Gionareth: Yeah, something has to convince her. *g*
Steph-h: Why? Did I upset you? I'm sorry. That doesn't mean much when I keep doing it, though, does it? *winces* Ah, well, really, really sorry this took so long. Why, thank you. *smiles brightly* Oh, and I think the spelling is fine, but I don't have enough money to do that!
Grumpy: lol. Not yet. Maybe I should bring some kleenex, but I don't think you'll need them much longer, one way or another. *grins* Thanks.
Mirax: lol. Exactly, I'm not mean. Just . . . Misunderstood. *g* Um, hitting Elrond? Can't says I do, but I hope you like what I did come up with.
Eleniel: Ai, you people are breaking my heart, knowing I'm breaking yours and then can't update properly. Did I mention I'm sorry? It was a rather nice declaration, wasn't it. *smiles* The next one will be quicker. Promise.
Daisy: You didn't have to, but I'm glad you did anyway. *g* Do you really think I would leave everybody so miserably unahppy?
Heathethanoshkosh: Interesting name. Where did you come up with it? Hmm, well, if you count this one, I have two more. And killing me won't help you, cause then you'll never find out the end. Besides, I'm not so mean as to stop there. I care to muc for everyone's continued health. *g*
Taraisilwen: lol. You're right, I've never heard it before. I know, isn't it just the best? I was writing, and I thought to myself, what is the most romantic thing he could do? No I didn't. I just sat down and reached a really sad, miserable mind-frame and let pictures flow through my mind and wrote what I saw. Can you believe Aragorn and Arwen are putting themselves through this? Why they don't want to just make up and get it overwith is beyond me. *g* hehe. She is the eldest. It comes with the territory. Lol. I'd say you've got storm on the brain. Highly contagious. You should seek medical care. *g*
Now, here it is, what you've all been waiting for. *g* This title is also Backstreet Boys, for disclaimer purposes, or if you really want to know. Feel free to leave comments and ideas for later chapters. I'm open to suggestions, if for no other reason than they help me focus on my own ideas, odd as that sounds. I lost my thread of inspiration after the next chapter, and I don't know where to go from there. Maybe by the time I need to post, I'll have found it again. *g*
So, now, onto the chapter. Read. Have fun. Enjoy. Review. (Don't forget this last. It's of vital importance. *winks*) Run, Elrond! Run! Lol.
=D
Back to Your Heart
Elladan stared after his father, watching as the elf lord disappeared among the trees, following the path Arwen had taken. His heart ached for his sister, but he knew of only one thing that would ease her pain, and she had already denied it. His troubled eyes instead turned to Aragorn, and he slowly made his way to where the man lay curled on the ground. Slowly, he eased himself down at his side and rested his hand on Aragorn's shoulder.
He gained no response and it was not difficult to tell more than on heart had been hurt this day. He hoped it could be made right. With gentle yet firm hands, he gripped Aragorn by the shoulders and pulled him upright, bearing the man's weight when it became apparent he had no will to bear it on his own. He moved the human back and braced him against a tree so he could get a better look at him.
Aragorn's hair was a tangled mess that would give any hairdresser fits and mixed with dirt for good measure. His clothes would probably never come clean and would need to be discarded, though if Aragorn actually liked them he would find some way to keep them (he had taken to complaining his clothes were too clean, but Elladan felt he meant "too new" and just did not want to say it). His face was a somewhat ashy gray and his cheeks hollow, making his face look gaunter than it really was, but it was his eyes that drew Elladan's attention; listless and empty, deep holes that sucked up all emotion and drained it away. His heart clenched afresh. He had never seen this look on his little brother before, but that did not mean he did not recognize it, for he did. He had seen it in too many eyes to miss it in a loved one.
Tenderly, he pushed back a lock of hair from the human's face and ducked his head to try and catch silver-turned-gray eyes. "Do not give up hope, Estel."
Those emotionless eyes turned on him slowly, sticking him to his place as their master confirmed what he feared: Aragorn had given up. "There is no hope."
"There is still hope," Elladan insisted. Aragorn shook his head, and the elf stopped him, placing his hands on both sides of the human's head and forcing him to meet his eyes. "Yes, Aragorn. There is. It remains, and you cannot give up on it now, not after coming so far."
"Why can I not?" Aragorn asked brokenly, and he would have had to be someone far colder not to hear the lost child in the man's voice.
"Because it is not who you are," the elf insisted, staring insistently back at dull silver eyes that watched him steadily, willing his brother to understand and accept his words. "You have never quit, Aragorn. You have never lost hope. Through impossible odds you have held out and won; do not give in now!"
He paused searching the human's face for his reaction. Silver eyes stared at him and he allowed himself to hope Aragorn would heed him. Then the man spoke and he remembered how painful hope was when it died. "It is over. There is nothing left to hope for."
Elrohir arrived, then, bearing food, and Aragorn look away. "Come now, brother," the younger elf bid. "All is not over. She has not crossed the sea and you need to eat."
"Ada will talk to her and then we will see what happens."
Aragorn turned back to look at them and anger darkened his eyes. "I will not be a charity case."
"Nor will Arwen accept one," Elladan answered without missing a beat, ignoring the human's anger. "And Ada does not think you are one. Arwen just is not thinking clearly, overwhelmed by all that has happened," or at least he hoped so, "and Ada will help her calm down. Then we'll see what happens."
"And until then, you need to eat."
Aragorn glanced at Elrohir. "I'm not hungry."
"You don't feel hungry," the younger elf corrected, "but you are hungry."
"I could not eat," the human denied, turning his head away.
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged frustrated glances, though he did note they had made progress, albeit very little progress, but any little bit helped and the twins knew their brother well enough to know they could win this one if they only played it right. Both settled down into a more comfortable position and settled in to wear the human down.
