Arwen stood rooted to the spot, watching as the one she loved departed. She
struggled to restrain the tears which threatened to burst from the depths
of her being. Aragorn paused at the doorway and she watched as he dipped
his head to her in a sign of respect. Arwen fought herself as she numbly
did the same, the words he had spoken to her earlier pounding in his mind,
crushing her.
"It was a dream, Arwen, nothing more."
She stifled a sob and gazed pleadingly at Aragorn until at last he turned and left, leaving her to go out into a world full of peril. Arwen felt a warm hand on her shoulder and she turned to face her father, Elrond Peredhil, Lord of Imladris. He stared into her eyes and knew what passed through her mind, brows furrowing in pity. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it as no words came out. Elrond stooped and kissed her forehead lightly, embracing his only daughter lovingly. She listened as he exhaled a deep sigh of relief. Elrond closed his eyes, a sad smile crossing his face. His cares were relieved, not by much, but by some amount as the fellowship of the ring departed from his house. The dread of the One Ring still hung in the air, but the overwhelming presence had departed.
And Aragorn.
Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, heir of the kings of Men, had left the safety of the elven refuge to go to war for his kingdom. Elrond's eyes had watched that morning, keen interest shining in them as Aragorn had attempted to return the gift of the Evenstar, but had been refused. What his eyes did not see his heart read in his daughters face, He winced as he thought of the sadness he saw etched upon it, her eyes were dark and deep, filled with unshed tears. He had not seen her this despairing since the departure of her mother, his beloved Celebrian, many years before.
Arwen stirred in his arms and moved away from him, staring up at him with eyes filled with cold starlight. She broke from his embrace and left, gliding across the courtyard until she vanished from his sight. Elrond sighed and turned to walk back into his house.
Time would heal her wounds.
Arwen slipped through the halls of Imladris, finding her way to her chambers. She had wandered in the gardens for many long hours, numbly drifting from reality. No tears were left to cry, her eyes were dry now, though long had she wept silently in a forlorn corner. She came to the end of the hall and laid her hand on the ornate handle, fingering it a moment before opening the door and slipping inside. Candles had been lit and they sent a warm glow around the room, rich fabrics shining faintly.
She made her way to her bed, lying down and staring absentmindedly out the window, fingering the sill. Time fell through her hands, grains of sand so fine she could not catch them. She hardly ate or drank, and did not sleep nor rise, watching as the sun rose and fell, once, twice. Her thoughts drifted far from the peaceful valley she felt trapped within, searching far- off lands. Few understood the melancholy state of the Undomiel, their Evenstar, indeed none save Elrond knew in full.
At last there came a knock on her door. Arwen did not move, nor rise to answer it, merely laid still until it clicked open, sighing as she felt her brothers, Elrohir and Elladan, enter the room. She shifted and sat up slowly, looking at them with calm eyes, sorrowful and deep as the oceans, filled with the knowledge and sorrow of many days and much loss. She did not say a word, and Elrohir exchanged a questioning glance with his brother before turning to his sister and speaking.
"Father bids us send you word that the first of our people prepare to leave for the Havens." Arwen listened with still cold, still eyes, her face unreadable, letting the words drift through her mind. "Do you wish to depart with them or linger here for a time?"
She could only whisper under her breath, "a time. a breath, a year, a life. eternity."
"Sister, are you well?" Elladan asked, sitting beside her, "Three days have you lain in sloth, hardly stirring from you bed, and the birds sing mournfully that the Evenstar does not shine among her people."
"My people." Arwen murmured, reaching to finger the tiara that lay upon her windowsill, musing as she toyed with it, "The light of the Evenstar does not wax or wane."
Elrohir joined them on the bed, sitting on her other side and hugging her, "no, it does not. It is unfailing, immortal."
"Immortal." she said the word to herself, "but if Hope is taken from it, how may it shine?"
The twins exchanged a knowing glance, realization dawning upon them both. Elladan looked down at Arwen and sighed, "Estel."
