My Immortal chapter 10

Aragorn watched his beautiful wife as she slept. The morning sun was just rising in the east and he knew today would be a tearful one. Today she would not only say goodbye to her beloved father, and grandparents, but to the chance at ever seeing her mother again as well.

He knew that having Elrohir and Elladan stay in Middle Earth with her was some comfort, but would it be enough to fill the void in her life? He sighed and looked back at her just in time to see her eyelids flutter open, a bright smile on her face as she saw him watching her. "Sleep well?" he asked her. They had spent many hours last night making love before falling asleep in each other's arms.

"I slept well," she said as she leaned up to kiss him. She had been worried about having nightmares about her father leaving, but she had rested well. "Today will be a big day."

Aragorn nodded. He understood what today meant to her and to her brothers as well. He too was sad that he would never see his foster father again, nor even Erestor, whom he had grown fond of over the years he had grown up in Imladris.

"We had better get up and ready. I know the Elves wish to leave early to get a full day's sail in," she said as she stood up and pulled on her dressing robe to cover her nudity as she went to pick out one of her dresses to wear. She wanted to find her father's favorite one. He had always loved it when she wore the dark green one. He had told her once, as a child, that the color reminded him of the lush rich forest that he loved so dearly. After that, she had always made sure to have a dress made of the green fabric. Today, she would wear it one last time for him.

Aragorn came over and kissed her on her cheek. "I will see to the preparations," he said as he left her alone in the room to get ready.

Arwen dressed and fixed her hair, brushing the long dark locks until they shone with a brilliance to rival the sun itself. Then, she sat down at her writing desk and pulled out a piece of parchment. With tears rimming her eyes, she began to write.

Dearest Mother,

I am writing this with tears in my eyes. As you already know, I was not with Ada when the ships reached the Undying Lands. Elrohir and Elladan have also made the same choice. We have found love Mother. Love like none we had ever known before. It fills us, feeds us, keeps us happy even in sad times like these.

Aragorn, my husband, is a wonderful man. No doubt Ada will tell you all about him. Elrohir has married a lady from Rohan, Eowyn is her name. She is beautiful and treats him well. Elladan has also married a woman of Rohan, and although I do not know her well, I am certain that she is special too.

I remember when you left Middle Earth Mother, even though I know you had to leave, it was hard for me to let you go. Ada comforted me, telling me that you will always live on as your love can reach far across the sea. Well Mother, my love too can reach that far. I love you, and I will miss not seeing you and Ada, as well as Grandmother and Grandfather, but I know that you will all love me and keep me close to your hearts.

I know what you are thinking. We will die. I know that is our future, but we will not dwell on it. We have all bound ourselves to mortals, but they are worth it to us.

In our hearts, we will not die, but we will live on in the spirit of our children. Children I regret that will not know their other family across the sea, save for the stories that we will surely tell them one day.

The sun has risen full in the sky and I know the Elves are anxious to leave. Just know this Mother, I love you and I always will. When I go to bed each night, know that I will always be thinking of you and the others.

With all my love,

your daughter, Arwen

She set the pen down and wiped her eyes with her hands. When she was finished, she folded the letter and placed it into an envelope, sealing it with one of the royal seals of Gondor. She tucked it safely in her pocket.

She got up and went to the mirror, frowning at the puffiness around her eyes. "There is no helping it now," she said, knowing that her tears were only beginning. Saying goodbye to her mother in a letter, would not compare to the sorrow of seeing her father and the others as the ship carried them forever away.

She walked over to her door and left her room quickly. As she made her way towards the courtyard, she ran into her brothers. Both wore matching frowns and she knew, that they too, we feeling the same heartache that she was. Words were not needed between the three of them. Their eyes seemed to say it all.

As they reached the courtyard, already there were groups of Elves waiting for the procession that would take them to the sea, where the boats were awaiting them.

