Epilogue

Eruanna never took notice of the western sky before. Only after putting the final touches on her drawing of Maglor's performance at Alqualondë did she look up for the very first time. Her gaze was captured by the stars, drawn by their glittering light. They were not the same constellations that lit the memories of her past, but they filled her heart with hope for the future, a future where all things were possible. A weight Eruanna had never before acknowledged lifted from her heart. They would all be well in time – Elrond, Elrohir, her father – she was certain of that now. If Maglor could face the past that haunted him for so long, anyone could do the same and come out the stronger.

Eruanna drew a blank sheet of parchment from her folder. She began to draw the night sky as it appeared stretched out to the distant Western shore beyond her perch on the palace tower. She was so focused on capturing each star that she barely noticed the arrival of a visitor upon the tower. Eruanna heard the shift of his robes first as they danced upon the breeze. When she lifted her eyes from her drawing she recognized the Maia immediately and offered him a smile and a nod. It felt like forever ago since she had spoken with him of Maglor. He was tall and majestic as before but now every ounce of his expression shone with joy.

"It worked," she said. "Giving him the book, I mean."

Olórin's eyes sparkled with delight. "I knew it would."

Eruanna laughed in equal measure at the surety in his voice and the mischief in his eyes. When her sight fell again to the page on her lap she traced the line of the horizon she drew there with the tips of her fingers. "I guess this means my task is done."

"Hardly," Olórin said. His expression turned grave and his piercing gaze held Eruanna's fast. "There are more tales to tell. Countless stories yet to be written. And when the elves who lived them are ready to share, I would not be surprised if it is you they seek out."

"Me?"

Eruanna's surprise echoed in her voice and Olórin found her puzzlement amusing. "They heard Maglor sing of you. His salvation, he called you. They seek peace, too, and you will be their guide."

Eruanna thought on Olórin's words and the gravity of the task he set before her. "Is that why you came tonight," she asked, "to tell me my work is not done?"

"That, yes," he said, "but also, you were the first thing he asked for."

Eruanna shook her head, unsure of what Olórin meant. "He…who?"

The Maia's gaze shifted to the door. An ellon stood there now. Eruanna knew his face. Every line was just as she remembered. It was good that she was seated, for her legs would surely have given way at the sight of him.

"Rumil," she whispered, breathless with disbelief.

"Eruanna." He closed the space between them and drew her up into his arms. The pages in her lap spilled to the floor, forgotten. How long had it been since he had last held her? Decades? Centuries? It felt at once like many ages and mere moments.

Eruanna clung to him and wept. For all the hope in her heart held for others, she had not dared to hope for herself. Rumil kissed her long and desperately as if he, too, feared he was dreaming.

When Eruanna finally withdrew she realized she and Rumil were alone. Olórin had vanished as if he had never been on the tower at all. "He is gone."

Rumil was unsurprised. "I think he is wise enough to know when to leave." Rumil lifted his hand to Eruanna's face, tracing the lines he dreamed of for so long.

Eruanna took his hand in hers. "I missed you."

"And I, you." Rumil leant forward so his forehead rested against hers. His eyes shifted from her face to the necklace she wore, the one he gave her so long ago. Orome's stars. "I asked you once to spend forever with me, but you said it was not time."

Eruanna's heart ached at the memory. "I'm sorry."

"No. You were right," he said. "I know that now. Namo showed me."

Eruanna had wondered often what Rumil might see while he dwelt in the Halls. "What did you see?"

"I saw us," he said, "here, now, and forever."

"Forever?"

"Yes." A twinkle of humor lit Rumil's eyes. "That is, if you think you can survive an eternity of Haldir's jokes and Orophin's cooking."

Eruanna worked hard to suppress her laughter. "I have suffered worse."

"Is that a yes?"

She answered him with a kiss, one he returned with equal passion. Neither partner wished to let the other go. It was Rumil who finally drew back. He took Eruanna's hands in his and kissed them.

"Now," he said. "Who shall we tell first?"

Fin.


Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who stuck with this story. It took a few years longer than I imagined to finish it, but that's life. There are so many details and plotlines that never made it into this work.

Some of those will be expanded on in my short story collection Upon the White Shores.