Into The Shadow

By The Last Evenstar

A/N: I'm so, so sorry that I took so long updating. But I've been really busy lately – play rehearsals, papers to write, etc, etc. I hope I can be more prompt in the future.

Wow! I'm simply amazed at the feedback I got concerning this story! Thank you all so much – and don't hesitate to keep the praise/suggestions/criticism coming!

galadriel evenstar - Of course I won't let Aragorn die. But I have no objection whatsoever to you sending Haldir our after me.

b-witched83uk – Thanks! Gandalf is one of my favorite characters, and I hoped I had characterized him well.

ME132 – I love that you're so enthusiastic about my story. Don't worry, Aragorn will return - eventually . . . heh heh heh.

ArwenSolo - Wow! Behind Stone Doors was my best story ever, so to me that's a great compliment to me. So glad you like it!

Alasse-Calmacil - Breathless with anticipation? Wow, that makes me feel special!

crystal illusion - Thanks!

Cerridwen-Evereven - Thanks! I love getting you're reviews - always so nice!

prettiest in pink - Hey, if you know what they are, you're one step ahead of me!

tychen - I agree, dead rangers are so pesky. They stink up the house like nothing else. In all seriousness, though, I would never kill the precious Aragorn. Don't worry.

strawberri-kiwi - I'm impressed. You've really captured the theme I had in that last chapter. I'm so glad you like it!

Queen Arwen – Ah, I'll try to limit the crying. Action and adventure to come in the next few chapters - you should be happy about that!

The Converted – Only nine author alerts per story? You're lucky! I've gotten a total of forty-two JUST for Sadie's story 'My darling Estel'. BTW, glad you like it!

Kekelina – Sorry I took so long updating. Glad you like the story!

Anamaria Elentari - Dream on, fangirl. *strokes ring* Precioussssss . . . bites finger off* Heh!

mata - Thanks! When readers demand more, I always take it as a compliment!

Tweety Mortensen - Thank you! I will!

Belvedere - Thank you! A compliment on how I write - wow! So rare to find on this site!

steph-h - Me too . . .

Thanks again, y'all! And now, on to the story!

Chapter Three: Visions in the Night

Elladan sat with his head in his hands. His brother came up and sat down beside him. "It never gets any easier, does it?"

Elladan groaned. "It's worse than ever this time. He was the last chance they had." He looked up sadly. "Now Gondor will never have a King."

Elrohir nodded. "I told Atar he should let Estel marry Arwen. I warned him – all in his line are short-lived."

Elladan lifted his head at the mention of their sister. "How is she?"

His brother sighed. "Not well. I fear for her heart."

"As do I." Their father came in and sat down across from his sons. "All my life I've been able to protect her. I've sent her to Lórien, or kept her here – whatever it took to maintain her safety." Elrond's hands shook. "And now comes something I cannot protect her from. For only the second time in my life, I feel helpless."

Elrohir remembered well the hollow look in his father's eyes. He had seen it once before – the day his mother had sailed across the sea. The day that Celebrían had left forever.

Elladan growled in frustration. "Is there anything we can do?"

Elrond shook his head sadly. "He has fallen, utinu nin."

"Arwen does not believe so," Elrohir spoke up. "She insists that he lives."

His father's shoulders sagged. "If he lives, then he lives as a prisoner in the world of shadow. There is nothing we can do."

~~~~~~~

Arwen sat numbly in her room, wondering when she was going to die. It's only a matter of time, she told herself. My heart is broken enough. Why must it be prolonged like this?

They all told her he was dead. So why couldn't she believe them? They were older and wiser than she. They had ways of knowing – knowing for sure.

But I have a way of knowing too, she thought desperately. Whether or not I'm still alive. And if I'm still alive, then my heart is not broken. And if my heart is not broken, I must know – somehow – that he still lives.

Emotions stirred inside her like a stew over flame. She couldn't explain how she knew; she just did.

But even she could not deny that he was in dire peril. And if someone doesn't go after him soon, he WILL die.

She had begged and pleaded with her brothers. They had told her that to risk two more lives on a hopeless mission would be more than folly. Even Glorfindel, the Balrog Slayer, told her that it would be suicide.

She had considered going herself. Sneaking away, in the dead of night. She would be gone before anyone could stop her.

But it's not practical, she had admitted to herself. I was trained in weaponry, but I am not a warrior. I could not make it through Mordor alone.

So she had decided to lie there, and wait for death. It seemed the easiest respite from her misery now.

She glanced out the window. The sky was growing dark. Almost as if compelled to do so by some unseen force, she lit a candle with trembling hands and started out toward the gate.

Elladan and Elrohir were waiting for her.

She trembled, a tear spilling from her eye. "I'm not going inside."

Elladan looked up at the darkening sky. "It's going to storm."

Arwen lifted her chin. "I don't care. I'm staying here." Her words sounded foolish even to herself.

Elrohir spoke. "Arwen, do you truly believe that he is alive?"

She nodded, taken aback. "He is, toror nin. I know it."

The twins glanced at each other, and Arwen had a feeling that in that split second something had been decided.

As soon as they had left, a huge clap of thunder sounded from the sky and rain began to pour. Arwen stood there, water running down her face, as still as a marble statue.

The candle in her hand went out.

