Chapter Two:
Entua an i cala
(Return to the Light)
Aragorn listened with rapt attention as he nervously gripped Arwen's hands in his. Tears threatened to pour over as the horrifying details came snapping into place, like pieces of a puzzle.
When Arwen finished, there was a along silence. Fear crept over he heart once more without Aragorn's reassuring words. But he came closer and brought her into a affectionate and comforting embrace, letting her cry shakily into his shoulder.
After her sobs quieted, Aragorn lifted her carefully off her bed, positioning his arms so that she would not fall. Arwen wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest: so warm and protective.
"Let's go and get something to eat," he whispered softly into her pointed Elven ears.
Arwen nodded and said," I can walk, Aragorn. I don't want Ada (Daddy) to see me in this condition. "
Agreeing, Aragorn set her down carefully and supported her arm ever so gently so that it hid her state of distress.
They walked down the long, winding steps together, hand in hand, arm in arm. As the dining hall cam into sight, and both elf and man came to rest on level ground, Arwen froze. She saw everyone else already there, but that was not what caught her attention. Her gaze transferred slowly to a hobbit. But not just any hobbit, Frodo Baggins of the Shire.
Suddenly, a bright flash of fire blinded her, and she saw that is was the eye of Sauron, lidless and wreathed in flame.
"You cannot hide," Sauron hissed at her, the eye blazing. "I see you. You will regret the decision at Loudwater, ARWEN EVENSTAR!" the eyes roared. "I will forever haunt you.perhaps use you as bait to capture and kill the heir to the throne of Gondor. That filthy Ranger! But wait. I'll not only haunt you, but YOUR FAMILY AS WELL!""
Arwen let out a horrifying scream and fainted, darkness engulfing her.
* * *
"Cela i ando andollo Mandosto. Mapa i anna cuilieo. Entua an i cala. Entua an i cala. (Away from the gate of Mandos. Receive the gift of life. Return to the light. Return to the light.)" a voice chanted softly into the dark abyss she was in.
With a painful gasp, Arwen awoke, breathing heavily. her father, Lord of Rivendell, was bent keenly over her, reciting the spell. To her right, she heard someone banging heavily on the door.
"Elrond! Let me in at once! I know she's awake, I heard her! LET ME IN!"
With a sigh, Elrond motioned for the door to be opened. As soon as it was, Aragorn rushed in, limbs red from banging on the door so hard. He came to Arwen's side and grasped her hand tightly in his.
"What happened?" he and Elrond asked.
Arwen closed her eyes, dreading the words. Not again, not again.
Aragorn listened with rapt attention as he nervously gripped Arwen's hands in his. Tears threatened to pour over as the horrifying details came snapping into place, like pieces of a puzzle.
When Arwen finished, there was a along silence. Fear crept over he heart once more without Aragorn's reassuring words. But he came closer and brought her into a affectionate and comforting embrace, letting her cry shakily into his shoulder.
After her sobs quieted, Aragorn lifted her carefully off her bed, positioning his arms so that she would not fall. Arwen wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest: so warm and protective.
"Let's go and get something to eat," he whispered softly into her pointed Elven ears.
Arwen nodded and said," I can walk, Aragorn. I don't want Ada (Daddy) to see me in this condition. "
Agreeing, Aragorn set her down carefully and supported her arm ever so gently so that it hid her state of distress.
They walked down the long, winding steps together, hand in hand, arm in arm. As the dining hall cam into sight, and both elf and man came to rest on level ground, Arwen froze. She saw everyone else already there, but that was not what caught her attention. Her gaze transferred slowly to a hobbit. But not just any hobbit, Frodo Baggins of the Shire.
Suddenly, a bright flash of fire blinded her, and she saw that is was the eye of Sauron, lidless and wreathed in flame.
"You cannot hide," Sauron hissed at her, the eye blazing. "I see you. You will regret the decision at Loudwater, ARWEN EVENSTAR!" the eyes roared. "I will forever haunt you.perhaps use you as bait to capture and kill the heir to the throne of Gondor. That filthy Ranger! But wait. I'll not only haunt you, but YOUR FAMILY AS WELL!""
Arwen let out a horrifying scream and fainted, darkness engulfing her.
* * *
"Cela i ando andollo Mandosto. Mapa i anna cuilieo. Entua an i cala. Entua an i cala. (Away from the gate of Mandos. Receive the gift of life. Return to the light. Return to the light.)" a voice chanted softly into the dark abyss she was in.
With a painful gasp, Arwen awoke, breathing heavily. her father, Lord of Rivendell, was bent keenly over her, reciting the spell. To her right, she heard someone banging heavily on the door.
"Elrond! Let me in at once! I know she's awake, I heard her! LET ME IN!"
With a sigh, Elrond motioned for the door to be opened. As soon as it was, Aragorn rushed in, limbs red from banging on the door so hard. He came to Arwen's side and grasped her hand tightly in his.
"What happened?" he and Elrond asked.
Arwen closed her eyes, dreading the words. Not again, not again.