Firstly, I cannot begin to express how sorry I am that it's taken me so ridiculously long to update! But a new job, moving in with my fella, getting engaged and planning my wedding (coupled with an insanely long bout of writers block) have all taken their toll on what used to be my writing time.

However, my muse finally got a large kick up the backside last night and I seem to be back in business. I am determined to get this story finished by the end of the year - you all have permission to send a hoard of orcs after me if I don't!

Secondly, thank you so much to the people who have reviewed or sent me messages in the interim. It has meant a temendous amount to know that people did not give up on the story, even when I thought myself that I might never update again. So this chapter is really for you.


Chapter 52 - Darkness Falls

In the days that followed, Faelwen was most strictly confined to the healing wards. Though awake and in full possession of her wits, she was very much weakened from the mammoth effort of supporting both her own lifeforce as well as Haldir's. While she was recovering, Elrond had asked the others to refrain from mentioning her brother's fate. The shock, he feared, might set back her recovery all together and so Haldir, Orophin, Arwen and the twins, who remained in Imladris only for two days before leaving once again to join Aragorn in his last final efforts against the Dark One, all promised to partake in this small deception.

By the end of the week, however, Faelwen's strength was returning apace and she was impatient to be out of the healing rooms – she began to insist on an hourly basis that she was perfectly well and perfectly capable of getting up. Healers, Arwen amusedly reflected to Haldir, truly did make the very worst patients!

In the end, her badgering paid off and she was finally deemed fit to return to her own room.

"When is she to be told?" Arwen asked Haldir and Orophin that morning as they broke their fast. "And who is to tell her?"

"That task must fall to me," said Haldir gravely. "For it was I he died to save."

"I never liked him," Arwen mused. "Any time our paths crossed I always found it impossible to forget what he had done to Faelwen in the past. I felt the same about all of her brothers; for I never believed their contrition was fully genuine. But now it transpires that Alyan truly did long to set things right. It saddens me that I never believed him."

"Me neither. But we can give credit to his memory at least," Haldir said quietly. "And I must strive to prove myself worthy of his sacrifice! I will take her for a walk in the gardens so that I can tell her while is alone."


"... he's dead?" Faelwen repeatedly faintly. Her brows drew together in a look of dazed confusion.

Haldir nodded quietly, his hand resting on the small of her back. "He gave his life most nobly," he told her. "But for his sacrifice, I would certainly be dead. Orophin says that his last words were that he hoped he had in some measure made up for the past."

"I had long since forgiven them for that, truly I had," Faelwen said sadly, her face distressed. "My poor father! How much loss he has had to bear! And how much more must he suffer? What of Feredir and the others? Are they alive?"

"They were all alive and well, Orophin says, when we left Lorien," Haldir told her quietly. "They were helping our troops to bury the fallen as he brought me to Imladris. I think they spoke of burying Alyan by the border which was closest to Mirkwood."

So many innocent elves slain...Faelwen's heart ached for them, though not as profoundly as it did for Alyan. Though she had been speaking honestly when she told Haldir that she had long since forgiven her brothers, it pained her that, despite her very best intentions, she had never really been able to love them again. And now there would be no chance to try again with Alyan... but she would never permit herself to forget that he had died to secure her happiness.

"We will honour his sacrifice," she said suddenly, catching Haldir's hands in a tight grip. Her eyes, though bright with tears, were strong and determined. "We will live through this, we will be together, and we will be happy! He will not have died in vain, Haldir."

"No," Haldir agreed. "Never that. He gave us the chance of a future. I will not throw it away, my love."

For a long time, they sat side by side in silent contemplation until Haldir, seeing the depth of the sadness in Faelwen's eyes and fearing a setback to her health, decided to steer her thoughts away from death. It was a subject too much on everyone's minds these days!

"I met the Fellowship briefly in Lorien, you know, some months ago," he told her. "I begin to understand why you grew so fond of those Halflings!"

