Aragorn's Sorrow
By EmptyWord
Author's Notes: Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! Thank goodness for you guys! This was a really difficult chapter to write. I must have changed the whole thing five times! But this is the result and I hope everyone enjoys!
Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is the property of John Ronald Reuel Tolkein, Christopher Tolkein, Allen & Unwin, Ballantine Books, Houghton-Mifflin, and innumerable others. My name does not appear anywhere on the list. No monetary profit is intended in the writing of this story.
Chapter Six: Departure
Two days pass quickly in the House of Elrond and it was not long before Aragorn had to leave. Many might have thought it reckless to leave Arwen behind and let Heled do what he would, but Aragorn was aware that he really had no choice. Heled had spoken truly when he said that no one would believe Aragorn should Aragorn venture to spill all his secrets. Therefore, it would not be wise to speak of it to anyone. The best thing to do for the moment would still be to leave. Aragorn would not go if he did not think Arwen would be safe, but he was sure that Heled would not seek to hurt her. After all, it was not her he hated but Aragorn.
The skies were gray and gloomy with the threat of a storm. The clouds sulked with the weight, impatient to release their burden. No cheery sun welcomed the Man as he stepped outside. It was not a good day to be on the road, but the king of Gondor needed to leave. He would take his chances.
"Why so eager to leave, Lord Aragorn?" came a voice, cold and cutting.
Aragorn turned sharply to regard the source of the voice with a sinking heart. He might have guessed it was Heled. The Elf had tried to make his last two days in Rivendell as miserable as possible. Aragorn was no longer able to watch the scenery in peace. Heled would barge into his thoughts and make a snide remark. For the most part, Aragorn endured the nuisance quietly, unwilling to stir up the situation even further. However, he was beginning to feel sparks of irritation whenever the Elf appeared, and Aragorn was afraid that he might lose his temper soon.
"Gondor has stood alone for far too long. I must return." As Aragorn spoke, someone else stepped out from behind Heled. Aragorn's heart dropped even lower when he saw that it was Arwen.
Arwen managed to maintain her outward calm, although inwardly, her thoughts and emotions were spinning out of control. Aragorn looked so regal and handsome, standing calmly outside, the gray sky overhead enhancing his swirling gray eyes. He blended well with the background, his appearances somehow as natural and endearing as the earth itself. It was what had first drawn her to him. A jagged slit of lightning cracked the air, reminding Arwen that a storm was brewing. "My lord," she said, "a storm is coming quickly. It is far too dangerous for you to try to travel in this weather. Please, stay a few more days, until the storm has passed."
His gray eyes darkened several shades. The scene before him grieved him greatly. Arwen stood quietly beside Heled, the two of them watching him expectantly. Two tall, graceful figures in the gloom, almost as if bidding him farewell. They looked so perfect together. Heled claimed to not love Arwen, but Aragorn was sure that he would eventually. He was comfortable with her at least. And what right did Aragorn have to tear them apart? What right did he have to steal Arwen's mortality? He should just leave them be.
Feeling the remains of his heart tearing with every word, Aragorn forced himself to speak. "Thank you, Lady Undomiel, but truly, I must be on my way. After all, the king of Gondor should not be frightened by some rain." He smiled wanly. "Farewell, friends." He turned on his heels and strode away.
"Wait!" Arwen cried out, taking a quick step forward, but Heled's hand came even quicker to her arm, holding her back. He spoke gently, "Come, Arwen, let us return inside. It is too chilly out here."
It was only until Aragorn's figure had faded completely into the gloom that Arwen stopped watching. And then, she slumped down onto the floor, her black hair piling around her in rippling waves of darkness.
"Arwen!" Heled cried out, reaching down to pull her back up. "Please, my dear, come." He took her hand and led her back into Elrond's House. As they walked, Heled cast a sidelong glance at the lady. She looked far more distressed than he had expected her to be. It was apparent she still held some feelings for the Man. Heled frowned. There was no way he was going to let Aragorn win Arwen back, or win anything for that matter.
Legolas peered through the darkness, silently cursing the weather-not even Elf eyes could see far without light. It was fortunate that he was nearly at Rivendell now and wouldn't have to travel far in the coming storm, but the clouds sagged with their weight and he was sure that he was still going to get wet. Legolas spurred his mount on, carefully avoiding any tree trunks that happened to be in the way.
There was a sudden flash of lightning, accompanied in moments by the growling thunder. The horse reared frantically and would have bolted had Legolas not been gripping the reins so firmly. As it was, Legolas was thrown slightly off-balance. With darkening eyes, the Elf shifted back onto the saddle. Aragorn would definitely need a good reason for staying so long at Rivendell. Legolas was not going to have his ride have been for nothing, not after all this trouble.
A fat, heavy drop of rain splashed on his hand, jerking his eyes upward. Noting the thick mass of gray beyond the dark foliage, Legolas was forced to acknowledged the raindrop for what it was, the signal for the clouds to unleash their worst. Hardening his resolve, he began guiding the horse through the trees, studiously ignoring the large pelts of water that dropped from the sky.
As the horse stepped onto a well-trodden dirt path, Legolas stopped a moment to study his surroundings. With a cry of joy, which elicited a twitch from his horse, Legolas realized that he had not much farther to go before arriving at Elrond's House. He quickened the pace of his horse, urging it on through the now pounding rain. It wasn't long before Legolas broke past the crowd of trees and caught sight of the stables just ahead. He stopped from rushing toward it when he noticed the figure on horseback trotting out of the stable.
