Title: No turning back
Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Summary: Sequel to Luthien's flute. Aragorn, Arwen and the family visit Rivendell.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.
A/N: The story picks up 3 years after the last chapter of Luthien's flute.
Additional info: Aragorn and Arwen's children:-
Eldarion 27
Galadwen 24
Celebriel 21
Luthien 19
Silmai 4
No turning back
Chapter 1
I choose not to hope
*Prologue*
Galadwen looked at herself in the full length mirror. Her dress was stunning but it paled in comparison to her own beauty. Her face however was now set in sorrow, as the memories washed over her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Flashback*
"Galadwen, you look radiant." Legolas was right, she did.
"Thank you my Lord. You look well also." They held each other's eyes for a second before either one spoke.
"I am leaving straight after the ceremony." He didn't know what he expected from her but it was more then what he got.
"I hope your journey is a safe one." She smiled at him with warmth and sorrow. Sorrow for what might have been. She knew deep in her heart that letting him leave was the best thing for everyone, no matter how much she loved him. He knew it too, which was why this meeting was so bitter sweet.
Legolas bowed slightly and turned to leave but Galadwen's hand shot out to take his, stopping him in his tracks. She continued to smile at him.
"I know not what to say. I wish you all the happiness that this world can offer. I wish you love and peace Prince of Mirkwood."
Her words both soothed and ached him.
"And I you, my Lady." He gently stroked his thumb over her hand before bringing it to his mouth. He kissed her hand and both their eyes closed
"Will I ever see you again?" Galadwen knew the answer, she knew it was for the best.
"I suspect not." He would make sure of it. He felt a great deal for her but he could not risk causing pain to his dearest friend, he could not let her risk everything she knew. Her life would be easier if she did not have to see him. He let go of her hand and she suppressed the urge to beg him to stay.
"Namaarie fair one." With that he left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Present day*
Arwen sat on a chair by the window, holding her granddaughter on her lap. The new born babe gurgled as she wrapped her fingers in Arwen's hair. The room was filled with women, all fusing over Galadwen. Ithiliwen was weaving some flowers in to Galadwen's dark silken hair.
"Galadwen, do not squirm so. I can not do it if you will not keep still." Ithiliwen laughed at how nervous the young Princess was and remembered her own wedding day fondly. In the corner, Luthien watched her oldest sister being fussed over and desperately tried to look happy. She failed miserably.
Galadwen noticed the look and turned to face her sister.
"Luthien, I will not be far. You are old enough now that you may visit when ever you wish."
"Are you sure you want to marry him? Do you truly love him?" Luthien knew she should not be asking such questions, not now, not in front of all of these people. She looked to her mother, expecting to be told off. Arwen however was just as eager to hear Galadwen's answer. She simply stared at her eldest daughter, a look of disapproval on her face.
Galadwen turned to smile at Ithiliwen and her sisters and asked if she could be alone with her mother. Ithiliwen took her daughter, Estelai, and left the room. She was soon followed by Luthien and Celebriel, who was holding Silmai's hand.
Galadwen turned and frowned at her mother. "Do you not think you could have chosen a better day to start looking at me like that!"
Arwen continued to look at Galadwen, her flawless face never changing. "Are you going to answer your sister's question?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Flashback*
Galadwen sat alone by the lake, she watched the ripples in the water from the swimming fish. She swished her fingers through the cool waters and felt the hot summer's sun on her face. She had spent a lot of time alone lately, since Legolas had left.
Eldarion, her brother and closest friend, was now married and never around. She sighed aloud and felt her heart sinking. Once again she couldn't help but let her keen eyes wonder to the North. He would not be coming. Everyday she looked in hope. She looked to see if Legolas had come back for her.
Everyday her heart broke a little more. Was this her life now? Would she sit here day after day and diminish? She had become a shell of the woman she was before, nothing but emptiness inside. Galadwen stood up straight and marched with all her might across the field. She would not throw away her life's grace over some Elf who couldn't make up his damn mind. Right there and then Galadwen made a decision. She would no longer listen to her heart, which had caused her nought but grief. Instead, she would start paying attention to her head. She would no longer live in fantasy and dreams. She would give up hope, no more would she let hope trick her. It was the smart thing to do, she knew it. No more would she sit and mope over loosing something she never really had.
