A/N: The baby is called Luthien for a reason. It was intentional and not an
accident.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
Samantha.
Chapter 1.
Several days later Arwen and Aragorn stood upon the lower balcony of Arwen's and Elrond's private residence.
"Mae govennan." Elrond greeted the Elves who milled below, eager to see their Evenstar and eager for their first glimpse of her new daughter.
"Two days ago, Lady Arwen and Lord Aragorn welcomed the arrival of their first child, a daughter." Elrond told the people, who cheered in response.
The infant cradled in Arwen's arms, baby Luthien was startled by all of the noise and wailed loudly. Smiling Arwen soothed her daughter, and then waited for her father to continue.
"The child has been named Luthien, after her grandmother of old. We welcome her here to Rivendell." Lord Elrond's words were met once more, with loud cheers.
Arwen cradled Luthien in her arms so that the Elves below could see her tiny daughter, their new princess. "Mae govennan, Tinuviel!" Several Elves called.
"According to the customs of old, I give to my precious granddaughter the Elven jewel Carandil, the star of Rivendell. May her fate ever be intertwined with this place." Elrond spoke for the last time, laying the lilac colored jewel around the child's tiny neck, then bowed to Luthien, still held protectively in her mother's arms.
Then a Wood Elf ascended the stairs, bowing before Arwen, Aragorn and Luthien.
"A gift to the child I bring from distant Mirkwood." The Elf began.
"You are known to us, Legolas Thranduilion." Arwen said to him, bowing her head to him.
"She is truly a beautiful child." Legolas said to her. "Just like her mother.
"Thank you." Arwen answered, smiling at him. Aragorn beamed with fatherly pride.
"From Mirkwood to Rivendell I bring to the newborn Lady Luthien the Book of Ages, and an invitation for her to journey to Mirkwood, whenever she so wishes." Once more Legolas bowed, then passed the Book into Aragorn's hands and stood to the side with Elrond.
Another blonde Elf approached, bowing and making the correct obeisance to the child.
"Haldir of Lothlorien, you are also known to us." Arwen spoke gently.
"From fair Lothlorien, and the city of Caras Galadhon, I bring to the Lady Luthien greetings and prayers from the Lord and Lady, as well as the Envinyatar Stone. May the Grace of the Valar always shine upon Hiril-ai'."
Haldir's words were met with gentle applause, so as not to frighten Luthien once more.
In the soft starlight, Arwen sat on the edge of the stone fountain in her garden, cradling Luthien, wrapped in a white embroidered shawl to ward off the chill in the night air.
Arwen smiled up at the stars, pointing them out to her small daughter, and telling her some of their stories.
Softly she began to sing the Lay of Luthien, the tale of her grandmother of old, baby Luthien's namesake.
The notes carried clearly in the night air. The tiny baby smiled up at her mother, cooing in her babyish way, and reaching up to stroke the soft skin on her mother's face.
"Arwen?" Called a voice.
"I am here Aragorn." She answered, knowing his voice immediately.
"I was wondering where you were." Aragorn moved to sit beside her, reaching out to pass a gentle hand over his daughter's dark waves.
"I was showing Luthien the stars."
"And singing to her as well." He smiled.
"The Lay is appropriate for her." Arwen said to him.
"Only if she marries a mortal man." Aragorn answered.
"She's only a baby, my love. We won't have to worry about Luthien marrying for many years yet."
"What about us? When will we marry?" Aragorn asked her.
"When our time comes, and when the time is right." Arwen told him. "There are still many things you are yet accomplish, A'melamin. We will be married, soon. Do not despair."
"I shall not." Aragorn fell silent for a moment. "I am to ride out with Elladan and Elrohir tomorrow and meet with several of the Dunedain. I do not know when I shall return to you."
"That is well." Arwen told him. "I may yet take Luthien to Lothlorien, so that she can meet my grandparents, her great-grandparents." Arwen rested her head on his shoulder, allowing them to sit quietly in the moonlight, until they carried Luthien inside placing her in the hand-carved cradle Erestor had made for the baby, leaving their sleeping daughter in the care of her nurse.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
Samantha.
