Last chapter before the epilogue!
Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or the characters.
It was Midsummer's Eve when Estel came to my quarters as I was already prepared to sleep. "Arwen, come," He beckoned.
I rolled over in bed to face him as he stood in the doorway. The more time he had spent in Lorien the more relaxed he had become and I could no longer see the pain that had constantly overshadowed him. It pleased me that he wished to do something spontaneous. "If you have not noticed, I am already in my night clothes. I must dress first."
He sighed, "If you must."
As I emerged half an hour later I found him seated beside my door. "It took you long enough," he said, standing. "But you look lovely, as always."
"Thank you," I said. "And what is so important?"
Estel just took my hand, "You will find out in due time."
When we had reached a certain point he suddenly pulled out a cloth. "You trust me, do you not?"
"Of course I do." Where was he going with this?
"Then you shall trust me to not lead you astray?"
This time I paused to think. It was not that I did not trust him but he was behaving rather strangely. "I suppose." Suddenly he began to tie the cloth around my eyes. "Estel, what are you doing?"
"Trust me."
III
It appeared that we had finally reached our destination because he released his grip on my elbow. I was glad of it because the way had not been as easy as I would have expected. "Can I take it off now?" I started to tug on the cloth and he slipped it off for me. I looked up at him, "Cerin Amroth, surely it is matched by none in beauty but why the secrecy? I have been here before."
"But not like this," he said. And as we stood in the spot that was once the house of the King, among the golden petals and trees, Estel took my hands in his. "Arwen Undomiel, I pledge to you here that I will love you until the end of days. I pledge that nothing shall part us." He kissed me gently and then released my hands and removed the Ring of Barahir. The ring that my father had given him long ago. "With this ring I pledge myself to you," and with that he slipped it onto my finger.
It weighed heavily and was so loose that it would have fallen off but I now clasped his hands in mine. I swallowed hard before speaking. "And to you Aragorn, son of Men, I pledge that I will love you for all of eternity." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders, "With this kiss I pledge myself to you."
He held me. "One day we shall be properly wed, but for now this will be enough."
Though our pledge to one another was heard by no one but ourselves, it was enough to bind us for eternity.