Author's Note: I hope you all had a lovely holiday and a happy New Year's celebration. Please, consider this my belated gift to you! :o)
I Believe
VII.
There Are More than Angels Watching Over Me
Arwen caught herself biting her nails once more. Sighing in frustration she let her hands fall to her side. The babe within her kicked, most likely sensing her anxiety. She would give birth any day now and her husband had not yet returned. She sat upon her bed, feeling her abdomen with her hands. How many times had she waited at night for her lover to return? She had thought she could be strong, had thought she could last well enough without him. Yet in the bitter watches of the night something stirred in her heart and she felt like a little girl again, waiting for her mother or father to come tuck her in and chase away the shadows. The thought of having their child without Aragorn present was weighing heavily upon her.
A sudden gust of wind tousled her hair.
He wouldn't even be gone if it weren't for Legolas. The Elf had caused more of a rift to form between them in death than he ever could have in life. It was all his fault. If only you hadn't died, Legolas. If only you had never met Aragorn. If only you hadn't gone out and got yourself…She choked on a sob, her anger gone as soon as it had come and deeply ashamed of her thoughts. If only you weren't so lovely and kind then we wouldn't have had to love you so. I would not miss you now if you were not such a beautiful spirit…
She did not mind that her audible sobs echoed off the stone halls of her bedchamber. If only you hadn't gone to visit the emptying Mirkwood. The outskirts of Gondor are not as friendly to Elf-Kind as they once were…If only I were there that night, I could have kept you safe, my friend… A part of her knew these thoughts sprung from the changing emotions that accompanied motherhood, yet she could not help pondering what might have been.
The drapes fluttered again and she paused, staring at the window. How often had she seen her husband's form silhouetted there of late? As if he were waiting; waiting for Legolas to walk back into their lives. A surge of anger welled up in her again and she turned quickly away from the window, biting her lip. How dare he do this to them. To her. To Aragorn. He had caused them all so much pain and left her here now, alone.
The wind blew so hard that some of her hair flew from her back over her shoulders. She thought she could hear someone speak her name. Slowly, she turned back to face the window. The cold breeze still tossed the curtains, caressing her face and tugging gently on her hair. She closed her eyes as a calm began to fill her. It felt as though a soft touch was seeping through the breeze, like a hand cupping her cheek. She wanted to lean into the touch yet knew that if she dared it would be gone. Warmth spread through her heart. She was not alone. Suddenly an urgencystirred within and she strained her ears to listen. Her mind cleared. She knew that Aragorn was nearly home…
There was a loud bang at the end of the hall. Startled, she quickly stood, turning to face the door. It swung open moments later, and Aragorn, disheveled and travel-weary, appeared in the frame. They each gazed at the other for a moment, Aragorn taking in her tears, Arwen marveling at his miraculous appearance. Then the Ranger rushed forth to envelop his wife and unborn child in his arms. "I will never leave you again," he breathed into her hair. "It will be all right now. Everything's going to be fine. I am home."
Please Review!
Review responses:
Lindahoyland: Thank you so much for your input, my dear reader! I do hope that you enjoyed whatever profundity I had to offer through the Spirit Talker. Thank you so much for your review! Please, let me know what you think of this chapter! Be well, mellon. :o)
Dreamality: Suilaid mellon-nïn, and hannon le for your review! Alas, now your questions about Arwen have been answered, have they not? And yes- the words spoken by the Spirit Talker were intended to have come from Legolas, so you got that feeling right. :o) Oh my dear- you humble me beyond response with your kind words about my writing. I cannot possibly convey to you the power they hold and the strength they give me. Hannon le. I am truly blessed to have a friend in you, mellon! :o)
Most who lie on their deathbeds seem to be given a sort of wisdom that comes with a finality that allows us to pay attention. (I highly recommend the book Tuesday's With Morrie) And so I imagine that one who has heard the voices of so many departed souls, like Lethara, would have to have some measure of wisdom beyond her years. I'm glad you picked up on that. :o) And I am also so happy that I have been able to leave you with a sense of closure about Legolas' death already. That was really my main goal in writing this tale. :o)
LOL! Your image of Arwen grabbing Gimli's beard in labor is hilarious! "My lady, I'm sure he will return shortly-" Grabs beard and pulls his face towards her sweaty visage "Don't tell me he'll 'return shortly'- I want that bastard in here now so he can pay for this!" Gestures to her abdomen. LOL- okay, so Arwen would probably never be so uncouth or attempt to blame Aragorn fer her pregnancy (especially since apparently Elven woman can choose if and when they get pregnant... yah, I know, Tolkien was such a guy, lol). And as to that mysterious fan girl squeal... one can only wonder, no? ;o) But alas I have written you a letter already! I'm sure I've bored you to death, but I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. :o) May you be well, mellon-nïn!
