The Edge of Night

Beyond the Edge of Night, Into the White Light of Forever

Many moons had passed since the coronation of Aragorn. Eomer had made plans to return to Edoras with those remaining from the Rohirrim and Haldir and Elfwyn were to accompany him before turning north to the Golden Wood. Eowyn would remain in Minas Tirith with Faramir, her path finally separating from her brother's and cousin's. "I know it is scary, the unknown. But you are not alone, Faramir is here with you and, should you need me, I will be by your side in a heartbeat." Elfwyn whispers in her cousin's ear as she hugs her goodbye. With one final hug to the newly crowned king and queen of Gondor, her and Haldir, along with Eomer and the remaining men of Rohan, head for home, beginning the long journey back to the Golden Hall.

The plains of Rohan were mostly charred, blackened from the fires of the Wild Men. The rains had at least put the fires out, but the earth was broken and bruised. She could hear it cry out in its pain. Elfwyn sheds a tear. This was her home. It felt like a lifetime since she first left, exiled by a madman's wish to gain more than he needed. Apart from the obvious changes, she brings a gentle hand up to feel the new points that formed at the tips, a clear representation of all that had changed, she was not the same girl that left Edoras almost seven months since her initial departure. With a sad face, she looks up onto the hill that the Golden Hall sits upon. "Do you wish that you were returning permanently?" Haldir's voice pierces the never-ceasing train of thought that had overtaken her.

"Nay. Where you are, is where I belong. This is just not how I imagined this war would have ended. Loss of life is inevitable. That much I knew even before this gift was bestowed upon me. But there was no way of knowing that I would be the last of my family to return to these halls."

"And of your rule?"

She smiles sadly. "I cannot give my people what they need. Eomer will marry another from Rohan and the line shall continue with my cousin. He will make our forefathers proud, of that I have no doubt."

They continue towards the home of her childhood, and stand once more in the stone halls of her forefathers. Servants and Rohirrim, what remain of them anyway, tarry here and there as everyone works together to return the Golden Hall to its former light, as if they had not been gone for weeks. Every direction she turned, she was confronted with ghosts of her past, visions of her brother and cousins during simpler times, of childhood squeals as they played hide and seek whilst her father and uncle held court in the main hall.

Overcome with these images of a past that she mourned for, and of a future that now escaped her, she rushes from the hall, her skirt flowing out behind her. Haldir moves to follow but Eomer places a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "She needs to do this in private. I know my cousin. She does not like to appear weak in front of anyone, not even those she holds dear."

Down the hillside she runs, through the town as the people, her people, stare on, her sorrow reflected in their eyes as there is no family amongst them who has not suffered heavy losses. In the foot of the hill, in front of the tomb that held her brother, uncle, grandfather and every ruler that came before her, she falls to her knees. There would be a formal funeral, one fit for a king, once everyone had a chance to resettle. She could feel the presence of her father all around her. The wind seemed to mimic his fingers, stroking her cheek to try and wipe away the tears that ran down them. "I am sorry." Her small voice is almost lost in the breeze. "I am sorry that I ran away. That I did not stay and fight for our people, until it was too late. I am sorry that I will not be joining you, that I have forged a path that will not one day lead me back to you." Elfwyn had spent her life being told that she felt too deeply, that her emotions were always right below the surface. Legolas told her once that elves feel even more deeply than humans and she was experiencing that now. This pain felt like her heart was stopping.

...

Two days had come and gone and she was once again standing before a funeral procession in the Great Hall, donned in black, a veil shrouding her features from the others gathered. Eomer stood in front, the crown upon his brow another reminder of what all had come to pass. Haldir beside her, his presence giving her strength even if he himself was not aware of it.

They descended the hillside, the people of Edoras lined on either side, bowing their heads in respect as the body of their king made its way to its final resting place. Unlike her brother's, she remembers every word of this funeral, remembers the song on the wind that the maidens sang, the words spoken by Eomer describing her father's valiance, his determination in battle. Elfwyn is silent, a stoic statue as if carved by the gods next to her brother. The sun is bright that day. Nature couldn't understand that this was not a day for cheer. Her hair dazzled in the sun in a way it did not do as a mortal, giving an eeriness that had those gathered ill-at-ease, though they were not sure why.

The stone rolled back in front of the opening to the crypt, a resounding thud to bookend the life of her beloved father. A single tear fell down her cheek before her sad eyes turned to find her husband's. "It is time." Her voice carries on the breeze.

"Are you certain? The Lord and Lady will not mind if we tarry here for a few days more."

"I love my cousin. But Edoras is no longer home. Father is not here. Theodred is not here. Eowyn remains in Gondor. I have nothing for me here. You are bound to your duty to the Lord and Lady and I am bound to you." She smiles sadly at him before they move to walk back to the stable together.

"Are you sure you must leave now?" Eomer asks as he watches her once again make preparations to leave their home without him.

"Yes. We have been away from Lothlorien for too long. It is time to live that life we fought for." She places a comforting hand on his cheek. "I am a short ride from you. Like Eowyn, should you need me, I will be here in a heartbeat." And so, the final breath of their journey was upon them. Haldir, Elfwyn and the remaining Lothlorien company turned north towards the forest, anxious to be home.

Years passed, as they do. Elfwyn watched her cousins marry and bring forth their own children. She got to witness Arwen bless Aragorn with an heir, securing the new line for Gondor. Lothlorien remained in a golden glow, a permanent fall, waiting for the first glimpses of snow that all who lived there knew was imminent. But in those years, Elfwyn began to feel the parts of her that were missing, the things she had once wanted from life. Haldir noticed it too and so, a decision was made. And ten years after the destruction of the ring, ten years that both dragged on and passed in the blink of an eye, Elfwyn and Haldir beget a child, the first and last elfling to be born after the War of the Ring.

Elfwyn bore him a daughter, Aerin, for her eyes were the color of the rolling waves that would one day carry them to Valinor. She was beloved by all who dwelt in Lorien but especially by her parents. Thus, Elfwyn's dream, the very one that started her on her own journey, had come to pass. With her simbelmynë circlet placed upon her brow, she followed her husband and daughter across the sea, into the white light of forever. 

AN: And with that, The Edge of Night has come to an end. I cannot believe this took me the entirety of 2023 to finish. I have loved every minute of writing Elfwyn and exploring another fandom that has meant so much to me over the years. Haldir deserved better than the ending he received in the movie trilogy. And as abrupt as it might be, I'm glad to have given him my version of that. Thank you to all who have followed along with this story as I slowly put out each installment. Your comments, likes and library adds are always appreciated.