After Aidyn told Arwen the whole situation the only thing the Princess of
Kalwood could do was cry. And the only thing the Queen of Gondor could do
was be there for her. Extreme worry for Aidyn filled Arwen's heart. She
knew what being away from the person you love the most could do to an elf's
heart. It would either mend slowly or continue to break until the elf died
from it. Feeling that this was the path Aidyn was headed for, Arwen needed
to figure out how to help her mend.
"Listen to me Aidyn. I know it hurts, but if your heart tells you that you made the right decision then there is nothing you can do about it," Arwen said softly stroking Aidyn's black hair.
"That's the problem. My heart is telling me that I should have stayed and fought harder. I didn't do anything but runaway. Legolas probably thinks I abandoned him and hates me for it. I suppose that's what I wanted in the first place. But since we consecrated our love..I can't do this Arwen, I can't," Aidyn sobbed.
"Please do not do this to yourself. If you keep this up you will die of a broken heart and I cannot bear to lose my best friend, my sister. I need you. So does Aragorn and so will our baby when it is born."
Aidyn thought for a moment about her 'niece' that would come into the world the coming fall. Arwen and Aragorn needed her to support them for they were both afraid of impending parenthood. She was the Godmother and she would not abandon her other family when they would need her the most. However, Legolas was the Godfather. That meant that more than likely he would come to Gondor when the babe arrived. And he and Aidyn would meet....again. Right now she could not think about that. She had to pull herself together. Aidyn was too strong to die of a broken heart. She would remember her one night with Legolas forever and be happy and content with that memory forever as well. Perhaps fate would give them a second chance. Or perhaps fate had other things in store for the Princess of Kalwood and the Prince of Mirkwood.
Arwen sensed a change in Aidyn after she spoke her last words of guidance. It was as if she had accepted what had happened and shut her emotions off with a switch. Arwen had never seen someone compose themselves so quickly, especially when they had been a total wreck moments before. Aidyn may have tried to start mending her heart, but she was shutting her emotions out as well. She was building a wall, one that would never be penetrated ever again, maybe not even by Arwen herself.
"Could you give me a few minutes alone? I will meet you in the dining hall for dinner," Aidyn said quietly. Arwen nodded, not knowing whether to be happy or confused at the sudden change in emotion Aidyn had gone through.
Pacing was something the Queen of Gondor very rarely did. She only did this when something was terribly wrong.
"What is it, my love?" Aragorn asked as he entered the dining hall.
"It's Aidyn. I am confused by her actions earlier today. One minute she was sobbing uncontrollably over Legolas and life. Then I mentioned that you and I would need her more than ever when the baby came and she stopped. Like nothing was wrong. It is odd behavior for her. I am worried," Arwen replied.
"You know how she is Arwen when it comes to those she cares for. She pushes her life aside for everyone else."
"Yes. But Aragorn I felt her pain. It was as if my heart was breaking as well. It was excruciating. I told her that if she did not try to mend her wounded heart she would die. I already feel her fading. Aidyn is not mending her broken heart; she's putting it on hold for her family. Nothing more. Fixing a broken heart cannot be done immediately. It takes time, a great deal of time. I fear that when the baby is born she will go back to mourning Legolas and eventually pass into the shadow world. If I had not convinced her that we needed her, it would have happened sooner, much sooner. All I have done is slow the process. No elvish medicine can heal a broken heart. That is up to the person whose heart it is. We have to help her; I cannot lose my sister, Aragorn. I won't." Arwen's eyes filled with tears as her husband embraced her and held her tight.
"We will figure something out, melamin. Do not cry," Aragorn said gently. He kissed her forehead and continued to hold her until Aidyn entered the room.
"Am I interrupting something?" Aidyn asked.
"Of course not, little one," Aragorn said motioning for her to enter, "How are you feeling?"
"Better, thank you," Aidyn replied. Though her eyes told him she was lying. Arwen was right. Even Aragorn, a human, could sense the shadow around her.
