Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings and all its characters, races, and creatures, as well as our beloved Middle Earth, belongs to JRR Tolkien.
A few days later I was again posing for Celeborn as he painted me. It was mid afternoon, and the light was waning. He would usually decide when the light was not to his advantage as a day wore on, so since he'd said nothing yet and he was still painting, all I could do was pose.
Not that I minded at all! There was nothing to posing for him. I lay back in the chaise as naturally as I always did and he painted. And I had company for the hours he continued, so I hoped he kept painting for as long as he would.
He would not let me see his progress. He would take the canvas with him at the end of each day. He said that he wanted it near to hand so that he might add details to it that he did not need my presence to complete. I think he simply did not want me peeking.
This afternoon Celeborn was thoughtful, not chatting casually with me as he usually did. I finally could take his silence no longer.
"My lord, is there something bothering you?" I asked.
He looked at me, surprised. "No, why would you think such?"
"You are very quiet today."
He looked at me long, as was his habit while he painted me, but this time I thought he was making some other judgment. He finally looked back to the canvas and began to paint.
"I have been thinking of the situation you are in, Maeren," he finally said. "About the baby…"
This was only the second time we'd discussed this subject. I didn't know what to say to him.
"I am ashamed of myself, if that makes your opinion of me any less severe," I said, ducking my head.
He looked at me again, this time with even more surprise. When he finally spoke, I was shocked by his words.
"I was not put here on Middle-earth by the Valar to be in judgment of you. That is for you to do. It is what you decide about yourself and your behavior that is important, not what I or anyone else might think about you.
He bent back to his work and continued, "No, I have no judgment of you, not by any means. I have just been thinking about how this whole circumstance came to be. You have told me Elladan is the baby's father, and I was skeptical at first. I knew you not at all, but I have since decided, as I have gotten to know you, that there is no guile or deceit in you—you are speaking truth. So I have been considering the situation, wondering how something never heard of—at least by me—happened at all."
It suddenly occurred to me—I might have guessed wrong in his intention to paint me. I thought he wanted to ease my monotonous days by giving me his company, but perhaps he wanted to get to know me well; to determine for himself if I was being truthful about Elladan's role in my baby's beginnings. I was far from being angry at this revelation, though. He'd taken the time to learn about me—see if I was a truthful sort. He'd not just closed his mind as Elladan had at my outlandish claim.
"I am old by your standards—truly ancient in your eyes, I would believe," he went on.
I was fascinated by the Elf lord. Celeborn looked as if he had always been an artist; as if he'd always painted and the brush was just an extension of his arm.
"Perhaps that might give me some insight into the whys and wherefores of these circumstances," he continued. "I have lived through many things that, had I not seen them for myself, I would not have thought possible. I think I might be living through yet another of these types of events.
I was stunned. There may be an answer for this riddle I'd found myself immersed in?
After a short pause, Celeborn said, "I was thinking more of my grandson, than of you. When an Elf pushes the limits of Elven mores as much as Elladan has, he might could expect things to not go as planned."
"What mores has Elladan pushed?" I asked, completely bewildered.
"Maeren," Celeborn said, then paused for a minute. "It has ever been Elven tradition to not seek pleasures of the flesh outside of a marriage bond."
Really? Well that was certainly Human tradition as well. We'd both been wrong in our breaking of that one little convention, but I'd not known Elves held like values. Elladan had initiated our affair himself, many years ago on the banks of the Bruinen. He'd not mentioned any Elven traditions or mores then, that's for sure. And while we'd not truly become intimate, in all senses of the word, for years after that, it had been that evening on the riverbank that had gotten me stirred up into the pleasures of the flesh with him in mind at all. There was no doubt of that.
I was blushing at this point, so I opted not to speak. I nodded at Celeborn that I understood what he was saying.
"No matter how one might look at this child's beginnings," Celeborn added, "since this particular situation is completely unique, it must be the work of Those with power to make such things occur. What else explains it?"
