A Half Elf's Love

The River Nimrodel

Delia was half conscious in my arms as we crossed the Nimrodel. It was night when we did. Delia looked so sick and grief was coursing through my veins. We camped on the shores of the Nimrodel, each of us quiet. A sound could be heard from the river. Delia opened her eyes at it, the light that was normally in her eyes no longer there. A voice broke the silence. It was Legolas.

"Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel?" His voice sounded broken, almost nonexistent against the sad voice of the river. A drop in the running water was the best comparison I had. Sam spoke, his voice filled with grief.

"No. Bilbo never told us 'bout that." I eyed Legolas. His eyes held a sad smile.

"There is a song, in the tongue of elves. I can translate what I remember. It has been a long time since I have heard the song, even in my own time, as the darkness has taken away much of what my kinsman and I hold dear." He began to sing the old song. The Lay of Nimrodel. His voice was shaking a little, muddled with a strange joy and grief. I could see his eyes looking up to the sky. To the stars that shone above us.

An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.

A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair.

Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.

Beside the falls of Nimrodel,
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.

Where now she wanders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.

The elven-ship in haven grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea.

A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose, and loud it cried,
And drove the ship from elven-strands
Across the streaming tide.

When dawn came dim the land was lost,
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray.

Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell,
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel.

Of old he was an Elven-king,
A lord of tree and glen,
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlórien.

From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the water deep,
As mew upon the wing.

The wind was in his flowing hair,
The foam about him shone;
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan.

But from the West has come no word,
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven-folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore.

He stopped, gasping a little, as if on the verge of tears. "That is all I can remember. I hope you can forgive me." We all fell into a peaceful quiet. Delia looked up at me, shivering. Dark circles were forming under her eyes.

"Hello Delia...how are you feeling?" She let out a weak laugh.

"You don't have to lie. I'm dying. I know it." I held her up, closer to my face, so she could see I was serious.

"You will not die. I promised you that back home. I promised you that you would not die as long as I lived. I cannot let you die. I cannot." I felt tears running along my face. She could not die.

"Why?" The words spilled out.

"Because I love you." I swallowed hard, watching her face for any change. "I...I apologize. I should...I-" I was stopped by a kiss. Deliadis had used as much strength as she could and pushed herself up. She was kissing me. The love of my life was kissing me. I kissed her with a hunger. A hunger I had never felt before. She returned it, weakly bringing her hand to my face, brushing her fingers along my cheek. She coaxed a moan from my lips as she bit my bottom lip. I heard someone chuckle softly. I finally broke the kiss, staring around. It was Legolas. He was smiling softly, his eyes puffy from tears. Delia gently kissed my jaw, running her fingers along my neck. She coaxed a soft moan from my lips once more, rooting her hands in my hair to keep herself upright. She was beautiful and I was holding her in my arms. She was mine for this moment in time. For this moment filled with grief and joy, Deliadis was mine.