Disclaimer.
Although a couple of these folks grew up in my head, most of them are lucky enough to belong to one Mister Tolkien, I'm just making them do stuff. Most probably against their will.

If you want to archive this, please let me know, If you have any questions, let me know, If I've made mistakes and am obviously an uneducated slattern, again, let me know. I currently don't have a beta reader, so there maybe spelling mistakes, but I try to catch as many as I can.

Still fit for family viewing, no slash, slush or anything beyond a U rating. In chapters to come that might be a different story. I have yet to decide.

Very much a work in progress.

Some reviews would be fahbulous, dahlinks. Let me know how I'm getting on. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed thus far.


Chapter Three, Night Breezes

Aewen of Gondor sat cross - legged on the floor. The night breezes swept strands of hair across her face, but she barely noticed, so engrossed was she in conversation with folk of her own kin.

In the Great Hall of Minas Tirith the conversation, the songs and the laughter had outlasted the afternoon and endured still as evening drew on apace, until only the elves were left at the long table, the rest having other matters to attend to. And still the fair voices rang out gaily, echoing across the stone faces of the kings of old who watched over the small party, until finally the decision was made to abandon the palace for the night, and continue elsewhere.

Elladan and Elrohir were lodging with Aewen for the duration of their stay in Gondor. They had arrived two weeks previously, having pursued the last dregs of an orc hunting party to the very walls of the city before the foul creatures were finally slain. The brothers were avowed not to depart for the West until orcs and their like troubled Middle Earth no more, for their mother had suffered grievously at the hands of those twisted aberrations, and vengeance was ever foremost in their minds.

So it was agreed that the group would make for the dwellings of Aewen, and that Legolas too should lodge there during his stay.

The Tower of Elbereth stood new built against the old outer wall of the city. It had been built at the lady's request and to her specifications. As Legolas followed the others up the winding stair within, he often stopped to marvel at the artifacts, the few small treasures recovered from Numenor that were once kept at Imladris under the care of Elrond, and now were housed in boxes of adamant and set into the walls, to be kept safe in Gondor forever. As the stairs continued upwards they passed through a round room, the walls of which were stacked with books, volumes ancient and crumbling, scrolls, papers, and books newly copied and bound, fresh in their covers. A writing desk and wooden chair completed the room and the stairs wound on, finally reaching their conclusion in another round room, full of seats and cushions. There were huge windows, floor to ceiling, that looked out over the walls of the city and many doors leading off into what presumably were sleeping quarters.

It was not here that they were to rest, however, as Legolas discovered to his surprise, when Elrohir opened one of the vast windows and stepped through, followed swiftly by his brother.

Aewen smiled at the wood elf's confusion, beckoning him to the window before she herself stepped through it. Laid into the stonework at the side of the tower he saw a series of steep rungs, such as only elven feet could safely climb. Nimbly taking this route after the others, Legolas found himself climbing onto the flat, open roof of the tower itself. A small garden had been planted there and the air was sweet with the scent of the many tinduith bushes, whose star like white flowers opened only after dusk. The others were seated on the ground at the centre of the garden, and Legolas followed suit, taking a place between the two brothers, his eyes ever darting about him, enamoured with this small sanctuary.

I come here to breathe, Legolas. Aewen said. The air below can be stifling, trapped between walls, but up here I breathe free air that has drifted through woods, over mountains. In the day the birds will visit me here, and at night I can watch the stars in their dance.

It is indeed beautiful. Legolas agreed, and he leant his head back to look upon the splendour of the skies.

My father ordered its building, at my request, for he knew my spirit was being crushed between the walls. Oh, I love Gondor, and its walls keep my people safe, whom also I love, but they are walls nonetheless. She sighed. Perhaps if I were able to travel more freely beyond their confines, but the guarded journey to Arnor is the only one I undertake with any regularity. It must seem strange to you, who have all travelled far and seen much to delight your hearts.

We have seen much also that has brought us sorrow, Sister - Daughter. Elrohir said. Resent not the city that shelters you, for there is much that would do you evil beyond it's protective walls.

