The Evenstar's Worst Fear

Chapter Two: The Promise

Elrond sighed and looked into her shinning eyes. "Oh, my Arwen," he said as he picked up his youngest.

Her tiny arms wrapped themselves around his neck as her wet face found its place on his shoulder. "Promise me Ada," her soft voice entreated. "Promise me you won't go."

Holding her close, he looked at his sons. They, too, wanted him to make that promise. He could see it in their eyes. They wanted to be told that they would never be without him. And, in his heart, Elrond knew he could not guarantee that. Despite his gift of foresight, he could not keep his children from being alone. If only they could understand this. If only they knew the future to be so uncertain and, at times, hard.

"Ada?" Elladan asked, pulling his father from these thoughts. The silence that had descended upon them had lasted long enough. It was time for an answer.

Elrond took a moment to look at each of them. He saw the anxious despair reflected in their every feature. The grim eyes, the sniffling noses, the tight frowns were all tribute to the emotions in their chests. Soothingly he said, "Children, it's all right. Let us all go to bed. It was just a nightmare. Morning will come and we will all wish we had gotten more sleep." Sadly, his attempt at lightening everyone's mood did not work.

"But Ada," Arwen started. Like her brothers, she wanted her father's reassurance. None of them could stand losing their final parent.

He held her in a hug and looked at the boys. "We can have a picnic by the river tomorrow. It has been too long since we have had any kind of family outing." The boys happily agreed. Their despair was momentarily thrown out by the excitement tomorrow would bring.

Somewhat steadily, Elladan and Elrohir worked their way back to their room. "The picnic will be grand," the elder twin said, settling himself into his bed. His stubborn mind was satisfied with his father's words on the matter.

Elrohir, on the other hand, just shrugged. The dark hall lacked Elrond's calming presence. Night pressed in on him, causing his fears to resurface. His brother's silence caught Elladan's attention. "We can go swimming. Arwen will love it," he whispered hoping to break said silence. His voice remained low as his elven ears heard his father trek past their door. 'Ro just nodded, listening to his father's footsteps thoughtfully.

Elladan tried again, "We could even push Ada in." This time the response was a blank stare and something that resembled a nod. "I give up already," he sighed somewhat frustrated.

Elrohir blinked. "What?" For that somewhat lame brain response, he received a feathery projectile hurled at his head.

Grabbing his stunned brother, Elladan grinned, " Let us go talk to Ada."

Tossing the pillow back, the younger of the two smiled. " You have read my mind, brother." In a flash, the anxious twins were out of their room and standing in their father's doorway.

Having seen that both Arwen's bed and face were still rather wet, Elrond had taken her back to his room. Maybe they do understand, he thought as he tucked his Evenstar back into his bed. They had never expected to lose Celebrian. He never once foresaw her departure; no one did. This train of thought took off in a new direction and Elrond was quickly taken to a happy collage of memories. His heart ached for her, as did the children's. An empty feeling had descended upon them all. The pain was still too real and the wounds had barely begun to heal. Nothing could make them forget that. No picnic and no promise would be strong enough. But, he thought, maybe those things could help.

"Ada." She had watched her father for several minutes, savoring the calming presence that seemed to emanate from him. Now Arwen wanted an answer. Her young mind needed to know if her father would leave her also. "Ada." Her eyes took on a puppy dog look she would one day become famous for. Her tiny arms caught themselves in his embrace. Her wet cheeks pressed against his. "Promise me you won't get on that boat without me..."

Sensing more tears were threatening his youngest, Elrond held her close. "Shh...shh, dearest." He rocked her back and forth as her mother was wont to do. He did not give an answer, so she cried. His silence seemed to be certainty of his abandonment.

"Oh, Ada... please... please..." Through her tears, Arwen repeated the promise she needed him to make. How could he, though? Elrond could not see how he could make a promise he might never keep.But, he could not see how he could deny his little girl anything. He could never let her tears fall so. He could not be the cause of her sorrow.

"I promise," he whispered softly into her hair. Logic was thrown out. Standing on the edge of an uncertain future, he gave his daughter some closure. Small as it was, it began to fill the emptiness her mother had inadvertently left. "I promise I will not get on that boat without you." He looked down at her, smiling comfortingly. Then his gaze fell to the boys, who were eavesdropping anxiously from the doorway. "...not without any of you."

Fin

A/N: I do realize that when Arwen's mother left she was about 2000 years old. In this fic she is just an elfling. Consider this an AU type thing.