36. Love Established

"You wished to see me Ada?" Elrond looked up from his desk to see his foster son standing in the doorway. The hour had grown late and perhaps he should have left the boy be, but the situation as it was laid heavy on his heart and he could find no rest.

"I wish to speak to you of your future my son." Elrond said softly, motioning him to take a seat. Aragorn looked uneasy as he settled in the chair across from the elf lords desk.

"You are a man now," Elrond continued "But not a man ready to take his rightful place as lord of his people. There is much you must learn, much that cannot be learned within these walls. If you are ever to be a leader of men then many lonely years of hardship await you. You must set aside plans for a wife and family until you are ready to lead, until you are a worthy king of men."

"What has my mother told you?" Aragorn asked shifting in his chair with a nervous expression that made Elrond smile.

"Nothing concerning you." the elf lord replied. "Your own eyes shine upon the Evenstar. Even a fool could see it."

"Ada," He said swallowing hard "I swear I would not..."

"No," Elrond said with a thin lipped smile "You would not. I could not find fault in you for what you feel. You are not the first to lose your heart to my daughter. You do understand Estel, Arwen in a princess among our people. She has already lived longer than you could fathom. You must seem like a child to her, I do not wish you to be hurt if she does not return your affections."

"And what if she did?" Aragorn asked almost fearfully. Elrond sighed heavily, standing and moving to the window.

"Then it would be my sorrow instead of yours." he replied heavily "My children must choose, either to depart and live among the elves of Valinor, or to remain, and choose mortality. And if they remain they shall be lost to me forever."

"I am sorry Ada." Aragorn said softly "I ask you to give up a treasure as great as the one Beren asked of Thingol."

"It is different in one thing." Elrond said his voice breaking only slightly "I will not make Arwen's choice for her. I do not know her heart and mind in the matter but I will not attempt to change it."

"You are leaving soon." Aragorn said in a moment of pure clarity. "The elves leave middle earth and soon the last of you will be gone. The time for your children to choose grows near."

"Darkness grows." Elrond replied "and war creeps upon us. This will be our last battle. The time of men has come. You face your own choice; To rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil, or to fall into to darkness with all that is left of your kin." Aragorn looked up at him with a worried expression and Elrond crossed the room , laying a hand on his shoulder as he knelt beside his chair.

"It will be many years of men before that time comes." he said softly. "If we fail all the world will be swallowed up in shadow. You do not know what you ask of me. One of our hearts will be broken at this parting. Estel, I cannot abandon Arwen here without hope and safety. I cannot give her to the darkness. The hour will come, when it does Sauron shall be defeated, or all the elves shall leave middle earth to its fate."

"I am not strong enough." Aragorn whispered.

"You can be." Elrond insisted, gripping his arm "That power is within you. Seek it out. Become the king you were born to be. It is the only way."


The sky was just barely beginning to lighten in the east, the last of the stars still twinkling overhead. They had walked in the garden all night, talking of everything and nothing and as dawn approached they had fallen into a companionable silence as they treaded the rose strewn paths.

Orophin looked down at the delicate hand laced with his, his gaze straying to the perfect red lips, slightly parted, and the shimmering eyes that roamed the gardens. He halted on the path and Meril turned to meet his gaze with a questioning look. He was nearly trembling as he cupped her face in his hands, brushing a tender kiss on her forehead.

"Forgive me, Meril meleth." he said softly.

"For what?" she asked with a confused frown.

"From the moment I first saw you at the ball, it was as if I had been searching for you all my long years." He replied "And I tried to charm your affections. It was wrong of me."

"Orophin, I..." her voice trailed off and to his utter astonishment she drew her arms around his waist with a heavy sigh, resting her head against his chest. He savored the feel of her closeness, breathing in the scent of roses as he stroked her hair. "I don't know what to say any more. Everything is so jumbled and confused."

"I have nothing to offer you but my heart," he said softly "and my word that I would not betray you. I may act like a fool, but I am an honest one."

