The Same Woman
By Rose-Arwen-Padme
The Oncoming Tide
You could have heard a feather fall.
The moment before the loud murmurings and anxious whispers began, silence enveloped the Great Hall. A blind man would have thought it was empty.
But within moments, a surging wave dashed into the huge room, beginning with it the voices of the surprised guests. They didn't even pretend to try and hush they're gossiping.
"What the Valar is going on?"
"Was Lord Elrond expecting this?"
"Why now? Why not before?"
"This goes against any form of etiquette."
But Arwen didn't care; she paid no attention to the whispers that floated around her pointed ears.
"I object," she repeated, her voice soft and calm, although some could detect a sense of urgency hidden within her tone.
Arwen knew she would treasure the stunned look on Glir's face forever.
"Ah, my love, is something wrong?" For sake of show, he tried to smile calmly at her, yet Arwen could see the sharp daggers in his eyes.
Elrond stepped forward, looking back and forth between his daughter and Glir. "Arwen?" he asked hesitantly.
After praying her words would not tremble as she spoke, Arwen made her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "It is of the greatest importance that I speak to my dear groom in private. A matter I had hoped could be delayed must be discussed." Her eyes swept the room. "I apologize for doing this now, but unfortunately it could not be helped." To finish it off, Arwen stepped closer to Glir, and ran a smooth hand across his cheek lovingly. Her voice no longer echoed around the room, but anyone close could hear her say to Glir, "Don't worry, love. You needn't worry. You will love to hear what I have to say…"
Glir's chest puffed out immediately as he noticed the obvious change in Arwen's attitude in comparison to her behavior in the previous months. His genuine smile grew. "Well then! Let the lady whisk thyself away!" He took her hand firmly, and led her down the isle. "Friends, guests, we shall return!"
Arwen barely managed to keep up with his excited pace. All the while, words and phrases that she had practiced with Aragorn earlier ran through her head randomly, out of order. Desperately, she mentally tried to grasp them and get them in line before they reached their intended secluded spot.
"The Amdir Garden!" she murmured loudly to the elf yanking her down the isle. Because there were so many different gardens in Rivendell, and some belong specifically to certain people, almost every one had been named. "We should go to the Amdir garden to speak!"
She could see a faint nod as her answer, and eventually Arwen found herself following the path towards the isolated spot.
Far behind the departing Arwen, Lord Elrond still stood at the wedding altar, a dazed look upon his face.
"The Valar seem fit to tease me this day," he murmured.
He turned as a large hand placed itself on his back. It was his son, Elladan. "Father," the twin whispered urgently. "You must follow me! Quickly!"
Feeling the rising tide of confusion start to flood over his mind, Elrond sighed and followed his son without question.
This day has been a stream of surprises, the Lord thought half-heartedly to himself.
He had no idea that the day had only just begun…
… and that the stream was about to turn into a raging river.