Chapter 2
Torchlight illuminated the staircase as the royal family made their way up the stone steps into the very top of the White Tower.
Arwen had never been to this place, and the dark, cold stone sent shivers of apprehension down her frame. It was cool here. As if sunlight had not touched these walls since they were erected.
Aragorn, sensing his wife's discomfort, wrapped his arm around her as they climbed. They took an occasional break when Eldarion fussed or they became too winded to climb further. It was no wonder she had never seen this place, the task of reaching it alone would have been enough to dissuade her. The steps narrowed as they reached the top, and the black and white banners of the High King hung from the stone walls, giving an aire of mystery to the old wooden door they flanked.
Aragorn procured a large key from a hidden pocket and inserted it into the door. The only markings on the door were the seal of Aragorn's office and the ancient seal of the first King of Gondor.
Eldarion, wide-eyed in his inspection of all the new sights and sounds, sat relatively quietly in his father's arms. He reached out to touch the familiar seal but Arwen quickly covered his hand, her senses unfamiliar with this place and thus fearful for her son.
"I have not been up here since I was crowned." Aragorn admitted as he turned the key and the lock hitched with a loud click that echoed down the staircase. "There is only one other who has a key to this place, and that is the warden, who I have charged with the upkeep of this room."
"Where are we, Estel?" Arwen asked as Aragorn replaced the key within his pocket and procured a nearby torch.
Aragorn carefully evaded her question. Instead opting for a more obscure comment. "I am going to show you your homeland."
Arwen's eyes narrowed in confusion but she followed closely as they stepped into the room. Torchlight flickered across the white marble walls, bathing the small chamber in an unnerving glow.
A tall pedestal stood in the middle of the room, a round object lying covered in silk at its center. Arwen trembled, fearful of what this object could be.
Aragorn lit several nearby torches, illuminating the room to its full potential, before returning the torch he held to its previous location. He handed over Eldarion to his mother and reverently removed the silken cloth that covered the Palantir.
"This is the Palantir of Elostririon," Aragorn said, passing his hand over the smooth stone until it began to hum beneath his fingers.
"Estel-"
"It was not returned to the West with your father. It was given into my keeping to be used in moments such as these." From within, the stone began to glow. Colors radiating the spectrum of a rainbow swirled within its depths and Aragorn smiled. "I have never used it."
Arwen gasped, hand flying to her mouth as she stepped closer to her husband to watch the movement of time and land pass through the churning colors within the Palantir.
Trembling hands clutched at Aragorn's arm as a land, lush and green, surrounded by crisp blue sea, passed before their eyes.
"Gandalf bade me use it only in a time of great need. For what is revealed within the stone not a living man has ever seen." Aragorn turned to his wife and cupped her cheeks within the rough palms of his hands. "But you are not a man. You are, and will forever be, and elf. Entitled to the view of the lands you, by choosing me as your consort, will never touch."
Arwen trembled as Aragorn dropped a gentle kiss to her lips. When they parted, the indescribable interior walls of the Tower of Avallone stared back at the royal couple from within the palantir.
The keeper of the master-stone of the West spoke then, his or her, voice light as the gentlest breeze. "Greetings King Elessar. No man since Earendil himself has dared to look upon the Undying Lands via the master-stone of the East. "
Aragorn bowed low in respect. "The stone was set into my keeping by Mithrandir and I use it now in hopes to bring joy and light once again to my wife's sad eyes."
"Arwen Undomiel," the voice echoed in her ears, seemingly knowing the reason for Aragorn's use of the Stone and understanding. "See now the gift you have been given and use it well."
The Tower vanished and in its place appeared the smiling faces of the people most loved and missed in the elven Queen's heart. Arwen sobbed and clutched at her son and her husband in disbelief. Aragorn's arm slid around her waist to steady her trembling form.
Celebrian smiled at her daughter, pride and love shining through tear-filled eyes. "I've longed to see the man who stole my precious daughter's heart. A long time have I waited."
Aragorn smiled kindly, and tightened his arms around his trembling wife.
Elrond appeared beside his wife and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. Gandalf stood silently beside Galadriel, smiling as he raised his hand in a distinct elvish gesture of welcome.
Aragorn's eyes narrowed momentarily at seeing the great wizard. For something about him was changed, different. But to the human King's eyes, it was naught but a passing feeling, a memory of a long ago time. To those who stood beside the white mage, all had been revealed. A secret that even the white wizard did not fully comprehend until his feet had reached the sandy shores of his homeland.
"It pleases me that you've used the gift we left behind, Estel." Elrond finally said, smiling sadly at the family that would forever be parted from him.
"My only regret is that I did not use it sooner." Aragorn admitted with a sorrowful glance toward his wife.
Arwen grasped his hand and squeezed it reassuringly as she proudly lifted and turned her son toward her family. He chewed on his toy, oblivious to what was going on around him. "This is our son, Eldarion."
