CHAPTER TWO: THE PAIN OF SEPARATION
Moonlight poured in the window of Arwen's chamber. She collapsed on her bed, sliding on the silken sheets.
Tears poured down her alabaster cheeks, as she raised a hand to wipe them away. Two fingers rested on the Evenstar pendant at the base of her throat.
"Oh, Aragorn!" She wept, rolling onto her front. Who knew when he would be back? It was worrying enough when he was simply out performing his ranger duties. But now, knowing that his latest mission would involve the One Ring, made her blood turn to ice.
Arwen knew about his fears; she knew him. He was terrified of ending up like Isildur; of falling prey to the temptation that had brought ruin to his bloodline. Arwen knew he would do anything to prevent himself from suffering the same fate.
Someone rapped on her door. "Who is it?" She choked, brushing the tears from her face.
"Oh, Undomiel!" Elrond ran to his daughter's side. "My child, what is wrong?"
"Nothing, Ada!" She swallowed. "It is… unimportant."
"Undomiel, I can sense the anxiety in your heart," Elrond whispered, his chestnut eyes piercing her soul. "It is all right." He squeezed his daughter's hand reassuringly. "I do not know what troubles you, my daughter, but I beg you not to let it bother you like this." Then, he sighed, his lips pursing.. "Is it about Estel?"
Arwen nodded, looking away, unsure whether her father would truly understand. Ever since he had learned of his daughter's love for the Man he had raised in his own home, Elrond had only spoken of him to Arwen in bitterness. The elf-lord was still unable to accept that Arwen was willing to forsake her immortality, never to answer the powerful call of the Sea, for a mortal.
"You must not worry. Aragorn is more than capable of taking care of himself. That is why Mithrandir and I sent him. He will be fine."
Arwen smiled mildly, although the anxiety was still evident in her sapphire eyes.
"Get some rest." Elrond stroked her hair, and placed a tender kiss on her brow.
"Goodnight, Ada." She sighed, closing her eyes.
* * * * * *
"Evenstar…" His voice echoed in her room.
Arwen sat up in bed, and rubbed her bleary eyes. "Estel?"
"Arwen…"
She stood, head turning frantically to try and discern where that voice was coming from. Aragorn was miles away by now… Out of the safety of his home, alone in the dangerous Wilds of Middle Earth.
And he was being hunted.
Moonlight poured in the window of Arwen's chamber. She collapsed on her bed, sliding on the silken sheets.
Tears poured down her alabaster cheeks, as she raised a hand to wipe them away. Two fingers rested on the Evenstar pendant at the base of her throat.
"Oh, Aragorn!" She wept, rolling onto her front. Who knew when he would be back? It was worrying enough when he was simply out performing his ranger duties. But now, knowing that his latest mission would involve the One Ring, made her blood turn to ice.
Arwen knew about his fears; she knew him. He was terrified of ending up like Isildur; of falling prey to the temptation that had brought ruin to his bloodline. Arwen knew he would do anything to prevent himself from suffering the same fate.
Someone rapped on her door. "Who is it?" She choked, brushing the tears from her face.
"Oh, Undomiel!" Elrond ran to his daughter's side. "My child, what is wrong?"
"Nothing, Ada!" She swallowed. "It is… unimportant."
"Undomiel, I can sense the anxiety in your heart," Elrond whispered, his chestnut eyes piercing her soul. "It is all right." He squeezed his daughter's hand reassuringly. "I do not know what troubles you, my daughter, but I beg you not to let it bother you like this." Then, he sighed, his lips pursing.. "Is it about Estel?"
Arwen nodded, looking away, unsure whether her father would truly understand. Ever since he had learned of his daughter's love for the Man he had raised in his own home, Elrond had only spoken of him to Arwen in bitterness. The elf-lord was still unable to accept that Arwen was willing to forsake her immortality, never to answer the powerful call of the Sea, for a mortal.
"You must not worry. Aragorn is more than capable of taking care of himself. That is why Mithrandir and I sent him. He will be fine."
Arwen smiled mildly, although the anxiety was still evident in her sapphire eyes.
"Get some rest." Elrond stroked her hair, and placed a tender kiss on her brow.
"Goodnight, Ada." She sighed, closing her eyes.
* * * * * *
"Evenstar…" His voice echoed in her room.
Arwen sat up in bed, and rubbed her bleary eyes. "Estel?"
"Arwen…"
She stood, head turning frantically to try and discern where that voice was coming from. Aragorn was miles away by now… Out of the safety of his home, alone in the dangerous Wilds of Middle Earth.
And he was being hunted.