Elrohir looked around, finally locating his father with Aragorn, Glorfindel, and Erestor. He nudged Arwen in the direction and they walked over to him. "Ada," he said softly and choked back a sob that threatened to escape as his father turned, his own eyes already red and teary.

"We should go," Elrond said sadly as he looked at his three children, four if he counted Aragorn and he did count him. He loved the man just as he did his own sons.

Arwen lost her control and flung herself into her father's arms, "Oh Ada!" she cried as she clung to him, burying her face in his robes.

Elrond closed his arms around his daughter and held her close, letting her cry out her sorrows for both of them. It wasn't until Aragorn tenderly pulled her away and into his own, did Elrond feel he truly let her go. "We must make haste," Aragorn told them. "The others are waiting."

He wiped the tears from his wife's eyes and wrapped his arm around her protectively as he led her over to where the horses waited. By now, Eowyn and Roselle had also joined their husbands and the group was ready to depart for the ships.

It was a somber ride to the sea shore, no one wanting to say anything lest the tears begin again. Eowyn rode in front of her husband on his horse, letting his strong arms comfort her. She tried not to listen to the small voice inside her head that told her she was the cause of Elrond losing not only his daughter, but now his sons as well. She loved Elrohir, but she could barely tolerate the thought of him hurting and she knew that right now, his heart was breaking for the loss of his father and his mother, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Ahead in the distance, she could see the many ships waiting by the docks. Their sails swaying in the warm breeze. If not for the Elves leaving today, it would have been a pleasant day in Gondor, but now, it was shadowed by the many tearful goodbyes that were waiting to happen.

Elrohir stopped his horse and dismounted, reaching up for his beloved, helping her down. She encircled her arm around his waist, giving him what comfort that she could. Elrohir gave her a smile, he knew it was hard for her as well, but he did not want her to carry the burden of thinking she was the cause of his sadness. He would suffer whatever sorrow needed to be by her side. He loved her.

They followed Elrond and the others over to where the ships were anchored. "It is time," Erestor said as he stood before the twin sons of Elrond. He could hardly believe that he would never see them again much less, yell at them anymore for some foolhardy prank they had pulled. He had tutored them for many years, schooled them in the subjects they needed to learn. He would miss them. "May your futures hold much happiness," he said as he pulled both of them into his embrace.

"Same to you," Elladan replied as he fought back his tears. Elrohir nodded. He could feel Elladan was almost at his breaking point and he tried to comfort his twin as best he could. He put his hand on his shoulder and waited as Erestor stood before Arwen.

"You are more beautiful then all of the flowers that grow in the Undying Lands," he said as he gazed upon Elrond's fair daughter one last time.

Arwen smiled through her tears and hugged the stern elf lord.

They watched as he stood off to the side, awaiting the others to say their farewells.

Like Erestor, Glorfindel had spent much time with Elrond's children as they grew up. He hugged them all for last time, and went to wait with his friend. It was harder for Galadriel and Celeborn to say goodbye to their grandchildren. As she held her granddaughter close she whispered in her ear," I will be there for her. I will help her to understand why you have chosen as you have."

Arwen nodded, "Thank you." She handed the envelope to her grandmother. "Give this to her will you?" Galadriel took it discreetly and placed it in her pocket. "I will."

When the others had finished, Elrond stood facing them. "I guess this is our last goodbye," he said. He looked at his sons. They had grown up very well; they had made him proud.

Elladan hugged his father, "I will look after them," he promised, "as I always have in the past."

Elrond nodded as he held his eldest son close to him. "I know you will. Especially your sister. When Aragorn's time comes, she will need your comfort as she fades." The elder elf lord choked back his sobs as he tried to remain strong for his children. He let go of Elladan and pulled Roselle into an embrace. "You make my son happy. I thank you for that."

The young woman blushed and smiled at her father in law, before she went and stood by her husband's side. Elrohir let go of Eowyn's hand and stepped into his father's arms. He rested his head on his shoulder, much like he used to do as an elfling when something had troubled him. He had always been able to count on his Ada to help him through anything. "Ada," he choked back his emotions as he fought with himself to stay strong. "Give Mother my love. You and she shall always be in my thoughts."