Chapter 1.
Several days later Arwen and Aragorn stood upon the lower balcony of Arwen's and Elrond's private residence.
"Mae govennan." Elrond greeted the Elves who milled below, eager to see their Evenstar and eager for their first glimpse of her new daughter.
"Two days ago, Lady Arwen and Lord Aragorn welcomed the arrival of their first child, a daughter." Elrond told the people, who cheered in response.
The infant cradled in Arwen's arms, baby Luthien was startled by all of the noise and wailed loudly. Smiling Arwen soothed her daughter, and then waited for her father to continue.
"The child has been named Luthien, after her grandmother of old. We welcome her here to Rivendell." Lord Elrond's words were met once more, with loud cheers.
Arwen cradled Luthien in her arms so that the Elves below could see her tiny daughter, their new princess. "Mae govennan, Tinuviel!" Several Elves called.
"According to the customs of old, I give to my precious granddaughter the Elven jewel Carandil, the star of Rivendell. May her fate ever be intertwined with this place." Elrond spoke for the last time, laying the lilac colored jewel around the child's tiny neck, then bowed to Luthien, still held protectively in her mother's arms.
Then a Wood Elf ascended the stairs, bowing before Arwen, Aragorn and Luthien.
"A gift to the child I bring from distant Mirkwood." The Elf began.
"You are known to us, Legolas Thranduilion." Arwen said to him, bowing her head to him.
"She is truly a beautiful child." Legolas said to her. "Just like her mother.
"Thank you." Arwen answered, smiling at him. Aragorn beamed with fatherly pride.
"From Mirkwood to Rivendell I bring to the newborn Lady Luthien the Book of Ages, and an invitation for her to journey to Mirkwood, whenever she so wishes." Once more Legolas bowed, then passed the Book into Aragorn's hands and stood to the side with Elrond.
Another blonde Elf approached, bowing and making the correct obeisance to the child.
"Haldir of Lothlorien, you are also known to us." Arwen spoke gently.
"From fair Lothlorien, and the city of Caras Galadhon, I bring to the Lady Luthien greetings and prayers from the Lord and Lady, as well as the Envinyatar Stone. May the Grace of the Valar always shine upon Hiril-ai'."
Haldir's words were met with gentle applause, so as not to frighten Luthien once more.
In the soft starlight, Arwen sat on the edge of the stone fountain in her garden, cradling Luthien, wrapped in a white embroidered shawl to ward off the chill in the night air.
Arwen smiled up at the stars, pointing them out to her small daughter, and telling her some of their stories.
Softly she began to sing the Lay of Luthien, the tale of her grandmother of old, baby Luthien's namesake.
The notes carried clearly in the night air. The tiny baby smiled up at her mother, cooing in her babyish way, and reaching up to stroke the soft skin on her mother's face.
"Arwen?" Called a voice.
"I am here Aragorn." She answered, knowing his voice immediately.
"I was wondering where you were." Aragorn moved to sit beside her, reaching out to pass a gentle hand over his daughter's dark waves.
"I was showing Luthien the stars."
"And singing to her as well." He smiled.
"The Lay is appropriate for her." Arwen said to him.
"Only if she marries a mortal man." Aragorn answered.
"She's only a baby, my love. We won't have to worry about Luthien marrying for many years yet."
"What about us? When will we marry?" Aragorn asked her.
"When our time comes, and when the time is right." Arwen told him. "There are still many things you are yet accomplish, A'melamin. We will be married, soon. Do not despair."
"I shall not." Aragorn fell silent for a moment. "I am to ride out with Elladan and Elrohir tomorrow and meet with several of the Dunedain. I do not know when I shall return to you."
"That is well." Arwen told him. "I may yet take Luthien to Lothlorien, so that she can meet my grandparents, her great-grandparents." Arwen rested her head on his shoulder, allowing them to sit quietly in the moonlight, until they carried Luthien inside placing her in the hand-carved cradle Erestor had made for the baby, leaving their sleeping daughter in the care of her nurse.