A/N; Thanks SO much for all that lovely feed back! You guys rock my friggen
socks. Enjoy this next part!
Walking In Beauty; Chapter 2
Arwen had never given a passing thought to any sort of competition for Aragorn's heart. It had been so easy for they both loved each other. Besides, every creature that knew Arwen would never dare to attempt anything with Aragorn. She had been confident in their love, and all of Rivendell had known. And while he was away she didn't have to witness the women that would throw themselves at him, that dark and handsome stranger in a corner, for she knew he would turn them away. But now, with the rush of mortal emotions, she felt jealousy hold sway. Blinded by her tears, she hurried down the hall, unsure of where she was even going until she ran right into someone.
********Flashback*********
Eowyn had been biding her time. While she and Faramir were to be wed, she found that there was still that certain attraction to Aragorn, something that she couldn't deny to even Faramir when he confronted her on it. It had hurt her to hear his bitter words.
"Go to him," He had said, "and tell him of your mighty love!"
"Faramir.. I protest--"
"Go to him and look him in the eyes. Destroy your affection for him and return to me, with a true heart if you can."
And she had known then that he was speaking truthfully to her. He had turned from her, and left her in her chambers alone. She had paced for hours, trying to devise when and how she would give this last ditch attempt at curing herself of him. Several times she had sat and begun a letter, but each time Faramir's words rang in her mind. "Look him in the eyes..." She mumbled.
It was a mere few days later when she arrived at Aragorn's door to his office, a fierce guard standing in position. "Lady Eowyn.. You wish a word with the King?"
"Yes. Please." She could feel her palms sweating and her hands were shaky. She had decided that she would confess to him that she must cure herself of him, and that she had written a love letter while they had been in camped at Helm's Deep. She would ask of him one thing; to burn the letter after reading it.
The guard entered and spoke with the king briefly, and then she was ushered in. The great door was shut behind her and she felt as if the breath had been sucked out of her. There he was in all his splendor, his hair so fine and neat, the crown glistening off the light of the dying sun set. He stood by the full length windows, watching as that orange globe sank behind the ice capped mountains in the distance. He turned to face her, and a smile warmed his face. But she found suddenly that he did not make her heart leap to her throat anymore, there was something different in his eyes.
"Eowyn, what brings you to my office at this hour?" He sat down behind his desk, gently shifting aside papers as he gestured to the chair directly across from him. She took the offered seat and cleared her throat delicately before looking at him, the ice cold hues studying the difference she had found.
"Aragorn.. King.. Faramir and I have had an argument." She paused, watching the frown that took to his features. He opened his mouth to say something, but she continued before he could. "I have come here to settle it. I have hurt my future husband in a way that I may never be able to repair.. But I shall try. Aragorn, I must rid myself of these feelings for you." She found it easier to speak suddenly, but she glanced away out of shame. It was so weak of her to want a man that she could never have.
"Eowyn, I care for you.. Truly, I do. But my heart shall always belong to Arwen." She nodded quietly and set the envelope upon his desk, the letter safely tucked inside.
"Do me this one favor, Aragorn. Read this, and then burn it." She quickly retreated from his office, a dull ache setting it. She could never have the love of a man like him, and how foolish that she should look to even hope!
She hurried back to her quarters and, as she opened the door, she found Faramir. He was sitting on her bed, hunched with his face in his hands. The breath escaped from her as she closed the door behind her and he looked to face her. The tears that had fallen upon his cheeks hurt more than the rejection she had just faced. And it was in his eyes that she saw the shining love she had been looking for. How silly that she had wanted a man like Aragorn when she had Faramir!
"Faramir.." She whispered as she approached him and he stood. Her coldness broken, she embraced him and kissed him passionately, his tears spilling on to her cheeks. Her heart was healed, and she felt it beat solely for him. He held on to her as if she was the very life that would save him.
And so Aragorn had been left with the letter, and as he read it he found it touching but he could never look at Eowyn as anymore than a friend. Shaking his head, he had turned to burn it when an advisor had burst in with important news. The letter had been abandoned on his desk, where it remained until it fell into the hands of Arwen.
*************
Aragorn sighed as he stared down at the curving handwriting that he had read once before. He cursed himself over for having left it where his bride would find it and misread it. Elrond had warned him of the rush of emotions Arwen would experience that would be new to her. He had never had to worry about any jealousy from Arwen for the idea was foreign to her. But now.. He sighed and returned to their quarters, only to find Arwen gone. It hurt him deeply to find a fault in her trust of him. With a frustrated cry, he crumpled it up and threw it to the fire, a task which should have been completed some time ago.
The letters flickered up for some time before the paper fell to pieces.
Dear Aragorn,
From the moment I first laid eyes upon you, when you held me in your arms, I could hardly forget the feeling that you stirred. Long have I dreamed of you, of fighting beside you, my Lord. I have found it impossible to move past you. And when you had first told me of the elven wench that was leaving for the West, I had been foolish enough to think that perhaps the love that shone in your eyes was for me. That I could replace her. And perhaps I will. I know that a great battle is coming, and I may never see you again. But are there some feelings in your heart for me? I cannot go on. I do love you.