"You are not a fool," Meril said with a small laugh "except to give your heart to me." Orophin's stomach clenched, he could almost feel her slipping away from him and he buried his face in her golden hair.

"I love you, Meril." he said, holding her tightly.

"Do you?" she asked sadly, turning her head to look up at him, her eyes still swimming with uncertainty.

"Is it so hard to believe?" he asked gently, caressing her cheek.

"It is actually." she replied, sighing heavily. Orophin bent his head to meet her gaze and he was surprised to see tears on her cheeks. He took her hand in his, pressing a soft kiss on her fingers

"You said once that you trusted my word as a warrior." he said, hesitantly. "Does that still hold true?" Meril barely hesitated before nodding slowly. His expression grew serious and he released her, taking a step back and laying his hand over his heart.

"Meril of Imladris." he said evenly, bowing his head in respect. "You have captivated me, so completely that I can think of nothing else but you. I have behaved childishly and could never earn the love of one with your grace and skill. I could never hope to give you all that you deserve. Still, I love you, more than life. As one warrior to another, Meril, I give you my word I would not deceive you. I wish you to be my wife."

He met her gaze unflinchingly and they stood in silence, the gray dawn beginning to gather around them. She took a step closer to him, resting her hand on his chest where his own hand had covered his heart. She hesitated only a moment, her heart pounding madly as she kissed him, softly at first, her hand wrapping around the back of his neck. Orophin smiled as their lips parted and she nearly giggled before pulling him into a passionate kiss.

Orophin gasped as their lips parted, staring in breathless fascination at the beauty in his arms. Meril gave him a coy little smile and took a step back, leading him to a break in the rose hedge. He ducked through the narrow opening to find himself in a tiny bower. Meril pulled out of his embrace and knelt in the grass watching him through half lidded eyes. Pale starlight
glistened in her hair and and his eyes widened as she slowly undid the first two buttons on the front of her gown.

"Here?" he asked in amazement, kneeling in front of her. Meril looked away, closing her eyes as she drew in a shaky breath.

"If you've changed your mind..." her words were cut short as his lips descended on hers in a searing kiss and she let out a faint moan. They were both gasping as their lips parted and Orophin removed his cloak, stretching it out on the ground before pulling Meril to him.

"Meril, Meleth." he whispered, kissing her forehead. "what has changed?"

"Nothing." she replied, tears glistening on her lashes. "Everything you said, everything you did, it was all so perfect but I thought it was a lie so I tried to hide from it." Orophin gathered her in her arms as she tried to stifle a sob, nuzzling her ear.

"I did not mean to fall in love with you but I couldn't help it." she admitted. "I never believed you meant any of it. I thought you only meant to use me."

"Forgive me, Meleth." Orophin whispered as she nodded against his shoulder. He stroked her hair lovingly until the tension began to melt from her body.

He had learned a great deal from all his trysting and he put it to good use as he began his slow seduction, trailing teasing kisses over her jaw as he lowered her onto his cloak, his lips barely brushing her skin. She shivered in his arms as the tip of his tongue glided over the rim of her ear.

Her fingers fumbled with the clasps on his tunic and she pushed him onto his back, sitting up just enough to loosen the garment. Orophin smiled up at her, caressing her cheek. and she closed her eyes, drawing in a steadying breath as his finger tips trailed down her throat and between her breasts.

He stopped at the two buttons she had undone, his graceful fingers slowly unfastening each one until the gown slid down her shoulders, revealing the nearly transparent shift she wore beneath. Orophin's eyes drank in every inch of her as the gown pooled around her waist. He had his own tunic and shirt cast off in a moment and he pulled her close, trailing hot, openmouthed kisses over her shoulders and chest until she was shivering in his arms.

Once more he lowered her to the cloak, his breathing growing uneven as slowly he covered her in hot wet kisses. Meril dug her fingers into his arms, biting her lip to keep from crying out as his velvety lips teased her skin. The sweet torture seemed to go on for an eternity until once more he was gazing into her eyes with a tender smile.

