"I feel a little strange like a great burden has been lifted from me,"

They gathered at the quayside as the sun was lowering in the sky, Thranduil, Márafea, Glorfindel, Celeborn, Elladan, Elrohir and Sam. Attendants were busy making the final preparations aboard the magnificent gleaming white ship before them, gently bobbing in the water. "Círdan has truly surpassed himself, with this vessel," said Glorfindel.

Thranduil held Márafea's hand tightly as if fearing she would run, but she did not resist and let him lead her to the jetty. First, to board were the attendants and crew, who then helped Sam up the gangplank. Then Celeborn, who did not look back but went to the prow of the ship his eyes fixed upon the setting sun. Next to board were the sons of Elrond, joining their grandfather on the prow.

"It is time, Gracious Lady," said Glorfindel, ushering them up onto the gangplank. But at that moment, Márafea heard a voice calling out behind her.

She turned to see Mithlothiel dismounting her horse and running towards them. "Ada! Nana! wait please!"

"I am sorry Gracious Lady you, must board," said Glorfindel firmly. Márafea released her hand from Thranduil's grasp.

"A moment, please," she cried, running towards her daughter before anyone could stop her. She held Mithlothiel tightly in her embrace. "You should not have come, my precious one, not to the sea. Your choice is your doom," she cried.

"I had to come, my dreams led me here. Take me with you, I am ready to go, please," she begged. Thranduil came and embraced them both. "My dear little Mithlothiel, your heart is so pure and true for this world. Of course, you can come if that is your wish."

But Círdan shook his head, "Alas Mithlothiel, daughter of Thranduil. Providence has brought you over many miles to be here at this moment. Your choice is made, but your time has not yet come. There is but one service the Valar asks of you." He produced a scroll from his robes, " The last ship is leaving Middle Earth from Mithlond, but there are yet more ships that will leave Middle Earth across the western sea. You must return to the south and pass this to your brother Legolas. It contains the plans and guidance on how the ships must be built. Many years it will take to build and when the ships are ready, there will be a place for you." he handed her the scroll.

"The Sun is low in the sky now, please you must board," insisted Glorfindel.

Then Márafea, through her tears, removed the ring from her finger and placed it upon Mithlothiel's. "This once belonged to your uncle and grandfather, who both were slain and await us in the far west. Keep it in memory of us and return it when you join us." Three large teardrops fell from her eyes into Mithlothiel's hand. Márafea closed her daughter's hand, and they both kissed her farewell. Then, hand in hand, they walked up the gangplank and stood at the stern in each other's arms. "Elviel, I call myself by my Mother name," called Mithlothiel. Her parents nodded through their tears as Glorfindel and Círdan boarded, "I shall not let you down!" she cried as the gangplank was pulled away.

The anchor was drawn up and the wind caught the sails. The ship pulled away into the sunset as Elviel waved farewell. She stayed until she could see the ship no longer, then opened her closed hand. There in her palm were three white gems in teardrop form. "mother's tears," she whispered.

Legolas dismounted his horse and ran to her, embracing her tightly. "Mithlothiel! sister, thank goodness we have found you, we were all so worried when you disappeared. It is not wise for one such as you to come to the sea."

Elviel showed Legolas the gems. "Ada and Nana are gone into the west, I saw them leave. Nana gave me her ring and these are made from her tears. I have made my choice Legolas, I am Elviel now and I have rejected the gift of men. Please, brother, I no longer wish to serve Queen Arwen or to remain in the realms of men. Let me come home with you, to Ithilien."

Legolas smiled, "Of course, you can. If that is your wish, then I will take you back to Ithilien with me. But if you have chosen immortality, why did you not leave with the others?"

"The Valar have given me a task, I must pass this to you," Elviel handed him the scroll. "these are shipbuilding plans, from Círdan the Shipwright. He said I was to pass them to you."

Legolas opened the scroll and smiled, "yes everything is here, we shall build fine ships and go into the West together."

"Yes brother we shall," replied Elviel and arm in arm, they returned to their horses.

-------------------------------------

As the ship gently made its way to the open water, Márafea's eyes remain fixed upon the shore until she could no longer see Mithlond. Then she let out a wail as one whose heart had truly broken into pieces and collapsed upon the deck. Thranduil called for help, cradling her in his arms and begging her to wake as Celeborn and the twins cried out at the sight of Márafea's lifeless body. Glorfindel came and held her hand. "She is fading from grief, her mortal body could no longer take the strain."

Thranduil looked at him in horror. "My Thorwen is dying?"

"Her mortal body is dying. I did not know this would happen," replied Glorfindel.

