Pain. So much pain. It almost blinded him as he collapsed by the corpse of the young king of Doriath, whom he himself had slain. His brother, Curufin, lay nearby, already dead. But it seemed Mandos was going to make him linger, to feel the pain he had inflicted on so many of his kin. Make it stop. Make the pain end. But Mandos heeded him not, and Celegorm moaned again.

He could see a pretty silver thing above him, was it the moon? But the moon wasn't stained with red, was it? Celegorm realised that this was hair, belonging to a little elleth no more that five who was slowly bleeding out from a stab wound. Celegorm idly wondered if the blood on her hair was her own.

"You're a Feanorian." It wasn't an accusation, just a statement of fact. She probably recognised the eight-pointed star proudly emblazoned on his blood-stained armour.

"Is that your brother?" The little girl pointed towards Curufin.

Celegorm nodded miserably, regretting the movement almost instantly, as it sent a shiver of pain running through him.

"I am sorry." This caught Celegorm off guard, why should she be sorry that one of the people who had attacked her home was dead?

"Why?" Celegorm's once-lovely voice was a harsh whisper.

"No one should have to lose their family. I know how it feels. I lost mine when the dwarves attacked."

"I'm sorry, too." And yet he was apologising for more than that. He was apologising for the kinslayings, for the families he had torn apart, for the lives he had taken, even for kidnapping Doriath's princess so long ago.

"I forgive you." Those were the last words Celegorm had ever expected to hear from one of the Doriathrim, let alone one who was dying because of him, even if he had not struck the blow. Celegorm regretted ever convincing Maedhros to commit another kinslaying, Maedhros had been right, to slay one's kin was wrong, utterly immoral. And yet here he was, and silmaril-less to boot.

"How? How can you forgive me after all I've done?"

"Because I don't think you're a bad person, Celegorm."

Of course she knew who he was. His trademark blonde hair must have given him away, even though it was more brown now with dried blood.

"What is your name?" He had to know, know who was wiling to forgive him after all he had done.

"I am Lailien."

Leaf maiden. Fitting.

Celegorm could feel his life slipping away, he didn't have much time.

"Can you sing?" His request surprised him. Music had long left his life, a distant memory of happy times in Valinor.

Lailien smiled. "Okay."

Celegorm relaxed, letting the girl's sweet voice wash over him like a brook as she sang the only song she knew, a lullaby for claming young children.

Deep in the meadow, under the willows,

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow,

Lay down your head, and close your eyes,

And when they open, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm,

Here the daisies guard you from every harm,

Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true,

Here is the place where I love you.

Her voice grew weaker, but she kept going.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away,

A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray,

Forget your woes, and let you troubles lay,

And when again it's morning, they'll all wash away.

Here it's safe, here it's warm,

Here the daisies guard you from every harm,

Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true,

Here is the place where I love you.

And as the song ended, Celegorm's fea departed. Lailien gently closed his eyes, and lay down next to him, completely spent.

And that was how his brothers found him, with his arm around a small elleth who couldn't be more than five, their blood mingling on the floor, both faces peaceful in their eternal sleep.

The song is Deep in the Meadow, from Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games. I hope you liked it!

--Arthaniel