Chapter Two: Elves, Truth, and Decisions
"What do you mean: 'Lotewen'?" asked Lanion after a long moment of silence.
"Let's go inside. We have much to discuss, and it would be best to speak in a more - secluded area."
Reluctantly, Lanion led everyone indoors. He pulled a chair out at the table and invited the rest to sit down. Once all were seated, he began again. "What did you mean Aragorn?"
"Aragorn?" Lotewen and Ronwen questioned in astonishment.
"Lanion, I thought we had agreed to never use that name anywhere near -," Aragorn began with measured frustration.
"I don't care! What do you want with my daughter?" Lanion yelled.
Finally, Aragorn sighed. "I have questions, and if I am correct, I have a story and a request for Lotewen. First of all, how old is she?"
"I am twenty! Please, Thorongil.Aragorn, do not speak as though I am not here."
"I am sorry, Lady. Lanion, Ronwen; what have you told her about her heritage, and is it all.true?"
"She is a daughter of man," replied Ronwen coolly.
Lotewen sat back in her chair, utterly confused. Slowly, she tucked her hair behind her ears. Unfortunately, their abnormalities caught Aragorn's attention, for he looked at them, and had all the proof he needed. Quietly, with almost a hint of anger, he spoke. "Lanion, I cannot believe that you would do this! Do you realize who this is you call your daughter?"
"An Elf of the Golden Wood - I know! I have known for twenty years!"
"Not only is she an Elf, Lanion, but a princess as well! In fact, she is the granddaughter of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel! Do you know that she is believed dead, because her people never got word that her fate might have been otherwise? You never sent word, Lanion, and now you still wish to hold her back!"
"Don't insult me, for you have no power over me yet, Heir of Isildur," Lanion spat at the man whom had been his friend only ten minutes before. "Lotewen is my daughter and - "
"Wait!" cried Lotewen. "I believe this is my decision! Aragorn. How do you know I am Lotewen of Lorien? Perhaps - I just have her name."
"Your necklace was my first clue. That necklace was especially crafted for you. The blossom is fashioned after the flowers of Elanor in the Golden Wood, and your name was engraved with mithril. How do I know this? I watched the Elven-smiths of Rivendell craft it for you, by order of your uncle, Lord Elrond. But your history.that's a longer story."
"A hundred years ago, the second daughter of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn fell in love with one of the Lady's guards; a protector of the Golden Wood. Lord Celeborn did not wish for his daughter to marry a soldier, but one of a royal family. Lady Galadriel saw her daughter's happiness, however, and praised the couple, as did Lady Celebrian and Lord Elrond. Therefore, Celeborn gave in, and allowed the couple to stay together. They plighted their troth that spring."
"Due to complications in Mirkwood, Haldir, the guard, had to leave to provide aid. He was unable to return for twenty-seven years. A week after his return, he and Halwen wed."
"Thirty-three years later, the couple announced that Halwen was with child. Lord Celeborn had no love toward the child, and, as Halwen wanted to please him, she decided to do something. However, she loved her child, so she planned to leave for a time, with only her little daughter."
"All went well until she reached the Wild Man's realm, and Ghan-buri-ghan attacked. Halwen was gravely injured, and died from the wound upon return to Lorien. When they tried to figure out who had died during the fight, they realized Halwen's child was missing. Immediately, Haldir returned to the forest, but there was no sign of his daughter. He assumed she was dead, as that was the only logical explanation, and reported the news to Lorien. I don't think Haldir was ever been the same again. Apparently, though, everyone had assumed incorrectly concerning the child's fate. The child was rescued, by a young couple, and has grown up for the past twenty years just outside Minas Tirith."
"That child was you, Lotewen. You are the daughter of Haldir and Halwen; you are an Elf, and a princess. Whether you and your adopted family except this or not is up to you, but it is the truth," Estel finished.
Lanion sat quietly with his arms crossed, as a tear escaped down his face, and he realized Lotewen would never be his again. Ronwen was crying openly as she realized the same. They knew how she thought, so they knew what she would say. Lotewen had no expression upon her face, but her eyes betrayed her: she was afraid.
"But," Lotewen asked suddenly, "Why haven't I aged as an elf?"
"That's a good question. I am not an elf so I cannot be sure, but I assume it is because you are far from the borders of your homeland, or any Elven realm for that matter. You only lived in Lorien for about sixth months, and so the affect of your immortality hadn't had an affect on you. When you were taken out into the world of men, you began to age as they do. It makes perfect sense that you would adapt to those around you. You will do the same when and if you return home. Usually, you would still be considered a child when you returned, but my guess is that they will count you as an adult, if a young one."
Finally, Lanion spoke, even though he knew it wouldn't change her mind. "You - you don't have to - go anywhere; you can stay right here. We love you Lotewen."
"I know you do," she whispered, "but I can't live a lie. I can't, but I don't know if I can face the truth!"
Estel made a quiet offer. "I am traveling to Mirkwood, and then to Lothlorien. I'll make you a - deal, I suppose you could call it. If you decide you wish to stay with the Elves, you can, obviously. If you wish to become mortal and stay with your family here in Gondor, I will personally bring you safely back."
Slowly, Lotewen looked at Estel, and nodded.
Hi! Hugs to all you beautiful reviewers! ; ) I only have a few, and if you guys/gals don't review, I swear I won't post the next chapter! This however is the story with the most reviews, so I wouldn't worry about it! Come on girls, don't you want to see Legolas????!!!! READ AND REVIEW!!!!
