A Meeting of Lovers
Chapter Seven: Signs of goodbye
"Brr!" Arwen shivered as she splashed cold water against her face, each drop just as cold as the last. As she patted her face dry with a soft towel she kept asking herself the same question over and over again, *did I close that window last night?* She couldn't remember. It was all she'd been able to think about, all she'd been able to concentrate on, even all through breakfast. Somehow the prospect warm eggs and crispy bacon seemed meaningless compared to the trouble she was facing and the troubles that would soon lie ahead.
*Did I close that window?* She kept asking herself that same question over and over again somehow expecting an answer or at least hoping to remember but to no avail, she kept coming up blank. The question only seemed important because of the fact that she hadn't seen Aragorn all day, hadn't seen his smiling face, hadn't heard his sweet soothing voice; there was no trace of him. She kept hoping that he would show up at breakfast but when he didn't she had to bear the long meal herself, making excuses for his absence.
She searched endlessly for him, checking every room, passing every hallway but he was no where to be found. *What if he . . . but he couldn't have, could he have left?* Arwen's heart filled with worry at the thought of Aragorn running away, *but why would he leave, unless . . . it must have something to do with that Eowyn woman, that must be it.* Arwen placed both her hands over her face and gave a long sigh, beads of water still running down her face, again she patted her face dry and slowly made her way out of the bathroom.
The hallways this morning were completely empty, devoid of all life. Everyone was probably down in the garden making preparations for the wedding that would probably never happen. Her wedding was supposed to be a day of happiness, a day of joy, the union of Aragorn and Arwen as one but now she wasn't she sure if that day would ever come, wasn't sure if she'd ever get the chance to walk down the aisle and find her lover looking into her eyes and reciting his vows, and worst of all she wasn't even sure if she'd ever she Aragorn again.
As she walked she kept her head down hoping to somehow hide her tears from anyone who would mistakenly pass her but she knew that she would not come across anyone this far into the palace, she knew that everyone except herself was out getting everything ready for the big wedding, happily hanging garlands and arranging flowers, not knowing that trouble lay within the walls of Rivendell.
At the end of the hall she stopped at a large white door with beautiful carvings, her door, and turned the knob but just as she was about to enter her dismal abandoned room she heard a voice call out to her in the distance. She turned her head slightly to see who it was, still holding it down to hide her tears. From the corner of her eye she could see a lean elf slowly making his way towards her, holding both his hands together as he walked.
"Arwen," he held his head up high, "where have you been darling?"
Arwen quickly passed her hands over her eyes in an attempt to hide any trace of despair and faced the tall elf holding her hands together the same way he did.
"I haven't seen you since breakfast, where have you been," he asked; his voice gentle and calm.
Arwen looked at him; a fake smile stuck firmly on her face, and softly said, "I've been in my room."
"All day," he looked at her, brows furrowed, and unfolded his hands, "you've been here all day?"
"Ye . . . yes I have," she said, her voice quavering.
"Then why didn't you answer the door when I knocked earlier?"
Arwen was nervous, she wasn't very good at lying and it showed.
"Arwen? Are you alright, where were you?" His eyes shot daggers, freezing her, completely incapacitating her. She searched for words only to come up empty. She wanted to say something reassuring, something that would make it seem as if everything was fine, but she couldn't, she couldn't say everything was ok because it wasn't. Silence filled the hallway until finally one of them spoke.
"Arwen tell me what's wrong." He placed a hand on her shoulder. Arwen found it comforting; his hands were soft and felt good against her body. She looked up at him and noticed how heavenly his emerald eyes were, so deep so full of passion.
"Kingsley I'm sorry but now is not a good time for me."
"Why? What's wrong; please tell me, I just want to help you." He moved his hand slowly from her shoulder onto her cheek, stroking her neck along the way.
Arwen closed her eyes, losing herself within his touch, his sweet tender touch that seemed soothing and relaxing. She opened her mouth to speak but then realized what she was doing and quickly stopped herself. What could she be thinking, this isn't Aragorn it wouldn't be right to do this. She grabbed his hand and removed it from her cheek noticing how perfectly their hands fit together, each of her fingers laced neatly between his. As he gently stroked the side of her hand with his thumb she surveyed him, sizing him from head to toe. He was beautiful; somehow she hadn't noticed that before. He wasn't just handsome like any ordinary elf . . . no, he was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. His piercing green gaze sent a jolt straight into her heart, awakening her from her deep pool of self pity and doubt. His soft pale skin caressed her body giving her much needed comfort. His boyishly light blond hair shone brightly even in the darkness of the hallway. His muscular build and tall stature made her feel safe, secure, protected. She loved it, *but no this is wrong,* she thought, *he isn't Aragorn, he'll never be Aragorn.*
She unlaced their fingers and opened her mouth to speak once more.
