Tolkien is admittedly pretty good at sparing his couples from permanent separation. Look at Frodo & Sam, Beren & Lúthien, Aragorn & Arwen, the many Elf pairings, the many human pairings, etc. They each get to spend eternity together, be it in Valinor for the Elves who are eventually re-embodied, or beyond Arda wherever mortals go after death.
But then there’s Aegnor, who will spend literally the entire duration of the world’s existence loving and mourning someone he only knew for a few comparatively short decades because his own lineage was a traitor to him, his lack of mortal ancestry preventing him from ever having the choice to be with her forever.
And also there’s Bilbo, who spent 80+ years loving and mourning someone who he only actually knew for 7 months, and who he must inevitably leave behind in the Halls of Mandos when he departs the circles of the world.
'Speak of neither to me!' said Andreth. 'I desire neither. I was
young and I looked on his flame, and now I am old and lost. He
was young and his flame leaped towards me, but he turned
away, and he is young still. Do candles pity moths?'
'Or moths candles, when the wind blows them out?' said
Finrod. 'Adaneth, I tell thee, Aikanar the Sharp-flame loved
thee. For thy sake now he will never take the hand of any bride
of his own kindred, but live alone to the end, remembering the
morning in the hills of Dorthonion. "
J.R.R.Tolkien, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, History of Middle Eart Vol. X, Morgoth's Ring
Andreth and Aegnor for the Tolkien Advent Calendar!
Caranthir: Finrod?! That’s the idiot that came up with this? Well no wonder it’s a disaster, why in all of Arda would you ask Finrod for romantic advice?
Aegnor: He’s my brother-
Caranthir: Tell me do you see his wife anywhere? He’s with Curvo for Eru’s sake, it doesn’t get more romantically inept than that.
Not including Beren & Lúthien, Aragorn & Arwen or Frodo & Sam because they all eventually get their happy endings. And while Melian lost Thingol, it is certain that they will reunite in Valinor when he is reborn.
Caranthir and Haleth: so I’m not really a big shipper person. This one doesn’t even make sense to me tbh. But it’s kind of cute. Let little Moryo be happy for a minute.
woke up and felt like doing an Andreth study :> (very much a wip still)
Below the cut are my references that i used for this study...
I also didn't use the color picker to check colors or pick colors up from the references bc i was working on my ipad and my refs were on my laptop screen so i'm kinda proud i managed to make something that looks kinda reasonable hahaha