"You saw them?" Faelwen immediately launched a barrage of questions. "Were they well? Was Estel? And Legolas?"

"Yes, yes, they were all in good health." Haldir assured her, deciding that going into detail about exactly what had brought them to Lorien was not necessary at this point. "It was the first time I had seen a halfling before, except a brief glance at old Bilbo in the Hall of Fire. They were stout little fellows though, with great courage - and great appetites!"

"I did grow fond of them, little Pippin especially," Faelwen smiled at the memory of the young hobbit's cheerful face. "He seemed so wholly innocent; almost a child at heart. I hope that this dreadful business will not change him too much!"

"I hope we will see them all again, very soon," Haldir said. "For things cannot last much longer before it all ends; one way or the other."


Faelwen did not think she would ever forget the unbridled relief and utter joy she felt when the news reached Imladris that the Dark Lord had been vanquished and that Arda was saved.

The entire dwelling place had been living in excruciating suspense ever since Elladan and Elrohir had brought the news that Aragorn was heading for Gondor. They had all known that the moment of confrontation was close and that there was no guarantee that good would triumph over evil. One must live and one must be destroyed...but which was to be the victor?

Faelwen was roused from slumber several hours from dawn one morning in late March by a violent knocking on her door.

"Faelwen!" The knocking grew louder. "Faelwen! Faelwen!"

"Arwen?" Bemusedly, Faelwen threw back her covers and hurried to the door. Opening it, she gaped blearily at her sister, who seemed utterly beside herself with emotion. "What is going on?"

"It is done! It is done!" Arwen cried ecstatically, tears of happiness glistening on her cheeks as she flung her arms around his sister's neck. "He is defeated!"

"He...what?" Faelwen blinked several times, spluttering around a mouthful or Arwen's dark hair. She was certain that her brain must still be asleep, because she did not seem to understand what Arwen was saying.

"The Dark Lord! He is gone! He is vanquished! It is over at last!" Arwen exclaimed joyously. "The news reached Ada tonight! And Aragorn is alive! He is alive and unhurt! So are both our brothers!"

Slowly, Faelwen's mind began to take stock of this momentous news. Suddenly she began to laugh, joyously and heartily, as they both began to dance about like elflings. It seemed impossible, wondrously impossible, that these long months of suspense, darkness and dread were over.

Aragorn was alive. The twins were alive. Haldir was safe. Faelwen felt giddy with joy.

"He is alive!" Arwen said again, tearfully. "At last I can be with him! At last I can wed him! Oh Faelwen, at last we can all be happy again!" They continued to stand in Faelwen's doorway, exclaiming their delight for several minutes, before Faelwen caught Arwen's arm.

"Come, we must wake the others," she said urgently. "Ada will not have had time to wake everyone yet. We must tell Haldir and Orophin!"

And so, just as Faelwen had been, Haldir was roused by an excited clamour outside his bedroom. Hurrying to the door and swinging it open, he was almost knocked off his feet with the force with which Faelwen launched herself at him, with Arwen joining the hug just as enthusiastically.

"Not that I am complaining," he said as he hugged Faelwen and offered Arwen a rather embarrassed smile. "But is there a reason for this?"

Before long, the entire household – most still in their night attire – was gathered in the Hall of Fire. The room echoed to the rafters with exclamations of joy, as the inhabitants of Imladris revelled in the knowledge that the dark days were over at last and that Aragorn and both the twins had survived them.

The War of the Ring was over!


July, many weeks later...

As the sun rose, the white city of Minas Tirith shone on the horizon and the party of elves who had escorted Arwen thus far – Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Glorfindel, Haldir, Faelwen, Orophin, Rumil, Galadriel and Celeborn stirred at their camp. Their journey had taken them from Imladris, to Lorien – where Haldir had been reunited with his delighted family – through to Rohan and now at last they had reached Gondor and would arrive at the capital that day to reunite Arwen with her betrothed, and the others with long-missed friends and acquaintances.

"Are you ready to greet your future home?" Faelwen asked as the two washed in a a stream close to where they had rested for the night.

