It was already another week and still nothing was heard from the hobbits and their human and elven guides. Simbelmynë's heart grew lighter as the time passed. She ventured out to more of the elven gatherings in the valley and became friendly with a young elf, Minuial, a handmaiden to Arwen who had come with her from Lothlórien to Rivendell. After her night with Arwen, Simbelmynë had chosen to accept her stay at Rivendell as one that would not soon come to a close, and because of this, she could not sulk about like a child. Little did she know how shortly her time in Rivendell might be ended.

It was a calm day in the elven valley. Simbelmynë lay on her back on her windowsill, a favorite spot, with Minuial resting on the bed. The sky was a faint grey-blue, the slight hint of rain with no true promise of its arrival. The air was chill, but light. The two new friends sang a quiet tune together. Minuial half-sang, half-hummed the melody while Simbelmynë experimented with a gentle harmony. It was an old song, but a favorite of both.

While she sang, Simbelmynë dreamed of and remembered her childhood in a far distant land. It was not often something she chose to think of, but the images washed over her like the gentle lapping of water. At that moment, she felt safe and warm, unafraid of whatever might creep into her mind. All at once, beauty and sun and rolling fields filled her head. The river near her home, the mysterious forest, playing with her cousins were some of the fondest memories she held from that land, her home. An attempt to stem the flow of more unpleasant times was, nevertheless, thwarted and her voice faltered in her song. Minuial lifted her head and shook a lock of amber hair from her cheek.

"Are you alright, Alfirin?"1

Simbelmynë turned her head to face her friend and saw worry in her eyes. The elf had sensed the swift moment of sadness Simbelmynë had felt. The girl's eyes shone, smiling, and returned to gazing at the sky. There was a brief moment of quiet in the room before Simbelmynë answered.

"I am, Minuial. Do not worry. It was a moment, but only a moment of sad memory. I did not mean to upset you." She chuckled. "Or to interrupt the tune."

Minuial leaned forward on the bed.

"I understand, though I was sad to have our song cut short as well," she replied with a bright smile. "That harmony was much finer than the last."

"Oh, I would be undeserving of such flattery if I were to take all the credit, or let you lay it on my shoulders. The elven voice is always the fairest."

"But for a human child, you are pleasant to listen to." Minuial let out a chiming laugh and Simbelmynë's eyes crinkled in amusement. Young though she was, as an elf, Minuial saw Simbelmynë as very childlike in age. In the opposite manner, Simbelmynë often forgot how very old her friend truly was.

Minuial stopped laughing with such sharp abruptness that Simbelmynë sat up. She watched the elf for a moment in bewilderment before asking if anything was wrong. Minuial seemed not to hear her, but was straining to listen to other, more distant voices. Simbelmynë leaned out her window and scanned the valley. A short distance away, she glimpsed a group of elves heading toward Elrond, carrying what seemed like an odd child. There were three other such children waddling along behind, joined by an elf and a man. The air in her lungs seemed suddenly gone and Simbelmynë clutched her chest. By now, Minuial had run out to the balcony below and saw the strange sight as well. Her eyes flickered from the assembly to her friend, hanging out of her window, breathless.

"Alfirin!" She called up, trying to grasp Simbelmynë's attention. "Come down to me and we may go meet them." As this had no affect, she tried again. "The sight you see is truth," she began in a softer, more quiet tone, "He has returned." At this, Simbelmynë disappeared from her window and raced down to the balcony. She could not tear her eyes away from the group below, nor did she desire to.

"Alfirin, I must go to Lady Arwen. I must see that she knows of this. However, I do not wish to leave you. Where are Alassë and the others?"

Simbelmynë could not answer, but she would not move.

"Then I must go. Navaer.2" With that, Minuial dashed off and was gone. Simbelmynë was alone and did not know what to do with herself. She longed to go down to him, but feared that he might not wish to see her. This and many other doubts clouded her heart and froze her legs. She knew not how to give herself hope as Arwen did and could not remove the dread of what a meeting might bring.

It seemed as days before she was able to force mobility back into her body and find her way down to where the party of elves, a man and strange children had passed by. They were still in sight, but far ahead and she panted for the effort of climbing down after them. No strength remained in her to seek them out. All she was able to do was stand and watch them disappear, out of reach and range of sound.

An hour later, Simbelmynë paced her room, climbed up onto her windowsill, paced a while longer before finally settling back at her window. Her heart beat, deep and heavy in her chest. A cool, pale hand held her cheek as she stared out at nothing, knee drawn to her chest.

"Now that he is here," she mumbled aloud, "I cannot face him. Not knowing what is in his heart, nor why he has returned, I am fearful of so many things. What if he does not wish to remain, but only to bring those small children here as part of his errand? And there are many others in the valley that are much dearer to him than myself." A faint sigh puffed through the air as she continued. "I was only his travel companion for a time whilst my cousin could not watch over me. Perhaps I should leave and go in search of my cousin." In her heart, she could do no such thing. She had to see Aragorn before he left, at least from a distance. Just to see him would be enough for another year or so of waiting.

1 an elven name for the flower, simbelmynë, and a name given to her by some of the elves

2 Farewell