Imladris

With a gasp, she pulls herself free of the water. To stand under the falls behind the East Porch, water chilled by autumnal winds, was enough to clear her mind of anything.

My soldier.

Mallossel furrows her brows and looks away from him. "I understand. But I would do what I did again if it meant you were safe."

Mallossel takes in a deep breath and then exhales as she looks upwards to the sky. "Do you see them all there, the stars? Our kind has so much love for them."

Blameless.

.Blameless

“Regret is a most powerful motivator indeed.”

“Regret for some, resolve for others. Hope for the rest.”

There were fell voices on the air. Whispers that I could make no sense of. The wind was cold and biting against my skin. It howled and moaned in my ears, but still, the whispers were tangible. My feet cannot move through the snow. Is it snow? Is it something else? I cannot move.

a sequel to this story

It is not often that I get to take a long breath. A deep breath. Usually my breathing is marked by the dire straits of adrenaline in war, or by the choking pressure on my throat of pride and anger. For once, I can breathe freely, and all is well. The air in Imladris is fresh and without fear, and it is welcome in my lungs. 

I stare down at the ring on my finger. Unlike the traditions of Men, we bear our rings on our right index finger. This is the one time I am grateful that I bear arms with my left hand; there is less of a chance of me losing the ring whilst swinging a sword. (Though it is not as if I plan to bear arms again anytime soon).