"I have never been more ready!" Arwen said emphatically, handing Faelwen a hairbrush. Since leaving Imladris in May, they had dressed mostly in sensible clothes which had been suitable for long days of travel. Now that their journey was coming to an end though, and Arwen was about to see her future husband for the first time in almost a year, they dressed in attire more worthy of ladies of Imladris.

A truly remarkable transformation had come over Arwen since the night they had all discovered that Sauron had gone, Faelwen mused as she laced up the back of her sister's gown. Now filled with hope and happiness again, the dull and lethargic figure of the past year had gone and she seemed more beautiful than ever. The very simple gown of pale green she had chosen complimented her hair and her eyes; indeed, she almost seemed to glow!

Faelwen herself chose a gown of midnight blue, embroidered with silver. Arwen reciprocated in assisting her with her own fastenings and then they were both ready to join the others again. Like them, the rest of the party was now dressed as befits the guests of a king, and Faelwen found that – even when they were mounted and on their way once more – she could barely take her eyes away from Haldir for more than a minute.

As the morning wore on, they drew closer and closer to Minas Tirith. The fields surrounding the city bore the scars of recent battles, and the large mounds of earth scattered here and there over the plains spoke of the great losses that the race of men had suffered. Though an effort had clearly been made to begin to restore the land to what it was, broken swords and spent arrowheads were still visible amidst the trodden and scorched grass.

Soon though, the great white city itself was looming over them; its shadow stretching for miles across the plains.

"It is a remarkable place, is it not?" Elladan said quietly, drawing his mount closer to his sister's and looking up at the numerous levels of housing leading up to the city's peak.

"It is...very impressive," Faelwen replied diplomatically. Her initial impression of Minas Tirith was that she could not believe so much stone existed all in one place! Having spent the entire span of her life in Imladris, Lothlorien and Mirkwood, she was unused to seeing any dwelling place not surrounded by trees. The place felt old and dead to her, though she would never have said so aloud!

"Not enough trees for your liking?" Elladan smiled, reading her mind. "There even I am in inclined to agree, and I do not have your wood-elf sentiments. But it is a noble city, nevertheless. And it will become greater, now that peace has come and the rightful king has returned. It can be made to feel alive again!"

"I have no doubt that it will be so," Faelwen smiled, thinking of the happiness that Arwen currently was exuding, and the joy Estel was sure to feel when he saw her again. "I am certain that the city is in the very best of hands!"

As they reached the Great Gate and passed through into the city, crowds began to line the street and cheer as they passed. Faelwen observed the people closely and observed in their faces the unbridled joy of those who have come from a long, harsh winter into a bright and plentiful spring. They seemed genuinely happy to see them!

The group of elves followed Elladan and Elrohir as they lead their horses through the streets and up through the cities seven levels. They had barely got within sight of the citadel on the top level when a delighted cry tore through the air.

"My friends! Mae Govannen! Mae Govannen!"

Legolas Thranduilion, a bright smile threatening to split his face in half, came hurtling down the white steps towards them, followed – at a necessary slower pace – by the bearded form of Gimli, son of Gloin; who began to blush to very roots of his hairline when he saw Lady Galadriel.

"I am so happy to see you!" declared Legolas, his voice alive with merriment as he rushed up to the group of dismounting visitors. "After hearing that you had left Edoras, we have been expecting you these three days!" He seemed to hardly know who to hug first, now that so many old friends were there before him. Gimli soon caught up with his taller friend and many long, happy minutes passed as friendly greetings were exchanged and embraces were exchanged with one elf after another.

Finally, Legolas came to Arwen.

"My lady," he bowed; offering her a brilliant smile. "He is in the citadel. Follow me."

Arwen took his arm and together they climbed the stairs, disappearing into the tall white building. Unanimously, the others elected not to follow.

"Let them be alone for now," Galadriel said with a smile. "Now that peace has prevailed at least, we will have many days to follow in which to talk."