Wife of the Thain: Old Tales of the Shire

“Cross your heart and hope to die, stick a needle in your eye...”

-A common children’s saying

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He sloshes through the water.

His body is numb to the cold. His soul is on fire.

He does not feel it when he cuts his foot upon a jagged edged rock. The red blood is lost in the blackness of the water. He does not feel the pain.

His entire body cries out in pain and joy when she gazes upon him. He feels the weight of her regard, her curiosity, her every thought as it passes behind her eyes.

The Thain has never seen a swan with eyes like sea opals before.

“Please... if you are her... do not leave me alone to suffer and die... please...”

In her eyes, eyes like the ocean wrought into great, glittering jewels, he sees her promise just before she takes flight. As his wounded heart bleeds a little more, he clasps that promise to him like a healing balm, hoping he has not gone mad from love and grief.