The Road Less Traveled
By The Last Evenstar
A/N: Wow! Thanks for the great reviews, everybody!
Hecate Triformis - When am I going to update? NOW!
Galadwen19 - Reunions are my favorite thing ever. Especially the one in RotK.
greenleaf-in-bloom - Glad you thought so!
Evenstar - Sorry. But if you look to the end of the chapter on the fifth day, there shall be FLUFF!
Anamaria Elentari - At least I didn't name her Homa. That name's reserved for my pet oliphaunt.
Kekelina - Thanks! Judging from the reviews, I'm glad I made a sequel too!
b-witched83uk - Disobedience is the only way to go. And I'm thinking about sending Elrond some tweezers.
prettiest in pink - I wish Aragorn would show me exhilarating too. Although I'm pretty sure it's illegal in 48 states.
galadriel evenstar - Well, it's not the SAME exhilarating, but scroll down to the bottom . . .
Evening Nightshade - I love getting new reviewers! Glad you like it!
The Converted - Your reviews always make me laugh. More fluff on the way!
ME132 - I was going to make them run away fully, but I thought that would be to OOC. It's wonderfully romantic, though. I'D run away with him.
Jess - Here you go. Rally the Arwen Fans!
ArwenSolo - Thank you so much. I did. :D
EbonyBeach - Go fluff! Fluff rules!
And finally, here's the story . . .
Chapter Three: An Evening Star
"I still say this is madness," Elladan grumbled as they rode along. "And it's not that I'm against madness, but shouldn't we be trying to bring Arwen home? So Ada won't be as mad?"
Elrohir grinned. "You forget, tororamin, that my mind is far superior to yours." Elladan glared, but he continued. "You see, Ada needs time to start worrying. If we make him think something dreadful has happened to Arwen, he'll be so relieved when she returns that he won't even remember being angry."
His twin nodded slowly. "That could work." He paused. "But we're days away from the Homely House. How do we get a message to him?"
Elrohir's grin widened. "We don't. They -" he pointed behind them, to where Glorfindel's scouts rode, "they do."
Elladan shook his head. "I though I was the evil mastermind, but all this time . . ."
His brother smirked. "Real masterminds don't have heads half as big as yours."
"No, they're small in all regards."
Elrohir insisted later that Elladan had fallen out of the saddle completely on his own.
~~~~~~~
Around midday Aragorn and Arwen began to hear a pack of riders drawing closer. Aragorn cocked his head, listening. "Who are they?"
Arwen bit her lip. "I don't know. Ada must have sent them."
His panic was evident. "Well, what do we now?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Ride fast."
Before Aragorn could protest, she was off like a shot.
Colors blurred and shapes raced past. All she could feel was a sense of flying - no, more a sense of SOARING. Every worry, every care, every fear she had was left behind once Elentari picked up speed.
She had ridden fast before, but not THIS fast. She had been happy before, but not THIS happy. She had been free before.
But not this free.
It's a wonder how simple acts of independence can change your life, she marveled. I could go back to Rivendell - or I couldn't. It's all up to me. I am in control.
Aragorn, however, was not in control. In an effort to keep up with her, he had driven Elenaran faster than any human could manage - even the most adept. Arwen slowed to a trot, laughing, as he fought to hang on. "So much for outrunning them," she grinned.
Aragorn scowled. "This horse is out to get me, I swear. Sarcastic beast."
Arwen laughed. She loved him; she loved the dirt on his face and the leaves in his hair and the rips in his cloak, but most of all she loved the look on his face. Hers, however, changed to one of concern as she heard once again the pounding of approaching horsemen. "We won't be able to outrun them." She saw his wounded pride. "It's not your fault - elves ride faster than men."
He shrugged. "I guess we'd better give ourselves up, then. No use running anymore."
Her heart dropped. So much for independence; for taking control of her life. He was right. In the end, her father controlled everything.
"Or -" He grinned. "Or, I know a perfect hiding spot just through those trees."
