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The Ages Gone  by Meldewen Ilce

Royal Chief Archivist Note:
The following was found within the annuals of Rivendell, and is directly translated from the manuscipt written by the she-Elf Celevoniêl, daughter of Iphanterien, to whose tale we sadly do not know the end of.



Could it be that the
Mortals' part of Ilúvatar’s
Song could be sweeter?

Could it be they whose
Laterns burn hotter, brighter
Than immortal lights

Be the sweeter part
Of Ilúvatar’s plan for
The world He hath wrought?

Yea the Eldar live
Scores of years longer than the
Secondborn children but

Perhaps in their brief
Existence upon Arda’s
Vast lands is the more

Joyous, and perhaps
It is sweeter than honey
More glorious than

Varda’s handiwork
That glitter as diamonds in
The curtains of black

Could the Edain know
Greater joy than the Eldar?
Surely they know less

Sorrow than those of
Ilúvatar’s creation who
Endure for as long

As Arda itself?
Since they are not bound to the
Circles of the World

Can they see their Gift
For what it is: Freedom from
Eternal despair?

I know that there are
Those of the Edain who would
Give up Ilúvatar’s

Gift to them if they
Could live forever in their
Present form

Could have our own gift
Of immortality; but
As one who lives with

The Gift, it is not
All the Secondborn believe or
Dream it to be

I, Celevoniêl, daughter
Of Iphanterien have lived long enough
To become wearied to the very core of my soul

Will the West truly
Offer me the rest I seek
Or must I go to the Halls to find rest?

Even then I am in
Doubt Mandos can offer me
The rest I so crave

O, Ilúvatar,
Hear the cry of your child
Give my soul its rest!

Or else I beg thee
To release me from the bonds
Of this World’s oppressive Circles

Hear my cry, release
Me from this curse of the
Eldar, make me as one of the Edain...



Archivist Post Script:
Her Majesty the Queen Arwen I, has informed me it is known through the Elven oral history that Iphanterien o sell Celevoniêl departed into the West shortly after she wrote these verses. It is however unknown whether or not Celevoniêl found her peace as those who go do not return from far yonder shores of Aman.





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