“He halted amazed, thinking that he had strayed into a dream, or else that he had received the gift of the Elf-minstrels, who can make the things of which they sing appear before the eyes of those that listen.”

What happens to love after it dies? For the elves, it never can. It is carried over to the Underlying Lands, where it will ring forever green. 

But for mortals… for mortals, we don’t know where love goes when it dies. Does it follow life into the mystery, does it slink down into the soil with the decaying leaves of Lorien, does it disappear forever? 

If you could choose, which type of love would you pick? The in-conquerable, immortal, evergreen love of the elves? Or, the doomed, fated, grief laden love of the mortals?

Arwen chooses the latter. Though the sting of this choice was a bitter one. In this episode, we bring Arwen back to life through song and in doing so, the Lay of Luthien is sung once more in the glades of Arda. And a little bit more of the magic is breathed back into the world.

In the soft twilight between myth and memory, Arwen reminds us that love’s truest power lies not in its endurance, but in its willingness to end. In her choice, we find the pulse of all mortal things; the beauty that breaks because it is alive.

This is an episode for those who have loved knowing it would hurt, who have chosen the fleeting over the flawless, who understand that every goodbye is also a kind of grace.

Join us, as we follow the Evenstar into the dusk and see what light remains.

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If you'd love to geek out with us, reach out to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or follow us on @fortheshire.pod on Instagram. 

Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite.

(FYI - We didn't manage to work out video... but this will be uploaded to YouTube soon!)

Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast: ⁠https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus⁠ / ⁠https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker