Jubilant Potluck by Grundy

Learning to be strong

Strength & Beauty prompt 

"Real strength never impairs beauty or harmony,

but it often bestows it; and in everything imposingly beautiful,

strength has much to do with the magic."

~Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Elwing has heard some think Melian diminished since she quit Beleriand, lesser for having bound herself to a Child and begotten children.

Elwing cannot but wonder at this odd opinion. Is their vision perhaps failing?

When she looks at the once Queen of lost Doriath, she sees no weakness, nothing lesser. Melian is strength unbroken despite all its trials, beauty undiminished for its losses.

Her grandmother is her model, now especially. Elos is gone and his children too are departing the circles of the world. Elrond may yet die on the Hither Shores.

She too must learn to be strong.