Eowyn
Arwen had nearly fallen backwards when a pair of soft, yet strong arms had wrapped around her and a fair voice of her own tongue spoke. "*Queen Arwen, why are you running with tears in your starlit eyes? I shall slay the beast that hath caused an ounce of displeasure in your heart!*"
Legolas's words caused no relief in her heart, but she clung to him as she cried upon his shoulder. "My Lady.. *Come with me, we shall speak. This is no place for a heartfelt talk.*" He gently guided her out to the main balcony, where many guests had been entertained before. He eased her into a chair and kneeled beside her, his silky fingers brushing away her tears. "Do not cry, Arwen."
She sniffled and tucked her hair behind her ears, her hands coming up to rest upon Legolas's wrists. He had always been a dear friend to her, he had taken care of her when she was just an elfling and had cried upon his shoulder when she scraped her knees. He had always been there for her.
"*He no longer loves me, Legolas!*" The tears gathered again, but he hushed her cries and gently ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her some. They had always been this way, for he was like her older brother when the twins were away. And now they were not here, and he was. She felt like a child again.
Her words had evoked a soft laugh from him as he gently rest his hands upon the side of her face. "M'lady, Estel shall never stop loving you. Even if you had stabbed him in the heart, he would whisper his love for you with his last dying breath."
She hung her head slightly, sighing. "I found a letter.. From Lady Eowyn on his desk. It was a love letter." Legolas shook his head, and stood up. He walked over to the railing of the balcony to look out at the breathtaking scenery.
"Arwen.. Aragorn fought every evil in all of Middle-Earth for you.. For your future with him. I do not think that he would give all that up for a fling with Lady Eowyn. Her beauty is pale in comparison to yours. Aragorn loves you more than I have ever seen a man love a woman, and I know that you love him equally. You are simply going through a rough time, and do not ever think his love for you shall die. It will outlast this world ten times over." She rose to stand next to him, his wisdom reaching deeply in her.
"You are right.. I have been so foolish. Legolas.. Answer me truthfully though. You were there with them.. Was there every anything between them?" He turned to look at her and a smile came to his lips.
"Eowyn felt strongly for him, but it was never returned. Aragorn thought and spoke only of you."
And so Arwen had left Legolas with a light kiss on the cheek and a hug, and she returned to her chambers. Aragorn was there, he was laying in bed already. As she changed and slipped in, she prepared to cuddle up to him and admit her error and make it up to him, but he had given her a cold glance and turned his back to her, and his words left a chill down her spine that caused tears to spring to her eyes. "Good night."
I know, it's been so sad, but I'll get to the fluffy part soon enough!
** denotes elven tongue.
Arwen had never given a passing thought to any sort of competition for Aragorn's heart. It had been so easy for they both loved each other. Besides, every creature that knew Arwen would never dare to attempt anything with Aragorn. She had been confident in their love, and all of Rivendell had known. And while he was away she didn't have to witness the women that would throw themselves at him, that dark and handsome stranger in a corner, for she knew he would turn them away. But now, with the rush of mortal emotions, she felt jealousy hold sway. Blinded by her tears, she hurried down the hall, unsure of where she was even going until she ran right into someone.
********Flashback*********
Eowyn had been biding her time. While she and Faramir were to be wed, she found that there was still that certain attraction to Aragorn, something that she couldn't deny to even Faramir when he confronted her on it. It had hurt her to hear his bitter words.
"Go to him," He had said, "and tell him of your mighty love!"
"Faramir.. I protest--"
"Go to him and look him in the eyes. Destroy your affection for him and return to me, with a true heart if you can."
And she had known then that he was speaking truthfully to her. He had turned from her, and left her in her chambers alone. She had paced for hours, trying to devise when and how she would give this last ditch attempt at curing herself of him. Several times she had sat and begun a letter, but each time Faramir's words rang in her mind. "Look him in the eyes..." She mumbled.
It was a mere few days later when she arrived at Aragorn's door to his office, a fierce guard standing in position. "Lady Eowyn.. You wish a word with the King?"
"Yes. Please." She could feel her palms sweating and her hands were shaky. She had decided that she would confess to him that she must cure herself of him, and that she had written a love letter while they had been in camped at Helm's Deep. She would ask of him one thing; to burn the letter after reading it.
The guard entered and spoke with the king briefly, and then she was ushered in. The great door was shut behind her and she felt as if the breath had been sucked out of her. There he was in all his splendor, his hair so fine and neat, the crown glistening off the light of the dying sun set. He stood by the full length windows, watching as that orange globe sank behind the ice capped mountains in the distance. He turned to face her, and a smile warmed his face. But she found suddenly that he did not make her heart leap to her throat anymore, there was something different in his eyes.
"Eowyn, what brings you to my office at this hour?" He sat down behind his desk, gently shifting aside papers as he gestured to the chair directly across from him. She took the offered seat and cleared her throat delicately before looking at him, the ice cold hues studying the difference she had found.
