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.

Chapter 15

A deeper understanding

Galadwen sat alone in her room, living the agony that is love. What would she do now? He had made it plain that her feelings were one way. She sighed through her tears, the pain of unrequited love burning her insides. Her room was filled with darkness and the cold air chilled her bones. She thought briefly about Eldarion and Ithiliwen, why couldn't she fall in love with a nice mortal boy?

It tore at her chest with sharp claws. Her breath tightened in her throat.

"Oh please." She sobbed to the night stars watching over her. "Please make this feeling stop!" Galadwen flung herself on to her bed and buried her face in the pillow, unable to breath from the shire force of loving him.

It was many hours later when she finally cried herself to sleep.

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"That is wonderful news" Eldarion embraced his mother and father as the other children waited for their turn. Aragorn was beaming with pride as he informed his family and friends of the new edition. Legolas smiled warmly at his old friend and clasped him on the shoulder. "Joyous is this day indeed."

Galadwen hugged her mother, genuinely happy of the news. Arwen held her daughter a little tighter then she had the others. Galadwen pulled out of her mother's arms and smiled at her softly. Arwen's hand stroked her daughter's cheek and let her know, without words, that she was there for her.

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Aragorn, who had insisted that Legolas ride back to Gondor with them, was still in high spirits as the party readied to take leave of Lothlorien.

"Namaarie Adara" Arwen embraced her Grandfather with warmth. A single look of understanding was shared between them. That was the way of the Elves, they needed no words to express their feelings. The children bade Celeborn farewell and mounted their horses.

"Astald are you sure you and Luthien will be ok on Arwen's horse?" Aragorn helped his daughter up on to the beautiful snowy white mare. Astald nodded and adopted a small look of pride at being given the responsible job of handling the Queens horse.

Aragorn looked up at his wife, who was sat comfortably on his own steed. A huge smile graced his lips. He could barley dare to remember the coldness that their marriage had endured lately. Looking at her now, glowing in radiance, he felt his heart flutter. She was all that was good in this world, she was what he had been fighting for all of these years, she was his reason for being.

He mounted behind her and pulled her close against his chest, nuzzling her silken hair. "Your sure you feel up to this belthil nin?"

Arwen turned slightly to look at him. "I would rather we get back to Minas Tirith before the nausea starts."

Aragorn remembered the last four pregnancies, the last in particular. Luthien's had given Arwen so much uncomfort, it was a difficult pregnancy to say the least. Their relationship had suffered as a result of it and of him always being busy with palace duties.

'Well.' He thought to himself. 'Not this time. I will close down the whole damn place if need be.'

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The party rode in silence, except for the two youngest daughters who were quietly informing Astald all about Gondor.

Every now and then Galadwen would look towards Legolas and feel the aching start all over again. She knew that he was right, what life would they have together? If they were to be together then he would have to give up his immortality. How could she expect a being of grace, like himself, to do that for her.

Legolas smiled at her politely, trying desperately to bring some formality back to their relationship. They were riding slowly at Aragorn's command, he didn't want Arwen to over do it. Though he knew better then to let her know that, he had told her that he simply wished to enjoy the closeness this ride was providing.

Legolas knew that he couldn't leave things like this between himself and Galadwen. He brought his horse to fall in next to hers. In a hushed voice, so that she alone could hear him, he tried to mend some bridges.

"There are not enough words in Elvish, Dwarvish or the tongues of man to even begin to apologise to you for my recent behaviour."

Galadwen met his eyes and fought back everything that she was feeling.

He may be an Elf but he was still a man. He, like all others, were weak when it came to women. He had kissed her but no more so then a peck, it was her that had forced her mouth on to his. What man wouldn't respond to such a thing. She blushed with shame thinking about how she had disgraced herself with her actions and her rude words. She forced some formality in to her words as she spoke. "My Lord it is I who should apologise. I behaved quite unladylike and am truly embarrassed by the things I said to you."

Legolas's face visibly softened, he thanked the Valar that she was no longer hostile towards him. He shock his head and looked at her tenderly.

"Please, there is no need. I think it best we just forget last night and stay to the original plan."

Galadwen eyed him, her smile now gone. "You mean, you stay away from Minas Tirith?"

Legolas nodded. "I think it would be best."

She then turned her gaze to the passing trees, thinking for a moment before turning back to him. "If you feel nothing for me, then why do you feel the need to keep your distance?"

Legolas sighed, he really wished they didn't have to get in to this here. It was no use lying to her, he would be honest with her and hope that she was mature enough to understand. "Galadwen, I never said that I don't feel for you, I-"

"Yes you did." She frowned as she remembered his exact words before reciting them. "You said to me 'I merely meant to stop you from crying, I want nothing more from you then friendship.'"