There are things that need to be seen. Legolas began softly, Be they not all joyful. When I walked with your Father, Aewen, I jested that I walked with a child, for the length of his years then could have been fit twenty times over into the span of mine. But it was I who was the child then, and Aragorn who I followed, for the depths of his experiences far outstripped all that I had seen in my more lengthy years. It was he that awoke my own desire to roam.

We travelled far with Estel in his youth. Elladan said, And he roamed not out of desire. I would not see Aewen wander alone, as he did, amid the perils of this land....Your choices are your own, lady, but choose well what you do, for the sake of those who love you, if naught else.

The lady's face was turned suddenly bitter and she spat the word harshly at her kinsman. What choices have I now? What choices have ever I been given? I chose not my life, Elladan, that gift to you was given, but not to me. I can choose not to explore this land, though it lies in my heart to do so, for my brother would not see me leave without sufficient guards, and those I would not deprive my city of. I chose not to watch my father and mother die, and yet that was my fate. It will not be long before I watch my brother meet his end, and my sister too, and more, and yet more of my family, while I yet live on, unchanged. I choose it not, yet such is the course of my fate.

Seeing the sorrows writ large upon her face, Elladan reached for his niece, and drew her close, his embrace a comforting one, as his brother began to speak.

We all are orphans in this land, our parents long having left for the West, but eternal loss, I know, is far harder upon the soul, for we know not the final fate of men. As much as we grieved the loss of our sister, your loss was greater still. Know this, however, that Arwen and Estel live on in you, and in all the generations of Gondor that will be, and in that way they will never die. You have a burden upon you, Aewen, that it so often goes unnoticed is to your credit, but I am glad you would share it with us. It seems that we dwell in an age of loss, for much that we once loved is fading. Rivendell crumbles. Elrohir's voice was steady, but pain lay beneath its veneer, Soon the house of our Father shall be reduced to dust. In Lorien, where our sister rests, the Mallyrn trees stand stripped of their leaves and their beauty. Nimrodel sings there alone. Feel glad, then, that you have this place to call home, and you may tire of it less.

Aewen stared gravely into the darkened eyes of her uncle. I wish that I had seen these havens in their glory, that I should have memory of them now they fade. Mother spoke often of her childhood homes, but she would not return there until her passing. She looked to Legolas. And what of your kingdom? How fares Eryn Lasgalen?

Unable to hold the lady's gaze, Legolas cast his own to the floor. It shames me to say that I do not know. My family departed upon the straight road, and I upon the bent. I know not if any of my people dwell still in my old home, and what might have befallen them. A fine Prince am I who abandoned his duties.

The cheeks of the wood elf burnt with his shame, and there was silence for a long while, as all were lost in their own dark thoughts. But the descended gloom was finally banished by a sound most unexpected. Aewen was laughing.

It began quietly, a small, irreverent giggle, soon restrained, but not held back for long, another giggle followed and soon the elf rocked with laughter. Curiosity lit the faces of the other three, and under questioning as to the source of her mirth, Aewen finally choked out, Look at us. Look at us! Is it not ridiculous? Here we sit, the High Elves of the Fourth Age. Twin Lords of dust, Legolas, Prince of he knows not who, and I, Princess of my own prison! A fine testament to our ancestors, we! Desperate laughter consumed her once again, and soon a smile was seen to crack the stern expression of Legolas Greenleaf while twin smirks mirrored each other on the lips of Elladan and Elrohir. Before long all four clung to each other in helpless fits.

When composure was at last regained among the group, and they could once more look at each other without laughing, the brothers began begging for stories, lighthearted tales and songs from the old days, and it was Legolas who obliged, his smooth voice washed over the others, who lay back and listened. Soon their bodies were stilled in sleep, their open eyes gazing into the skies.

Legolas knelt beside Aewen's sleeping form, the night breezes swept strands of her dark hair across her face, and he reached to brush them back with gentle fingers, that her view of the heavens should not be hindered. Then, he too lay down, and fell into sleep, and the stars danced in all their dreams that night.