Authors Note: I apologize for lying about getting this chapter up on
Monday. I was busier than I expected to be this week, and didn't have the
time to give this what it deserved. But never fear, Chapter Seven is here!
There are some parts in this chapter that will be left up to the
imagination, shall we say. Basically, you can read what you want into
certain parts, and I will neither confirm it or deny it. Thanks to all my
wonderful Muses for your help, especially Nicky for your help for ideas
about the future ending. This one is for you, hon!
**************************************************************************** ***
"What's this?" Arwen asked Aragorn, somewhat confused. In his hand he held the Evenstar out to her.
"If I am to go to war this night, I do not want to bear with me the most precious jewel of the river elves with me. I almost lost it once, I do not want that to happen a second time." Aragorn was in his preparations for the battle. He had taken off the Evenstar just before he had attached his mail coat. Smiling gently, Arwen took the Evenstar from his hand, and kissed it softly. She then reached up, and attached it around his neck.
"To bring you luck, Estel. I fear you will need it before the end." A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she tried her best to hide it from him. But it did not go unnoticed by Aragorn, who stroked her cheek. Then he took her into his arms, embracing her so tightly he thought he would not be able to let go.
"I made a promise to you Arwen, and I will not let go of that promise. We will be together in the end. Do not fear for me. I have the strength of your love within me, and nothing can tear us apart. Not now."
Arwen felt the strength of a thousand king's rise in her, and she believed Aragorns words. They would be together in the end. She picked up her cloak, and fastened it around her neck. When she raised her face towards him, Aragorn could see the age and pride in her face. It was more prominent in her face now than it had ever been. And he knew what she was about to do. He watched her remove her sword from its sheath. A lump rose in his throat, and for a second he couldn't breathe. "Arwen, no."
"I will not let you fight alone Aragorn. I cannot."
"Arwen, it is much too dangerous. I will not always be able to protect you."
"I am not an infant, Estel. If I am able to fight, that is what I must do, whether you would wish it or not. I cannot allow other innocent people fight this war, and give up their lives while I cower away in the corner. This is my world too Aragorn. My home. If I do not fight for it, then who will?"
A small smile appeared on Aragorn's face. "You, my love, are hopelessly stubborn."
It was Arwens turn to smile. "A lot like someone I used to know, I suppose." Leaning over, she kissed him gently and sadly. "How long do we have before it begins?"
"A few hours, I imagine. The sun is only now beginning to fade. Night will soon be upon us."
"But not yet." Arwen whispered, and kissed him again.
It was then that they were together truly; together as a whole. For those few precious hours, they were the only lovers to exist on all of Middle Earth. There was nothing more than they could do but hold onto each other, and pray that these moments would not be their last. It was all they could do to keep from breaking apart. There was nothing left to do now but wait for the end.
Eventually, they could hear the sounds of the marching footsteps towards Helms Deep. Quiet as first, but they became closer and clearer, and soon the noises drowned out almost everything else. But they pushed these noises to the backs of their minds. They lived in each other, heard each other, and breathed each other. And when it came time to return to the reality that faced them, they wiped away each others tears, and stood up as strongly as they could, using each other for support and balance.
Hand in hand, swords in the other, together they walked out onto the platform that overlooked the lands surrounding Helms Deep. The other soldiers were already in place, ready to take their stance, ready to fight for their freedom; fight for their lands; fight for their King. And they stood proudly, hardly showing a falter amongst them. Above them all stood Aragorn and Arwen. Straight and proud, tears wiped away from their faces. It was impossible to read the fear on their faces, even though their bodies shook with it. The time had now come.
**************************************************************************** ***
"What's this?" Arwen asked Aragorn, somewhat confused. In his hand he held the Evenstar out to her.
"If I am to go to war this night, I do not want to bear with me the most precious jewel of the river elves with me. I almost lost it once, I do not want that to happen a second time." Aragorn was in his preparations for the battle. He had taken off the Evenstar just before he had attached his mail coat. Smiling gently, Arwen took the Evenstar from his hand, and kissed it softly. She then reached up, and attached it around his neck.
"To bring you luck, Estel. I fear you will need it before the end." A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she tried her best to hide it from him. But it did not go unnoticed by Aragorn, who stroked her cheek. Then he took her into his arms, embracing her so tightly he thought he would not be able to let go.
"I made a promise to you Arwen, and I will not let go of that promise. We will be together in the end. Do not fear for me. I have the strength of your love within me, and nothing can tear us apart. Not now."
Arwen felt the strength of a thousand king's rise in her, and she believed Aragorns words. They would be together in the end. She picked up her cloak, and fastened it around her neck. When she raised her face towards him, Aragorn could see the age and pride in her face. It was more prominent in her face now than it had ever been. And he knew what she was about to do. He watched her remove her sword from its sheath. A lump rose in his throat, and for a second he couldn't breathe. "Arwen, no."
"I will not let you fight alone Aragorn. I cannot."
"Arwen, it is much too dangerous. I will not always be able to protect you."
"I am not an infant, Estel. If I am able to fight, that is what I must do, whether you would wish it or not. I cannot allow other innocent people fight this war, and give up their lives while I cower away in the corner. This is my world too Aragorn. My home. If I do not fight for it, then who will?"
A small smile appeared on Aragorn's face. "You, my love, are hopelessly stubborn."
It was Arwens turn to smile. "A lot like someone I used to know, I suppose." Leaning over, she kissed him gently and sadly. "How long do we have before it begins?"
"A few hours, I imagine. The sun is only now beginning to fade. Night will soon be upon us."
"But not yet." Arwen whispered, and kissed him again.
It was then that they were together truly; together as a whole. For those few precious hours, they were the only lovers to exist on all of Middle Earth. There was nothing more than they could do but hold onto each other, and pray that these moments would not be their last. It was all they could do to keep from breaking apart. There was nothing left to do now but wait for the end.
Eventually, they could hear the sounds of the marching footsteps towards Helms Deep. Quiet as first, but they became closer and clearer, and soon the noises drowned out almost everything else. But they pushed these noises to the backs of their minds. They lived in each other, heard each other, and breathed each other. And when it came time to return to the reality that faced them, they wiped away each others tears, and stood up as strongly as they could, using each other for support and balance.
Hand in hand, swords in the other, together they walked out onto the platform that overlooked the lands surrounding Helms Deep. The other soldiers were already in place, ready to take their stance, ready to fight for their freedom; fight for their lands; fight for their King. And they stood proudly, hardly showing a falter amongst them. Above them all stood Aragorn and Arwen. Straight and proud, tears wiped away from their faces. It was impossible to read the fear on their faces, even though their bodies shook with it. The time had now come.
