Meiou turned to look behind her to see Legolas, staring at her from the waters edge, in his elven gear, his swords, bow and arrow on his back. Behind him was Edhelwen, who was holding on to Ranthoron, garbbed in her traveling clothes. She seemed to be in awe of Varda, as she continued to look at the Goddess.
"I don't want you to change, Meiou." Legolas said, as he started to walk towards her into the water. She stayed rooted to the spot, as he slowly made his way towards her. "I don't want you change a single hair on your head. I don't want you to change anything."
"You ignored me for so long." Meiou said a bit accusingly, "You… were so morose… so silent…"
He reached her by now, but he merely looked at her, "That was my own fault, Meiou. You had nothing to do with it."
She felt the tears spill down her eyes, "I thought… I thought that you didn't love me anymore… that you thought I was unsightly to you."
"I loved you even during the time your father thought you were repulsive, I even married you despite of it." Legolas said, "What made you think I was going to change my feelings for you?" He sighed as he finally reached out and captured one of Meiou's hands, "Meiou… the fault was mine entirely. I was… too selfish. I was afraid to tell you the truth to why I was being like this. I love you as you are now, as you ever will be. I was just afraid of the decision I was going to make… I was afraid of making a mistake…"
"What is it you kept thinking about?" Meiou demanded, "What is it that you were afraid to tell me?"
Legolas stared hard at her before sighing, "I… wanted to go to the Undying Lands." He said, "I wanted to go with you, but I was afraid you'd refused. You have fallen in love with Middle Earth. I did not want to part you from it." He pointed towards Edhelwen and Ranthoron, "We could take the children if you wish, though I think it would be better if we let them decide for themselves…"
"Is this what it's about?" Meiou asked suddenly, "Is this what you can't tell me for so long? That you want to go to the Undying Lands?"
Legolas nodded meekly as he said, "Forgive me for not telling you, wife…"
But instead of getting angry, Meiou laughed suddenly, which made Legolas take a small step backwards in surprise. She rushed towards him to embrace him as she continued to laugh, "Oh thank the Gods! I thought it was something else!" She said, as she continued to embrace Legolas, "Of course, I'd go to the Undying Lands with you! And we'll ask the children if they wish to stay. What made you think I would say no?"
Legolas looked at her in surprise, but soon he embraced her hard. "Gods, I'm so sorry." He said in an oddly choked voice, "Forgive me, Meiou. Forgive me…" He pulled her away from him and started kissing her face frantically, "Forgive me. I swear I'll never hide anything from you again. Never again." He leaned his forehead to hers as he whispered fervently, "I don't ever want you to change. I love every single hair on your head, every square inch of your skin, every decibel of your voice. I don't want you to change, not ever. If there's someone who should change, it should be me. I swear to the Gods that I'm going to change for you. I love you. I love you. I love every single thing about you. I'm so sorry."
Meiou silenced him, as she whispered, "Ú-moe edaved, meleth nin." Then she raised her lips, kissing him sweetly, before pulling him close to kiss him more deeply.
The husband and wife kissed, but soon enough, they heard Edhelwen and Ranthoron gasp. They broke off to see that they were encased in a swirling whirlwind of snow and tiny tongues of fire. They continued to watch as the fire and snow swirled around them, and when it was over, they looked up to the goddess, Varda.
"What was that…?" Legolas asked the goddess.
"That was your wish." Varda said smiling down at them, "Meiou wished to own true beauty, but true beauty actually dwelled in her. The moment you told her the truth, the beauty of her heart showed itself in the form of happiness and forgiveness. True beauty is never physical, unlike many thought it was. True beauty lies in one's ability to forgive, to feel happiness, to act in kindness. Meiou possessed this 'true beauty', but she never knew it." Varda smiled at them, "Many have followed the spell, and when they realized what it truly meant, suffered consequences for their vanity, or blessings for their realization of the truth. The snow and the fire swirling about you like a whirlwind instead of burning or freezing you to death meant that I have blessed you…" She bent down to the couple and said, "In whatever you do, you shall now be successful, and one can hope that you will continue to possess true beauty in your immortal lives."
Meiou and Legolas continued to look up at the goddess. "Thank you, Lady Varda." Meiou said fervently and Legolas bowed down to her, the tip of his nose, making contact with the water by his waist.
Varda smiled at them both, and as she raised her hand, the water on the river rose to it. She then did a graceful pirouette, and disappeared in a flash of light.
Meiou and Legolas continued to look at the place where the goddess stood. A minute later, Legolas leaned his head to Meiou's, "Come, wife… let's go home."
She looked up at him and smiled beautifully as her husband placed his arm around her and they walked back to land, where their son stood proudly and their daughter wept tears of happiness.