A/N: I own none of these characters, except possibly the messanger elf, whoever he is. All of them belong to the brilliant mind of J.R.R Tolkien. I do, however, own this nifty brand-new digital watch that I am wearing right now.
Ai! Aniron Undomiel!
Undomiel...Evenstar...Arwen Evenstar...me.
Ai! Aniron Undomiel....
Those were the last words he said to me before he set out on the journey to Mordor. Would he ever return? I could not say.
I remember one night clearly above all the rest. I was standing by the window in my chamber, staring up at the moon, hanging in the chill Autumn air. I was thinking about him, as always. Where was he now? What was he doing? I would soon find out.
The sound of hooves split the still night air. I looked down, and saw an Elf riding up, bearing the standard of Lothlorien, my grandmother's home.
I went down to meet him with my father, Elrond Half-Elven. The Elf bowed to us both. He looked so familiar, but I could not place where I had seen him. He requested an audience with my father. I went with them to my father's chamber.
"What news do you bring from the North, messanger of Lothlorien?" Elrond asked.
"The group that you sent out is resting in Lothlorien with my Lady," the Elf said. "The eight of them-"
"Eight of them?" Elrond said. "Did not nine set out?"
"That is why I was sent," the Elf replied heavily. "Gandalf the Grey, Mithrandir, fell in the mines of Moria, protecting the rest of the Fellowship from a Balrog!"
I cried out, and my father started, and was suddenly frowning furiously.
"Why did they go through Moria in the first place?" he asked.
"They tried to cross Caradhras," the Elf said. "But the mountain became angry, and would not let them pass. The Gap of Rohan was too close to Isengard. They had to go through Moria, fully aware of the perils the dwarves awakened in the deep."
"This is grave news," my father said. "Who shall lead them now?"
"They are being led by Aragorn, son of Arathorn," the Elf said. I sat up, hearing his name.
"Then perhaps all shall be well," Elrond murmured.
Later, I stood on a balcony, watching the dawn come to Rivendell. I felt a presence beside me, and saw the messenger Elf from Lothlorien.
"Lady Arwen," he said, bowing. "Do you remember me?"
"I have been trying," I said, looking into his eyes, and then it hit me. This Elf and I had been lovers once, full of passion and desire for each other. And now he was back... I turned away from him. His voice spoke to me.
"You love another." I nodded.
"Who?" I shook my head.
"I cannot say," I said.
"You love Aragorn," the Elf said. Slowly, I nodded.
"You are immortal, and he is a man." the Elf said. "How can you love him? He will die, and break your heart."
"I love him," I said. "And he loves me. I am his Lady, his Evenstar."
"To love him, you would have to give up your immortality." The Elf's voice was harsh now, angry.
"I know," I said quietly. The Elf walked away in disgust.
Oh, Estel....
This cruel life that I live...why must I choose between life...and love?