Chapter 2.
Early the next morning Arwen rose and dressed, wanting to see Aragorn once more before her left.
She retrieved Luthien from the nursery, before going down to the courtyard where Aragorn stood with Elladan and Elrohir, all three of them tacking up their horses and packing supplies.
"Arwen!" He exclaimed, seeing her approach.
"You didn't think I'd let you go without saying goodbye, did you?" Arwen told him.
Aragorn shook his head. "I wasn't sure if you'd bring Luthien, with you if you came."
"Of course." Arwen told him. "You can see her now, and then when you come home you'll be able to see how much she's grown."
"Are you angry with me?" Aragorn asked.
"You do what you need to, nin melath. Our time will come." She said, kissing him.
Aragorn then leaned down to kiss Luthien gently on her little forehead. "Namarie, little one. Be well for you mother."
"Tenna' ento lye omenta." Arwen called to the three of them as they rode out the gates of Rivendell. *Until we next meet.*
Many months later, when Luthien was smiling and laughing and sitting up all by herself, Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir returned, along with several of Aragorn's kinsmen, the men of the Dunedain.
Arwen, having been told by Glorfindel of their impending arrival waited in the courtyard, on the steps of the Hall of Elrond, Luthien held once more in her mother's arms, the little girl holding an elanor blossom in her small hand, careful not to crush it, even at her tender age.
Aragorn pulled his horse up suddenly as he saw the two of them, halting just in front of the steps. "Arwen!"
"Welcome home." She called, shifting Luthien in her arms so that the little girl could see her father. "Ada has come home to you, precious." She told her daughter.
Aragorn swung down from the saddle and rushed to embrace her. Luthien, caught between them, whimpered a little.
"Hush, my little one." Arwen told her, as she broke off her embrace.
"She's so beautiful, so much bigger than I remember her." Aragorn took his daughter's small hand in his own.
"Children grow up, my love." Arwen told him fondly. "Walk with us." She gestured for one of the grooms to take his horse. Then Aragorn held his arms out to take Luthien, and slid his other arm around her waist.
"We missed you while you were away." Arwen told him.
"Did you get the messages I sent?" Aragorn asked her.
Arwen smiled. "Thank you for sending them."
"I brought something home for Luthien." Aragorn sat down on the edge of the fountain and set Luthien down on the grass. Then he reached into his waistcoat and produced a small bag full of carved animals. "Do you think she'll like them?"
"Why don't you show her and see." Arwen encouraged him.
Gingerly he sat down on the grass beside her and spoke softly in Elvish, offering her the animals. Luthien's face lit up with recognition of the animals, while Aragorn's face was just as excited.
Arwen stood when she heard her father approaching. Before he could speak she hushed him, not wanting to disrupt the father and daughter. "Do you remember playing with me when I was little Ada?"
Elrond's face softened. "I do, little one. It is good to see that she knows him."
"It does my heart good to see the two of them so happy." Arwen breathed, resting her head on her father's shoulder even as they stood.
"It does my heart good to see you so happy, my daughter." Elrond told her.
Aragorn turned to say something to Arwen and realised that Lord Elrond was there too. "My Lord, my apologies, I should have come to speak with you as soon as I arrived."
"No apologies are necessary, Estel." Elrond told him, using the name he had given Aragorn in his childhood.
Aragorn stood leaving Luthien on the grass with her wooden animals. As Aragorn began to walk away from her she began to wail. Unsure of what to do he looked over at Arwen.
"She only wants to be with you, my Lord." Arwen told him, smiling as Aragorn leaned down to pick her up. At once the small child stopped wailing and began to smile and laugh once more.
"I have missed so much, not being here with her, and you." Aragorn told Arwen.
"Not much could be done about it, Aragorn." She said dismissively.
"Come then, my children." Elrond told them. "There will be a feast in the Hall of Fire to celebrate the arrival, and then the parting."
"The parting?" Arwen asked him.
"I must ride out again tomorrow. I am sorry Arwen. I had hoped to spend more time here with you and Luthien." Aragorn told her, sounding apologetic.
Arwen lowered her eyes before either could see the disappointment and sadness that lingered there. "I must go then, I have to dress Luthien and myself for dinner." She told them, hurriedly excusing herself.
"Arwen, please, leave Luthien with me while you dress. I will watch her. The next time I am able to see her , she may be quite a bit older." Biting back tears Arwen nodded and left Luthien with her father.
In her chambers Arwen was interrupted by Elrond, just as she was finishing with her dressing.
Elrond knocked lightly and then entered. "It pains you that he must leave so soon, doesn't it?"
"Yes it pains me. But I will endure." Arwen turned from him to face her mirror once more, beginning to dress her hair, still damp from the long perfumed bath she had taken.
