I'm starting to like cliffhangers… maybe I should use them more often. Or not. Anyway…. No action yet, but don't worry, this isn't all fluff. Please review!
The Grace of the Valar: Chapter 5
Suddenly, a dark figure stepped out from between the trees, quickly followed by another. Cloaks covered their faces, and a powerful voice issued forth from somewhere in the shadows.
"That, lady, is never a good question to ask a woman."
The strangers had walked without a sound and had crept up unnoticed by Eowyn, but the as she saw the first faint figure, her sword, which had all this time hung by her side, was out in an instant and she placed herself between the Queen and the cloaked figures. "If you walk one step further, you will have this blade at your necks," she hissed, "This sword has bitten through the evil of the Witch King of Angmar, and it will not fail with two cloaked travelers."
But to her surprise, Arwen gently dismounted, slipping easily off her saddle-less horse. The cloaked figure which had remained silent looked on towards the Queen, and said, "You have not come without protection, I see; I have heard of this Lady of Rohan. I am glad that you do not ride alone. You might take care to stay your chatter, for I heard you a mile away; nonetheless, your senses still seem keen for we could not surprise you."
Eowyn, seeing that there was no present danger, lowered her sword, though she had a confused expression on her face. Arwen smiled and, walking towards the strangers, said, "Indeed not, Elladan, and do not expect it in the future, if indeed you will not sail to Valinor with father now. But it is rude to speak while leaving others unacquainted."
"It is so," Elladan said, and, nodding his head towards the White Lady in a gesture of respect, continued, "I am Elladan, Prince of Imladris, and this is my brother Elrohir."
"…Also Prince of Imladris, if I need to specify." Elrohir had stepped forward, and Eowyn saw that he looked just like his brother Elladan.
"Once you have finished bragging, dear brothers…" Arwen said, and rolled her eyes.
"These are your brothers?" Eowyn asked, quite astounded.
"That they are, and have been for some 2779 years now," Arwen said, expressing in her smile the memories that so many years with older brothers must have brought.
"Ah, sister, so you have revealed your age! The pity, I thought it might remain in mystery forever," Elladan quipped.
Eowyn was surprised how familiar these siblings were – she had not thought of elves save as calm and gentle, as Arwen appeared often and Legolas the Prince of Mirkwood always did. But now, there was a far more human side to them, and Eowyn enjoyed it. She even felt that she might tease the Queen a bit. "You are 2779 years old?" she asked, in an incredulous voice, "Why, I should think that you are remarkably well-preserved."
Arwen looked at her in surprise, and then grinned evilly at her. "More respect for your elders, if you please, milady!" she shot back.
"Yes, do," quipped Elrohir, "You wouldn't want to offend the Evenstar, she gets quite nasty when she's angry. As I'm sure eight of the nine Ringwraiths could tell you."
"Come, let us ride," interrupted Elladan, "Let's not keep the Lady of the Wood waiting. It is not far now."
And as Eowyn looked around, she saw that the woods around her were beautiful, slim trees and the sunshine filtered in golden rays about them, making everything look as though wrought with gold. "How much longer, then, will it be until we get there?" she asked.
"Perhaps another hour," said Elladan, "It is not far now, but we will ride slowly to rest the horses."
They rode on in silence, enjoying the beauty of the woods and the humor in the air. There was much love between the siblings, Eowyn observed, not unlike the bond she shared with Eomer.
Suddenly, a strange music from far of reached her ears, and she saw Arwen listening intently again, much as she had when she had heard her brothers' approach. This time, though, there was a definite smile about her face. "The music of Lothlórien," she whispered, "It never fades in beauty."
"Neither do you, milady," said Elrohir, and Eowyn got the distinct impression that Arwen wished to hit him. But the Queen of Gondor restrained herself, and Eowyn was quite glad, otherwise her entire image of the Elve would be utterly destroyed.
