Sindarin phrases:
Daro! ~ stop
meleth nín, mil nín ~ my love
gerich veleth nín ~ you have my love
yrch ~ orcs
Navaer ~ farewell

The sun streamed through the trees, lighting up the path through the forest. ‘Can I open my eyes yet?’ Rainwen asked, as Rána led her through the forest along the river, holding her hand. ‘Not yet! We’re almost there,’ was Rána’s answer. They had been out riding, when Rána told her he had a surprise for her. He told her to wait there, and he would return soon. So she waited for him, while he dismounted a ran a little ways ahead, carrying a bag he had brought with him. He ran back a few minutes later, and told her to follow him on foot. So they tied the horses up, and he started leading her through the forest. After a few minutes, he told her she could open her eyes.
There was a small clearing by the river, and on the ground Rána had spread a blanket and set food out on it. There wasn’t much, but enough for a light snack. ‘Oh, it’s beautiful here! Thank you so much! She embraced him, and walked over to sit down with him. They laughed and talked while they ate, then sat on the bank of the river, dipping their feet in the cool, clear water. ‘Oh, Rainwen,’ Rána happily said. ‘In only two months, our year will be over, and we can be wed! No one could be as happy as I am right now, knowing you will be my wife!’ Rainwen smiled, and laid her head on his shoulder. ‘You are mistaken,’ she gently contradicted him. ‘I am just as happy as you, knowing you love me and will be my husband.’ They sat there for a few minutes, then rose and started to walk through the forest to go get their horses.
‘Rainwen, daro!’ Rána commanded. ‘Rána, what’s wrong?’ she asked, noting the urgency in his voice. ‘Something foul is near. I can feel it!’ he said, looking around anxiously. They both drew their bows, and fitted them with arrows. They heard something coming through the woods. ‘Yrch!’ he exclaimed. ‘There are many of them. Stay behind me! I will protect you.’ ‘I cannot let you fight them alone! There are too many,’ Rainwen argued. ‘I don’t want anything to happen to you!’ The orcs stumbled into the clearing, and were shocked to see two elves standing there, with bows drawn. ‘Attack!’ the first one shouted out, right before being shot by Rána’s arrow. Rainwen took the next one, and they continued shooting, Rána trying to keep Rainwen from having to shoot any more than she had to. They killed all the orcs as they came out of the forest, about fifteen in all. They relaxed, and were about to continue on there way, when one last orc stepped out and aimed for Rainwen. ‘No!!!’ Rána shouted. He leapt in from of Rainwen just as the arrow was released. Rainwen screamed as Rána fell to the ground, then drew her bow and shot the orc. She knelt down beside Rána, who had an arrow in his chest, and laid his head in her lap. ‘Rána, meleth nín. You will be fine. I will take you to Lord Elrond. He can heal you!’ ‘No, Rainwen. It’s too late.’ His breathing was heavy, and his words strained. ‘There is nothing to be done for me now.’ ‘But Rána…’ ‘Gerich veleth nín, Rainwen, mîl nín,’ Rána forced the words out. With tears streaming down her face, Rainwen answered, ‘Rána! You can’t leave me now! I need you! I love you!’ ‘I love you too. Remember that always. I love you more than anything… Navaer, meleth nín.’ Rána’s eye’s fluttered closed, and he breathed no more. Rainwen bent down and gently kissed his forehead, then buried her head in his chest, weeping.
She stayed there weeping, and lost all track of time. As evening came, she rose, and washed her face in the river. She walked back to the horses, in a daze over what had happened. She led Rána’s horse back to the clearing. She had the horse kneel down, while she put Rána’s body on its back. She then led the horse back through the forest, and mounted Eärendil, her own horse. She rode home to Rivendell, leading Rána’s horse as well. When she returned, she told Lord Elrond what had happened, then walked around in a daze. She walked outside, through the trees, and to a small bridge over a stream. She walked out on to the bridge, and was flooded with memories. Ten months earlier, her and Rána had been standing on this very bridge, gazing up at the stars in the dark sky. He said he needed to talk to her, and that it was urgent. As she looked questioningly into his eyes, he asked if she would be willing to spend the rest of her life with him. He said he loved her more than anything, and wanted to marry her. That was the happiest night of her life. She loved him with all her heart as well, and could desire nothing more than to be his wife.
As Rainwen stood there gazing at the stars, as she had done with Rána ten months earlier, her heart was broken, and she felt as if she could never love another. She sank to the ground, overcome by her loss.