A/n: This story doesn't really have a specific timeframe, but pretty much it begins just after ROTK. The Journey takes place just before and during Lord of the Rings. But again, it's not a very specific timeframe, and it is technically AU.
Chapter 2
Now standing here on the doorstep, she wished she had known who it was. She knew it must've been a friend. A close friend. She also knew it was a man, with fair hair. She'd been able to tell that much. But that wouldn't really help her. Hundreds of male Elves had fair hair. And many of her male Elven friends had fair hair. How was she to know who it was?
Ayah shook her head, opened the door and stepped out onto the sunlight washed stairs. Tarén stood at the bottom of the stairs, holding the reins of Ayah's horse.
"Morning Sunshine." He grinned, using his nickname for her, as she walked gracefully down the steps to him. "You look really nice."
Ayah looked down at her glittering dress. "Thanks." She mumbled.
Tarén laughed and lifted Ayah's chin up with his finger. "You're a nervous wreck, aren't you?"
Ayah looked at Tarén, and for a moment hated his ability to know exactly how she felt. "Of course not." She lied, and clenched her fists to stop their light shaking.
Tarén laughed again. "You don't need to be. All you have to do is walk down the aisle to Elrond, on your horse, dismount - they'll take her aside for you - Elrond will do his speech or whatever, and you stand there looking beautiful. Then you mingle a little to be polite, and then you can go home. See? No sweat."
Ayah shook her head, not convinced. "I haven't seen these people for 3 years, Tarén! What if things are different between us? What if I forget their names? What if - "
Tarén put his finger to her lips. "You'll be fine. Now get on your horse and head down there before they start without you."
Ayah half-smiled and mounted her shining tan horse. Like the horses of the other Journiers, Ayah's had ribbons tied to the bridal and saddle, and glitter sparlking all over its body.
"You'll be right there when I'm done, right?" Ayah said, her stomach flipping. She didn't want to be alone around all her old friends right now. She needed Tarén there in case she did something stupid like forget a name or ramble on about her Journey.
Tarén grinned. "Of course. Now get going!"
Ayah gave her horse a little kick and swiftly headed to the ceremony.
Why was she worried? She was generally good with names. But she just had a nagging feeling that she was forgetting something...
She found the area where the other Journiers had gathered, waiting for the ceremony to start. Ayah wanted the ceremony to begin immediately. Then she wouldn't have time to think...
It rained and rained for nearly a month straight. Everyone was soaked to the bone, and could never get dry. The Journiers stopped often, but in everyone's opinion, not often and long enough. Then finally, it didn't rain. And the clouds broke, letting the much needed sun shine down to slowly begin to dry them.
"Oh! The sun!" Arwen pointed up and the rays beat down.
Ayah turned her face to the sky and sighed. The sun...it felt so good not have the pelting wetness.
"Hey Ayah!" Shaomer rode up beside her.
Ayah's breath caught in her throat as it always did when Shaomer said her name. She managed a smile and a weak, "Yes?"
"I have a dry coat that I was saving for the next stop. But since its not raining anymore, I don't need the extra weight. Would you like to borrow it?"
"But don't you need it? You can wear the dry one and let the wet one dry." Ayah said logically.
Shaomer grinned. "You look more wet than I do."
Ayah looked down at herself and saw that she was indeed still dripping. She laughed, and so did Shaomer. He slowed his pace and pulled the coat from the pack on the back of his horse.
"Here you go."
Ayah took her drenched coat off and laid it out to dry on the saddle. She put on Shaomer's wonderfully dry coat and loved how it smelled just like him.
"Thank you." She said and pulled her horse along.
"Ready to go in there?" Arwen asked. Ayah blinked and turned her attention to her friend.
Ayah nodded. "Well, sort of. I just feel... really nervous. I don't know what to do when we see all our old friends again. It'll be really uncomfortable."
Caliwyn joined the conversation by saying, "You're telling me!"
