Chapter 35
Each one wants to know
The reason why the winds die
And where the stories go
The seven days passed quickly. Aragorn felt his head was so full with maps and information that he could not possibly fit anything more into it. He stood in his room, staring at the blood red sun that rose. The color seemed fitting given the circumstances.
" May I bother thee, Estel?"
Aragorn looked up and then took the sword from Elrond. He unsheathed it, staring at the new patterns and runes covering it.
" Thank you," Aragorn fastened it to his side.
Elrond closed the door.
" A word, please?"
Aragorn nodded. Elrond rubbed his hands together.
" I have come to make one last plea to you."
Aragorn shook his head.
" I have told you many times I will not be king-"
Elrond shook his head.
" I do not come about that. I come about Arwen."
Aragorn's brow furrowed.
" What about her?"
Elrond ran a hand over the back of his neck.
" Our time here is ending. Arwen's time is ending. Let her go. Let her take the ship into the West. Let her bear away her love for you to the Undying Lands, there to be ever green."
Aragorn ran a hand over his bristled chin.
" But never more than a memory."
Elrond's rare temper unleashed itself.
" I will not leave my daughter here to die."
Aragorn put a finger in Elrond's chest.
" She stays because she still has hope."
Elrond pushed away the finger, driving one of his own into Aragorn's chest.
" She stays for you!!" Elrond moved away towards the door, his eyes strangely clouded. " She is the Undómiel. She belongs with her people. Not to fade like a common Edain."
Aragorn watched him go. He ran a hand over his face.
*I have to let her go.
He gave a small sigh.
*I will never fulfill my destiny. I cannot ask her to remain here when it could be too late for her to leave.
He fingered the Undómiel charm around his neck. He pulled it off, running a finger over it.
*I pray you keep your owner safe on her journey.
~*~
Aragorn had been silent on their walk to join the others, Arwen noted. They paused, a bit removed from the rest of the Elves. Arwen's eyes searched his as he gave a long sigh. She gently brushed his hair out of his face.
" What troubles thee, Estel?"
Aragorn looked down.
*Tis now or never…
" Idhren emmen menna gui ethwel…Hae o auth a nîr a naeth (You have a chance for another life…away from war…grief…despair)."
Arwen's eyes searched his frantically. Surely…
*He is not saying what I think he is…
One look in his golden eyes revealed he knew exactly what he was saying.
" Why are you saying this?" Tears were on the edge of her voice.
Aragorn looked down.
" I am mortal. You are Elfkind. It was a dream, Arwen, nothing more."
His heart panged as he lied to her.
*I may say it is a dream, but it never was to me.
He gave a small sigh, placing something cool in her hand. Arwen unfurled her fingers to find the Evenstar there. Aragorn closed his hand over hers.
" This belongs to you."
A thousand expressions crossed her face. Arwen lifted her chin, tears in her eyes. Aragorn could see Elrond swiftly approaching. Arwen pressed the Evenstar back into Aragorn's hand.
" Keep it. It was a gift."
She turned after her father, holding her head high.
Aragorn joined the Fellowship. He placed the Evenstar back around his neck. Legolas nudged him slightly as he strode by.
*Why does Arwen keep her tears at bay?
Aragorn simply shrugged.
*I have released her from our engagement.
Legolas frowned slightly, before he shook his head.
*Twill take more than Estel's stubbornness to keep them apart."
The ring-bearer took the first steps out of the gates of Imladris. Aragorn paused, unable to leave. He first sent farewell nods to his foster brothers, and then his eyes went to Elrond. Elrond simply bowed his head.
*Thank you for releasing Arwen.
Aragorn's eyes then went to Arwen. She lifted her eyes for a fleeting moment. He sent her a small smile and then nodded his head respectfully before turning. Arwen's lips trembled as she watched him go. She felt Elrond's arm envelop her and turned her face into his shoulder.
" Shh, Undómiel. This darkness shall soon pass into day as bright as Anor."
Arwen looked up through her tears.
" That glory shall only be when you cross the Sea."
Elrond frowned slightly, noting her mention that only he would pass over the Sea, but he said nothing. With a heavy heart, Elrond turned back into his haven. He was no longer in control of what would befall the Company.
~*~
Aragorn's heart lifted slightly as they came to the border of Eregion. He remembered his trek through here decades ago. He smiled slightly, before it turned into a frown. After his trek up to the Northern Wastes had come the Mirkwood Dilemna.
" This land disturbs me."
Aragorn glanced at Legolas. The Elf's eyes flashed over the darkening land with a small amount of trepidation. Aragorn clasped his shoulder.
" Eregion was long ago put to ruin."
Legolas nodded. The Elf blinked slightly before pointing a ways away from them.
" They died thousands of years ago."
" What are you two whispering about?" A gruff voice suddenly interrupted.
Legolas' lips tightened as he glared down at the Dwarf.
" If it was of any consequence, we would have told the rest of the Fellowship."
Gimli only shrugged.
" Never trust an Elf," he muttered as he walked away.
Aragorn put a hand on Legolas' chest. Legolas looked down at it and then sighed. The Elf turned away, plopping quite ungracefully on a rock as he began to sharpen the bone-handled knife he carried. Aragorn warily watched Legolas. Legolas sent a scorching gaze at the Dwarf's back.
*If looks could kill, Gimli would have dropped a long time ago.
" His lot in life is to make me miserable." Legolas pointed the tip of the knife towards the Dwarf's back.
Aragorn just chuckled.
" Peace, Greenleaf. I never knew you had such a temper."
Legolas glanced up at him, his eyes shaded and sad.
" You have to yell in Mirkwood." Legolas looked down. " Or you will lose your life and the lives of all you lead."
~*~
Gandalf's face was dark. The rest of the Company looked at him and Aragorn with apprehension. Gandalf looked at Aragorn.
" Is there another way?"
Aragorn finally nodded.
" Elrohir once showed me a path."
Gandalf groaned.
" And we are trusting that rogue of an Elf now?"
Aragorn managed a smile.
" You brought on his pranks when you offended Elladan."
Gandalf shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
" I, for one, will never understand why Elrond does not have a head full of gray with those two for sons. Even the longevity of an Elf's life can be worn by those two."
~*~
Aragorn ran a hand over his arm shivering slightly. Though the winds did not howl as harshly, it was still freezing in Eregion. His eyes fell on the well-wrought stones lit by the bright Moon above. He glanced at the small ringbearer struggling to match his strides with Aragorn's. Aragorn glanced behind him and saw the Company slowing their pace. A smile lit half of his face when he caught Legolas' impatience. The Elf and Dwarf were once again bickering. Aragorn chuckled. He found the bantering to be good entertainment for the long road ahead. His eyes darkened as he stared at the mountains looming in the distance.
*There, by some strange doing, our fate lies.
He glanced down at Frodo.
*A fate so uncertain and it rests within the hands of a tiny halfling…
AN: Contrary to what I've said before, 'Estel' will not be going through the entire journey of the Fellowship. To me, this story is beginning to lag on and no one is reviewing, so unless you really think I should continue it through the trip. Please read and review. It's the only way I know if this is good or not.
PS: Check out my first original fic at
Enjoy and thanks!