"Aragorn.. King.. Faramir and I have had an argument." She paused, watching the frown that took to his features. He opened his mouth to say something, but she continued before he could. "I have come here to settle it. I have hurt my future husband in a way that I may never be able to repair.. But I shall try. Aragorn, I must rid myself of these feelings for you." She found it easier to speak suddenly, but she glanced away out of shame. It was so weak of her to want a man that she could never have.
"Eowyn, I care for you.. Truly, I do. But my heart shall always belong to Arwen." She nodded quietly and set the envelope upon his desk, the letter safely tucked inside.
"Do me this one favor, Aragorn. Read this, and then burn it." She quickly retreated from his office, a dull ache setting it. She could never have the love of a man like him, and how foolish that she should look to even hope!
She hurried back to her quarters and, as she opened the door, she found Faramir. He was sitting on her bed, hunched with his face in his hands. The breath escaped from her as she closed the door behind her and he looked to face her. The tears that had fallen upon his cheeks hurt more than the rejection she had just faced. And it was in his eyes that she saw the shining love she had been looking for. How silly that she had wanted a man like Aragorn when she had Faramir!
"Faramir.." She whispered as she approached him and he stood. Her coldness broken, she embraced him and kissed him passionately, his tears spilling on to her cheeks. Her heart was healed, and she felt it beat solely for him. He held on to her as if she was the very life that would save him.
And so Aragorn had been left with the letter, and as he read it he found it touching but he could never look at Eowyn as anymore than a friend. Shaking his head, he had turned to burn it when an advisor had burst in with important news. The letter had been abandoned on his desk, where it remained until it fell into the hands of Arwen.
*************
Aragorn sighed as he stared down at the curving handwriting that he had read once before. He cursed himself over for having left it where his bride would find it and misread it. Elrond had warned him of the rush of emotions Arwen would experience that would be new to her. He had never had to worry about any jealousy from Arwen for the idea was foreign to her. But now.. He sighed and returned to their quarters, only to find Arwen gone. It hurt him deeply to find a fault in her trust of him. With a frustrated cry, he crumpled it up and threw it to the fire, a task which should have been completed some time ago.
The letters flickered up for some time before the paper fell to pieces.
Dear Aragorn,
From the moment I first laid eyes upon you, when you held me in your arms, I could hardly forget the feeling that you stirred. Long have I dreamed of you, of fighting beside you, my Lord. I have found it impossible to move past you. And when you had first told me of the elven wench that was leaving for the West, I had been foolish enough to think that perhaps the love that shone in your eyes was for me. That I could replace her. And perhaps I will. I know that a great battle is coming, and I may never see you again. But are there some feelings in your heart for me? I cannot go on. I do love you.
Eowyn
Arwen had nearly fallen backwards when a pair of soft, yet strong arms had wrapped around her and a fair voice of her own tongue spoke. "*Queen Arwen, why are you running with tears in your starlit eyes? I shall slay the beast that hath caused an ounce of displeasure in your heart!*"
Legolas's words caused no relief in her heart, but she clung to him as she cried upon his shoulder. "My Lady.. *Come with me, we shall speak. This is no place for a heartfelt talk.*" He gently guided her out to the main balcony, where many guests had been entertained before. He eased her into a chair and kneeled beside her, his silky fingers brushing away her tears. "Do not cry, Arwen."
She sniffled and tucked her hair behind her ears, her hands coming up to rest upon Legolas's wrists. He had always been a dear friend to her, he had taken care of her when she was just an elfling and had cried upon his shoulder when she scraped her knees. He had always been there for her.
"*He no longer loves me, Legolas!*" The tears gathered again, but he hushed her cries and gently ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her some. They had always been this way, for he was like her older brother when the twins were away. And now they were not here, and he was. She felt like a child again.
Her words had evoked a soft laugh from him as he gently rest his hands upon the side of her face. "M'lady, Estel shall never stop loving you. Even if you had stabbed him in the heart, he would whisper his love for you with his last dying breath."
She hung her head slightly, sighing. "I found a letter.. From Lady Eowyn on his desk. It was a love letter." Legolas shook his head, and stood up. He walked over to the railing of the balcony to look out at the breathtaking scenery.
"Arwen.. Aragorn fought every evil in all of Middle-Earth for you.. For your future with him. I do not think that he would give all that up for a fling with Lady Eowyn. Her beauty is pale in comparison to yours. Aragorn loves you more than I have ever seen a man love a woman, and I know that you love him equally. You are simply going through a rough time, and do not ever think his love for you shall die. It will outlast this world ten times over." She rose to stand next to him, his wisdom reaching deeply in her.
"You are right.. I have been so foolish. Legolas.. Answer me truthfully though. You were there with them.. Was there every anything between them?" He turned to look at her and a smile came to his lips.
"Eowyn felt strongly for him, but it was never returned. Aragorn thought and spoke only of you."
And so Arwen had left Legolas with a light kiss on the cheek and a hug, and she returned to her chambers. Aragorn was there, he was laying in bed already. As she changed and slipped in, she prepared to cuddle up to him and admit her error and make it up to him, but he had given her a cold glance and turned his back to her, and his words left a chill down her spine that caused tears to spring to her eyes. "Good night."
I know, it's been so sad, but I'll get to the fluffy part soon enough!
** denotes elven tongue.