*~*~*~*~*
Elrond ran through the trees, half following nearly invisible tracks, half following his instincts, as he sought his daughter. She sought solitude, he knew, but he could not afford to give it to her. He had allowed it once, he would not allow it again.
Several miles south of their camp, at the edge of a small pond surrounded by open plains, he found her staring at the water, her back to him. Having finally caught up, he slowed his pace and approached more cautiously, not entirely sure how she would react to his presence. Yet despite his fears, she did not move, and he stood but a few feet before her before long. "Arwen?" he called softly.
She turned to face him, blue eyes full of tears that did not fall. "Ada," she sobbed, falling into his embrace and clinging to him as she had not since she was a child in search of comfort, and he held her close.
"What is it, my child?" he asked, hoping she would speak.
His heart broke for the hundredth time since this mess began when he heard her hoarse sobs. "It hurts," she choked out quietly.
He rubbed his hand over her back and resisted the urge to forget everything and simply comfort her, choosing instead to get answers. "If it hurts, why did you do it?"
The she-elf in his arms abruptly pushed away, quickly stepping backwards even as he fell back a pace, startled betrayal in her eyes. "Why?" she asked incredulously. "You know exactly why." Her lips trembled as tears threatened in the midst of her anger. "You saw. You saw from the beginning. Why did you let it go on, Ada? Why didn't you save me this pain?"
Elrond had to close his eyes and fight to maintain control. Perhaps he should have had this discussion with her before they even left, but he had not thought they would need to have it at all. He approached her slowly, trying to catch her eyes. "Because I was wrong."
She shook her head. "No, you were right."
"Arwen." She looked up. "Do not be ruled by fear. Do not surrender your heart's desire to a future that is yet years removed."
Again she shook her head, denying his words even as she backed away. "It is folly to love a Man. Their devotions are flighty and their memories short."
He nearly hissed in vexation as he heard the familiar words of this argument repeated back to him, though they had stood on opposite sides, and regretted that she had been listening after all. "You held Aragorn truer than that," he countered. "Would you deny that now?"
"There is no need to deny the truth, for it reveals itself in actions."
"And has he not proven his love? Has he not shown you that his heart stands true?" Elrond asked.
More tears welled in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, Ada? Why are you doing this?"
"Because I want you to be happy."
"Do I look happy?" she screamed as the tears finally escaped, and she stepped forward in agitation like she was going to walk him back, then rocked back and started wringing her hands together. "Do I look happy? Why must you torment me? You got your wish! Aragorn and I shall not marry! Your job is done! You wanted us to part, wanted me to cross the sea! You have it. Was my pain not enough then? You needed more?" Her anguished voice sliced the air with words as sharp as knives. She trembled harshly and he feared she would break, and her heart sank into a despairing whisper. "What more do you want? Why must you do this?"
Delicate hands drifted up to her face and drifted back into her hair, tangling them in it, as she sank to the ground. She rocked back and forth with her eyes squeezed tightly shut as though she could deny the pain with the simple actions. Sorrow overwhelmed the elf lord and he wondered how many times his heart could break before he could not longer go on.
Shaking slightly himself, he approached his daughter and sank down beside her, ignoring the water that soaked into his pants, and gently but firmly pulled her towards him. She did not resist the movement and her hands drifted from her hair to his robes, clenching them as if they were a lifeline, the only thing holding her ashore. He did his best to soothe her, whispering nonsense in her ear as he rocked them back and forth until she calmed.
When she did, he continued to hold her but stopped rocking and let the calm of their surroundings seep into them, let the peace ease the bite of grief though it could not erase its stench. Then, and only then, when he felt sure she would truly listen, did he speak.
He murmured gently in her ears as he held her. "I love you, Arwen, and my heart aches that I have not shown it." She made as if to protest and he shushed her gently. "I t has not shown or you would not be so hurt. For my part, I am sorry. It is past time you heart it. I am so sorry, my daughter, for the grief I have cause you."
"It is well, Ada," she murmured.
"No, it is not," he denied. "Not yet." A pause stretched between them, as he stared briefly out across the pond into the stretches of time, then he continued. "Do not deny Aragorn for my sake, Arwen."
"But--"
"No, do not do it. Do not do it because you want to please me, or because you believe my misguided words held wisdom. Do not do it lest you honestly do not love him. I was wrong, my daughter, to deny your wish. If it is what your heart desires, I bid you claim it and marry the man, Elessar."
She pulled away then, and he let her go. She turned in his grasp and looked at him, searching his eyes and he met her gaze, smiling sadly. "You are sure, Ada?"
"It has been too long since I last saw you smile. I have rarely been more sure of anything in my life, than I am sure of this now," he answered.
A smile started to show on her face, but faded before it could be truly realized in all its beautiful glory. "It is too late."
Elrond shook his head and stood, pulling Arwen up with him. "You may be surprised."
"I could not return to Aragorn, thus," she denied, shaking her head as she moved away again. "To have denied his love only to return begging his heart."
"How do you think he felt," Elrond countered, watching her retreat but not following, "when he rode to you across the lands of Middle-earth? I suspect he will understand."
"Arwen turned back to look at him, her eyes wide with hope and fear. "You are sure?"
He smiled and walked over to her. "As sure as I can be," he answered, then began leading her back to camp. "Of course, I would suggest you talk to him. After all, I was sure he would marry you ten years ago, and I was sure you would accept his offer now, and as you see, I was wrong both times."
She smiled wanly. "Are you sure, Ada?"
"I am not the one who needs to be sure," Elrond answered. "Do you want to be with him? Do you love him?"
"Yes." He raised an eyebrow expectantly and she smiled. "Thank you, Ada."