Anariel of Erudin: The Age of Revolution | Lord of the Rings

13. A Bitter Farewell

"So what is it you think you cannot do?" asked the elf once I'd finally settled down.

"I ... I ..." I let out a deep sigh. "I don't know anymore. I'm very overwhelmed."

The elf nodded. "Like when I suddenly asked you to play the harp? You were quite overwhelmed then, were you not?"

"Yes, I guess."

"But you played anyway," he went on, "and produced something very beautiful."

"I did?"

"Because you listened to your heart instead of your head. Your head was telling you that it was impossible, but your heart already know the perfect song to play. You need to have more faith in yourself, Anariel."

What if my heart is just as confused as my head? I wondered, but the question never left my lips. "Thank you ... I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"Castien, my name is Castien. Now, I suggest you talk with him and tell him how you really feel. If you wait too long, it may be too late. We elves may have all eternity, but you do not."

"Right," I said, "that too is a problem."

Castien chuckled. "You will never let your mind rest, will you? I swear, you enjoy your troubled thoughts far too much. But do consider my advice. I think it will help you."

"I will," I replied. "I will speak to him. Thank you."

I was just about to leave when I heard a woman's voice in the distance: Sanya's voice, calling out to Castien affectionately, as only a lover would. Not wanting to suffer through another uncomfortable situation with the elf-princess, I quickly took my leave.

Now, I wasn't intending to spy on them, but my curiosity was too great to ignore, so I hid myself among the trees and watched them closely, eager to see if Sanya was truly as horrible as she seemed.

"I should have known you would be here," Sanya said to the elf, who'd sat himself down at the base of a tree and returned to his harp. "Were you speaking to someone just now?"

"Just the flowers. They are blooming quite nicely this season."

"It is a miracle for them to have bloomed at all, with all the sickness in the air. They have destroyed this world, Castien, and worse yet, they do not seem to care."

"Have faith, Sanya. This world is not yet lost." He stopped strumming and smiled at the elf-princess. "Would you like to play?"

Sanya laughed. "I think all the flowers would wilt if I played."

"You are modest."

"No, I am worried, for Middle-earth and for my brother. I know what he intends to do, Castien. He had the nerve to ask for my advice."

"And what did you say to him?"

"I told him the truth, of course. I said, 'You are making a grave mistake,' but he would not listen to me. He claims to love her, though I cannot understand why. I mean, have you met her?"

"Yes, and she seems like a very sweet girl. She has a child-like curiosity that I find quite endearing."

"That's because she is a child, and Legolas is behaving like one, thinking he can love someone after knowing them for only a short while. True love takes time and patience." She smiled at the elf. "You should know that better than anyone."

Castien shrugged. "Well, to be fair, he cannot wait two hundred years. The poor girl will be dead by then."

"Another reason why this match is ill-fated." Sanya crossed her arms over her chest. "If only Legolas could see that, but he seems desperate to me. He is trying too hard."