Chapter 21: Talks of Arway

A/N: Okay sorry guys I was planning on updating on Friday, but Friday is weekend, and weekend means parents and tournaments. And you know how that is. So, I like this chapter a lot especially the part in the Hall of Medusled. Here you go and please review! Tell me what you think I really appreciate it.

A/N2: Thank you Norie Ape for reviewing once again and I love your review it made me really really happy. I was like yay someone really enjoys it and my writing isn't as horrible as I thought. Now on with the story!

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With the drawing on of May, the host was readied and left Ithilien for Minas Tirith. They set sail on the Anduin and stopped in Osgilath. Here, they set up camp and stayed for a day.

Pippin, remembering the time he had seen the city before, began to wonder about the she-Elf he had traveled with. He was not sure what had happened to her. If he mentioned Arway, the men's mannerisms suggested discomfort, and sometimes sorrow. Scared to ask, but very curious, he went looking for one who would know. Pippin found Aragorn, Éomer, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf in a tent discussing something.

Once he entered, the conversation was halted. The subject was mysterious to him, but serious by the looks on his friends' faces. But as he entered the tent more, it seemed that they tried to lighten their looks.

"Yes young hobbit?" Gandalf questioned.

"I was wondering." he glanced about the tent. Legolas sat on the floor his head in his hands. Gimli was looking at him (Pippin), Éomer sat with his eyes downcast. Aragorn stood facing Pippin, but it seemed before he had entered, Aragorn had been advancing towards Legolas. Lastly, Gandalf stood like a surveyor. He looked at Pippin with twinkling eyes giving away nothing. "Um, I was wondering what happened to the she-Elf, Arway." With the last statement, all eyes were upon him.

"That my friend is a question I wish I could answer. She was found at your side on the battlefield. I could find nothing wrong though she seemed seriously injured. She was sent to Lord Elrond in Rivendell in hopes that he could heal her." As Aragorn said this, he was again Strider who Pippin had met a year ago.

"What do you mean? She'll be all right won't she?"

"We do not know Master Pippin. Only time will tell us the answer. And the time will take too long even if word come tomorrow."

Pippin looked up from the ground and made eye contact with Legolas. He knew then, that this had been the topic of the conversation before he had entered. It was pain for all. That was the look he saw when he entered, pain from a conversation that should not have been taking place. After nodding his head, Pippin left.

Legolas got up from his seat on the ground. Quickly he followed the hobbit from the tent. He caught up to Pippin when no one was around them. Protectively he grasped Arway's knife in its sheath. He felt the texture of its handle in his hand one last time before he looked down Pippin.

"What is it Legolas?"

The Elf knelt down and looked at the hobbit in the eye. He held the knife out to Pippin who took it sheepishly. "This was Arway's Pip. I want you to have it."

"Will she be all right?" He asked repeating the question again.

"I do not know either." He said dejectedly.

"She told me once to never give up hope for its like food and needed by everybody."

Legolas smiled at Pippin's paraphrasing of Arway's advice. " 'There is always hope unless you, yourself in give to the darkness. There is light forever in this world, you need only to look into the depths of your heart to find it.' " He whispered recalling her words perfectly.

"Listen to her words Legolas." Pippin hugged the new weapon to his chest. He could feel the power of the she-Elf in it.

Legolas watched as Pippin walked away. The hobbit had changed greatly since the first time he met him. And as Legolas watched, he knew Pippin would never be seen without Arway's knife.

The next few days were hectic for the Nine Walkers. Aragorn was crowned King of Gondor and given the crown of Earnur the last king. Again, a king sat on the throne in the city of Minas Tirith.

Legolas spent his time with Gimli. He longed for the woods, for the Sea, for Arway. He filled as much time as he could with the Dwarf. They would spend days walking through the city and Man, Woman, and Child would stare. The women and children had again entered the city, so the streets were livelier than the first time the two had walked them. They spent time with the hobbits; Merry and Pippin were spared from their duties. Also, Gandalf was a common companion and Aragorn when he could. The Elf and Dwarf were common visitors to King Elessar and that would not change through the years.

The city spent a long time in celebration. When one would think it would stop, the celebrations continued. Ambassadors came from all over Middle- earth to pay respects to the new King.

Two days before Midsummer, tidings came to Minas Tirith that there was a riding of fair folk. And on the Eve of Midsummer, the fair people arrived in the White City; Elladan and Elrohir led them. And, as Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, and the hobbits watched the twins' approach they noticed that Elrohir had an air that differed from his brother. It was as if Elrohir had been trusted with a secret his brother was not.

Gimli let out a sigh of happiness. His eyes were graced again; they looked upon the Lady Galadriel. Gladness filled him as he looked on the Elf. Little did he know that this beautiful Lady caused his close friend distress.