They lifted her and took her to the deck cabin. "There is little more we can do, if at all. I am sorry," said Glorfindel. He kissed her upon the forehead. "Come back to us, Gracious lady, you are loved and will be sorely missed should you leave us," he whispered. The others did likewise, then respectfully left the cabin.

When they had gone, Thranduil howled with his whole being. "I have failed you Mime Melda, all I did was not enough. Oh let me pass to Mandos for all eternity for to endure life without my Thorwen is too much to bear!" But Márafea's breath grew fainter, and he laid next to her, his head upon her chest listening to every beat of her slowing heart. His mind returned to all those years ago when he had ordered Calenamath to bring him Elrond's fading daughter. His Elk was faster than any horse and he was her only chance. How he had felt her little heartbeat against his chest as he galloped back to the Elven Halls at full speed. He had still felt that little heart beating long after the Healers had carried her away into the halls. And with those thoughts, he fell into a very deep sleep.

Later, he awoke with a start as he felt movement beneath him. At first, he did not realize where he was, then he remembered. He looked up, expecting to see the lifeless body of his silver haired wife. Instead, it was a dark haired Elven maiden who lay beside him. In shock, Thranduil grabbed hold of the maiden, shaking her to waking. "Where is my wife? Where is Thorwen? What have you done with her?"

The maiden awoke, her bright grey eyes looked at him fearfully. "Do you not recognise me, Mime Melda?"

Thranduil sat back as the realisation dawned upon him. "Thorwen?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I am Thorwen. I am Márafea no longer, I am reborn but not unchanged."

Thranduil shook his head, "How can this be?"

"Eru gave me a choice, to be as I was and forever sundered from you, or to forgo my divinity, become an Elf and share your doom. I chose to be with you and from this day forth, I am bound to this body forever."

"What of our Children?" asked Thranduil.

"They are in Middle Earth, they will know nothing of this unless they take the straight road," said Thorwen. They embraced and wept tears of joy.

"Are you, well?" asked Thranduil.

"Yes, but I feel a little strange, like a great burden has been lifted from me," replied Thorwen.

Thranduil examined her face and hair. "You look young again."

"I am as if I have come of age as an Elf, I suppose I have really. I have never been an Elf before. She looked at him fearfully. "Are you, disappointed by my form?"

Thranduil held her youthful face. "How could I be, Thorwen? You are everything to me. You are as you were that day, we played in the river shallows and you nearly fell in the fast-flowing currents."

Thorwen laughed, "And you pulled me to safety." There was a knock on the cabin door. 

"Enter!" called Thranduil. 

Glorfindel opened the door, his mouth dropped open in surprise. "By The One?" 

Thorwen looked at him and smiled. "I am returned Glorfindel, no longer divine but reborn and bound to this form forever."

Glorfindel knelt before her "Oh, my Lady, forgive me for the task laid upon me. I did not know it would cause you such perilous grief."

Thorwen smiled and held his face, "there is nothing to forgive Glorfindel, my dear friend. You have done the Valar's bidding and ensured that I returned home, where I belong."

Glorfindel smiled back then rose and called out to those on deck, "Celeborn, Elladan, Elrohir, come quickly, a miracle has happened." Those present were stunned with silence as Thorwen and Thranduil emerged from the cabin.

"My dearest Thorwen is returned to us. She has forsaken the divine and has been reborn among us," Thranduil announced. All present gasped in amazement then.

"But I have no name save that which my husband gave me," said Thorwen. Celeborn came forth smiling, embraced her. "Blessings be upon you, daughter of Elrond, our kin awaits us on the Quayside of Avallónë. Your father has your name, It was no accident that on the day of your birth, your mortal mother placed you in his arms before that of your mortal father." Then, Elladan and Elrohir embraced her, "This is truly a miracle of The One," said Elrohir.

Sam caught a glimpse of Thorwen's arms as a passing wind drew back the sleeves of her gown. "My lady, look! No scars, not even a blemish."

Thorwen looked at her arms in wonder, then raised her skirts slightly. She back looked at Thranduil in disbelief. "I am made whole again!" Then high above them in the night's sky, the light of a great star shone upon the ship, for a moment Thorwen thought she could just make out a figure aboard a flying ship who raised his hand to her in welcome, then it was gone. "Eärendil," she whispered.

"Rain ahead!" called Círdan from the wheel of the ship. They all made their way to the prow. There they saw it, a great curtain of grey rain. Slowly it rolled back to reveal Aman in all its splendour. Thranduil looked at Thorwen, "Is this it?"

"Yes," she replied, "This is home."