Title: A winters night ball

Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)

Rating: PG-17

Summary: Aragorn and Arwen are still not speaking, can they make things up before he leaves?

Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Lord of the rings' the whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.

Dedication/apology: Jason I am sorry that I have Mary Sued you in to Elladan, it wasn't done intentionally and I didn't even realise until the other day. Sorry baby x

Chapter 4

A lovers soul is a poets soul

Elrohir paced up and down in front of the window, watching his brother walk with Wendele in the courtyard. So far she had hugged him four times and kissed his cheek twice. Elrohir smiled slightly, she had clearly liked the poem, he was glad that it made her happy. He looked down at his hand and wondered why it was balled in to a fist, he walked over to his chair and sat down, bringing his head to rest in his hands.

He closed his eyes and tried to banish the sinking feeling that had begun in his stomach and was now making its way towards his heart. He took several deep breaths, his head still in his hands.

"Valar curse you if you should ever fall for a mortal Elrohir." Arwen glided, despite her wrath, in to her brother's study. She sat on the chair next to him and crossed her arms over her chest.

"In truth I hadn't planned to." He stretched out his legs and crossed them over one another, getting more comfortable.

When her face did not lighten, he turned to face her. "What has the cursed mortal done now?"

Arwen scowled at him, making him shudder slightly. The icy stare of the Evenstar, rarely was it seen, but when it was it could chill the heart of a dragon.

"I am sorry Elrohir, it is not your fault." Her gaze softened and she uncrossed her arms. "My fear is masked by anger."

"What are you afraid off?" He swivelled gracefully in his chair, so that he could really look at her as she spoke.

"I am afraid off pushing away the only man I will ever love." She looked down at the ground, knowing how unreasonable she had been towards Aragorn.

"No being in all of Middle Earth has the strength to push Estel away from you. He loves you Undomiel. There is no stronger tie then that of love." He reached out his hand and stroked it over hers.

"Arwen, if you and Estel are broken apart tomorrow then you will still be the luckiest two that ever lived, for you have known love in your life. You have lived, however brief, in the passion and the pain."

Arwen smiled at him, noting how sad he suddenly looked. "You speak as though from experience." She frowned, wondering if something had been kept from her.

He grinned at her meekly. "I speak as a poet. An observer." His grin left and sadness took him once more. "Not as a doer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aragorn sighed in to the morning light, he looked like a man returning from war, beaten and defeated. He ran his hand through his unruly hair and breathed in the smell of the wintered grass. For the life of him he knew not what to do for the best, he could grovel to Arwen, get in some practice for when they were married, or he could give her some time alone. It was true, Aragorn was a man and he knew when a woman was in love, but he could never return Gallia's affections. How could Arwen even begin to think that any woman bar her could mean anything to him.

The sun was making its slow journey west, across the clouded sky. Aragon closed his eyes and took a deep breath, it was times like this when he wished he had a father, someone to advise him on women.

Aragorn's ranger skills kicked in as he heard footsteps behind him. He turned quickly and saw a young Elf maiden walking with Elladan. Wendele's face broke in to a smile, a some what pitied smile as she saw him. "Hello. My name is Wendele. I am a friend of your brother's."

Elladan cringed, knowing that the game was either up or he was going to get a beating from Aragorn.

Why in the name of Adar was she speaking to him like that? Her tone was slow and patronising. "Hello Wendele, it is nice to meet you." His face was still set with confusion as he bowed to her, before turning his stare on his brother.

Wendele's face beamed at how well he had greeted her. The poor thing, Elladan had told her all about his condition, how his mind had all but gone. She looked over at Elladan who smiled back sadly, he decided it was best to keep quiet and just let this play out.

"Would you like us to take you back to the hall?" She spoke loudly, over pronouncing each word. Aragorn didn't have a clue what was going on, but he suspected Elladan's hung head knew all about it.

"No thank you." He too spoke loudly and slowly, certain that this poor woman must have something wrong with her.

"Good morning my lord." They all turned to see Gallia striding towards them. "You are an early riser, as am I." She smiled joyfully, the sun light catching the red flecks in her hair.

Aragorn bowed slightly to her, a weak smile on his lips.

"Well then seeing as you will not be on your own, we will leave you to it." Elladan placed his hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "If you need anything just ask, and don't wonder too far from home you hear." He moved, so that only Aragorn could see his face, and whispered. "I'm sorry, I'll explain later."

"I would rather you didn't." Was the only reply he received.

Wendele smiled at them both, then turning to face Gallia she mouthed the word 'special'

Gallia frowned at the Elf as they moved past them, making their way back. She turned back to Aragorn, who was still staring after her. "Is she alright?"

He shook his head gently and shrugged. "I think perhaps not."

Wishing to change the subject, Gallia took a step closer to him.

"I was hoping to find you, for I have long desired to speak with you." She gazed at him through dazed eyes.