He kissed her lips softly, and then more lingering, each kiss more lingering and sensual than the one before. Her head was spinning as she twined her arms and legs around him gasping for air.

"Meril nin." he whispered softly against her lips.

"Yes, Meleth nin." she answered. They cried out together as their bodies joined, the first rays of dawn bringing the garden to life. Their movements soon became frantic, their bodies moving as one as they bound their souls together, heedless of all else. Their hearts pounding as one as they spent themselves in glorious sensation. Meril's fingers gripped his arm as she cried out her pleasure and he let out a wrenching moan as he found his own release.

Meril let out a gasp as he gathered her in a crushing embrace, her senses reeling. It was a few moments more before they caught their breath and as their eyes met they both grinned, and then laughed.

"I love you, Meril nin." Orophin whispered with a contented sigh as she kissed his cheek.

"And I love you, Orophin." she smiled up at him.

"Meril nin" he said with a grin, the morning sun kissing his golden hair. "that is the most beautiful sound I ever heard"
"You are simply going to let him go?" Glorfindel demanded glowering down at Elrond as he leaned over his desk.

"It is not a question of letting." Elrond replied, catching Erestor's perturbed frown as his advisor folded his arms over his chest. "He will never reach his full potential if we keep him caged within Imladris. You should both understand that."

"Brilliant." Erestor said rolling his eyes "perhaps we should dip him in a bit of sheep's blood and lower him into an orc's nest while we are at it."

"Estel is not a child." Elrond frowned. "do not belittle him by treating him as one." Glorfindel only sighed in frustration. Any further argument on the subject was cut short as the door banged open.

"Ada!" Elrohir said with a grin as he burst into the study "Oh, good morning Erestor. Ada!"

"Good morning Elladan." the advisor said, smiling at Eirien as he noted her slightly rumpled appearance.

"Elrohir." She corrected with a devilish grin.

"Elrohir?" Erestor asked in bewilderment.

"Ada! I got married!" He said, his excitement almost palpable.

"To who?" Glorfindel asked, staring at the pair as Eirien giggled.

"Married?" Elrond asked, looking thoroughly confused. Elrohir tried to stifle his laugh at the three older elves as his new wife giggled against his arm.

"What happened to Elladan?" Erestor asked Eirien in exasperation.

"Ada I got married." The older twin announced, beaming as he appeared in the doorway with a shy and blushing Indelin on his arm.

"Do you ever have the feeling this family is getting stranger?" Erestor asked Glorfindel in a low voice.

"I knew it was folly to indulge them as elflings when they insisted on having everything the same." Glorfindel frowned.

"Married?" Elrond asked again, an odd smile twisting the corners of his mouth, he got up from his chair, coming around his desk to stare at both his sons. "Married?" Elrond shook his head as Elladan began to chuckle and with a laugh the elf lord wrapped an arm around each of the twins, pulling them into a crushing embrace.

"You could have given me fair warning you know." he scolded, kissing both of their foreheads.

"It was... complicated." Elrohir tried to explain.

"Of that I have on doubt where the two of you are concerned." he shook his head before taking Eirien's hand and kissing her cheek.

"I am not sure I should congratulate either of you ladies." he said to Indelin as he kissed her as well. "I think you both could have done much better."

"Thank you Ada." Elladan said, with a frown as his twin rolled his eyes.

"Where is Estel this morning?" Elrohir asked "I wanted to tell him as well." Glorfindel and Erestor scowled as Elrond sighed heavily and the twins glanced at each other before looking back at them in confusion.

"He is packing to leave Imladris," Erestor replied finally "alone."
Haldir of Lorien closed his eyes, drawing in a steadying breath as he paused on the threshold. His head ached from too much wine and and his heart thudded in his chest. It wasn't too late to turn back he reasoned, to simply walk away. He could simply turn around and go back to his room and pretend the whole incident had never happened.

