Author/Banshee Queen: "This piece of writing was originally posted up as "The Deaths of Aragorn & Arwen" but the title was not as originally as planned & the story full stop was atrocious. I have changed many things with this story & am now satisfied to post it & leave it as it is once & for all.
This first chapter deals with the (sniffle) death of Aragorn. Before his death, Aragorn & Arwen reminisce the day when first they met on Cerin Amroth. Something else which would be a big shock to most people is that I have included their first & only son Eldarion. Surprisingly he plays a big part in this which I really wanted to include, it (in my opinion) describes/shows the way I had imagined or thought Eldarionto be. That said, on with the chapter!"
Disclaimer: "I do not own the wonderful characters Arwen, Aragorn, Eldarion etc. They belong to the wonderful John Ronald Reuel Tolkien to whom I would gladly & honourably bow down to." ;D
Beyond the Twilight
Chapter 1: Aragorn's Parting
Here follows a part of the Tale of Aragorn & Arwen…
It is said before Aragorn died, Arwen spent the last few moments with him.
...Alone and in her grief.
Tears ran down the fair face of Arwen Undómiel as she sat next upon Aragorn's death bed, softly murmuring in the Elvish tongue and placing warm kisses on his hand. She did not believing that what was happening was true. All those long years ago it seemed but a distant memory when her father had uttered those three heart-wrenching words that would stay graven in her mind for the remainder of her life... "Aragorn will die..."
But now the Queen turned her gaze and her thoughts back to her love, who lay staring into her tear-stricken face, trying to comfort and reassure her. Arwen slid the palm of her hand into his, clasping it tighter against her own, feeling one last time the ebb and flow of life running through his veins.
"Heruamin, stay with me…don't go…not yet."
The Elven maiden sobbed as she pressed his palm against her breast. (1)Tears slowly formed in the corner of his eyes as Aragorn looked upon his wife, Evenstar of her people, daughter of Elrond, Queen of Gondor, mother of his children, but most of all, companionand love of his life. Even in her grief she was still astonishingly beautiful, like the day when first he laid eyes on her. A stab of painand regret pierced his heart, he knew this day would come, but seeing her heart slowly disintegrate before him was more than he could burden himself with. Aragorn's warm gazed passed over the Arwen he knew all too well. Gently, he brushed away a stray strand of hair from her face. A long exhausted sigh escaped the King's lips as he finally responded to her plea.
"Arwen, Melamin, do not despair! Alas it is my time to go. But long had been the years in which we had waited and spent together. With every Summer that came and went all I wanted was to lie with you upon Cerin Amroth and watch the stars…" The King whispered solemnly as he trailed off into a long ago dream.
For a moment the Elf's eyes wavered and her hand shook as she crushed Aragorn's palm against her own. The Queen gasped softly in surprise; a single tear had made its way down his cheek and from the way Aragorn locked his gaze onto hers, that wasn't to be the last.
"I have reunited both Arnor and Gondor, reclaimed the throne and in doing so have crafted our kingdom to be worthier than the King's of many ages past." The King let out a deep sigh.
"And yet with all the power I posses over this Middle-Earth there still seems to be something missing. I am growing old Arwen,' a tear slipped down the Elf's cheek, 'And I grow weary of this lifetime though it has been long & mirthful. All I want now is a place for me to rest my tired soul. I fear the hour of my death is nigh."
"No." The maiden stated teary eyed. Her voice seemed ready to crack at any moment now, but the Queen kept her composure. "You are not leaving me Aragorn, not now. Not after all this time. Stay with me, I beg of you, stay with me but a little while longer Aragorn."
The King sadly shook his head. "Arwen Melamin, my time is over. My life span has been three times that of mortal men. I can ask no more for the joys and splendor that I have seen of this world. Eldarion shall now rule, for he is a man ripe enough to succeed the throne, it is his, for now I go peacefully to the Halls of my Fathers. Sinome, sana sina."
Aragorn opened his palm to reveal the Evenstar. It's brilliance shone like the light of Eärendil, the most beloved star of the Elves. "Heruamin?" Surprise & question streaked Arwen's face as she tried to comprehended what he was saying.
"Tessa sina ten' amin." Her lover pleaded, holding the Evenstar aloft in his hand.