With a shock, Legolas recognized the rider as Aragorn. But what in the world could Aragorn be thinking? Even the worst of fools knew it was too risky to ride in a storm as violent as this one. Legolas cantered his horse into the open, halting within a foot of Aragorn's stallion.
"Aragorn!" he said, frowning at the Man. "What is the meaning of this madness? Why are you not in Elrond's House?"
Aragorn had not seen the Elf until he'd spoken. Blinking in surprise, Aragorn raised his head to stare at his friend. "Legolas?"
"What are you doing, Aragorn? It's pouring out here!!"
"I could ask the same of you, Legolas," Aragorn pointed out with a tired smile. "I thought you were in Mirkwood."
"That can be discussed later. I would really prefer to be somewhere warm and dry at the moment." The Elf-prince grinned back at the other, his hair and clothes completely soaked. "I don't suppose it would be too much trouble to take refuge in the stable with the horses?"
Aragorn looked away, uneasiness seeping into his expression. "I do not plan on returning to Elrond's House, Legolas," said the Ranger softly. "I am leaving."
Sharp green eyes narrowed dangerously. Elves never miss the slightest change of expression, and certainly not this Elf. But Legolas simply opted for innocence. "Leaving...without Arwen?"
"Without Arwen, yes," he choked out, forcing the words out. "The circumstances...have changed."
Legolas reached over and gripped the other stallion's bridle. With a gentle tug, he led both horses toward the stables. Before Aragorn could protest, Legolas spoke, "No circumstances can be so bad that you need to leave in a thunderstorm."
Nevertheless, Aragorn halted his horse, oblivious to the heavy rain falling in sheets around him. Avoiding his friend's eyes, he said quietly, "I cannot stay here anymore. It has all been too much. I must go."
Paying no heed to the Ranger, Legolas continued to pull the horses toward shelter, to which they eagerly agreed. When Aragorn made a move to stop again, Legolas shot him a warning glance. Subdued by the compassion in those green eyes, the Man allowed his mount to be drawn to the stables. Once they were beneath the dry roof, the horses were immediately tended to. Amidst the flurry of getting the horses dry, cleaning them, and feeding them-not to mention drying themselves-, there was no time to converse. But when the horses were taken care of, Aragorn knew he could not escape from questions any longer. He withdrew further into the stable, whispering greetings to each horse and trying to forget unpleasant memories.
Legolas stared out into the downpour. Everything was so gray today, so gray and so gloomy. Something was wrong. Nature did not unleash its fury like this unless it had been duly angered. With a sigh, he turned to find Aragorn.
He knew the Man had been avoiding him. And he could guess why. Something had happened between Aragorn and Arwen since the Ranger's stay at Rivendell, something drastic enough to cause Aragorn to run away. Legolas knew Aragorn feared the inevitable questions, but they needed to be asked. Legolas could not help his friend until he knew what had happened. So the Elf prince silently confronted Aragorn.
"I won't run around in circles, Aragorn. What is wrong?"
The Ranger was silent for a moment. Then, wearily, "Arwen is in love with another Elf."
The day had given way to night, but the rain continued to beat furiously against the roof of the house. Arwen watched glumly from her place on the mat as Heled glided into the hall, a charming smile on his lips. His hair glowed golden and his blue eyes sparkled cheerily, contrasting sharply with the gloom. How could he be so happy on a day like this? How could he react so cheerfully to Aragorn's departure? Her eyes shut briefly, painfully, at the thought of Aragorn's sudden absence.
"Why so morose, my dear?" Heled's soft voice reached her ears, even as his hand reached her shoulders. "It is not your fault that Aragorn left."
Arwen closed her eyes again, silently trying to shut out his voice, his presence. She did not want to hear this. She did not want these false words of comfort. Heled understood nothing of her pain! Aragorn did not love her. He had left. She was not to marry him, ever. Perhaps, she would not even see him again. And Elbereth, it was so final! Aragorn had gone.
And even amidst the suffering, Arwen realized she should not care. Indeed, she should be glad that Aragorn had left, allowing her control over her scattered emotions again.
"Arwen..."
She stood up abruptly, cutting him off. Her eyes opened to reveal endless depths of grief. "No, please. Let me be for this moment. Please."
Heled's expression darkened. "You still love him, don't you?" he said harshly.
"No! I..." She stopped. She couldn't pretend, not to Heled and not to herself. No matter how much she tried to stop loving Aragorn, she would always love him.
Heled turned abruptly and stormed away.
Arwen looked after him helplessly, longing to call him back. Despite her need of time to think alone, she did not wish to push him away. How she needed a friend during this time! Why was everyone leaving? Why was she always driving people away?
Exhausted for some reason, she collapsed back onto the ornately decorated mat. Tears surged into her eyes again and she rapidly blinked them away, wondering why she cried so often and so easily these days.
Above her, the weather continued its onslaught, the rain's angry pounding clashing against her ears.
I know, I know! This chapter was much shorter than the others! But I had to cut off a lot of it because it just didn't fit.
I'm thinking of hurrying this along now. sheepishly Patience is a virtue, so they say, but it's definitely not MY virtue. Another two or three chapters left to write, I think.
Anyway, thanks for reading, and please leave a review!