"I will tell her," he said as he reached up and touched his son on his cheek, wiping away a stray tear that had fallen. He stole a glance at Eowyn and then looked back at Elrohir. "You have chosen well. She is everything I could have hoped for in a wife for my son." Elrohir nodded and reached out, pulling Eowyn into their embrace.

Eowyn hugged her father in law and bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering as she went to wait with Elrohir by the others.

Arwen and Aragorn stood before him. How could he ever tell his daughter goodbye? It seemed that he didn't have too, for words were not needed as he gathered her up in his arms and held her trembling body close to his, trying to keep strong for her. Aragorn joined them. The three said nothing as they held tightly to one another, delaying the inevitable.

Time seemed to stand still, as Elrond held onto the last of his children, until Erestor came to his side. "Come my Lord Elrond," he said, knowing that if he had not gone to him, Elrond would never be able to tear himself away.

"Look after her Estel," Elrond said as he looked lovingly at his foster son. "You have become all I thought you would be. You are a fine man Aragorn. I am proud of you."

Aragorn nodded as he held his sobbing wife. Elrond allowed Erestor to pull him towards the boats.

They watched as the others boarded, the anchors pulled, and the waves as they began taking the ships out to the open sea. Elrond stood by the back, watching until he could no longer see them standing alone on the shore.

"You need to eat," Eowyn said as she set a plate of food down in front of her husband. She was terrified that he would fade. She had heard of many elves doing that when they had lost a loved one.

1. "I am not hungry," Elrohir said as he pushed his plate away. He could see the concern lacing her beautiful features. The last thing he wanted to do was worry her. He just could not help but feel a bit melancholy over the thought of never seeing his father and the others again.

A glance towards Elladan and Arwen told him that they too felt his pain. Although their choices had been their own, it had not been an easy choice to make. "They are in a better place," Elladan said as he picked up his fork and tried to eat. Elrohir nodded. He knew his brother was only making an effort to please Roselle. He loved her. It had been a whirlwind romance for them but he was happy that Elladan had also found love. Eowyn's handmaiden was fine woman. A wonderful match for his twin.

Roselle smiled as she saw Elladan eating. It was one small step but it was a step nonetheless in the direction of his healing. She knew he would mourn the loss of his father and friends for quite awhile.

"Are you alright?" Aragorn asked Arwen as he put his hand on hers at the table. Arwen smiled through her tears. "I will be," she said as she looked at her husband. "In time, everything will be well again. Their passing is fresh and like all memories, it will linger for awhile until we are all able to let it go."

Elrohir listened to his sister's words. They rang very true. He knew he would always treasure the last moments he had spent with his father. There was always a small chance that in the future they may be reunited. Although it would be bittersweet, meaning that Eowyn had passed on to wherever it was that mortals went after leaving this world.

He thought about that for a moment as he sat there and watched her eat her dinner. So loving, so gentle, so fair. His Eowyn. He did not wish to think of ever losing her, yet he knew their time together would not be endless.

Would he have the strength to go on after her death? Most elves faded if they lost their lover unless they sailed to the Undying Lands. With a sigh he put those thoughts away. He would not think about them now. He would live for the moment and not worry about the future.

Elrohir stood up from the rock he had been sitting on, still looking out over the sea. So many years had passed. Yet the hurt still lingered on. They had left Minas Tirith to live in Rohan. Eowyn wished to help her brother as much as she could. She also wanted to be near her home when she gave birth to their first child.

Eowyn had given him a daughter, a precious child born from their love. They had named her Eylawen, and the little child had grown quickly. He remembered every first in her life. Her first smile, her first word, her first step. Always he wished that he could share such things with his mother and father. Not a day had passed when he had not thought of them.

Sometimes he had spoken to Elladan and Arwen about their decision. None of them had ever regretted binding themselves to a mortal and staying behind in Arda. Roselle had given Elladan three sons, each one a year after the other.

