A/N: It still ain't mine. Don't sue. I own nothing.
The Truth
Time passed in the House of Elrond as it always had. Anorwing had tried several more times to defeat Lord Elrond and had as before been defeated. But something had happened in Imladris. Something that Anorwing could feel yet did not know. As of late Estel had left for the Wild. But not before acting increasingly odd. He had seemed to become proud, yet humble all at once. And everyone now seemed to be keeping something from Anorwing. Anorwing had confronted Estel about it, but to no avail.
"You act as one who is love struck one moment and you then seem as one who has learned that he is more then he seems. What is going on Estel?"
"When Lord Elrond sees it fit for you to know, he will tell you. Until then you must be content."
And with that he had walked off to join Lord Elrond's daughter Arwen leaving Anorwing fuming.
"Now even Estel thinks I'm a child," Anorwing had thought bitterly. "Fine. But one day I'll be great and they will regret their treatment of me."
Now Estel was gone off to do great deeds of his own and Anorwing was alone. She had spent most of her time trying to be a better warrior, but it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, no one noticed. On this particular day, Anorwing was not fighting, but seeking wisdom in the Hall of Fire. She had searched through ancient records about the kings of Gondor and Arnor. About the Last Alliance and what little there was of Isildur's Heir. But for all the knowledge those tomes held, she found nothing to help her in her plight. Anorwing shut another book and sighed.
"What's the point Anorwing? You're a girl and that alone has cut off every possibility to be noticed." As she spoke, her feet led her to the shrine that held the Shards of Narsil. Anorwing looked at it while, recalling all she knew of it. It had cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. It was once Elendil's sword. Only Isildur's Heir could wield it.
"It is a shame that such a great sword has no master," Anorwing spoke to the shards.
Without her completely realizing it, she gently picked up the handle of the sword and held it for a moment.
"What are you doing Anorwing?" she asked herself silently. "You shouldn't hold such a great heirloom. It is beyond you." But now another voice spoke in her mind. "It is only a sword and I am only holding it, not using it for anything else." Now the former voice spoke again, "That may be so, but it still may harm you. Only Isildur's Heir may use this sword. Just as only Isildur's Heir may wear the Ring of Barahir." This last thought came unexpected to Anorwing. She replaced Narsil on in its shrine and looked for a moment. Where was the Ring of Barahir? Had it not always lay next to the Shards of Narsil? But as she looked the Ring of Barahir was nowhere to be seen. Someone had stolen it! Anorwing started to panic. This could not be. Only Isildur's Heir could wear that ring and that Heir would probably never come. But for someone to steal it was even more unthinkable. Where was it? But then something happened in Anorwing's mind. Events began to link themselves together. The day she saw Lord Elrond and Estel speaking to one another. When she saw her mother and Estel speaking in hushed whispers. Estel's bizarre behavior and his leaving for the Wild. Could this mean...No it was absurd, yet it seemed to explain much. No it could not be true because that would mean that she...
"Ignore it Anorwing, it is nothing but some wild fancy," she chastised herself. "Like the time you were convinced that Elrohir was a vampire. He's no more a vampire than Estel is Isildur's Heir."
And yet another thought came to Anorwing. The day Estel had left Imladris. Anorwing thought hard of that day. Something about it pestered her. Estel had been dressed as any Dunedain and rightly so since that was their race. But he had been wearing something else. Something that Anorwing had thought odd. She ran the memory of that day over and over in her head. Until like a bolt of lighting, it hit her. Estel had been wearing a ring! Anorwing had thought it odd, because rings got in the way when fighting.
"Anorwing you're mad. You're jumping to insane conclusions." That other voice in her mind now returned. "And yet it makes so much sense. Do you know of any other widows or orphans Lord Elrond has brought to live in his home? Do you even know who the Chieftain of your people is right now? The last one was Arathorn, but who is it now? What do you even know of your true father? You have to have the truth Anorwing, or these questions will drive you mad."
"Yes, but you could just be playing some fool's game. Your imagination has often run away with you," that other voice replied.
Anorwing stood before the shrine for a while longer pondering what to do. But then she hardened and gently brushed the handle of Narsil.
"Elbereth, give me strength," Anorwing whispered before going to find Lord Elrond.
When she found him, he was speaking to his daughter in a hushed voice. Their conversation ended as Anorwing entered the room. Arwen gave a nod to her father before departing. Elrond seemed to be troubled by something, but quickly hid it as he turned to Anorwing.
"Hello Anorwing. Is there something I can do for you?"
Anorwing nodded. "Yes. You can tell me what's been going on around here."
Elrond sighed. "You are still young Anorwing and not fully come to womanhood. When that happens I will tell you what you wish to know." Elrond began to walk away, but Anorwing spoke again.
"And what if I told you that I know what's going on? What if I told you that I know..." her voice trailed off for she still doubted herself.
Elrond turned and looked upon the lady whom he loved as a daughter and he perceived that she knew or at least had guessed the truth.
