9/12/03
Yay! An update! Finally! Sorry, everyone, I really do feel bad about taking a break. But I needed to get my thoughts sorted out, and I think I've decided where exactly I am going to take this. And I have selected my ending as well, but I'm not telling… but I just might take bribes. Or guesses. Feel free to guess. Like I said before, I might just be inspired by creative guesses and I might change the story. Wouldn't that be interesting?
Anyway. This is a nice angsty teary chapter. Enjoy.
16. Set in Stone
The next few days passed in a blur for Eleriel. Amidst further explanations from Galadriel, worried doting from her grandfather and father, and many conversations with her siblings, planning for a wedding was already under way. This time Thranduil meant to fulfill his duties, and a lovely wedding in the traditional style of the elves was being planned.
Eleriel and Legolas spent their time going back over the words of Galadriel, over and over again until both had everything memorized from front to back. They were searching for a loophole in the words, or something to prove that it was not something for them to worry about. In her heart Eleriel didn't think they would find such things, and she was slightly ashamed of what she saw as cowardice. However, she didn't think they had much choice.
In the end, Eleriel and Legolas came to the conclusion that Galadriel's words meant almost exactly what they said. However, they did deduce one thing from the prophetic dream: "the fall of Man" did not necessarily mean a complete fall from glory. Most likely it meant they were to remain on Middle Earth indefinitely, until the day when the race of Man had declined so much that they would need the seemingly-lost wisdom of the Elves. That would be the day for which Eleriel and Legolas would be needed. When that day came, they could pass on their wisdom and knowledge to eager rulers and leaders and leave Middle Earth.
Eventually the inevitable question came up: why could they not simply pass on this supposedly much-needed knowledge and lore now? Why must they wait? Galadriel had an answer for that question: they had to wait until it was needed, until the Men of the world asked. As Gandalf pointed out, it would not be truly appreciated and preserved unless it was really needed, and they would know when it would be needed when they were asked for help. Even Aragorn admitted that there was truth to the wizard's words.
Eventually Eleriel and Legolas argued themselves into a corner. They finally realized that if these words were sent by the Valar themselves, then they did not have much choice in the matter. Wearily they resigned themselves to their fate.
Her approaching wedding ceremony did little to lift Eleriel's spirits. The wedding would take place in Eryn Lasgalen, though Legolas would have preferred Ithilien and Eleriel would have liked Rivendell. Thranduil returned to the Elven Halls in Eryn Lasgalen three days after arriving in Gondor to begin preparations, and Eleriel and Legolas would follow a little while later with others.
Regretably, Aragorn had realized that there was too much to be done in Gondor for him to leave. As King, he was fully aware of his responsibilities, and although he would have done anything to be able to attend the wedding, he knew where his limits lay. Arwen would not part with her husband for even a short while, so Eleriel tried to be content with having only two of her four siblings present at the marriage. However, she couldn't help but feel a little bitter about the way her family had fractured. Arwen had already chosen Aragorn over the rest of them. It was a choice that Eleriel could understand, and even accept to a certain degree. She was happy for them, but deep in her heart she wished that there had been another way. So it begins, she thought wryly to herself. Her life as a mortal is set in stone, now.
The days passed quickly. Legolas and Gimli were actively involved with the rebuilding of Minas Tirith, and Legolas spent time in Ithilien when he could. He was beginning to consider very seriously his idea of bringing elves south to Ithilien, for he had seen what a fair and beautiful land it could be.
Eleriel spent her time helping wherever she could. Some days found her in the Houses of Healing; others had her planting flowers and other growing things in the gardens of the Palace. However, the time was drawing near for the final sundering of the Fellowship and the tight friendships that had formed.
Frodo had expressed a desire to return to his home, and the other hobbits had agreed. Legolas and Gimli had an agreement, something involving the Glittering Caves and Fangorn, but that had refused to explain much more than that.
In mid-July an escort departed from the White City, headed for Edoras. With them they carried the fallen King Théoden. They traveled slowly, for that had little need for haste, and a few weeks later they arrived in the capital city of Rohan.
Théoden's funeral was simple, but his people's grief was great. Eleriel shed tears for the man she hadn't known, and realized that Théoden had been greatly loved by the people of Rohan.
The announcement of the engagement of Eowyn and Faramir surprised Eleriel. The past months had been too busy for her to notice the love growing between the two, but now that she stopped to think about it, Eleriel realized what a perfet match the two of them were for each other.
Four days after the funeral of Théoden came the day that Eleriel had dreaded more than any other. Arwen had chosen to go no further than Edoras, and Aragorn would ride a little further with the group that was to continue on.
The hobbits were smiling and laughing together. Legolas and Gimli were having a heated discussion about the advantages of trees over stones, and vice-versa. Aragorn was talking with some of his men. Eleriel and her brothers stood silently with their grandparents, and the five elves watched sadly as Elrond took Arwen's elbow and led her into the hills.
No one heard what passed between father and daughter that day, but they were together for a long time. When they returned, Elrond's face was grim but resigned, and Arwen had tears pooled in her bright eyes. A silence fell when the two elves walked silently through the group of people, and everyone's hearts were saddened by the fate that these two had to face.