"Are you saying this may be the direct work of the Valar?" I asked, completely shocked by what he was telling me. I'd known Elves a very short while; short in their reckoning of things. While I believed in our supreme beings, I never truly pictured them as having any true influence on physical happenings in my world. Perhaps I'd been terribly shortsighted? Why would They bother making something extraordinary happen in my puny little life? Or maybe, it wasn't my life they'd hoped to influence…
"I think we would be foolish to discount the evidence," Celeborn said. "Arwen was the last child born in Imladris. For millennia Elves brought no new life into this world. The darkness of Sauron's increasing power clouded the hearts of us all; we could not, in good conscience, bring Elflings into this place of strife, as uncertain as life was at the time. Yet here—and now—after the Dark Lord has been defeated—an Elfling is on the verge of being born."
I ran my hand over my distended abdomen. A miracle? Imagine…
Celeborn looked at me again and smiled, then his gaze ran over my form, no doubt checking something in my pose. He bent back to his canvas and began painting again.
One might have thought Celeborn's statements would have rendered me speechless, and for a moment, I was. But I quickly regained my wits, and I thought carefully about what I would say before I answered him. I braced myself to speak of such private things to this Elf lord I was conversing with.
"Although no one needs to be coupling with another without a marriage bond," I said without looking at him, "my reasons for choosing to have no bond between Elladan and me were unselfish, at least I believed them to be."
I glanced up at Celeborn and saw that he was watching me closely, listening carefully to every word I said.
"I loved Elladan with all my heart—with my entire being. We both wanted to be with each other—in that way—and by my reckoning, the only way I could consent to our being together was if there was not a marriage bond. I believed—I still do—that had I agreed to bond with Elladan, he would have chosen a Mortal life. I do not want to be responsible for him choosing in such a way."
"The very act of which you speak gives those involved a bond of a kind, whether they say vows or not," Celeborn declared. He gazed at me momentarily, his artist's eye checking another detail in my pose, and then he bent his head to the canvas once more. Without looking up, he continued, "And a child as a result would only strengthen that bond."
After a few careful strokes of his brush, he straightened and looked at me again.
"Do you not see," Celeborn asked me, his eyes trained precisely on mine, "that you would not be responsible for Elladan's choice in any event. The choice is his, not yours."
I was stunned again in the space of a few short minutes. Of course Celeborn was right! Who was I to insist that Elladan choose one way or another? How arrogant had I been? It was his life, after all, and his choice. I had been holding fast to this stance of mine for over ten years. And look where I was now—having an Elven child without benefit of a husband, if my body could hold it for the remaining weeks that it needed to be born.
Was it this simple? Elladan—and perhaps I—were being disciplined for our wayward behavior of dallying with each other with no intent to speak any vows? Was Celeborn saying that this extraordinary event might be an ushering in of a new age for the Elves? They'd all been leaving to Valinor. Was this perhaps the Valar's way of reminding the Elves that they should live their lives in Middle-earth to the fullest before they left for the Undying Lands?
Celeborn smiled warmly at me and resumed his painting.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
After another hour, Celeborn decided the sun was too low in the sky to continue. He started packing his things away. It always made me faintly sad when he left. I enjoyed his company and being stuck in a chaise or a bed, day in and day out, made for a lonely time for me. Everyone here was busy with his own tasks and had no time to be visiting with me, as I lolled about every day—all day. He was an exceptional Elf to be taking such time to see that I was not left alone for hours on end, if he could help it.
Celeborn left some of his brushes and cleaning supplies, as well as an easel, in a corner of my room, since he used them nearly every day. He always cleaned his brushes before he left. He was moving the easel inside when there came a knock at my door. I absently told whomever it was to enter. It was probably Haldan, coming to check on me.
But to my great surprise it was Elladan. My heart sped up and my face grew warm. I wasn't sure if I was going to weep or get up and throw my arms around him. Eru, he was beautiful and all the feelings I'd ever had for him flooded through me.
My attitude shocked me. When had I quit being angry with him? But the longer I sat here in total surprise, the more I knew that wasn't it. As the moments passed, I could feel the stone of my heart settle firmly in my chest. I had just been startled, that's all.
He obviously knew I'd be in this room, because, unlike me, he showed no surprise upon entering. He was faintly bedraggled—as if an Elf ever found himself in such disarray. He must have come here directly after arriving in Rivendell. His leggings and boots were still damp from crossing the Bruinen. But he spared me not the slightest glance. He had his eyes on his grandfather.
I looked at Celeborn. He seemed as completely surprised as I felt. He had finished moving the easel and had started setting his brushes to rights. He had just dipped a brush in some solvent to clean it, but straightened as he saw who our visitor was. He put the brush down and wiped his hands on a cloth as he greeted his grandson.
