1. Beyond Healing
A new body.
I am sitting in the sand on the shores of Eldamar, near the city of Olwë, alone. I realise I am still half-consciously stretching my fingers, moving my toes, touching my face in a state of wonder, almost disbelief. But I suppose this is perfectly normal behaviour after centuries of abiding in the Halls of Mandos.
I will get used to this. Although everything about me seems slightly more beautiful than it was—my complexion is fairer, my hair feels softer and yet stronger, my skin is smooth. More wholesome. That's how Rodnor described it when we met this afternoon. It was strange to see him again—I had last been with him in bodily form when he was but a child.
As I think about it, I feel more wholesome, too. I don't know what others would do if they discovered they had suffered an injury that was beyond even the powers of Valinor to heal.
For I will not find him here, and I am well aware of it.
But because I know now that I will never heal, I can watch the foaming waves upon the sand with a smile upon my new face.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