"Your questions will pester you until they receive answers. But whether or not you are ready for those answers is the true question. Do you believe that you are ready Anorwing?"
Anorwing did not wait a moment to reply, "Yes. I know I am ready."
Elrond's face was solemn. "Very well. Come with me." Elrond led Anorwing back to the Hall of Fire. They stood before the shrine of Narsil before speaking again.
"Tell me Anorwing, what do you know of your true father?"
"I expected answers, not more questions," Anorwing snapped. She was becoming increasingly frustrated.
"To receive your answers you must answer some questions. I repeat my question. What do you know about your true father?"
Anorwing paused for a moment thinking of this question that she had never even thought of before. She answered slowly.
"I know that he died before I was born and that he did not even know I was to be born. I know that he died by an orc arrow. And I know that my mother loved him very much."
"But do you know his name? Do you know his lineage?"
Anorwing shook her head. She had never bothered to ask more than she was told of him for it gave her mother great grief to speak of him.
"His name was Arathorn son of Arador."
Anorwing gasped. Arathorn was the last Chieftain of the Dunedain. The last Heir of Isildur. No not the last for Estel lived. Anorwing sat on a bench. Her superstition had been true.
"Are you surprised?" Elrond asked. "You should not be. You are too intelligent for your own good and were able to piece the puzzle together. Now allow me to fill in the pieces you do not have."
With that, Lord Elrond began his tale. "Your mother brought your brother here to protect him. His identity was hidden and the name Estel was given to him. For he is hope. When you were born it was as a spray of sun had pierced a stormy sky and there was even greater hope. To you the name Anorwing was given. You have been even more closely guarded for if anything were happen to Estel you would become Isildur's Heir. As of late Estel has grown into manhood and I perceived that he was ready to know who he is. I revealed to him his true name and gave to him the Ring of Barahir. As for the Shards of Narsil, he refused to take them. Now you know Arathia."
Anorwing looked at Elrond. "Is that my real name?"
Elrond nodded. "Anorwing is truly Arathia as Estel is truly Aragorn."
"So that is why my brother has been so odd as of late. But that still does not explain his leaving for the Wild or his love struck behavior. Has some fair maid captured his heart?"
Elrond did not answer immediately. "Alas yes. His aim is high for he loves one of your elf kin. That is also why he has departed for the Wild."
Elrond said no more. He did not need to. Anorwing knew whom Estel loved.
Anorwing rose. "Thank you Lord Elrond. If you will permit me, I would like some time to think over what you have told me."
Elrond nodded as Anorwing left to wander Rivendell thinking over what she now knew.
TBC...
The Truth
Time passed in the House of Elrond as it always had. Anorwing had tried several more times to defeat Lord Elrond and had as before been defeated. But something had happened in Imladris. Something that Anorwing could feel yet did not know. As of late Estel had left for the Wild. But not before acting increasingly odd. He had seemed to become proud, yet humble all at once. And everyone now seemed to be keeping something from Anorwing. Anorwing had confronted Estel about it, but to no avail.
"You act as one who is love struck one moment and you then seem as one who has learned that he is more then he seems. What is going on Estel?"
"When Lord Elrond sees it fit for you to know, he will tell you. Until then you must be content."
And with that he had walked off to join Lord Elrond's daughter Arwen leaving Anorwing fuming.
"Now even Estel thinks I'm a child," Anorwing had thought bitterly. "Fine. But one day I'll be great and they will regret their treatment of me."
Now Estel was gone off to do great deeds of his own and Anorwing was alone. She had spent most of her time trying to be a better warrior, but it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, no one noticed. On this particular day, Anorwing was not fighting, but seeking wisdom in the Hall of Fire. She had searched through ancient records about the kings of Gondor and Arnor. About the Last Alliance and what little there was of Isildur's Heir. But for all the knowledge those tomes held, she found nothing to help her in her plight. Anorwing shut another book and sighed.
"What's the point Anorwing? You're a girl and that alone has cut off every possibility to be noticed." As she spoke, her feet led her to the shrine that held the Shards of Narsil. Anorwing looked at it while, recalling all she knew of it. It had cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. It was once Elendil's sword. Only Isildur's Heir could wield it.
"It is a shame that such a great sword has no master," Anorwing spoke to the shards.
Without her completely realizing it, she gently picked up the handle of the sword and held it for a moment.
"What are you doing Anorwing?" she asked herself silently. "You shouldn't hold such a great heirloom. It is beyond you." But now another voice spoke in her mind. "It is only a sword and I am only holding it, not using it for anything else." Now the former voice spoke again, "That may be so, but it still may harm you. Only Isildur's Heir may use this sword. Just as only Isildur's Heir may wear the Ring of Barahir." This last thought came unexpected to Anorwing. She replaced Narsil on in its shrine and looked for a moment. Where was the Ring of Barahir? Had it not always lay next to the Shards of Narsil? But as she looked the Ring of Barahir was nowhere to be seen. Someone had stolen it! Anorwing started to panic. This could not be. Only Isildur's Heir could wear that ring and that Heir would probably never come. But for someone to steal it was even more unthinkable. Where was it? But then something happened in Anorwing's mind. Events began to link themselves together. The day she saw Lord Elrond and Estel speaking to one another. When she saw her mother and Estel speaking in hushed whispers. Estel's bizarre behavior and his leaving for the Wild. Could this mean...No it was absurd, yet it seemed to explain much. No it could not be true because that would mean that she...
