Disclaimer: don't own so what?

A/N: thx tooooo...

arwen721: lol, don't worry it's not the end

theparanoidone: thx!

Countess Katook: hehe you sound like my friend Lady Luthien. lol. I love fluff! Hey can ya give smeags a big hug from me and tell him to get better soon?

sunni07: ya, he's finally being nice, huh? Arwen..hm...

Myri78: thank ya. Lolz. Don't worry, it won't be finished for a while

SandraSmit19: hmmm...she might, might not

Jennifer Bloom: yay, someone agrees with me! I luv that song! Thx for reading and reviewing!

Ladyof Rivendell: lol, on with the wedding!

Dimonah Tralon: thx! Kewl, chap 18 was one of my faves too

Insane Elven Rock Baby: yes, that's LeAnn Rimes. Ya, I'm gonna write about the marriage, and more after. The evenstar and her mother....hmm.....u'll c. oh, yeah I read thru the last chap and found my errors. Thx!

sweetazzhoney: thx! Tlk 2 u later!

nic: lol, yes Aragorn FINALLY got it!

loveroflegolas: lol. Lol. Lololololol. LOL. Srry, did I say lol?

Arwennicole: great chapter! Luved urs too!

PippinsSweetDiamond: lol. Hey they've got the Gryffindor shirt at Hot Topic now.

charmedobsessi12: lol, thx. Hehe I got that idea from Hidalgo. The wording, rather. I'll explain in this chapter and one later chapter.

Lunawolf: thx. Here's update. Lol....aragorn is EVIL!! Mwa haha!!

Legolas Greenleaf's Lover: okay here ya go!

bb: hehe. He's evil

CrazyCruzet212; yup, they can! And kids...I've already got the timeline hehe

Magicgirl810: lol, yup. Ok here ya go

legolas-olorin: lol. Thx for the correction. Btw, I really don't give a darn that you hate romance. Srry my friend. Lol, you WOULD think it has no plot. Adam, you've already told me that you think this is bad you don't need to tell me every other sentence. Get that into your elven head.

Andromeda Glenna: thx! Glad you like it!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A huuuge thank you to charmedobsessi12, who helped me tremendously with this chapter. I had a block, so she wrote some things for me and I basically used that, but I worded it differently so it would sound more...more me. And i kept some of the phrases that she wrote cuz they sounded really kewl. But she still gave me the idea, so THANK YOU!

Though grateful for her father's decision, Gwyn was furious. For a year her father had kept her away from the man she loved...just to see if they really were in love! It made no sense to her. Couldn't he have just talked to them?

Gwyn was on her way to confront Aragorn about this. It had been a week since he had blessed the engagement and Gwyn had not spoken to him as of yet. They were back in Gondor now, and had been for three days. She rapped on his bedroom door.

'Come in!' Aragorn called.

Gwyn, drawing a deep breath, opened the door and found her father sitting in a chair, reading. She sat down on the bed and stared hard at him. 'Why?' was all that she said.

'Why what?' Aragorn asked, looking politely puzzled.

Gwyn's eyes flashed. 'You know what,' she spat acidly.

'There could be many things that you are asking 'why' to,' Aragorn said calmly. 'I would appreciate it if you would be more specific.'

Gwyn jumped up, her eyes flaming with hate and disgust. 'You want specific?' she shouted. 'Why did you keep Legolas and me apart? For one whole year I dreaded waking. I found myself hoping that I wouldn't wake. Thanks to you, I lost a year of my life.'

Aragorn had set down his book. He crossed his arms, watching and listening to his daughter.

'You don't know what I went through, nor will you ever! I—'

Aragorn stood. 'You are too quick to accuse, Gwyn,' he said calmly, yet with anger edging his voice. 'I do know what you went through! How do you think I felt when I met your mother and could not be with her?'

Gwyn looked confused. 'What do you mean, 'my mother'?' she asked slowly. 'I never heard this. I thought you were allowed to marry my mother.'

Aragorn looked trapped. He had slipped, and he knew it. Sighing deeply, he turned from Gwyn.

'What aren't you telling me?' Gwyn asked suspiciously.

Aragorn did not meet her gaze for several minutes.

'Well...?' she persisted.

'Gwyn,' Aragorn started tiredly, 'there is something that I haven't told you that you must know.'

Gwyn stared, not knowing what to think. 'Yes...?'

'You—your mother is Arwen.'

'What do you mean?' Gwyn asked, her breath catching and her knees feeling slightly weak. 'How can she be? My mother is dead, you told me so yourself when I was a child.'

