The Same Woman

By Rose-Arwen-Padme

War

A smile crossed over Arwen's face, half of puzzlement, half of happiness. "Glir?" She looked at Aragorn then back at the elf. "Glir?" she repeated.

Glir did not answer. He only stood there, silently facing the two of them. After several moments, Arwen turned to Aragorn in confusion.

"It is Glir." Aragorn answered the question in her eyes. "The one and only." He held his breath. "He is returning to Rivendell after many years in Mirkwood."

Arwen, her natural kindness shining through, stepped forward, smiling from ear to ear. "Well!" she exclaimed. "How lucky am I to not only be reunited with the man I love, but also with a dear friend from childhood! And all on the same day!" She moved to embrace Glir. "Welcome home," she yelled joyously, happy to see a friend as dear as this one return.

As Arwen's arms circled around his shoulders and rested there, for a second the distant, pained expression on Glir's face disappeared. An ounce of merriment and pleasure returned to him, happy to hold this wonderful, beautiful woman in his arms at last. Then, his gaze fell upon Aragorn, and the small smile that had started to curve on his lips vanished. Once again he looked cold and unforgiving. The brief moment of simple bliss had past.

Arwen felt him stiffen and stepped back in confusion. "What's wrong?" Glir only continued to stare at Aragorn with his piercing blue eyes.

"Are you not happy to see me as well, old friend?" Arwen asked him, hurt. "Has time done that to you?"

Once again Aragorn witnessed as Glir transformed before his eyes. In a second he seemed to change, again the carefree, brave, smiling elf he had come to know on the journey to Rivendell. He looked down at Arwen with adoration in his eyes.

"Indeed not, my fair Arwen!" he exclaimed, and Arwen smiled. "I have traveled over many lands and spent many days walking to reach you. And seeing you now." he sighed as he looked her over, "brings indescribable feelings to my heart. It is wonderful to see you again, Arwen!"

Arwen laughed and threw her arms around her old friend once more, and this time he readily embraced her back tightly.

Aragorn stood stock-still. He had expected a fight, confrontations, angry emotional words, tears and heartbreak. Why, he had expected a war!

Now, Glir stood laughing and smiling as if nothing had even happened. Aragorn dared to hope for a moment that maybe Glir had actually seen the beautiful connection between Arwen and himself, and wanted them both to be happy. Despite himself he smiled. Maybe he had over dramatized the whole thing! Perhaps he would return to Rivendell at last with a loving Arwen at one side and friend at the other. His shoulders relaxed and his face regained some color.

Then Aragorn looked into Glir's eyes, and he knew none of it was true. For as Glir looked at him over Arwen's shoulder, the dark look in his eyes return. No words had to be spoken for Aragorn to know that Glir was going to fight for Arwen with all his might. He would not take no for an answer. He would not give up so easily.

Aragorn fixed his eyes right back on Glir, the familiar look of determination in his eyes. He shook his head slowly from side to side at Glir, his chin low. So, Glir wanted a fight.... well he would get one. Arwen wasn't going anywhere.

War was coming.

Arwen pulled back, and once again the happy mask fell over his face. "Come," she said, taking his hand in her own. "My father will be so happy to see you." She pulled him back to where Aragorn and her horse were standing. "And you, Aragorn," she added lovingly, placing her warm hand to his cheek. "Though not nearly as happy as I am."

Aragorn smiled, realizing that this was the moment when the games began. "The pleasure my lady," he wrapped his arm around her back and brought her up against him suddenly, causing her to break contact with Glir's hand, her lips a breath away from Aragorn's. "Is all mine," he finished in a low voice, causing Arwen to tremble.

Aragorn abruptly looked up at Glir, amusement in his eyes. "Forgive me."

Glir, surprised by the question given the circumstances, could only stutter, "Wha-wha-what for?"

Aragorn smiled devilishly. "For this." He swooped his head down and caught Arwen's lips in a firm, intoxicating kiss that made her become light-headed. His passion stirred her beyond words, her mind unable to think about anything else besides the pleasure he was bestowing to her lips. When they slowly broke apart, Aragorn leaned in again to kiss her temple, each cheek, her nose, and once again her lips in a slow, soft, drowning kiss.

Arwen stumbled backwards. "You've got to stop doing that," she muttered, waiting for her head to stop spinning. Of course she didn't mean a word of that. "Or else one of these days I'm likely to faint."

Aragorn smiled mischievously. "I think that can be arranged." He looked to Glir, triumph hidden in his eyes. "Once again, forgive me. Even though we have company, I have missed this woman uncontrollably, and could not wait for a private moment to do that."

Glir was about to say something, when Arwen broke in suddenly without thinking. "I don't mind!" Her lips curled up in an embarrassed smile, and her already flushed cheeks became more red.

Aragorn looked back at her, love in his eyes. "That's my maiden."

He couldn't help but add a little empathize on the word "my", enjoying Glir's face contort.

"I think I could do better on a woman if given the chance," I said, not thinking clearly. Jealously and anger had a strong pull on my mind right then.

Arwen turned around, now facing me, but stepped back into that MAN Aragorn's arms. "Whatdo you say?" she asked, teasing. "Does my friend Glir have a love interest back in Mirkwood?"

I smiled blissfully. "More likely she restsin Rivendell."

Arwen's eyes lit up with interest, and Iwas awe-struck by the shine that came from them. "Oh, tell me, Glir! Who?"

I only smiled wider, and I knew my eyes were filled with emotion when I answered, "Believe me, you will know soon enough, Arwen. It will be very clear whom my heart lies with. Whom it has been with for years."

Aragorn stiffened at this, and I took pleasure in his sense of being uncomfortable. He seemed to become even more agitated when Arwen answered, "She is a very lucky woman. Anyone would be lucky to posses your loving heart for so long."

I felt like I could fly when she said that. All I wanted to do at that moment was tosweep her up in my arms and carry her off, and I worried that my eyes would reveal what Iwas thinking. Another voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Come, Arwen. We are two weary travelers, who wish to look upon our home once again and rest." Aragorn gently turned her around to face him. "But I must admit, if you had not come to meet me, the only reason I would have pushed on to Rivendell without a moment's rest would be to have seen you... to look into your eyes as soon as possible." He smiled, taking her into his arms. No matter what was going on with Glir, the he-elf could not take away Aragorn's joy at holding Arwen again, or just seeing her. He had no worries about Glir and his motives. Arwen was not going to nestle into any other's arms than his own as long as he was alive.

But a war was coming to ensure that.