They Went in Haste by Dawn Felagund

Roots

Prompt: seedling, last, rekindle, shadow

For Anairë, after the Darkening, much has changed, yet some things remain the same.

Anairë would never grow used to the way the new Sun made the shadows long at the end of the day. She’d never grow used to the way it westered and burned her eyes on the road back from Alqualondë.

She’d never stop missing the touch of her children’s minds, lost over the sea.

She tucked in the last seedling in orchard row and rose, wiping her brow. Growing things still reached for light and roots still held fast.

Eärwen came to stand beside her, chin on her shoulder, earth-grimed hand squeezing her own.

Many things could rekindle, in the light.