Legolas's eyes settled on Galadriel and he tore them away. But even with that slight glance, his healing heart was stopped. And the Dwarf's words were recalled in his head.

'I was right when I said I had looked my last upon that which is fairest. But she is just as fair as the Lady of Lórien.'

Arway's beautiful being sprung into his mind. And then, the image of it mangled entered it also.

Then at the end of the group came Lord Elrond. All rejoiced to see him. He brought news that no one else could bring. At his side rode his daughter, Arwen, the Evenstar.

The next day Arwen and Aragorn were wed. The companions now knew why Aragorn would not let them leave the city and return to their homes. What followed were still many days of celebration.

But, Legolas was one of the few who would not spend all of these days rejoicing. One night he sought out Master Elrond to receive any information concerning Arway. Through his search of the city, he found the Elf Lord with his daughter and son-in-law.

"Enter Prince of Mirkwood. I should think you would like to hear the conversation that we are about to hold."

Legolas entered and sat down in a chair across from Elrond.

"Now, Elladan arrived in Rivendell about a month or so ago with a she-Elf. You know her well. When she came to the healers, we did not know what ailed her but we did find out. The Black Shadow had her in part, but also the Transfer. Arway tried to give herself up. Now, from what Elrohir has told me, you found her with her fingers on Peregrin's temple. Did she have one on her own?"

"I found her on her back with hands outspread, but I was not first there." King Elessar told him.

"She was face down in the muck, her hands next to her head. They could've been on her own temple." Legolas whispered.

"Then, it concludes what I though. I believe she saw Peregrin in a state close to death. She tried to give up her own life so he would live, hence the fingers. They transfer the living power from one being to another. Now, she would have succeeded if a Nazgul had not found her in this vulnerability."

"Is she all right?" Aragorn questioned. He had been watching Legolas. And though he had hidden his feelings well Aragorn knew the long explanation was torturing the Elf. He could barely sit still himself. The condition of Arway was something many people wanted to know.

"Arway.Arway is in a state that is very fragile. There are only two possibilities of where she is. She is either in a world of dream or in the Waiting. We can only wait and see, she has not contacted any yet so none know. I am sorry to not tell you more."

Legolas released a breath that he had not realized he was holding. At least he knew that she was not dead. She could still get through this. He could be able to hold her, smell her, taste her, feel her, and lover her in time. At this time he looked up now at Elrond, the half-Elven looked very upset. With the look of concern about his face Legolas remembered the look that Elrohir's had held. "You've told Elrohir haven't you?"

Elrond nodded his head.

Legolas did also and the placed a hand on the older Elf's shoulder. "One had to be told." Then Legolas left.

In the next few days, there was not a feeling of dread within Legolas. He knew that Arway was still alive and that was he needed for hope. Soon, he would be returning to Mirkwood and would be able to visit Arway. When the day came to leave Minas Tirith-with Théoden's funeral procession-Legolas left with a slightly lighter heart then when he arrived. The group rode fifteen days before reaching Rohan, where Théoden was buried. The presence of Arway was strong in this city, being the last place she had dwelled in her exile.

During the three days in Edoras before the burial Aragorn sat in the hall of the Earolings. His eyes fell upon the throne where he had first seen the late King. As he looked upon the throne his mind brought to him words that had been muttered months ago.

'Do not despair Elessar for again you will look upon their faces. You shall again see two in life.'

Arway had seen much more then the average being, even an Elf. She also tried to warn others of the occurrences she saw, to prepare them for the events of their future. But he now knew that she gave the warning knowing that few would figure them out before the event had taken place; that most of the warnings were only understood with the event was finished. Now, as the King sat mulling over his friend he wished to know her better, and with hope, he would be able to.

As he sat, he looked at the throne once more, but was surprised at what he saw. A woman stood leaning on the side, clothed in a white dress. She looked at him and her green-blue eyes sparkled with joy. Aragorn studied her features, which were very familiar. And he watched as the woman looked down at Éomer who sat in the throne and touched his shoulder. But Éomer did not move, or even glance up. Aragorn saw the sadness in the woman's eyes when she looked back up. She moved a piece of brown-blonde hair from her face and looked right into his eyes. Aragorn saw fondness in them and unbelievable sadness. The eyes swept the room looking upon his companions but they turned back to him. She nodded and turned. And as she disappeared into the air, Aragorn saw a man with blonde hair behind her whom he knew.

When the woman was gone, Aragorn let out a slow sad breath. The man behind the woman had been Boromir he could feel it. And the woman had been Arway. He cast his eyes downward and closed them briefly. She was choosing. And he only hoped that she would choose the path to life.