"Elladan!" Celeborn exclaimed. "How glad I am to see you here." The two Elves walked toward each other and met just in front of my chaise. Celeborn's expression suddenly turned to one of inspection, and he placed his fingers on Elladan's chin. He eyed his grandson extensively for several seconds, turning Elladan's face from one side to another, as if he looked for something unseen to any mere mortal such as me.
He finally saw what he wanted to see—or not—and embraced his grandson. He then stepped back.
"How rude of me," he said. "Elladan, I believe you know Maeren." Celeborn's hand swept toward me.
I watched as Elladan clenched his jaw, but he refused to be churlish in front of his grandfather and ignore me altogether.
"Maeren," he said in greeting, barely sweeping his eyes past mine.
I decided to be civil as well, even though by now I was angry with him again and wanted him to leave my sight. So I just repeated his name as he'd said mine.
"Would the two of you like some time alone?" Celeborn asked, although I could see he was on the verge of smiling. The stinker.
Elladan spoke up quickly. "No, that isn't necessary. I especially came to see you, Grandfather. It's been a long time since we've spoken."
Celeborn lifted his brows in resignation. He must have realized it would be much more difficult to reconcile us than the feeble attempt he'd just made.
But Celeborn would not be hurried. He resumed his cleaning, all the while asking Elladan questions.
"How is your sister?" he wanted to know.
"Well and beautiful, as always," Elladan replied.
"And her husband and children?"
"Estel is Estel. Same as usual. Eldarion is doing well in his training—and growing taller every day. He looks a great deal like his father, but then, all his children do. And the girls are growing up quickly. Melyanna is four now, but she thinks she must be at least Ellerrina's age."
They both chuckled at that, but then Celeborn asked another question, one I was eager to hear the answer to.
"And I understand Leofa is back in Gondor. How is the lad progressing in the training with the Tower Guard?"
I appreciated the fact that Celeborn was giving me a grand opportunity to learn of my son firsthand. I could feel my anger turn to anticipation as I waited for Elladan's answer.
I watched Elladan's face gradually relax as he talked about his family. And when it came time to speak of Leofa, his expression was almost that of a proud father.
"He is doing exceptionally well," he said with a smile. "He's taken to the sword as if he was born with one in his hand."
"Well thanks be that he wasn't!" I chimed in. I was overjoyed at hearing of Leofa, and I found I could not be angry right now.
Celeborn laughed at my remark, but Elladan clenched his jaw again.
"Indeed!" Celeborn said, chuckling still, as he turned toward me. "As his mother, you'd know the most about that."
"Leofa's birth was not exceptionally hard," I said, trying to forget my lover's presence. I spent every day confined, and I would take joy where it presented itself, no matter who might be around to try and ruin it. "Elrond delivered him, you know," I added, almost dreamily, as I remembered the day. Hearing about Leofa had lifted my spirit as nothing else had in quite some while.
"And now Haldan will see this new one into the world," Celeborn said.
Elladan apparently had had enough of our sentimentality.
"Grandfather, I will meet you later to talk. For now, I must go make myself presentable." He bowed his head slightly to Celeborn and turned to leave. For the briefest of moments, his gaze lingered on the swelling of my belly, but the moment passed and he continued out the door.
Celeborn was finished with his cleaning chores, so he picked up the canvas he'd been working on and walked to the side of the chaise.
"Are you ready to go to your bed, dear one?" he asked. Celeborn usually helped me back inside after he'd finished painting for the day. I was now over ten months into my term, and very ungainly, being made more so by my lack of exercise since the accident. Being confined to my bed, I found my legs had weakened some, and the ankle that had been broken had had little chance to bear much weight, so it still pained me to use it. Therefore, I required assistance to move any distance at all.
"No thank you," I replied. "I believe I will stay out here and drink in the air. The day has been uncommonly warm and beautiful, for mid-autumn. Besides, I feel somewhat closed in when I stay in that room for too long.
"I am sorry Elladan is still being stubborn," he said quietly.
"He can be as stubborn as a mule, for all I care," I replied, feeling my heart harden again. "Seeing him was confusing at first, but his attitude toward me has not changed. If he ever comes around to the correct way of thinking, it will be too late. I care nothing for him any longer. I'll not have him, even if he were to beg me the chance."