With a heart heavy sigh he rapped on the door. There was a faint sound of movement inside and he waited as the bolt was pulled back and the door opened.

"Haldir?" Arwen looked worn, frail and thin, as if she were ill and as he looked into her dull, red rimmed eyes his breath hitched and he knew in his heart he had made the right decision.

"I wondered if I might have a moment, my Lady?" He asked, his voice faltering only slightly. She sighed softly, nodding as she opened the door and motioned him to enter. He watched her every movement as she closed the door behind him and slowly crossed the room to stare unseeing out the terrace window.

"There is something that I feel I should tell you." he began, licking his lips nervously.

"You do not owe me any explanation, Haldir." Arwen said softly, rubbing her arms as if she were chilled. He had never seen the beauty before him look so downcast. Once she had been like the sun, but now the world had turned gray and it seemed as if all hd fallen into shadow

"I am afraid I do." he replied bowing his head, pausing hesitantly before continuing. "Do you remember when first we met?" To his surprise Arwen gave a faint smile, nodding in reply.

"It was just after your parents died, wasn't it?" Arwen asked. "When you came here with my grandmother? And I accidentally tripped you and you fell in the river."

"I'd forgotten about that." He replied, the corner of his mouth curling as Arwen glanced at him uneasily, "Before that, in Lothlorien."

"We met before that?" Arwen asked, her brow creasing in confusion as she searched her memory.

"You were still a child," Haldir said softly. "twenty perhaps, you came with your mother to visit your grandparents. You left your horse at the foot of the Great Mallorn."

"That was you?" Arwen asked wide eyed. Haldir nodded.

"I had never seen anything so beautiful." He said, moving a few steps closer to her, "You left me tongue tied."

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked searching his face with a troubled expression.

"Because I have adored you from that very moment I first saw you." Haldir replied, his heart beating madly in his chest as she stared at him in dumbfounded silence "You were like a star, radiant and unreachable. In all these ages, I could not tell you. But I saw what you felt for the heir of Gondor and I could not bear it. In a moment of jealousy and poor judgment I went to confront him and found him tied to his bed in some prank of his brothers'."

Arwen let out a gasp, covering her mouth with a delicate hand as she realized her mistake. She closed her eyes, fighting for control as the tears trickled down her cheek. It was enough to break his heart and he reached out to her, letting his fingertips brush her arm. With a wrenching sob she cast her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

He froze, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest at the sensation of her closeness. Hesitantly, trembling, he drew comforting arms around her, steeling his nerves for what he was about to do.

"I have loved you for so long, Arwen." he whispered against her ear. "More than I can ever tell. I ask for nothing in return. All that I wish to know is whom do you love?" He could feel her tense at the question, almost sensing her inner conflict. He new her far too well, had watched her every moment. He knew that a lie was beyond her, but she feared to speak the truth.

"Estel," she whispered finally "I love Estel." He closed his eyes against the pain that shot through his chest, swallowing hard as he forced himself to complete his task.

"Go to him," He said, nearly choking on the words. "You must go to him. He leaves Imladris, do not let him go without hope." Arwen looked up at him, confusion and conflict swirling in her eyes.

"Do not lose your only chance to be happy." Haldir pleaded, caressing her cheek with a trembling hand. "Go Arwen. Go now, do not look back."

Without a word or a thought she brushed a kiss on his cheek, and pulling away from him she ran, her ebony hair trailing behind her as she disappeared in a swirl of satin and gossamer.

Haldir closed his eyes, savoring the lingering sensation of her arms around him, committing the moment to memory. He drew in a shaky breath as a single tear escaped his lashes. Whatever else might come, he would know that he had proven his heart.
"You did this." Elrond turned slowly from his place in the shadows of the door of the Last Homely House to face his daughter. Arwen stood on the stairs, her eyes smoldering with rage. He closed his eyes a moment, steeling himself for the battle that was upon him.

