And- just to get this out of the way {See chapter four of 'The Perfect Maiden' for full story} my names are Elvish- really! They are… Some are Quenya and some are Sindarin but if you've come to… 'w'-itch about how my names aren't Elvish, then please save your {precious} breath (so to speak). Onto the chapter:
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"Elrohir, have you seen my-" I look up and see Elrohir holding a pair of leather boots, "Thank you." I snatch the boots from his hand and proceed to lace them up.
"Where are you taking me?" he asks, groaning. I just smile and laugh.
"I don't know… I just thought that today would be a lovely day to do something with my best friend," I reply, grinning almost madly.
"Yes, yes, I know, I know," he says, groaning slightly. I squeal a little and we go for a long walk and talk about everything we have missed out on the past century.
We return back to my home and he sits on my bed, "That was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be."
I give him a half-glare, half-grin, "Of course, because surely spending time with your best friend is a worser fate than… Oh, I'm not sure, than being burned alive by the Dark Lord himself!"
He glares at me, "Come now…"
"Oh, you know I am simply joking- a joke!" I scowl a little and sit down next to him, "Furthermore, it's not that you even," I pause, trying to find the words, "It's not like you even wanted to go at first."
"I am sorry," he sighs, putting his arm around me, "I am just feeling so…"
"Alone," I suggest, giving him a questioning look. He smiles weakly and nods meekly. "I know," I murmur softly into his ear. I tilt my head to the side and place it on his shoulder, breathing deeply.
"I do not know what I would do without you." I smile up at him.
I let out a little breath through my nose, "Die, I suppose."
He stops and looks down at me, "You've changed." I move away from him defensively.
"No… what are you talking about?" I ask him slowly.
He looks at me differently, "You've become… darker."
"Perhaps."
He stares at me, his grey eyes starting to darken, like the sky during a storm, "You have changed. Why?" I did not answer. "I know why," he says in a voice quite unlike his own, "I know why," he repeats.
"Well," I start, "Do you think you could tell me why- because I know that you know."
"It's because of him, isn't it?"
"Who?" I ask, starting to get confused. I move further away from him.
"You love him, don't you? You've become so different. You are not the carefree maiden I knew long ago."
"Of course. I can not stay the same way forever," I reply, hoping for it to be casual.
"I know, I know… I just… miss it."
.
I don't understand it. Love is such a powerful thing. If it weren't for love, Arwen would still be here today. But…
Two sides of my mind argue endlessly with each other.
Without love, would you want to live?
This makes it final. I don't want to believe she is really gone… but she is. I smooth the wrinkled black skirt of my dark evening gown.
There are so many tears. It is quite a strange sight- a sea of black with pale Elven heads adorned with dark headdresses. I can barely see the wisps of golden and dark hair in the crowd- much less the flicker of jeweled colored eyes.
I am standing in the front of the crowd toward one side with Calwaiel, Elrohir, Elladan, Lord Elrond, Lady Celebrían, Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel, and several other members of Arwen's family. On the opposite side stands Master Gimli; Mithrandir; Masters Samwise and Frodo, of who were starting to age quite significantly; and an Elf with long blonde hair and strikingly pale blue eyes- all that was left of the Fellowship.
I know that Lord Elrond is saying something important, but I can not bear to listen- perhaps, I just do not want to. It was so sudden- her death. I wonder if it was painful. I look over at the beautiful casket- empty. If it was bitter to have Arwen die, it is even more so to not be able to say goodbye properly. Perhaps I am being selfish.
"Lady Canyaiel," I look up and notice that Lord Elrond has been looking at me for quite some time.
I swallow the lump that has built up in my throat and let a tear fall, "Yes, Lord Elrond?" He motions to the gold Elanor flower in my hand- and I do not mean the color, I mean the metal. I place it slowly on top of the burgundy velvet in the empty casket, where her arms would be if she were here.
Lord Elrond proceeds to call Calwaiel and the other Elf of which Arwen is not related, and they each place another Elanor in her casket. He calls the remnants of the Fellowship and they each place a Niphredil flower into the beautiful casket made of wood from the mellryn tree.
I knew she was going to… die, but I can not help but think… just a few more years. The heavy lid is placed on the casket and I take a moment to look at it. The cover is carved in intricate designs and colored with gems of every sort. I notice that it is the same design that was hanging in the palace of Imladris.
I let myself cry freely as the casket was gently lowered into the ground by several elves. I felt someone place their arms, covered in black fabric, around me, but I did not pull away.
"It is all right to cry." I look over to see Elves of all sorts through the blur in my eyes. I can barely see Elrohir and Elladan, crying. I instantly pull away from the… person comforting me and look up as I wipe my eyes.
"You're not crying," I reply, still staring up at him. It is the first time I have seen him in at least a century. His long golden hair flies about, and I notice that he has not braided it. His skin is light… more so than usual; yet, his eyes are still pale blue- crystals with just a hint of color.
He looks down at me and does not say anything, but I think that I can see the hint of a tear in his eyes and the slightest trace of emotion written on his stony face.
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How did you guys like that? I'm not too sure whether or not I like it... you tell me.
REVIEW for the next chapter!
Sorry it's so short and sorry that it took so long to come out! ='(
