AN: Here it is! The first chapter! I hope you guys like it. I spent
quite a while sitting at my computer typing. After reading all the
wonderful reviews (smiles), I instantly started typing.
Disclaimer: I still don't own it and never will I suspect. And sadly, I'll never own Legolas either. (But Orli's MINE! Right Evelyn?)
Anyway, enough of my babble, here's the chap for all of you lucky people!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The One Ring has been destroyed. The Hobbit Frodo has fulfilled the pledge he made here four months ago (1). He rests within the seventh circle of Minas Tirith. Faramir of Gondor is now Steward; his father was consumed by his madness some weeks ago. "
Arwen sat in a chair to the side of her father, listening intently to her brothers' report of the events that had so recently transpired. She remembered the flurry of emotion and activity that had surrounded their arrival in Imladris. Joy at seeing her brothers alive filled her heart as she embraced them both in turn. Elrond had placed a hand on each of their shoulders, leading his sons to his study so they could further speak of the tidings Elrohir and Elledan brought. Arwen followed close behind and now sat with baited breath, waiting to hear of the one she most cared for.
Unable to wait any longer, she finally spoke, "And what of Estel? You have said naught of Elfstone."
When her brothers turned at the sound of her voice, Arwen felt a sense of dread grow around her heart, *What if he has not survived this war?* Her fear was evident in the look she sent to Elrohir.
A smile leapt onto the younger twin's lips as he spoke, "Do not fear, my sister. Estel is alive. But he is no longer the man we once knew. He is not the wandering Ranger, the Chieftain of the Dunedain. Aragorn has been crowned King Elessar and is now King of Gondor. He has reclaimed the throne that has sat empty of a king since the years of Earnur."
A long silence followed, in which all present contemplated the full weight of that news. Arwen receded into her own thoughts, and began to fully understand the meaning of the tidings from Gondor. The sons of the Elven lord were weary from their long journey and waited for their father to speak. Elrond sat deep in thought, his eyes gazing at the scepter of Kings, mouth set in a straight line.
"Go, take some rest my sons. Take comfort in being in your home and rest among the trees for the time you are given." The Lord of Imladris said upon seeing his sons' fatigue.
Elledan rose, closed his eyes briefly, and put a guiding hand on his twin's shoulder. Together, the brothers left their father's study and retired to their chambers.
"Ada?" Arwen asked softly.
"Arwen, there is much to decide. These times weigh heavily on my mind. With the news of Estel's crowning, I must take time to think." Elrond replied.
"Very well then Ada, I will leave you to your thoughts." Arwen said as she rose and left her father.
Over the course of the next few days, tension grew in Imladris. Those who still lived there sensed that a change was coming. They knew that their lord had not left his study since his had sons returned. Arwen waited in apprehension for Elrond's decision.
*Will he consent to the marriage I long for? Will Ada at last leave Middle earth?* She wondered as she glanced at the light spilling from his study window.
One late evening, Elrond summoned his children to him and told them the decision he had made, " To the realm of Gondor we shall go, the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn will travel with us. The power of the Three begins to fade. We who bear them will soon cross the sea to the Uttermost West. Before we depart, we will make a last journey together. To see Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her people, wed to King Elessar, the Elfstone." As Elrond spoke, a note of sadness tinged his voice.
Elledan and Elrohir looked to the floor, contemplating what had just been said. Arwen gazed upon her father in silence. It seemed to her that a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. In that last sentence, Lord Elrond had given his consent that she marry Aragorn and chose a mortal life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Six days after the twin sons of Elrond had arrived, a bright morning dawned upon the Last Homely House. All that lingered in Rivendell were leaving the Elven refuge to follow their lord to Gondor and then on to Valinor. As all of that household began the passage through the mountains, Arwen halted her horse and looked over her shoulder. A tear slid slowly down her pale cheek. Her heart was heavy with grief at leaving behind her home. But a smile sprung to her face as she thought of Aragorn. She was leaving her home to go to him. A hand fell on her shoulder and Arwen turned to see Elledan astride his horse beside her.
"Come Arwen. The days of our father's house have ended. New days begin. You go to your wedding with Estel; Elrohir, father and myself go at last to the West, a passing that has rested in our hearts for many years. Look not into the past, but to your future." He spoke softly.
