16. Despair and Revelation

She looked at length, and saw him smile
With fragile face, and while she wondered
Seemed to speak. She strained to understand.
`So she is gone,' he whispered. `Lost
`Beyond the world.'
- And on one cheek -
- a droplet pearled. -

Suddenly he seemed to notice Nèhaléni,
Straightening, stepped back. Many minutes
Lapsed. He laughed. `I must admit it!'
`Love is cruel!'
- `And fate has played me -
- `for a fool!' -

She shut her eyes.
Across the floor
- his footsteps echoed -
- toward the door. -

`Stay! No, stop!' she cried and quick
Past Daeron darting on flickering feet
She set herself to meet her match
In anguish and despair:
- The lamp behind her limned the door -
- And framed her hair. -

She stopped: her staring agate eyes
Met his. Mute, surprised, he stood
In shock. `For shame! I could be cold
'As thee, my lord, and call it love!'
'Or court a dream, and call it constancy!'
She shook her head. `Yet what a tale
'My tears could tell!
- 'For my daughter's name -
- 'would be Fíriel.' -

`Oh, what a fool I was, to love
`A son of men!'
- `He was no Beren,' -
- `And I, no Lúthien!' -

`Better, better far had my father
`Not met my mother in Ost-in-Edhel
`Far from Lórien that he loved!
`Alas for life!'
- `If hope must end -
- `in heartbreak, war, and strife!' -

`Better, better far had I but fled
`Death and darkness, and never met a man
`Who dared to live and love and dream
`Beyond his nature's narrow bounds!'
`Must I be faithful to a tomb?'
- `Live a widow till -
- `the Day of Doom?' -

His breath unbated rasped. He raised
One hand; hesitant, drew it drifting back.
`Thou too?' She lacked for words. He trembled.
He set his arms about her, sought
Peace perhaps to comfort her: could not.
And so they wept:
- Each for griefs -
- the other kept. -