11. Something about a non-canon relationship

Melian and Elwing

First I tried thinking of Celebrimbor and Galadriel, of if Galadriel returned his feelings back in Valinor at any point, "you turned to Celeborn of tree…" but I just can't make it make sense with what young Artanis was like in my head.

So I was trying to think of characters that never met and Melian and Arwen came up, but the only dialogue I could think of for them was "how the heck are we even talking?"

I was thinking about Melian and Finrod, because I don't think Galadriel was the only one who befriended Melian and learned things from her in Doriath. I think they all would have gotten to know her, just not as well as Galadriel did. But I can't actually think of anything to write for it, so that's all you get for that headcanon at the moment.

So I'll go with Melian and Elwing. I don't know if they met in Middle-earth, for the purposes of this fic I'm going with no, but I don't know, they could have. Either way, I certainly think that Elwing would have sought out Melian while they were both in Valinor. She was missing her sons, her parents and brothers still, and her grandparents probably. Melian knew all of them and grieved for their fates as well, and knew what it was like to lose a child, too. And Melian was surely missing everything she had lost so much, so her great-granddaughter was good company she desperately needed.

When Melian found a tearful Elwing seeking her in her gardens, for the first time since Thingol's death, she found herself willingly donning her elven form again.

"Oh, you look just like her." Elwing said softly when Melian stepped out from the shadows of the trees.

"I see her in you, too." A slight smile spread over Melian's sorrow filled face.

"I miss her so much." Elwing's voice broke, choking back tears. "And the rest of them. No one else truly understands, and I thought you might…"

"Of course, child, of course I do." Melian embraced her great-granddaughter and they both let their tears spill over.

"How do you manage it?" Elwing asked after a long while.

"I am not sure I do, not well." Melian smiled wryly. "I will introduce you to Estë and Nienna some day, they are better with grief."

Elwing nodded gratefully, and Melian handed her a handkerchief to dry her tears. "Will you tell me stories of her? When she was young?"

"I would love to." Melian answered. "If you will tell me of her later days and of your parents."

"Certainly." Elwing smiled, almost happily. "Do you think we will see her again, at Dagor Dagorath?"

"I try not to think about it." Melian said softly. "But yes, I do suppose we may have that chance."

"Mandos should give her the choice, then, again, and let her and Daeradar remain with us this time."

"He may." Melian answered solemnly. "Or it may not be possible. Not even Mandos knows what those times will bring. Nor do Manwë and Varda. Perhaps Lúthien being mortal was a part of the Song that only Eru knew of, and that will reveal itself then."

"A child of the Ainur and elves with the fate of a mortal, to unite men, elves and Ainur?"

"It could be something like that. Or nothing at all."

Neither of them said anything for a long while.

"Do you blame the dwarves for what happened? Or Eru himself?"

"No, I do not." Melian softly brushed back Elwing's hair. "No one is to blame for our fates, Elwing, not even ourselves."

"If only I had stayed… Elrond and Elros wouldn't have been left with those- they would still be…"

"You could not have stayed Elwing, you know that." Melian told her firmly.

"I left them all alone-"

"And they are safer for it."

"Their fates are so uncertain now. I may never see them again." Elwing said hoarsely.

"You may." Melian hugged her closer. "Do not give up hope."

"You have." Elwing murmured, and then instantly regretted it.

But Melian just laughed.

"I have not given up hope, I have just set it aside. But do not do that either! You are not me."

Elwing laughed at Melian's wry smile

"All right." She said. "I promise. But only if you promise to let me visit you often."

"I will be disappointed if you do not." Melian told her. "Come, I will show you the forests."