Her father sighed again. 'That's what I had to tell you. You were too young to know the truth; I was going to tell you when turned eighteen, but too much happened...with the Fellowship.'

'That's no—'

'Let me finish.'

Gwyn was silent.

'The mother that you have heard of never existed,' Aragorn continued. 'That was a cover story that was told because Arwen and I did not want Lord Elrond to know of our marriage.'

'So...you lied to me for nineteen years? Just because you didn't want—this is ridiculous!' Gwyn threw her hands up in the air in frustration. She took a moment to calm herself before asking, 'So does this mean that you and Arwen were already married? That the coronation day was not the first time?'

Aragorn nodded. 'No one knew about our previous marriage. We loved each other so much that we didn't want to risk not ever being able to be together.'

'Well, are you going to tell everyone now?' Gwyn questioned.

Once again, Aragorn nodded. Gwyn was silent for a very long time. The silence became deafening. Suddenly she said, 'If Arwen is my mother then that means...that means that I have the choice to be immortal.'

Aragorn cast his eyes down to the floor. 'Yes,' he said quietly. 'But I suppose you have already made your decision.'

Gwyn stared at him as if he were crazy. 'Of course,' she said. 'Would you have me choose otherwise?'

'No,' Aragorn said quickly, 'I would not.'

The statement sounded very odd to Gwyn, but since it was the answer she wanted, she did not question him.

Aragorn drew a deep breath. 'I'm sorry that we did not tell you sooner,' he said softly.

Gwyn looked thoughtfully at him. 'It's alright,' she said quietly. 'I suppose I'm not angry.' She wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible. This was too awkward for her. 'Legolas and I are getting married in June,' she told him, sitting back down on the bed.

Aragorn smiled. 'Where will the wedding be held?' he asked.

'We think in Mirkwood—or Eryn Lasgalen, as it is now called—since that's where we will be living,' Gwyn answered.

'That's wonderful,' Aragorn said, and then there was a very awkward pause...which Gwyn did not like.

'I—I must go,' she said suddenly, breaking the silence. 'I have things to tend to...but I will let you know when we leave for Eryn Lasgalen.' She paused. 'You are coming to the wedding, aren't you?'

'Am I invited?'

'Of course, why wouldn't you be?' Gwyn frowned.

'I just thought—well, never mind that. Yes, I will come.' Aragorn smiled at his young daughter.

Gwyn's frown disappeared and a smile replaced it. 'Thank you,' she said, then left the room, closing the door behind her. As soon as she did, she slumped with her back against the wall and sighed. Why were things so awkward? Things didn't used to be this way...so why were they now? Gwyn ran her fingers through her hair in frustration as she straightened and made her way back to her own room.

Sighing, she entered the bedroom and smiled in surprise when she saw Legolas by the window. Gwyn made her way over to him. He noticed her confused look and asked, 'What's wrong?' so sweetly, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear, that Gwyn just wanted to kiss him senseless. But she instead sighed again, and let him cradle her in his strong arms. 'I just wish things weren't so awkward between Father and me,' she said quietly, allowing Legolas to caress her hair.

'What happened?'

'I found out that Arwen is my real mother,' Gwyn told him, looking up at him with those innocent blue eyes that had regained their brightness.

Legolas looked shocked. 'How can that be?'

'It's a long story...' Gwyn began, and told him everything that her father had told her.

'But if you have elf blood in you...' Legolas began slowly.

Gwyn nodded. '...then I have the choice of being immortal,' she finished for him. She grinned. 'And I have chosen so.'

Legolas' eyes lit up and he kissed her. Every ounce of love he ever felt for Gwyn he poured into the passion and depth of his kiss.

Gwyn was startled at first, but a split second later was finding herself hungry for more. She moaned in pleasure into Legolas' mouth as if begging for him to never stop. She'd kissed Legolas many times, but for some odd reason, this kiss felt different. Gwyn's stomach lurched and warm shivers ran through her whole body as she absorbed the deep passion.

Legolas abruptly broke the kiss and he pulled away as Gwyn moaned. She leaned into him, and was just inches from his lips when he stopped her, putting two fingers on her lips. 'We must stop now,' Legolas said gently, 'or we'll be here forever.'

Gwyn sighed, but nodded. She smiled in amusement as she thought that she really wouldn't mind being there forever.

'Legolas?' she said after a few moments.

'Yes?'

'I need to go talk to Ar—to Mother.'

'Are you sure that you're ready?' Legolas asked, stroking her hair once again.

Gwyn nodded. 'I've always been able to talk to her,' she told him.

'Alright then,' Legolas said quietly. 'I'm going to go talk to your father.'

Gwyn nodded. 'I love you,' she said, kissing him softly.

