Chapter 7.
Late one afternoon Aragorn and the remaining members of the Fellowship rode into Rivendell. They were greeted in the main courtyard by Glorfindel and Erestor, both close friends of Lord Elrond.
As they dismounted, allowing their horses to be lead away, Aragorn looked around expectantly. "My apologies, Erestor." Aragorn interrupted his greeting, "But where is Arwen? She has never failed to meet me in all of the times I have returned."
Glorfindel looked towards the gardens, while Erestor cleared his throat. "The Lady is indisposed, King Elessar. She asked that we come to meet you."
"Is she ill?" Aragorn asked, alarmed. "Is Luthien well?"
"I cannot say." Erestor answered.
"Cannot? Or will not?" Aragorn demanded. "Where is Arwen? Where is my daughter?"
"Estel, calm yourself." Lord Elrond said, walking out of the Hall of Elrond.
"My Lord." Aragorn bowed his head respectfully. "Where-."
"Arwen is not ill as you fear, she is fading." Elrond told him gravely. "Luthien was kidnapped, taken by some creature we have as yet, been unable to find."
Aragorn's face fell. "When was Luthien taken?" He asked, shock and fear both evident in his voice.
"She has been gone for over a month. Within a day the light of the Evenstar began to diminish." Elrond's voice was now filled with sorrow. "I have tried to convince her that we will find Luthien, but her hope fades more with each passing day. Now Arwen will barely leave her garden. She will not enter the Hall of Fire. I have even tried to convince her to sail for Valinor. She will have no part in it."
"Where is she now?" Aragorn asked.
"In her garden. It is the only place other than her chambers she will consent to go." Elrond said, watching as the younger man hurried off to find her, the paths well traveled by his feet.
********
Aragorn found her sitting beside her fountain, her fingertips playing lightly over the surface of the water. He stopped still, unwilling to disturb her, even now.
Without turning around, she spoke. "You have finally come home then, Elessar?" Her voice was gentle, same as always, reassuring him. "I only wish you had come home sooner. I trust that Ada has told you everything?"
"He told me that Luthien is missing, yes." Aragorn said gently.
"I hate it Aragorn. I hate that this place reminds me so much of her." She turned gesturing to the place where he and Luthien had played with her carved animals, to the fountain where she has sung to Luthien as a baby, to the golden elanor flowers that sparkled in the grass.
"Hush now, my love." Aragorn soothed her. "You are not yourself, Arwen."
She resisted as he tried to pull her close, to try comfort her. "Please, don't touch me." Her eyes sparkled, full of tears as she pulled away.
"Arwen, please... Let me help you." He pleaded.
"Just leave me." Her voice suddenly seemed to echo her grief, and without speaking again she fled the garden.
*******
Hours later Arwen entered the Hall of Fire silently, bound by the protocol she had been taught since her birth, more than 2777 years ago.
As she walked silently into the hall, light from the torches played over her, making her shine like the stars she was named for, her hair covered with a fine, silver net, held in place by the circlet of silver resting on her brow, a gem shining like starlight from the band. Her dress of white, banded with silver flowed gracefully from her body, the silver hem brushing the floor. She bowed her head to the men seated at the table, while her older brothers stood, Elladan took her gently by the hand, while Elrohir pulled her chair out for her, waiting until she was seated before returning to his own chair.
"My apologies for being late." She lowed her eyes, not making any visual contact with anyone. "I was... indisposed."
"It is well that you joined us, Lady Evenstar." Lord Elrond bowed his head to her in greeting.
"Thank you Ada. How did you find the quest laid out for you?" She asked the others, trying to take the focus from herself, as well as be polite to Rivendell's distinguished guests.
"It was well." Legolas told her, bowing his head, "The One Ring, along with Sauron, is destroyed. Middle Earth is again a free land."
Though tears sparkled in her eyes, Arwen made no move to acknowledge them. "That is well then. What plans are underway for the members of the Fellowship?"
"Merry, Pippin, Sam and I are on our way home, to the Shire." Frodo said, the heavy weight of the One Ring still affecting the young hobbit.
"I know not where I shall remain, but from leaving Rivendell, Gimli and I are to return to Gondor with Aragorn for a time." Legolas told them.
"I had thought to stay in Rivendell for a short time." Aragorn said to them. "I wish to find Luthien. Arwen I will send on to Gondor."
"I am not going." She said quietly, shocking the whole table in to silence.
"Not going?" Elladan echoed.
"I will not set foot in Gondor. Not unless Luthien is safe in my arms." Tears sparkled in her eyes, her expression matching the quietness of her voice.
"Arwen," Elrond began.
"I would sooner journey for the Grey Havens, then sail on to Valinor than go to Gondor."
"Then stay in Rivendell Arwen." Aragorn told her gently. "We will find Luthien, and bring her home to you. Then we can take her to Gondor together."
Arwen's next words were as surprising as her refusal to go to Gondor. "Aragorn, Estel, Elessar, I beg you, let me go. Release me from the promises I made to you."
Aragorn's expression became pained. "In all of the long years since we met Arwen, you have never asked me for a thing. If this is what you ask of me, then it shall be done."
