There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Prologue

Evening settled over the gardens of Imladris, the last faint rays filtering through the trees to cast the lawn in a warm golden glow. Lord Elrond stood at his window, cloaked in the shadows of his study as he gazed out over the grove that fell away from the porch. He frowned at the lone figure who sat, huddled in the grass, staring with unseeing eyes toward the river.

"I know why you have asked me to come." He did not even turn at the melodic sound of the female voice behind him. He only sighed, closing his eyes a moment as if in pain.

"I expected no less." he replied, opening his eyes once more to watch as the figure outside curled up in the grass, her head pillowed on her arm. "Welcome to Imladris, my Lady." he glanced over at Galadriel as she joined him at the window. She met his gaze only a moment before turning her attention outside. Her elegant brow crinkled in concern, and Elrond turned back to the gardens as well.

"How long has she been like this?" the Lady of Lorien asked, her crystalline blue eyes misting.

"She has grown worse in the last year." Elrond replied heavily. "She pretends not to worry, but she lingers in all the places that he made his own. His favorite garden bench, His chair in the library, I have even found her in his room..."

"And you have had no word." She asked sadly as the elf lord shook his head.

"Not for four years." he replied despair filling his own eyes, "I confess I no longer wish for it, for any news after so much time could not be good."

"Then you have lost hope as well?" Galadriel asked, her expression somber.

"Hope?" Elrond shook his head, rubbing his temple with his fingertips. "Hope has faded, and it takes my daughter with it. I have sent him to his death."

"What you would ask of me," the lady said softly "I cannot give, it is not within my power."

"Take her from here." Elrond pleaded desperately "He is too much in her mind here, he haunts her ever step. Take her to Lothlorien, where she can not see the shadow of his presence around every corner. Please." Their eyes met and the soft song they could barely hear from the garden seemed to grow stronger.

Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of ireon and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless.

"Aye," Galadriel whispered, a single tear falling down her porcelain cheek at the sound of soft sobbing that met their ears "That I can do."

The 'song' that Arwen sings is from the Lay of Leithian, the story of Luthien, an elf princess who was loved by Beren, a mortal. (If I ever get inspired this is one story that needs a dramatic version!)
IT LIVES!

The long awaited sequel to ATW is finally here... ok... maybe partially awaited. Chapter 1 will be up in short order. I am launching the prologue early to tell everyone that I've been asked to open a yahoo group for 'artistic writers' The group is open to any and all who take their writing seriously and would like to perfect their style. For more information about the group and what we hope to accomplish please visit us. (you can delete the spaces from the address below or find the link on my profile page
groups. yahoo .com/ group/ eagleandchild