A/N: Seconds last part, it's been fun while it's lasted. Took me forever to
write this story, but it's my baby, especially these last few parts, where
I used my own intuition to tell me how it should end.
Part 86.
Several more days Arwen stayed, until the funeral procession of her husband was over and all was finished for his time in Middle Earth, with his son Eldarion being coronated as King of Gondor and the Western Lands.
Then she went forth from the House of Telcontar, the light in her eyes quenched, leaving them cold and gray, barely reminiscent of the unearthly blue they had been only a few days ago.
She took Eldarion is her arms and spoke to him for the last time, and her daughters as well.
*"Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death, an image of the splendor of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.'* My father said those words to me once, long ago now." Arwen told her children. "Now, heavy- hearted I find that his words were true. There is no comfort for me here in Middle Earth. I go now to the Grey Havens, which you have not seen since you were young, and I will take the ship that waits to bear me far over the Sea, to the Undying Lands, to Valinor where my kin await me.
I will not linger on here, in darkness, as nightfall in winter comes without a star. I go now to find the light of my people, and the Grace of the Valar.
Your father unbound any vows I took to him in the hour of his death. I shall not bind myself to the grief of his passing." She told them. "Come with me, if you will. But I shall not stay here until the long years of my life are utterly spent. For the remainder of the years given to me, I wish to be with my kin."
"If that is your wish Naneth I will miss you." Eldarion told her.
"I have already made my decision Amme." Eledhwen told her mother. "I will go with you to Valinor."
"Silmarie and I have also chosen to go with you, Naneth." Vana said to her.
"Pack your things quickly then, my daughters. Go now." Arwen urged them. "I wish to be off soon."
Arwen watched with Eldarion, Varda, Vanya and Yavanna as the other girls walked upstairs to pack their things.
Arwen twisted her wedding band on her finger, then produced a second ring, which she offered to Eldarion. "Take this, my son. Your Elven heritage allows you to project thoughts into other people's minds. This is Narya, your father's wedding band. It is one of the three Elven Rings of Power. I have another, Nenya given to me on my wedding day. My father Lord Elrond holds the third, Vilya. With the power of these rings, if you are ever in need my son, you will be able to reach me for council. Do not be afraid to use it."
He bowed his head to accept the gift. "Thank you Naneth. I will treasure it."
"My girls, my sweet little princesses." Arwen turned to her remaining daughters. "Do not despair that you are not coming with me. Your paths lie here in Middle Earth. Marry whom you love, and bear them children in time. Through you and yours, your father and I live on. Remember that. We will always be with you, my dear sweet children." Tears sparkled in her eyes as she realised that it was time to leave.
With those words Arwen turned and rushed into the courtyard where her other daughters waited for her, already mounted on their horses.
Without speaking, Arwen placed her foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle. She patted the horse's satiny gray neck, so like his sire's. "Noro lim, Asfaloth." She whispered. "Kol nin a' manke i' salque oio calen, nin melya mellon." *Bear me to where the grass is evergreen, my dear friend.*
Then with a last glance at her remaining children Arwen heeled Asfaloth forward, heading North-West for the last time. This time however, she rode first to Lothlorien to gaze upon the Golden Woods once more, and then to Rivendell to see the place of her birth, and the home of her childhood for the last time.
Both places were empty now, for she was the only Elf who still dwelled in Middle Earth.
Finally she was able to see the Sea on the horizon, and the ship waiting for her and her daughters floated in the harbor.
Loosing Asfaloth from saddle and bridle Arwen set him free, watching as the gray horse stood still as she boarded the ship, standing on the shore until they sailed out of sight of land, even to Elvish eyes, and she could see him no more.
Part 86.
Several more days Arwen stayed, until the funeral procession of her husband was over and all was finished for his time in Middle Earth, with his son Eldarion being coronated as King of Gondor and the Western Lands.
Then she went forth from the House of Telcontar, the light in her eyes quenched, leaving them cold and gray, barely reminiscent of the unearthly blue they had been only a few days ago.
She took Eldarion is her arms and spoke to him for the last time, and her daughters as well.
*"Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death, an image of the splendor of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.'* My father said those words to me once, long ago now." Arwen told her children. "Now, heavy- hearted I find that his words were true. There is no comfort for me here in Middle Earth. I go now to the Grey Havens, which you have not seen since you were young, and I will take the ship that waits to bear me far over the Sea, to the Undying Lands, to Valinor where my kin await me.
I will not linger on here, in darkness, as nightfall in winter comes without a star. I go now to find the light of my people, and the Grace of the Valar.
Your father unbound any vows I took to him in the hour of his death. I shall not bind myself to the grief of his passing." She told them. "Come with me, if you will. But I shall not stay here until the long years of my life are utterly spent. For the remainder of the years given to me, I wish to be with my kin."
"If that is your wish Naneth I will miss you." Eldarion told her.
"I have already made my decision Amme." Eledhwen told her mother. "I will go with you to Valinor."
"Silmarie and I have also chosen to go with you, Naneth." Vana said to her.
"Pack your things quickly then, my daughters. Go now." Arwen urged them. "I wish to be off soon."
Arwen watched with Eldarion, Varda, Vanya and Yavanna as the other girls walked upstairs to pack their things.
Arwen twisted her wedding band on her finger, then produced a second ring, which she offered to Eldarion. "Take this, my son. Your Elven heritage allows you to project thoughts into other people's minds. This is Narya, your father's wedding band. It is one of the three Elven Rings of Power. I have another, Nenya given to me on my wedding day. My father Lord Elrond holds the third, Vilya. With the power of these rings, if you are ever in need my son, you will be able to reach me for council. Do not be afraid to use it."
He bowed his head to accept the gift. "Thank you Naneth. I will treasure it."
"My girls, my sweet little princesses." Arwen turned to her remaining daughters. "Do not despair that you are not coming with me. Your paths lie here in Middle Earth. Marry whom you love, and bear them children in time. Through you and yours, your father and I live on. Remember that. We will always be with you, my dear sweet children." Tears sparkled in her eyes as she realised that it was time to leave.
With those words Arwen turned and rushed into the courtyard where her other daughters waited for her, already mounted on their horses.
Without speaking, Arwen placed her foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle. She patted the horse's satiny gray neck, so like his sire's. "Noro lim, Asfaloth." She whispered. "Kol nin a' manke i' salque oio calen, nin melya mellon." *Bear me to where the grass is evergreen, my dear friend.*
Then with a last glance at her remaining children Arwen heeled Asfaloth forward, heading North-West for the last time. This time however, she rode first to Lothlorien to gaze upon the Golden Woods once more, and then to Rivendell to see the place of her birth, and the home of her childhood for the last time.
Both places were empty now, for she was the only Elf who still dwelled in Middle Earth.
Finally she was able to see the Sea on the horizon, and the ship waiting for her and her daughters floated in the harbor.
Loosing Asfaloth from saddle and bridle Arwen set him free, watching as the gray horse stood still as she boarded the ship, standing on the shore until they sailed out of sight of land, even to Elvish eyes, and she could see him no more.