2
Arwen sat alone by the bridge she often visited, thinking about the long years of her life thus far, wondering where she had gone wrong. She couldn't understand why she had become so intrigued with the mysterious ranger, but she had. She smiled to herself, catching her thoughts before they went to an unwanted valley of desire.
The ranger had been found in the river, barely breathing the month before. And since then, Arwen couldn't keep him out of her mind no matter how hard she tried. He was interesting to her. Something she didn't know about. Something she hadn't experienced before.
"Arwen?" came a voice from behind her. She turned with grace as only an elf could have and saw him, Aragorn. Her heart skipped a beat as he approached her and she couldn't look at him. She stared down at the river below, never leaving its swift currents.
"Arwen?" he asked again. She couldn't bring herself to answer, not with her mind already so confused. "I know you want to answer me."
"I cannot answer you."
"Are you well?" he sat next to her.
"Very."
"Is that all you can say? Are you not friendly enough to converse in a civilized manner with a human?"
"I choose not to." she replied quickly. Why was it so hard for her to bring herself into easy conversation with him? Why was she desperately wishing to run away as fast as possible?
"I see. Well then, I will leave you here to think." he said sadly. He began to walk away but Arwen couldn't let him leave her.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, standing to her full height, the wind catching her black hair, lifting it with feathery motion. Aragorn turned, looking at her with longing eyes.
"Yes, Lady Arwen?"
"Don't leave." she whispered. "I mean, I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh, well, I should be getting back anyway." he looked away, awkward in his surroundings.
"Back? Are you leaving Rivendell?" she asked, trying to keep her face from betraying the panic she was feeling inside.
"Yes, unfortunately."
"Oh, I guess that is for the best. I hope your travels fare well and…" she couldn't continue, her whole heart burned with a desire to hold him there in Rivendell forever or as long as his life would be lived. She ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, closing her eyes to prevent tears from forming. He hesitated, and then enclosed his arms around her slender form.
"Lady Arwen, do not fear." he whispered into her pointed ear. "I will not leave you yet, I assure you."