"Thank you." She said to him, almost whispering.
"Do you wish to part from us Arwen?" Lord Elrond asked, noticing the pained expression on her face as the others stared at her.
"I want to leave, Ada. I want to be somewhere free from all of these memories that haunt me."
"Where would you go?" Elrond asked, "Away to Lorien? To Mirkwood? The Grey Havens?"
"NO!" She exclaimed. " I want to go somewhere I've never been before. Somewhere that nothing reminds me of Luthien or of Elves or Orcs, or any of the other things that haunt me."
"You are an Elven Lady." Elrond told her. "Where in Middle Earth have you never been before?"
"I don't know!" She told him, thumping her closed fists down on the table, a gesture very much out of character for the softly spoken Lady.
"The Shire." Frodo said quietly. "Before the Council of Elrond you told me that you'd never been there. You asked what it was like there. If you wish it Lady, come to the Shire, stay with me at Bag End and you shall be welcome for as long as you would stay."
Arwen looked to her father, while Elrond looked in turn to Aragorn, noting the pained expressions on both of their faces.
"You have my leave to do whatever you feel will bring you peace my daughter." Elrond said at last, fixing his pale eyes on her. "Take your leave of Rivendell if you so choose."
Aragorn spoke next. "Arwen, I-."
"Please, don't." She said softly, staring up at him with her unearthly blue eyes, so vivid against the pale lines of her face. "I cannot take anymore, but I have asked only that you release me. Release me from the bonds I made to you, and now I ask you to forget all about me, mela en' coiamin. Forget the Elven Lady who has always been little more than a dream to you. Close your eyes and pretend that I was, but do not lament my passing from Rivendell, or from you, for the long years of your life stretch out in front of you, and only you have the power to keep the people of this land united as the Valar intended. May they watch over you on your path under the sky."
"Arwen, please. Do not leave like this." He pleaded with her.
Before she left the room she turned to him, finding him only a step behind her. "We are not bound to the circles of the world Aragorn, and I am fading. Do not despair for me as my light grows dim. Let me fade in peace. Beyond the circles of this world lies more than memory. When your time is passed, and your life spent, you will find me there, perhaps, but that shall not be for many long years, long after the light of the Evenstar has waxed and waned, and vanished from the sky of this world." Before Aragorn could say anything Arwen picked up her skirts and left the room, vanishing in the long, ancient hallway.
A/N: Betcha didn't expect this.
This is the real starting point of the story I set out to write. Please keep reading and responding, even if you don't like it anymore. Any feedback will be welcome.
Samantha
Late one afternoon Aragorn and the remaining members of the Fellowship rode into Rivendell. They were greeted in the main courtyard by Glorfindel and Erestor, both close friends of Lord Elrond.
As they dismounted, allowing their horses to be lead away, Aragorn looked around expectantly. "My apologies, Erestor." Aragorn interrupted his greeting, "But where is Arwen? She has never failed to meet me in all of the times I have returned."
Glorfindel looked towards the gardens, while Erestor cleared his throat. "The Lady is indisposed, King Elessar. She asked that we come to meet you."
"Is she ill?" Aragorn asked, alarmed. "Is Luthien well?"
"I cannot say." Erestor answered.
"Cannot? Or will not?" Aragorn demanded. "Where is Arwen? Where is my daughter?"
"Estel, calm yourself." Lord Elrond said, walking out of the Hall of Elrond.
"My Lord." Aragorn bowed his head respectfully. "Where-."
"Arwen is not ill as you fear, she is fading." Elrond told him gravely. "Luthien was kidnapped, taken by some creature we have as yet, been unable to find."
Aragorn's face fell. "When was Luthien taken?" He asked, shock and fear both evident in his voice.
"She has been gone for over a month. Within a day the light of the Evenstar began to diminish." Elrond's voice was now filled with sorrow. "I have tried to convince her that we will find Luthien, but her hope fades more with each passing day. Now Arwen will barely leave her garden. She will not enter the Hall of Fire. I have even tried to convince her to sail for Valinor. She will have no part in it."
"Where is she now?" Aragorn asked.
"In her garden. It is the only place other than her chambers she will consent to go." Elrond said, watching as the younger man hurried off to find her, the paths well traveled by his feet.
********
Aragorn found her sitting beside her fountain, her fingertips playing lightly over the surface of the water. He stopped still, unwilling to disturb her, even now.
Without turning around, she spoke. "You have finally come home then, Elessar?" Her voice was gentle, same as always, reassuring him. "I only wish you had come home sooner. I trust that Ada has told you everything?"
"He told me that Luthien is missing, yes." Aragorn said gently.
"I hate it Aragorn. I hate that this place reminds me so much of her." She turned gesturing to the place where he and Luthien had played with her carved animals, to the fountain where she has sung to Luthien as a baby, to the golden elanor flowers that sparkled in the grass.
"Hush now, my love." Aragorn soothed her. "You are not yourself, Arwen."
She resisted as he tried to pull her close, to try comfort her. "Please, don't touch me." Her eyes sparkled, full of tears as she pulled away.
