Starlit Farewell
Starlit Farewell
by Elelome
Website: Arwen Evenstar

Frailty of beauty, the silence of night encompasses me. I become a thing of the darkness, sliding along glimmer-white in the shadows.

"Aragorn?" I whisper, heart pounding. "Are you there?"

You slip out from behind the tree, stepping toward me. "Yes," you whisper. "Arwen."

And we embrace in the darkness, hands clutching each other like shipwrecked sailors seize floating wood.

Our silence is eloquent; we need not say words to each other, we can hear our hearts arguing the decisions we've made. Finally, silent, I step away from you.

"Go, my love," I say. You open your mouth as if to protest, I lay my fingers on your lips. "Farewell. I will see thee again, my heart tells it so."

"Arwen vanimelda," you say, and then fade to silence. "Namarie." And you walk away from me; I bring my hand to my lips, tasting your touch.

Slipping down the steps of Rivendell, you sit down on the lowest one and hide your head in your hands. As the others come out of the brightness of the hall, I see my father cast a sympathetic glance at you.

And I slip away myself, running with Elvish speed. I do not want to see you leave me.