Disclaimer: I own only Ariel, and the rest belongs to Tolkien.
Edited on 11 Oct 2003 Chapter 5She descried him from far off. Elrond had just put down the harp he had been playing and stood up. Ariel saw a stern and wise elf, erect and proud was his stature. Upon his head was a ringlet of silver, and age did nothing to mar his features.
And when she looked into his eyes there were only fatherly love for his daughter. All thoughts of rejection vanished in an instant and memories of him and her family flooded back. It was as if she had not left in the first place.
Ariel hugged him tight and heard him murmur, "Welcome home, daughter." She did not want to let go, for fear that all that was happening had been just a dream. But when she finally did, tears glistened her eyes and her father's.
"Ariel, daughter, you must be weary, but let me see to the guests first." Ariel suddenly remembered Legolas. She whirled around and saw him.
He gave her a look that said clearly meant, 'I told you so.' Acting nonchalant, Ariel was not going to admit he was right.
"Saesa omentien lle, Lord Elrond" Legolas greeted. Pleasure meeting you
"Mae Govannen, Legolas, son of King Thranduil." Well met he replied. You shall find rest and peace here. Tonight we shall feast and make merry. Let you hearts not be troubled by whatever news or counsel you bring. It shall all be discussed tomorrow at the council." A few elves appeared and showed the guests to their rooms.
With that they departed, leaving Elrond with Ariel.
"Someone else is eager to see you too. Your sister has missed you terribly and both of you have so much to catch up on."
Lady Undomiel locked in an embrace with her long lost sister. Lady Celebriel had an irresistible urge to let fall the tears.
She realized she and Arwen could communicate without speaking.
Sister, I missed you so Arwen spoke in Ariel's mind.
I missed you too
But words were redundant, there was no need to express their feelings. Ariel just wished to stay in her family members' presence, and it was enough.
They hugged again. Lord Elrond looked fondly at both his daughters. When Celebrian had left, his life seemed to have an empty gap. Now with Ariel home, his family would be complete again. A pity Elladan and Elrohir were not here, he thought. Ever since Celebrian left Middle Earth, they never forgot her torment with orcs, and seldom came home, but traveled far and wide hunting down the orcs with the Dunedain of the West.
The way Ariel and the Prince of Mirkwood looked at each other was oddly disturbing. But Elrond dismissed it as an unimportant matter. What matters most now was his daughters' safety. He knew Ariel was hotheaded and would sooner or later go seeking adventure, eventually ending up into some sort of trouble of sort. He would do his utmost best to prevent that.
The three of them strolled in the garden and recalled happier times.
"Remember the time we could not sleep because Elrohir told us there were creatures under the bed?" Arwen asked.
"And the time we paid him back by putting a toad in his food and he was so angry we hid in the study for five hours?" Ariel said.
"How about when you begged Elladan for hours to teach you sword fighting and he finally gave in, but you ended up fracturing your knee when you tried to wield Glorfindel's sword?" Ariel remembered the incident clearly enough. She had to walk about like a cripple for month.
"And I forbade you to touch any sword afterwards." Elrond said.
They all laughed. Elrond's deep and resounding, Arwen's lilting and Ariel's delightful peals of laughter. Anyone who looked upon them saw a close knitted family, and none indeed would have the heart to break them up.
Ariel felt as if she had never left home at all. Back in the other world she felt hollow, like an empty being. Merely existing, but not living. But now she felt whole again, both in body and mind. And now she had a father, a twin sister and two other brothers.
A family after long last. She could not ask for more.
"No… that color does not fit you", as Arwen took a forest green gown form Ariel. They were discussing over what gowns they would wear to the great feast tonight. Ariel cared not for such things, but Arwen insisted she dress her up and do her hair. "I must make up for al those years I did not get to braid your hair like a sister should."
"This would do", Arwen held up a shimmering silver dress.
"It is too exquisite, nay, I shall not wear it" Ariel refused. The gown seem too low cut for her taste, though the interwoven silver threads of patterns on the hem looked pretty.
"Of course you shall. Go on and change into it." Arwen insisted.
Ariel finally agreed after much persuasion. She would have preferred something simpler, this gown was too beautiful to be worn by her.
As she donned the gown, she gazed into the mirror. Her reflection took her by surprise. Staring back at her was a beautiful elf, one with noble and regal bearing. The gown changed color under lightning, from shimmering silver to pale violet, enhancing Ariel's eyes. Arwen told her so while Ariel merely snorted, saying Arwen looked better than her.
"Tell me about Aragorn. I would like to meet that mortal. " Ariel teased.
"There is naught to tell." Arwen replied indignantly, "Who told you about him?"
"Legolas." Ariel replied
"Ah, that high and mighty prince. So it's 'Leoglas' already isn't it?" Arwen smiled.
"We – we are just friends with each other. He asked me to dispense of such formalities and I saw no reason not to oblige him."
Arwen said naught, but had a gleam in her eyes.