[Elora]

Uien found Eswen and Lumiel in short order, but not before lamenting the momentary departure of Falowik and turning back to gaze at his golden form in the deepening night as he spoke with Eodwine. Bright did the flame within her burn, and she would have it no other way. She found Lumiel with the wolf cub, stroking its fur. She joined the Elf quietly, slipping in to sit beside her and for a moment there was silence. Lumiel discreetly studied the other's mien and wondered what had happened to illuminate Uien's eyes and features so on this day. She wondered, but in the way of her kin, made no direct approach on it. Uien would speak of it in her own time. Instead, Lumiel continued to pet the cub which was nosing Uien's hand hopefully. Uien felt it's wet nose move lightly over her palm and she smiled softly at the cub.

"Alas, I have nothing for you to eat, but that can be easily repaired," she said with fondness as she ordered her thoughts. She looked in time at Lumiel and found her already studying her.

"Where is Eswen," Uien asked first. She worried most after Lira's faithful close friend and sadness could break a spirit beneath its burden if allowed to.

"She is taking in the evening stars," Lumiel replied and Uien nodded. "I will look in on her soon," Uien replied. There was little a healer could do, but perhaps a friend could ease some of the pain, perhaps solitude. Uien could not say until she spoke with Eswen herself and the healer in her was determined to guage at least that much.

"We will depart soon to take Lira home," Lumiel said, her hand on the wolf's pelt slowing. Uien nodded, gathered her breath and broke the quiet interlude. "I, we would accompany you if we may."

"We?"
"Falowik and I... we would both see Lira safely returned to her home in these lands if we may." Lumiel smiled and nodded. "I would be glad your presence, you and Falowik both," she said with a deepening smile. Uien inclined her head and resumed patting the cub, who was studying each Elf in turn with liquid dark eyes.

"We needs must put in at the Stonebow Inn. Once there, Falowik and I can catch you up on the East Road." Lumiel smiled anew. "Aye, that seems well... ," she paused a moment and considered something before resuming speaking. "Yes, well enough indeed."

Uien settled back and a companionable silence fell over the pair. After a long moment, Uien slowly rose, dusting off her skirts. "I will speak with Eswen and tell her of our intentions." Lumiel nodded and watched the other walk into the night with a curious face. Something was afoot with Uien and Falowik, and it was writ through Uien's gaze and shimmered in her smile whenever she spoke his name or thought of him.

Uien did not have to walk for long until she found Eswen. The Elf was wrapped about in the fresh sharp pain of loss that Uien could sense. Loss and something else. Recrimination... self blame? Uien's heart panged with lament and her mind was troubled. Grief could be a terrible bane for her kindred...

"Eswen," she called in quiet voice so as not to startle the other woman. Eswen barely moved in the darkness. Uien edged closer, stood a moment considering and decided to seat herself next to Eswen.

"Lira will be glad of her homecoming with you escorting her back to her people," Uien said gently. Eswen sighed, a deep sound that shivered up from the depth of her soul, and turned her face to Uien. Grief was stamped deeply upon her features and Uien fell silent. She knew that grief, the darkness that could envelope mind and spirit, an eternally cold maw of black despair. She reached and brushed Eswen's hand with her finger tips to draw her thoughts into the present for the moment.

"You can find Lira again, Eswen, beyond the Seas. But not if you go that way. There is no return from that dark void, mellon." There was a note in Uien's voice that hinted at experience. Eswen shook her head.

"I know it... yet..."
"The knowing does not ease the grief." Uien finished. Eswen nodded and silence fell once more for a moment.
"Then perhaps knowing that now Lira graces the once well-kept and well-ordered Halls of Mandos, breathing new life into that hallowed place..." Uien suggested.
After a delay, Eswen added, "And turning all onto it's ear in her own fashion," with an aching fondness that drew a bittersweet smile to both their faces.

"Yes," Uien agreed. "Lira was a force unto herself. May her memory and spirit remain so."

"You could sooner turn the wind than change Lira's nature," Eswen observed. Uien fell silent, recalling the moment Lira turned her recollections, her memories on their heads and woken a new hope within her. Such kindess, valour and compassion. It was those qualities that rendered her more beautiful than any Elf Queen that Uien had beheld. Valinor would receive her in honour.

"Eswen, will you grant Falowik and I the honour and grace of accompanying Lira to her home?" Eswen paused and turned to look closely at Uien.

"That would mean passing through..."

"Yes," Uien quickly said, unsurprised that Lira had spoken to her friend of Uien's fateful disaster upon the mountain passes, though perhaps neither knew the full extent of that woe. "Yes, it does. Will you have us?"

Eswen sensed the tension in Uien's voice and wondered at that. "Lira would be glad of your company," she replied. Uien nodded, "Then we shall meet you upon the East Road. We first must make for Stonebow Inn and then Bree to report on events." Eswen touched her hand to Uien as the woman rose to give Eswen some calm solitude.

"Thank you, Uien. Thank you both." Uien smiled down to Eswen and slowly turned back for the camp. It was done. She and Falowik would set out together, and meet with Lira's escort on the Road. There was something else she had yet to do, but that needed to wait until Lauréatan knew the truth of the path she had chosen. She would only reveal to others, including her friends and kindred what he himself knew and accepted. But Uien could do nothing to concel the turn of her heart and soul, and the flight her spirit soared in whenever thought of Falowik came to her, and that was frequently. She walked back to camp with a serene smile that glowed in the evening.