Aragorn and Arwen had been blessed as well. Two daughters and a son. Aragorn had his heir that he had always wanted and Arwen had her daughters to fawn over and mold into young princesses. They all seemed happy, despite the memories that never seemed to stray far away from their minds.

Life had been happy for many years until tragedy had struck. Roselle had taken ill with the fever of men. All of their fathers teachings had not been able to break it and she had passed away in Elladan's arms.

Their children were grown, but still, they needed their father. He had managed to hang around long enough to see them each married and off on their own, but Elrohir had felt the sorrow, he had seen the fading signs in his twin.

"You can not leave me Elly," Elrohir had pleaded one night when things had seemed their bleakest. "Your children need you, Arwen needs you, and I need you too."

Elladan sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "My children are grown and are with their own families, Arwen has her own children and Aragorn, and you have your Eowyn and your child. You do not need me."

Elrohir tried not to let his tears fall. He needed to keep hold of his emotions so that he could make Elladan see that he did need him. He had needed him all of his life and he needed him even more now. Eowyn was growing older, already the signs of age lined her beautiful face. He saw them grow year after year, always while his face remained the same. Their daughter was grown but not yet married, a fact that worried her mother dearly.

"Eowyn fears she will pass anytime now and not live to see Eylawen settled," he told him. "You must be here to help me if something should ever happen. You have always been the stronger one."

Elladan looked away, not wanting to meet his brother's gaze.

"Tell me you will hold on a little longer," Elrohir begged his twin. A tired and sad look on Elladan's face answered his question, but the slight smile he had forced, told him that he would stay, even if only for a short time.

That night in bed, Elrohir had held Eowyn close. They had made love and were settled for the night when Eowyn surprised him. "Will you sail to the Undying Lands after I am gone?" she had asked.

"Do not speak of such times for they are not now. Let us live for the moment and cast all of our worries for the future aside."

"It is not that easy my love," she answered. "Eylawen is more elf than she is mortal, she will need you when I pass on."

Her words concerned him greatly. Why was she speaking like this? "Eowyn?"

He heard her sobs and sat up, pulling her into his lap. "What is it my love?"

She fought hard to tell him, hoping the past few weeks had been nothing but a bad dream , but the healer had assured her it was not. "I am dying Elrohir," she said. "The healer said it will not be much longer now."

Dying. How could Eowyn be dying? The years they had spent together seemed so brief when he thought about living without her. She had told him last night that she was dying. He had held her close all night, afraid to let her go. How would he ever be able to go on without her?

1. He had missed all of the signs. Her health had been failing, yet he had refused to see it. Her body would tire easily, yet he had always passed it off. Never had he suspected that she was dying.

The days passed and he could see that she was getting worse. He had talked to Elladan about going on, had given him many pep talks after his wife had died. Now he would have to take his own advice. He would have to live on, for the sake of their daughter, and his own sanity.

Eowyn watched them together every precious day. She wanted them to remember her. Their beautiful daughter, more elven then mortal, although she had inherited her mother's fair looks.

She was tired. So tired that she could barely stay awake any longer and knew her end was near. Elrohir had taken them back to Minas Tirith so that she could saw her goodbyes to King Aragorn and Queen Arwen, whom she had become very fond of. They had stayed only a few months, when she asked Elrohir to take her home. She wanted to die in her own bed, in the land of her people, in Edoras.

Elrohir granted her every wish, staying strong when he was near her, but breaking down and weeping for all that life was taking from him when he was alone. Only Elladan understood.

When he had awakened that morning, he leaned over to kiss her, feeling her cheek cool to his touch. She had passed. His blonde goddess, his love, his life. His Eowyn.

The funeral was held quickly, as she had requested and she was laid to rest with her kin.

"What will you do now?" Elladan asked him one night when they were both standing in the courtyard of Minas Tirith. They had been staying there, helping Arwen out and taking the comfort that she had to give them. They knew that Aragorn's death was not far off and soon the siblings would all be drowning in sorrow.