"Kingsley, I. . ."
"I know what bothers you," he spoke confidently as if positive he knew what was wrong.
"You do?"
"Yes, its Aragorn isn't it?"
He knew, how was it possible that he knew Aragorn was gone, no one knew except Arwen, at least she thought no one else knew, but she had to be sure.
"What about Aragorn?" She waited patiently for the answer hoping desperately he was wrong and that no one else knew of Aragorn's absence.
"You don't love him, I know you don't; I've known it all along, I mean the very idea of refined elf princess such as yourself and a grubby man like Aragorn is absurd, at least to me it is," he blurted the words out quickly as if hoping that they would sink into her head before she could process them, "he is beneath you. You deserve better than him and you know that. You deserve . . . you deserve . . . me."
Silence.
At first Arwen was sure she'd heard him wrong but then it was clear she'd been accused of falsely loving Aragorn. Her sadness slowly turned to rage as hot menacing anger slowly boiled inside her. How could he possibly say such things, she loved Aragorn with all her heart, with all her soul, she would gladly give up everything if it meant being with him forever.
Her face turned red as her anger surfaced. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes on Kingsley. She raised her right arm and swung her hand at his face.
Pain. Shock. Kingsley gently rubbed his cheek, mouth wide open in surprise. Arwen had slapped him, and hard, he couldn't believe it. He looked at her and noticed she was still upset. Her cheeks were red not with pain but with anger, his words had obviously struck a chord with her. He had never seen her like this before, lips pursed, eyes narrowed directly at him. He had really upset her.
"I'm sorry Arwen," he said a little less confidently, his eyes gazing at the floor, avoiding Arwen's face.
Arwen said nothing and instead turned her back to him, went inside her room, and slammed the door right in his face.
He stood there waiting, hoping that Arwen would realize he was right and go flying into his arms, but she didn't. The door stood closed and he heard a click sound on the other side, probably the lock. Realizing that Arwen wasn't going to come out, he turned around and began walking away slowly fading into the darkness of the hallway.
* * * * *
Arwen lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling, trying to think. She had been replaying the same event over and over, repeating the same words in her mind . . . *you don't love him.* How could he possibly accuse Arwen of not loving Aragorn? The very idea was ludicrous but if it was than why couldn't she stop thinking about it. Could it be that the flame she holds for Aragorn is slowly burning out. She couldn't think she couldn't concentrate not with all the noise being made outside.
She positioned herself so that she was sitting up facing the window which still stood open though the curtains were pulled together blocking all sunlight that would threaten to brighten her depress-filled room. For some reason she couldn't bring herself to close it. Part of her thought that if Aragorn had left through the window, that he would return through it and if it were closed he wouldn't be able to, but part of her also knew that Aragorn probably wasn't coming back and that was what killed her, what tore away at her and filled her with misery.
Deciding that Aragorn wasn't coming back anytime soon, she stood and started walking over to the window when a small piece of parchment caught her eye. She bent down to pick it up, feeling a sharp pain in her foot where the broken piece of lamp had embedded itself. She turned over the parchment and noticed that there was writing on it but couldn't make it out due to the darkness of the room. Arwen made her way back to her bed and turned on Aragorn's lamp hoping the dim light would allow her to read what was on the parchment. The letters became clear and now she could see that it had bold very neat writing on it, writing she recognized right away as Aragorn's. She slowly read it through; not wanting to miss a thing, hoping it would help explain what had happened to her lost lover. She absorbed each word as if it were food helping to feed her soul but soon found herself more depressed than before. She clutched her chest, pain coursing through her body. She collapsed and fell onto the floor letting the letter fly from her hand and land inches away from her head. With her legs raised to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them tightly bringing her hands together. Tears escaped from her eyes, dripping over her cheeks, and landing softly on the floor. The letter had explained everything. She knew now the truth, the painful truth that confirmed all her suspicions. That letter, that stupid letter explained everything.
