The reason the last 2 chapters are posted together is because they are short and I thought I may as well as give you the last 2 chapters.

Also check out the preview to the sequel at the bottom of Chapter 15.

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Reunion

The journey home went smooth and peacefully however Aragorn remained the same. His mind was forever focused on something else. He hardly spoke but when he did his voice was low and disconcerting. It frightened Eldarion. What Luthien said was happening. What had started out so perfectly was falling as days rolled by hidden amongst the grass.

A day before they were due to reach Minas Tirith Eldarion plucked up the courage to speak to his father. It was morning and the sun was rising. Aragorn hardly slept and spent most of his time watching at night and during the day. His normally ever-working senses would have noticed movement behind him but they did not.

"Ada?" Eldarion asked unsure of how to proceed. He sat down next to Aragorn. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." He answered simply. The boy caught a note of sadness in the words.

"You're not fine, are you? You're suffering from the memories?"

It took a while for Aragorn to reply but when he did he looked at Eldarion. "Right again. I am suffering. I'm not the same. When I woke I felt whole, but I'm not. Part of me is gone. There's nothing to fill the void that has been left. I can remember the pain of it all. Everything. At the moment it's too much for me to bear. I'm sure I'll be fine in time. Do not worry for me."

"I won't." Eldarion said. He had nothing more to say. He did not even know what to say. The fact that his father was not all there worried him. Did it mean he would die soon? He had no answers to the questions running through his mind.

That day they reached Minas Tirith. Word reached their ears quickly and Aragorn soon found himself hearing of his beloved's death. His heart froze when it did, but as he neared the seventh level of the city, Ancalimé came running. Her face was flustered but brightened considerably when she saw her father and brother.

"You must come quickly! It's mother!"

Eldarion's heart almost stopped when he caught sight of the Queen lying so fragile with Éowyn keeping guard over her. "Oh mother."

Seeing her for the first time in many months Eldarion could tell that his mother had suffered throughout her husband's disappearance. He learned later that Arwen had died two times but had been sent back – presumably by the Valar. Eldarion knew it was his choice that had made her continue on living in the world. If not for that then he would have no parents.

Aragorn was frantic. He ordered everyone to leave save for Eldarion and his daughters. Then he knelt beside Arwen's bed, taking hold of her hand, he laid the other on her forehead and spoke gently in the elvish tongue bidding her to come back to the light.

Whether or not it was his voice that brought his Queen back, Arwen woke, her eyes opening slowly and focusing on Aragorn. Her eyes widened and she whispered: "Estel? Is it really you?"

He nodded and gently kissed her on the lips. She wrapped her arms round him and hugged him, tears of joy falling down her cheeks. "Oh Estel, I can't believe you are here. I thought you to be dead. I felt you fade away."

"I did." Aragorn said, sitting up, his eyes showing briefly the sadness that remained in them. Arwen did not notice. "I decided to remain." He squeezed her hand.

He motioned for his children to join them. Aragorn held Eowulia in his arms. Arwen kept her arms wrapped round him, and they and their children embraced happily. Arwen smiled, glad that her family was whole once more. Nothing would take away her happiness. She was fortunate that the Valar had spared her from death and allowed her to remain in the world. They obviously had seen that Aragorn would return and wouldn't have wanted his wife dead.

Arwen smiled contently. Everything was as it was at long last.

TBC