She cocked her head and shot him a glance, "what did you say?"
"It is Estel, is it not?" he stated, looking at her with sorrowful grey eyes as understanding filled him, "What has happened, Undomiel?"
Silence filled them room as Arwen looked into her brother's eyes, tears forming in her own once more. She struggled to speak, wishing to grieve in silence and yet wishing to confide in someone of her torment. Seeing their expectant looks she bowed her head and spoke, "I love him, brother," she whispered, the words drifting in the silent room like some haunting echo, "I love him."
The twins were stunned, and Elrohir could not stop the words which fell from his lips, "And doom came on Tinuviel that in his arms lay glistening." He immediately glanced over at his little sister, feeling ashamed, and fearful of her reaction. She turned and looked at him, but he saw that she knew.
She knew the bitter price she would pay if ever she joined hands to marry the one she loved. She must accept the sorrowful parting with all those whom she loved, to never see her mother again. She, Undomiel of her people, beloved daughter of the Eldar, would taste the bitterness of the mortality she would bring upon herself and the Sea between herself and all those she held dear would be too wide to ever cross. They would be sundered forever.
She looked at them, knowing what passed through their minds, "It matters not, for he does not accept my love. He would not have me give up my immortality as did Luthien. He has heard the songs and tales of this house, and knows full well the elven grief of the loss of Tinuviel, which shall never find an end. He would have me depart to Valinor, and there dwell in peace until the ending of the world, though his own heart breaks that he cannot be with me."
The twins fell silent a moment before Elrohir spoke, "Will you leave then, as Aragorn desires?"
"I will remain here in Imladris, for a time." she bowed her head and turned to face the window once more. It was raining, dark clouds swirled high above and the drops they sent crashing to earth tacked rhythmically on her pane. The storm of her heart raged so much fiercer. Elladan stood, followed by Elrohir, and walked to the door, reluctant to leave their grieving sister and yet unsure of what to say to ease her pain.
Elladan stepped outside her chamber, but Elrohir paused in the doorway, "You will find the strength to shine, Arwen."
Arwen nodded slowly and he left. As the door clicked shut after him she leaned against the window, pressing her forehead to its cold surface.
"Haer o auth a nir a naeth." *
She ran her fingers along the glass, tracing the streaks made by the never ending rain, "Ah Aragorn. you do not understand; my heart is filled with grief and despair only when I have no Hope. And a war rages within me now that I cannot dispel and I find no peace. No peace or hope without you."
She lay down, closing her eyes and whispering, "Estel nin," * before she slipped at last into the realm of dreams.
"Estel."
Translations:
Title: trust in this, our love Estel: Hope Imladris: Rivendell Undomiel: Evenstar
* Away from war and grief and despair (Aragorn's word's to Arwen when he attempts to return the Evenstar) * My hope
Notes:
The stars are especially beloved by the elves and Evenstar is the title given to the brightest. Thus, as Arwen was the fairest that walked the earth, she was given the title "Evenstar" or Undomiel, in her native tongue
Elladan and Elrohir are Arwen's older brothers. They have dark hair and grey eyes, and are identical twins.
Arwen is called Evenstar (Undomiel, in Elvish) and is descended from Beren and Luthien. Luthien was an elf, the fairest that ever walked the earth, and she gave up her immortality to wed Beren, a Man, and so it was that the elven kind lost her that they most loved.
Peredhil means Half-Elven. Elrond is the son of Elwing and Earendil, both of whom were half elf/ half mortal which chose to live as immortals. Elrond and his brother Elros were given the chance to live as men or elves; Elrond chose to live as an immortal, while Elros chose to live as a Man and died.
Estel was the name given to Aragorn when he dwelt in Rivendell, where his mother left him after his father was slain when the heir of the kings was still young. Estel, meaning "Hope" was raised as a foster son to Elrond, though did not meet Arwen until he was twenty, on account of the fact that she dwelt in Lothlorien for long periods of time, where her grandmother Galadriel dwelt.
