A love song. A poem. A story. Nothing more. Nothing. And yet everything. In my life, everything.

A circle. A gathering. All the grace summoned, one by one. I watch them come. One by one. I watch them leave. They see me. And greet. Nothing more. They pass on their ships, hugging their loved ones and dears. I have not those. They are gone; they walk the immortal lands. Nothing more.

I see them pass, walk be by. I smile at their merry faces. They smile back. I hold the hands of my lord's children. They smile at them, waiting for their turn. Patiently.

I see him walk, far from me. I see him look. I see him smile. Fake. I breathe deeply, imagining his scent. My lord's children look at me, look at him.

"Go to him," they whisper.

"I cannot," I talk back.

I cannot.

I see him in the distance. He smiles at me. I smile back. Fake. I would have him near. I would dwell in his heart.

I cannot.

Some things are not meant to be. Some things are not for us to decide. He leaves soon. I remain still. He cares for the children, I for our lord. Children go first, yet lord needs to remain.

It is beyond my reach.

I cannot.

I would have him near. I would have him loved and well protected. I would care and pray. I would keep him safe.

Yet, I go and he remains. No time for folly now. No time for love. No time.

My lord's children hold my hands. They know my need. They know my pain. They know me. I will keep them safe.

I look at him secretly. The children occupy him. They are all he needs. Are they not? Who am I to interfere? Who am I to speak? Who am I?

Unworthy of your love, my grace. Unworthy of your look, my star. Unworthy of your touch, my love.

Who am I?

I do not have your mind. I do not possess your skill. I do not have your grace or charm. I do not have your hair or eye or bone. I am not you. Not as perfect as you.

Not perfect. Unworthy.

Why does he watch me so? Why does he pain me so? Does he not know what troubles my heart? Could he not tell my balance dies under his spell? Does he not see?

You have me begging, my grace. You have me crying, my star. You have me loving, my love.

You have me whole.

And yet you will never know. You will never be pained with those as low as I. When compared to you, I am none, my bliss. When dreaming of you, I am living, my life. A word. A memory. A poem. You.

I wish I would have you, my love. I wish my hand could rest in yours. I wish my feet are worthy of your walking ground.

I see you smile. I hear you sing. I feel you walk by. And I dare not.

I gaze at you when you don't see. I listen to you alone. I sing of you when you cannot hear. I sing to you when you sleep.

Does he not know his presence brings me down? When at his side, I watch. I do not talk. I smell. I do not oppose. I listen. I dare not move.

I do not have the skill as yours. I do not have your wisdom. I do not have your voice or hair. I do not have what it needs to be worthy of you.

I am nothing of that lover you summon every night. I do not have the treats your perfect voice blesses when all others sleep.

I have but ears to listen. I have but tears to cry. I have but a heart to love. For you, nothing.

I wish sometimes that my voice had the grace for you to hear. I wish you could hear how I praise. But your perfection is far much too great for me to capture.

I dare not ask. I dare not move. My eyes rest upon your perfect face. My voice hums a lament for your departure.

My heart. Faer. Eternity. Yes. My love for you will never die. Oh, brighter than Eärendil. Oh, sweeter than Lúthien. Oh, wiser than Galadriel.

I know he sings to torture me. It is quiet, but my ears can hear.

You mention your lover again. Who is he? Does he wait on the White Shores? Will my heart be cursed so to watch you rest upon his perfect arms? Will I know him when I arrive? Someone as fair as you speak. He could not be missed.

Someone as fair as you speak. Not as fair as you.

Lord bids farewell and walks to me. His children walk on board.

Lord looks at me and sees my longing. He knows my heart's worst ache.

"Go to him, my friend," he gently speaks, "how long do you dare to wait?"

"I cannot," I whisper. My heart is broken. My voice breaks.

I ache. I fade.

I cannot.

My sweetest love. My reverie. His last sight in months.

One more step and all is gone. White Shores remain. White Shores on which I'll walk and wait upon his ship.

One more step.

I cannot.

What haunts you so, my love? What stops you? Please, do not leave! And yet, you must.

One more step, my love. Please, walk!

Please, do not!

I cannot.

I look at him one last time. My tears, I hide them not.

I love you, my love. I have for eternity. And I have one ahead. And I will. I swear, I will.

My tears can fall. You can see them. Yes, I know. Unworthy. Folly. Sad. I am. All that. Nothing more.

Why do you weep, my love? Why will you not go? Please, don't go, my love. Just leave! Let this fool be. Let me be.

Unworthy of you. Leave! Dying for you. Go!

I cannot let you leave.

"Wait!"

Why do you weep, my love? Do not mind my tears. I look away, for a final step. I will go.

What are months? In my life? Nothing. As am I. and yet, I do not wish them here.

Months without your face. I will die.

What did you say, my love?

I run to him. I cannot take this anymore. Unworthy or not, I will have you say it.

You look away. You look down.

Do you hate me so, my love?

He runs to me. He pities my tears. Could he care? No. He cares not. He pities my tears. He pities me.

I cannot look at him. I fear what his eyes would tell.

I cannot.

"Do you hate me so?"

"Never!"

"Why do you torture me then?"

"Never!"

My hands are in his. A perfect touch. Perfect. His scent devours me. His skin blesses me. It is He. It is You, my love.

His lips meet mine. The kiss makes me weak.

"All these years, my love…"

His fingers touch my face. His tears reappear. He opens his mouth and whispers "Glorfindel…"

His name is my saddest lament. His lips are the reason I live.

"I will wait for you," I swear.

"I will come," he whispers back.

"I will not go!" I choke in his strong arms.

He shows me in. His hand in mine. I will lose that touch!

Do not shake, love of my life. Tremble not! You will have my heart. You always had. You will have me whole.

My sweetest reverie is gone.

He runs to me for a final kiss. I care not what others say.

"Look at the stars, I will sing to you," I promise. He calms down.

His hand still touches mine.

I set him free and the ship moves. Our hands can touch no more.

I will speak your name as I do now.

"Erestor…"

But a day. But a day more. Our lips will touch once more. Never again shall I lose what I took.

My guardian. My saviour. My divine.

But a day more!

Your hand will rest in mine. My head will rest on your shoulder.

But a day. But a day more.

White shore approaches. Many elves await. I do see you. My dark beauty. My beloved. My star.

I run to you.

For I can!