---Of Maglor and Arwen - Of Love---

After that, they spoke of light matters; or rather, attempted to, for neither were well versed in joyful tales. At Arwen's inquiry, Maglor reached out to take her by the arm; but before his hand settled upon her arm, he seemed to reconsider, and flinched away, instead choosing to lead her to the water instead of escorting her, and stood back as she placed her hand within the sea.

"Nay, it brings no physical pain, Undomiel; for while we are not permitted to cross it, we are allowed to dwell as close to the sea as we wish. Only if those who are barred from Valinor attempt to travel to it is physical pain inflicted; and even then, it is only if you still press on after being turned aside.

"For even though we have traveled away from the paths that were set for us by Illuvator and the Valar, the only punishment we receive is sorrow, and even then, we bring that upon our selves."

Arwen did not reply at first, nor did she turn her head to peer at Maglor; instead, her gaze was locked on the sea.

"Would you believe, Maglor son of Feanor", she said after a while, "That this is my first time bearing witness to the sea?"

Maglor stood silent, not quite knowing how to respond, and after a silence, it was Arwen who spoke again. "How...how ironic! For I was told, long ago, that the first sight of the sea was a joyous time for any elf, and that the final journey over the sea was nothing to fear. And now...and now, as I look upon a sea which is not blue but gray, a way that is not opened but closed...I now see that those words were nothing but a lie." Now she looked at him, a bitter smile upon her face, and placed her hand upon his cheek

Maglor jerked at the sensation, a strangled gasp emitting from his lips. It had been millennia since the skin of another touched his own, and it was a sensation that he had long ago forgotten.

Arwen's hand slipped from his cheek and her arm dropped to her side, but she spoke no apology. Instead, she remained silent, and her eyes had a far away look to them, as if she was dreaming. When she spoke again, it seemed that it was not to Maglor, but rather to herself.

"My mother spoke those words to me." she said, a tone indefinable to Maglor in her voice. "Perhaps not too long ago in Elvish reckoning, but now it seems as if those words date back to the Time of the Trees. Marred beyond repair, she would leave her husband and children behind. She promised that we would meet again - but Celebrian was unwitting of what strange fate would come to pass. Can she feel the passing of her daughter now - can she feel her progeny, her flesh and blood, fall into darkness and shadow - into obscurity and death? Or has she born a new child, a Star of Morn, and has chosen to leave the evening behind?"

Comfort, he promised her - tentatively, as if reaching out to stroke a raging beast, Maglor placed a trembling hand upon her shoulder. Starting at the touch, Arwen seemed to come to her senses; then peered again at her companion, a look of guilt upon her fair face.

"And tell me...Maglor, son of Feanor...did you ever have a mother?" A ghost of a smile graced Maglor's face, but he turned away from his companion.

"Aye, I did." She was not of the most graceful step or the most fair of face, but her father had loved her above all else.

"And...and what has become of her?"

"I would imagine she dwells now with her kin, in the Halls of Aule." It was said that the downfall of their marriage could be chronicled by the naming of their sons. After time after the births of Maedhros and Maglor was said to be the noontide of their marriage; as passionate as ever, and to almost all Aman, they were the perfect example of marriage among the Eldar.

"She-she is of the maia?" Maglor chuckled at that.

"Nay, nay - she is among the blacksmiths that dwell with Aule, and those that were numbered among his folk after the rebellion of the Noldor." With the births of Celegorm and Curufin, tension began to arise in the House of Feanor. It began simply as minor disagreements between them; perhaps something unusual in a marriage such as Feanor's and Nerdanel's, but nothing unheard of along the Eldar.

"So...it has been ages since you have last lain eyes upon her." It has been said that Caranthir was his mother's child, taking after her in appearance; and at that birth, it was Nerdanel who first held him in her arms, not Feanor, and Caranthir's first word had been mama, not papa. (To Maglor, it seemed that Feanor never did forgive Caranthir for that.)

"Indeed, it has." It was then that the passion began to wane, and the love to fade; and while they both had experienced a rebirth with the birth of Ambarussa, their separation did not come as any particular shock, despite it being the first of its kind.

"Was...was Nerdanel her name?" Maglor only nodded.

"Feanor and Nerdanel..." Arwen said thoughtfully, as if recalling a tale told long ago. "They...separated, did they not?"

"They did." Of course, it had been with Feanor that the children remained; they saw very little of Nerdanel after that, and as time wore on and tensions between the Children of Finwe grew greater, it became as if they had no mother at all; as if the Sons of Feanor shared their father's fate.

"...His name was Aragorn." Her voice had lost the inquiring tone it once had; now, it sounded cold, almost empty. "He was of the Edain - of mortal folk. And I...I was not of elven blood, but a Peredhil. However, it was not a union my father or any other of my kin would ever grow to approve of. To my family, I was of the Eldar. If there were any Peredhil in my family, they were my brothers.

"But never the less, he loved me, and I loved him; thus, our troth was plighted, and we married." She paused for a moment, and then continued on. "He was not just any mortal man. Nay, although he lived as a ranger and wanderer for countless years in the time of mortals, he was King of Gondor; the lord of the most powerful kingdom upon this earth. He was also of the Numenor - both the blood of Man and Elf flowed within his veins - and therefore a lifespan thrice that of mortal men was upon him bestowed.

"I was his Queen. And for what for mortal folk would perceive as an endless age, we ruled together for 120 years. I.I bore him children. One son, and seven lovely daughters, fairest of maidens." Arwen paused suddenly, then laughed darkly. "Seven sons, seven daughters. Perhaps your mother and I are not so different. Perhaps...perhaps, if she were to bear another child, it would be not a son but a daughter. Perhaps is was my husband's children that I bore, and none of my own."

"He was of elvish descent," She began again, "And yet he was a Man. He was a Man, and therefore he is no longer here; and now see the words my father spoke me so long ago, when word first came to him of my choice, were true." Her eyes turned to Maglor again, and she smiled sadly.

"Your mother left your father. My husband, when he fell, gave me the chance to leave myself; but then it was too late, far too late, and had it not been...I still would have remained. I would not leave his side, even now, when his body grows cold and his fea beyond the walls of the world.

"...I would say, Maglor son of Feanor, that your mother - who broke her bond with her husband and lord, who left her children not once but twice...I would say that your mother was wise. And I - I, who was hailed as the Queen of Men and Elves, the Evenstar of the Eldar - I am not, nor will I ever be."

Then she turned away from him, and he from her, and both looked out to the sea - empty, gray, and endless.