A/N: This is the first fanfic I have put up so I am open for ideas.

Disclaimer: I do not I own Lord of the Rings, Tolkien does. I own only characters and beings not recognized from any of his books.

Hên is pronounced Hayn and Arnen is Quenya for 'beside water'

Nethig

(little sister)

Golden sunlight poked through the jade leaves to the floor of the wood. Symphonies of birdsong sporadically broke out highlighting the unusual beauty of the morning. The mighty voice of Bruinen conversed with the gentle whispering of the west wind. Elanor and niphredil cast their perfume into the air causing the wooded oasis to shimmer with their sweet scents.

Among the beauty a soul sought solitude. Aragorn, foster-son of Elrond, had returned yesterday to Rivendell from a stay at Lothlórien. That morning, though, it seemed he could not stay focused. Frustrated and distracted, he wandered the woods beside Bruinen. His mind chose to dwell upon the reason for his stay at Lothlórien, Arwen Undómiel. Deep in thought it was a wonder he heard the tiny cry from a small gathering of flowers. Curious, he turned from his path to find the source of the voice.

When he got to the bank of Bruinen he saw under an ancient, sturdy tree that a young child sat crying. Aragorn hesitantly bent over and picked the little one up. He saw it was a girl no more than three-years-old. Her midnight hair was quite full for one so small. A round, golden face streaked with tears looked up at him and she stopped her crying. Aragorn gasped for her eyes were a wonder to behold. Liquid pools of gold rimmed with silver shined with unshed tears. A gurgling laugh escaped from her lips as she smiled happily. Aragorn's heart was immediately taken by the little girl. Kissing the crown of her head he began to gently question her.

"What is your name?" he asked while kneeling before her.

"I don't have a name," she answered with an honest, musical voice.

Aragorn hid his shock and went on, "Where are your parents, child?"

"I don't know," was her quiet reply.

Aragorn was dismayed to hear this news. She had no memory of her name (which was odd to say the least) and she did not know where her parents were. 'Where will I take her? She must be cared for until her parents find and claim her. She can't possibly go with me to Rivendell…or can she?'

Standing, Aragorn took her little hand in his. "How would you like to stay with the elves for a time, little one?"

And the solitary soul left the wood not so solitary anymore.

6 months later

"Hên (child), Lord Elrond has asked that you come to his study," Gilraen said peeking into Hen's room.

Hên, for that is what the elves had begun to call her, took the outstretched hand of Aragorn's mother and walked to the west wing of the Last Homely House. She always loved visiting Lord Elrond because he never was without a story to tell her. They reached Lord Elrond's study and, as usual, she was greeted with a sweeping hug from the noble elf. But when he set her down she noticed that something unusual was present. Well, that is, some others.

Gilraen had stayed; Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, Erestor and Aragorn were all in the room also. Beside Elrond stood a tall, wizened looking man with a long, grey beard. In his hand he held a large staff bearing carvings all along its length; on his head was a blue pointed hat that covered grey hair; grey robes were wrapped around his frame. He seemed pleasant enough for he wore a grin.

'Lord Elrond trusts him enough to let him in Rivendell, so I suppose he is good, Hên thought. Still, she was wary of the old man.

Elrond laughed when Hên ran to Aragorn and hid behind his legs. The girl did not see what was so funny, but she held her temper for once and stayed behind Aragorn's leg.

"This is Mithrandir, a member of the White Council and one of the Istari," Elrond introduced the wizard.

Mithrandir took off his hat and made a sweeping bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Hên."

To Hên his voice sounded like a smaller Bruinen was in his chest. She smirked, knowing the only reason he was being formal was to make her smile. Being nudged out by Aragorn, she made her way to the Wizard and curtsied.

"And you, Meth…Methri…Methran…Methrandur."

Everyone in the room burst with laughter. Hên blushed with embarrassment.

"You may call me Gandalf, young one."

"Gandalf," she mumbled.

Elrond calmed everyone down and proceeded with the meeting. He went on to state how Hên's parents had not come to claim her yet, and no one could find a trace of them. After about fifteen minutes of this explanation he told Hên, "Because we have not found your parents, Gilraen would like to adopt you. If you would rather wait and…" He never got to finish his sentence.

"YAY!" Hên screeched in delight. Jumping into Gilraen's arms, she began showering kisses on her face.

Once again Elrond calmed things down and began the ceremony that made Hên someone's child. When it was all finished, Aragorn sat Hên upon his lap and chuckled happily. Pulling her in for a hug, he kissed the top of her head. "Now I understand why I wandered about that day," Aragorn said, "I was meant to find you beside the water, my Arnen. Do you like that name, nethig?"

"Arnen," she repeated.

Everyone in the room had a smile on their face except for Gandalf. For no one else seemed to notice that when Arnen had jumped for joy the crystal on Gandalf's staff alighted for a brief moment. No one else seemed to realize that the rain clouds in the sky had disappeared instantly. No one else seemed to notice that a tree outside of the study window had bloomed suddenly. No one else seemed to have seen the candles spark.

"Gandalf, my friend," Elrond asked once everyone else had left, "what troubles you?"

Slowly Gandalf turned his head from the tree the elf lord. "You are going to have interesting troubles with this child if I do not help you. Interesting troubles, indeed."