When Elrond and Arwen reached Eleriel and the others, Arwen came forward to speak with her grandparents. Elrond hesitated, and opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead he shook his head and walked away quietly.
Galadriel smiled sadly at her granddaughter. "I fear that we will not meet again, Arwen, daughter of Celebrian."
Arwen looked up sharply. "What?"
Her grandmother smiled sadly and touched the younger elf's cheek. "The ringbearers must go together," the lady of light whispered, and the ring on her finger caught the sunlight filtering down through the gray clouds in the overcast sky.
"Ringbearers...?" Arwen said in surprise. Eleriel blinked. She hadn't realized that Arwen didn't know the identities of the three elven ring-bearers.
Galadriel, however, only continued to look at Arwen, and Eleriel thought she saw tears building in the ancient elf's eyes.
"Perhaps this is not forever," Galadriel murmured. She stared at Arwen for a moment longer, and sighed. Embracing the mortal elf gently, Galadriel whispered, "may Iluvatar guide thy steps until I may see thee again." When she pulled away Galadriel smiled sadly, and walked away, leaving a stunned Arwen behind.
Arwen choked a little on her tears, and Eleriel, Elladan, Elrohir and Celeborn watched silently. Perhaps it was a little cruel of them, but they were each already feeling the pain of Arwen's imminent death, and at the moment they were feeling for Elrond and Galadriel's pain more than Arwen.
Now sobbing hard as she watched Galadriel speaking to Elrond as they readied their horses for the journey home, Arwen turned on the elves who remained with her.
"And are you all going to leave me too?" she cried. "Will you condemn me for my choice as well? Must I be sundered completely from my people?"
"Arwen," Celeborn began, but she cut him off.
"It was my choice, Grandfather!" she said, trying without success to calm herself. "Although you might not like it, it was my choice. But must I continue to pay the price for it?"
"Arwen!" Celeborn said sharply, stopping the flow of angry words. "No one is condemning you for this. We know that it was your choice, and we can all understand it, to a degree. But you must understand... we are going to be the ones left behind, and it will be hard. Your grandmother has seen many that she loved fade away, and I do not know if she can bear to have you, the one who is most dear to her, die in front of her eyes. Galadriel has never taken well to having events beyond her control. If she must leave these shores to save her own heart, then so be it. It is long past time for your father to leave Middle Earth as well. By now you know that your grandmother and father are bearers of two of the three elven rings. My wisdom is less than that of my wife, but I do see what a burden they have been for both of them. The three elven rings will leave Middle Earth togther. And to answer your first question, we are not leaving you! I am not going to leave Middle Earth for some time, and Elladan and Elrohir will linger for a little while at least."
"And what do you think I shall do, sister?" Eleriel asked quietly. Arwen looked shocked at what she had implied, and shook her head. Holding up a hand to silence her sister, Eleriel said, "no, I know you meant no harm with your words. We understand your pain, Arwen, really we do. But now you must understand ours."
Trembling a little, Arwen nodded and looked away. Celeborn smiled a little and kissed his youngest granddaughter on the forehead. "You will be strong, Arwen," he said gently. "I know you will be. You take after your mother."
"And now, if you will excuse me..." Eleriel said, slipping away. Legolas was leaving with Aragorn and the others, but Eleriel was staying behind with Arwen. She knew that the matter with her sister was not yet resolved, and she knew that her sister would need a shoulder to cry on after the departure of her family.
Legolas turned from his conversation with Gimli when Eleriel walked toward him. Gimli tactfully withdrew, and Legolas took Eleriel's hand and walked a little way with her from the others.
"I will miss you," she said. "To think, the next time I see you, it will be almost time for the wedding!"
He laughed. "Indeed it will. And I will miss you as well." Drawing her close, Legolas held Eleriel in his arms for a moment. Without releasing her, he asked, "How is Arwen? Elrond seemed rather..."
"Flustered?" Eleriel supplied, chuckling as she remembered the use of that word in Rivendell many weeks ago. Sobering, she sighed. "I do not think it ended well. That such an ending should come at the final parting of a father and his beloved daughter..." Eleriel shook her head sadly. "But I think that there is nothing we can do. If this problem is to be resolved, then they must do it on their own."
"Then let us hope it happens quickly," said a new voice, and Eleriel turned to see Aragorn. Smiling sadly, Aragorn said to Legolas, "it is time for us to depart." Legolas nodded. Quickly he gave Eleriel a gentle kiss, then hurried away to tend to his horse. "I am truly sorry for what has happened between Elrond and Arwen, Eleriel," Aragorn said softly. "I did not ever wish for this."
"I know, Aragorn. I know," Eleriel said. Echoing her earlier thoughts, Eleriel said quietly, "But I think that since the moment of her birth, Arwen's fate has been set in stone." Aragorn nodded before turning away.
Set in stone, Eleriel thought. Like my own.
Told you it was angsty!
Drop me a line to say what you think. I could use some more reviewers!
Also. Another note. During my nice little sabbatical, I did a lot of reading and came across some wonderful writing. Check out my favorites page. I am sure you've all read most of them, but if you haven't then do! Read especially the two stories by Chasing Liberty (Carpe Diem and Unfaithful). They're magnificent.
That's all for now. Review, please!