Starless Sky
A/N: Written for the poetry contest at Parma Eruseen.
Elrond looked away from the sighing shore,
A tear threatening to fall.
Why did the Gray Ships have to soar,
From the Havens, from his hall?
Once, Celebrían sat upon her throne,
And they had loved each other as no other.
But when the seeds of poison were sown,
She had left him, without wife, without brother.
Why was it that all he loved had to die,
To follow the mortal path, not that of the Eldar?
None of them would sing beneath the sky,
Yet he would linger on, his grief never to mar.
The tear slipped down his face.
For immortality had a cruel cost.
Yet Arwen had chosen the mortal race,
Why should he cry for one that's lost?
Keen Elven eyes watched for Valinor,
There he could forget his grief, and end the pain.
He could forget his knowledge, the painful lore,
That had cost him love, like bitter rain.
He closed his eyes, trying not to think,
Yet emotions came anyway, and the tears fell.
Sorrow tearing his heart and hope seeming to sink,
Grief that Arwen would never feel, never tell.
Footsteps tapped across the Gray Ship,
There stood Frodo, without a tear,
The brilliant Evenstar gracing his neck.
He was the one who took her place here.
She had not left him for the Ringbearer,
But for Aragorn, her mortal lover.
And now she would no longer live forever,
And she passed it on to him, his grief's to cover.
Yet the Evenstar jewel was all that would remain.
Shouldn't he have it, a sign of loves lost?
How wrong for it to cause him great pain,
Pain that could be stopped at little cost.
His fists clenched in helpless rage,
For he hated being so helpless, alone.
He had such power, he was wise, a sage,
Yet he could never save his kin, his very own.
No he told himself quietly,
She shall be happy for all her life,
It was her choice. Yet still he wept silently.
She would never again feel anger or strife.
It was then he felt the pain of his life's call,
The curse of immortality, to live forever.
He would ever feel the pain of all,
And happiness for him? Never.
The days passed across the ocean,
And they came to Valinor
It may have been the land of bliss, of moon and sun,
But he still cried for his loss as the birds soar'd.
He felt that the sun had no right to rise,
That the moon shouldn't shine, that sea should dry,
That all should degenerate to pain and lies,
That all that should be was the starless sky.
When he stepped upon the Golden Shore,
He saw Celebrían, fairer then ever.
He wept anew, and embraced her tightly
And he felt hope blossom and darkness sever.
Days from darkness, he looked towards the East,
With Celebrían in his arms he looked to the Sea.
In Eldamar, all wounds would heal and pain cease.
The sky was full of stars. All was good and free.
Namárië,
Nallasariel the Weeper