Frodo found his room unusually dark when he woke up the next morning.
The only light was the fire in the corner by his bed. No sunlight
filtered through the curtains and the only sound he could hear was the
fountain. No birds chirped outside his window and there didn't even
seem to be any activity in the hall. Frodo glanced at his clock and
quickly discovered why. It was still early; in fact it was an hour
before sunrise. He couldn't remember the last time he been awake this
early and it gave him an eerie feeling that he couldn't account for.

Will it be anything like this in Mordor? he wondered. No, of course
not! Rivendell is a place of beauty and joy and Mordor is anything but
a place of beauty and joy. Of course if I fail….

Frodo shuddered when he considered that possibility then began

to reflect on what had happened the day before. The Ring had put thoughts

into trying to bring him down through fear. Now that Frodo understood what
had happened, he recognized the thoughts immediately and his simply
ordered them out of his mind. That didn't seem to be happening now,
however. The negative thoughts and feelings came from his own mind.

Unable to sleep any more, he got dressed and opened his curtains to
look out the stars. As he did, he was reminded of Arwen, the Evenstar
of her people. Frodo smiled involuntarily. Arwen had been good to
him and he would miss her ministrations on the quest, but as she
herself said she was needed there. While Aragorn fought, Arwen gave
hope to her people and held on to it herself, even as she faced the
prospect of permanent separation from her family and losing her own
immortal life. Frodo marveled at this. What courage that must have
taken, more courage than actually fighting! He wished with all his
heart he could be that strong.

As the sky slowly brightened and the stars began to fade, Frodo turned
to make his bed and was startled to hear a knock on his door. He
brushed his hair quickly and hurried over to the door, trying not look
to look too surprised as he opened it.

"Good morning, Frodo," said a clear, musical voice. "I thought I could
hear you walking around in here. Are you all right?"

"Good morning, Lady Arwen," Frodo said with a bow. "Yes, thank you,
I'm all right. Please come in, I…I was just thinking about you." He
blushed slightly as he said those last words.

"And I was thinking about you," Arwen told him as she entered. "That
was an awful experience you had yesterday with the Ring." Frodo
thought for a minute, wondering if he should say anything about what
he had heard outside the study. No, that wasn't his place, he
decided. He wouldn't say anything unless Arwen brought it up first.

"It worked out for the best," Frodo replied. "Now that I know what
the Ring was trying to do, and know how to resist Its power, I don't
think It will bother me again. Or at least not do anything I can't
handle." Although Frodo smiled as he said this, a faint uncertainty
still lingering in his mind. "And of course, It tries to, I'll have a
lot of support to overcome It."

"Indeed," Arwen replied, "In these difficult times, we need to be able
to depend on each other for support." Frodo thought he heard a note of
sadness her voice and was about to ask her about that, but it vanished
with her next sentence. "How are you feeling over all? Do your eyes
still bother you?"

"A little," Frodo admitted. "They feel tired, as if they just had a
long day, even if it's still early. But my vision is no longer
clouded and the worst of the irritation disappear after my treatment
yesterday morning."

"Very good. That soreness should disappear after another treatment or
two. Shall I get your medicine now, or would you prefer to wait
until your friends are with you?"

"I think it may as well be done now, if you don't mind," Frodo smiled,
but the minute he spoke he began to get an uneasy feeling that he
couldn't account for. "Of course, it can always wait if this is in
anyway inconvenient for you. In fact, I could even do it myself."

"Nonsense, Ring-bearer," Arwen replied sounding cheerful, although she
was hoping for a different answer. "I consider it an honour to attend
to you, as would anyone on Middle Earth. Now make yourself comfortable
while I get the supplies."
*********************
"My lady, are you all right?" Frodo wanted to know, when Arwen had
finished the treatment.

"Yes, Frodo. Why do you ask?" Arwen was smiling at him and seemed
happy with the way he was healing, but as he looked at her he was sure
he could detect sadness.

"Well, I could be wrong, of course," Frodo began, "but I sense that
something is troubling you. The death of my parents heightened my
ability to tune into to the feelings of others." He hesitated;
knowing what he was about to say could seem out of place. At the same
time however, he felt he had to know. "Are you thinking about what
happened yesterday in Lord Elrond's study?" Arwen looked startled for
a second, then embarrassed. "We didn't hear anything," Frodo assured
her quickly. "As soon as we realized you were in there, Sam and
Aragorn and I moved back and stayed out of the way until the door opened."

"Aragorn," Arwen sighed sadly. "I love him, Frodo. More than I have
ever loved anyone, although my father comes close. When the Ring is
destroyed, my father and the other Elves will have to leave Middle
Earth. There will be nothing remaining for them here. The power of
Vilya, Ring of the Air will fade. The power of Nenya, that my
grandmother Galadriel wears will also fade and with it, the Elven
paradise she that created. It has long been my father's desire that I
go with him to Valinor, but I cannot. My heart belongs to Aragorn. In
the Blessed Realm, I would always feel torn in two. My father
understands this now."

"And has he fully accepted it?" Frodo went on, surprised to find Arwen
confiding in him but more concerned than anything else.

"Yes, Frodo, he has. Yesterday was time of pain for both of us, but
also a time of healing. My father made it clear to me then that, as
painful the separation is going to be, it would be far more painful
for him to see me live forever and be unhappy. And after the pain of
separation will come healing and peace."

"He obviously loves you very much," Frodo commented, now feeling sad
himself.

"Indeed he does, as I love him. And Frodo," Arwen smiled gently,
seeing the expression on his face. "There is no need to be upset.
You have a compassionate heart. A gift from Iluvatar no doubt, but
really everything is all right now. Did you notice how my father gave
you his undivided attention and picked up on your problem
immediately?" As Frodo nodded, she continued, "Would that have been
possible if he were hurt or troubled himself?"

"I don't think so," Frodo replied, noticing with relief that the
sparkle had returned to Arwen's dark grey eyes. What she said made a
lot of sense, he realized. It would be awful to live forever feeling
torn in two. And he knew from his own experience that pain often
activated healing. It was a very strange thing, but it was true.

Arwen, meanwhile, hoped she hadn't burdened Frodo with her problem.
That was the last thing she wanted to do as he was facing such a great
trial of his own. Even now that his eyes were almost healed, she
wanted continue to give him support and encouragement. That was all
she could do. Or was it?