"If I could do anything to ease your pain you know I would." Elrond told her.
She nodded her head. "I know. Do not despair for me Ada, I have made my choice. I do not despair for myself."
"I will leave you then. Lihra will bring Luthien to you shortly. Aragorn will seek council later this evening." Elrond spoke. Arwen did not answer him, nor did she turn to face him. Reflected in the mirror Elrond saw the tears on his daughters cheeks, but knew that there was nothing he could do relieve her pain.
Once Lihra had brought Luthien to her, just out of the bath, Arwen proceded to dry and dress the young Elven princess and braid her already long hair.
Finally Lord Elrond arrived at her room to collect her and lead her to the Hall of Elrond, named for him, the Master of Rivendell since it's creation as a safe haven for any Elf who so chose to seek safety there.
Her dress was of dark purple, which glittered with the light of stars as she moved, while Luthien was clad in a mantle of silver grey, to compliment her pale skin and dark hair, inherited from both of her parents.
Arwen herself wore a mantle covering her hair, made of fine net, embroidered with jewels, to shine like stars in her hair, while on her brow rested a circlet of silver, with a single white jewel shining from it. Around her neck she wore the Evenstar necklace, a symbol of her goodness, beauty and longivity.
"You look lovely, my daughter." Elrond told her, just before they entered the Hall.
"Thank you Ada." She answered, a sad undertone still lingering in her voice. Leaving go of his hand she bowed to her father, and then walked to her place at the table, set midway down, a chair beneath a canopy of silk and satin.
Erestor, one of her father's dearest friends, and a hold-father to Luthien held her chair out for her, while Corbe took Luthien as her mistress sat down. Looking around the table she found that it was set for many, a strange assortment of Elves, Men, and other folk as well. To her father's right side sat Elladan and Elrohir, while on the other side sat several Dwarves, each looking important and impressive.
As the guests filtered into the room music began to play, haunting melodies with the harp, flute and violin. Arwen knew that she would be asked to play before the night was over.
Many fair folk paused by her place, or stopped and spoke to her from the other side of the table, congratulating her on Luthien's birth, or on the decorations or music.
Playing the perfect hostess, a role that she as Elrond's daughter was automatically assigned on the departure of her mother Celebrian to the Undying Lands, Arwen smiled and complimented the people as well, cooing praises on them and speaking softly with close friends.
Long after the feast was over, and Corbe had escorted Arwen when she had taken Luthien from the celebrations and laid her in her crib.
The sounds of music and laughter faded as they drew further and further away from the Hall, towards the Last Homely House, her and her father's private residence.
Gently she set her sleeping daughter in her crib, covering her over with a warm blanket. "Goodnight my sweet one, may the stars shine bright in your dreams." Then she leaned down to kiss her daughter goodnight. Luthien sighed softly and moved slightly, but did not wake.
"Go now my Lady. I will watch over her. You should be off. Your father will be waiting for you in the Hall of Fire." Corbe told her mistress.
"If she wakes, bring her to me, Corbe." Arwen told her. "I am off now."
Arwen's footfalls were silent as she retraced her steps to the Hall of Elrond, and then entered the Hall of Fire. Nearest to the fire Lord Elrond sat speaking with Aragorn and several of his kin, as well as Elladan and Elrohir. Bowing her head to the Men as she approached, Elrond gestured for her to sit.
Aragorn looked curoiusly at her. "Where is Luthien, my Lady?"
"Sleeping now." Arwen smiled at him. "It is much beyond her bedtime, she rests in a world of dreams. Corbe is watching over her."
"I wish you had told me you were putting her to bed." Aragorn said, sounding a little upset.
"If I had known you wanted to see her once more I would have brought her to see you before bed." Arwen said softly. "Corbe will bring her to me when she wakes." She offered, as a peacekeeping gesture.
In spite of himself Aragorn smiled and twined his fingers in hers.
They spoke and sung until deep into the night, with Arwen playing several times for everyone, for she was very talented when it came to the harp, able to produce melodies to sooth the soul, bring one to tears, or make listeners feel that their hearts would burst with pleasure.
It was late when Corbe brought Luthien to her mother, the little girl quiet in her nurse's arms.
Arwen smiled to see her. "Thank you Corbe."
"Do you need me to stay, my Lady?" Corbe asked.
Arwen shook her head. "No, enjoy the celebrations." She took Luthien from her arms and carried her over to where Aragorn sat with Elrond and the rest of his kin.
"There you are little one." Aragorn smiled at his daughter.
Elrond smiled at the infant as well. "Where is Corbe?"
"I told her to go and enjoy herself." Arwen said to him. "I'll put Luthien back to bed later on."
Aragorn held out his arms to cuddle his small daughter, his fatherly pleasure evident. Arwen stood beside him, her arm around his neck, relaxed.