Legolas now wished that he had stayed next to Eldarion, where he started out.

"What I want and what I feel are two separate things Galadwen. You must understand that this can never happen. Think of what it would do to your family."

At his words, she looked towards her parents. They were so happy and in love, she didn't want to do anything to spoil that.

He knew that he was beginning to make her understand. "It was a fantasy but nothing more. It would never work, you know this as much as I. Time will pass and we will both begin to-"

"Forget?" She cut him off with a look of bitter sweet sadness. Legolas nodded and smiled softly at her. Galadwen forced a smile, knowing that he was right.

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The party had set up camp just as night was breaking. Most of them were sat around the camp fire, eating and talking. Aragorn and Arwen had retired early to their tent, Luthien noted that they had been doing a lot of that lately.

Eldarion was sitting alone in thought beside a near by lake. He appeared, to Galadwen, to be smiling like a fool.

"If I guess your thoughts correctly do I win a prize?" Her words had startled him, he hadn't even heard her coming. He held out his hand for her to take, bringing her to sit beside him.

"That doesn't sound like a fair game to me, my thoughts are far to easy to guess of late" he sighed contentedly and looked out over the greying lake.

"You are lucky Eldarion, you truly are. To have found love in such a strong way." She looked at her brother and smiled. He had become such a good man and she had witnessed him grow from a boy. She was truly proud of the man he had become, her dearest friend in this world. She longed to talk to him, to tell him about the feelings she had for Legolas, but she would not. She wasn't sure that even he would understand.

Eldarion looked up at the sky. "We should go, night is upon us and we both know what happened the last time you wondered off at night." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. She rose to stand but stopped midway. She needed to be alone with her thoughts for a while longer.

"I will stay a while…Now Eldarion do not look at me like that, I will be fine. I am most capable of taking care of myself."

Eldarion was having none of it. "Oh yes, most capable. You secretly wanted to be kidnapped. It was just a bit of a lark really wasn't it." He jested a while then turned deadly serious. "There is no way in all of Arda that I am leaving you alone out here."

"She wont be alone." Legolas was now standing behind them.

Eldarion jumped at the sound of his voice. "Legolas, I had not heard you approach." He laughed a little. Damn Elves and their dam soft feet. "Very well, I shall see you both back at the camp."

Once sure that they were alone Galadwen stood and looked deeply at him. He started to fiddle with his hands in front of him. Galadwen suppressed a laugh, this was certainly the first time she had seen a nervous Elf.

"There is still so much I feel I need to say to you, to comfort you. Yet I know not where to start." He stood still and looked at her, waiting for some response.

"Then let me start." She closed her eyes, letting all that she felt for him flow over her. Opening her eyes, she met his hot gaze.

"It is as you said, this could never work. What I feel for you will not diminish over night but hopefully time will heal."

He was amazed at how mature she was being, how she could voice the words he couldn't seem to get out.

She smiled lovingly at him and continued. "So much pain would be caused by our love, I do not wish that on my family. So I think it best that we keep our distance." Her eyes were making his heart ache, so soft and gentile.

"It is like you said, time is a great healer. But you were wrong about one thing."

He touched her hand, simply because he couldn't not any longer. "How is that?"

She looked down at their joined hands before meeting his heated gaze. "I will heal, but I will never forget." Her voice began to choke a little and he knew that it was his turn to take the lead.

"Galadwen I wish you every happiness in this world. I wish you peace and joy but above all else…" He pushed a stray strand of hair off of her face "I wish you love."

Her voice tightened around the lump in her throat. "And I you."

She walked past him and made her way back to the camp. Legolas was left standing alone. His face was a picture of pain and his heart was aching.

"Namaarie Fair one." He whispered in to the night.

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When Legolas made his way back to the camp he was greeted by a relieved Aragorn. "Thank the Valar! What took you two so long, we began to worry." He then looked behind Legolas. "Where is Galadwen?"

Legolas's eyes widened. "What do you mean? She isn't here? She left before I."

They were joined by Arwen and Eldarion.

Arwen's head started shaking. "No, not again."

Aragorn placed an arm around his wife. "It is alright Mela, she has probably just wondered off not realising we would worry so." Once he had managed to calm his wife he turned to his men.

"It is as I said, she has probably wondered off, however we should find her. Legolas take four with you. You three." He pointed at three near by soldiers. "You shall accompany Eldarion and I."

Aragorn met his wife's worried gaze. "Let us find her quickly."