I do not own LOTR.

Listlessly she sat on a stone bench in one of the more unknown gardens surrounding the palace, letting the warm summer breeze gently caress her face and hair, and bringing with it the sweet fragrance of the tree's summer blossoms. This was the only time since arriving to this city, not but two days prior, she had been able to find total peace, from the constant and not so pleasant attention she received.

People from all over had flooded Gondor, the peoples of Rohan, Dol Amroth as well as others, and with the arrival of the new King the festivities and celebrations had become nearly a nightly affair for months before her arrival. The last few she had attended were not hard to deal with since she had the company of Estel, her brothers, her father and a few others, but during the day when they were out gallivanting with Legolas, or in meetings with Estel was when it became difficult.

It was during this time she was surrounded by ladies and nobles from all of the visiting human realms and kingdoms, and yet even with all of them, she felt very much alone.

She had tried to talk with the nobles and ladies of the court upon her arrival in Gondor, and in their defense they had tried to be polite, knowing what was soon to be her station, but the conversations died quickly, as many of them really had nothing to say...or nothing they could say that would not be construed as rude. So they resorted to not saying anything to her and just staring when they thought she was unaware and could not see them, but she saw the looks they gave her, and heard the whispers they thought that she could not hear.

"It is unnatural for a creature to be that beautiful, it is almost frightening."

"With a beauty such as hers, why does she not marry one of her own kind? Why would she want to lower herself to a human? The King may be of Numenorian decent, but he is still human."

"Perhaps her only desire is to become Queen."

"Why, to make the rest of us feel more insignificant?! To show us how superior the Eldar are to our mere race?!"

"It has been said that she is the most fair of her kind; could she not be a Queen of the firstborns?"

"It is also rumored that she has human blood."

"Look at her, does anything about her look human to you?"

"Shh! Have you not heard that their kind have unusual powers? Keen eyes that see all in the darkest night and ears that can hear a baby breathe from nearly a league away. Most likely she is able to hear what we are now saying."

"Aye, I have heard that those creatures can walk on water, and fly from tree to tree if they so choose."

Creatures?! That is what they thought of her and the other Elves?! She heard all that was said, the rumors and myths of her people. If they would have just come to her and asked, she would have told them all the truth about herself, the Elves and of why she was marrying Estel, gladly... but the Ladies of Gondor would never and did never ask. They seemed to be more content whispering amongst them, spreading false truths about her and her people.

Arwen chided herself. She knew that she should be happy at such a time as this. Sauron was defeated, the future of Middle-earth looked promising, and she...she was to wed a man she loved more than life itself. Even with all of these promises of happiness, her heart was heavy.

It was not that she regretted her choice to be with Estel. She loved him so much it was almost painful, and the thought of not being with him was more horrifying to her than death. It had nearly killed her when she thought that he had abandoned his love for her before taking his leave with the fellowship. The excruciating pain of that near rejection was soul wrenching and still caught her breath at the memory of it.

She knew these problems with the people of the court to be frivolous and juvenile, to worry about what others thought about her. The ladies were young compared to her, they really did not realize what they were saying, she knew this....reminded herself of this, but it did not ease the sting of the small wounds those talebearer's rumors left her with.

This was the first time in her life that Arwen felt utterly alone. She could not go to Estel with this problem. It would hurt him terribly to think that she was unhappy, and it could again make him regret his decision to bind his life to hers.

Her brothers and father were out of the question as well. At the first sign of unhappiness, the three would have her on the soonest ship to Valinor.

She could always speak with Legolas, he would understand, but Arwen did not want to trouble him with her problems. She had heard from Elladan how the weight and worries of the war was on her old friend, making the once happy elf seem grim. Now that the war was over, and he had received word that the tower of Dol Guldur was no more, its presences no longer infecting the forests of Mirkwood with darkness.

Her Grandfather led Lorien in an attack on the tower. During which her Grandmother's power destroyed it cleansing the forest of its once ever present shadow. And thus Thranduil bestowed the new name of Eryn Lasgalen on the former forest of Mirkwood. This wonderful news of this victory, along with the destruction of the ring made Legolas the happy Elf he normally was, and Arwen wanted to keep it that way.

Arwen watched through her window as the evening stars began to fade into day. The crisp morning air and the songs of the birds gave a welcoming promise to the day ahead. Today would be better, she promised herself as she sat in front of her vanity mirror and began to brush her hair.

She paused her brushing mid stroke, and stared at her reflection. She had always hated her face, but more so since arriving in Gondor than ever before. In the Elven realms she had similar problems, not to the extent as in this city, but even within her homes of Imladris and Lorien the elves treated her differently.

Arwen never had many friends, the females were unsure of how to react to her, and the males seemed intimidated, not solely by her beauty, but by also by her brothers. The twins made it clear that if any Elves wanted to court Arwen, they would have to first go through them. This protectiveness did not bother her much, as she really did not care for the majority of the Elves that showed any interest, due to the nature of their said interest being usually false, and that they were more likely concerned in having the Evenstar as a trophy or in using her to raise their social status.

She had chosen a mortal life. Why could she not look more like one?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the chamber door.

"I have been sent to attend to you my lady, "said a young girl as, she entered the chamber. Upon seeing Arwen the girl froze suddenly, her eyes growing wide as a look of fear crossed her features.

Arwen smiled at the young girl. "I am glad for the help; for it seems that I am all thumbs with arranging my hair in the Gondorian fashion."

The girl said nothing only stared at the Elf lady sitting before her.

"Please do not be frightened, I will not harm you," Arwen said, as she stood and began to approach the chamber maid. The smile falling from her face as she saw the girl take a step away from her.

Her heart broke. 'I even scare the maids!' Her mind screamed at her. Arwen swallowed a sob she felt growing in her throat, and looked at the terrified girl unsure of what to do. Knowing that it would be unlikely for the girl to warm up to her, she made her decision.

Arwen sighed, closed her eyes and dropped her head. "I release you of your duties, you may go."

The girl could not seem to get out of the chamber fast enough. She nearly stumbled twice on her way out the door. Arwen saw none of this, but she could hear it.

She stood there unmoving long after the click of the door was heard, trying to control the tears that were coursing freely down her face. Finally losing the battle she threw herself onto her bed and wept.