No spring can last

Arwen turns the Elessar over in her hands, watching the soft shimmer of spring light under fresh leaves. Life undying the stone cannot bring, here in Middle-earth; but it has given Rivendell lasting bloom, unblemished fruit, and leaves fallen without rot.

The hands holding it are gifted with healing, but they can do nothing more for the woman in the bed. Arwen brings the stone to her eye and looks through it: refracted in the crystal, her mother’s face is eased of all its pain and suffering.

When she lowers the jewel, the sheen of tears in her sight remains.

[For Loquacious, who wanted drabbles about the Elfstone jewel.]