It had been a full rotation of the stars since Tata and his company came to the western bank, and a fraction of an eighth of a rotation passed since the company of ten went into the forest. Since then, all seemed eerily silent, save for the still ever present songs. Although those have become much fainter since they arrived.

Ellindë reminisced the time when all was happy and glad, with no worry or fear…If such a time could ever come back. Everything so abundant, cheerful…Light. The light. It had been dimmed, and unconsciously the nér looked up. The stars dimmed and lightened in an irregular pattern. The dimness never threatened to shield the stars completely, but no one could be certain. At least the light came back to full brightness…

Ellindë remembered what it was he was doing: bringing some medicinal plants for the healers to use for the burnt elf. That was almost the only thing that kept himself busy, for he was in no mood to shape clay. He sighed and continued on his way.

Nothing had changed with the elf's condition, and that was not encouraging for anyone who visited regularly. Luinilockte began to grind the proffered herbs in a small stone bowl, and another healer was trying to get the patient to drink something. Ellindë just stood by, having nothing better to do at the moment.

"No more…" came the raspy voice.

"You must drink." Pleaded the healer. The efforts were in vain and she sighed, "He has not eaten much and now he refuses to drink."

Luinilockte looked away from her work, "Why…?"

Ellindë set searching eyes on the wounded kwenda. While the Noldo was no skilled healer, he did notice the slowed breaths the nér breathed. And this change of behavior was a bad omen. Ellindë did not bother even to ask his wife or her colleague and he stepped forward, looking down at the still badly burnt elf, "What ails you beyond your physical hurt?" he asked softly.

The nér did not move, and though raspy, his voice shone the despair he felt, "The burden of living, kherū…What achievement have we gained since our existence?"

The healers looked at the tall Noldo who kept a cool (yet anxious) mien, "Much has been accomplished since that time, my friend. Things of beauty have been wrought by our…your, hands."

The elf scoffed and ended up coughing in the end, "What have I wrought except my end?"

Luinilockte and the other elf jumped, the latter moving closer, "My lord, please, give him some air…"

The elf vainly shook his head, "No…he asked, and I will answer."

"You must rest and be left to peace."

Ellindë at this point did move back by the request of the nis, and Luinilockte took his place by the uplifted space. Still the burnt nér was determined to say his mind.

"It has been long since anything good has happened…and none of our efforts to have it be that way again have been true. Nothing, but a dark future awaits us…" the elf cracked open his eyes by a small amount, "Kherū…"

Ellindë again stepped forward, his heart was clenching in uncomfortable ways. He could not give any false hope; he would not do that…could not…

"…By your leave, I will go to the unknown…"

Ellindë was unsure how to answer that, but now his mind was full of dread. It is not possible…but is it? The Noldo did not know if his words were well chosen at that moment, or many cycles afterwards, "You were never under my command; you were always free to do what you desired."

The elf smiled weakly, "A good reminder…"

No more words were spoken, and it took the three a good long while to register the lack of air passing through the burnt elf. He had stopped breathing. Ellindë felt all blood drain from his head; his heart beginning to pound harder than ever before, and great dismay fell upon his spirit. He did not even realize he was shaking.

"Come away. Now." He pleaded to something close to hysteria to Luinilockte.

Fast and quick gulps of air were coming from the nissi, and Luinilockte without any thought tried to get closer, "No…no, no!" she about shrieked in her horror at the first sight of death. An elf. Dead.

Ellindë ended up having to pull her into his arms and drag her away against her will, Luinilockte being blind to everything else but that one sight before her. The lady was ferocious when she wanted to be, the nér had to give her credit for that, though he did not think of that at the present moment: determined to get her away from the house where the death had occurred.

They got out into the field before Ellindë finally brought himself and his maddened spouse to the ground and held the startled nis close as she sobbed inconsolably. Even the nér was close to weeping without any control; only a heavy stream of tears was flowing.

An outcry was heard from the settlement behind them, and many more…While the dead elf was not very well known, his demise was still enough to cause this reaction, for many have not witnessed not-living before.

Weeping and sobbing was the key sound in the air that night; loud enough for possibly many other settlements to hear and cease their song.

Ellindë paid no heed to anything else save his wife and his own grief as they sat in the moist grass. Said grass was being trampled by other feet, and when the elf-lord looked up, noticed Hwesta, Ulcawë, Finwë, and a few others he did not know.

"Death among the kwendi." Was all he said to them.

The Vanya went slightly green but, like the Noldorin prince and other lords, they all went off towards where the incident happened. Ulcawë just stood there with wet eyes. Eventually he lifelessly knelt down on the grass as well, "Who can show us mercy?"

Ellindë looked back at his wife, her sobbing had finally stilled to some degree, but occasionally she sniffed or whined. No words could have been said to assuage the sense of loss of reason or coherency. They all instead mourned their loss, and other losses unknown to them.

A/N Alright...maybe enough feels in one sitting, if this caused any. My bad if it got a bit irregular, that spark hit me good...