At dinner that night Aragorn and Arwen tried to make conversation with Aidyn, but her answers were mechanical. She was void of all emotion and her thoughts were not with the King and Queen of Gondor, they were with the Prince of Mirkwood, where they would always be.
"Listen to me Aidyn. I know it hurts, but if your heart tells you that you made the right decision then there is nothing you can do about it," Arwen said softly stroking Aidyn's black hair.
"That's the problem. My heart is telling me that I should have stayed and fought harder. I didn't do anything but runaway. Legolas probably thinks I abandoned him and hates me for it. I suppose that's what I wanted in the first place. But since we consecrated our love..I can't do this Arwen, I can't," Aidyn sobbed.
"Please do not do this to yourself. If you keep this up you will die of a broken heart and I cannot bear to lose my best friend, my sister. I need you. So does Aragorn and so will our baby when it is born."
Aidyn thought for a moment about her 'niece' that would come into the world the coming fall. Arwen and Aragorn needed her to support them for they were both afraid of impending parenthood. She was the Godmother and she would not abandon her other family when they would need her the most. However, Legolas was the Godfather. That meant that more than likely he would come to Gondor when the babe arrived. And he and Aidyn would meet....again. Right now she could not think about that. She had to pull herself together. Aidyn was too strong to die of a broken heart. She would remember her one night with Legolas forever and be happy and content with that memory forever as well. Perhaps fate would give them a second chance. Or perhaps fate had other things in store for the Princess of Kalwood and the Prince of Mirkwood.
Arwen sensed a change in Aidyn after she spoke her last words of guidance. It was as if she had accepted what had happened and shut her emotions off with a switch. Arwen had never seen someone compose themselves so quickly, especially when they had been a total wreck moments before. Aidyn may have tried to start mending her heart, but she was shutting her emotions out as well. She was building a wall, one that would never be penetrated ever again, maybe not even by Arwen herself.
"Could you give me a few minutes alone? I will meet you in the dining hall for dinner," Aidyn said quietly. Arwen nodded, not knowing whether to be happy or confused at the sudden change in emotion Aidyn had gone through.
Pacing was something the Queen of Gondor very rarely did. She only did this when something was terribly wrong.
"What is it, my love?" Aragorn asked as he entered the dining hall.
"It's Aidyn. I am confused by her actions earlier today. One minute she was sobbing uncontrollably over Legolas and life. Then I mentioned that you and I would need her more than ever when the baby came and she stopped. Like nothing was wrong. It is odd behavior for her. I am worried," Arwen replied.
"You know how she is Arwen when it comes to those she cares for. She pushes her life aside for everyone else."
"Yes. But Aragorn I felt her pain. It was as if my heart was breaking as well. It was excruciating. I told her that if she did not try to mend her wounded heart she would die. I already feel her fading. Aidyn is not mending her broken heart; she's putting it on hold for her family. Nothing more. Fixing a broken heart cannot be done immediately. It takes time, a great deal of time. I fear that when the baby is born she will go back to mourning Legolas and eventually pass into the shadow world. If I had not convinced her that we needed her, it would have happened sooner, much sooner. All I have done is slow the process. No elvish medicine can heal a broken heart. That is up to the person whose heart it is. We have to help her; I cannot lose my sister, Aragorn. I won't." Arwen's eyes filled with tears as her husband embraced her and held her tight.
"We will figure something out, melamin. Do not cry," Aragorn said gently. He kissed her forehead and continued to hold her until Aidyn entered the room.
"Am I interrupting something?" Aidyn asked.
"Of course not, little one," Aragorn said motioning for her to enter, "How are you feeling?"
"Better, thank you," Aidyn replied. Though her eyes told him she was lying. Arwen was right. Even Aragorn, a human, could sense the shadow around her.
At dinner that night Aragorn and Arwen tried to make conversation with Aidyn, but her answers were mechanical. She was void of all emotion and her thoughts were not with the King and Queen of Gondor, they were with the Prince of Mirkwood, where they would always be.