Chapter Six – The Blessing of Family
Arlannis walked blindly through the forest, not caring where her steps took her. Anguish held her heart in a grip of steel, tears flowed freely and her frame shook as she tried to contain her sobs. At last, her strength gave out and she fell to her knees on the leaf-strewn forest floor. 'All tears are worthless,' she whispered hopelessly.
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Legolas' keen hearing discerned the sound of weeping as he walked the forest paths of Lorien. He knew at once it was Arlannis but some elvish reserve stopped him from approaching her directly. Instead he took to the trees, running lightly along the branches until she was within plain sight. And then he stopped, transfixed by her distress. For Arlannis was the very picture of abject misery, on her knees, her head in her hands, weeping as though her heart were broken.
Legolas could not bear the sight and turned away quickly. With a sure purpose he returned to the glade of the Fellowship and sought out Aragorn. The Ranger had not yet settled to sleep and lay watching the stars through the trees. 'Aragorn,' said Legolas, 'come with me now for Arlannis has need of you.' Aragorn did not stop to question his friend but followed Legolas to where Arlannis still knelt weeping and shuddering.
Aragorn raised her up to enfold her in his arms, 'Hush now, sister,' he said gently, 'I am with you and all will be well.' Legolas withdrew from their company, unwilling to intrude upon their private sibling bond.
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Gradually, as her sobs retreated, Arlannis related the words that had passed between herself and Haldir. Aragorn's temper heated throughout the tale and was at its height when she finished. 'He declared he still loved you?' he asked disbelievingly. Arlannis simply nodded. 'He discarded me for pride and has learned to rue his choice,' she said, bitterly, 'as have I. He claimed to have loved me all along! Tell me brother, what do the past twenty years mean if it has all been for the indulgence of one elf's pride?'
'Arlannis,' said Aragorn, tightening his grip on his sister, 'those years did not serve for naught. You learned to live with your faults. He did not. Surely you can see this?'
Her eyes held his and slowly she nodded. Aragorn watched relieved as the despair faded from her face. 'I mean to speak with Haldir before we leave, Arlannis,' he said firmly, ' it is time he realised that he is not welcome in my family. Dry your eyes, sister and be of good heart. Know that you loved faithfully and well, as a woman should love. The fault was not yours, Arlannis, and I will no longer see you suffer for it.'
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Legolas listened carefully, waiting for Aragorn and Arlannis to return. Her heartbroken sobbing still rang in his ears and he hoped with all his heart that Aragorn had been able to offer her some comfort. For Arlannis intrigued him greatly and he did not relish the thought of her suffering. Before tonight, all he had known of her was that she was Aragorn's sister, Elrond's daughter and a dedicated Ranger. She seldom spoke and yet Legolas thought he could see laughter just beneath the surface looking for an escape. It was in Merry and Pippin's company that she looked closest to genuine mirth, for the young Halflings were a pair of incorrigible pranksters. Even Elrond himself had been hard pressed to remain unmoved by the young Masters Took and Brandybuck.
Arlannis kept herself to herself, as Sam would say, the only person she seemed to confide in was her brother. Though Legolas had endeavoured to draw her into conversation, Arlannis always ended their encounters as quickly as the dictates of courtesy allowed. It was not done to offend him, Legolas was sure of that. It was as if she had set herself an internal boundary and would not cross it with anyone. But her reserve had been shattered with shocking thoroughness this night. Within a few hours, Legolas had learned more of this lady than in the last few weeks when they travelled together. His mind turned over the facts; she had been banished from Lorien for trying to kill herself, but he still did not know what had driven her to such despair. It had something to do with Haldir, that much was apparent. Her eyes had been luminous wells of pain when gazing upon the Lorien archer. There was a history there; that was beyond doubt. And something had distressed her terribly tonight, but he had not been willing to take advantage of her private grief just to have his curiosity satisfied.
Legolas sighed. He had no choice but to take comfort in Aragorn's words, Arlannis would relate her tale herself when she was willing. It would profit him nothing to speculate and his patience was infinite as far as Arlannis was concerned.
Legolas heard their voices before any of the others; Arlannis and Aragorn had returned. He studied her face carefully from where he sat. The marks of her distress were still evident, but the wild grief had passed and she looked at peace as she spoke with her brother. 'Thank you, brother,' her voice was clearly audible to him, 'but there is one last task I must complete before I can rest.' Legolas felt his heart pound as Arlannis turned and walked towards him with a nervous yet determined look on her face.
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