To The End Of The World And Beyond

To The End Of The World And Beyond

Posted: July 2005
Title: To the End of the World and Beyond...
Author: Eawen Penallion
Type: FCGen
Characters: Erestor, Galadriel, Elrond
Rating: G
Disclaimer: All rights to the LOTR characters belong to JRR. Tolkien - I'm only playing with them.
Timeline: Fourth Age
Warnings: Angst, sadness
Beta: Nienna, beta reader extraordinaire!
Summary: Erestor's POV. The last ship to Valinor brings families together...

Dedication: For Alex and Sara. Posted with Alex's permission.

*****

I watch her every day. I see her change her demeanor - her mask - to suit the hour, the moment, the situation. She is a consummate actor and she places upon her face a facade to please the crowd who watch her perform; they expect nothing but the best from her. A smile of encouragement; a tinkling laugh at a quip, an aside; a gentle stroke upon the downy cheek of the solitary elfling aboard this vessel (though that moment also brings the shadow to her beautiful face, a wistful moment of memories, of childish laughter echoing through the golden trees). Words of hope, of anticipation and long ago memories of the land to which we sail pour forth from her delicate lips to assuage the hidden doubts of those who h,,ave never seen Undying Lands. I watch her wear the mantle of authority and see her accept the homage due to the Lady of Laurelind ló renan. I see her Marchwarden hover at her side in protective stance, honouring the vow of service that he made to his Lord before they left the Golden Wood.

And twice a day, at sunrise and sunset, I see the true soul of Galadriel, Lady of Light.

Before Anor rises she stands at the stern of the ship, waiting for the sun to send its rays tentatively glancing over the horizon as if to determine whether the world is ready for its glory. At that moment she cannot conceal her feelings as her heart calls across the many miles of ocean to its mate that yet resides in Middle Earth. Open yearning pours forth from her very soul calling to her lord but still there is resignation in the parting. Too many years of bearing a Ring has pulled her taut, stretched her strength almost beyond its limit and with the destruction of the One Ring her ability to replenish that strength from the Ring of Adamant is lost. Journey to rest in Valinor she must, even as Celeborn must stay, to shepherd the last of his flock home in the fullness of time.

For Galadriel, dawn is the time of prayer for a spouse, and she stands seemingly alone at that time bathed in the mantle of soul-deep love.

Seemingly alone, for besides her stands my lord and her son-in-law, Elrond Peredhel. He stands as a father bereft for he has left three children of his body in the rising Age of Men. One is lost to him forever for through love she chose the fate of her mortal husband. He mourns still, finding little solace in the knowledge that his bloodline will endure forever in the descendents of kings. Of his other two children, he still hopes for a reunion for they have deferred their Choice and may yet travel with their maternal grandfather at a later date.

For Elrond, dawn is a bittersweet time.

They also stand together at dusk, when the red rays highlight our path, our Straight Road home. Within a day we will see the shores of Aman and rejoice at our homecoming and our reunion with those who have travelled before us - and those who have been reborn. At this time the prow is packed with elves whose keen eyes strain for that first smudge on the horizon that will herald shouts of joy. Amongst the many the two are alone, both wrapped in cloaks of doubt and disavowing grief. I knew not why they did so until I was mistakenly privy to a quiet intercourse between them.

Well, how else was I to find out? I, who pride myself on knowing much but revealing little? Elrond knows that my counsel must derive from many sources and he trusts my discretion in all matters, else I would never have been allowed to hear it.

"I failed her."

"I too."

"Nay, my dearest son. You cannot say that, for you of all of us took the brunt of her misplaced anger and outbursts and strove ever and only to find ways to heal her wounds and soothe her soul."

"But I failed, and she still left. Left me, her husband. She wanted me to sail with her but I could not."

"You could not. You were sworn to protect your elf haven and your people. You held Vilya, and Vilya held back the Darkness from Imladris for so long. No, I am her mother. I should have gone with her. I should have succoured her in her melancholy."

"You had obligations too. You protected Lothlórien with Nenya. You could not leave the Golden Wood without its main defence."

They stood in contemplative silence for long minutes, their dourness emanating as a cloud of shadow about them. The words that broke the silence trembled hesitantly upon the air.

"Do - do you think she hates us?"

Dusk is a time of despair for them both.

****

They were the first to disembark into the madness of the waiting throng. The cries of happiness had rung across the water as the ship pulled into harbour and had not abated when the vessel finally berthed. Dignitaries lined the quay, faces from the depths of history reborn in health and beauty, and I was amongst those who thrilled to see again those who had died before our eyes - Ecthelion, Gil-Galad, Fingon, Fingolfin... but even they stood aside as Galadriel and Elrond trod their first steps upon the shores of Valinor.

The crowd parted, and the two stood stock still as they beheld the elleth revealed, their hearts and breaths halted as their eyes begged their minds to believe the sight they saw.

An elleth of silver beauty. An elleth whole once more. An elleth smiling in welcome.

Galadriel clutched at Elrond's hand in heart-breaking disbelief and I saw my lord come to an urgent decision. He cast a heated glance to his long-lost wife, conveying in that look his unending love and need and desire - but also his compassion for the woman who clung to his arm so desperately. Celebrían returned his gaze with the same love, the same need and the same desire. She also understood his other message and knew that they would express the intensity of their spousal love in delicate privacy. Later.

She raised her arms to Galadriel and a sobbing cry broke forth.

"Mother!"

And all the pretence was as naught as the grieving mother fell weeping into her daughter's embrace, crying fulsomely in the unsurpassed joy of holding the child of her womb in her arms once more.

*****
Elvish:
elleth - female elf

*****

THE END

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