Until the Stars Are All Alight

Notes: Ahaha, I'm still getting good reviews basically, and I love the input thus far! Though this is to answer a question so here it goes:

Yes, this is an AU fiction, pretty much. I mean, this is a storyline that is made from my head, which would mean that I do use some stuff from the books and movies, but a lot of it just comes to me.

But enough from me, I know you folks wanna read the actual story!

Chapter 4: A Fading Evenstar

Dust fell over the lands of Middle Earth. With the last bits of golden sunlight sinking across the earth as shadows formed beneath buildings and people as they made their ways through streets or roads, a single star seemed to rise above and into the twilight sky. A single tear fell down the smooth and light toned cheek of Merenwen as she watched the star and sun, so much in contrast and similarity.

How long had she been atop the high place where the tree sat? Even Merenwen didn't know. After shooing Elowyn away, the Princess had stood there for a while before moving to sitting with a book. And now, as the last bits of light fell over the city, she watched.

Ebony locks blew in the wind that brushed across the fields where the Great Battle that Mordor had brought upon the White City had been fought. The tales that her father had told them of this battle had once brought both fear and joy into her heart. But now, only sorrow remained. Something was going to happen...she could feel it inside of her soul. Just as she had felt the last breaths of her parents.

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"Do you not wish to come and garden with us mother?" Merenwen stood, framing herself in the doorway of the room that her mother, the once strong Arwen Undomiel, had hidden herself within. A veil covered her pale face while silver strands weaved through the ebony tones of her hair. Her eyes that had once been filled with laughter and light now looks gaunt and full of an unexpressed sorrow that Merenwen couldn't comprehend.

"Not today." It was the same answer as the day before and the day before that. It had been almost a week since the passing of her father, King Elessar, the greatest of kings since the time of Isildur, or so Merenwen liked to think. They had been there, standing outside of the tomb that was to become the resting place of their father. And Arwen had stayed by his side until the very end.

"You must come and see though!" Merenwen said, forcing cheer into her tone. "The roses are starting to bloom, The garden smells so wonderful, you must come see it mother!" But she knew it was no use. The Evenstar had already started to fade; there was no stopping what had begun.

"I cannot, dear 'Wen." Her mother watched Merenwen, knowing that her eldest was trying to bring her back into life once more but to no avail. "My time is ending here..."

"Do not speak of such things!" Merenwen moved forth, silencing her mother as she knelt before the chair in which the Queen sat, placing a hand to her mother's lips. "You must come back into the sunlight again, feel the breeze upon your cheeks! You cannot leave us here..." Her voice broke though she told herself that she would not and could not cry.

"My dearest Merenwen, you cannot stop things from going where they need to be this time." Arwen said softly, pulling her daughter into an embrace as she stroked the top of her raven toned hair. "You will live, even when I pass on. And all shall be well." Her voice was...Soothing to Merenwen.

"Eldarion has a strong rule. You must promise me, though, to look out for your sisters and him, for even he needs help when standing sometimes." Arwen continued as she held her daughter close. "You will live on and it will be through you and your siblings that the world will be helped to heal more from the sorrow brought upon it by the War." Her voice remained steady, though Merenwen could feel her heart breaking as her mother spoke.

"I promise..." Merenwen's voice came out barely louder than a whisper as a tear fell down one of her cheeks. The sense of sorrow finally washed over her body as she stepped away from her mother. Her mother would never hear the gulls calling her to the seas, nor could she pass on and live in a land of eternal bliss. She knew now the extent of the sacrifice her mother had made.

Mere months later, the great Queen Undomiel fled to the cover of the Golden Wood. All of her sisters stood before the gates of the White City. Merenwen stood firm beside Eldarion's side, knowing they both needed to rely on each other. They were the eldest in the family, and the weight was being passed onto their shoulders to watch over the family while they watched their mother, the weary Queen, ready herself for the last journey.

"Stay strong, my dear children, for you too shall see joy, even when all else seems to fade." She had mounted upon her steed- a great white mare that was bred from one of her own that had been ridden in the journeying she had made in younger days.

Though, as she started off, she paused. From a pocket within the fold of her riding outfit, she drew out a handkerchief. She turned back and, gingerly, she handed it down to Eldarion. Without a word as to what was within the cloth, she rode off, crossing the fields before she seemed to vanish into the woods around the borders before the city.

His fingers shaking slightly, Eldarion opened the cloth with the eyes of each sister upon him. It was the Evenstar. Tears welled within the eyes of each, even if they wished not to cry. It was the gem given to their father, a sign that their mother would stay with him until the end of their days. But the light had faded from the jewel, though Eldarion held it to his chest, watching to where their mother had vanished to.

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"Merenwen?"

The voice of her brother brought Merenwen from her thoughts as, hastily, she wiped away a few strands of tears that had fallen down her cheeks. "Yes?"

"I've been looking for you." Her brother still wore the gem upon his breast while none thought he was looking. Tonight, he donned the once bright Evenstar, though he seemed sadder than he usually was when he wore the priceless heirloom. "I bring tidings of ill news, dear sister."

"Ill news?"

"I'm afraid that darkness might fall upon our world like it had once done during the Great War...I'm afraid I might have to leave my home."

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