Chapter 23: Arrival

A/N: Hey look an update!!!!!!!

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Legolas and Gimli walked through Fangorn. As they walked Legolas thought about what Arway had said in his dreams. She had told him to hurry and he knew he must heed her words.  Legolas walked longer and noticed that Gimli had deserted him. But he was not alone, Treebeard stood in front of him.

"Come young Elf there is something I wish to show you."

"Thank you Treebeard." Legolas followed the Ent to a very old tree.

"This tree was a favorite with Arway. Hopefully its memories will comfort you." And the Ent left the young Elf to his own thoughts.

Legolas looked up at the tree and set a hand on it. Long it had been since he had talked to a tree. But, that would not hamper the ability within him. The tree became excited and showed Legolas what he did not expect.

A young girl sat on a branch in the tree. Her long hair blew in the wind, a flower tucked in its strands. Her laughter floated through the woods and all the trees bent to hear its crystal sound. The girl turned to the tree, her eyes sparkling, and whispered something. "You will hold a secret for me! There is someone who will want to know."

The young girl was Arway. A smile spread across Legolas's lips at the tree's memory. He also knew that Arway had expected that someone would come to the tree to find out about it, and so gave the tree some extra abilities. Legolas concentrated back on the tree and soon could hear its thoughts.

Legolas quickly jumped from the tree. No remnant remained of his earlier smile. He understood and was stricken. Should he trust the tree? Or himself?

The stars above twinkled and shown down on Legolas, no sleep would he get tonight. Thoughts plagued his mind, and sorrow claimed his heart. He did not know who to believe. And when he was just asleep, he heard her voice.

"Hurry Legolas, time is short." It was a mere whisper but enough for him to wake.

~~~

Gimli and Legolas were outside of Imladris in the gardens. Lord Elrond was busy and he would not allow the two to see Arway. Suddenly Gimli tripped, and though his heart was troubled, Legolas gave a laugh. He soon stopped though and bent to look at what the Dwarf had tripped over.

On the ground was a stone. Legolas cleared enough of the overgrowth from it to see writing engraved. He uncovered no more, and read the name aloud. "Rilya."

"Who was that?" Gimli asked hoarsely.

"I do not know Gimli. Never have I known one with such a name."

"Ah! What are you good for? Can't even answer a question."

"You may not know her name, but one of you know of her and both know her heir." Elrond said from behind the two.

"Arway's mother." Legolas whispered.

Elrond nodded his head. "Long has it been since those words were whispered in this place."

"Beg our pardon Lord Elrond."

"Have no grief Legolas son of Thranduil, for both names bring joy but also sorrow. Come you can see her now."

Elrond led the Elf and Dwarf into his home. There before a door Aragorn stood, with his head bowed. Elrond placed a hand on his shoulder and led all inside the room.

Legolas halted at the sight. Arway lay motionless in a bed. But it was not the Arway that he knew. She was older it seemed, maturity had reached her features. He slowly walked towards her and laid a hand on her cheek. It was very cool but a hidden warmth lay beneath. On her chest her pendant glimmered, and Legolas touched it gently.

"She will not awake." Elrond said. "She has traveled to the Waiting had as I have been told has a choice in front of her. There is death and there is life. No one can choose for her but she has called you all here. Spend time with her as you may for no one knows which she sill choose."

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Arway stood behind Legolas her hands on his shoulders. He could not feel her and she knew this, but she had to touch him. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas had been there a day and she still could not make herself tell them. She had come to visit them every chance she could but nothing could make it easier for her. Quickly she glanced at what Legolas stared at her body. He held its hand in his own, his eyes filled with sorrow. She placed a hand on top of his and let a tear slide down her cheek. There was nothing to do, she could not comfort him; she could not reach him.

"Arway."

Arway turned, she knew no one there could she her. Galadriel stood beside her.

"Come child I must talk to you."

~~~~~~

Elrond entered the room where Legolas and Aragorn sat in time to see a piece of white disappear with a light breeze that caressed Legolas. He gave a sad smile. "She will choose then."

"Lord Elrond?" Aragorn questioned.

"She has been here, she will choose. Galadriel has gone to see her again. And this time she will not leave until she had received an answer."

~~~~~~

"So you have chosen then?"

"Yes." Arway whispered.

"And."

"I cannot bring myself to tell them." She stopped and shook her head. "Not like that, not in their dreams." 

Then, a woman and a man entered the clearing. They stood arm in arm and surveyed the Elves in the opening of the wood. The woman had a smile on her lips and the man had no emotion visible on his face.

"Hello Arway." The woman said. "I am Estë, be not alarmed child for I have come to help. This is my husband's brother, Námo. We come to give you comfort in your choice. Yes, we know the choice set before you because we are the ones who place it before all.

"Now, I have come to help heal your heart. Many of the Valar have come together to discuss you. And in the end, we have decided to let you go to Middle-earth for one night to tell your companions of your decision."

"But how?" Arway questioned.

"Many exceptions have been made for your race Arway. Eru has watched you with much interest along with Valar. We have given you powers that have not been upon Middle-earth since we walked there. And we care greatly about you, remember that. Now, the sun is setting so you must leave. They will love you no matter what you choose, and there will always be exceptions to the rules."

Arway felt herself being lifted from the Waiting and her feet touched the solid surface of stone.

~~~~~~

Aragorn looked up, and once again was privileged to see Arway. A warm smile graced her features as she looked back at him. She stood behind Legolas, who stared at the body of Arway. Aragorn watched as she lifted her hand to touch Legolas like she had before, he knew it would be the same; Legolas would not feel the touch of the woman he loved. But, this time she set her hand on his shoulder and Legolas looked up.

Feeling the hand on his shoulder Legolas looked up to see a woman behind him, a woman who had visited his dreams. His eyes grew as he looked at her and he could not believe that it was true.

"Ai. I know it is hard but I am here, though only for the night."

All jumped at the sound of her voice. Elrond looked up from where he had been meditating and stared at his child. Aragorn and Legolas continued to look at her with wide eyes. It was Gimli who broke the stunned silence.

"What devilry is this?" He asked jumping to his feet, his ax held in front of him.

"This, Master Dwarf, is a gift from Valar. I have but this night upon Middle-earth to tell you of my decision. And then you will either see me again in that body" She pointed to the body of her on the bed "or you will see me only in your dreams."

The room looked shocked. And each one looked from the bed with Arway's body to the Arway standing before them.

Arway smiled softly upon all at the confusion. "They could not return me to it. So for the night there is two of me."

"Arway." Legolas murmured. He got up from the chair and pulled her into an embrace. Then, he kissed her softly yet passionately.

When Legolas pulled away Arway smiled larger than before. But soon, the smile faded from her face and she took on a grave appearance. "Before anything occurs this night I owe Aragorn an explanation that he asked of me long ago."

Arway sat down in a chair across from Aragorn, on her right was Lord Elrond, on her left, holding her hand, was Legolas. But Arway looked at neither, her eyes bore a steady gaze right into Aragorn's eyes.

"I must tell you before anything else is said that this is not something that is lightly said, especially in these halls. With that said I should tell you before I go any further that my mother's name was Rilya, and she was a nameless Elf. And my father's name is Elrond, and he is a half-Elven…."