Chapter 21
Beren and Lúthien
Aragorn awoke well rested. A song seemed to dance within his soul. He found a bath waiting and shook his head at what had once been so natural now seemed like a forbidden luxury. He slid into the fine silks. He stood in front of the mirror, staring at how he had changed. He had grown taller and was not as thin, but more filled out. His face was like the Elves now for he had cut off the stubble. His hair was cut short at his shoulders since the waist long hair had been a nuisance in fighting and many had mistook him for an Elf. He sighed.
*No one would recognize me now
~*~
Arwen slid among the flowers of Caras Galadhon. She sighed, no smile lighting her beautiful face at which she loved. She leaned against a tree, hugging her slim waist and closed her eyes. Only the wind kept her company and no joy came from her.
~*~
Aragorn moved among the Elves. He heard the hushed whispers and his shoulders slumped, not knowing they spoke only of his beauty.
*Outcast
He turned towards a place where light grew. He wandered amidst the flowers, picking one or two.
~*~
Arwen saw the Elvin prince and groaned. Another suitor no doubt
*When will Estel ever return?
She began towards the flower-laden prince.
~*~
Aragorn looked up hearing footsteps and his jaw just dropped.
~*~
Arwen froze.
" Estel?"
~*~
Aragorn straightened.
" Arwen?"
Arwen's footsteps hastened as she hugged him, careful not to crush the flowers he held. Her eyes roamed over his face.
" You look unlike yourself."
Aragorn's face darkened.
" Many years have passed."
Arwen caressed a cheek, her heart falling when it was not as smooth as she remembered.
" You have grown in beauty, I mistook you for an Elvin-prince." Aragorn's gold eyes dimmed to a dull color.
*So she found another...
Arwen looked at him, watching him. He seemed so tired and burdened.
" Strider, why are you so quiet?"
" Taunt me not, lady. I knew you would find another."
Arwen pulled him to face her.
" There is no one but you I love, though daernaneth is forever sending princes my way. Tis what I meant."
Aragorn looked down upon her beauty that had remained untouched. Her eyes pulled him to her. He dropped the flowers, caressing her cheek.
" You have been away long, estel. Think you ever of me?" Arwen asked softly, " I am sure other maidens caught your eye."
Aragorn gently kissed her.
" They caught my eye, but none compare to you, Nightingale. I thought of you often."
Arwen lifted her lips again. He accepted them. She could feel the strength in him; strength that had not been there before. Strength that could carry her the rest of her life. Her choice was made in that moment.
~*~
Aragorn sat alone, playing with a piece of grass as he sang softly. Lothlorien was uplifting his heart. A body knelt between his legs. Her hands found his shoulders as she gently kissed his eyelids.
"You seem so happy, Aragorn. I take it Ada found you all those years ago?"
Aragorn tilted his head questioningly.
" Nay, why did he seek me?"
Arwen looked at him strangely.
" I do not know. Neither you nor Ada ever revealed it."
Aragorn thought back before shaking his head. He could not remember the exact reason he had left Imladris so long ago.
" Nay, the only place I remember Ada in the time I have been gone was in my dreams, but even that is a nightmare I have now forgotten."
Arwen smiled. If he could not remember it, then Elrond must have healed him. She kissed him gently, fingering his short hair.
" I like your hair short."
" As do I. I know not how you Elves fight with waist long hair."
Arwen giggled.
" Seems as if I am of a better ability than thee."
Aragorn chuckled, letting her turn in his arms so her back lay upon his chest. He gently kissed her neck.
" How I wish time would stop and leave us like this," Arwen sighed happily.
Aragorn smiled.
" I have no obligations elsewhere. I am here until I decide to leave."
Arwen smiled, turning her head.
" Let me show you the beauty of Lorien."
~*~
Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas walked the Mirkwood underground courtyard talking.
" Legolas."
Legolas' face turned to that of long suffering. His older brother Airóma was quickly approaching.
" Mithrandir has arrived wishing to see the 3 of you."
" I thank thee, brother."
Airóma walked off. Legolas cringed.
" If he were any nicer, I might die of love."
The twins chuckled. Elrohir's grin suddenly grew.
" Tell Mithrandir I am in a meeting of great importance."
Both Legolas and Elladan shook their heads as Elrohir joined a beautiful dark haired she-Elf.
" We will not be seeing him the rest of the time we are here," Elladan chuckled.
Legolas' grinned turned cheeky.
" Aye and I am not to be the one to disturb them.
~*~
Gandalf watched the 2 come, laughing at a joke.
" Where is your other half, Elladan?"
The 2 Elves almost burst into laughter. Elladan's eyes danced, but he said nothing. Gandalf shook his head.
" Give me one guess: Kalaina."
The 2 nodded. Gandalf shrugged.
" Does not matter. I am sending you and your brother to Lothlorien. Estel is there."
" Es-Estel?" Elladan's jaw dropped, " You knew where he was?"
Gandalf looked away. Elladan's anger grew.
" You knew where he was and yet let Ada bathe in grief? You-" Legolas put a hand on Elladan's shoulder.