'I love you, too,' Legolas said, kissing her back just as softly. They left the room together and went their respective ways.

Gwyn had seen Arwen earlier in the gardens. And that's exactly where she was now. Gwyn approached the dark haired elf from behind. 'Hello, Mother,' Gwyn whispered.

Arwen spun around, startled at the name she had been given. 'Gwyn? What are you doing here? And what did you just call me?'

'Mother; that's what I called you,' Gwyn answered.

Something in Arwen's mind clicked, and she made the connection, putting two-and-two together. 'So Aragorn told you,' she said slowly, then laughed a little. 'He never could keep a secret.'

Gwyn laughed gently, but silenced almost immediately. 'No, Mother,' she said, 'it was my fault. I was talking to him about Legolas and me getting married, and...'

'You and Legolas are getting married?' Arwen asked wildly.

'Y—yes,' Gwyn admitted, heat rushing to her cheeks. 'We fell in love in Rivendell, and...' she trailed off, not wishing to admit unnecessary details.

'But what about the Fellowship?' Arwen questioned. 'If your father had found out that you had a relationship with an elf that was on the journey with you, he would be quite angry.'

'We did nothing too obvious for the Fellowship to notice,' Gwyn assured. 'Do not worry so much, Mother.'

'Even if the Fellowship had noticed, Gwyn, what could have happened if your love had kept you from finishing the journey? Love has a way of being put before the most important things.'

'Arwen, why are you lecturing me?' Gwyn asked, exasperated. 'Do you not trust me?'

'As my daughter, I have a right to worry about you and lecture you,' Arwen countered. 'Besides...your situation reminds me very much of the one your father experienced.'

Gwyn's eyes widened as she stared at her mother. 'What do you mean?' she asked a little sharply.

'Long ago,' Arwen began, 'Lord Elrond sent me on an errand to Lothlórien with your father to deliver a gift. It was there that we fell in love; there that we tried to keep it secret; there that our love betrayed us.'

Gwyn searched her mother's eyes, but could not find her motive within them.

'You may want to sit,' Arwen suggested, gesturing to a stone bench not far away. When they were both as comfortable as they could be on stone, Arwen continued. 'Your father was one of the best fighters in the group that came with us. One night, Lothlórien was attacked by Orcs. We were able to drive them back, but all were not slayed. Your father asked to track them back to their cap and kill them, and everyone acquiesced to his request.'

Gwyn's expression went even more nonplussed.

Arwen laughed at this expression. 'You know,' she said, 'you look just like your father when you do that.'

'Yes, yes, now get back to the story,' Gwyn urged, dismissing the comment with a wave of her hand. 'What happened?'

Arwen sighed. 'Gwyn, you need to stop thinking of Aragorn as a member of the Fellowship that you both were in and start thinking of him as your father,' she chided softly.

'Mother, please, not now,' Gwyn groaned. 'Can we wait until after the story?'

'Very well,' Arwen said, taking a deep breath. 'ON night your father and I were sharing our traditional midnight kiss, when one of the other men walked in on us. We begged him to keep his silence, and he agreed...only to betray us. That night, while Aragorn and I were asleep, he told every single soldier in the group, and very soon the men were saying we had done things that were dishonorable. It hurt, even though we knew that the rumors were not true.

'So when your father volunteered to track down the Orcs, everyone agreed. It was settled. Aragorn would be leaving in the morning...no delays and no excuses.

'I spent most of that night with him, pleading with him not to go. But your father is stubborn, as you many know, and would not listen to my reason. I made up my mind right there and then: I would follow him so I could stay with him forever. I was oblivious to the fact that I was immortal and he was not.'

Gwyn gasped sharply, and her eyes began to burn from holding back tears. Arwen was pleased, but did her best not to show it. Perhaps she could get through to her daughter after all. Gwyn did not say anything, but being her mother, Arwen was sure that she was dying to know what happened. She happily continued, hoping it would help bring Gwyn closer to her father.

She continued. 'Your father left at early dawn, both sword and bow ready. He was not aware that I had concealed two of his knives in my boots.' Arwen gave a tiny, mischievous smile. 'I followed Aragorn as closely as caution would allow, hiding whenever he turned. And being the natural hunter that your that is, he turned a lot.'

Gwyn tried to hold back a laugh, but it let loose easily. Her eyes widened a little as she became aware of her action, and immediately tried to cover it up.

'When Aragorn reached the Orc camp, he set up his own a little way aways from it, waiting for the opportune moment. I hid in a nearby cave, longing to reveal myself to him, but I knew that he would send me back to Lothlórien without a thought.'

