Authors Note: This chapter was more or less a means-to-an-end. I left out a lot of speech between Theoden and just summed it up. I'm really only here for the A/A stuff anyways. LOL Thanks for all the great reviews guys! You really know how to make a girl feel special. To all my wonderful Muses: I love you all, and this fic is for you guys. I'm going to try and get my next chapter up by Monday night or sooner. (Hopefully)
The people of Edoras crowded around Asfaloth, awed by the horse, as well as the riders upon it. Arwen and Aragorn dismounted as the men and woman talked among themselves. To the people, it seemed as if a ghost had returned, and brought back with him another spirit. Aragorn grasped Arwen's hand as they prepared to make their way through the crowd. They heard a voice shouting out in the distance, jumbling words together that neither Aragorn nor Arwen could understand. A smile came to Aragorns face when he saw his old friend making his way through the crowd.
"Bless you, laddie!" Gimli cried out, throwing his arms around Aragorns stomach. Wincing slightly, but laughing, Aragorn returned the embrace. Another laugh let out among the people, and for the first time, Gimli noticed the young maiden of Rivendell at Aragorns side. Struggling to compose himself better, Gimli bowed for her. "My Lady...."
Arwen smiled and bowed her head slightly. "Good Master Dwarf, I am glad to see that you are well, as I am sure the Lady Galadriel would be also." Gimli blushed at the mention of the lady, and bowed again.
"Where is Theoden? We must speak with him immediately." Gimli nodded in the direction of the King, and Aragorn went ahead, while Arwen stopped to tend to Asfaloth.
As Aragorn approached the doors to the King's quarters, he saw his friend Legolas for the first time. Legolas saw him approaching, but no surprise or wonder ever crossed his face. All he did was place his hand on Aragorn's shoulder, and simply say: "Le abdollen." Aragorn looked at him in surprise, then laughed. This was unlike Legolas, but he continued on in the same manner. "You look terrible." Aragorn gave him a look, and wondered if Legolas had known all along that he hadn't been killed in the fall, and had left him there on purpose. Before Aragorn could continue on his train of thought, Legolas held something out to him. Small and silver, the evenstar glowed in the palm of the elf. Aragorn was for a moment taken back by the sight of its sheer beauty. This was something he never thought he would see again. Truthfully, this was something that had slipped out of thought after Arwen had returned to him. Nevertheless, Aragorn was relieved to have it back. Never would he have forgiven himself if it had in fact been lost.
Aragorn nodded his thanks to Legolas, and Legolas could see the gratitude in his eyes. "Now my two greatest gifts have been returned to me. I thank you."
Legolas was confused. "Two gifts?" He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Aragorn just smiled knowingly. Before anymore was said, Legolas saw for himself the truth of Aragorns words, as Arwen Evenstar appeared behind the man. To see the two up close seemed such a contrast. Aragorn was worn away with years, and the marks of battle had settled upon him. Arwen was flawless and radiant, for she shone with the ages of her people. And for the first time, Legolas saw what the two of them had known from the beginning. They were doomed for heartache and loss.
Legolas tried as quickly as he could to shake such thoughts from his mind, for he knew that Arwen would easily read them. Instead he bowed to Arwen, and greeted her warmly. "Yours is a face I never thought I would see again." Arwen smiled and embraced her kin. For a moment they chatted in their native tongue, and then parted again. Arwen noticed that Aragorn was once again wearing the evenstar around his neck. She suspected that Legolas had something to do with it, and silently thanked him. It would bring Estel luck, and luck he would certainly need for this war. She felt that fear crawl back into her, and wondered if either of them would make it through the night. But if this was to be their fate, then so be it. She was not afraid of death. The only thing she had feared for a long time now was being without Aragorn. There was nothing left for her to fear. If he was to die this very night, then she would be there at his side, and die with him. And they would be together; if not in life, then in death.
They entered the King's chambers, Aragorn slightly in front of her, and Arwen feeling slightly out of place. For a moment she wondered if this was how Legolas and Gimli felt in the presence of men. Guards lined the hall leading up to where Theoden stood, preparing his armor for the battles to come. When he saw Aragorn, he froze. There he stood for what seemed like a eternity, stiff and staring at the sight of the dead man walking towards him. No one had informed him of Aragorns arrival. Aragorn bowed before the King, and then Arwen introduced herself by doing the same. Together they recounted the events of the past weeks, and told him of the approaching threat. After discussing the situation at length, Theoden commanded the preparations of the men. They were going to war with the armies of Isengard. And Arwen could think of was that this was to be their doom.
