Sorrow of the Heart
By Misha

Disclaimer: All places and persons mentioned, as well as the circumstances they are in, belong to Tolkien. I'm just a poor student with no money...

Author's Notes- This is my first The Lord of the Rings fanfic. I've seen the movie twice and I'm currently reading the book (I just started Return of the King). This is just a short reflective piece based around the Arwen/Aragorn scene in the movie, but also taking a bit from the back story. This one centres around Elrond and his feelings on Arwen's decision. Well, that's all, enjoy!

Rating- PG

Summery- Elrond watches Arwen and Aragorn and things about the choice that Arwen made.
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Elrond watched as his daughter removed the token of her immortality from around her neck and hand it to her lover to symbolise the choice that she had made and felt his heart break.

He couldn't stand the thought of his beautiful Arwen, who had truly been the bright star of his life, growing old and dying.

Yet, it wasn't his choice to make. It was his daughter's and she had made it.

He had known it was coming, had known it since she had returned from Lorien long ago with a look in her eyes that he had never seen before.

She was in love. His daughter had given her heart to Aragorn, son of Arathorn. And there was nothing Elrond could do about it, except stand by and watch as his daughter accepted the Doom of Men.

Still, it broke his heart and he wondered how any father ever let go of a beloved daughter. Especially to a fate that she need not be subjected to.

Arwen could live forever, her beauty and her spirit untouched by time, but she would not and he could not prevent that.

Elrond watched as the two lovers shared a tender kiss. No one could have prevented it, he knew that. This was their destiny.

And Arwen did look so happy, happier than she had looked in all the years she had lived before Aragorn had come into her life.

In his heart, Elrond was glad of that, but at the same time he was till filled with a great sorrow. Sorrow that nothing could ever dim.

It grieved him deeply that Arwen had accepted the Doom of Men, that when he went to the Havens he would leave his beloved daughter behind forever.

But he could not make her choice for her, nor dissuade her from the one's that she had made. It was her life and she had to live it.

With that thought, he took one last look at the lovers and turned away.

It had all been decided, there was no turning back now, but nor was there any easing of the sorrow he felt in his heart.

The End