Our Last Farewell

By: Silver Bow

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Silver Bow: Wow, my first non-romance fic. I never thought I could actually write something like this. Well, tell me how you feel about it. I'm going to try J.R.R. Tolkien's writing style, including the quotation mark thing. I'm even going to try the "Legolas said" and "said Legolas" thing. Hell, I'm even going to change my spelling from American English to British English!

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Alas! the days of the Fellowship ended, such as Arien sets and ends the day. The Darkness had perished, the Shadow had faded; the Kingless age had ceased. The Lady of Rivendell was a mortal. Alas! none would see her unfading, untarnished beauty brighten the day, give hope to the one who was now King of Gondor.

The Lady of Rivendell wept at the bitter parting of her beloved ones, for she had forsaken them for love. 'Namárië," said she to her father and her brothers.

'This parting is bitter, but so shall the time when thy spirit departs from thy body, and thy beauty no more but in song and memory,' said her brother, Elladan. His face was grave and his grey eyes were sorrowful. He knew not of this choice, for he had yet to be in love.

Elrond Peredhel, her father, said nothing, but looked at her with keen grey eyes filled with the sorrow of the ages and of wisdom. He felt the pain of his departure most keenly and grieved for it more than the departure of his beloved Celebrían, for he would never see his daughter, who was in the reach of death, but would place sight on his wife once more, for she dwelt in the Valinor. His sons would linger in this cold grey land for but a little while before parting with this land for the blessed shores that lay in the West.

'Alas! for the Númenoreans that may not set foot in the Blessed Realm that causes us to forever part, and the Gift of Ilúvatar to Men, for if indeed it is a gift, then it is bitterly received,' cried Elrohir, the younger, sorrowfully.

'Namárië,' said Arwen, as her father and brothers left. She turned to her husband, Aragorn, who had been silent and grave. 'I will follow you to death and beyond,' said she. She left by the door to the starry night, her grey raiment and dark hair fading into the darkness…