"Aragorn!"

Twenty year old, Earein rushed out onto the balcony where her best friend stood overlooking Rivendell. It was their favorite spot in the entire city. The young woman's red satin dress made her appear very regal and elegant, which contrasted with the brown hair that swung around her shoulders and fell to her waist as she stopped against the railing. Aragorn, with shoulder length hair and piercing blue eyes smiled at her. Her lips curved into a soft smile, her green eyes twinkling with nervous excitement.

"It fits you much better, the name Aragorn, though your being called Estel fit for its meaning of hope," she responded, stroking the side of his face tenderly," You have always given me hope. I hope you will do that even as you travel. I cannot believe you are leaving to be a ranger."

He took her hand and patted it gently.

"I need to tell you something," he said quietly.

The girl's eyes lit up.

"I as well!" she breathed," I-"

"I fell in love with Arwen, Elrond's daughter. At first sight."

Earein pulled her hand away in surprise. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Arwen?" she questioned quietly, her mind wandering to the image of the beautiful Elven woman attached to the name, "Have you spoken with her?"

"Of course! She is wonderful! And I believe...she may return my feelings."

Earein could feel her heart clench within her chest. She had been so close to telling him the truth. About her love. But she was too late. Forcing a smile onto her face, she looked up into his glowing blue eyes.

"Congratulations," she barely choked out.

He hugged her and, pulling her into his arms, swung her around. He laughed.

"I have never felt this way before. I am just sad that I have to leave so soon after she has arrived."

The young woman pulled away from his embrace and stumbled to the railing. Looking down at the courtyard below, she gripped the stone. She felt as though her world was crashing in on her. The only man she had ever thought about or cared so deeply for...swept away in an instant. She could not hold back as tears streamed down her cheeks. It hurt even more as Aragorn pulled her into a hug.

"Do not cry, my friend," he spoke softly," I will be back in time. Tell me instead what you needed to say."

Earein brushed aside the tears, almost angrily. Her best friend fell in love. She had to be okay with this or she would lose him forever. Turning to him, she took a deep breath.

"I...am leaving for Gondor. Permanently. And...I am taking Faryn with me."

It was Aragorn's turn to frown.

"You are...but...Gondor?"

"To further my magic training."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You hate magic..."

"Only because it separated me from you. With you gone...I will complete my knowledge as much as I can. Whether I use my skills...will be decided later on."

Aragorn scoffed and shook his head.

"And you are taking Faryn? For what reason?"

Earein wished so deeply within her heart that it was jealousy hiding behind his words, but she knew better. It could only be concern. He loved Arwen.

"He is a nice elf. And he seems to like speaking with me. He is also a very skilled archer and will make the trip to Gondor both safe and pleasant."

The snort of derision he responded with irritated her. She turned to storm away only to have her arm caught by him.

"I am sorry. I have no right to judge him. I just...do not replace me with him."

Fighting her urge to scream her secret or to cry uncontrollably at the unfairness of what he had just said, she turned and smiled. It was genuine, for what she was about to say was fact.

"No one will ever replace you in my heart, Aragorn."

Her words were in Elvish, making her best friend's eyes soften as he reached out and kissed her cheek affectionately.

"Nor you in mine," he responded in kind.

Earein stayed on the balcony long after her friend and first love had left her side. It took her almost half an hour to decide her feelings were bottled up enough before turning to leave. What she found astounded her. Arwen stood watching her, a stern look on the woman's face. Earein bowed instantly.

"My Lady-"

"Do not greet me, for I know your true feelings."

The younger woman could not find the words to deny the truth to this woman. Arwen gracefully walked to the railing and looked out at Rivendell as she spoke.

"I wish to never repeat myself, daughter of Gandalf. Should your love persist and Aragorn become aware of it, you shall not win. You will be left alone without a best friend."

Earein stared wide eyed.

"How do you-"

"I will make sure of it," Arwen answered, looking over the woman with cold eyes," I love Aragorn. You have missed your chances in life with him. Accept that now. He will never love you. Even if I am not there with him, you are never to be as close with him as you have been."

