Lady Undomiel is not one to rush a conversation. Although the veneer of calm that she wears sheilds her anxiety about as well as a breeze could conceal Caras Galadon, in other words, not at all. Attendants slip slowly in and out of my chambers binging wine and fruit, bowing a final sbumission to us before taking their leave. Arwen seats herself at the edge of my bed, I sit at the stool of my dressing table, and we both help outselves to wine.
This is not the first time we've sat thus, nor will it be the last, but alwys the coming of such a pregnant pause heralds the coming of a new era for us. For we sat this way on the dawn after she pledged herself in troth to Estel, the Dunadan.
Of course, we were in Lothlorien then and the chambers we sat in were not of the gleaming stone of Imladris but the golden wood of the palfreys of Lorien. We sat in silence then for hours, Arwen contemplating what she'd done, me contemplating the doom she'd chosen.
For it is my doom now too. As the dawn rose over the golden hills I finally broke the silence that day and declared my intentions to her, and later to Gladarial; I will not forsake middle earth and this exile without Arwen Evenstar and should my lady chose to remain forever on these shores, then forever too will I remain. The lady of the trees said nothing to that, and nothing she could have said, even she in her infinate wisdom, would have filled the gaping hole in my being I feel at being denyed the white ships to the west, but as Galadrial accepted exile even after dwelling with Elbereth in all her glory, I too can deny myself the western shores.
Though I know I lose less then my lady does. When Celebrain passed to the west Lady Evenstars only consolation was the thought that they could be together again beyond the sea, but now even that small comfort cannot be hers. She loses both father and mother to the west, brothers to an unknown fate, and her entire race to the draw of the white ships.
My mind returns from the golden wood all those years ago when Lady Evenstar speaks.
"What news do you bring me of the Dunadan, Analyn?"
Her voice carries no inflection, though I know she has waited for weeks for my words, and I wonder at this. I also wonder again, as I have so many times, weather or not Arwen wants to make the choice she chose. I wonder if Arwen wants Aragorn to die in battle before he can deny her the evermost west. I wonder...
This is not the first time we've sat thus, nor will it be the last, but alwys the coming of such a pregnant pause heralds the coming of a new era for us. For we sat this way on the dawn after she pledged herself in troth to Estel, the Dunadan.
Of course, we were in Lothlorien then and the chambers we sat in were not of the gleaming stone of Imladris but the golden wood of the palfreys of Lorien. We sat in silence then for hours, Arwen contemplating what she'd done, me contemplating the doom she'd chosen.
For it is my doom now too. As the dawn rose over the golden hills I finally broke the silence that day and declared my intentions to her, and later to Gladarial; I will not forsake middle earth and this exile without Arwen Evenstar and should my lady chose to remain forever on these shores, then forever too will I remain. The lady of the trees said nothing to that, and nothing she could have said, even she in her infinate wisdom, would have filled the gaping hole in my being I feel at being denyed the white ships to the west, but as Galadrial accepted exile even after dwelling with Elbereth in all her glory, I too can deny myself the western shores.
Though I know I lose less then my lady does. When Celebrain passed to the west Lady Evenstars only consolation was the thought that they could be together again beyond the sea, but now even that small comfort cannot be hers. She loses both father and mother to the west, brothers to an unknown fate, and her entire race to the draw of the white ships.
My mind returns from the golden wood all those years ago when Lady Evenstar speaks.
"What news do you bring me of the Dunadan, Analyn?"
Her voice carries no inflection, though I know she has waited for weeks for my words, and I wonder at this. I also wonder again, as I have so many times, weather or not Arwen wants to make the choice she chose. I wonder if Arwen wants Aragorn to die in battle before he can deny her the evermost west. I wonder...
