Chapter 28

"Aria, lasto beth nîn, tolo dan nangalad!"

She could feel the pull of the Halls of Mandos beckon for her. She could hear her ada calling for her to return from the light, she could feel the bond between her and Legolas breaking and becoming weaker, yet something kept her moving towards the light.

Her son.

That was what propelled her to move forward.

She looked down at the small bundle in her arms and smiled. He was so small and fragile. Much too small to be left alone. That was why she chose to come with him. She had never wanted to leave her husband; no she loved him far too much. Yet someone had to care for this little one. Hopefully Legolas would understand...

So she kept on walking. Walking towards what seemed to be a hall of sorts- the Halls of Mandos.

Soon she found herself surrounded by unknown figures as well as some known. Famous figures through out the history of Middle Earth mixed and mingled with those who were not. There were so many of them.

"My sweet Aria," a voice said behind her. "You have turned out to be a beauty like your mother."

Aria turned around as was face to face with someone she had never really known, yet some how the figure seemed oddly familiar to her. Then it dawned on her. This man was her father – Arathorn.

"Papa," she said as she walked towards him and he embraced her gently before smiling down at the babe in her arms.

"And who is this?" he asked with a smile.

"My son," she said handing the small child to her father to hold.

"The son of an elf, no less," Arathorn said taking notice of the babe's slightly pointed ears. Aria smiled slightly. "His father would have been proud of him, I am sure of it."

Aria smiled at her father's comment as she watched for a while longer as her father held his grandson. As she watched, she began to take notice of the Halls of Mandos. There were large tapestries on the walls depicting the events of Middle Earth. Typically Námo would sit on his throne and just watch over the souls elves and men until the end of time – or whatever fate men had. Yet as she looked around Námo was nowhere to be seen.

"YOU ARE NOT TO BE HERE!" a voice suddenly boomed behind her.

Aria slowly turned around and was face to face with the Doorman of the Valar – Námo. She stood there petrified.

"Come with me," he said, glaring down at her.

Without hesitation, Aria turned for her son.

"The child stays." Námo said, this time in a calmer voice.

She nodded as she turned away from her father and son as she followed the Valar through the hall and into a large chamber. Tears slowly fell down her cheeks as she walked away from her father and son, knowing that she would never see either of them again.

As she entered the large chamber the door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the room over and over again. She glanced around, suddenly acutely aware of the fact that she was alone. Where had Námo gone? As she stood there wondering where he'd disappeared to, she suddenly felt her eyelids become heavy as though sleep were overtaking her. Within moments, she felt her body relax as her knees gave way and soon she was felt the coolness of the floor below her. All went dark.


She felt herself drift in and out of what seemed like a dream. Stars wheeled around her and she felt like she was floating. It was almost as if time did not exist where she was. Where exactly was she? What was happening?

Then out of nowhere the stars that had been wheeling around her vanished as a blinding, yet warm white light surrounded her before leaving her in nothingness once again. A split second later, she felt her lungs burn due to the lack of air within them. She began to gasp for air to alleviate the burning sensation. Coughing soon followed. Tears spilled from her closed eyes as she regained her breath.

Once the coughing had subsided, she moved into a sitting position before she opened her eyes – not to fast for fear of sending whatever was around spinning – but slowly. As her eyes parted, she felt around her for signs of where she was. Yet all she could feel was a cool and smooth floor beneath her. Still with her slowness, the light that reached her eyes first burned. Just how long had they been closed?

Squinting to allow her eyes to adjust, everything around her slowly came into focus. She was in a room, where warm, welcoming sun light poured in through several tall ornate windows. The floor that she was sitting upon was exactly like she had pictured it in her mind – a cool, smooth stone of some sort.

Where was she?

With much effort, Aria slowly stood up and shakily made her way towards the closest window. The warm sun felt good against her skin. From where she stood she could so much. It was almost as if she were in a tower upon a mountain.

Then it dawned on her. Was she actually standing in the Hall of Ilmaren?

No. It was not possible. There was no way.

She searched the scene around her from her perch at the window. She needed some sign to know exactly where she was. But it was no use. She did not recognize anything that she saw.

"What do you search for young one?" a voice asked from behind her.

Aria slowly turned away from the window and looked behind to see a figure, clad in royal blue standing behind her. Immediately she averted her eyes and knelt to the floor in respect. "No one, my Lord," she softly said.

The figure knelt down and helped Aria stand back up then tiled her head back up to look at him. She was still refusing to make eye contact with him. "I promise that it is fine," Manwë, the Lord of the Valar, said. "Nothing else will harm you. I sense that you have many questions."

Aria slowly nodded yes.

"Then please, ask."

"What am I doing here? Why am I in your halls?"

"Treachery is what sent you to my brother's halls. Love is what will set you free."

"How?"

"The bond between you and Legolas Thranduilion is strong enough to survive even death. Can you not feel his pain and sorrow?"

Aria slowly nodded yes as she pressed her hands against her chest where a dull ache radiated. It was almost like she had nothing left in the world.

"A love like that is rare. Soon he will join you in my brother's halls…"

"NO!" Aria yelled, cutting off the Valar.

Manwë simply smiled. "I understand. There is a reason that he cannot join you. His destiny is tied to your brother's, just as much as yours is. That is one reason why your bond is still so strong."

"How can love set me free then?"

"Eru Ilúvatar is sending you back to Arda. He needs someone to persuade all races to join together to fight the darkness that is spreading. The old alliances have passed into history and there are not enough left who remember them. Yet above all only one of my Maia has stayed true to his path. You will need to aid him in his struggles to help those of Arda."

"You mean to tell me that I am alive?" she asked in astonishment, as she looked down at her hands then the rest of her body.

"Yes you are."

"I will do whatever it takes. Just please don't let my husband fade." Aria said pleading once she accepted the fact that she was very much alive. She knew that if Legolas faded before she returned to him, then there would be no reason that she should live and the fact that Eru Ilúvatar brought her back to the world of the living would have been for nothing.

"That I can make sure of. Now you need to rest young one. Going back to the world of the living is not an easy task. And there is much that you need to learn before you are sent back to aid Olórin," Manwë said as he brought up a finger to Aria's forehead.

As soon as the Valar had touched her forehead, Aria felt darkness take over her as her eyelids slid shut and her knees once again gave out. Her last coherent thought was of her husband's warmth.


Sunlight warmed her face and skin. The smell of flowers and birds filled the air. Aria sighed in comfort as she slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying in a large bed in a room where the windows lay wide open. She sat up and took in her new surroundings.

Where was she?

Had she already been sent back?

No she couldn't have been – because if she had been, then Legolas would be laying in bed with her.

So where exactly was she now?

The door to the room opened and an elleth walked in carrying a tray of food. "It is about time that you woke up!" the elleth said turning with a smile to look at Aria.

"Who are you?" she asked as she took in the elleth. It was almost as if Aria had met this elleth before.

The elleth smiled. "My name is Celebrían."


AN: I hope that this makes up for the sadness in last chapter. See what happens when I get a few more reviews….another chapter posted within a day! Just imagine what would happen if ya'll kept on reviewing….MORE CHAPTERS! Woo hoo!

Anyways, if you love my story then you need to check out my BFF's story – A Road Less Traveled! And be sure to tell SleepyHollow5 that I sent you!