Arwen managed to unlock the hold she had on her legs and crawled to where the letter had landed. She picked it up and read it again hoping that somehow it would be different, that it would tell her that she was wrong and Aragorn hadn't slept with another woman but it didn't. It read the same. It read:
My dearest Arwen,
Though it pains me to say it, I haven't been the man you thought I was. I have been hiding behind a mask of betrayal and distrust and though your heart calls out to me I cannot answer, too afraid of the truth, the truth which haunts my dreams and plagues my life with misery and torment. My pain is not one that can be healed by your smiling face or warm touch because the truth is that I have not been loyal to you, I have not been loyal to us. I have succumbed to temptation by taking refuge in the arms of another. . . Eowyn. I have given myself to her, opening my body to her completely. I know this must be painful for you to read but I felt that you deserved to know the truth. I could not bear to tell you in person, too afraid that your reaction would hurt me even more. The pain I hold is mine to bear alone which is why I have left you and left Rivendell. I could not continue lying to you anymore; I could not bear to hurt you so I felt it was best for me to leave. Do not weep for me my love; your tears would only be wasted on a soul like mine. I know that in time you will move on and find someone more deserving. I will never forget you, my love for you is endless but I need to find where I belong. I wish you happiness and hope that you will find comfort in the arms of another.
I will always love you,
Aragorn
Despair had dug itself deep into her skin, taking control of her body, making its home in the depths of her being. She felt it; it was a part of her now. She felt as if a wall had built itself around her heart and slowly close in on it, flattening it, and breaking her.
The noise outside began to fade, becoming low and inaudible; soon she couldn't hear anything at all. It was as if she were moving farther and farther away, escaping the bustle of reality and fading into empty space. Her body was still on the floor of her room but she wasn't, her mind wasn't. She was fading into the shadows becoming part of the emptiness that was the dark. She couldn't cry anymore, couldn't touch, and couldn't feel. She was broken, she was done. Aragorn betrayed her, her love was finished, and she knew it. He was gone . . . forever and she was left with nothing but darkness, because for Arwen, the flame had died.
* * * * *
A/N: I am so so sorry that I took so long to post chapter seven but I have a good excuse. My uncle offered me a job at his company and of course being the money hungry person that I am I took it. Let me tell you the pay is great but enough about that. I hope you all enjoyed chapter seven, I know it's a little depressing but hey that's what angst is all about and I want to tell you now that it's only going to get worse for them before it gets better. School for me starts on August 25 and I still haven't finished the summer reading that was assigned (my school even gives homework during the summer) which means that it will be a while before I post chapter eight but I promise you all that I will have chapter eight up by the beginning of September. I know it's a long time and I apologize *author hits himself repeatedly with assigned book* but I hope that you all will continue reading and enjoying my story. I love you all and I want to take this time to thank all of you who reviewed.
Ps. Please review and recommend this story to your friends. Have you all noticed how much I love reviews? I'm addicted to them.
Chapter Seven: Signs of goodbye
"Brr!" Arwen shivered as she splashed cold water against her face, each drop just as cold as the last. As she patted her face dry with a soft towel she kept asking herself the same question over and over again, *did I close that window last night?* She couldn't remember. It was all she'd been able to think about, all she'd been able to concentrate on, even all through breakfast. Somehow the prospect warm eggs and crispy bacon seemed meaningless compared to the trouble she was facing and the troubles that would soon lie ahead.
*Did I close that window?* She kept asking herself that same question over and over again somehow expecting an answer or at least hoping to remember but to no avail, she kept coming up blank. The question only seemed important because of the fact that she hadn't seen Aragorn all day, hadn't seen his smiling face, hadn't heard his sweet soothing voice; there was no trace of him. She kept hoping that he would show up at breakfast but when he didn't she had to bear the long meal herself, making excuses for his absence.
She searched endlessly for him, checking every room, passing every hallway but he was no where to be found. *What if he . . . but he couldn't have, could he have left?* Arwen's heart filled with worry at the thought of Aragorn running away, *but why would he leave, unless . . . it must have something to do with that Eowyn woman, that must be it.* Arwen placed both her hands over her face and gave a long sigh, beads of water still running down her face, again she patted her face dry and slowly made her way out of the bathroom.
The hallways this morning were completely empty, devoid of all life. Everyone was probably down in the garden making preparations for the wedding that would probably never happen. Her wedding was supposed to be a day of happiness, a day of joy, the union of Aragorn and Arwen as one but now she wasn't she sure if that day would ever come, wasn't sure if she'd ever get the chance to walk down the aisle and find her lover looking into her eyes and reciting his vows, and worst of all she wasn't even sure if she'd ever she Aragorn again.
As she walked she kept her head down hoping to somehow hide her tears from anyone who would mistakenly pass her but she knew that she would not come across anyone this far into the palace, she knew that everyone except herself was out getting everything ready for the big wedding, happily hanging garlands and arranging flowers, not knowing that trouble lay within the walls of Rivendell.
At the end of the hall she stopped at a large white door with beautiful carvings, her door, and turned the knob but just as she was about to enter her dismal abandoned room she heard a voice call out to her in the distance. She turned her head slightly to see who it was, still holding it down to hide her tears. From the corner of her eye she could see a lean elf slowly making his way towards her, holding both his hands together as he walked.