Presently, the company came to a clearing in the wood, and Eowyn caught her breath. Everywhere, she saw trees, and in the trees, there were houses and stairways, and everything seemed to glow. And there were elves – elves walking, or talking quietly in the wood, all clad in light-colored cloth that seemed to glow.
Looking over at her companions, she saw an almost eerie glow about them. Arwen was looking up, her face illuminated by the tranquil light everywhere. "I have dwelt here so long, and yet it is still so beautiful," she whispered.
Elladan and Elrohir silently nodded. Just then, Eowyn saw a company of Elves approach them.
Elladan slid of his horse; Arwen and Elrohir already had dismounted. Eowyn quickly followed suit, and she gazed in amazement as her horse turned and quietly walked away, following the horses of the other riders.
But she was again distracted as the Elves she had seen earlier drew closer, and she looked in wonder at them.
In front walked a lady with long, golden hair, and dresses in an exquisite white dress that was beautiful in its simplicity. Her arm rested on the arm of a regal Elf, dressed in silver with long, straight hair and a serious expression that Eowyn felt could express just as much happiness. Both had clear, blue eyes, and the eyes of the Lady sparkled with age and depth.
"Galadriel, the Lady of the Golden Wood," whispered Elladan, "And her husband Celeborn. They are some of the few High Elves now left in Middle Earth."
Eowyn instinctively sank to the ground upon her knees and bowed her head, and she saw that Arwen and her brothers did the same. Galadriel now stood before them, and Eowyn was struck with many impressions all at once, of age and wisdom and suffering. She drew in her breath.
"Fast you have traveled," she heard a soft voice speak, old and young, wonderful and terrible, "A journey has ended, and a journey is yet to begin. Rise, Arwen Daughter of Elrond, and Eowyn daughter of Eomund." Slowly they rose, and Eowyn found herself level to the most beautiful face she had ever seen. It looked like the morning sun, and there was a smile forming about her lips. And then, she saw Arwen smile a shy smile, and it seemed to her that Arwen was incredibly young.
"Daer-naneth," spoke the Queen of Gondor, "Daer-adar."
"Arwen-daughter," Celeborn said, "I am glad that you have come." There was now a definite smile about his face, and he stepped forward to embrace his granddaughter.
Galadriel reached up and touched Arwen cheek. "You are with child," she said rather than asked.
"Yes," said Arwen, "This babe will come in the spring."
"Endings and beginnings," Galadriel said, "As we fade from this Middle Earth, a new life comes here." She stepped over and lightly embraced her.
"Lady of Rohan," Eowyn found herself surprised to be spoken to, "Or is it Lady of Ithilien?" Celeborn looked at her kindly.
"No, milord," Eowyn said, a bit flustered, "It is a fortnight yet before the Prince of Ithilien and I will wed."
"He is a good man," said Celeborn, "The Elves have watched him for many years. You will be happy, the Valar be blessed."
"It is only a fortnight to your wedding and yet you have come here with the Evenstar?" another voice asked, and the Lady of the Wood herself was speaking.
"Yes," said Eowyn, daring and not daring to look into the eyes of the Lady, "I do not wish to remain behind in Minas Tirith if it can be helped, milady."
"You are a brave woman," Galadriel replied, "And we have much to thank you for. You lifted a great evil from the land."
"It is not me that you need thank," Eowyn demurely replied, "For there were many that helped me. The Darkness would have come and claimed me if Elessar had not healed my body and Faramir healed my soul."
Galadriel smiled. Then, another figure stepped out of the shadows, and Arwen, who had been quietly looking about for while. Smiling, she said, "Ada."
"Arwen." Elrond, smiled back at his daughter, and Eowyn saw that aside from Aragorn, this was the man that Arwen loved most. It suddenly struck her that she must love Aragorn a great deal, to remain behind on this Earth when all her family would soon pass from this land.
Arwen merely embraced her father, and the action spoke ages.