Early the next morning Arwen rose and dressed, wanting to see Aragorn once more before her left.
She retrieved Luthien from the nursery, before going down to the courtyard where Aragorn stood with Elladan and Elrohir, all three of them tacking up their horses and packing supplies.
"Arwen!" He exclaimed, seeing her approach.
"You didn't think I'd let you go without saying goodbye, did you?" Arwen told him.
Aragorn shook his head. "I wasn't sure if you'd bring Luthien, with you if you came."
"Of course." Arwen told him. "You can see her now, and then when you come home you'll be able to see how much she's grown."
"Are you angry with me?" Aragorn asked.
"You do what you need to, nin melath. Our time will come." She said, kissing him.
Aragorn then leaned down to kiss Luthien gently on her little forehead. "Namarie, little one. Be well for you mother."
"Tenna' ento lye omenta." Arwen called to the three of them as they rode out the gates of Rivendell. *Until we next meet.*
Many months later, when Luthien was smiling and laughing and sitting up all by herself, Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir returned, along with several of Aragorn's kinsmen, the men of the Dunedain.
Arwen, having been told by Glorfindel of their impending arrival waited in the courtyard, on the steps of the Hall of Elrond, Luthien held once more in her mother's arms, the little girl holding an elanor blossom in her small hand, careful not to crush it, even at her tender age.
Aragorn pulled his horse up suddenly as he saw the two of them, halting just in front of the steps. "Arwen!"
"Welcome home." She called, shifting Luthien in her arms so that the little girl could see her father. "Ada has come home to you, precious." She told her daughter.
Aragorn swung down from the saddle and rushed to embrace her. Luthien, caught between them, whimpered a little.
"Hush, my little one." Arwen told her, as she broke off her embrace.
"She's so beautiful, so much bigger than I remember her." Aragorn took his daughter's small hand in his own.
"Children grow up, my love." Arwen told him fondly. "Walk with us." She gestured for one of the grooms to take his horse. Then Aragorn held his arms out to take Luthien, and slid his other arm around her waist.
"We missed you while you were away." Arwen told him.
"Did you get the messages I sent?" Aragorn asked her.
Arwen smiled. "Thank you for sending them."
"I brought something home for Luthien." Aragorn sat down on the edge of the fountain and set Luthien down on the grass. Then he reached into his waistcoat and produced a small bag full of carved animals. "Do you think she'll like them?"
"Why don't you show her and see." Arwen encouraged him.
Gingerly he sat down on the grass beside her and spoke softly in Elvish, offering her the animals. Luthien's face lit up with recognition of the animals, while Aragorn's face was just as excited.
Arwen stood when she heard her father approaching. Before he could speak she hushed him, not wanting to disrupt the father and daughter. "Do you remember playing with me when I was little Ada?"
Elrond's face softened. "I do, little one. It is good to see that she knows him."
"It does my heart good to see the two of them so happy." Arwen breathed, resting her head on her father's shoulder even as they stood.
"It does my heart good to see you so happy, my daughter." Elrond told her.
Aragorn turned to say something to Arwen and realised that Lord Elrond was there too. "My Lord, my apologies, I should have come to speak with you as soon as I arrived."
"No apologies are necessary, Estel." Elrond told him, using the name he had given Aragorn in his childhood.
Aragorn stood leaving Luthien on the grass with her wooden animals. As Aragorn began to walk away from her she began to wail. Unsure of what to do he looked over at Arwen.
"She only wants to be with you, my Lord." Arwen told him, smiling as Aragorn leaned down to pick her up. At once the small child stopped wailing and began to smile and laugh once more.
"I have missed so much, not being here with her, and you." Aragorn told Arwen.
"Not much could be done about it, Aragorn." She said dismissively.
"Come then, my children." Elrond told them. "There will be a feast in the Hall of Fire to celebrate the arrival, and then the parting."
"The parting?" Arwen asked him.
"I must ride out again tomorrow. I am sorry Arwen. I had hoped to spend more time here with you and Luthien." Aragorn told her, sounding apologetic.
Arwen lowered her eyes before either could see the disappointment and sadness that lingered there. "I must go then, I have to dress Luthien and myself for dinner." She told them, hurriedly excusing herself.
"Arwen, please, leave Luthien with me while you dress. I will watch her. The next time I am able to see her , she may be quite a bit older." Biting back tears Arwen nodded and left Luthien with her father.
In her chambers Arwen was interrupted by Elrond, just as she was finishing with her dressing.
Elrond knocked lightly and then entered. "It pains you that he must leave so soon, doesn't it?"
"Yes it pains me. But I will endure." Arwen turned from him to face her mirror once more, beginning to dress her hair, still damp from the long perfumed bath she had taken.
"If I could do anything to ease your pain you know I would." Elrond told her.