"Arwen," he held his head up high, "where have you been darling?"
Arwen quickly passed her hands over her eyes in an attempt to hide any trace of despair and faced the tall elf holding her hands together the same way he did.
"I haven't seen you since breakfast, where have you been," he asked; his voice gentle and calm.
Arwen looked at him; a fake smile stuck firmly on her face, and softly said, "I've been in my room."
"All day," he looked at her, brows furrowed, and unfolded his hands, "you've been here all day?"
"Ye . . . yes I have," she said, her voice quavering.
"Then why didn't you answer the door when I knocked earlier?"
Arwen was nervous, she wasn't very good at lying and it showed.
"Arwen? Are you alright, where were you?" His eyes shot daggers, freezing her, completely incapacitating her. She searched for words only to come up empty. She wanted to say something reassuring, something that would make it seem as if everything was fine, but she couldn't, she couldn't say everything was ok because it wasn't. Silence filled the hallway until finally one of them spoke.
"Arwen tell me what's wrong." He placed a hand on her shoulder. Arwen found it comforting; his hands were soft and felt good against her body. She looked up at him and noticed how heavenly his emerald eyes were, so deep so full of passion.
"Kingsley I'm sorry but now is not a good time for me."
"Why? What's wrong; please tell me, I just want to help you." He moved his hand slowly from her shoulder onto her cheek, stroking her neck along the way.
Arwen closed her eyes, losing herself within his touch, his sweet tender touch that seemed soothing and relaxing. She opened her mouth to speak but then realized what she was doing and quickly stopped herself. What could she be thinking, this isn't Aragorn it wouldn't be right to do this. She grabbed his hand and removed it from her cheek noticing how perfectly their hands fit together, each of her fingers laced neatly between his. As he gently stroked the side of her hand with his thumb she surveyed him, sizing him from head to toe. He was beautiful; somehow she hadn't noticed that before. He wasn't just handsome like any ordinary elf . . . no, he was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. His piercing green gaze sent a jolt straight into her heart, awakening her from her deep pool of self pity and doubt. His soft pale skin caressed her body giving her much needed comfort. His boyishly light blond hair shone brightly even in the darkness of the hallway. His muscular build and tall stature made her feel safe, secure, protected. She loved it, *but no this is wrong,* she thought, *he isn't Aragorn, he'll never be Aragorn.*
She unlaced their fingers and opened her mouth to speak once more.
"Kingsley, I. . ."
"I know what bothers you," he spoke confidently as if positive he knew what was wrong.
"You do?"
"Yes, its Aragorn isn't it?"
He knew, how was it possible that he knew Aragorn was gone, no one knew except Arwen, at least she thought no one else knew, but she had to be sure.
"What about Aragorn?" She waited patiently for the answer hoping desperately he was wrong and that no one else knew of Aragorn's absence.
"You don't love him, I know you don't; I've known it all along, I mean the very idea of refined elf princess such as yourself and a grubby man like Aragorn is absurd, at least to me it is," he blurted the words out quickly as if hoping that they would sink into her head before she could process them, "he is beneath you. You deserve better than him and you know that. You deserve . . . you deserve . . . me."
Silence.
At first Arwen was sure she'd heard him wrong but then it was clear she'd been accused of falsely loving Aragorn. Her sadness slowly turned to rage as hot menacing anger slowly boiled inside her. How could he possibly say such things, she loved Aragorn with all her heart, with all her soul, she would gladly give up everything if it meant being with him forever.
Her face turned red as her anger surfaced. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes on Kingsley. She raised her right arm and swung her hand at his face.
Pain. Shock. Kingsley gently rubbed his cheek, mouth wide open in surprise. Arwen had slapped him, and hard, he couldn't believe it. He looked at her and noticed she was still upset. Her cheeks were red not with pain but with anger, his words had obviously struck a chord with her. He had never seen her like this before, lips pursed, eyes narrowed directly at him. He had really upset her.
"I'm sorry Arwen," he said a little less confidently, his eyes gazing at the floor, avoiding Arwen's face.
Arwen said nothing and instead turned her back to him, went inside her room, and slammed the door right in his face.
He stood there waiting, hoping that Arwen would realize he was right and go flying into his arms, but she didn't. The door stood closed and he heard a click sound on the other side, probably the lock. Realizing that Arwen wasn't going to come out, he turned around and began walking away slowly fading into the darkness of the hallway.
