[ElentariGreenleaf]

Elentari sat in silence as her new friend recounted to her the painful memories of how her vision was lost. The elf was lucky – she had avoided the War’s worst battle, sticking to her job of killing Spyders in what was then known as Mirkwood. Finduilas had great courage, for to one so young as her, sight is everything. At that age there is still so much to see. But Elentari hoped to mentor this young woman, teaching her other ways in which she can see. She smiled as Finduilas continued to play with her golden locks, twisting and braiding them.

“Your tale is a grim one,” sighed the elf. “But, if you allow me to, I hope to mentor you, guide you in your life. I once had a mentor, and it was his wish that I should help another the way he helped me. Would you allow me this honour?”

Finduilas ceased to braid the elf’s hair. For a while she seemed to be thinking, and then she seemed on the brink of tears. She had had little or no contact with elves, and for this one, this elf she had only just met, to want to help her, it was wonderful.

“I would very much like that!” said the Gondorian, amongst happy sobs. “But I thought you had perhaps come here to sail beyond the Grey Havens, to the Undying Lands.”

Elentari smiled, laughing a little. “I will never Sail. My duty is to the people of Middle Earth. I help those that need it. I would rather stay here an assist people than sail to Valinor. It may sound strange for and elf to say that, but I will never tire of these lands, for I love them and all in it. There are now no battles for me to die in, so I shall live until Time catches up with me, and then, when I am of no use to people anymore, I shall sail.

“It is a great honour for people to allow me to help them. I have met people who have refused my help, believing that an elf can have no love for mortals. I, and many other elves, are so very different to that opinion – we savour every moment we spend with mortals.”