Disclaimer:  I do not own Lord of the Rings, it and the places, people, and events used belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.  I make no money off of this.

Author's Note:  I got inspired to write another short bit for this.  This time it's Arwen's POV.

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            I have seen nothing of my father for nearly three days now.  He has all but locked himself away in his study since my brothers left.  He has his meals brought to him and that is the only time he opens the door.  I know he must leave at night, when the valley is asleep and there are none to see his grief that he tries so hard to hide.

            How could I have done this to him; to my own father?  I have thought so much on this since first the realization came to me of what my love for Estel meant.  At first it seemed such a simple thing; I had no fears of willingly giving up my immortality in return for spending my days at Estel's side.  But I soon realized that it was no entirely my choice to make.  Although in the end, only I could truly make it.  Still, I do not think I would have gone on without my father's consent, no matter how tenuous it was at first.  I do not think I could have done that to him.  And I know Estel could not have.  If father had denied him my hand all together, I have no doubt my love would have left and never returned. 

            He left anyways, of course, to prove to my father he was worthy of me.  But he did not need to be; not in my eyes, and I do not think even in father's.  I wondered at first whether father had simply used it as a way to force him to the throne.  To force him to accept the birthright he didn't want.  But I soon realized how selfish that was.  Father simply wanted to make sure I was happy; that I was taken care of since he would not be there to do so himself.

            And now I wonder whether it was all for naught.  All the pain and grief our love has caused; all the days I sat longing for Estel's return and praying he was safe.  I fear that he will not return, although my heart bids me to keep hope.  A strange occurrence, as my love, my hope is far away on paths I cannot follow.

            Oh naneth, I know not what to do!  Would you have me follow my heart and cause you and ada unimaginable sorrow?  Or would you bed me to sail West and dwell in Valinor, stricken with grief and longing?  This decision: I do not think I can make it, and yet it is not in my control whether I will have the chance to make it or not.

            Only if Estel comes to the throne.  If not, then all my wishing and hoping will have been for naught.  And what will I do then?  I cannot go against father's 'contract' with Aragorn.  But neither could I bear to sail West and leave Estel here, without throne or wife.

            What a quandary I've landed myself in mother!  And one I'm not sure how to get out of.

            I think in my heart I know you would want me to be happy; but my heart is torn.  Isn't it wrong to gain my happiness at the expense of yours and father's? 

            What shall I do?

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ada: daddy

naneth: mother