And now, for over a year I have watched over him, protecting him from danger. During that time I made for him my greatest work. A standard, bearing the Star of Ëarendil, the crown of Gondor and the White tree of Númenor. A standard fit for the King of Gondor and Anor. This I sent with my brothers before they rode to Rohan with the Dúnedain. I would have given anything to ride with them, but ada forbade it. And so I remained in Rivendell, reading, riding, doing anything to occupy my thoughts for a brief moment. But ever my thoughts strayed to him. And I hoped that I was never far from his thoughts either.
But then one evening, less than a month ago, my father showed me something of my future. He showed me what would happen if Aragorn were made king. He said to me,
"If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes true, you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death. An image of the splendour of the kings of men in glory, undimmed before the breaking of the world. But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt. As nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Here you will dwell, bound to your grief, under the fading trees, until all the world has changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent. Arwen... there is nothing for you here, only death."
And I believed him. I saw that my Estel would die; I saw my grief and despair in the days ahead. Heartbroken, I prepared to leave Rivendell. I journeyed towards the Grey Havens with the rest of the Elves. But when we passed the borders of my beloved Imladris, I looked back, unable to give up so easily the home of my childhood. I saw a young child running along beside my horse. He ran along a wall, etched upon the air, into the arms of a waiting man. My beloved, Aragorn, with my son in his arms. They both looked up at me. The image faded and I was left only with a memory of their faces, pleading for me to come and find them in my future. It was then that I made my choice. A choice that I know will one day come back to me and haunt me. I knew what my father had shown me at first was true, and would eventually happen. But there was also more, not only death. I turned back.
I ran up the familiar steps to my father's study, dropping my travelling cloak onto the ground. When I burst in the room he was not surprised to see me. I asked him why he had not told me about the child; he had the gift of foresight, he must have seen it. He had tried to hide it from me. I asked him to reforge Narsil; I went and took the shards from the Lady's shrine myself. He did not answer me, knowing that if he did reforge the sword, Aragorn would become king of Gondor. He knew that if he did reforge Narsil, he would be parted from his daughter forever. He refused my request. I returned to my room, unwilling to except his decision. And it was then that I decided to write this, my story.
The book that I was trying to read has fallen out of my hands. I feel a wave of exhaustion sweep over me, and I sit down abruptly on the bed, knowing what this meant. The book, my secrets, thud onto the floor, the sound echoing in the furthermost boundaries of my fading being. My father entered my room. He picked up my book and then took my hands in his.
"Your hands are cold," he tells me, looking at me in surprised concern. Then comprehension dawns on his face and he searches my tearstained face despairingly. Unshed tears shine in his eyes making them brighter. This is the first time I have seen my father show clear emotion.
"The life of the Eldar is leaving you."
"This was my choice. Ada, whether by your will or not, there is no ship now that can bear me hence…"
This is my decision. To accept my future, with whatever joys and despair it may bring. My future with Aragorn, my Estel. My hope. I will not lose hope…
Well? How do you like? I think I'm doing well for my first fanfic, do you? This will be continued in another story. Review, and I will go through the agony of putting it up.