Celebrian, the wife of Elrond and daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn of Lothlorien, departed over a thousand years previously. She had left after suffering for nearly a year since she was attacked by orcs traveling from Lothlorien to Rivendell.
"It was a dream, Arwen, nothing more."
She stifled a sob and gazed pleadingly at Aragorn until at last he turned and left, leaving her to go out into a world full of peril. Arwen felt a warm hand on her shoulder and she turned to face her father, Elrond Peredhil, Lord of Imladris. He stared into her eyes and knew what passed through her mind, brows furrowing in pity. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it as no words came out. Elrond stooped and kissed her forehead lightly, embracing his only daughter lovingly. She listened as he exhaled a deep sigh of relief. Elrond closed his eyes, a sad smile crossing his face. His cares were relieved, not by much, but by some amount as the fellowship of the ring departed from his house. The dread of the One Ring still hung in the air, but the overwhelming presence had departed.
And Aragorn.
Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, heir of the kings of Men, had left the safety of the elven refuge to go to war for his kingdom. Elrond's eyes had watched that morning, keen interest shining in them as Aragorn had attempted to return the gift of the Evenstar, but had been refused. What his eyes did not see his heart read in his daughters face, He winced as he thought of the sadness he saw etched upon it, her eyes were dark and deep, filled with unshed tears. He had not seen her this despairing since the departure of her mother, his beloved Celebrian, many years before.
Arwen stirred in his arms and moved away from him, staring up at him with eyes filled with cold starlight. She broke from his embrace and left, gliding across the courtyard until she vanished from his sight. Elrond sighed and turned to walk back into his house.
Time would heal her wounds.
Arwen slipped through the halls of Imladris, finding her way to her chambers. She had wandered in the gardens for many long hours, numbly drifting from reality. No tears were left to cry, her eyes were dry now, though long had she wept silently in a forlorn corner. She came to the end of the hall and laid her hand on the ornate handle, fingering it a moment before opening the door and slipping inside. Candles had been lit and they sent a warm glow around the room, rich fabrics shining faintly.
She made her way to her bed, lying down and staring absentmindedly out the window, fingering the sill. Time fell through her hands, grains of sand so fine she could not catch them. She hardly ate or drank, and did not sleep nor rise, watching as the sun rose and fell, once, twice. Her thoughts drifted far from the peaceful valley she felt trapped within, searching far- off lands. Few understood the melancholy state of the Undomiel, their Evenstar, indeed none save Elrond knew in full.
At last there came a knock on her door. Arwen did not move, nor rise to answer it, merely laid still until it clicked open, sighing as she felt her brothers, Elrohir and Elladan, enter the room. She shifted and sat up slowly, looking at them with calm eyes, sorrowful and deep as the oceans, filled with the knowledge and sorrow of many days and much loss. She did not say a word, and Elrohir exchanged a questioning glance with his brother before turning to his sister and speaking.
"Father bids us send you word that the first of our people prepare to leave for the Havens." Arwen listened with still cold, still eyes, her face unreadable, letting the words drift through her mind. "Do you wish to depart with them or linger here for a time?"
She could only whisper under her breath, "a time. a breath, a year, a life. eternity."
"Sister, are you well?" Elladan asked, sitting beside her, "Three days have you lain in sloth, hardly stirring from you bed, and the birds sing mournfully that the Evenstar does not shine among her people."
"My people." Arwen murmured, reaching to finger the tiara that lay upon her windowsill, musing as she toyed with it, "The light of the Evenstar does not wax or wane."
Elrohir joined them on the bed, sitting on her other side and hugging her, "no, it does not. It is unfailing, immortal."
"Immortal." she said the word to herself, "but if Hope is taken from it, how may it shine?"
The twins exchanged a knowing glance, realization dawning upon them both. Elladan looked down at Arwen and sighed, "Estel."
She cocked her head and shot him a glance, "what did you say?"
"It is Estel, is it not?" he stated, looking at her with sorrowful grey eyes as understanding filled him, "What has happened, Undomiel?"
