The Same Woman
By Rose-Arwen-Padme
Traveling to Rivendell
"Aragorn, wake up."
Aragorn slowly awoke, and then pulled himself onto his elbows. The blurring image of Glir meet him.
"I assume you did not get much sleep last night," Glir said, noticing the dark circles around Aragorn's eyes.
Aragorn shook himself and stood up, swaying slightly. "You would assume correctly." He would not admit that it was because he had been plagued by depressing dreams of Arwen, only to awake and remember how grave the reality of his situation was. At the most, he had received two hours of sleep that night.
"Hmmm…" Glir hummed awkwardly angely, not knowing tiredness. "Well, are you rested enough to start again?"
Aragorn both dreaded and looked forward to their arrival at Rivendell. But he wasn't about to tell Glir that. "Ready to begin!" he answered, with mock cheeriness.
They mounted their horses, Aragorn on his and Glir on Aphadon, a strong, white elvish horse with a silk-like mane. Together they galloped off through the trees, each with only their destination, Rivendell, in mind.
Shortly before mid-day through their travels, Aragorn rode next to Glir, and they slowed their horses to a walk to talk. "Glir, tell me more about Arwen." He didn't know why he asked, but it was just something he had to do. He had to know the extent of Glir's affection.
Glir smiled faintly, a far off look in his eyes. Suddenly he point to his left, and Aragorn followed his gaze. A flock of different colored birds were flying through the clouds, their calls singing in the air like a sweet melody. As they lowered and flew over trees, other birds from the trees would rise up and join the flock, adding more colors to the flying rainbow. Snow-topped mountains rose behind the birds in the background, and the sun glimmered brightly on a lake nearby.
"It's quite a sight," Aragorn murmured.
"It's dull, boring, and dry." Glir replied firmly. Then he broke into a grin. "Compared to Arwen."
Aragorn raised an eyebrow, on the break of laughter. He couldn't understand why he thought this was so hilarious, though he agreed with the elf.
Suddenly, Glir asked him a question that caused him to sit up strait and wipe the smirk off his face.
"Is there any woman you love?"
Aragorn stared at Glir, who looked back at him innocently. "Yes," he choked out.
"Who is she?"
Aragorn sighed heavily. He decided to tell him the truth about the woman he loved. "Well, she is more beautiful than the brightest stars in the sky. And her voice is sweeter than honey." He had answered Glir's question without lying, but he prayed that the elf wouldn't press for a name.
But Glir only laughed. "It sounds like our two love interest's could compete with each other in beauty." He smiled. "But I have to warn you, it would be no contest."
Aragorn smiled too. "I agree."
Some time after, the air was blessed sweetly with the harmonic sound of Aragorn's singing voice. "Ir Ithil ammen Eruchîn, menel-vîr síla díriel, si loth a galadh lasto dîn! A Hîr Annûn Gilthoniel, le linnon im Tinúviel."
Aragorn sang softly as he rode, Glir some yards behind him. He hadn't thought much about it when his lips had moved and his lungs drew air to mumble the words.
"The Luthien's Song?" Glir called, and Aragorn stopped singing.
Without turning around, Aragorn answered, "Yes. You know well of that song?"
Behind him, Glir shook his head. "No, just bits and phrases. I mostly knew that you were singing the song of Luthien from the tune. It is unforgettable… such a unique melody. Such a unique elf-maiden."
Aragorn smiled, thinking of whom it really was that he was singing about. But he wouldn't tell Glir that.
Aragorn swallowed, but his throat would not contract.
He could see it now, Rivendell. It was in the distance, and the sight both terrified and elated him. Somewhere in the expanse of the Last Homely House was Arwen.. He had finally come to tell her that he loved her. By the end of the day, Arwen would know of both Aragorn….. and Glir's presence.