The Mereth Aderthad was in full swing, the great feast held by High King Fingolfin by the Pools of Ivrin, where Elves of every house and lineage gathered in unity. The air hummed with joy, music, and laughter, a brief reprieve from the shadows of war. Anórien stood amidst the gathered Elves, his heart heavy with both duty and longing. Though he was among old friends, it was one presence that truly drew his attention: Galadriel.
Her golden hair shone under the firelight, a vision of ethereal beauty and strength. It was impossible for Anórien to ignore the pull she had on his heart. Despite the years that had passed, despite his efforts to bury those feelings, Galadriel had never left his thoughts. The ache of love was as sharp as it had been when he first left Doriath. And as he stood there, watching her move gracefully through the crowd, it was as though time had stood still.
She had always been so different, so beyond reach, and yet here she was. His heart thudded in his chest, his fiery red hair shimmering in the light as he tried to push aside the memories of their last conversation, the moments when they had both agreed to part ways. He had left Doriath for his people, for his kingdom, and she had stayed with hers. Yet, deep down, he had never stopped thinking about her.
His gaze met hers across the gathering. For a moment, the world seemed to slow, the music fading, the laughter silencing, and there was nothing but the intensity of her gaze, as though she too had been thinking of him.
Anórien's breath caught in his throat, and without thinking, he began to make his way through the crowd. His guards were a few steps behind, but he barely noticed them. His focus was on her, on the way her eyes followed his every movement, as if she too could not escape the pull between them.
When he finally reached her, the sounds of the feast faded into the background, and all that remained was the soft rustle of the leaves in the night breeze. Galadriel turned to face him, her expression soft yet unreadable.
"Anórien," she said, her voice like music. "I didn't think I'd see you here tonight."
He smiled, though there was a shadow in his eyes. "I would not miss it. The Mereth Aderthad is a moment of great importance—for the unity of our people, for our future. But..." He paused, taking a deep breath, "There is more to it than that, Galadriel. I could not let another year pass without seeing you again."
She was silent for a moment, her eyes searching his face, as if weighing his words. And then, with a gentle smile, she spoke. "I see. And what is it that you wish to say, Anórien?"
His heart beat faster, but he steadied himself, taking a step closer to her. "I never stopped thinking about you, Galadriel. I've spent years trying to ignore it, trying to focus on my duty. But every moment, every day, I find that my thoughts always return to you." His voice was low, earnest. "You are... the one who holds my heart, and it's foolish, I know, but I cannot escape it."
Galadriel's expression softened, and she took a step closer to him. The space between them seemed to shrink until they were standing in the quiet of the night, the world around them forgotten.
"I thought of you, too, Anórien," she said softly, her voice a mixture of wonder and sadness. "But my path was different. I stayed in Doriath to be with my family, to learn from them, and to protect what we have here. The world is changing, and I... I don't know what the future holds."
Anórien reached out, his hand brushing against hers. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down his spine, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to fall away.
"I don't know what the future holds, either," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "But I do know this: I will never stop loving you, Galadriel. No matter the distance, no matter the years, you are in my heart. And I am willing to fight for you—for us—if you'll have me."
Galadriel's eyes glistened, and for a moment, Anórien thought he saw a flicker of hope in them, a flicker that matched the burning desire in his chest.
Without a word, she took his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. Her gaze never left his face, and he could see the conflict within her. But then, she stepped closer, the distance between them almost nothing now.
And then, in the quiet of the night, under the stars that watched over them, Galadriel leaned in and kissed him. It was a kiss of longing, of hope, of everything they had both kept buried for so long. The world seemed to fall away as they stood there, the kiss deepening, as if no one else existed, as if they were the only two souls left in all of Middle-earth.
When they finally pulled away, breathless, Galadriel rested her forehead against his. "I... I do not know what will come of this," she whispered. "But for tonight, Anórien, let us just be together."
Anórien nodded, his heart filled with joy and a quiet certainty. "Tonight is enough, Galadriel. Tonight, we have this."
And as the feast continued around them, they stood together in the quiet of the forest, their hearts finally reunited, their futures uncertain but their love undeniable.