I don't know how long I sat there. Everything in my mind was numb. My brain told me I was walking in a dream, but my heart knew it was as real a nightmare as could possibly be true. Everything in my heart seemed to explode, and I was finally overcome with large shaking sobs. Celebrian, my friend Celeborn's daughter, and my secret fancy, quickly walked over to me. She put her arms around my shoulders, wiping the tears from my face. She was hurting too, we all were, but she comforted me. Pressed against her shoulder, feeling her slightly rock, everything I'd been feeling since that day in Mordor came out in the form of crystalline, pallid tears. Celebrian said nothing; she merely cradled me in her arms, humming softly. After a time, the tears stopped and I was able to pull away. Celebrian smiled placidly. I took her hand in mine.

"We will endure, my lord." She said. I smiled gratefully and stood up.

"Thank you, Lady Celebrian."

Celebrian put her hand on my shoulder. "Day will come again."

She turned and walked out.

**Later That Night**

I lay in bed that night. Every muscle in my body was tired, but I couldn't sleep. I clung to the blanket, the burning image of Ithilwen's face emblazoned itself in my mind. I stood up and walked out onto my balcony, wondering if Ithilwen, three floors below me, was doing the same thing. I thought of Celebrian. Gil-galad was her mother's cousin. She was hurting like the rest of us. She would carry on. I sank to my knees. I don't know why, but a dry derisive laugh escaped my throat. Life from amongst the ashes. It would be hard, but the survivor in me told me I had to move on. I had suffered before. I would have to pick up the shattered pieces of my life, whatever was left of them, and trudge forward, as I have done before. The acrid wounds would never heal, but they would eventually fade. Through the grating pain, came a muted acceptance. Celebrian and Ithilwen were survivors, and so was I. Someday, we will move on. The day would come again. As I lay there on the cold, stony balcony, tears sliding down my face, I lay to rest the ashes of a ravaged friendship, and somehow, I moved on.