I'm back! Sorry! I've neglected this story for sometime. I almost completely forgot about it O.O But I am back! And despite school starting, and needing to concentrate on all my uni essays (-_-) I will stay faithful and update this story as much as I can – I am posting a new chapter on all my stories, so if your interested, go check them out! XD Damn, this is a long chapter. XD Hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to F/F/R 3

P.S. All elvish translations are from the movie – scenes can be looked up, as well as the site ArwenUndomiel – it's a great help! I've included the ones for this chapter, which is a headache. I'm deciding if I should continue to do so or not. Let me know what you think!


Chapter Two

Only Lovers Reunite

Aeariel spent the next few days helping around the hovel, setting things up so that they were ready for their arriving guests. She took control of many of the preparations – making sure that there would be plenty of food and drink, that all dwarves' rooms would be as far away as possible from any elvish rooms – and other things of importance. She had a huge amount of help from Gandalf and the Hobbits – especially the active Meriadoc Brandybuck and his close friend, Peregrin Took, who didn't seem to be able to sit still for a second. Their companion, Samwise Gamgee was also very helpful, and overly amazed at the elves way of living. He was more practical and calm, however, like Frodo, who was starting to heal rapidly.

Aeariel liked the hobbits immensely. They were quirky, extremely funny, and overtly kind. They loved to eat, and Merry and Pippin were always running around, dancing, and singing. She got along with all of them well, and had become close friends with them rather quickly. She gave them tours, and failed at trying to teach them elvish – which ended up just leaving them all in tears from laughing so much. In amongst the stress of having the Ring of Power in her home, and the arrival of big dignitaries, the hobbits kept the mood in Rivendell once of some freedom and well spirited. Something they all needed.

Strider… Aragorn, had been the only person she had been trying to actively avoid. She knew him well… very well… he had spent many years, a long time ago, staying in Imladris. It is where he had practically grown up for sometime. From his stay, he became fluent in elvish, – and had learnt many new techniques in fighting, making him a hero of his own kind. They had been very good friends during his stay… and very good lovers… but they had not left on the best of terms. He had told her his fear of becoming the warrior everyone depended on. And so he left… to go off and become a Ranger. Since his new arrival at Rivendell, she had been apt to stay away from him. So far, she had been successful and had only run into him a few times – and the few times they had had to talk, it had been curt and brief. She didn't have time for him now.


They began to arrive within the next three days. The elves of Mirkwood came first – of course. Unlike the elves of Rivendell, with their long brunette hair of different shades, most of the Sindar elves had long, silvery, pale blonde hair. Their eyes were also a lighter blue than most. The differences in looks did not stop the companionship all elves felt for each other, however. Leading the elves was Legolas Greenleaf, the son of King Thranduil, making Legolas the Prince of Mirkwood. He was very kind, an old friend to both Aeariel, Elrond, and even Aragorn, from his many travels.

Next to arrive were the men from Gondor, led by Boromir, the son of the current Steward of Gondor. Boromir seemed kind enough, but very hard. Aeariel knew that he would be tricky to let people in, and she wasn't quite sure if she would truly be able to ever like him . He seemed brave and intelligent, but also arrogant, secretive, and snarky. She would make sure to be open and kind to him, but wary as well. He was hard of heart and mind.

Finally, the dwarves of Erebor arrived – slower than those before them, the dwarves arrived in a hot temper and demanded food almost right away. Lead by the loud Gimli, son of Gloin, they were a burly stick of dynamite. Anytime any elvish was spoken in their presence, they flipped out, believing that they were being insulted. Aeariel did not understand how Elrond was supposed to host a council if the dwarves could barely stand being near the elves.

The welcoming feast on the first night of everyone's arrival, however, went without incident. There was loud music, lots of food, and many drunk dwarves and men stumbling around. Even Merry and Pippin got extremely inebriated and wandered off into the night, singing as they went. At the end of the feast, as everyone began to steer off for bed, Elrond stood and made clear that no women, or hobbits except Frodo, were allowed to attend the council tomorrow. He advised all leaders to attend with only a select, trusted few of their group.

Aeariel was shocked at his announcement. She had been hoping to attend the council. She wanted to see what they planned to do with the One Ring – and now she was barred from even attending… or… she thought to herself… Am I? She began to devise her plan.


Aeariel draped herself in a long flowing robe, covering her night dress underneath. She unpinned and brushed through her long hair, and decided to take a moonlit walk around Rivendell; a round of the halls to make sure everyone was in their proper place. As she passed through the dining area, her keen eyes caught sight of Boromir, making his way slowly towards the South end hall. He was looking around him in wonder. Curious, Aeariel began to follow him quietly, staying to the shadows so that she would not be seen.