"Does it ever get any easier?" Elrohir asked him. Elladan shook his head and pulled his twin to him, wrapping his arms around him. "Nay, it does not, but it does get numb. Soon you will feel that. It dulls the ache in the heart, but it never goes away. That is the punishment for loving a mortal."

He and his daughter had stayed in Gondor, and the years had quickly passed. Aragorn was now the sickly one, growing older before their eyes. Many nights, Elrohir had held Arwen as she cried out her sorrows to him, knowing that when Aragorn passed, she would fade from the world. "You can go on," Elrohir told her.

Arwen shook her head. "Nay, I can not. Aragorn was all that I had lived for and when he is gone, so shall it be my fate as well."

He had tried talking her out of it, and had even asked Legolas to speak to her. She would not budge. It was only then she had disclosed to them, that she had given up her life's grace, her right to journey to the Undying Lands.

Elrohir knew that Legolas was building a ship, one to carry him and Gimli across the sea. He knew that Elladan was tempted to leave. His heavy heart and his sorrow too much to bear even after all the long years since Roselle's death. Would they still be accepted into Valinor?

He spent many nights thinking about wether or not he could actually leave. Once Arwen passed on, only Elladan and his daughter could tie him to Arda.

The day came when the sun did not shine as brightly over Minas Tirith. The king had passed. Elrohir held onto his sister as she cried her grief over the loss of her husband. When his body had been laid to rest, she turned to him and Elladan and requested that they take her to Lorien. She wanted to fade beneath the trees where she had first met him long ago.

Their journey was dark and quiet. All feeling the loss of their king as the days turned into nights. When they reached the place they were looking for, Arwen bid them all farewell. Elrohir and Elladan had a hard time leaving her there. Knowing that she would fade and all would be gone of the Evenstar from this world.

They stopped in Ithilien on their way to Minas Tirith. Elrohir to collect his daughter who had stayed behind with Legolas while they had taken their journey to Lorien, and Elladan to tell Legolas that he had decided to sail with him and Gimli. Eylawen could see the grief in her father's eyes. She had been discussing it with Legolas.

"Ada?" she said one night while they were sitting outside, gazing at the stars. Elrohir turned to his daughter and pulled her to him. She was the only thing he had left of Eowyn.

"Ada, why can we not sail with Uncle Elladan and Legolas?"

Elrohir looked up at her, surprised that she had asked him such a thing. "You would wish to leave the only home you have ever known?"

Eylawen nodded gently. "I see how it grieves you to stay here with mother gone. Now that Aunt Arwen is also no more, you have no ties to this world except me. I would go and have you happy again. To meet the grandparents I have never known."

Elrohir felt the tears slide down his face as he held back his sobs. He could not speak, but managed to nod his head. They would make the journey to Valinor. They would see if they would be allowed to stay there.

The building of the ship seemed to go quickly, and soon it was finished. Elladan said goodbye to his sons and their families and joined his brother and friends on the ship. "Do you think Ada will be happy to see us?" he whispered to Elrohir.

Elrohir put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I think so."

They had arrived and were met with shouts of happiness as they were reunited with their parents and friends.

A happy moment, yet a sad one as he realized that never again would he be near Eowyn. Her body was long gone and even though he had always taken comfort in visiting her grave, he would no longer have that option.

He looked out over the sea, in the direction that they had come from. He had never looked back when they had been on the ship. He knew that her spirit was following him. She would always be there, even if only in his memories.

"Ada?"

Elrohir turned to see his beautiful daughter Elyawen. "We are home now," he said as he tossed out the last rock he had been holding. He watched as it ripple the water before sinking into the ocean depths.

He could hear Eowyn's voice on the wind. "I will always be with you," she said, just as she had said so many years ago.

He smiled at their daughter and took her hand, "Let us go home now," he said as he lead her back towards their home in Valinor.

The End

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