Sounds vaguely familiar, Gwyn thought amusedly to herself.

'That night, my stomach churned from not having food in two days, my throat was dry from having little water. Yet still I did not reveal myself to your father. I believed he was planning on a quick ambush.'

She really does love him, Gwyn thought, her eyes burning more. She concealed herself because she loved him.

'The next morning,' Arwen continued, a heavy shadow veiling her eyes, 'I heard arrows shooting through the air. I did not think much of it at the time, for your father always had a habit of waking early to practice his archery skills. I drifted back to sleep...which was probably the most foolish thing I've done.'

Gwyn detected tears in her mother's eyes. 'Why?' she questioned softly.

In a graceful sweep, Arwen wiped a tear away from her eye before explaining, 'An Orc scout had spotted Aragorn's camp, and he immediately alerted his commander, and they gathered more troops, then finally appeared at the top of the hill, their weapons drawn. I was sound asleep until a stray arrow whizzed into the cave, piercing my arm. I cried out, just waking, otherwise I would have kept silent. An Orc heard my cry, and searched for the person to whom it belonged. He came into the cave and I hid in the corner, yet the darkness would not conceal me. The Valar must have willed it that I be found, for that was exactly what happened.

'The Orc grabbed me and forced me out of the cave at knife-point. As they daylight revealed me, Aragorn caught a glimpse of me and lost concentration. He just stood there, staring at me. Another Orc took advantage of his being distracted, and an arrow hit him just above his heart. I cried out his name and paid dearly for my boldness. I felt the knife pierce through the skin of my back and warm trickles of blood running down from my wound.

'They took your father and me to their camp, separating us, which broke both of our hearts. As they tortured Aragorn for information on why he had been where he was and what he had been planning to do. They dared not touch me, for they knew I was an elf and therefore they knew that I would have special powers that I could use against them. My heart was wrenched apart as I listened to Aragorn's cries of pain. Pain that I had brought upon him.'

Gwyn could feel herself reaching out to Arwen. She had gone through so much with her father...the one man she loved. Gwyn knew that she would do that same for Legolas. 'Mother, if you do not wish to finish this, I will understand,' she whispered.

'No,' Arwen replied, 'you need to hear this.' She breathed deeply for a moment and said, 'As the screams grew louder and more intense, I begged the guard to hurt me as well. He was considerably surprised at my request. He saw that I was weak, and could not retaliate against him, and agreed out of the evilness of his heard. He gathered what items he needed, and my torture began. He began with the whip, and slowly worked his way to using the daggers.

'At last he came with his crossbow and an arrow. He drew the arrow back on the inferior string, and I was sure that my end had come. But I deserved such an end for what I had done to Aragorn. I shut my eyes. My love had not seen the arrow coming, so neither would I. I heard an arrow whiz through the air, but the pain that should have come with the sound never came. I dared to lift an eyelid, and was amazed at the sight.

'The guard was dead and a tall, blonde elf sat majestically atop a gleaming white horse, holding a specially crafted bow. 'Come,' she said urgently, 'we must get you out of here.' I protested, questioning about Aragorn. She gave a small smile and told me, 'The man whom you call Aragorn will ride behind us. This camp has been destroyed.' I nodded, pure relief flooding my body. I slowly approached the horse, everything around me spinning. I reached up to mount, and the elf just grabbed my wrist before I slipped into complete darkness.'

Gwyn gasped. 'What happened?'

'She must have taken me back to Rivendell,' Arwen replied, 'because when I awoke I was in in my own room.'

Gwyn breathed in relief, and realized that he stomach was fluttering with nervousness. Had she really been that involved in her mother's story? 'That was an interesting story,' she commented, with a dismissive air.

Arwen sighed. She had been so close. This just proved that there was only one solution: leave Gwyn to her own sources to find out if she cared for her father. But maybe a little gift would speed things up...

'Gwyn,' Arwen said suddenly, reaching behind her neck. She unclasped the necklace that she wore and handed it to Gwyn. 'When your father returned from the quest of the Ring, he returned this to me. And I choose to give it to you.'

'Gwyn held the necklace gently in her fingers. It was a star-shaped jewel—the Evenstar. 'I kept seeing this in Lady Galadriel's mirror and flashbacks,' she said. 'I could never understand, but now I do.' She smiled, embracing the dark-haired elf. 'I love you, Mother,' she whispered.

I love you, Mother...the words were precious music to Arwen's ears. How long she had longed to hear those words of acceptance from Gwyn. 'I love you, too, my daughter,' she whispered back, hugging Gwyn tightly, a tear rolling down her soft cheek. 'I love you too.'