Title: Luthien's flute
Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Summary: Aragorn, Arwen and the family travel to Lothlorien after receiving a mysterious letter from Celeborn.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.
A/N: I took the tune for the song from Robin Hood the Disney version but the lyrics however are my own, wouldn't Bilbo be proud.
Chapter 9
The shadow man
Astald lay asleep in his chamber. His eyes were fluttering as his dreams became grave. A shadow. A man. It was all so dark. He began to toss and turn, murmuring out loud.
"No, you cant have him. You cant take him. They are mine now!" The dream became darker still as the man who had raised Astald laughed evil through the boys mind. Astald's eyes flew open and he gasped for breath. He began to sob openly,. "Oh no, please no. leave them alone!"
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Arwen had told Aragorn all about the flute, which now rested safely in their chambers. He had been impressed by it but saw it as no more then a nice trinket, a keep sake from her Grandmother. Arwen had tried to push the threat she sensed out of her mind and it had been working until she saw Astald's face. His eye's were dark, a darkness she had seen in her own eyes. He sensed it too, he knew that evil stalked their family.
The whole party, including many Elf's, were sat around a big wooden table All were eating food and talking merrily. Aragorn's keen eyes caught sight of Celebriel's hand as it sneaked toward the tankard of wine.
"I don't think so young lady!" His firm tone made her hand recoil faster then a flash of light. She looked at him innocently and smiled widely.
"When I am grown and you are old, you will need me to care for you, as you will be unable. On that day I shall hold the power to tell you what you may and may not do."
Aragorn couldn't help but laugh. He loved his daughters individuality. Celebriel was so unlike the other children, she had no worries of offending people which was not always a good thing. He reached out and pulled her close against his side.
"And on that day, you can drink wine until your stomach bursts" He rested a kiss upon her pink lips and smiled warmly. "But until then, you will mind your manors."
The festivities were most certainly welcomed by all. Galadwen was enjoying the attention of the handsome Elf beside her. She could certainly see her father's attraction to Elves, they were so much more graceful and intelligent then wine swigging men she had been surrounded by these past months.
"And now for a song." three of Aragorn's men stood, along with Eldarion. Who with a full goblet in his hand, and his words slightly slurred, began to sing.
"Oh the world shall sing
Of the Gondor King
A thousand years from now
And not because he wore a crown upon that noble brow
See bonny good king Aragorn led the great crusade of men
He battled foes at old helms deep of thousands of tens
Skilful as he is adept.
whenever the history books are kept
They'll call him the greatest King of Gondor.
He fought alone
For his splendid throne
For his rightful place as king
His ranger skills
Improve him still
This man will always win
While he shows us of peaceful times he helps to brake our bread
Earendil's crown sits rightfully upon his worthy head
Whilst there is still Elf and Dwarf and Hobbit in his pack
We needed fret or worry cos they'll always have our back
This man risked his life all in order to defend
So the history books will know him as the rightful King of men"
The men cheered as Aragorn hid his head on his wife's shoulder. She could feel him cringe at such praise, albeit well deserved. Eldarion, who had joined in the song, was looking at his father with complete admiration. He only wished he could be half as loved as King. With Ithiliwen by his side he would be. He smiled at the thought of her, his beautiful Princess.
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The night began to grow old and one by one the children said good night.
"Good night Astald" Arwen placed a kiss upon his head as she had done with all the others. "Sweet dreams."
Astald looked straight in to her eyes and smiled weakly. Should he tell her of what he saw? Would she be able to prevent it? He was afraid.
"Are you alright Mela?" Aragorn noticed his wife had become quiet, very quiet. The night was upon them and silence was thick.
"I just have a headache that is all. nothing that a walk wont ease."
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Aragorn and Arwen walked amongst the fading tress of Lothlorien. In his heart he knew she was keeping something from him. Although he desperately longed to know what grieved her so, she knew that she would tell him in her own time. He did mot wish to rush her.
"I am glad the children got to see this place before it falls." As an after thought she added "like so much of the world has done."
"Arwen, the world has changed and with it we too have changed. So much of what we once knew is lost. But we still have each other." She smiled and lent back in to his arms. He enfolded her and drew her tight against his chest. He placed a kiss on the back of her head and sighed contentedly. "We will always have each other."
"I have been keeping something from you." It was an unexpected admission and Aragorn tensed at what was to follow.
"Go on."
She stayed with her back to him and began to tell him of her worries. "A shadow has been cast in my mind. I know not what it means but I feel as though I am in mourning. I feel that I might loose-" Arwen was cut off by the sharp sound of Aragorn's breath hitching.
She instantly turned round as his arms fell from her waist. Behind him stood a man. A grey shadow of a man, hooded and cloaked. The palm of his hands were resting either side of Aragorn's head. Aragorn began to convulse and when the man removed his hands Aragorn slumped to the floor out cold. Arwen had not had time to react. She fell to her knees to try and cushion his blow. It all seemed to be moving in slow motion.
"No." She held his head in her lap as she looked up to find the man gone, no trace of the one who was trying to destroy her life.
"Estel? Estel?" Tears ran down her cheeks and on to his face. Aragorn simply lay there as if his very life had been sucked out of his body.
