Faramir shuddered deeply and walked away looking stricken. Erestor looked at Glorfindel, noting the Balrog-slayer's tear. "Reminds you of Gondolin, does it?" the advisor said lowly, turning to follow Faramir. One by one all the others turned and walked away in silence. Lómëmir was the last to go, as she stood quietly in the gently falling rain, thinking of many things.

The rest of that day Aragorn and Faramir could not be found. They had gone to their studies and both had given most explicit orders not to be disturbed, no matter what. They both had stacks of work that needed to be attended to, thus the pretense for hiding in their studies. Neither one did a single thing the rest of that day, and many people of Gondor who were ordinarily busy took the same path.

After a while Lómëmir finally left the courtyard and went to Vaneldur's chamber, where she was held tightly by him as she wept. She had been just starting to think that perhaps she could altogether heal from the trauma she endured, but this day had proved trying and she had to take rest. When she woke alone in Vaneldur's chamber evening's many hues were surrounding her and she began to feel a little better.

The knock at his door startled her, and she was hesitant to answer, well aware of mortal perceptions about women in men's chambers. She would not have had her love's reputation compromised in any way. That was until she heard who had come to find her.

"Pen-neth," her cousin said, not able to finish his sentence before she opening the door, glaring at him in a way that proved that they were related.

"You do recall that we are the same age, do you not?" she said, sounding much more like herself now.

"Or course i do, but how else would i have gotten you to open this door," Elrond said with a grin that proved that he was in fact related to his two eldest sons. "Come, meldir, dine with us."

Lómëmir accepted his arm, though in the back of her mind she hoped that when Elrond said "us" he was referring to a small, quiet group, made up of Elves she had known for years. She was still in no mood to be very social. Entering the small but comfortable, private hall, she was not disappointed. The only one's there were those she had known from her years in Imladris. It was then that she realized that she had not seen Legolas in two days. The thought did little to really surprise her though, she guessed that he had decided to take some rest in the Grey Wood or some such nearby forested area.

While the Rivendell Elves, including Lómëmir, Elrond, the twins, Glorfindel, and Erestor dined in relative peace, the inevitable subject of Mithlond, ships, and Valinor arose. Elrond knew that he would be leaving only another two years. It was beginning to seem that time had sped up suddenly for these Elves. Elladan and Elrohir weren't going anywhere. For years they had fought side-by-side with their Mortal brother and his kin, and they were not about to leave them now. Besides, they reasoned, someone needed to stay around to teach Aragorn's children a thing or two.

Glorfindel was in no rush to get back to the Western side of things, but he knew he would one day sail. He guessed that he and Celeborn would probably make the trip together. Erestor agreed that he would probably sail at that time too, considering that he had so much work to do in Imladris yet that it would likely take him that long just to finish what waited for him as it was. When Glorfindel mentioned that he had heard Legolas talking about waiting until Aragorn's rule had gone to an end to build a ship, Lómëmir questioned him.

"Teleri blood," Glorfindel answered simply. "It's in his nature, he shall not even have to try. In fact, i would wager that he could do it blindfolded."

Lómëmir thought quickly that Vaneldur was likely to have a life span just shy of Aragorn's, and she wondered if Middle-earth could sustain her long enough for her to sail with Glorfindel, Erestor, Celeborn, and Legolas. She mentioned it to them, Erestor telling her that they would be honored to have her join them.

Elrond was the only one who was not at all pleased with this idea. He knew all too well what kind of time frame Lómëmir really had to consider. She might be feeling able to live another couple of centuries here now, but he knew that her world would plunge back into sadness sooner than she knew. He had hoped that she would sail with him, he felt sure that another two or three years was all that she could hope to have here.

When he said, as gently as possible, that he did not consider their idea a viable option for his cousin, he received the response he dreaded. Lómëmir stared openly at Elrond and said, "I will not leave him."