Silence filled them room as Arwen looked into her brother's eyes, tears forming in her own once more. She struggled to speak, wishing to grieve in silence and yet wishing to confide in someone of her torment. Seeing their expectant looks she bowed her head and spoke, "I love him, brother," she whispered, the words drifting in the silent room like some haunting echo, "I love him."
The twins were stunned, and Elrohir could not stop the words which fell from his lips, "And doom came on Tinuviel that in his arms lay glistening." He immediately glanced over at his little sister, feeling ashamed, and fearful of her reaction. She turned and looked at him, but he saw that she knew.
She knew the bitter price she would pay if ever she joined hands to marry the one she loved. She must accept the sorrowful parting with all those whom she loved, to never see her mother again. She, Undomiel of her people, beloved daughter of the Eldar, would taste the bitterness of the mortality she would bring upon herself and the Sea between herself and all those she held dear would be too wide to ever cross. They would be sundered forever.
She looked at them, knowing what passed through their minds, "It matters not, for he does not accept my love. He would not have me give up my immortality as did Luthien. He has heard the songs and tales of this house, and knows full well the elven grief of the loss of Tinuviel, which shall never find an end. He would have me depart to Valinor, and there dwell in peace until the ending of the world, though his own heart breaks that he cannot be with me."
The twins fell silent a moment before Elrohir spoke, "Will you leave then, as Aragorn desires?"
"I will remain here in Imladris, for a time." she bowed her head and turned to face the window once more. It was raining, dark clouds swirled high above and the drops they sent crashing to earth tacked rhythmically on her pane. The storm of her heart raged so much fiercer. Elladan stood, followed by Elrohir, and walked to the door, reluctant to leave their grieving sister and yet unsure of what to say to ease her pain.
Elladan stepped outside her chamber, but Elrohir paused in the doorway, "You will find the strength to shine, Arwen."
Arwen nodded slowly and he left. As the door clicked shut after him she leaned against the window, pressing her forehead to its cold surface.
"Haer o auth a nir a naeth." *
She ran her fingers along the glass, tracing the streaks made by the never ending rain, "Ah Aragorn. you do not understand; my heart is filled with grief and despair only when I have no Hope. And a war rages within me now that I cannot dispel and I find no peace. No peace or hope without you."
She lay down, closing her eyes and whispering, "Estel nin," * before she slipped at last into the realm of dreams.
"Estel."
Translations:
Title: trust in this, our love Estel: Hope Imladris: Rivendell Undomiel: Evenstar
* Away from war and grief and despair (Aragorn's word's to Arwen when he attempts to return the Evenstar) * My hope
Notes:
The stars are especially beloved by the elves and Evenstar is the title given to the brightest. Thus, as Arwen was the fairest that walked the earth, she was given the title "Evenstar" or Undomiel, in her native tongue
Elladan and Elrohir are Arwen's older brothers. They have dark hair and grey eyes, and are identical twins.
Arwen is called Evenstar (Undomiel, in Elvish) and is descended from Beren and Luthien. Luthien was an elf, the fairest that ever walked the earth, and she gave up her immortality to wed Beren, a Man, and so it was that the elven kind lost her that they most loved.
Peredhil means Half-Elven. Elrond is the son of Elwing and Earendil, both of whom were half elf/ half mortal which chose to live as immortals. Elrond and his brother Elros were given the chance to live as men or elves; Elrond chose to live as an immortal, while Elros chose to live as a Man and died.
Estel was the name given to Aragorn when he dwelt in Rivendell, where his mother left him after his father was slain when the heir of the kings was still young. Estel, meaning "Hope" was raised as a foster son to Elrond, though did not meet Arwen until he was twenty, on account of the fact that she dwelt in Lothlorien for long periods of time, where her grandmother Galadriel dwelt.
Celebrian, the wife of Elrond and daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn of Lothlorien, departed over a thousand years previously. She had left after suffering for nearly a year since she was attacked by orcs traveling from Lothlorien to Rivendell.