Beyond the Circles of the World
"I suppose aunt was right. All good things must come to an end." Andreth murmured regretfully, a dreamy look still clinging to her eyes as she followed Aegnor to the door of her simple house, leaning lightly against the doorframe, arms crossed as she looked him over thoughtfully, as if she wanted to memorize him completely.
"But this is not the end." Aegnor protested quietly but firmly, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"We are in the middle of a war, and, somehow, I know you will not come back." she retorted softly, eyes level, voice icily calm, "I know that this is the end."
"No, it is not." Aegnor whispered, bending over and kissing her tenderly on the cheek, the pale freckled cheek that only ever blushed for him, "For once, Andreth, you are wrong."
"But our fates are sundered!" she exclaimed, twisting the loose linen tunic she had made for him in her fingers as if she could already feel him being torn away, a desperate look coming into her eyes.
"Not really, dearest, for we are truly in love, and hearts bound as close as ours cannot be severed by anything."
"Not even the will of Iluvatar?" she asked dubiously, carefully pushing a thick lock of Aegnor's striking sunlight hair back behind his ear.
"I believe that our love is the will of Iluvatar, and that it shall endure beyond the circles of the world."
At that Andreth smiled faintly, replying, "Then that is what I believe as well." she paused, as if savoring the moment, before sighing, "I suppose I must now bid you farewell."
"Yes, farewell." Aegnor nodded politely before turning slowly and beginning to walk away, down Andreth's carefully maintained path.
She followed him with her eyes, a solitary tear slowly dripping down her cheek before crying, "Aegnor!"
The tall elf turned, drawing in a sharp breath as he beheld her beauty, beautiful even in anguish.
By now he was nearly over the hill, she had let him get that far.
"I love you!" she called, gripping the doorframe as if it were a lifeline.
Aegnor smiled, that brilliant smile that she had fallen in love with first, and raised his hand in salute before raising his face to the heavens and shouting, his voice full of joy, "And let it be known to all the world that I love her, and that our love will hold fast beyond the circles of the world!"
And she smiled back.
And he walked away.
As Aegnor was consumed by fire, that soft, sweet smile was what he last saw through the thick, black smoke.
And he felt no pain.
You know what is the perfect song for their story? 'When you're gone', by Avril Lavinge. Oh my Elbereth, it will make you cry...
Anyway, thanks for reading, please review!