Immortality by wind rider

Immortality

Immortality

Finrod stared dumbly at the frail body lying stretched out on the bed before him, grief-stricken. Balan had been sick for some time, and it seemed that it was at last his time to leave the world – on the age of ninety. And, if the Secondborn’s impending death could affect him so much, how would the said Secondborn’s family feel? Especially after Balan had been away for so long, living with him here in Nargothrond. If he had known how brief his dear friend’s life would be, he would not have kept the Man by his side so selfishly…

But would he have, really? He could not deny that introducing Balan to his little realm and his people and their customs had been quite a delight, especially when the Man had decided to settle in the caves with him. He could not deny that he did not understand how mortality was a gift to Secondborn, truth be told.

And he could not deny that he wished he could do something to stop Balan from dying.

As if sensing his thoughts, the Man stirred slightly and blinked, gazing right back at him.

“Mourn me just a little, Lord,” he wheezed, smiling weakly. Finrod pursed his lips and looked away, hiding his welling tears from the direct view of the faithful, faithful Secondborn. He met Balan’s gaze again though, when the Man continued. “I am still here with you. Three of me, in fact.”

Yes, his children; but they were not Balan, still! Finrod would like to shake his friend for such an askew logic. But as it was, he uttered a choked bark caught between a sob and a laugh.

“I spoke truly, Sir.” The smile was still there, fading because of lack of strength and not heart – never heart. “Baran has my face. Barag has my face and built. Belen has my eyes. And we raised them to follow you, Lord.”

Finrod really laughed now, a pained chuckle tempered with the finally-falling tears. “It is still not you, my friend,” he admitted at last.

The grey eyes looking at him were compassionate. “We are immortal, Lord, truly.”

And then they went blank, and Balan breathed his last, still smiling.