"Ignore it Anorwing, it is nothing but some wild fancy," she chastised herself. "Like the time you were convinced that Elrohir was a vampire. He's no more a vampire than Estel is Isildur's Heir."
And yet another thought came to Anorwing. The day Estel had left Imladris. Anorwing thought hard of that day. Something about it pestered her. Estel had been dressed as any Dunedain and rightly so since that was their race. But he had been wearing something else. Something that Anorwing had thought odd. She ran the memory of that day over and over in her head. Until like a bolt of lighting, it hit her. Estel had been wearing a ring! Anorwing had thought it odd, because rings got in the way when fighting.
"Anorwing you're mad. You're jumping to insane conclusions." That other voice in her mind now returned. "And yet it makes so much sense. Do you know of any other widows or orphans Lord Elrond has brought to live in his home? Do you even know who the Chieftain of your people is right now? The last one was Arathorn, but who is it now? What do you even know of your true father? You have to have the truth Anorwing, or these questions will drive you mad."
"Yes, but you could just be playing some fool's game. Your imagination has often run away with you," that other voice replied.
Anorwing stood before the shrine for a while longer pondering what to do. But then she hardened and gently brushed the handle of Narsil.
"Elbereth, give me strength," Anorwing whispered before going to find Lord Elrond.
When she found him, he was speaking to his daughter in a hushed voice. Their conversation ended as Anorwing entered the room. Arwen gave a nod to her father before departing. Elrond seemed to be troubled by something, but quickly hid it as he turned to Anorwing.
"Hello Anorwing. Is there something I can do for you?"
Anorwing nodded. "Yes. You can tell me what's been going on around here."
Elrond sighed. "You are still young Anorwing and not fully come to womanhood. When that happens I will tell you what you wish to know." Elrond began to walk away, but Anorwing spoke again.
"And what if I told you that I know what's going on? What if I told you that I know..." her voice trailed off for she still doubted herself.
Elrond turned and looked upon the lady whom he loved as a daughter and he perceived that she knew or at least had guessed the truth.
"Your questions will pester you until they receive answers. But whether or not you are ready for those answers is the true question. Do you believe that you are ready Anorwing?"
Anorwing did not wait a moment to reply, "Yes. I know I am ready."
Elrond's face was solemn. "Very well. Come with me." Elrond led Anorwing back to the Hall of Fire. They stood before the shrine of Narsil before speaking again.
"Tell me Anorwing, what do you know of your true father?"
"I expected answers, not more questions," Anorwing snapped. She was becoming increasingly frustrated.
"To receive your answers you must answer some questions. I repeat my question. What do you know about your true father?"
Anorwing paused for a moment thinking of this question that she had never even thought of before. She answered slowly.
"I know that he died before I was born and that he did not even know I was to be born. I know that he died by an orc arrow. And I know that my mother loved him very much."
"But do you know his name? Do you know his lineage?"
Anorwing shook her head. She had never bothered to ask more than she was told of him for it gave her mother great grief to speak of him.
"His name was Arathorn son of Arador."
Anorwing gasped. Arathorn was the last Chieftain of the Dunedain. The last Heir of Isildur. No not the last for Estel lived. Anorwing sat on a bench. Her superstition had been true.
"Are you surprised?" Elrond asked. "You should not be. You are too intelligent for your own good and were able to piece the puzzle together. Now allow me to fill in the pieces you do not have."
With that, Lord Elrond began his tale. "Your mother brought your brother here to protect him. His identity was hidden and the name Estel was given to him. For he is hope. When you were born it was as a spray of sun had pierced a stormy sky and there was even greater hope. To you the name Anorwing was given. You have been even more closely guarded for if anything were happen to Estel you would become Isildur's Heir. As of late Estel has grown into manhood and I perceived that he was ready to know who he is. I revealed to him his true name and gave to him the Ring of Barahir. As for the Shards of Narsil, he refused to take them. Now you know Arathia."
Anorwing looked at Elrond. "Is that my real name?"
Elrond nodded. "Anorwing is truly Arathia as Estel is truly Aragorn."
"So that is why my brother has been so odd as of late. But that still does not explain his leaving for the Wild or his love struck behavior. Has some fair maid captured his heart?"
Elrond did not answer immediately. "Alas yes. His aim is high for he loves one of your elf kin. That is also why he has departed for the Wild."
Elrond said no more. He did not need to. Anorwing knew whom Estel loved.
Anorwing rose. "Thank you Lord Elrond. If you will permit me, I would like some time to think over what you have told me."
Elrond nodded as Anorwing left to wander Rivendell thinking over what she now knew.
TBC...