The last notes of the song hung on the air, pale and fragile and trembling. My last tribute to Ada and NanathIlthwen let tears trickle down her face as she laid the flowers on the coffins. She fell to her knees and wept silently until a lady touched her shoulder.

“Please,” she began, carefully. “I speak Sindarin, but I still am learning Quenya. Please,” she repeated, “What did your song mean?” Ilthwen struggled to hold back tears as she sang haltingly,

“Please, keep me safe,
For I weep and I am alone.
Ada and Nana! Please take me,
Hold me in your arms.
I cry in my pillow at night, ‘you are gone,’
And I fade like pale rose in morn,
Keep me, hold me, and take me! I
Long for you, for with you I am safe.
But you are dead, you both
Are dead, I am alone.
And my tears fall like rain,
Like summer rain, pouring.
For I am alone, and you are dead.”
Ilthwen broke down in tears. “You are dead!” she sobbed. “I am alone…!

***

“It keeps me firm, that song. It makes me want to die but keep going. I can and can’t,” Ilthwen was saying. “I have to survive and carry on the legacy. With Cale and Dina gone…” She suddenly was pulled into the memory – crackling fire, dancing shadows, flickering flame, and terrible screams. “And Cale was but a baby. But a baby! It was horrible. Screams and shadows… torch light and candle light and thick, black, horrible smoke. And everything was gone just like that. Ada and Nana escaped, carrying Cale and Dina, but ’twas too late. Nothing could have saved them. Any of them. Ada and Nana survived for 200 aching, painful years. I waited on them, caring for them, but they would die anyways. I knew it. The burns… the memories… the smoke they inhaled… everything… everything… and when Cale died, he coughed up a little bit of blood, whispered, “Love? Death pass.” And he just… faded… Then Dina… She began screaming and shouting and thrashing horrendously and then suddenly lay still. She shouted out, “Ada! Nana! Cale! Ilthwen! Carry on! I am dying,” and she died like that. Ada hugged her, but Nana turned away. Our house… gone. Our family… gone. Our joy… gone. It was all too much. Nana went crazy with the pain. She died first. Then Ada died from grief and hate. And I am the last one. I can’t explain the horrors I recall.” She hugged the lady and said through her tears,

“I don’t even know your name, but you know my whole life story!” The woman touched her and said, “I was sent to relieve your pain. I am Arwen Undomiel, and I shall cast a spell over you.” Ilthwen smiled bitterly. “Nothing can make me forget. Only death can free me.” Ilthwen lunged for a knife, but Arwen Undomiel reached out a hand. Ilthwen suddenly cried out, “I am alone!” All at once, Arwen screamed. Ilthwen staggered backwards. Blood gushed from her arm. Everything was confusion. “Are you hurt? Which of us is hurt?” Arwen was crying. Ilthwen was laughing, “I am alive, and oh thank goodness I am alive! Oh!” Arwen hugged her.

“Yes, but dawn comes. I fade, like any spirit.” She disappears like breath on the wind.

“She taught me to be glad. I know now that life is precious… and all who bear it must die someday. I am of the line of Elbereth, and the last of Elbereth will not fall easily! No, the last of the line of Elbereth, of Gilthoniel, of the star kindler of the skies will not fall easily!” And she cried, “Thank you for life! I love you, Ada and Nana! I love you, Cale and Dina! I love you, Ilthwen! I love you, Arwen Undomiel! I love you… life!” She smiled.