Elrond sighed. This was becoming routine to the Peredhil. "Lómëmir, i am not sure that you understand this. I know what happened to you, my adored wife endured the same. You need the haven of Valinor. Even if you do not feel it now, it will come back, stronger, and the terror of your memories will never leave you until you make the journey into the West. And if you stay here and try to make a life with Vaneldur.... It is not even nearly possible for you. If you really extend yourself, you may be able to survive here for another ten year, at best. I know that it would hurt to leave now, but it will be worse if you leave later. Take my advice, meldir. For the next two years, enjoy yourself, enjoy Middle-earth while you may, and then say your farewells and allow him to live the rest of his life here. He does not have our time, and you see that he is well liked by Aragorn and Faramir, and i like him as well. They trust him with positions of authority and much responsibility, and that will take much of his time. Let him have his life and let yourself have yours, Lómëmir."

Elrond was the only Elf present who could not see how wrong he had been to say what he had said. Lómëmir rose calmly and bid a gracious goodnight to everyone other than her cousin. She did not actually acknowledge that he had been there at all.

"Lord of Imladris," Elrond muttered, very exasperated. "Some good it does me, for all i am paid heed to."

Lómëmir was now firmly determined that she would not leave Vaneldur, and that she would savor every moment of life she could with him. All that Elrond said had only served to stir in her heart the common knowledge that when an Elf finds love, nothing can destroy it. Never before, even in all her many long years, had she experienced such feelings as Vaneldur moved her to. She decided to find him and speak with him about her decision, sure that he would be glad that she wanted to be with him as long as possible. When she had considered leaving him, she felt such guilt at the thought of how hurtful it might be to him. He did not seem to be any of the usual places around the Citadel, but then her Elven hearing caught the sound of his voice coming from Aragorn's study. She was shocked to overhear them discussing a change in Vaneldur's position, and though she did not mean to listen in, it was unavoidable.

"Believe me, Vaneldur," she heard Aragorn assure him, "Faramir will understand this. We both like Lómëmir and have hated seeing what she has had to suffer. Faramir's own mother was from Dol Amroth and she could not live here. This is no place for one whose heart is at the sea."

"My leige," Vaneldur said humbly and rather quieter, "if it is not too bold, might i ask you something?"

"Please, Vaneldur," Aragorn replied.

The younger man stalled slightly, wondering how to phrase what he wanted to enquire. "I know how well you understand Elves, and... well... i had been wondering.... I care very much, very much for Lómëmir... but... i just do not know if it... is it dangerous for her to...?" Vaneldur was flushed and feeling like a complete fool being caught so wordless and childlike with his King, of all people.

Aragorn smiled, his grey eyes speaking of boundless understanding. "I am correct in guessing, Vaneldur, that you would like to know if it would pose any threat to your Lady if you were to ask for her hand?"

Vaneldur was again caught speechless, this time by Aragorn's precise surmising of what he was thinking. Silently he nodded.

"Love never poses a threat, Vaneldur, and it will never do harm for you to tell her what you feel," he said, sounding very wise. Though in the back of his mind he wondered if he wasn't giving the lad false hope. Lómëmir was still in a fragile state, this he knew from conversations with Elrond, but she had been seeming much better, after all.

"I want to marry her," Vaneldur said at length, his voice indicating quite plainly how in love he was with her.

"I wish you the best, Captain," Aragorn said sincerely. "Might i offer one bit of advice though?"

"Naturally, my Lord," Vaneldur replied, trying to chase the daydream quality from his speech.

"Do not lose a moment's opportunity with her," he said smiling, knowing he had no need to say that to Vaneldur. "Oh, and if her father is still around and insists that she marry none less than a King... go and find yourself a kingdom," Aragorn said with a wide grin, knowing that Lómëmir had no immediate family other than her cousin (which could well prove more than enough for the poor young Man); but he somehow couldn't resist someone else getting a glimpse of the same feeling he had when Elrond had declared that the absolute minimum requirement for marrying his daughter was the Kingship of Gondor and Arnor.

Having overheard all, Lómëmir's heart swelled as she hurried to Vaneldur's chamber to wait for him.

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meldir - dearest friend (same translation as meldur)