Untold Love – Chapter 12
Months past and Aranel began to regain her strength. She began to walk about the halls singing, dancing, and laughing. Her once dead eyes began to come alive; they were constantly sparkling with an inner happiness that no one could destroy. All saw her change and everyone was happy. No one knew the reason for her change, save for two people, Aranel and Aragorn. They knew what saved her. Her life was now intertwined with Aragorn's own life. But secretly he was true to his word.
Three years to the day of their fated meeting in the city Aranel was being sent to the Harbor. All of the preparations were final and complete. She was to leave on the final ship along with Legolas, and the three Elven ring bearers. Aranel was not told of these plans until the day of their departure.
Aragorn walked down the stone corridor. His steps resounding against the walls. His body involuntarily twitched with fear. He reached a great wooden door, and gently rapt his hand against its surface. Gently pushing it in he found Aranel at her desk writing. She looked up at him and smiled.
He returned the smile then said, "The ship is ready."
Aranel's face fell and tears began to fill her face, "Surely you are not planning on having me go?"
He sighed and nodded, "Yes Aranel, I do plan on having you go."
"Why?" she whispered. She tucked her legs up under her on the wooden chair and buried her face into her hands which she rested upon her knees. "I am alive! I am no longer ill." She continued her voice muffled because of her hands.
"You are not the only one leaving. Your brother is also going."
Aranel lifted her head and said, "So that is how it is... you are getting rid of everything that is important to you."
Aragorn's face turned stony in anger, "You are going to be leaving with the rest of the Elven lords and ladies. Lady Galadriel, Lords Celeborn and Elrond, Gandalf are all going! Do not think that this is not hard for me Aranel! I will be alone save for distant correspondence with the remaining Fellowship members. You all are all that I had left. But I love you all enough to let you go."
Aranel stood up and walked over to him, her back was straight and her eyes glowing with anger and loathing. In a steely voice she said, "Do not lecture me Aragorn son of Arathorn. I do not need your help or pity. Did it occur to you that some may not want to leave?"
A silence followed in which the two faced each other never breaking eye contact. "Leave me Aragorn son of Arathorn, leave me so that I can grieve for your heartless soul."
Aragorn's face fell at her harsh words, "If that is what you wish Aranel Nimwen Lady of Mirkwood."
Aragorn turned and left her room head high so that none would see the grief that consumed his now wounded pride. He retired to his chambers where upon closing the door dropped to his knees on the stone floor. Resting on his legs he brought his hands to his face letting the silent tears fall. "Curse these tears, these silent tears." He thought to himself.
Aranel stood silently watching Aragorn walk away from her. She cursed herself for the harsh words she had exchanged with him. But she was not going to admit her folly. She felt the tears well up in her eyes stinging them. Aranel did not let them fall until he was out of her sight. Aranel stood there letting the tears fall, "Curse these tears, these silent tears."
Months past and Aranel began to regain her strength. She began to walk about the halls singing, dancing, and laughing. Her once dead eyes began to come alive; they were constantly sparkling with an inner happiness that no one could destroy. All saw her change and everyone was happy. No one knew the reason for her change, save for two people, Aranel and Aragorn. They knew what saved her. Her life was now intertwined with Aragorn's own life. But secretly he was true to his word.
Three years to the day of their fated meeting in the city Aranel was being sent to the Harbor. All of the preparations were final and complete. She was to leave on the final ship along with Legolas, and the three Elven ring bearers. Aranel was not told of these plans until the day of their departure.
Aragorn walked down the stone corridor. His steps resounding against the walls. His body involuntarily twitched with fear. He reached a great wooden door, and gently rapt his hand against its surface. Gently pushing it in he found Aranel at her desk writing. She looked up at him and smiled.
He returned the smile then said, "The ship is ready."
Aranel's face fell and tears began to fill her face, "Surely you are not planning on having me go?"
He sighed and nodded, "Yes Aranel, I do plan on having you go."
"Why?" she whispered. She tucked her legs up under her on the wooden chair and buried her face into her hands which she rested upon her knees. "I am alive! I am no longer ill." She continued her voice muffled because of her hands.
"You are not the only one leaving. Your brother is also going."
Aranel lifted her head and said, "So that is how it is... you are getting rid of everything that is important to you."
Aragorn's face turned stony in anger, "You are going to be leaving with the rest of the Elven lords and ladies. Lady Galadriel, Lords Celeborn and Elrond, Gandalf are all going! Do not think that this is not hard for me Aranel! I will be alone save for distant correspondence with the remaining Fellowship members. You all are all that I had left. But I love you all enough to let you go."
Aranel stood up and walked over to him, her back was straight and her eyes glowing with anger and loathing. In a steely voice she said, "Do not lecture me Aragorn son of Arathorn. I do not need your help or pity. Did it occur to you that some may not want to leave?"
A silence followed in which the two faced each other never breaking eye contact. "Leave me Aragorn son of Arathorn, leave me so that I can grieve for your heartless soul."
Aragorn's face fell at her harsh words, "If that is what you wish Aranel Nimwen Lady of Mirkwood."
Aragorn turned and left her room head high so that none would see the grief that consumed his now wounded pride. He retired to his chambers where upon closing the door dropped to his knees on the stone floor. Resting on his legs he brought his hands to his face letting the silent tears fall. "Curse these tears, these silent tears." He thought to himself.
Aranel stood silently watching Aragorn walk away from her. She cursed herself for the harsh words she had exchanged with him. But she was not going to admit her folly. She felt the tears well up in her eyes stinging them. Aranel did not let them fall until he was out of her sight. Aranel stood there letting the tears fall, "Curse these tears, these silent tears."