Without realising it, Galadwen had walked quite a way. She began to walk even faster, as though she were trying to get away from something. Faster and faster she moved until eventually she broke in to a run. She ran faster and faster, trying to shut up all the noise inside her head. She saw the slope on the field but she did not slow down. She ran down it, feeling the wind hit her hard in the face. She felt a dull throb in her ankle as she lost her footing and fell to the ground.
Galadwen tumbled all the way down to the bottom.
"Aww" She cried out in pain as she felt her twisted ankle. She tried to stand but she couldn't. Oh no, how was she going to get home? She could be stuck out here until they send people looking for her.
The sound of hooves from the North made her head snap round. For a brief moment, before she saw the rider's face, she let hope fool her once again. She knew it was not Legolas but she still couldn't help but hope.
A good looking man in his late forties dismounted his horse and walked over to the Princess.
"My lady are you hurt?"
Galadwen looked in to his face. His hair was dark with greying sides and he had fine lines on his face. Yet his eyes were bright and his smile was warm.
"I am afraid I have twisted my ankle. It is quite like me to do something like this. My father says I am an accident waiting to happen."
The man laughed, good naturedly, and held out his hand for her to take. He heaved her to her feet. He was strong and yet gentle at the same time.
"Well worry not lady for I shall take you back to your father, who I am afraid has been proved right." He lifted Galadwen on to the front of his horse with ease.
"What a beautiful animal,." She admired the horse's fine body and strength.
"Thank you my lady, he was a gift from my sister's home of Rohan."
Galadwen giggled, she should have known.
"You have kin there? So do we, sort of. My brother married King Eomer's daughter."
The man looked up at her now, in awe. "Then you must be the daughter of King Elesser, who I am on my way to meet with. Twas my niece your brother wed, for Lothiriel is my sister."
Galadwen smiled and nodded. It certainly was a small world.
The man mounted behind her and put his arms around her to grasp the rains. She hadn't been this close to a man since the night Legolas rescued her from the dark sorcerer. It felt nice and it felt safe, something she hadn't felt in such a long time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Present day*
Arwen stood from where she was and walked over to Galadwen. She stroked a hand over her cheek and forced a small smile.
"This is your life, my daughter. Your whole life. You must be sure about this. He is much older then you are-"
"You are a lot older then Ada yet that has worked out well. Besides he is of lineage worthy of my stature." Galadwen cut her mother off.
"That is not the same thing Galadwen. The man you are to marry may be the Prince of Doll Amroth, Imrahil's son, yet he is still 49 years. You are just out off girlhood at 24. It is your choice whom you marry, I just need to know that you are certain of your decision."
Galadwen's head fell to look at the floor.
"He is a kind and gentile man. He would do anything for my happiness. He loves me. He lives very near to Minas Tirith and that is enough for me."
Arwen shock her head slowly and closed her eyes. "What of Legolas?"
Galadwen's eyes flew to her mothers. "How do you know about-"
Arwen cut her off with a raised hand. "I am no fool Galadwen, I could see the love in your eyes. How can you wed a man when you love another?"
Galadwen reached out to hold her mother's hand. "Not everyone gets a happy ending like you and Ada. Legolas does not love me, he would have come back for me by now if he did. I waited night after night, looking to the North but he never came. I gave up hope Naneth and just as I gave up hope I met Lothvain, a man who would rather die then see my tears. I will not waist away my life waiting for a man that will never come. I have not immortality on my side as you did."
Arwen felt as though her heart would brake for her child. She thought about all that Galadwen had said before raising her eyes to her daughter's. She forced a weak smile.
"Then your decision is made. You will hear no more from me on the matter." She leant forward to kiss Galadwen's cheek, it was unusually cold. "You will be happy, my child?"
Galadwen smiled warmly. "How could any woman not be happy, being loved so intensely."
Arwen smiled and walked from the room.
Once alone Galadwen's façade dropped. Her smile left and her brow frowned. She looked at herself in the mirror one last time before heading to the door. She could not resist it. She walked to the window, which faced North, and gazed out as far as she could see. A part of her had thought that once he heard of her wedding, he would come and stop it. He really didn't love her. Galadwen forced a smile on to her face. Well at least now she knew once and for all. She would wed Lothvain and be happy in her life. She walked to the door and opened it, not before looking once more to the window, and went to her wedding and the man that she would spend the rest of her life with.