With a lingering glance, Arwen turned her mount and joined her kin in their journey. The Elves of Imladris rode in silence, mourning the loss of their haven and the imminent loss of the Evenstar. Yet their hearts rejoiced in the knowledge that they would soon be making the voyage across the sea to Valinor. Elrond rode at the head of the column, his gaze stern and proud. Behind him rode Arwen, flanked on either side by her brothers. Clouds blanketed the sky, reflecting the somber mood of those departing. The Elves rode through the night, taking only brief stops so their horses could rest for a spell. They did not stop to sleep, instead took their rest in the way of the Elves, by blending consciousness with dream.
In the early hours of the morning on the fourth day of their travels, the party emerged from the Misty Mountains. Arwen looked up at the sky and saw the light of the stars shining down upon them. The brethren Elledan and Elrohir also gazed upon the night sky. The Elves riding near to the three saw the light of the moon reflected in their eyes. Arwen's melodious voice rose in song, soon joined by her brothers'.
Ai! Laurie lantar lassi surinen!
Yeni unotime ve ramar aldaron,
Yeni ve linte yuldar vanier
Mi oromardi lisse-miruvorea.
Andune pella Vardo tellumar
Nu luiniyassen tintilar I eleni
Omaryo airetari-linen.
Elrond's voice then joined those of his children, and the host of Elves joined the singing of their lord.
Si man I yulma nin enquantuva?
An si Tintalle Varda Oiolosseo
Ve fanyar maryat Elentari orante,
Ar ilye tier undulave lumbe;
Ar sindanoriello caita mornie
I falmalinnar imbe met, ar histe
Untupa Calaciryo miri oiale.
Si vanwa na, Romello vanwa, Valimar!
Namarie! Nai hiruvalye Valimar.
Nai elye hiruva. Namarie! (2)
And thus singing, Lord Elrond and all the Elves of Imladris crossed the borders of Lorien and rode towards Caras Galadon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok guys, what did ya think? I personally loved it, but well..I wrote it so of course I'd love it! As for the numbers which I'm sure most of you noticed~
1. I looked this up in the appendices of Return of the King, and it was exactly four months from the Council of Elrond until the Ring was cast into the Crack of Doom. Interesting no? Seemed much longer in my mind.
2. This song is NOT made up gibberish from my mind. No, it is an actual song from the trilogy. Tolkein gets all the credit. If you want to know the translation, go to the chapter titled 'Farewell to Lorien' in Fellowship of the Ring. It should be near to the end of that chapter.
And after you've read all of this, I have one more request to make. Review! Please? (puppy dog eyes)
Disclaimer: I still don't own it and never will I suspect. And sadly, I'll never own Legolas either. (But Orli's MINE! Right Evelyn?)
Anyway, enough of my babble, here's the chap for all of you lucky people!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The One Ring has been destroyed. The Hobbit Frodo has fulfilled the pledge he made here four months ago (1). He rests within the seventh circle of Minas Tirith. Faramir of Gondor is now Steward; his father was consumed by his madness some weeks ago. "
Arwen sat in a chair to the side of her father, listening intently to her brothers' report of the events that had so recently transpired. She remembered the flurry of emotion and activity that had surrounded their arrival in Imladris. Joy at seeing her brothers alive filled her heart as she embraced them both in turn. Elrond had placed a hand on each of their shoulders, leading his sons to his study so they could further speak of the tidings Elrohir and Elledan brought. Arwen followed close behind and now sat with baited breath, waiting to hear of the one she most cared for.
Unable to wait any longer, she finally spoke, "And what of Estel? You have said naught of Elfstone."
When her brothers turned at the sound of her voice, Arwen felt a sense of dread grow around her heart, *What if he has not survived this war?* Her fear was evident in the look she sent to Elrohir.
A smile leapt onto the younger twin's lips as he spoke, "Do not fear, my sister. Estel is alive. But he is no longer the man we once knew. He is not the wandering Ranger, the Chieftain of the Dunedain. Aragorn has been crowned King Elessar and is now King of Gondor. He has reclaimed the throne that has sat empty of a king since the years of Earnur."
A long silence followed, in which all present contemplated the full weight of that news. Arwen receded into her own thoughts, and began to fully understand the meaning of the tidings from Gondor. The sons of the Elven lord were weary from their long journey and waited for their father to speak. Elrond sat deep in thought, his eyes gazing at the scepter of Kings, mouth set in a straight line.
"Go, take some rest my sons. Take comfort in being in your home and rest among the trees for the time you are given." The Lord of Imladris said upon seeing his sons' fatigue.
Elledan rose, closed his eyes briefly, and put a guiding hand on his twin's shoulder. Together, the brothers left their father's study and retired to their chambers.
"Ada?" Arwen asked softly.