"Arwen, please... Let me help you." He pleaded.
"Just leave me." Her voice suddenly seemed to echo her grief, and without speaking again she fled the garden.
*******
Hours later Arwen entered the Hall of Fire silently, bound by the protocol she had been taught since her birth, more than 2777 years ago.
As she walked silently into the hall, light from the torches played over her, making her shine like the stars she was named for, her hair covered with a fine, silver net, held in place by the circlet of silver resting on her brow, a gem shining like starlight from the band. Her dress of white, banded with silver flowed gracefully from her body, the silver hem brushing the floor. She bowed her head to the men seated at the table, while her older brothers stood, Elladan took her gently by the hand, while Elrohir pulled her chair out for her, waiting until she was seated before returning to his own chair.
"My apologies for being late." She lowed her eyes, not making any visual contact with anyone. "I was... indisposed."
"It is well that you joined us, Lady Evenstar." Lord Elrond bowed his head to her in greeting.
"Thank you Ada. How did you find the quest laid out for you?" She asked the others, trying to take the focus from herself, as well as be polite to Rivendell's distinguished guests.
"It was well." Legolas told her, bowing his head, "The One Ring, along with Sauron, is destroyed. Middle Earth is again a free land."
Though tears sparkled in her eyes, Arwen made no move to acknowledge them. "That is well then. What plans are underway for the members of the Fellowship?"
"Merry, Pippin, Sam and I are on our way home, to the Shire." Frodo said, the heavy weight of the One Ring still affecting the young hobbit.
"I know not where I shall remain, but from leaving Rivendell, Gimli and I are to return to Gondor with Aragorn for a time." Legolas told them.
"I had thought to stay in Rivendell for a short time." Aragorn said to them. "I wish to find Luthien. Arwen I will send on to Gondor."
"I am not going." She said quietly, shocking the whole table in to silence.
"Not going?" Elladan echoed.
"I will not set foot in Gondor. Not unless Luthien is safe in my arms." Tears sparkled in her eyes, her expression matching the quietness of her voice.
"Arwen," Elrond began.
"I would sooner journey for the Grey Havens, then sail on to Valinor than go to Gondor."
"Then stay in Rivendell Arwen." Aragorn told her gently. "We will find Luthien, and bring her home to you. Then we can take her to Gondor together."
Arwen's next words were as surprising as her refusal to go to Gondor. "Aragorn, Estel, Elessar, I beg you, let me go. Release me from the promises I made to you."
Aragorn's expression became pained. "In all of the long years since we met Arwen, you have never asked me for a thing. If this is what you ask of me, then it shall be done."
"Thank you." She said to him, almost whispering.
"Do you wish to part from us Arwen?" Lord Elrond asked, noticing the pained expression on her face as the others stared at her.
"I want to leave, Ada. I want to be somewhere free from all of these memories that haunt me."
"Where would you go?" Elrond asked, "Away to Lorien? To Mirkwood? The Grey Havens?"
"NO!" She exclaimed. " I want to go somewhere I've never been before. Somewhere that nothing reminds me of Luthien or of Elves or Orcs, or any of the other things that haunt me."
"You are an Elven Lady." Elrond told her. "Where in Middle Earth have you never been before?"
"I don't know!" She told him, thumping her closed fists down on the table, a gesture very much out of character for the softly spoken Lady.
"The Shire." Frodo said quietly. "Before the Council of Elrond you told me that you'd never been there. You asked what it was like there. If you wish it Lady, come to the Shire, stay with me at Bag End and you shall be welcome for as long as you would stay."
Arwen looked to her father, while Elrond looked in turn to Aragorn, noting the pained expressions on both of their faces.
"You have my leave to do whatever you feel will bring you peace my daughter." Elrond said at last, fixing his pale eyes on her. "Take your leave of Rivendell if you so choose."
Aragorn spoke next. "Arwen, I-."
"Please, don't." She said softly, staring up at him with her unearthly blue eyes, so vivid against the pale lines of her face. "I cannot take anymore, but I have asked only that you release me. Release me from the bonds I made to you, and now I ask you to forget all about me, mela en' coiamin. Forget the Elven Lady who has always been little more than a dream to you. Close your eyes and pretend that I was, but do not lament my passing from Rivendell, or from you, for the long years of your life stretch out in front of you, and only you have the power to keep the people of this land united as the Valar intended. May they watch over you on your path under the sky."
"Arwen, please. Do not leave like this." He pleaded with her.
Before she left the room she turned to him, finding him only a step behind her. "We are not bound to the circles of the world Aragorn, and I am fading. Do not despair for me as my light grows dim. Let me fade in peace. Beyond the circles of this world lies more than memory. When your time is passed, and your life spent, you will find me there, perhaps, but that shall not be for many long years, long after the light of the Evenstar has waxed and waned, and vanished from the sky of this world." Before Aragorn could say anything Arwen picked up her skirts and left the room, vanishing in the long, ancient hallway.
A/N: Betcha didn't expect this.
This is the real starting point of the story I set out to write. Please keep reading and responding, even if you don't like it anymore. Any feedback will be welcome.
Samantha