Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story except for my original characters which in no way match the brilliance of those that belong to Tolkien.

Summary: AU After the death of his friend, Aragorn falls into a depression and there may only be one person who can draw him out of it.

~*Author's Notes*~ sorry that this chapter took awhile, I have just been super busy. Okay that is a lie, but I really haven't had much time to write so hopefully this chapter will make up for my tardiness. Hope y'all enjoy it!

How Can I Survive

Chapter 39

"Pityon what in Iluvitar's name are you speaking of? Glorfindel and my sons are traveling to Mirkwood, there is no possible way that they could have already made the trip" Elrond protested.

"But we are back father" Elladan said as he came in to the front foyer of his father's kingdom. "Elladan" Arwen responded gleefully as she ran over to her brother and gave him a hug welcoming him back home.

She noticed the look of sadness on his as did everybody else and she immediately wondered what could have transpired and brought him home so early.

"What happened?" Aragorn questioned hesitantly.

"We have not all returned, one of us was slain and forced us to head back here instead of making the voyage to Thranduil's realm as was planned."

Expressions of terror and absolute horrification spread over all the faces of all who stood with the oldest twin, even Gandalf seemed speechless as to what to say to the information that had just been told to them.

"Elrohir" the evenstar whispered instantly thinking that it was her sibling that was killed. "No it wasn't Elrohir nor was it Lord Glorfindel whose life was cut short. Neither of their lives were taken from them, however it was an immortal who was slaughtered" Elladan told them.

"Then it was her" Estel replied softly. "Indeed it was" the peredhil agreed.

"Then may I ask where your brother is hiding himself at this time?" Halbarad inquired. "He is in his room, Lord Glorfindel laid the body in the houses of healing until we can put a team together to safety take it to Mirkwood so she can have a burial" Elladan responded.

"Maybe someone should talk to him, Elrohir I mean" Arwen suggested.

"That is a good idea, he must be hurting so much" Aragorn concurred. "I will go" the man offered only to be waved down by his foster father.

"I will talk to him, he is my son and I would like to have a chance to speak with him" the elven lord explained. "Yes, of course. I am sorry" the dunadan apologized.

"You three go and do something to keep yourselves occupied, I don not want to learn that you have been causing havoc around here especially considering that we have guests" Elrond jested. He realized how much trauma his family had suffered and all he wanted was for their lives to get better. So far all they had all been led from bad to worse, and it happened only over a period of a couple months. He didn't know how much more they could endure, in fact he didn't know how much he could endure.

"I think I will just take leave and perhaps sleep for a bit as I have been traveling for some time now" Elladan said to his siblings and also to Gandalf and Halbarad. "Please do not think I am being rude."

"Of course not young one, go on take some rest" the Istar ushered him down the hall.

"Halbarad, would you like to join me for a walk around the property?" Gandalf asked when he came back to the front of the palace. "Sounds like a good idea my friend" the man responded as they left the two lovers alone.

"That sounded like a good idea, would like to go outside and perchance wander in the gardens?" Aragorn asked his beloved. "I would love too" she declared as they locked arms and made way for the exit towards the back of the last homely house.

*****

Elrohir heard a knock on his door and he instantaneously knew that it was someone to check up on him.

He sat up out of a wooden chair that was beside a window that overlooked almost all of Imladris. It was a beautiful view and he always went to that window whenever he felt sad or emotionally drained, it was very relaxing when he sat watching the trees sway in the wind and he could feel the breeze on his fair face and blowing his twilight hair.

He walked over to the mahogany door and quickly opened it revealing his father standing there with a worried look on his ageless face.

He left it and then went back and sat down once again leaving the door ajar.

"I am just concerned about you my son, I know you lost someone you cared about even if you won't admit to it. I know you felt for her even if your feelings were not as strong as they once were. You can not keep your feelings bottled up inside of you, it is not healthy for you" Elrond warned.

"I have nothing to say therefore I am not keeping anything bottled up inside of me" the younger twin shot back, still not making eye contact with the other in his room.

The peredhil brought over another chair that was at the bedside and he placed it next to the one that his child occupied.

"You can talk to me. I am not going to disown you because of something that you could not have helped, love is something that just happens for no particular reason. It is just a beautiful, wonderful thing that some people are lucky enough to experience in their life times" the lord put in plain words.

"How could I have loved someone that had my own mother murdered? How could I have loved such a horrible person? Does that make me as bad as her, or worse?" Elrohir begged to know finally locking eyes with his adar.

"You are good person and no matter who you love you will always remain a good person. You loved her because you didn't know the full details of her life. But tell me something, do you still love her even though she has passed and you know the truth about her?" Elrond inquired.

"Of course I don't love her anymore" he responded but he looked at his father and he knew that the peredhil could tell he was lying.

"I love her like I did when I first met her."

"And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I do not want you to feel bad over something like that, no matter what you are my son and I will always love you" Elrond proclaimed.

*****

"How do you think Elrohir is faring?" Aragorn asked as he and Arwen walked hand in hand through the endless rows of flowers and greenery that made Rivendell look so amazingly stunning.

"My father will make sure that he gets through everything in the best condition. You made it past everything that was thrown in your way and you are finally happy, I know he will be able to do it as well. You could be an inspiration to many many people" Arwen praised the man whom she was willing to give her immortality up for.

"Why thank you" Estel responded as his cheeks slightly reddened.

"Oh am I embarrassing you?" the evenstar jested as she ran her index finger down his cheek.

"No, I am just flattered" Aragorn laughed heartily.

"Sure you are" Arwen joked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and they shared an effortless and natural kiss.

Sorry that this one was so short! The story is almost coming to an end. I hope you will like the conclusion which will be here very shortly!

~*Judy Greenleaf*~