As she drew nearer, so did voices, and she took cover in the shadows of a wall. She peered at the scene before her. Boromir talked kindly to Aragorn who was sitting in a chair, a book of elvish script propped open in his hand. Boromir looked around the room in awe, before his eyes fell on something. And Aeariel knew exactly what it was.

"The shards of Narsil…" Boromir picked up the broken hilt of the blade, staring at it in complete shock. "The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand…" he ran his hand up the gleaming, jagged edges, and hissed. She noted a small bead of blood bloom at the tip of hi finger. "Still sharp."

He slowly turned his attention to Aragorn, who kept his gaze steady. A look of understanding appeared on Boromir's face, and his expression immediately went hard. "But no more than a broken heirloom." He placed the broken sword back, only to have the piece fall. Without a second glance, he strode quickly from the room.

Once he was gone, Aragorn stood from his place and put the sword piece back where it belonged. He stood there, staring at it, and the statue of his ancestor, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

Aeariel slowly walked into the light, coming up behind him quietly, standing back so he didn't think she was prying. "Why do you still fear the past? You have almost given it up. You are Isildur's heir. Not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his same fate." All this time spent trying to avoid him, and she could not stray away from her desire. Her heart was too strong.

Aragorn turned to look at her, his expression soft but pained. "My lady… why are you still awake? You should be asleep at this time. Replenishing yourself for the day ahead."

Aeariel stepped towards him slowly, curious to his plight. "You have given your life to become a Ranger. Not a warrior. You are not bound to Isildur's fate."

"The same blood flows in my veins… the same weakness."

His eyes were gleaming in the moonlight, but Aeariel could see their distress. She placed her hand gently on his arm. "The shadows do not hold sway yet. They do not bind us to anything. They are still weak enough that they cannot control us. Not you, and not me. Your time will come. You will face the same evil, and vanquish it. You will bring the peace to Middle Earth. But only if you want to." Aragorn looked at her helplessly and she offered him a reassuring smile, slowly moving away from him, towards the outside. "Come, let us take a walk."

He followed her quietly, the moonlight warm on the calm evening. Rivendell was truly, a beautiful place. A sanctuary for most. Aeariel loved it, and knew most people who saw it were always awed by its presence and grace. She took him down to a small stone bridge, one of many over the flowing rivers in the valley. Aeariel turned to look at him, taking his hands in hers. "Renich i lú i erui govannem?" (Do you remember when we first met?)

Aragorn looked at her with a calm expression. She could feel the warmth that was coming off of him, and knew that he could feel hers too. "Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen. We were both so young, and so innocent. Dancing into the sunset, and not caring for the troubles in the world. We were-" (I thought I had strayed into a dream.)

"In love," Aeariel looked up at him feeling helpless. She slowly raised her hand, placing it on the rough beard that grew on his face. "Gwenwin in enninath… Ú-'arnech in naeth i si celich." (Long years have passed… you did not have the cares you carry now.)

"That was a different time… we did not have to worry about impending doom to our home." Aragorn looked down, unable to meet her gaze.

She willed him to look up. "And still, with the doom upon us, why must feelings be forced to stay quiet?" He raised his eyes back to hers. "Renich i beth i pennen?" (Do you remember the words I told you?)

"You said you would bind yourself with me… forsaking the natural life of your people. Giving up the immortal life."

Aeariel reached up and partially opened her dressing cover, revealing the beautiful pendent, the Evenstar, that he had given her all those years ago. She had never taken it off since they had parted last. The jewel caught the light form the moon, a small white beam beading up from it.

Aragorn looked at it, his lips parted in surprise. "You have kept it all this time?"

"Ever since you left me…" She took his hands in hers once more. "I have never been able to rest. You gave me so much. I still want to keep my word to you. I would rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of the world alone."

They leaned their foreheads together, but Aragorn squeezed her hands gently. "Nothing good comes of me loving you… I only hurt you, and with me, comes your doom."

Aeariel looked up into his eyes, trying hard for him to see her strength. The strength he was not allowing her to have. "Then it shall be an undoing for both of us. Why shy away from things because of fear? Especially love."

He searched her eyes, trying to find answers to all questions he had never had answered. But he couldn't find anything. All he saw was the hardships ahead – but with her there for him forever. Aragorn swallowed his words, letting his hands gently slide down her silken frame, resting on her waist. He pulled her closer, placing his lips, like a soft caress, against hers.