"Yes I did." he admitted with a nod.

"How could you be so cruel?" she demanded angrily "He is a boy, he could be killed! Did you cast him out or just manipulate him into leaving?"

"Undomiel." he began softly, but she would hear nothing of it.

"What has happened to you that you could be so heartless to your own son?"

"Arwen!" his voice was sharper than he had intended but it had the desired effect and he lowered his voice as he stepped closer to her "What would you have me do? He is the last hope for the race of men. Without him they shall fall, and all middle earth will be devoured in ruin. Is that what you want? To see this world destroyed by the forces of darkness, to see him all those of his kind hewn down or enslaved to the Dark Lord?"

"He's going out alone." she whispered, tears stinging her eyes as she watched Aragorn in the courtyard "What if he never returns?"

"Undomiel." Elrond said gently, caressing her cheek as he turned her eyes to meet his. "What if he does not go?"

"Ada." she whispered.

"He will come back." the elf lord said with conviction "believe it Arwen. Believe in him."
"Estel, I am sorry." Elladan said sadly.

"We both are." Elrohir added.

"Do not go on our account." Both twins wore equally dejected expressions as they watched their foster brother pack his belongings in his saddlebags. Estel glanced at Legolas before giving his brothers a wry smile.

"It is not on your account." he assured "I have to do this. It is time I set out to find my way on my own."

"We would go with you..." Elrohir began.

"I do not think your wives would approve." Aragorn pointed out with a grin, glancing at Eirien and Indelin who stood only a few paces away.

"Probably not." Elladan smiled.

"Don't worry." the young human assured, laying a hand on both their shoulders. "I will be fine, I had very good teachers."

"He is doomed if he is depending on the skills we taught him." Elrohir said miserably, to which Aragorn laughed.

"I meant Glorfindel and Erestor." he replied with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, that is different then." Elladan smiled, pulling his brothers into a crushing embrace.

"I will not tell you to be careful." Legolas said with a smile handing Aragorn his pack "I know you shall be." the young human opened his mouth as if to speak and then then threw both arms around his neck, hugging him fiercely.

"I will see you soon." he promised.

"Of that I have no doubt." Legolas replied, gripping his arm.

"Estel!" Aragorn froze, his foot in the stirrup, and he turned his head slowly to see Arwen racing toward him. He barely had time to catch her as she flung her arms around him.

"Haldir told me everything." she whispered, holding him tightly. Aragorn drew in a shaky breath, letting his cheek rest against the top of her head.

"I..." her voice trailed off as she looked into his eyes. She wanted to ask him to stay. She wanted to make up for all that had happened but there didn't seem to be any words. He smiled back at her giving her hand an affectionate squeeze.

"I will return." He said "I give you my word."

"I will hold you to it." She smiled back, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Stay safe." Erestor added as he Elrond and Glorfindel approached

"Do not forget all that I tried to pound into that head of yours." Glorfindel added as Aragorn mounted his horse.

"I am sure the scars and bumps will remind me." Aragorn grinned back.

"Do try to remember to come home." Elrond added. Aragorn gave him a salute of respect and let his eyes linger once more on Arwen before turning out of the gate and riding out into the world, never looking back.

"Undomiel!" Legolas called as she suddenly ran after him. She stopped at the gate, looking down the road to see him already a fair distance off. Legolas laid a hand on her arm and she sighed as the tears began to fall.

"I never told him." She said miserably.

"Told him what?" Legolas asked gently, pulling her against his shoulder.

"That I love him."
Author's note - I know someone is going to tell me "But Haldir died at Helms Deep" To witch I answer...

HALDIR LIVES!!!!!!!

Actually in book canon Haldir is never at Helms Deep so there is no way he could have died there. Since this story is following the books please do not send me any reviews complaining about an undead Haldir. Having said that THANK YOU one and all for the amazing reviews! Wow!

(ok... on to the Epi... it will be posted about 30 min. after this chapter)