*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Chapter Twelve: Return to Sorrow

Kilikai waited night and day for them to return with Pippin, but it was over 3 days before there was a call.

They had returned!

She ran to the gate and waited. Soon, two horses appeared on the horizon; one with and elf and hobbit, and another fair of face, cloaks swinging around him. Kilikai met eyes with him and smiled. He smiled back and kicked his horse, causing it to go into a canter. When he was about 10 meters away he hopped off the horse and ran, faster than he ever had before. Kilikai ran to him, and they met half way. She threw her arms around him, crying for joy that he was alive, and he buried his face in her hair.

"I missed you so Pippin!" she cried. He smiled.

"I never thought I'd see you again."

"Nor I."

She stared into his eyes for a moment, then turned to her pocket and retrieved a note.

"You sent this, didn't you?"

"Yes."

She opened and scanned it again, then handed it to him. "Did you mean what you said in it?"

He blushed. "I mean everything I say to you Kili. Especially what's in that note."

He looked as if he were about to say something else but Kilikai had cut him off, kissing him fiercely.

Up on the gallery, Verik watched jealously as Kilikai kissed Pippin. He had done his best to convince her of his intentions but she had taken no notice.

"You can do nothing Verik. Let them be," came a voice from behind.

"I do not know what you talk of," he replied, turning to Arwen.

"I see the way you act around Kilikai, and I know what you want from her. But she loves Peregrin with all of her being, and I cannot let you ruin that. I may not be able to stop you, but your conscience should be." She turned to leave, but moaned and collapsed.

"Milady!" he cried, rushing to her side. She looked around dizzily. He turned to a watchman going by. "Fetch the healer and lord Elessar!"

The guard nodded and ran off. Verik sat with Arwen, trying desperately to keep her conscious.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Arwen gasped in pain as Aragorn threw open the door and rushed to her side.

"Arwen. Arwen, it's me!" he said pleadingly. She shifted her gaze to him.

"Aragorn.beloved, I may not make it through the night."

"No, don't say that. You shall make it, and produce an heir, and live a long happy life. And you'll live it with me."

She smiled and shook her head. "Beloved, I may not make it through the hour."

Aragorn began to cry softly, not betraying it to any of the men, but his tears dripped down onto Arwens hands.

"Do not cry for me, it is wasted tears."

"Nothing can be wasted on you, Arwen." He took her hand and kissed it, then held it to his chest. She smiled again and put a hand to his face, drying the tears.

"I will always watch down on you Aragorn. Even in your old age you will know I am seeing you."

"I know. But it will be so hard without you."

"You want me to be happy, don't you?"

He kissed her hand. "With all my heart."

Her eyes went glossy, and she put both hands on his.

"Then let me go."

Just then Merry and Limalo entered. "We just heard," he said.

"Merry." Arwen smiled and held a hand out to him. "Come here."

He walked over, unsure, and took her hand. She held it tight and firmly.

"You always tried to help me Merry. You even tried to make me feel better about being sick. That is because you have a gift. You help people. Remember that."

"I will, m'lady."

Arwen smiled, then turned her gaze to Pippin, Kilikai, and the rest of the fellowship that had just entered. "Is my death that big of a spectacle?"

Aragorn shook his head. "Do not speak like that love."

"How would you have me speak? Depressing words meant only to bring down everyone that hears them?"

Aragorn held back the tears threating to pour out and gripped one of her hands. "What do you wish to happen, my lady?"

"I want my father to be told. That is the only thing I wish."

"Then it shall be done."

She smiled contently, and then gasped as a shoot of pain went through her. Pippin shook his head sadly.

"The lady does not deserve this."

Arwen moaned once, looking into Aragorns eyes. "Take care of yourself." She slowly closed her eyes, the world going black, then smiled as her body went limp. "I love you," she whispered, letting her grip on his hand go loose.

"As do I."

He laid his head down onto her hand and let the sorrow out. Everyone watched sadly as their king experienced this horrible agony. Pippin waited a moment, then put up his arms and directed everyone out. They all went their separate ways, trying to deal with all that was happening. Merry went with Limalo to the garden at the centre of the palace, while Pippin and Kilikai headed to the brook. Legolas walked towards Uvia's lodging, and Gimli sat on a bench in the lane. Aragorn sat by Arwens side until he was led away by Ifina.

*~*~*~*~*

Pippin leaned against a tree, Kilikai in his arms in front of him. They stared at the setting sun that shined upon the mountains. Kilikai rubbed his small hands reassuringly. She hadn't known the lady as well, but Pippin had been a friend of hers for long.

"It seems like so long ago I first saw her face," he whispered, laying his head against Kilikai's. "She was so beautiful, and the way she looked at Aragorn was so full of love."

"Oh Pippin." Kilikai turned towards his face, so innocent and sad. "This is a tragedy to be sure, but you cannot dwell on it forever. It happens to everyone at one point."

"I know." He wiped his face with his right hand, then returned it to hers. "But to lose someone like this."

Kilikai lay against his chest and put a hand on his face. "My poor Peregrin."

"I know this isn't the time," whispered Pippin. "But if I don't do this now I will never do it."

She looked at him puzzled as he took one of her hands in his.

"Kilikai Riscol, the fairest and most beautiful woman in all of Middle Earth, I would be honoured if you would be my wife forever until the end."

Kilikai was unmoved, as if she had expected it, then took his other hand. "Peregrin Took, I would be the one that is honoured, not you. I love you, and I always will, and if I were to refuse you I know I would never love another."

He looked at her, expression solemn, then embraced her. "Thank you."

"What is there to thank me for?"

"For being alive and with me."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Merry looked out at the flowers. They seemed to die with the Lady Arwen. He didn't know what to think, in all the stories they lived happily ever after. Yet Aragorn and Arwen's ending wasn't happy. He was starting to think his ending was going to be a sad one as well.

"Merry?"

He turned to see Limalo standing behind him "are you alright?" she asked

Merry smiled somewhat "I believe so" he said, but she could hear the sadness in his voice

"Arwen will be okay" Limalo said " she will wait for Aragorn on the other side"

Merry turned but instead of looking straight, he had to look up, he couldn't bare the fact that he was small again.

Limalo looked at him strangly "what's wrong Merry?" she asked

Merry turned around and started to run away. In the background all he could hear her yelling his name but he would not turn around.

He ran for hours, he ended up in a place he had never been before. The tears seemed to burn his face. As he stopped breathing heavily, he leaned on a tree.

'how could she love someone that is but a child in her eyes' he thought

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "PIPPIN!"

Pippin shot up from where he had been sitting with Kilikai. Limalo walked into the area. Kilikai's eyes blinked open and she looked at Limalo.

"What's wrong?" he asked

"Meriadoc" she replied

Pippin was now entirely interested, Limalo had used Merry's really name. It must have been really urgent. "what's happened?" he asked

"well I was talking to him an hours ago, and he ran off. I thought that he would come back but it's been hours and no one has seen him" she cried "some say that he ran right out of Gondor and towards the forbidden forest" She started to cry at the thought

Pippin stood up "did you tell the others?" he asked

Limalo shook her head "you are the first"

Kilikai looked concerned at her friend "what did you say?" she asked

"nothing" she replied "he just took off running, I was going to go after him but I thought that he wanted to be alone to think"

"we will find him Limalo" Pippin said "don't worry"

she tried to smile but the tears just came down her face.