Elladan looked down.
" Twas I who suggested he join the army of Gondor. Now he has left the Army and Galadriel told me he is in Lothlorien. He needs to go to Elrond."
Elladan's face hardened.
" Legolas will go to Imladris to tell Ada, right?"
Gandalf nodded.
" I need haste, for I know not why Aragorn left the army."
~*~
Aragorn chased after her through the trees. Her laughter was that of the sweetest bells. He paused seeing a large pool of water.
" Nightingale, come over here."
Arwen turned towards him, surprised to see him sitting on a rock, pulling off his shoes.
" What are you doing?" she demanded.
Aragorn sent her an impish grin, pulling off one of the many outer tunics.
" I am going swimming."
Arwen grinned, glancing around before beginning to pull off her outer robe. Her lips pursed at the sight of him in nothing but his leggings.
" Do you stare?" he glanced over his shoulder at her, at the edge of the water.
" Aye, Strider, I do. Tis not everyday I see you in naught but your leggings."
Aragorn shook his head with a grin.
" Tis not everyday you see the Undomiel of the Eldar in naught but her underdress."
Arwen ran towards him, pushing him in. Aragorn pulled her with him and they both went falling into it.
Aragorn surfaced first, his laughter echoing. Arwen pushed him again and then splashed with all her might. Aragorn pulled her down underwater. Arwen surfaced, laughing as she tried to wipe her eyes. Aragorn gently kissed her wet eyes. Arwen leaned even more into him.
" I give."
~*~
Elladan and Elrohir joined Legolas to first travel to Imladris.
" Return directly after Imladris, Legolas. I forbid you to go to Lorien," Thranduil ordered.
" But-"
" You heard me."
Legolas sighed.
"Yes, Adar."
The twins exchanged sympathetic glances. Thranduil was as overbearing as ever when it came to his youngest.
~*~
Aragorn walked beside Galadriel.
" Where is my granddaughter this day?"
Aragorn looked up with a smile.
" I do not know. I only know I am meeting her later."
Galadriel smiled.
" I have heard it from an unknown source that someone ordered silver rings."
Aragorn only smiled mysteriously.
" I wonder who that could be?"
~*~
Arwen laughed gaily as Aragorn led the way in which they ran. The both tumbled down the hill. Arwen pulled him close, wishing for a kiss longer than what he gave. Aragorn rolled off her, pulling her up.
" Come, I have a gift for you."
Arwen took his hand again, letting him lead her to the top of Cerin Amroth.
The Gil-Estel shone brightly, lighting up the night for it was midsummers eve. The night air was cool with just a touch of heat in it. Aragorn faced her.
"Close your eyes, Nightingale."
Arwen did as told, a hint of a smile lighting her face.
Aragorn fumbled through his pockets.
" Have you lost them?" Arwen asked innocently.
Aragorn groaned.
" You have them?"
Arwen's eyes popped open as she giggled. She jangled the 2 rings victoriously.
" Did I mess your plans?"
Aragorn chuckled.
" May I have them?"
Arwen only jingled them, lifting them towards the sky as if he were a child that could not reach them. Aragorn caught the playful twinkled in her eyes. His own lips turned up mischievously. His hands found her face as his lips seized hers almost bruisingly. Arwen eagerly responded. Aragorn began to pull away. Arwen whimpered needingly.
"Estel."
Aragorn grinned mischievously, taking the rings.
"Wilt thou marry me for as long as your father remains here in Arda? I ask not for your immortality, but your love."
Arwen's eyes turned serious.
" The twilight I will renounce if I marry you."
Aragorn's eyes turned downward as if he battled within himself.
"Nightingale, tis the way of your people. I am not elvish and I cannot offer you anything but my heart."
Arwen took a ring, placing it upon his finger.
" I will give you my heart only if that is what you wish."
Aragorn gently slid the other ring onto her finger.
" I love you."
Arwen's heart leapt at the words never uttered before. Her eyes searched his dark ones fervently.
"Im meleth le," she whispered back before his mouth seized hers.
~*~
Arwen snuggled up to Aragorn to watch the sunrise. Arwen looked up at him.
" Dark is the shadow, and yet my heart rejoices; for you, Estel, shall be among the great whose valor will destroy it."
Aragorn looked down at her.
" I have not your foresight, yet with your hope, shall I hope. I reject the Shadow, yet I cannot accept the Twilight for I am not elvish."
He looked into the distance.
" I fear if thee cleaves to me, then the twilight you will renounce."
Arwen was silent, staring at the ring.
*What to do? What to do?
Aragorn's heart began to break at her silence.
" I will cleave to you, Estel and turn from the twilight. You will not dissuade me."
Aragorn's eyes searched her fervently and found steel in them. He gently kissed her hand.
" And I will never let thee regret it."
AN: Excerpts taken from LOTR appendix A, pg 375 in my book or the part titled: Here follows a part of the tale of Aragorn and Arwen. Anyone got any ideas for me? It may be a while before I update, but I need a thought first. Please R&R! Thanks