"Arwen, there is much to decide. These times weigh heavily on my mind. With the news of Estel's crowning, I must take time to think." Elrond replied.
"Very well then Ada, I will leave you to your thoughts." Arwen said as she rose and left her father.
Over the course of the next few days, tension grew in Imladris. Those who still lived there sensed that a change was coming. They knew that their lord had not left his study since his had sons returned. Arwen waited in apprehension for Elrond's decision.
*Will he consent to the marriage I long for? Will Ada at last leave Middle earth?* She wondered as she glanced at the light spilling from his study window.
One late evening, Elrond summoned his children to him and told them the decision he had made, " To the realm of Gondor we shall go, the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn will travel with us. The power of the Three begins to fade. We who bear them will soon cross the sea to the Uttermost West. Before we depart, we will make a last journey together. To see Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her people, wed to King Elessar, the Elfstone." As Elrond spoke, a note of sadness tinged his voice.
Elledan and Elrohir looked to the floor, contemplating what had just been said. Arwen gazed upon her father in silence. It seemed to her that a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. In that last sentence, Lord Elrond had given his consent that she marry Aragorn and chose a mortal life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Six days after the twin sons of Elrond had arrived, a bright morning dawned upon the Last Homely House. All that lingered in Rivendell were leaving the Elven refuge to follow their lord to Gondor and then on to Valinor. As all of that household began the passage through the mountains, Arwen halted her horse and looked over her shoulder. A tear slid slowly down her pale cheek. Her heart was heavy with grief at leaving behind her home. But a smile sprung to her face as she thought of Aragorn. She was leaving her home to go to him. A hand fell on her shoulder and Arwen turned to see Elledan astride his horse beside her.
"Come Arwen. The days of our father's house have ended. New days begin. You go to your wedding with Estel; Elrohir, father and myself go at last to the West, a passing that has rested in our hearts for many years. Look not into the past, but to your future." He spoke softly.
With a lingering glance, Arwen turned her mount and joined her kin in their journey. The Elves of Imladris rode in silence, mourning the loss of their haven and the imminent loss of the Evenstar. Yet their hearts rejoiced in the knowledge that they would soon be making the voyage across the sea to Valinor. Elrond rode at the head of the column, his gaze stern and proud. Behind him rode Arwen, flanked on either side by her brothers. Clouds blanketed the sky, reflecting the somber mood of those departing. The Elves rode through the night, taking only brief stops so their horses could rest for a spell. They did not stop to sleep, instead took their rest in the way of the Elves, by blending consciousness with dream.
In the early hours of the morning on the fourth day of their travels, the party emerged from the Misty Mountains. Arwen looked up at the sky and saw the light of the stars shining down upon them. The brethren Elledan and Elrohir also gazed upon the night sky. The Elves riding near to the three saw the light of the moon reflected in their eyes. Arwen's melodious voice rose in song, soon joined by her brothers'.
Ai! Laurie lantar lassi surinen!
Yeni unotime ve ramar aldaron,
Yeni ve linte yuldar vanier
Mi oromardi lisse-miruvorea.
Andune pella Vardo tellumar
Nu luiniyassen tintilar I eleni
Omaryo airetari-linen.
Elrond's voice then joined those of his children, and the host of Elves joined the singing of their lord.
Si man I yulma nin enquantuva?
An si Tintalle Varda Oiolosseo
Ve fanyar maryat Elentari orante,
Ar ilye tier undulave lumbe;
Ar sindanoriello caita mornie
I falmalinnar imbe met, ar histe
Untupa Calaciryo miri oiale.
Si vanwa na, Romello vanwa, Valimar!
Namarie! Nai hiruvalye Valimar.
Nai elye hiruva. Namarie! (2)
And thus singing, Lord Elrond and all the Elves of Imladris crossed the borders of Lorien and rode towards Caras Galadon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok guys, what did ya think? I personally loved it, but well..I wrote it so of course I'd love it! As for the numbers which I'm sure most of you noticed~
1. I looked this up in the appendices of Return of the King, and it was exactly four months from the Council of Elrond until the Ring was cast into the Crack of Doom. Interesting no? Seemed much longer in my mind.
2. This song is NOT made up gibberish from my mind. No, it is an actual song from the trilogy. Tolkein gets all the credit. If you want to know the translation, go to the chapter titled 'Farewell to Lorien' in Fellowship of the Ring. It should be near to the end of that chapter.
And after you've read all of this, I have one more request to make. Review! Please? (puppy dog eyes)