The Same Woman

By Rose-Arwen-Padme

Admir Garden

The bright sunlight assaulted Arwen's eyes the moment she stepped out from underneath the arched doorway and into the Admir Garden. She had been inside all day—the last time she had been outdoors was the day before. If he noticed, Glir didn't give her time to let her vision adjust.

"Well, Arwen, you seem full of surprises," he said finally as he let go of her hand and turned to face her. They had stopped between two rows of tall hedges, each thick row towering at least eight feet high— exactly where Arwen had wanted.

She offered an amused smile. "I am full of surprises. I suppose it is something you will have to get used to during our marriage. I hope you do not mind."

He cocked an eyebrow.

"Marriage, Lady Arwen? Was it not too long ago when you swore that this ceremony was nothing short of an 'arrangement'?"

She took a step closer to him, a smile playing on her lips. "No, dear Glir, you called it an arrangement, after I referred to it as 'our upcoming nuptials'. Besides, didn't you also say that I would one day come to love you?"

In shock, he took a step back.

Her smile grew wider. "It appears you did not think that the day would be today."

He shrugged slightly, and sarcastically replied, "Because it happens to be the same day that you declared your hatred of me." As he finished, a dark cloud seemed to cover his eyes as he remembered her lashing out at him earlier.

Arwen sighed, closing her eyes tightly. Silence hung between them like a thick blanket.

"It is true. The opposite of hate is love… and it appears that I have shown both emotions in one single day." She paused. "In fact, if you believe… so much, in the fact that I couldn't possibly love you in this moment… I will not burden you anymore with my words. I will follow you without argument into the Grand Hall."

She watched him carefully. Glir seemed to be over-dramatic as he crossed his arms and looked to the earth. She knew him well enough to know what he was doing. He was appearing to think about it, appearing to hesitate—when in fact he was merely trying to build suspense and tension inside of her. He had already made his decision, and now he was just trying to make her anxious.

He thinks I really care about what his answer will be, she mused. He's as gullible as an orc.

After several moments, his head darted up. "Very well, I am listening."

She pretended to offer a relieved smile and sigh. "Thank you," she answered breathlessly.

"Continue, Arwen."

If she hadn't been playing this game, she would have reprimanded him for stiffly giving her an order.

"Yes, well, I had much time to think after your… visit…with me. Then, later, my father came to me. He helped me to make sense of things. He helped me come out of this black void I have been living in these past months. It was as if the light of the Valar shown on me, for the first time in years."

Curious, Glir asked, "Years? Don't you mean months?"

She took a step in his direction. "No, I do mean years— long, blurry, years. I saw things clearly, for the first time since… since before Aragorn came into my life." The expression on Glir's face was priceless. "Let me continue. Aragorn told me things about the ways of Man… things that seemed too foreign and strange to me. Over time, I let myself believe, rather foolishly, that what he told me was normal, and could co-exist with the ways of the Elves. I thought he had been raised by the Elves, so, how could he really be that different?" Her eyes fell. "But he was. He wasn't an Elf, and therefore, we never truly could have co-existed in any relationship. I should have seen that on my own, from the beginning. However, my father told me things—he told me about things Aragorn had said and done. Lies, deceit, creating mistrust… those were Aragorn's true ways. Aragorn had played me and lied to me. My dear father had only been trying not to hurt me by not telling me before. He trusted that I would figure it out on my own. He never realized it had gone so far." She raised her eyes to look at him. "You were wrong; my father is not a fool. Oh, but Glir, I was also wrong; Aragorn was no 'third son' to my father. Both were actors—one to hurt and play me, the other to protect and trust me to work out my own differences. I thank the Valar I have my father… and that I have you."

"I-I-I…" he sighed. "I'm still confused."

He smile stretched across her face. "In my time to think, all the barriers of my mind disappeared. I realized that I had this dashing," she placed a hand on his cheek, her eyes locked on his, "amazing, wonderful, intelligent Elf lord here, with me. One who pursued me relentlessly, and who was my perfect match in everyway." Somehow, she managed tears of 'happiness' to appear in her eyes. "When I pushed at you, you pushed back. When I rejected you, you held firm. I was in a drowning void these past months, and you stayed by my miserable side the entire time!" She ran her fingers through his hair. "Those actions could only be movements of love." Her sweet voice was soft. "And I was a fool to fall for Aragorn's words and tricks, but I would be more of a fool to not see you in all your glory, and fall for you."

Glir's smile was so large, she wondered briefly if he was in pain from the strain on his cheeks. Before he was able to lean forward and kiss her, Arwen rushed forward to embrace him, securing her face on his right shoulder, beside his face—inside of directly in front of it. His arms automatically wrapped themselves around her frame. Her delicate body moved each time a joyful chuckle escaped from his chest.

"You have made me the happiest creature in all Middle-Earth!" he cried. She winced—his booming voice was too close to her ear. After a few moments of a tight embrace—much too tight for Arwen's liking— Glir asked, "But Arwen, dear, why now? Why bring me this knowledge—as wonderful as it is—to me in the middle of our wedding?"

Arwen's voice was muffled, as her mouth was still just above his shoulder, but he understood her when she replied, "I couldn't have you recite your sacred vows thinking that the relationship was only one-sided. I couldn't bear to think that you would listen to my earnest vows, and think that I didn't mean it. I want our very first moment of marriage to be filled with beauty and truth… not misjudged notions of lies and suspicion."

She received her response when he hugged her too him even more., but the mischievous smile shown before she continued was one that the actress let slip through. Glir had no idea, as her face was not in his sight.

Time to lay the bait, she schemed.

"Glir, my love? Do you think that the spirit of that lying Aragorn is looking down upon us now? Watching us bask in our happiness? Observing that, regardless of how he kept us apart for too long, we have found each other?"

"Oh, I hope so, dear Arwen. He deserves it, for all the lies he told to you."

Arwen bit her lip. "I'm glad he has passed."

Glir pulled her back so that he could look into her eyes. "Glad? That is very uncharacteristic of you…"

She quickly dropped her eyes. "I chose the wrong words in expressing myself. I am not glad that a creature of Middle-Earth died… I only feel a level of contentment. He can no longer bother us. He can no longer lie to me. We can never again suffer any grief of his doing. He caused me great pain, Glir." Her eyes rose to meet his. In a shaky voice, she whispered, "I wish I could thank the person who brought about his demise." She paused briefly. "They also brought about our mutual happiness."

Glir's eyes flickered.