A loud horn blew and all the Journiers mounted their horses and rode into a single file. Another horn blew, and the curtain of vines near the front of the lined up Journiers parted widely. So they began to ride through, one at a time and Elrond said their name when they emerged from behind the vines.
"Galdé Hasir... Caliwyn Calmené... Tarye Fontél... Arwen Evenstar... Ayah Maleese..."
Ayah's horse came out from behind the vines, and Ayah's breath was taken away by the sight. She guessed every Elf in Rivendell had shown up, and all dressed in their most magnificent outfits. The Elven men looked very handsome and the Elven women looked very beautiful. Above her and the Elves was a green and slightly yellow canopy of leaves and vines, creating a sun-glowing dome.
The horses plodded up the aisle, and the Journiers dismounted. Young Elves took the reins of each horse and led them out behind to be tied up during the ceremony. Once all of the Journiers had arrived and were seated on the mahogany chairs provided, Elrond spread his arms and said, "Welcome home."
Elrond talked about the Journey, places where the Journiers went, things they did, who went on the Journey...
As he talked, Ayah scanned the sea Elven faces before her. She recognized so many, could name most, but didn't recognize many more, sure she'd never seen some before. An old friend here or there caught her eye and smiled. She smiled back.
Then her ears tuned into Elrond again as he asked everyone to stand as he read the names of all those who did not return from the Journey. He said he each name - of Elves and Men - and Ayah noted many crying faces in the crowd. Her heart clenched unpleasently when Elrond read, "Shaomer Arthorn."
Her eyes welled up with tears and she looked down at her lap as more memories flooded her mind.
It was a small celebration - someone's birthday, but Ayah did not know who. There was much merriment, ale and mead, dancing and generally everyone was having fun.
Ayah clapped and laughed as two Men did a drinking song then a drinking contest. As people cheered for the winner, Shaomer approached Ayah and whispered,
"Ayah. I must speak with you."
Her pulse quickened and she wondered what about. "Of course, Shaomer." she said quietly.
He helped her up off the ground and led her to a quiet secluded spot a little ways away from the loud celebration.
"Ayah..." Shaomer started, then turned away.
Ayah waited a moment, then gently prodded, "Yes?"
He faced her again and held her hands. "I hope I'm not being too bold...but..." he paused and Ayah's heart beat wildly. "Ayah, you're very beautiful and I find myself caring more and more each day..."
Ayah's eyes roamed Shaomer's ruggedly handsome face.
He shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, then said abruptly, "I-I think I love you."
Ayah was completely taken aback. She'd loved him for so long..."I..." her mouth just hung open foolishly. She knew she needed to say something - anything - but her mind was strangely blank.
"Ayah, please say something."
She loved the way he said her name. She loved his face, his bravery...she loved HIM, so much...
Then why couldn't she say it?
Shaomer let go of her hands, thinking she did not feel the same way. He took a step back and swallowed. "I should've known. I'm sorry."
Should've known what? Ayah wanted to ask.
He turned and started heading back to the camp, broken.
Ayah panicked. She couldn't let him walk away!
"Shaomer!" She jogged over to him and caught his arm.
He met her eyes, almost reluctantly, as if expecting her to confirm his feeling of rejection.
"I..."Ayah's throat threatened to close. "I love you too."
"What?" Shaomer's face brightened, but with a hint of disbelief.
"I-I have f-for a long time. I-I just n-never knew what t-to do...about it."
Shaomer sighed in relief. "You feel the same way?" he whispered.
Ayah nodded vigorously, trying to dispel any doubt he still had.
Shaomer produced a glittering Man-made sliver ring, and slid it on her finger. Then he half-smiled and leaned forward slightly, silently asking - not pushing - for a kiss.
Ayah hesitated ever so slightly, then leaned forward and kissed Shaomer lovingly in the moonlight.
A/n: Thanks to CountryChick928, who helped me separate my story a little better. Thank you for the feedback!