~~~~~~~
The smile on her face was enough to make him forget everything else as he led her through the underbrush, taking care to mask their trail. The horses, being wise, if a bit sarcastic, we in front, trying not to make a sound.
Finally, they reached the perfect hiding spot. It was smaller and dirtier than Aragorn remembered it, and he tried to mask his dismay as he looked around.
There was a small pool directly beneath a tiny waterfall, behind which a perfectly-sized rock formation was aptly positioned to hide everything in sight. The place did not compare to the gardens of Rivendell, for, instead of being a sparkling blue, the water was a clear greenish tint. Many of the trees were dead, and the terrain was laden with brown leaves and gray branches. Still, it had an air of dignified simplicity to it, and Aragorn looked anxiously over at Arwen as they led the horses behind the waterfall.
To his surprise, she was staring at it rapturously. "It's perfect." She turned to him. "It's so real. So simple." She sighed and sat down on a rock. "Forget what I said about Lothlórien - let's stay HERE."
Aragorn was also awestruck. "Beautiful," he murmured, but he wasn't looking at the waterfall. He was looking at the maiden behind it.
Arwen grinned, ducking down behind the rocks. "I think we may have to be stuck here quite a while."
"Too bad," Aragorn agreed, sitting down next to her. "Looks like we're in for a long wait."
~~~~~~~
"I have decided . . ." Elladan paused. "I have decided that my life is not worth living. So I'm going to jump in the river."
Elrohir glared. "He is NOT jumping in the river, Elladan. We don't want Ada to think he's DEAD."
"Why not?"
"You'd get his hopes up," Elrohir replied glumly. "We just need to get him out of the picture." He began to dictate. "Dear Elrond, Because I am barred from seeing my beloved ever again I have decided to renounce my trade and join an order of monks far away in Arnor."
"That's no better than mine was!" his brother cried. "This isn't a pathetic love story!"
"Write it down anyway!"
"Fine," Elladan grumbled, scribbling away. "'. . . and perhaps when I get there I'll jump off the bell tower. Who knows?'"
"'But maybe I'll come back instead to kill your son -'"
"'Elrohir, who is a gigantic -'"
"'Hero, and should be treated like one, while stupid Elladan -'"
"'And when I say stupid, I mean incredibly good-looking -'"
"'Because he doesn't look AT ALL like his brother,'" Elrohir added sarcastically. Elladan quickly reread the letter. "You know, this doesn't sound much like Estel at all."
"Ah, just add 'give my best to Arwen' or something; he'll never know the difference."
Elladan kept writing. "How about, 'If she doesn't want to die a virgin you'll know where to find me -'"
"Elladan!"
"All right, we'll take that last part out!"
~~~~~~~
As night began to fall and the stars emerged silently from hiding, Aragorn and Arwen lay behind the waterfall, completely lost in each other.
"It's indescribable," she whispered, leaning her head against his rough cheek.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was hard and soft and deep and light all at the same time. She was floating, without a sensation of body or mind, and meanwhile she felt everything: the breeze in her hair and his hands on her cheek and the shiver running up her spine.
She could feel the beat of his heart, racing with hers in perfect time. They held each other so tightly that they could have been one, not two. There was no time, no reality, as they lay back against the rock, entwined in each other's arms. Arwen was surprised that her skin was able to remain intact through the incredible feeling that she was about to burst with happiness and desire.
As she paused to catch her breath everything came flooding back, and she saw it more clearly than ever. Her father; the life she loved and was giving up. One look into his eyes and she knew that he understood.
"Amin mela lle," she whispered, as they lay back, huddled together, and stared up at the twinkling sky. "Ar' amin umuva ten'oio [and I will forever]."
He looked up at the brightest star in the sky. "Make a wish, Undómiel."
She paused. After a moment, he kissed her softly. "Goodnight, mela en coiamin."
She smiled to herself in the dark. That was prompt in coming true.
