Scarletbow
By: The 80lb Carrot
Disclaimer: They aren't mine. I couldn't have written them as well. Areyin, however, is my own creation.
Summary: Arwen had a little sister--a runaway and a rebel destined never to rule.
Rating: PG-13
AN: Yes I read the books. In fact I read them in fourth or fifth grade. I am now in high school. But I saw the movie . . . three times in the past three weeks. Which one do you think I am more familiar with? Good guess. So sorry if this relies more on the movie than the book. Starts as the Fellowship is being formed. Skips the messy bits. Starts up again when Legolas gets home. Got it?
AN2: Areyin-- Air-yin
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Had the situation not been so serious, Areyin would have fallen apart laughing at the look on her father's face. He went completely slack-jawed and his eyes bugged out of his head, wide open in shock. He blinked a few times, then glared as she reached out with one finger to lift his mouth back in to place. Grinning wickedly she stepped back to get a good look at his reaction. "That- that's not possible!" he choked out, his thoughts surprisingly well-collected, "Galadriel took charge there, she would never willingly give up what little power she had!"
Okay, that crossed the line. Areyin's eyes narrowed. "Aunt Galadriel," she told him slowly, enunciating the first word, "Has more power than you could ever hope to. Why do you think they gave the ring to her, and not to you?"
"If you now rule, as you claim, why do you not carry her ring?"
She smiled. "I do not need it." There were a few moments of silence before she spoke again. "Have you more to say to me, for Legolas has not yet been able to visit his family in Mirkwood since his return from Mordor."
Her words brought his attention to the tall elf that stood beside his youngest daughter. "Legolas?" he asked him, "You accept--you *support* this madness?"
Areyin's grin broadened as she felt his arm slip around her waist and she leaned against his shoulder. She could hear the smile in his voice as he answered. "I accepted everything about her when I fell in love with her, m'Lord, and that calls me to support her in what she, and I, feel to be the right decision."
Had they not been surrounded by most of the population of Rivendell, Areyin was sure that her father's mouth would have flopped like a dead fish. "I have no more to say," he told them quite frankly, "So if you will excuse me, I have important business to attend to." He turned to leave, but her words forced him to stop.
"The meeting was my pleasure, Lord Elrond of Rivendell."
Legolas immediately realized the ulterior motive in her use of respect as the ruler of Rivendell turned with a shaky step and returned the bow she gave him. "I must say that it was mine," he forced out, elongating the pause before his next words. They were choked and barely-controlled. "Lady Areyin of Lothlórien." Then, turning so quickly his hair and robes whipped out behind him, Elrond left the room.
Arwen looked towards her younger sister. "You are leaving?"
She nodded. "I am afraid that I must. After shaming him in front of everyone, Father would not make our stay pleasant."
"So it's true?"
Areyin paused, then slowly nodded once more. "I couldn't do it," she told her, "I know how I would feel if anyone ever took Legolas from me and I couldn't do it to you." The sisters embraced, brunette locks mingling with gold. "Promise you will come to visit me?" she asked, whispering in Arwen's ear, "It would be lonely without you."
The older girl smiled gently. "Of course." She pulled back, locking eyes with her younger sister. "And you will visit me?"
"As often as I can!"
Legolas smiled as he watched the exchange. As much as she might not like to admit it, Areyin did care for people and their opinions of her, especially when it came to her older sister and she did not bother to hide the excitement in her voice. But when he caught a glimpse upward of Elrond glaring down at them, he knew it was time to leave. Approaching softly, he put an arm around her shoulders, gesturing with his free hand towards the agéd ruler. "I believe that we have worn out our welcome."
Areyin cast a quick glance up, nodding in agreement. "I will see you soon," she told her sister.
"I look forward to it." With one last hug the sisters broke apart, saying their good-byes then turning to leave.
Once they were all eight out of earshot, Legolas turned to Areyin. "Are we really going to see my family?"
She smiled. "If you want us to come with you. Or you can go ahead and we'll go back to Lothlórien."
He shook his head violently. "No. I want you to come."
"Then that settles it."
They turned to go, his arm slipping to fall to her waist and her head to his shoulder once more. The archer's followed behind them, silent as always. Areyin drank in her surroundings, knowing in her heart that she would not seem them again for a long time. The familiar path, the ivy arc she had known all her life would fade into memory until she was allowed back in her homeland. With a deep sense of melancholy she mounted her horse, but to her surprise Legolas climbed on right behind her, letting his horse run rider-less beside them. As they rode out of the city towards Mirkwood, Areyin let her mind settle back on her decision. And as she went over everything, from the weight of the responsibility to the reassurance of support that was as real as the feel of Legolas' arms around her, she knew that somehow, everything would work out all right.
FIN
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that's all folks, any new chapter added is just author's notes. but you should be proud of me, i wrote sap. me. i wrote it. ::everyone cheers in the glory of me:: didja like it? review. hate it? review. questions? review. comments? i think you get the idea. but seriously, if you have questions just ask 'em. i'll try to answer them in the author's notes.