She nodded her head. "I know. Do not despair for me Ada, I have made my choice. I do not despair for myself."
"I will leave you then. Lihra will bring Luthien to you shortly. Aragorn will seek council later this evening." Elrond spoke. Arwen did not answer him, nor did she turn to face him. Reflected in the mirror Elrond saw the tears on his daughters cheeks, but knew that there was nothing he could do relieve her pain.
Once Lihra had brought Luthien to her, just out of the bath, Arwen proceded to dry and dress the young Elven princess and braid her already long hair.
Finally Lord Elrond arrived at her room to collect her and lead her to the Hall of Elrond, named for him, the Master of Rivendell since it's creation as a safe haven for any Elf who so chose to seek safety there.
Her dress was of dark purple, which glittered with the light of stars as she moved, while Luthien was clad in a mantle of silver grey, to compliment her pale skin and dark hair, inherited from both of her parents.
Arwen herself wore a mantle covering her hair, made of fine net, embroidered with jewels, to shine like stars in her hair, while on her brow rested a circlet of silver, with a single white jewel shining from it. Around her neck she wore the Evenstar necklace, a symbol of her goodness, beauty and longivity.
"You look lovely, my daughter." Elrond told her, just before they entered the Hall.
"Thank you Ada." She answered, a sad undertone still lingering in her voice. Leaving go of his hand she bowed to her father, and then walked to her place at the table, set midway down, a chair beneath a canopy of silk and satin.
Erestor, one of her father's dearest friends, and a hold-father to Luthien held her chair out for her, while Corbe took Luthien as her mistress sat down. Looking around the table she found that it was set for many, a strange assortment of Elves, Men, and other folk as well. To her father's right side sat Elladan and Elrohir, while on the other side sat several Dwarves, each looking important and impressive.
As the guests filtered into the room music began to play, haunting melodies with the harp, flute and violin. Arwen knew that she would be asked to play before the night was over.
Many fair folk paused by her place, or stopped and spoke to her from the other side of the table, congratulating her on Luthien's birth, or on the decorations or music.
Playing the perfect hostess, a role that she as Elrond's daughter was automatically assigned on the departure of her mother Celebrian to the Undying Lands, Arwen smiled and complimented the people as well, cooing praises on them and speaking softly with close friends.
Long after the feast was over, and Corbe had escorted Arwen when she had taken Luthien from the celebrations and laid her in her crib.
The sounds of music and laughter faded as they drew further and further away from the Hall, towards the Last Homely House, her and her father's private residence.
Gently she set her sleeping daughter in her crib, covering her over with a warm blanket. "Goodnight my sweet one, may the stars shine bright in your dreams." Then she leaned down to kiss her daughter goodnight. Luthien sighed softly and moved slightly, but did not wake.
"Go now my Lady. I will watch over her. You should be off. Your father will be waiting for you in the Hall of Fire." Corbe told her mistress.
"If she wakes, bring her to me, Corbe." Arwen told her. "I am off now."
Arwen's footfalls were silent as she retraced her steps to the Hall of Elrond, and then entered the Hall of Fire. Nearest to the fire Lord Elrond sat speaking with Aragorn and several of his kin, as well as Elladan and Elrohir. Bowing her head to the Men as she approached, Elrond gestured for her to sit.
Aragorn looked curoiusly at her. "Where is Luthien, my Lady?"
"Sleeping now." Arwen smiled at him. "It is much beyond her bedtime, she rests in a world of dreams. Corbe is watching over her."
"I wish you had told me you were putting her to bed." Aragorn said, sounding a little upset.
"If I had known you wanted to see her once more I would have brought her to see you before bed." Arwen said softly. "Corbe will bring her to me when she wakes." She offered, as a peacekeeping gesture.
In spite of himself Aragorn smiled and twined his fingers in hers.
They spoke and sung until deep into the night, with Arwen playing several times for everyone, for she was very talented when it came to the harp, able to produce melodies to sooth the soul, bring one to tears, or make listeners feel that their hearts would burst with pleasure.
It was late when Corbe brought Luthien to her mother, the little girl quiet in her nurse's arms.
Arwen smiled to see her. "Thank you Corbe."
"Do you need me to stay, my Lady?" Corbe asked.
Arwen shook her head. "No, enjoy the celebrations." She took Luthien from her arms and carried her over to where Aragorn sat with Elrond and the rest of his kin.
"There you are little one." Aragorn smiled at his daughter.
Elrond smiled at the infant as well. "Where is Corbe?"
"I told her to go and enjoy herself." Arwen said to him. "I'll put Luthien back to bed later on."
Aragorn held out his arms to cuddle his small daughter, his fatherly pleasure evident. Arwen stood beside him, her arm around his neck, relaxed.