The sun dipped low behind the Misty Mountains, casting Rivendell in a soft golden light. The gentle breeze stirred the trees, their leaves whispering in the ancient language of the forest, a sound that resonated with the deep peace of this place. From where he stood on the terrace, Glorfindel could hear the steady flow of the Bruinen River, its waters carving a timeless path through the valley. Rivendell, ever serene, ever safe, was bathed in the glow of evening, as if time itself slowed in deference to the Elven haven.

Then, he saw Mithrandir—Gandalf—making his way toward the heart of the valley, his gray robes fluttering slightly in the wind. His presence always carried weight, as if the very air knew the importance of the one who walked among them. But today, there was more. A subtle disturbance, an unexpected ripple in the current of time.

And he felt it again—that pull, that fëa stirring within him. The feeling that had emerged the moment he saw her. It had gripped him, unshakable, undeniable. Ambar mára, the world had changed in that instant. He, who had walked through ages of war, death, and rebirth, had never known such certainty. The radiant half-elf accompanying Mithrandir stirred something deep within him, feelings he had never thought himself capable of.

In all his millennia, through countless battles and ages of sorrow and joy, he had never experienced this. The Valar had blessed him, had seen fit to grant him his fated mate. Melethril nîn... My love... His heart stuttered in his chest, a dry tightness catching in his throat. He trembled, his composure wavering, the sensation unfamiliar and unsettling. He could feel his pulse pounding, as hard and fast as it had when he faced the Balrog, knowing he would perish for his efforts. Yet this... this was far more terrifying.

Glorfindel stepped forward, his movements graceful and sure, the confidence he had earned through ages of battle never faltering. But as he approached her—her—everything within him seemed to crumble. Words that should have come easily dissolved in his mind as he stood before her. His lips parted, but no sound escaped. Her eyes met his, bright and unwavering, and in that moment, he felt more vulnerable than he had in all his years.