"Heruamin, I cannot take this, I gave this to you as a symbol of my immortality, as a symbol of my love for you..." Arwen quoted as she trailed off into a quiet whisper. A weak smile reached Aragorn's lips as he slightly bowed his head towards hers. "I know. Keep it for me until we shall meet again." The Elf wept, but let Aragorn gently close her palm around the pendant.
"Amin harmuva onalle e' cormamin." The maiden wept, closing her fist about the necklace even tighter. The King placed a hand atop hers. "Do not despair Evenstar! For we shall meet again."
Arwen noddedand lowering her head to the ground, silently sobbed. After a moment she raised her eyes, a clear and mirthful memory flickering in her eyes. "Renich i lu i erui govannem?"
Aragorn sighed, his gaze passing through an open window which turned to the setting sun. The King seemed as if he were half-smiling as if to recall some long ago dream. "Nauthannen i ned ol reniannen. Twas' a clear summer sunset, I was walking among the white birches, one moment passed...and there you were. Fairest of all maidens that walked upon the earth, and I knew from that day I loved you evermore! Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her people." The mortal reminisced as he gently caressed her cheek.
"Amin khiluva lle a' gurtha ar' thar melamin." Aragorn's bottom lip trembled just as the maiden uttered those words. Tears were coming now in full flood, rushing down his cheeks like the strong current of the River Anduin. She was willing to die for him, willing to give up her throne and follow him into death. But then again how could she not have been? She gave up her immortality long ago and forsook the West, leaving all those she loved and her beauty only a memory of the Elves.
"The day we both renounced the Shadow & you forsook the West we are now bound to Lady Arwen. Yet beyond the twilight we may meet again you and I, in the Halls of Mandos."
The maiden closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, breathing increasing with each intake of breath. "Aragorn…now that you are to part from me, I cannot bear to go on. Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'."
The King shook his head, eyes levelling with hers. "No…you will go on. You must will it in your heart Arwenamin. There is no sky too dark from which the sun shall shine out with the light of day. Upon Cerin Amroth we made our pledge, but beyond death there is no sea too deep that can keep us from loving each other. You must now choose; either to sail into the Westand bury all the memories of our days together or to stay in Middle-Earth and abide the Doom of Men."
This time the Queen shook her head, all the while tears marking pale tracks down her cheeks. "No Heruamin. By the second I shall abide, for there is no ship now that would bare me hence. Even to die as a mortal was the path I chose."
A warm smile reached Aragorn's lips as he caressed her face, looking into the depths of her piercing sapphire eyes, wishing he could spend eternity with her, but knowing his time was near to depart.
"Farwell Arwen my love, fairest of all maidens upon the earth, beyond the twilight we shall meet again! Farwell!"
With Aragorn's last dying breath he fell asleep as he kissed her hand, while Arwen called him by his Elvish name.
"Estel, Estel!" She cried as she shook him.
He did not move.
"Aragorn…,' the maiden sobbed, 'Hearken to me! Aragorn!" The King lay still, his chest rose no more. The Queen's breathing quickened. "Aragorn. Aragorn no!" The Elf broke down as an avalanche of tears and kisses descended down upon the sleeping mortal. Slowly, Arwen lay down upon his chest, clutching his hand, quietly sobbing. As a slain maiden she looked, crumpled into a heap of grief and shock.
After a while the sounds of light footsteps made their way into the room. Eldarion appeared behind her, eyes glistening with tears as he looked upon his father. "No. Say he has not-" Abruptly he cut off. "My father's dead." The words echoed in his head. "Ada, 'started Eldarion, stuttering as he spoke, 'lanta kaima." The young Prince said as he put his forehead to his father's.
Heruamin- My Lord
Melamin- My Love
Sinome, sana sina- Here, take this
Tessa sina ten' amin- Hold onto this for me
Amin harmuva onalle e' cormamin- I shall treasure your gift in my heart
Renich i lu i erui govannem- Do you remember when we first met
Nauthannen i ned ol reniannen- I thought I had strayed into a dream
Amin khiluva lle a' gurtha ar' thar melamin- I will follow you to death and beyond my love
Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'- My heart shall weep until it sees thee again
Arwenamin- My Lady
Ada- Father
Lanta kaima- Sleep
(1) I did not mean it in that sense, I meant it in the sense that she presses his hand to her breast so he can feel the beating of her heart and caress his hand with her kisses one last time...
Author/Banshee Queen: "Ok next chappie, the real fluff kicks in. Alot of angst in which Legolas is included! Ooooo I hear you say, well you'll just have to read on." ;D