* * * * *
Arwen lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling, trying to think. She had been replaying the same event over and over, repeating the same words in her mind . . . *you don't love him.* How could he possibly accuse Arwen of not loving Aragorn? The very idea was ludicrous but if it was than why couldn't she stop thinking about it. Could it be that the flame she holds for Aragorn is slowly burning out. She couldn't think she couldn't concentrate not with all the noise being made outside.
She positioned herself so that she was sitting up facing the window which still stood open though the curtains were pulled together blocking all sunlight that would threaten to brighten her depress-filled room. For some reason she couldn't bring herself to close it. Part of her thought that if Aragorn had left through the window, that he would return through it and if it were closed he wouldn't be able to, but part of her also knew that Aragorn probably wasn't coming back and that was what killed her, what tore away at her and filled her with misery.
Deciding that Aragorn wasn't coming back anytime soon, she stood and started walking over to the window when a small piece of parchment caught her eye. She bent down to pick it up, feeling a sharp pain in her foot where the broken piece of lamp had embedded itself. She turned over the parchment and noticed that there was writing on it but couldn't make it out due to the darkness of the room. Arwen made her way back to her bed and turned on Aragorn's lamp hoping the dim light would allow her to read what was on the parchment. The letters became clear and now she could see that it had bold very neat writing on it, writing she recognized right away as Aragorn's. She slowly read it through; not wanting to miss a thing, hoping it would help explain what had happened to her lost lover. She absorbed each word as if it were food helping to feed her soul but soon found herself more depressed than before. She clutched her chest, pain coursing through her body. She collapsed and fell onto the floor letting the letter fly from her hand and land inches away from her head. With her legs raised to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them tightly bringing her hands together. Tears escaped from her eyes, dripping over her cheeks, and landing softly on the floor. The letter had explained everything. She knew now the truth, the painful truth that confirmed all her suspicions. That letter, that stupid letter explained everything.
Arwen managed to unlock the hold she had on her legs and crawled to where the letter had landed. She picked it up and read it again hoping that somehow it would be different, that it would tell her that she was wrong and Aragorn hadn't slept with another woman but it didn't. It read the same. It read:
My dearest Arwen,
Though it pains me to say it, I haven't been the man you thought I was. I have been hiding behind a mask of betrayal and distrust and though your heart calls out to me I cannot answer, too afraid of the truth, the truth which haunts my dreams and plagues my life with misery and torment. My pain is not one that can be healed by your smiling face or warm touch because the truth is that I have not been loyal to you, I have not been loyal to us. I have succumbed to temptation by taking refuge in the arms of another. . . Eowyn. I have given myself to her, opening my body to her completely. I know this must be painful for you to read but I felt that you deserved to know the truth. I could not bear to tell you in person, too afraid that your reaction would hurt me even more. The pain I hold is mine to bear alone which is why I have left you and left Rivendell. I could not continue lying to you anymore; I could not bear to hurt you so I felt it was best for me to leave. Do not weep for me my love; your tears would only be wasted on a soul like mine. I know that in time you will move on and find someone more deserving. I will never forget you, my love for you is endless but I need to find where I belong. I wish you happiness and hope that you will find comfort in the arms of another.
I will always love you,
Aragorn
Despair had dug itself deep into her skin, taking control of her body, making its home in the depths of her being. She felt it; it was a part of her now. She felt as if a wall had built itself around her heart and slowly close in on it, flattening it, and breaking her.
The noise outside began to fade, becoming low and inaudible; soon she couldn't hear anything at all. It was as if she were moving farther and farther away, escaping the bustle of reality and fading into empty space. Her body was still on the floor of her room but she wasn't, her mind wasn't. She was fading into the shadows becoming part of the emptiness that was the dark. She couldn't cry anymore, couldn't touch, and couldn't feel. She was broken, she was done. Aragorn betrayed her, her love was finished, and she knew it. He was gone . . . forever and she was left with nothing but darkness, because for Arwen, the flame had died.
* * * * *
A/N: I am so so sorry that I took so long to post chapter seven but I have a good excuse. My uncle offered me a job at his company and of course being the money hungry person that I am I took it. Let me tell you the pay is great but enough about that. I hope you all enjoyed chapter seven, I know it's a little depressing but hey that's what angst is all about and I want to tell you now that it's only going to get worse for them before it gets better. School for me starts on August 25 and I still haven't finished the summer reading that was assigned (my school even gives homework during the summer) which means that it will be a while before I post chapter eight but I promise you all that I will have chapter eight up by the beginning of September. I know it's a long time and I apologize *author hits himself repeatedly with assigned book* but I hope that you all will continue reading and enjoying my story. I love you all and I want to take this time to thank all of you who reviewed.
Ps. Please review and recommend this story to your friends. Have you all noticed how much I love reviews? I'm addicted to them.