"Oh, speak of what?" Aragorn faced her, noting how close she was to him.

"Before you left Arnor, we spoke of many things. Yet never did I find the courage to say what my heart truly wished to."

Aragorn tensed, not sure if he should stop her there or let her continue.

"You are a fine man Aragorn, perhaps the finest. I want you to know where my affections lay, so that when the time comes, you may consider me-"

"Gallia." He looked down at her with such sympathy that she instantly wished she had kept her mouth shut

He placed his hand on her shoulder, hoping to comfort her. Inside Gallia's chest her heart was braking, like shattered glass that could never be fixed.

Aragorn let out a deep breath and looked at her with undeniable pity, making her cringe. She tried to smile, to lighten the situation.

"It would appear as though I have just made a fool of myself." She laughed, trying to rid her face of the shame she felt at being rejected.

Aragorn shock his head gently. "No Gallia, it took great courage to do what you did. And all I can say is that I am in no way worthy of your affections."

Gallia smiled at him gratefully, bowing slightly, before turning to walk away, hoping to disengage with at least some dignity left. She knew that if she walked away from him now, never knowing why he did not want her, then she would always regret it. She turned back to face him and looked deep in to his grey eyes.

"Is it me?" Were the only words she get manage.

Aragorn instantly shook his head at the young woman. "No Gallia, it is not you."

"Then what?"

Aragorn looked at the ground and let all that he had ever felt for Arwen wash over him. "I can not give you my heart, for it was taken from me many years ago. It belongs to another, and though I know not what our future holds, with her it will remain. If she can not be mine then I shall live out my life alone, doomed to live without my heart."

Gallia smiled at him, it must be nice to be this woman of whom he speaks, when she is spoken about in such a way. "You look greatly saddened as you speak of her. I do not know this woman, or why you are so troubled but I think perhaps you are saying all this to the wrong woman. I think perhaps you should find your heart, or when it brakes it will be your doing, and yours alone."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elladan came skipping in to the library. "Good day brother." He beamed like an idiot as he sat on the desk in front of Elrohir.

"Worked a treat." He playfully punched Elrohir on the shoulder before receiving a not-so-gentle one back.

"I'm glad I could help you deceive a sweet and kind lady Elladan, wouldn't our mother be proud of us." His tone was bitter, something very rarely heard from the Elf prince.

"What is wrong with you? Your robes too tight?" Elladan laughed trying to lighten his brother's mood.

"Nothing is wrong with me, I just have a-" He thought for a moment for a pretend ailment that he could use, before realising he was an Elf, and Elves never got ill. "Damn our immortality."

Elladan laughed, making Elrohir laugh too. "It really bothers you doesn't it?

Elrohir looked up at him. "What does?"

"The fact the I used your poetry to make Wendele crave me." Elladan raised his eyebrows picking up on the unusual hostility from his twin.

"I just think that there are better ways to win a ladies heart then to trick her." He walked over to the window, and looked down to where he had watched her earlier that day. "Do not ask me to do it for you again. One day when you are really in love, you will look back and think yourself a fool. For you will not be out for all you can get, it will be enough for you to see her smile, to make her happy, even if you can not have her."

Elladan thought about this for a moment, nodding in agreement.

"That is really beautiful Elrohir." He walked over to him at the window and rested his arm on his brother's shoulder. "You should stitch it on to a pillow."

I have had a funny pulsing twitch thing in my eye the entire time I have been writing this, so please review and make me feel better. Also all you guys on the SJC website, don't forget to send in your entries for The Telumendil Competition

Challenge 1by the 27th March

Anyone that would like to join the SJC group say so in your review and leave you email address. I probably wont be posting anything new for a few weeks, sorry.

Ashley:- Wow that is without a doubt the nicest review I have ever gotten. Thank you so much, that made my day. To answer your question I do have a web site that is under construction. It should be up and working soon and it will have all the stories that were taken off FF.net, as well as some new ones. Thanks again and I don't think your sick or insane, I also like a bit of

Gionareth:- Great minds think alike. I promise to make Aragorn and Arwen stop being mad at each other soon, and of course you know I will fluff as best I can when writing their reconciliation.

prettiest in pink:- Don't worry I wouldn't leave them apart for very long.

Grumpy:- Well I am impressed that someone who declares themselves as 'grumpy' likes my fluffy story.

ME132:- Kayleigh I can't very well have them all be understanding now can I. Where would the angst go? Oh and I am the high Queen of the Noldor!

The Last Evenstar:- oh no not fluff withdrawal! I've been there, I once had to go cold turkey.

The Converted:- Ok when I read/watch/hear something then completely forget it and use it in a story of my own, technically it is not stealing. I do not need you to keep reminding me! Someone once said "A good author is someone who reads a lot of great books, then completely forgets what they have read and subconsciously passes it off as their own work"

Cerridwen-Evereven:- Men! Must they always screw things up? They have to make everything so complicated don't they.