Disclaimer: As always, I don't own anything, yadda yadda yadda..you all know the drill!
A Dark Sunrise
Chapter Eleven: Gondor
As it is with all children, Eldarion grew into a strong youth with the speed of a weed; or so it seemed to Arwen, who watched her son grow with joy, and just a little sadness; Eldarion was not the only loved one who was ageing. Aragorn's silvery hair had not gone un-noticed, nor had his gentle reluctance at long rides and play and late nights; even the bitter winter winds were too harsh for him, and so Arwen watched the stars dim with the coming of the sun alone.
The years had brought Arwen and her husband daughters as well, their last child, Seraliem, almost 17 years old.
Arwen sat on the stone parapet of her keep and watched the sun rise, the last morning stars winking at her, before they too gave up the battle. Her eyes roamed over the gardens but could see no flash of gold. She sight and straightened; her elvish sight had left her so long ago, but still they searched for the last remaining elf on Middle-Earth.
Legolas.
How he stilled his sea longing she never knew, for their moonlit garden walks had faded into the past like the peoples memories of the Eldar. Often in the deep of the night she could hear his voice raised in melancholy song, in the garden, but she dare not go too him; the song was haunting and private - a plea - and she could not make herself break that peace. She was apart from that burden now, yet that knowledge burdened her all the more. In those moments she would lay frozen in her bed, Aragorn warm and sleeping beside her; listening to the fair voice that cut through the still air.
Few of the towns folk saw the elven prince these days; the blond elf kept to himself, hoarding his pain, un-reachable, but unwilling to leave his king and queen permanently. Some nights he would return to the gardens to wander, though often he would stay in the wild for weeks at a time.
He never, however, neglected Eldarion. The young man would silently gather his bow of ash and his dagger and glide from the room, his elven training evident in his every move. Aragorn allowed this, realising the importance and rare opportunity his son was receiving by capturing the attention of Legolas. Besides, his son was certainly safe with Legolas; no guard escorted Eldarion when he went to stay with the reclusive elf.
When Eldarion would return from a time with Legolas, everyone noticed a difference in him; a certain distance and maturity. Most wrote it off as the effects of time away from home and family, but Arwen knew better. Eldarion would come to her always the night he returned, stroking her hand and gazing far beyond the horizon. Arwen did not ask questions. The only words her son would speak were 'he is thinking of you. He always asks.' and that would be all. But it was enough.
_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
It was a day like any other when he returned from one of his long absences. Arwen woke early and left the keep, walking out into the early morning sunlight, which banished the few drops that clung to the blades of grass, leaving the scent of rain in the air.
She treasured moments like this, embracing the stillness which she so rarely enjoyed lately. A flash of gold caught her eye this particular morning; a brief clash of light in the shadowy garden. Her breath caught and she started forward, oblivious to her elvish dress which cut through the grass and soaked up the dew.
It couldn't be. . .
And there he was; his head thrown back, a faint smile on his face. She couldn't help it; her hand flew to her mouth, tears springing instantly to her eyes as she let out a faint gasp. He was exactly as he had been, those mornings so long ago. So long ago . . .
But he had heard her, and turned to face her, the smile gone, his expression startled.
'Undomiel. . .' his voice was slightly alarmed, probably due to her heaving shoulders. She had not moved from her place, and with her hand she tried to push back her sobs, and failed. She simply couldn't erase that image from her mind; though she had seen Legolas a number of times since her first child's birth, none had sparked memories like this one. Images of her father and brothers, her friends and grandparents raced through her mind, dancing before her swimming eyes. She would never see them again. They were never coming back and no ship would take her into the West. She no longer felt the call, and Legolas was all she had left; this one shard of her old life, a little piece of light.
But how that light had dimmed. Looking at him now, Arwen was painfully aware of the shadow in Legolas' eyes, the utter look of defeat.
'Undomiel, are you well?' He spoke quietly, and she realised how near he stood.