~~~~~~~

It was not easy to convince Glorfindel. The Balrog Slayer stubbornly maintained that their idea was pure and utter suicide.

"You're lucky I don't tell your father," he remarked. "In fact, I have half a mind to."

"Glorfindel." Elrohir tried to sound confident. "You taught us everything we know. If not for you, we might have fallen many times before. But we kept our wits about us, and our judgement too. We would not risk so dangerous a thing if we did not feel it was necessary."

The golden-haired elf rolled his eyes. "If you had listened to half the things I taught you, Elrohir, then your form with a blade would not be half so atrocious."

"Please, this is serious!" Elladan pleaded. "You have to help."

Glorfindel frowned. "Amada telella! I was venturing into the confines of Mordor before you were even born! Do not question me on who knows best!" He sighed.
"Do you truly believe you will not die for naught?"

Elrohir considered. "If we stay and live, the future of Middle-earth will be in jeopardy. If we go and die, so be it. But if we go and succeed, then our hope will be restored. And to me, that is a chance worth taking."

"Brave words, son of Elrond," Glorfindel said with a small smile. "Does the Undómiel know of your plan?"

Elladan shook his head. "I suppose we'll leave her a letter."

Glorfindel shook his head. "Tell her. She should have a chance to say one last goodbye to her beloved brothers."

Elrohir groaned. "And you? Any words of parting?"

The elf broke into a broad smile. "Who said anything about parting? No, Elrohir, I think we'll say goodbye to her together."

~~~~~~~

Arwen was alone again in the dark. She trembled. What's happening to me? Am I going mad, or am I finally dying?

"Arwen!" She looked over and saw Aragorn, hovering almost erethreally in the shadows. "Arwen, stay away! Stay away from here!"

She struggled to control her body. "Estel!" she cried, tears running down her cheeks. "Are you alive? Tell me that you are!"

All of a sudden he was holding her, his arms wrapped so tightly around her that she could have sworn they were one entity for a moment there. He kissed her, but it was empty, like air, and then he seemed to fade back. "I'm alive. Don't come and find me. Forget me, Arwen, please forget me!"

She clung to his fading essence. "I'm not going to forget you!" she sobbed. "Where are you? Tell me where you are!"

A dark look crossed his handsome face. "Shadow." He seemed to be disappearing.

"No!" she called out into the oblivion. "You can't have him!"

And with one final burst of power, she collapsed back into reality.

~~~~~~~

"We ride North," Elrohir announced to his small renegade band as they gathered by the stables. "There we meet up with Halbarad Dúnadan and his band of rangers."

Glorfindel and Elladan nodded. They were suited up with full armor and weaponry, and with them rode a small number of warriors, ten in all, that had agreed to risk certain death in exchange for the future of men.

As Elrohir looked back at them, he paused. Instead of ten, eleven warriors sat astride the sturdy gray steeds. Looking toward the back, he spotted the one that did not belong.

"Arwen!" he called in exasperation. "You can hide your hair under a plain helm, Evenstar, but do not think that any of us do not know your face."

His sister glared at him. "I was not coming under any false pretenses. But if you think for one moment that I'm not going with you –"

Elladan stepped in. "Arwen, we'll do our best to bring him back to you. I promise. You don't need to come."

She shook her head. "It's not that. I trust you. But – but you need me. I can't explain how, but I'll know how to find him." She trembled, almost on the verge of tears. "I've had visions. You must believe me."

The three warriors exchanged long looks. Finally, Elrohir said, "Come, then. But we're not putting you in any danger. At the first sign of conflict, you ride for cover."

She scowled at him, but nodded. "I'll do as you say."

"Well then!" Elladan swung up onto his brown palfrey. "What do we wait for? Let us ride into the shadow!"

A/N: Well? Am I completely ruining it, or is this the best story since whatever you read before it? Tell me in a review!