Celeborn raised his brows at my words, as if he might not believe what I said. He then disappeared inside for a moment, but returned only a few seconds later, a blanket in hand. He spread the cover over my legs. I smiled at his care of me.
"I'll call Haldan as I leave," he said. "I'm sure he will have a meal ready for you soon."
"Thank you, my lord," I said, and I reached for his free hand before he could walk away. "I want to thank you for everything. Do not think I ever take your presence for granted. Each moment you spend with me is a treasure."
"Likewise," he said, and I could see his smile as he left.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
I lay on the chaise out on the veranda doing exactly as I'd told Celeborn I intended to do—I drank in the evening air. It was a rare warm autumn day, so with the blanket over my legs, I was really quite comfortable.
I'd been lying here quietly, thinking of all Celeborn had said to me earlier, and I suddenly realized it was growing dark. I must have been sitting here for well over an hour. The sky was that wondrous shade of blue—very dark, but fading lighter westward as it crept to the crest of the horizon, which was obscured by the cliffs surrounding Rivendell. There were vague hints of orange and pink to be seen, reflections from the setting sun. The first brave stars of the evening were showing themselves, and the air was crisp and clear.
Suddenly I heard movement on the veranda below me. Voices carried upward to where I could hear them. After a few moments, I was able to identify them—Celeborn, Elladan and Haldan.
"I asked you both to meet me here," Haldan started, "because I have something of great import to request of you."
"The summons I received said as much," Elladan said. "Now cease the secrecy and tell me why I am here. And it had better not be some ploy on your part to see Maeren and I reunited, or I will gladly kill you before I leave."
"It is no such thing," Haldan replied. "I've already asked Celeborn this favor—which he's graciously granted."
"I am tired and filthy," Elladan said impatiently. "Get to the point of this, Haldan—"
"—the point is," Haldan said deliberately, interrupting Elladan, "the birth of Maeren's child will not be an easy one. It could be fatal—for both of them. I will need help in delivering the baby."
"What has this to do with me?" Elladan asked angrily. "I am not that child's father."
"Regardless," Haldan answered, his tone just short of hostile, "I would think the preserving of two lives would be sufficient reason for you to help me if I ask it of you, Elladan."
I felt somewhat guilty at this eavesdropping I was doing, but what else was there for me to do? I could try to go inside to my bed under my own power, but chances were I'd fall in the attempt. And that alone could bring on the very thing Haldan was discussing with the two Elves on the veranda below me—the impending birth, along with the death, of me and my child.
"Elladan, listen," Celeborn said sternly. "Place your anger aside and hear what Haldan is saying. A natural birth of the child will more than likely mean the death of them both. I refuse to believe that your heart has hardened to the extent that you care not if your woman lives or dies, let alone an innocent child."
"She's no longer 'my woman'," Elladan said petulantly. I listened as either Celeborn or Haldan exhaled in exasperation.
"Be—that—as—it—may," Haldan said, enunciating each word precisely, "in order to hopefully keep them both alive, I will need trained assistants at my side during the birth. Elrohir has already agreed to lend his aid, as has Celeborn, but I truly stand no chance of accomplishing my aim unless you are there as well—for the purpose of controlling her pain, when I must surgically remove the baby from her womb."
"Surely you jest, Haldan!" Elladan said, his sickened tone grave at the gruesome suggestion. "A surgical birth? Are you out of your mind?"
"No, Elladan," Haldan said grimly, "I can assure you I am not jesting—and I am in full control of all my faculties. It is their only chance."
I had been trying to push my child's impending birth out of my mind. It scared me senseless when I thought of Haldan's plans for me, and hearing it discussed out loud made chills chase each other up and down my spine. Was he being dramatic, just to get Elladan to help him with my surgery, or did he truly believe all he was saying?
No one spoke for several minutes, yet I could hear vague footsteps, as if someone paced the length of the veranda below me.
"You think about it, Elladan," Haldan said acidly after several minutes had gone by. "And I hope you make the right decision!" I heard the door slam as he left. At least I assumed it was Haldan leaving.
It was very quiet for a good while. Had I not known there were people down there, I would have thought they all might have left, but the timing of the door opening and closing was such, that only one person could have gone through it.
"Why are you staring at me again, Grandfather?" Elladan suddenly asked, startling me out of the gloomy reverie into which I'd fallen.