Arwen had spoken more words, but Earein had stopped listening. She waited patiently as her best friend's love went on. She smiled, something at irritated the dark haired beauty. Earein understood Arwen's threats. They were the threats of someone who feared loss. She was glad to find that her best friend was so deeply loved, but she found Arwen's attitude unnecessary. As Arwen moved to leave the balcony, Earein spoke.

"I will not change our relationship. Calm your fears, Lady Arwen. I will not take what you have. I will not fight for his love because it would only hurt him. I would have liked things between us to be amicable for his sake, but I find your response to my heart unappealing. Hate me if you will, daughter of Elrond, but I shall give you no feelings."

Earein grinned at the memory of Arwen's expression after her words. They had never spoken words again, but at some point the two of them had come to speak to each other by just looking at one another.

"I had a short lived love once," Earein told her curious listeners," He was an elf named Faryn. He loved me deeply and I think upon our time together with fondness. He died while hunting many years ago, though, so I do not wish to speak of it."

It was the truth, but she had not loved Faryn nearly as much as he had deserved. She had confided in him about her feelings for Aragorn and he had accepted her for that. Even now she wished that he still lived. Maybe he could have eased her pain. Yet, she doubted because as much as Faryn had tried to help her forget him, nightmares of Aragorn's rejection of her feelings came unwillingly. Glancing over at Aragorn, her heart and body ached to reach out to him, to be honest with him, and to give in to her desires. Yet she could never do that. She could not hurt him. Not him. Not even Arwen. Standing up, she forced a smile onto her face.

"Now I am tired with questions and choose to sleep. Goodnight, everyone."

Before she could take a step, Boromir's hand shot out and grabbed hers. She turned back and could easily read jealousy in his eyes. She sighed, bracing herself.

"Why do you sleep in Aragorn's arms every night? We all want to know, but no one will ask."

Aragorn stood up and sternly looked at Boromir. Earein turned away from the two of them, wishing to hide.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Boromir stood up, letting go of her so he could glare at the other man on level ground.

"And it has everything to do with you? I feel it is my business as her betrothed."

"Even if it had to do with me, it-"

"Did you ever have feelings for her?"

Earein whirled around to face Boromir. His blue eyes were fierce, burning holes into Aragorn, who glared in return. The tension between them made the already stale air beyond suffocating. The others in the circle murmured to each other and began dispersing, pulling away from the unpleasant atmosphere.

"Did you?" Boromir pressed, but was distracted as a hand was placed on his chest.

"Boromir," Earein warned," You may have the right to question me, but Aragorn is beyond you."

The blonde man gave her a clipped laugh.

"Beyond me. Heh, I am sure you believe that. I do not."

With a huff, he moved away to his bedroll. Earein and Aragorn stood rooted to their spots for moments longer. When the woman finally turned to look at her friend, her heart beat quickly in her chest at the look on his face.

"Earein," he started, slowly," If you are having these nightmares-"

"Stop!"

Aragorn looked at her in surprise. She was aware of how pained she looked, but she could not hide it.

"Please never answer the question he asked you and never ask me about my nightmares. I cannot speak of it. Not yet. When I am able...I swear to you that you will be the person I talk to. If you promise these things I will tell you something that...I know will not make you feel better about my nightmares, but you have a right to hear."

He was silent for a moment longer before agreeing.

"I promise that which you have asked of me."

Moving over to him, Earein took his hand as they walked to where their bedrolls had been set up earlier. She confided in him in a hushed voice that only he could hear.

"Faryn held me while I slept a few times when the nightmares started in Gondor. I would not stop screaming. He could do nothing for me, even though he loved me and I loved him. It was sad, but it is the truth."

As they settled down, Aragorn lay a gentle hand on her arm.

"So you do not have these nightmares as long as I hold you?"

Earein reached a hand out to his face as the concern and pain radiated from his grim expression.

"I feel guilty each and every day because of it."

Her best friend shook his head and lay down.

"It is not something you can control. It is not fault of yours."

She drifted off to sleep thinking about his words and wondering just how untrue they probably were.