A/N: Thanks to Seron for this translation for this lovely song from Queen, "Living Forever"
Chapter 17 Who Wants to Live Forever?
Haldir was of much lighter heart now that, what he saw as the hardest part of his assignment was over. As they walked along, Estel caught snatches of a song Haldir was singing softly to himself.
"Law no lû ammen,
Law no sad ammen,
Man no nad hen sa câr elym,
A si ódaltha o men?
Man aníra cuiad an-uir?
An-uir no sir mín. . .
Ma dartha an-uir. . ."
"Haldir, what is that song you are singing? It is beautiful! I think it captures the Elves wonderfully, especially now that I know what time means to you.
'There's no time for us. There's no place for us. What is this thing that builds our dreams, it slips away from us. Who wants to live forever? Forever is our today… Who waits forever anyway?'
That describes how I'm feeling at the moment perfectly. I cannot believe how awful it would be to live forever while everything else gives up to time and becomes not even a memory."
Haldir was so impressed at the young human's ability to understand the Elven language that for
once, he lacked the words to say how proud he was feeling.
"It is a song that all Elves are taught when they are young and are learning about Elvenhome. The teachers feel it is a fitting way to describe what most elves go through when it is their time to leave these shores. An elf feels the sea calling to them, some choose to ignore it, but most cannot. There is a strong desire to be reunited with those who have gone before and to see the creator that it cannot be ignored. Many have already lived thousands of lives of men and feel they have lived forever. While the elves do not die or age as you do, we can still feel weary of these lands. Even when we journey over the sea, we do not die. But that is where we came from so many ages ago and our hearts long to be revived in the Undying Lands."
The group walked in companionable silence for a while until they reached the food tent where the guards ate. Haldir motioned for Estel to join him. "Please join me, I do not wish to eat alone. And also, I would like to tell you about some of the things that happened when your Ada, and the Lord Glorfindel were younger."
Estel noticed the slight twinkle in the Warden's eye, but thought nothing of it. For once, he would have ante up on his brothers….
A slight grin came to Estel's face as he remembered how they loved to torment the Lords of Imladris…
Then Haldir began his story…