Partheon/Kristen: Oh you dear sweet girl. I, too, am glad that I did not make Legolas come back from the dead or whatnot! LOL. I knew you must have been holding your breath the whole story up until now thinking, "She's not that tactless, is she?" LOL. I'm glad I have not disappointed you, mellon! :o)
Oh- I wanted to cry when I read your review! You understand my mind perfectly, mellon. You nailed all of my goals with Aragorn in that last chapter, which is more than I could have hoped for given my sometimes-dreadful writing, lol. But thank you so much for truly understanding what it was Aragorn was going through! When he crossed the river (in order to reach his camp) I was hoping someone might pick up on the reference to water as the symbol of the subconscious, so in a sense I was hoping that readers would understand that Aragon was in a limbo of fantasy and reality. Exactly as you said, my friend, he is meant to be in what we call reality, yet the passion of his beliefs and even dreams have driven him to hope for the seemingly impossible. :o)
OMG- gwathel-nïn, comparing Lethara to your Native American grandmother is a compliment I do not know how to bear. You have honored me beyond thanks. I invested quite a bit of myself into her character, and so I've probably taken your comment more personally than intended, yet still you have given me a gift that no other could have. For that, and everything else you've taught me and all of the strength you've given me, hannon le.
Thank you so much for appreciating the final words of the last chapter. Once again, you nailed them, even beyond what I realized to be their possible meanings to be! I hope that you have also enjoyed this chapter. There is only one more to go now. Thank you for being here with me.
Evil Spapple Pie: Oh my dear reviewer! It sounds as though I have turned you into Aragorn! Which would be a testament to the strength of your imagination, mellon! I am sorry to have disappointed you in any way, and you are not a naïne teenager. You are an intelligent, inquisitive being regardless of your age. The questions you pose are those that, as you say, we all must find an answer for ourselves, as Aragorn has had to. I might also recommend to you (asI did to Dreamality) the book Tuesdays With Morrie, if you have not yet read it. I greatly enjoy hearing the thoughts that, in some way, my work has provoked within you. May you one day find the answers which you seek. :o)
Viviana: Yes, one-with-a-lovely-name, I truly do adore it! (It being your birthname, of course. :o)) It's gorgeous. And your kind words are ever a balm to my soul. You have given me the encouragement I needed- by telling me to never stop writing, and especially Legolas, Aragorn and Arwen stories. I have begun another tale involving those three and as soon as it is finished I will begin posting. :o) Thank you. And I hope you also enjoyed this chapter!
LegolasLover2003: Oh my dear! I have yet to check your site but I hope all has gone well for you! Okay- what I do to get DVD footage is hook the DVD player up to my digital camera, and use it as a sort of "dazzle box" to feed the desired footage into the computer. Does that make any sense/help at all? I'm sure my advice for you is terribly late... but I saw the footage you spoke of after Christmas (when I got the DVD, lol) and it was very festive! LOL. I just can't believe the Lord of the Rings "over." I never want it to end. I recommend Sean Astin's book, which I've also been reading, lol. :oP
I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, and the last! LOL. Be well, mellon-nïn!
MerryLad: You don't want Aragorn to go home??? But what about Arwen and the baby? LOL! But I see your point- It would be nice if he could magically find Legolas and bring him home with him, but alas, the limitations of the flesh... I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :oD