The people of Edoras crowded around Asfaloth, awed by the horse, as well as the riders upon it. Arwen and Aragorn dismounted as the men and woman talked among themselves. To the people, it seemed as if a ghost had returned, and brought back with him another spirit. Aragorn grasped Arwen's hand as they prepared to make their way through the crowd. They heard a voice shouting out in the distance, jumbling words together that neither Aragorn nor Arwen could understand. A smile came to Aragorns face when he saw his old friend making his way through the crowd.
"Bless you, laddie!" Gimli cried out, throwing his arms around Aragorns stomach. Wincing slightly, but laughing, Aragorn returned the embrace. Another laugh let out among the people, and for the first time, Gimli noticed the young maiden of Rivendell at Aragorns side. Struggling to compose himself better, Gimli bowed for her. "My Lady...."
Arwen smiled and bowed her head slightly. "Good Master Dwarf, I am glad to see that you are well, as I am sure the Lady Galadriel would be also." Gimli blushed at the mention of the lady, and bowed again.
"Where is Theoden? We must speak with him immediately." Gimli nodded in the direction of the King, and Aragorn went ahead, while Arwen stopped to tend to Asfaloth.
As Aragorn approached the doors to the King's quarters, he saw his friend Legolas for the first time. Legolas saw him approaching, but no surprise or wonder ever crossed his face. All he did was place his hand on Aragorn's shoulder, and simply say: "Le abdollen." Aragorn looked at him in surprise, then laughed. This was unlike Legolas, but he continued on in the same manner. "You look terrible." Aragorn gave him a look, and wondered if Legolas had known all along that he hadn't been killed in the fall, and had left him there on purpose. Before Aragorn could continue on his train of thought, Legolas held something out to him. Small and silver, the evenstar glowed in the palm of the elf. Aragorn was for a moment taken back by the sight of its sheer beauty. This was something he never thought he would see again. Truthfully, this was something that had slipped out of thought after Arwen had returned to him. Nevertheless, Aragorn was relieved to have it back. Never would he have forgiven himself if it had in fact been lost.
Aragorn nodded his thanks to Legolas, and Legolas could see the gratitude in his eyes. "Now my two greatest gifts have been returned to me. I thank you."
Legolas was confused. "Two gifts?" He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Aragorn just smiled knowingly. Before anymore was said, Legolas saw for himself the truth of Aragorns words, as Arwen Evenstar appeared behind the man. To see the two up close seemed such a contrast. Aragorn was worn away with years, and the marks of battle had settled upon him. Arwen was flawless and radiant, for she shone with the ages of her people. And for the first time, Legolas saw what the two of them had known from the beginning. They were doomed for heartache and loss.
Legolas tried as quickly as he could to shake such thoughts from his mind, for he knew that Arwen would easily read them. Instead he bowed to Arwen, and greeted her warmly. "Yours is a face I never thought I would see again." Arwen smiled and embraced her kin. For a moment they chatted in their native tongue, and then parted again. Arwen noticed that Aragorn was once again wearing the evenstar around his neck. She suspected that Legolas had something to do with it, and silently thanked him. It would bring Estel luck, and luck he would certainly need for this war. She felt that fear crawl back into her, and wondered if either of them would make it through the night. But if this was to be their fate, then so be it. She was not afraid of death. The only thing she had feared for a long time now was being without Aragorn. There was nothing left for her to fear. If he was to die this very night, then she would be there at his side, and die with him. And they would be together; if not in life, then in death.
They entered the King's chambers, Aragorn slightly in front of her, and Arwen feeling slightly out of place. For a moment she wondered if this was how Legolas and Gimli felt in the presence of men. Guards lined the hall leading up to where Theoden stood, preparing his armor for the battles to come. When he saw Aragorn, he froze. There he stood for what seemed like a eternity, stiff and staring at the sight of the dead man walking towards him. No one had informed him of Aragorns arrival. Aragorn bowed before the King, and then Arwen introduced herself by doing the same. Together they recounted the events of the past weeks, and told him of the approaching threat. After discussing the situation at length, Theoden commanded the preparations of the men. They were going to war with the armies of Isengard. And Arwen could think of was that this was to be their doom.