'I am well. Forgive me Legolas, it was nothing.'
For a moment the pain faded and was replaced by understanding. 'I know what it is that hurst you. I remind you of them. I should never have come.'
Frowning, Arwen reached out and grabbed Legolas' arm as he turned, and shook her head sharply. 'Legolas, please,' she pleaded, and she knew how desperate her voice must sound. 'Please don't leave me. It hurts so much more when you are away and I have not one of my kin here.'
Ah, but the pain was back again, and she winced at her words. She was being so selfish! Studying her now-soaked hem, Arwen twisted her hands and tried to breathe.
'I am asking you Legolas. . .I know how much Aragorn misses you - how much he could use your council now with the troubles in the South. Stay.' Legolas was staring at her hand, and she removed it slowly. For a moment longer he stayed silent, until finally he raised his head and turned slightly, looking at the sun with unblinking eyes as it rose above the White City.
'I will stay for a time. It is not that I have not missed yours or Aragorn's company,' he said, laughing sharply. 'There have been other issues.' Arwen stood with him awhile longer, knowing he would not elaborate. They stood, side by side, the new sun glinting off their hair, and Eldarion smiled his gentle smile from his window.
_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
Author Note: Hello hello! *ducks flying veggies* I know, I know, I haven't updated in AGES! Really, I do realise I was a very bad girl. In fact I don't even have a good excuse like 'I was so busy!' [which I was] or 'My computer broke down' or something like that. Nope, it wasn't even writers block...I just flat out didn't feel like writing. I have written the next 2 chapters already, I just have to find the time to post them. I think all together there will be 15 chapters, probably including the epilogue. That's right. Aragorn is kicking the bucket very soon so...ya. Anyway, thank you so much to those of you who still reviewed in my..er..absence..your disgust and disappointments at my abandoning-of-the-story is truly what got me writing again. And a special hello and hat-tip too the girly's over at the Undying Love forums at F4F. Goodness I miss you all! Hope to have the time to pop in soon....
---Red Dragon
A Dark Sunrise
Chapter Eleven: Gondor
As it is with all children, Eldarion grew into a strong youth with the speed of a weed; or so it seemed to Arwen, who watched her son grow with joy, and just a little sadness; Eldarion was not the only loved one who was ageing. Aragorn's silvery hair had not gone un-noticed, nor had his gentle reluctance at long rides and play and late nights; even the bitter winter winds were too harsh for him, and so Arwen watched the stars dim with the coming of the sun alone.
The years had brought Arwen and her husband daughters as well, their last child, Seraliem, almost 17 years old.
Arwen sat on the stone parapet of her keep and watched the sun rise, the last morning stars winking at her, before they too gave up the battle. Her eyes roamed over the gardens but could see no flash of gold. She sight and straightened; her elvish sight had left her so long ago, but still they searched for the last remaining elf on Middle-Earth.
Legolas.
How he stilled his sea longing she never knew, for their moonlit garden walks had faded into the past like the peoples memories of the Eldar. Often in the deep of the night she could hear his voice raised in melancholy song, in the garden, but she dare not go too him; the song was haunting and private - a plea - and she could not make herself break that peace. She was apart from that burden now, yet that knowledge burdened her all the more. In those moments she would lay frozen in her bed, Aragorn warm and sleeping beside her; listening to the fair voice that cut through the still air.
Few of the towns folk saw the elven prince these days; the blond elf kept to himself, hoarding his pain, un-reachable, but unwilling to leave his king and queen permanently. Some nights he would return to the gardens to wander, though often he would stay in the wild for weeks at a time.
He never, however, neglected Eldarion. The young man would silently gather his bow of ash and his dagger and glide from the room, his elven training evident in his every move. Aragorn allowed this, realising the importance and rare opportunity his son was receiving by capturing the attention of Legolas. Besides, his son was certainly safe with Legolas; no guard escorted Eldarion when he went to stay with the reclusive elf.