"He's beautiful, my daughter," Celebrian smiled warmly, eyes burning into memory, the face of the Crown Prince of Gondor, her grandson. Celebrian glanced at Aragorn before turning her loving gaze toward her daughter. "You have chosen well, my precious child. Though my arms ache to hold you once again, I see that your happiness is in very capable hands."
Aragorn rested his arm gently around Arwen's waist and smiled slowly at the woman from whom he had stolen her only daughter. "It shall always be." Aragorn assured Celebrian with a loving smile.
"I miss you so, Naneth," Arwen sobbed suddenly, leaning against Aragorn for support as the overwhelming sadness at seeing her family, safe and happy across the Sea, finally broke through the walls she had erected around her emotions.
"And I miss you." Celebrian's eyes lowered and her voice shook with carefully held back sobs. "I ache to hold you in my arms again, my daughter. But you have a role to play in the re-building of Middle Earth." Tears slipped unchecked down her cheeks as she continued. "A role that was set in the stars the night you were born. My Evenstar. You could no more forsake this destiny than could Aragorn run from his."
Elrond smiled sadly, remembering the tears and the pain his returning to the Undying lands without his daughter had caused. The long nights, the many fights. Understanding took time. The healing of unexpectedly parted souls took even longer.
"Your family misses you, my Undomiel. But you have a new family, one just as deserving of your love." Celebrian smiled at Aragorn. "And one who loves you with the same dedication and passion as befitting an elven lady. Look to them for strength when you long to see your home across the sea."
Aragorn's arms tightened around his wife in concern, his face etched with sadness for the pain that he had caused this woman who meant more than life to him.
"Do not despair," Elrond finally said, tears prickling his own eyes as he watched his daughter from afar. "I know now I was wrong to come between your love. It hurt our last days together terribly. Our parting was far less cordial than I, in hindsight, should have liked."
Arwen turned tear-filled eyes on her father as Eldarion, finally noticing the colors within the Palantir, reached happily toward the glowing stone. "Ada-"
Elrond raised his hand. "Let me finish." He smiled warmly at his wife, who nodded and smiled in return. "It was only until I laid eyes on my beautiful Celebrian again did I fully realize the power of the love you share with Estel. I had allowed myself to bury my feelings at our parting. I had forgotten what it was like to love so terribly it hurt. "
Aragorn made motion to speak but Elrond silenced him. "I must speak. For I have held this guilt for far too long. Estel, I wronged you in my attempt to force you to forsake your love for my daughter. Even as you fulfilled your promise to me, I did not, in my heart, fulfill mine to you. I am not proud of my actions and I beg you to forgive me a father's fear."
Tears pricked Aragorn's eyes but he blinked them away, struggling to find his voice. "Ada. Now more than ever do I know that feeling," He glanced at his son and brushed his palm across the boy's dark, unruly hair. "It would break me to loose my son as you have lost Arwen. I do not begrudge you the attempt at keeping her by your side."
"You speak with the wisdom of Kings," Elrond smiled proudly which drew a chuckle from Aragorn.
"I had a good teacher," Aragorn smiled at the elven lord and turned to Arwen. He raised his hands to cup her cheeks and brushed away the tears the lingered within her lids, ready to fall.
"All is forgiven, Ada," Aragorn finally said, after taking a moment of silence to search his troubled wife's tear-filled eyes. "If there was anything truly to forgive in the first place."
Eldarion began to bounce in Arwen's arms, intent on touching this glowing toy he had never before seen. He cooed and groaned as he tried in vain to reach the stone that taunted his curious gaze. Arwen's arms tightened around her son, as if his well-being was the only thing keeping her feet beneath her.
Celebrian laughed softly and glanced lovingly at her own mother, who had come to stand beside her daughter. Galadrial took Celebrian's hand and squeezed it gently, understanding the pain this separation from Arwen and her son would cause, especially after seeing their faces.
Mithrindir sensed the growing emotion on all sides and stepped forward, his lips thinning into a small smile. "Beyond the circles of the world we will meet again. It may be that time comes soon, or perhaps not until all memory of the past has faded."
"Never doubt our love," Galadrial's wise voice echoed throughout the small chamber and Eldarion stared at the glowing stone in awe. "It is true and pure. It will tide you until they day we meet beyond the veil."
"Be well, little Prince." Galadrial smiled at Eldarion, who had finally managed to stretch the length of his body out far enough so that a small hand could touch the cold Palantir. The stone hummed and vibrated beneath his touch and his eyes widened. "And remember this day. For one day you may have need to see your kin across the see."
Aragorn smiled sadly, and understood what words had not been spoken. This would be the one and only time he and Arwen would be permitted to see their elven kin. Arwen stepped closer to the stone and covered her son's hand with her own. A small sob escaped her lips before she spoke. "Remember us."
"Until the ending of the world and beyond."
It was unclear to the royal family who had said those final parting words. The voices began to melt as one and their images began to swirl into the darkness of the Seeing Stone.
One last image, the kind and unmistakable visage of Manwe himself, was the last thing that appeared before the stone went dark once more.
END