Lasmenel stepped quietly into the doorway of Elrond's library. She espied the Elven lord reclined in a large chair in one corner of the room, a large volume in his lap. His grey eyes flickered up and acknowledged her presence.
Lasmenel approached him, lowering her head respectfully into a gesture of obeisance.
Elrond rose slowly and slid the volume onto the table next to them.
"You know why I have called you here, Lasmenel?"
She felt her cheeks burning in the profound and wise gaze of his eyes. She felt humble around him, the great Elven lord, ages, almost an eternity older than she was.
"Yes, Lord Elrond".
The Elf smiled, a rare sight that lifted the contours of his otherwise serious and thoughtful face. He walked over to the large ornate window of the library and leaned on the sill, his head tilted to the sky.
"A Elbereth Gilthoniel", he said reverently.
Lasmenel joined him at the window, a curious look on her face. Elrond turned to her.
"Lasmenel, that is what you are to Boromir. You are his star, the light that shines on his darkness. It seems that your name befits your place in his heart, leaf green haven of the stars".
Lasmenel blushed.
"But this you already know", the Elven lord continued, "yet it falls to you to choose whether to continue loving him or not".
A cold chill gripped Lasmenel's heart in icy hands at the ominous words. She swallowed painfully.
"I love him, Lord Elrond".
The dark Elf smiled thinly.
"I know this, daughter of Ithiluin. It shines around you like a glow, and when he has been near you the same light shines around Boromir. But Boromir must leave Rivendell with the Fellowship. It is his fate to journey with them as far as his road takes him".
Lasmenel looked up sharply.
"His road is not the same as the others?"
Elrond walked away from the window and stood, his hands leaning on the table.
"No. He is only a man, Lasmenel. He has the weaknesses of his people. The Ring will call to him, and he will be tempted to hurt those near him to answer that call. He mays endanger the Ringbearer".
Lasmenel closed her beautiful eyes to stop the flow of tears she felt welling up.
Elrond noticed her pain and it hurt him to see her so troubled.
"Have faith, daughter of Ithiluin. Though he may be tempted, he will repent of any misdeeds and defend the lives of the other Halflings, even if only by the sacrifice of his own. You know his heart, and the truth of this ".
Lasmenel opened her eyes, wet and glistening like the leaves of Telperion would have appeared if bathed in summer rain.
"If he remains here, their lives will be unprotected, Lasmenel. You have chosen to love him. Now you must choose whether or not to let him go".
"I cannot forget my feelings so quickly, Lord Elrond", she whispered.
Elrond smiled comfortingly.
"I do not ask you to stop loving him, Lasmenel. Wherever he goes your love will be with him, whether fate would have it or not. Yet Boromir must leave Rivendell, and you cannot go with him".
She nodded bravely.
The Elven-lord placed a reassuring hand on hers.
"These are sad times when we have to leave those we love in order to help them. Let us hope that the Ring will be destroyed, and these years of fear and suspicion will finally come to an end".
Lasmenel stared at him valiantly.
"Then we shall come out of darkness and walk in the light".
Elrond nodded, "There is already one who walks in such light".
She knew that he spoke of Boromir and her resolve wavered.
"What light is that?"
Elrond pointed at her striking green eyes with a bemused grin.
"The light of Telperion, of course".
Lasmenel lowered her head again in respect before walking quickly out of the library. Elrond watched her go with a bittersweet feeling in his heart. He sat down heavily at the table and continued with the volume he had been reading. The grin on his face faded as he considered the fate of the Fellowship and indeed of his own people.
The ponderous look on his face intensified, touched by sadness.
He would have to depart from the West eventually, leave behind those near to him.
Yet he would be united with CelebrÃan again, beyond the Grey Havens, and see her smiling face greet him. Such a sight would be worth all the troubles he had dealt with in his long years. Then perhaps would both their wounds heal.
Elrond put aside his own feelings again, as he had done many times in all his long years, and turned the page.