Luvs, Silmaril
"What do you mean: 'Lotewen'?" asked Lanion after a long moment of silence.
"Let's go inside. We have much to discuss, and it would be best to speak in a more - secluded area."
Reluctantly, Lanion led everyone indoors. He pulled a chair out at the table and invited the rest to sit down. Once all were seated, he began again. "What did you mean Aragorn?"
"Aragorn?" Lotewen and Ronwen questioned in astonishment.
"Lanion, I thought we had agreed to never use that name anywhere near -," Aragorn began with measured frustration.
"I don't care! What do you want with my daughter?" Lanion yelled.
Finally, Aragorn sighed. "I have questions, and if I am correct, I have a story and a request for Lotewen. First of all, how old is she?"
"I am twenty! Please, Thorongil.Aragorn, do not speak as though I am not here."
"I am sorry, Lady. Lanion, Ronwen; what have you told her about her heritage, and is it all.true?"
"She is a daughter of man," replied Ronwen coolly.
Lotewen sat back in her chair, utterly confused. Slowly, she tucked her hair behind her ears. Unfortunately, their abnormalities caught Aragorn's attention, for he looked at them, and had all the proof he needed. Quietly, with almost a hint of anger, he spoke. "Lanion, I cannot believe that you would do this! Do you realize who this is you call your daughter?"
"An Elf of the Golden Wood - I know! I have known for twenty years!"
"Not only is she an Elf, Lanion, but a princess as well! In fact, she is the granddaughter of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel! Do you know that she is believed dead, because her people never got word that her fate might have been otherwise? You never sent word, Lanion, and now you still wish to hold her back!"
"Don't insult me, for you have no power over me yet, Heir of Isildur," Lanion spat at the man whom had been his friend only ten minutes before. "Lotewen is my daughter and - "
"Wait!" cried Lotewen. "I believe this is my decision! Aragorn. How do you know I am Lotewen of Lorien? Perhaps - I just have her name."
"Your necklace was my first clue. That necklace was especially crafted for you. The blossom is fashioned after the flowers of Elanor in the Golden Wood, and your name was engraved with mithril. How do I know this? I watched the Elven-smiths of Rivendell craft it for you, by order of your uncle, Lord Elrond. But your history.that's a longer story."
"A hundred years ago, the second daughter of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn fell in love with one of the Lady's guards; a protector of the Golden Wood. Lord Celeborn did not wish for his daughter to marry a soldier, but one of a royal family. Lady Galadriel saw her daughter's happiness, however, and praised the couple, as did Lady Celebrian and Lord Elrond. Therefore, Celeborn gave in, and allowed the couple to stay together. They plighted their troth that spring."
"Due to complications in Mirkwood, Haldir, the guard, had to leave to provide aid. He was unable to return for twenty-seven years. A week after his return, he and Halwen wed."
"Thirty-three years later, the couple announced that Halwen was with child. Lord Celeborn had no love toward the child, and, as Halwen wanted to please him, she decided to do something. However, she loved her child, so she planned to leave for a time, with only her little daughter."
"All went well until she reached the Wild Man's realm, and Ghan-buri-ghan attacked. Halwen was gravely injured, and died from the wound upon return to Lorien. When they tried to figure out who had died during the fight, they realized Halwen's child was missing. Immediately, Haldir returned to the forest, but there was no sign of his daughter. He assumed she was dead, as that was the only logical explanation, and reported the news to Lorien. I don't think Haldir was ever been the same again. Apparently, though, everyone had assumed incorrectly concerning the child's fate. The child was rescued, by a young couple, and has grown up for the past twenty years just outside Minas Tirith."
"That child was you, Lotewen. You are the daughter of Haldir and Halwen; you are an Elf, and a princess. Whether you and your adopted family except this or not is up to you, but it is the truth," Estel finished.
Lanion sat quietly with his arms crossed, as a tear escaped down his face, and he realized Lotewen would never be his again. Ronwen was crying openly as she realized the same. They knew how she thought, so they knew what she would say. Lotewen had no expression upon her face, but her eyes betrayed her: she was afraid.
"But," Lotewen asked suddenly, "Why haven't I aged as an elf?"
"That's a good question. I am not an elf so I cannot be sure, but I assume it is because you are far from the borders of your homeland, or any Elven realm for that matter. You only lived in Lorien for about sixth months, and so the affect of your immortality hadn't had an affect on you. When you were taken out into the world of men, you began to age as they do. It makes perfect sense that you would adapt to those around you. You will do the same when and if you return home. Usually, you would still be considered a child when you returned, but my guess is that they will count you as an adult, if a young one."
Finally, Lanion spoke, even though he knew it wouldn't change her mind. "You - you don't have to - go anywhere; you can stay right here. We love you Lotewen."
"I know you do," she whispered, "but I can't live a lie. I can't, but I don't know if I can face the truth!"
Estel made a quiet offer. "I am traveling to Mirkwood, and then to Lothlorien. I'll make you a - deal, I suppose you could call it. If you decide you wish to stay with the Elves, you can, obviously. If you wish to become mortal and stay with your family here in Gondor, I will personally bring you safely back."
Slowly, Lotewen looked at Estel, and nodded.
Hi! Hugs to all you beautiful reviewers! ; ) I only have a few, and if you guys/gals don't review, I swear I won't post the next chapter! This however is the story with the most reviews, so I wouldn't worry about it! Come on girls, don't you want to see Legolas????!!!! READ AND REVIEW!!!!
Luvs, Silmaril