The next twelve months were a slow torture. Everyday feeling longer than the last one, by at least a century.

Arwen felt the loneliness more than ever, trying to relieve the sadness was difficult. The treks to the moors to feel the wind caress her face did help a lot. As did the company of Eowyn.

It wasn't that Arwen hadn't enjoyed the horse' company before, but now if the silence became too much, there was someone to remind her of Ethel. Someone that came from the same world that Arwen could never be a part of, at least not in this lifetime.

After her morning chores, while her parents took some time to rest, would Arwen sneak away for a meeting at the moors. Sometimes she would go weeks without seeing Eowyn, only for the horse to basically waltz into her bedroom to announce her presence.

Together they explored the vast lands around Arwen's birthplace, travelling further than any of the people she knew, had ever done. This of course brought her into a lot of trouble, disappearing for days on end without a message, wasn't something her parents appreciated.

The end of the lass of Fyvie, was even known in New Galloway. Travelling the land, and very likely being altered by every narrator that told the story to a passerby.

Even if the song was a lie, it still held some truth. Be careful of soldiers and strangers alike.

People disappearing could often be attributed to either group.

Arwen's mother reminded her of that fate everytime she got the chance. Preaching the hell on earth that would be Arwen's life when she got taken by love, or the faery of the loch.

The same loch Arwen swam in during the late summer evenings she could never share with Ethel.

The same loch she sat by, and watched the flowers appear from the confines of the earth during early spring.

The same loch where mist reigned above all, during any passing season.

The mist Ethel appeared from during the first light of midsummer.

-

Eowyn had been wandering around the water, waiting for Arwen to go back home. The stars had come and gone, travelling the sky above their heads as Arwen waited for the sun to come.

It would be midsummer once morning arrived, and she wouldn't miss a second of it this year.

No consequences, or punishments would stop her. This year she would truly spend every moment at Ethel's side. She wouldn't have their meeting end in the same unsatisfying way as last year.

Ethel being taken away, before they would be even close to being ready.

The stars were slowly fading, the moon letting the sun reign on earth once more. The breeze played with the water surface, making it ripple and curve around the rocks. Mist rose together with the sun, blinding Arwen for only a moment before Ethel walked across the water to the shore.

"You- You were waiting for me here?"

Arwen could hear the hesitancy in Ethel's voice, but decided to ignore that detail.

"Of course, we only have a few days. I'm not going to waste those with loitering around."

Ethel didn't have a rebuttal at that, and let herself be pulled around the county by Arwen. Well they rode on the horse that Arwen was leading.

"First I want to show you the flower fields. I'm sure you have them in your home too, but as I can go there we just have to watch them here. They're not as pretty as during spring, but it will be worth it."

They wandered in the fields, Eowyn trailing behind them and the sun shining on their hair.

The flowers were beautiful even now they were past their prime, some having already withered into nothing. There were still many that had only opened their hearts a short while ago, and beside that they weren't here for the flower's beauty.

Sitting together, leaning back against Eowyn's sturdy body while watching the clouds in the sky. A flower crown being braided with the cooperation of four hands. Once completed in all its fragile glory, it's placed on Arwen's hair.

Lilac and lily, taken from Ethel's home with its eternal spring, braided together with some help of the local flora.

It was beautiful beyond compare.

Yet when their time was up. And Arwen received her last present of midsummer, the first flower crown withered away already, she had found something even more untouchable.

This present would stay with her till midsummer, staying close to her in the confines of her room.

Joy, happiness, affection and grief at their temporary separation.

-

Author's note:

I sort of forgot about this story's deadline.. So, let's hope I manage to finish it on time.