When Eldarion would return from a time with Legolas, everyone noticed a difference in him; a certain distance and maturity. Most wrote it off as the effects of time away from home and family, but Arwen knew better. Eldarion would come to her always the night he returned, stroking her hand and gazing far beyond the horizon. Arwen did not ask questions. The only words her son would speak were 'he is thinking of you. He always asks.' and that would be all. But it was enough.
_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
It was a day like any other when he returned from one of his long absences. Arwen woke early and left the keep, walking out into the early morning sunlight, which banished the few drops that clung to the blades of grass, leaving the scent of rain in the air.
She treasured moments like this, embracing the stillness which she so rarely enjoyed lately. A flash of gold caught her eye this particular morning; a brief clash of light in the shadowy garden. Her breath caught and she started forward, oblivious to her elvish dress which cut through the grass and soaked up the dew.
It couldn't be. . .
And there he was; his head thrown back, a faint smile on his face. She couldn't help it; her hand flew to her mouth, tears springing instantly to her eyes as she let out a faint gasp. He was exactly as he had been, those mornings so long ago. So long ago . . .
But he had heard her, and turned to face her, the smile gone, his expression startled.
'Undomiel. . .' his voice was slightly alarmed, probably due to her heaving shoulders. She had not moved from her place, and with her hand she tried to push back her sobs, and failed. She simply couldn't erase that image from her mind; though she had seen Legolas a number of times since her first child's birth, none had sparked memories like this one. Images of her father and brothers, her friends and grandparents raced through her mind, dancing before her swimming eyes. She would never see them again. They were never coming back and no ship would take her into the West. She no longer felt the call, and Legolas was all she had left; this one shard of her old life, a little piece of light.
But how that light had dimmed. Looking at him now, Arwen was painfully aware of the shadow in Legolas' eyes, the utter look of defeat.
'Undomiel, are you well?' He spoke quietly, and she realised how near he stood.
'I am well. Forgive me Legolas, it was nothing.'
For a moment the pain faded and was replaced by understanding. 'I know what it is that hurst you. I remind you of them. I should never have come.'
Frowning, Arwen reached out and grabbed Legolas' arm as he turned, and shook her head sharply. 'Legolas, please,' she pleaded, and she knew how desperate her voice must sound. 'Please don't leave me. It hurts so much more when you are away and I have not one of my kin here.'
Ah, but the pain was back again, and she winced at her words. She was being so selfish! Studying her now-soaked hem, Arwen twisted her hands and tried to breathe.
'I am asking you Legolas. . .I know how much Aragorn misses you - how much he could use your council now with the troubles in the South. Stay.' Legolas was staring at her hand, and she removed it slowly. For a moment longer he stayed silent, until finally he raised his head and turned slightly, looking at the sun with unblinking eyes as it rose above the White City.
'I will stay for a time. It is not that I have not missed yours or Aragorn's company,' he said, laughing sharply. 'There have been other issues.' Arwen stood with him awhile longer, knowing he would not elaborate. They stood, side by side, the new sun glinting off their hair, and Eldarion smiled his gentle smile from his window.
_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
Author Note: Hello hello! *ducks flying veggies* I know, I know, I haven't updated in AGES! Really, I do realise I was a very bad girl. In fact I don't even have a good excuse like 'I was so busy!' [which I was] or 'My computer broke down' or something like that. Nope, it wasn't even writers block...I just flat out didn't feel like writing. I have written the next 2 chapters already, I just have to find the time to post them. I think all together there will be 15 chapters, probably including the epilogue. That's right. Aragorn is kicking the bucket very soon so...ya. Anyway, thank you so much to those of you who still reviewed in my..er..absence..your disgust and disappointments at my abandoning-of-the-story is truly what got me writing again. And a special hello and hat-tip too the girly's over at the Undying Love forums at F4F. Goodness I miss you all! Hope to have the time to pop in soon....
---Red Dragon