Choices
By Liten
Summary: Arwen has made her choice, but how will Elrond react?
Disclaimer: Middle-Earth and its people belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
Feedback: always welcome
The night was black, and the moon hid her face behind dark clouds. Only one light was still on in the Last Homely House. The sound of voices came from Elrond's chambers.
"I will not let you forsake your immortality for a mere ranger!" he said, harsher than he had meant to.
"Ada…Whatever path Aragorn will choose to take I will be at his side," replied the dark-haired elven princess firmly.
Looking in his daughter's eyes, he could see she had made her choice, her resolution mingled with awareness of the pain she caused him. He could not hold her gaze much longer, and turned away so she would not see the sadness and hurt in his eyes. He walked to the balcony looking for some fresh air to clear his mind.
Elrond had known all along that the day would come when he would loose his daughter to the Dunedain, ever since he first saw them together. And no matter how hard he tried to find faults in Aragorn that might prevent his daughter to choose mortality, Elrond could not find any, for he had long grown to love the man as his own flesh and blood.
But no matter how many years had passed since he first took his daughter in his arms, she would always remain his little girl, and he wanted to protect her from sorrow and death. But despite everything he had experienced, the losses he had gone through, deep down he understood her decision. It was the knowledge that he would be reunited with his beloved Celébrian that had made the parting more bearable, if that was possible at all.
Arwen stepped closer and put her arms around him. She could see how painful it was for him to let her go.
"Ada…"
She raised a gentle hand to his cheek and made him turn around to look at her. When he opened his eyes again, he did not try to hide his feelings from her. He was not trying to make her change her mind by invoking pity; he just wanted her to know how important she was to him and how much he would miss her.
Elrond slowly covered her hand with his, their heads touching in their tender embrace, each of them treasuring the moment as much as the other and wishing there could be a way for memories not to be all they would be left with.