I heard a chair scrape across the stone of the veranda, then another, as the two apparently sat down at the table. Each terrace in Imladris had table and chairs for outside dining.
"I have been preoccupied this entire day, wondering how an Elf and a Human could conceive a child without first choosing a conception date," Celeborn said. "I—"
"—you know the story that Maeren invented is untrue," Elladan said, interrupting his grandfather. "I am not that baby's father."
"You truly believe her to be lying?" Celeborn asked.
"What else am I to believe? Perhaps she does not remember being with another? She is either lying, or her mind has become strained for some reason—trauma, lunacy—I know not which. Since she is not a good liar, then I am leaning toward the last thing."
I smiled. He'd rather think me insane than lying to him. At least that was a plus on his side—that he'd finally remembered how very bad I was at trying to convince anyone of anything untrue.
"I find her mental state completely whole," Celeborn said, with what sounded like levity in his voice. "And I've been spending quite a bit of time with her, so I would know if she were lying to me. I believe her claim to be true."
I heard one of the chairs suddenly scrape against the stone again, as if someone abruptly stood. "But Grandfather, you know how impossible this is!"
I heard a second chair scrape back, as Celeborn apparently got to his feet as well.
"Do not discount an event as impossible simply because it has not been heard of or thought feasible in the past. Who believed that such small beings as Hobbits could vanquish Sauron, yet that turned out to indeed be a possible thing, against all odds. So do not take shelter from your responsibility in such a flimsy excuse, as 'it is not possible'.
"Surely in your life before now you have witnessed something you thought unbelievable. I know I have had many such opportunities. When your own father and his brother were afforded the choice of race, many thought that an impossibility, including me at one point. But you, being fruit of your father, know that the choice was given to them. Your Uncle Elros became Human and has long since passed from the reaches of this world. So following this logic, you more than most, should be of open mind when faced with what seems impossible."
"I suppose you do have a point, Grandfather," Elladan admitted quietly, after a long pause. "My mind slammed shut when I came to the conclusion that Maeren was not with child by me, and she, therefore, had been untrue. That realization hurt so badly, I thought to lose my mind for a while."
There was another long pause.
"Grandfather, you're doing it again."
"Oh, so sorry—I do not mean to stare. As I said before, I've been wondering how this came to be, and I've been gazing at you, trying to discern if there is anything different about you."
"Why?" Elladan asked in a puzzled tone. "Why would I be different?"
"I was merely trying to decide whether you might have made the choice of race you have to make. I wondered if you appeared any different than before. I know when Arwen chose Humanity, there were no obvious physical signs on her, save for the warming of her skin—her complaints of the cold every now and then.* The baby Maeren is having could be an obvious sign of your choice. Were you Human, this child would not be a shocking surprise. But then, were you Human, you would not have rejected the child, since you would have known it could be the result of a choice you had made."
"I have to say," Elladan started, "that I had given that idea brief thought. I have not chosen such, that is for certain, but there have been times I was so tempted for a life with Maeren as to long for being Human. I wondered if perhaps I'd desired it too strongly.
"But I am still undecided, especially now that Maeren and I are estranged. I have had discussions with Arwen about how it felt, what she knew about the change in her, and her answers have convinced me I've not changed at all. I am still of Elfkind. Therefore, I believe completely that Maeren has been untrue to me. I do not think she is having a child of mine. We were apart more than we were together. She would not consent to move herself and Leofa to Gondor. She would not bond with me—I must have asked her more than a dozen times. There must have been another, and she was finally caught in her web of lies."
"You are a harsh judge, grandson of mine, especially since you are not entirely innocent in your dealings with your woman."
"What do you mean, Grandfather?" he asked with anger creeping into his voice. "I was nothing but honest with her, and she repaid me by being false."
"You flaunt Elven custom by taking pleasures of the flesh without benefit of a marriage bond—"
Celeborn clearly had more to say, but Elladan's exasperated exhale could be heard even by me, aloft as I was above this conversation. Celeborn went on in spite of his grandson's rudeness.
"—yet you must think you would be beyond censure of the Valar, simply because They seldom act outright against such foolishness. As you can see, and as I believe, you have been caught in a web of your own making, and They might have seen fit to confront you for your disobedience."