At the funeral, Aragorn felt eyes on him and looked up. On a hill nearby, he saw the same woman, Arway, her hair and dress blowing in the wind. She had tears in her eyes and looked upon the hill where Théoden was laid. A man appeared behind her and placed a hand her shoulder. Aragorn looked at the man with sandy hair, he resembled Théoden. The man pulled Arway away from the funeral but Aragorn saw as she looked back once more and her eyes went not to him, not to the hill, but to Legolas. And then, she disappeared.

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Legolas sat on a hill outside Edoras. All of the company was inside the city, but he rather wished to look over the plains that had cost him so much. Here, in this land, he had learned of pain and was taught the meaning of true beauty. He learned of love and friendship. And was soon taught sorrow. While he sat recalling memories he barely heard the approach of King Éomer.

"How does she fair?" the King questioned.

"We do not know."

"The look in your eyes changes when you speak of her. When did this occur?"

"Weeks before the end. Though, I would scarcely be able to admit it then."

Éomer gave a short smile. "Did she ever tell you how we met?"

"No."

The King of the Rohirrium sat down next to the Elf. He looked over the land he loved so much and told the fair being. "She was living in a small settlement at the edge of the border. I had been called to the place on duty. While with the people of the small village I saw her sitting with a pile of belongings. None of the Rohirrium would tell me who she was. All they said was that she had arrived a day before we had come and she associated with no one. They also told us not to talk to her.

"Personally I thought she was a sixteen or seventeen year old orphan, living as she could. One night I went to converse with her. On my approach, she jumped me with a knife in hand. After begging her pardon, she returned to her small camp. I followed her, sat by the fire across from her, and kept her company. She glanced at me once that night but not again.

"This situation proceeded on for a week. She would jump me, beg her pardon, and then glance at me only once during the night. But there was a night that she glanced twice. And that was also the night that she talked to me. It was nothing of importance but it was talk.

"Then next night that I came she did not jump me. When I asked her of it she said that she heard me coming, and knew it was me. From then on, she let me get to know her. And I spent the day on duty and the evening hours getting to know her. I learned of her battle skills and her dependence on herself.

"As I got to know her, she got to know me. And by the end of the few months time, she was like a sister. I could not leave her to the Rohirrium and their refusal of her so, I invited her back to Edoras. And she accepted.

"When we were in Edoras I took her under my wing, you could say. I taught her of life in Medusled. In return, she taught me how to read the environment, how to tell when something is coming. During the time we spent together, we became better friends. And slowly she began to warm to others in the hall. She did in time and became well liked by many.

"My sister was jealous of her by this time though. Men would treat Arway as one of their own, something Éowyn would like very much. But people also followed Arway with their eyes, more often so then Éowyn. This angered Éowyn greatly and the two never connected well. On Arway's part, she was very kind and slightly protective of Éowyn. But my sister.she was not." Éomer stopped for a bit and looked at the Elf beside him. "Do I bore you with such things?"

"No, rather I like to listen to what she did during her life and travels. Much she has shared but nothing of Rohan."

"I loved her almost more then my sister. She was.is a likeable being, touching all she can. Through her actions, she never showed her heritage or even who she really was. There were many times she could tell us, but never did.

"She had many comings and goings. Time spent standing still was almost a waste for her, or so it seemed. She would only spend a few weeks in Edoras at one time. And sometimes they were not even spent in the city. Arway would accompany me during patrol and many times when her stay in Edoras came around, she was out in the country with me.

"At one such time, we were on these hills after returning from chasing Orcs. All eyes were upon the stars watching what they do in the sky. While staring at them, she had murmured so only I could hear. She said 'the title of king will come to the one who least expects it, and in a time of great need.' Théodred was alive then, and the two good friends. So the words confused me dearly, but now I understand."

"She warns those of events in their future, no one knows what they are until they occur. When again I see her, I will bring her back. She will never say, but she'll miss your friendship. Few she has connected with over her long years and to see the friendship here warms my heart."

"Friend, I think hearing she is alive warms your heart as much as it can." Éomer smiled and left Legolas to his own keeping.

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A/N: Due to the evil.I mean very lovable server that FanFiction uses or my personal evil .I mean wonderful computer, I have not been able to update this story all day. It has also been refusing to up load the chapter. So hopefully I'll get it to work tonight. And I'm really sorry this update was suppose to be two chapters but do to this (I'm not going to say dumb (okay I won't say it but it's still implied)) THING, I couldn't work on the other chapter due to trying to update. Tomorrow I promise there will another update and if not IT'S NOT MY FAULT I SWEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Now this is the fourth date of trying to upload this chapter to my story!)

Oh, there won't be an update this weekend if I get this to work due to, I'm going to Magic Mountain yay!!

Okay it's been a week hopefully this will work now. And Goliath is my favorite roller coaster with a 255-foot drop and speed of 85 mph!!!!!!

Look down there review button!!!

Even if you want to talk about roller coasters!!!!!!

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