Estateillio

Farewell Feast

• Illúmdil was, for all his loyalty to her, a free spirit and so he decided two days before the fellowship would depart to leave as well and to join the Mearas in Rohan for a time and to run with them over the wide open plains of Emnet.

• "Namárië, málornya", Estateillio bid him and Tyelacalossë, who had decided to go with him, and she petted the soft fur of the two horses, "Stay safe."

• "You stay safe as well, rider-daughters", the black stallion replied and then the two gallopped out of Imladris, black and white coats shimmering in the morning sun and the sound of hooves on stone echoed through the chill morning air.

• And then they were gone, the two horses of Valinor, one of the few who had survived until now. And the elleth returned to her chambers to make preparations for her own journey, which were made better earlier than too late.

• Clothes were searched for loose threads, the bracers and all the buckles checked for blemishes and she made sure that the bow and the arrows had no splinters and that the string wasn't likely to tear anytime soon and when she went downstairs for the daily practice with the hobbits, she took some arrows from the armoury to refill her quiver.

• And the next day she took to her weapons, polishing the twin swords and her dagger and knives and sharpening them until she was satisfied and then, in the afternoon, she gathered other supplies, food and herbs and all else that one might need.

• In the evening, there was a feast to honour the Ringbearer and the Fellowship before they would depart into danger and there was music and fine meals with more meat than they would usually have, because the hunters had brought more for the dwarves.

• And when they were done eating, Elrond rose and held a small speech: "Friends and Strangers. Elves, Men, Dwarves and Hobbits. We are gathered here tonight to honour the Fellowship of the Ring, brave people of all the races and of all corners of Middle Earth, united now against a common foe, against Sauron, the Abhorred. Long have we fought him, long have we strived for his downfall and now, if fate is kind, he shall fall. May the blessings of all free folk go with you and may a star shine upon you always."

• And there was a round of applause and cheers and then the festivity shifted towards the hall of fire, where many songs of hope and unity were sung and Bilbo finally presented the song he had been working on the last days, a song about the star of hope, because, as he put it, "hope will always prevail, even in the darkest dark where you are going."

• And the Song of Eärendil, of Gil-Estel the brightest star, the star of high hope, went thusly:

Eärendil was a mariner
that tarried in Arvernien;
he built a boat of timber felled
in Nimbrethil to journey in;
her sails he wove of silver fair,
of silver were her lanterns made,
her prow was fashioned like a swan,
and light upon her banners laid.
In panoply of ancient kings,
in chainéd rings he armoured him;
his shining shield was scored with runes
to ward all wounds and harm from him;
his bow was made of dragon-horn,
his arrows shorn of ebony;
of silver was his habergeon,
his scabbard of chalcedony;
his sword of steel was valiant,
of adamant his helmet tall,
an eagle-plume upon his crest,
upon his breast an emerald.
Beneath the Moon and under star
he wandered far from northern strands,
bewildered on enchanted ways
beyond the days of mortal lands.
From gnashing of the Narrow Ice
where shadow lies on frozen hills,
from nether heats and burning waste
he turned in haste, and roving still
on starless waters far astray
at last he came to Night of Naught,
and passed, and never sight he saw
of shining shore nor light he sought.
The winds of wrath came driving him,
and blindly in the foam he fled
from west to east and errandless,
unheralded he homeward sped.
There flying Elwing came to him,
and flame was in the darkness lit;
more bright than light of diamond
the fire upon her carcanet.
The Silmaril she bound on him
and crowned him with the living light
and dauntless then with burning brow
he turned his prow; and in the night
from Otherworld beyond the Sea
there strong and free a storm arose,
a wind of power in Tarmenel;
by paths that seldom mortal goes
his boat it bore with biting breath
as might of death across the grey
and long forsaken seas distressed;
from east to west he passed away.
Through Evernight he back was borne
on black and roaring waves that ran
o'er leagues unlit and foundered shores
that drowned before the Days began,
until he heard on strands of pearl
where ends the world the music long,
where ever-foaming billows roll
the yellow gold and jewels wan.
He saw the Mountain silent rise
where twilight lies upon the knees
of Valinor, and Eldamar
beheld afar beyond the seas.
A wanderer escaped from night
to haven white he came at last,
to Elvenhome the green and fair
where keen the air, where pale as glass
beneath the Hill of Ilmarin
a-glimmer in a valley sheer
the lamplit towers of Tirion
are mirrored on the Shadowmere.
He tarried there from errantry,
and melodies they taught to him,
and sages old him marvels told,
and harps of gold they brought to him.
They clothed him then in elven-white,
and seven lights before him sent,
as through the Calacirian
to hidden land forlorn he went.
He came unto the timeless halls
where shining fall the countless years,
and endless reigns the Elder King
in Ilmarin on Mountain sheer;
and words unheard were spoken then
of folk of Men and Elven-kin,
beyond the world were visions showed
forbid to those that dwell therein.
A ship then new they built for him
of mithril and of elven-glass
with shining prow; no shaven oar
nor sail she bore on silver mast:
the Silmaril as lantern light
and banner bright with living flame
to gleam thereon by Elbereth
herself was set, who thither came
and wings immortal made for him,
and laid on him undying doom,
to sail the shoreless skies and come
behind the Sun and light of Moon.
From Evereven's lofty hills
where softly silver fountains fall
his wings him bore, a wandering light,
beyond the mighty Mountain Wall.
From World's End there he turned away,
and yearned again to find afar
his home through shadows journeying,
and burning as an island star
on high above the mists he came,
a distant flame before the Sun,
a wonder ere the waking dawn
where grey the Norland waters run.
And over Middle-earth he passed
and heard at last the weeping sore
of women and of elven-maids
in Elder Days, in years of yore.
But on him mighty doom was laid,
till Moon should fade, an orbéd star
to pass, and tarry never more
on Hither Shores where Mortals are;
for ever still a herald on
an errand that should never rest
to bear his shining lamp afar,
the Flammifer of Westernesse. 

• "Bold of him to sing a song about Eärendil in the halls of Elrond", Estateillio mused and Arwen chuckled and Aragorn replied: "I told him that it would be his own affair if he made a song about Eärendil here."

• Elrond, who had until now spoken to Glorfindel, came over to them and asked the ranger to join him for a moment to talk.

• "Didst thou tell him, Rendiel?", Estateillio quietly asked, after the two men were out of hearing range, and her niece shook her head and admitted: "I either did not find the courage or the time to do so."

• The older elleth sighed: "You should. It is his right to know what you did, that he can go to you for advice even though you are miles apart. He loves you, Rendiel, he deserves to know such."

• "I know, I'm just... nervous? Afraid?" Arwen hunched her shoulders. "Sometimes", the elleth began, frowning deep in thoughts, pursing her lips, "Sometimes, in love, such fears are arbitrary."

[《◇》]
Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoyed!
AT
P.S.:
Namárië -> farewell
Málornya -> my friends
Rendiel -> niece
P.P.S.: Check out Clamavi de Profundis' version of the Song of Eärendil, they're amazing.