When Elladan spoke this time, after listening to all his Grandfather had to say, his tone was cheeky—almost chiding. "Do you truly believe this could be the case? The child is a result of my misdeeds and is somehow a reprimand by the Valar?"
"I said so, didn't I? Need I repeat myself?"
There was silence, so Celeborn continued.
"Or it could be your inactions that have caused events to unfold in the way that they have. Your reluctance to act on the choice you and your siblings have been given has me wondering: Perhaps these tragedies you find yourself in have fallen into this disarray because of your lack of a decision."
"I was never aware there was any sort of time limit applied to this Peredhil choice I have yet to make." Again Elladan's tone was just short of insolent.
Celeborn must not have felt his grandson's comment worthy of reply, because he went on with what he'd been saying.
"Your father often despaired that, of any of his children, it would be you who would turn from your Elven heritage. Always you were more reckless and less thoughtful than Elrohir; a sign Elrond interpreted as your Mannishness coming to the fore. And after you matured, your pursuit of fleshly pastimes ever convinced him he'd been right about you."
"Grandfather, I had willing Ellith pursuing fleshly matters right along with me."
"Well, yes that is true, Elladan. But persuasion has always been one of your strengths."
There was a profound silence as I—as well as Celeborn—waited for Elladan to answer in some way. An answer never came.
"Your father never dreamed, at least when his children were small, that Arwen would turn from being Elfkind before either of his sons. Yet he was gifted—or cursed, if you see it that way—with foresight, and he saw soon enough the choice of his daughter. I do not know if he will ever completely recover from his loss of her, but that is the lot of a parent and not the fault of the child. Each have their lives to lead, and sometimes those lives must be lived separately. I tell you this not to influence any decision you might make, but to ensure that guilt does not play a significant role when you do choose."
The two Elves were silent again, and I sincerely thought about moving myself inside. But I knew my ankle, and how weak it was, and that, along with my girth and muscles wasting from lack of use, would have me on the ground before I finished my short journey to my bed. I was stuck out here, listening to things I should not be hearing, until someone came to my rescue. Where was Haldan, anyway?
"The Valar might be tired of your wavering," Celeborn finally said emphatically, as if there had been no lull in the conversation. "One may sit on a fence for untold time, but sooner or later, one must come down on one side of it or the other. You have a choice to make, and you've not made it for whatever reason. And no, there is no time limit for making this decision, but for years you have been carrying on in this fashion, not advancing in your life; standing still, committing to no one and nothing."
"But Grandfather," Elladan said, this time almost pleadingly, "I have all but begged Maeren to bond with me. It was she who was holding me from making this choice."
"Surely even you do not believe that, much less expect me to. Even if she would not bond with you, you could have chosen to live without her, or chosen whichever life you want to choose, and then inform her after the choice was made."
"I was afraid, Grandfather," Elladan said quietly. "Maeren is so vehement about my not becoming Human."
"Do you truly believe she would have left you of her own accord, had you announced you'd made that choice without her knowledge? After all, it is your choice to make, not hers. You give her too much leverage in this. You should look to your sister as to how a decision of this magnitude is made. Arwen read her own heart and saw that Estel was the only love for her lifetime. She chose him and Humanity. Why could you not do the same—simply choose, whichever choice that may be?"
"You know not Maeren's stubbornness, I do not believe. I had no way of knowing if she would still have me, had I made such a choice behind her back."
"Well as it stands now, it hardly matters, does it?" Celeborn asked. "You have managed to alienate her, if not completely, then very nearly so. As she speaks now, I have doubt as to whether she would have you back at all."
The door to my room suddenly opened and someone came in—it was too dark for me to see who it was by now. There were no lamps lit in my room—it had still been light out when Celeborn left me.
Haldan could see me apparently. "Maeren, what on earth are you doing out here still?" He didn't wait for my answer; he picked me up from where I lay and whisked me inside to my bed. He then lit the lamp. I wanted to laugh at the face he was making—he seemed distraught—as if I might have taken some ill from being outside in the dark.
But that was not what had him so concerned. "You heard, didn't you?"
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*When I made this determination, I was remembering (I think) that Tolkien wrote his Elves as being less affected by cold as Humans, so that's where my idea came from of their difference in body temperature. So I am going with the idea that Arwen may have "warmed up" after her decision was made. If it isn't so, then consider this another A/U item in this story.