The Same Woman

By Rose-Arwen-Padme

Pretending and Presumptions

The music was beginning. The train of her dress was being lifted. Her heart started beating faster.

Arwen stepped forward, taking her first step down the wedding isle, with a timid smile plastered to her face. She heard gasps and other little exclamations of awe from the guests as they watched her proceed gracefully in front of them. "Beautiful," many murmured—"extravagant" was heard many times, and once she heard a young girl say as she passed by, "she looks like a dream!".

Mentally, Arwen sighed. Evidently she looked beautiful to everyone—well, la dee dee dah! They had no idea of the true character of the "handsome knight" she was approaching! What grounds did they have, to be so happy and blissful? Why should Arwen care if she looked like a dream? Her dreams had haunted her the past few months!

Suddenly, Arwen noticed that she had unintentionally come to a stop right in the middle of the isle. Pink stained her cheeks. Luckily, the beginning of the awkward stares had only just started. She smoothly tried to continue her procession as if nothing had happened. She hoped that those who had not noticed her temporary pause would think the color on her cheeks was due to excitement.

As soon as she took her second "first" step down the wedding isle, the warm thought abruptly entered her mind. There was one person in this room whose thoughts about her beauty she actually did care about. On several dozen occasions he had told her that her beauty was unmatchable, and still her heart fluttered every time, as if she were hearing him say it for the first time all over again.

Aragorn...

Her heart sang the wonderful name. Aragorn...

She had to concentrate to continue walking, and to not stop right there and swoon.

He was watching her right now—his entire focus was centered on her moving body. She could practically feel his eyes on her. And still, Arwen had no idea where he truly was. She knew that he was above her, hidden somewhere in the several balconies. She imagined him gripping his trusty sword right now, and, Aragorn being as overprotective of her as he was, he was probably keeping an anxious eye out for any trouble.

Valar, I love him.

She don't know where she came up with the idea, she only knew that it seemed like something that she wanted to do. She knew in her heart that one day she would be walking down the wedding isle again, but for real. Just the thought brought a lovely smile to her face. She would be walking towards Aragorn, to become his wife in the eyes of the Valar.... and finally in the eyes of her father. So, knowing this, Arwen decided to... pretend....

She hoped her smile didn't look too mischievous to onlookers.

Arwen saw Glir in front of her, coming closer with every step, and she attempted to and succeeded in putting his smug face out of her mind. Instead she saw her Aragorn—

My Aragorn...

— standing before her, his warm, loving smile beckoning her to come to him. His brown hair, the color of rich soil, was, for once, clean and looked soft to the touch. There were no dirt marks on his fingers, his cheeks were shaven and smooth... but it was his eyes that called her attention relentlessly.

They were so warm, so loving. His two pools swirled with love, devotion, and awe. She only cared if he thought she was beautiful, and although his eyes told her he thought she was stunning, she found herself putting that knowledge aside. Physical beauty was such an external thing about a person. Yes, Aragorn was dazzling, attractive, dashing... but she loved him for his internal beauty. And it felt wonderful for Arwen to know that she was loved the same in return.

Her feet felt light, her face was beaming, and everything was perfect. She was a few feet away from Estel, and soon she would become his wife. He was walking towards her now, extending his hand. She remembered how their hands fit perfectly in one another, and soon she'd be holding him once again, palm with palm.

Smiling beautifully, she eagerly extended her hand in return, with nothing but love shining in her eyes.

Surprised, and taken aback by the obvious emotions swirling in Arwen's eyes, a dark figure frowned with confusion and.... was that hurt? Even from his position in the balconies high above, he could see the strong love in the maiden's eyes as she looked upon Glir just as clearly as the rest of the guests.

He swallowed nervously.

What's going on here?

Aragorn silently searched for an answer, but none came.