I have decided, Elien…that you are going West."

"West?" I ask, and then I understand. West. The Undying Lands. An honor reserved for Elves. The only way to get there is by boat. And none ever return to Middle Earth. "You—You're coming with me, aren't you?"

My father's eyes began to fill with tears. "I cannot. I am needed here."

"Ada…Why? Why now?" I fight back my own tears. Not for me, for my father. For this decision, what it could do to him.

"Because—because I cannot let any harm come to you. If anything happened to you after what happened to your mother…" He closed his eyes for a moment, calming himself. "If I can prevent that, I will." Ada framed my face with his hands, looking deep into my eyes. "You are the most precious thing to me on this Earth, Elien. I swear to you, we shall meet again." After pressing a kiss onto my forehead, he rose, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I took a shaking breath, looking around at my home. This decision, one I cannot repeal or escape, is one of the greatest gifts my father could have given to me. In the West, well, there is no pain. Or suffering, or anything evil. The life Ada and Naneth always wanted me to have.

I can do this—I will do this. For my parents.

"Here we are; the boat is ready." Elrond announces. I am clinging my father's hand, and I think I am about to squeeze the life out of it. The harbor is beautiful; truly the last place one wants to see before leaving to go West. My mother's best gown, a soft blue and purple, rustles as I walk as leaves the trees bear around me clinging to my hair, almost like they are begging me not to leave the only home I have ever known behind.

At the boat, Ada puts his cloak around me before wrapping his arms around me, surrounding me with his warmth. "Namarie. Im anuro an sidh sui le ego. Elien, nin mir a nin gel."

My throat tightens at his words; I can barely speak. "Amn mela lle, Ada."

One last embrace, one last look, and then he is gone, along with all the heartache, all the sadness, and all the pain that this Earth has given me. I shake them off like a heavy winter cloak and bask in the sweet sunrise of a far green country.

However, I do scan the horizon every day, waiting to see another boat, no matter how great or small, to come, bearing my father. Like the cloak I still have around my shoulders, he gave me his word, and I know he shall hold to it. I do not know for sure when he will, but I have one thing that keeps my eyes searching for another set of sails.

Estel is what I have.

Hope.

****Translations****

Namarie. Im anuro an sidh sui le ego, Elien, nin mir a nin gel.

Farewell. I wish for peace as you go, Star, my jewel and my joy.

Amn mela lle, Ada.

I love you, Father.