Title: No turning back

Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)

Rating: PG

Summary: Sequel to Luthien's flute. Aragorn, Arwen and the family visit Rivendell.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter 3

Forget you never

The party arrived at Rivendell early in the day, they had ridden through the night. They had been travelling for weeks but were all instantly uplifted the second they breathed in the fresh woodland air.

"Imladris." Arwen's face broke in to wide smile. Looking at her husband she reached out for his hand. "The place we first met."

Aragorn stroked his thumb over her hand lovingly. "Perhaps once we are all settled you and I could take a walk, alone." His eyes burnt in to hers with the fire of the mid day sun.

"I think that the whole family would enjoy a walk about the grounds." Arwen smiled at Aragorn, completely missing the seduction in his voice. He dismounted his horse and lifted her down from hers. He left his hand on her waist, whilst the other started stroking her back.

"Oh." She breathed hotly. "Yes you are right, a walk alone would be very nice indeed."

Aragorn grinned and removed his hand, moving it to rub over his stubble rough face. Eldarion looked around him.

"No one has come to meet us." He looked at his wife, who had their babe in her arms and felt deliriously content. She winked at him before turning her attention back to the sleeping child.

Arwen started to walk ahead of the others. "I know my way well Eldarion, I need no escort." She held out her hand for Silmai to take and began making her way toward the house of Elrond, though how changed it would be she knew not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elladan tried to hold his youngest niece close to him, as she scrambled on to his lap. "Ahh, this one has the curiosity of the Elves for sure."

The fire was burning in the large room, creating a soft glow throughout. Aragorn and Arwen still hadn't come back from their walk. Luthien who was now a grown woman, tried desperately not to think about what they were doing.

Some of the party had gone to bed, just Elladan, Eldarion, Galadwen, Lothvain, Luthien and Silmai now remained downstairs. Galadwen came to sit on the floor, by the fire where her husband now sat.

"So this is your first introduction to the world of the Elves." She lightly ran her hand down his back. "What are your first impressions? Wondering why you would ever marry in to it such a race?"

Lothvain turned to face her and cupped her face in his hands. "I am in awe of this place, just as I was of you when first we met. There is still so much I do not know about the way of the Elves."

Galadwen leant forward to kiss him gently on his bearded lips. "We have many years ahead of us, I shall teach you."

Lothvain smiled warmly and held her hand to his mouth for a kiss, an action that made her feel strangely uncomfortable, like she was remembering a nightmare.

Elladan noticed this and turned to Eldarion. "Your parents have been a while, perhaps they ran in to Legolas on their walk."

Both Eldarion's and Galadwen's eyes flew to their uncles face. Eldarion looked at his sister, this was all she needed. "Legolas is here in Rivendell?"

Elladan noticed the sudden chill in the air as he nodded. "He has been here now for months, he went out at first light and has yet to return."

Galadwen stood up abruptly. "I feel slightly light headed, I think I need to go for a walk." She managed to stutter out her words.

Lothvain rose at once to join her but Galadwen held out her hand for him to stop. "No. If you do not mind, I would just like to be alone in the gardens of my forefathers for a while."

Lothvain nodded, disappointed that she didn't want him to accompany her. As she passed him, Eldarion stroked his hand down her arm to let her know that he would make excuses and follow her if she wished.

Since they were children, they could always communicate with no need for words. She discreetly shook her head and went out of the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is ridicules, we are behaving like children." Arwen giggled as she wondered amongst the trees, in search of her husband.

"Estel! Aragorn! Elessar!" He was clearly not going to answer her. She knew he was hiding close by, but she couldn't see him. Closing her eyes, she stood deadly still. She held her breath. He was good but she was better, he could never catch her off her guard. Light footsteps behind her alerted her attention and she waited for the right moment to pounce.

Aragorn was trying hard not to laugh as he watched his wife from behind a tree. She spun round in time to grab the snout of a dear.

"Oh." She couldn't help but laugh. "I do beg your pardon Master dear." The dear nuzzled the palm of her hand before running off in the other direction. Aragorn's laughter could be heard echoing through the grounds as he emerged from behind a tree.

"Oh mela, you are loosing your touch."

Arwen smiled at him seductively. "That's not what you said twenty minutes ago!"

Aragorn laughed even more as he strode forward and took her in his arms. They stood in silence, simply watching one another. Aragorn brought his mouth down on to hers and smiled against her lips as she let out a soft moan.

He pulled away, still smiling. "And that's not what I will be saying twenty minutes from now." He gently pushed her against the tree and began kissing her neck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Galadwen had to get out of there, even for a little while. She walked through the stables and sighed when she saw her own horse fast asleep. A loud snort made her turn around and come face to face with a large black stallion. Without even thinking she opened the gate and mounted him with ease. She needed no saddle nor reins, she had learnt to ride like the Elves.

She set off at an alarming pace. She tried desperately to gain some control over the beast but failed miserably. She shouted a few commands in Elvish but the horse was stubborn and wild. He started picking up speed and she held on for dear life.

"Ahhhh, watch that tree." She clung around his neck but could already feel herself slipping.

She could hear the sound of hooves behind her.

'Oh thank the Valar.'

She couldn't turn to see who it was but she could hear that they were gaining on them. She saw the snow white legs of the riders horse, now at the same speed as she.

"Sit up." The rider gave her a command and she instantly obeyed. The second she had straightened herself the rider flew at her, knocking them both off the unruly horse.

They tumbled along the ground, the rider protecting her head with his hands. When finally they stopped rolling Galadwen opened her eyes to see the man on top of her. She knew those icy blue eyes and that long silver hair.

"Galadwen, are you hurt?" Legolas ran his hand over the back of her head to check for cuts, there were none. She simply continued to stare at him. She hadn't seen him in so long, he was exactly as she remembered him.

"Galadwen?" He prompted when she did not answer him. She felt a little sick and dizzy but was sure she was fine.

"Your on top of me."

Legolas didn't seem to hear her or if he did he didn't move. He held his hand in front of her face for her to follow with her eyes. "You seem alert, perhaps just a bit dazed. You may have hit your head however. How do you feel?"

"Your still on top of me." Was all she managed to get out.

Legolas looked down at their bodies, so close. He instantly got up and held out his hands to lift her to her feet. Once up she stumbled slightly. Legolas put his arms around her to support her. She felt extremely strange, like she had been hit in the head with a Dwarf axe. He looked down at her lovely face and felt colder then he ever had before.

She brought her eyes, which now had little spots in front of them, to his. "You saved me."

Legolas couldn't help but smile. "Again!"

He laughed at the dazed expression on her face. "You know Galadwen I think you rather like being the damsel in distress."

She couldn't help it, she didn't know if it was seeing him again or the fact that she had hit her head so hard, but everything came spilling out.

She stepped away from him and frowned, still wobbly on her feet.

"You didn't come back! You stayed away! You didn't try and stop my wedding, you lied to me when you said you loved me. I married a man I didn't love when all I wanted was to be with you."

Her eyes rolled in to the back of her head and she fell to the floor. Legolas's fast reactions got there first. He lifted her in his arms and placed her on his horse.

"Oh Galadwen, if you only knew."