Author/Banshee Queen: "This is a very angsty chapter so prepare yourself people. This chapter deals with Arwen looking upon Aragorn lying upon his stone tomb, realizing for the first time what the Doom of Men really is. Legolas also has a little part in this too. In this chapter there are flashbacks! Yes flashbacks! Not out of the movies this time, but ones that I have made up myself. But more than that I cannot say, you will have to read on." ;)

Disclaimer: "Don't own anything except this story." :)

Chapter 2: Long Live the King

"He is gone now." The Queen stated as she looked into the faces of the people of Gondor. The woman wept and the men's faces were suddenly aggrieved. "Before the sun set yester morrow, the King Elessar passed away. I was with him as he lay on this deathbed and he said to me dear people do not despair! To succeed him now to the throne my son, Prince Eldarion, shall now be crowned. In ten days time King Elessar's funeral shall commence at the break of dawn. May his spirit live in all of us and may we remember the glorious days in which he rebuilt and united our kingdom in peace. He brought us wealth and prosperity, and vanquished all evil in this Middle-Earth. Mourn for him dear people of the King, for you shall never again find any ruler as wise and gentle as King Elessar, Lord of the Dúnedain, Half-Elven. Praise him with great praise!"

Arwen's lip quivered, and with that she turned, slowly making her way back up to the Citadel, trying hard to fight back tears.

Throughout the week the city of Minas Tirith lay as silent as a tomb. There was no laughing or jesting. The people dressed in black and old mother's everywhere were seen to be dabbing their eyes. The men seldom spoke and no children played out in the streets. It was as if the City was under a sleepy spell. Riders were sent forth from the City across Middle-Earth bringing the news of King Elessar's passing away and to hasten to the White City with all speed.

As Arwen looked up towards the sky, a single tear rolled down her cheek. It was a cold Autumn day, the tenth day, in which she never wanted to say goodbye to her beloved. A cluster of leaves rustled around Aragorn's tomb, the Elf watching on as she looked up at her lover lying on his stone tomb. I am alone now. I am alone now. In all the long years she had spent with Aragorn, ever did the constant reminder of his foretold death linger in the back of her mind. As if her father were whispering into her ear, the echo of his words rang in her ears as she reminisced a conversation between them long ago…

"Arwen." The way he said her name always froze her to a halt from which she could not move. "Aragorn will die. You know this."

Of course she knew. She knew all too well the fates of men but this was different. They were in love, despite the differences of their races. The Elf turned to face her father, eyes alight with both anger and sadness.

"That does not matter, how many times must I tell you? I love this man whether he be less the King of both Arnor and Gondor. I care nothing for that." "Do you?" The Elven Lord questioned towering over his daughter. "Do you really? Would you give up everything you hold dear to you, everyone you love and the grace of our people just to be with this one mere mortal?"

Now it was Elrond's eyes which were alight. The maiden dug her nails into the skirts of her gown deeper. "Yes,' she began meeting his gaze eye for eye, 'I would father. I would be willing,' a single tear slipped down her cheek, 'and I would be willing to forsake our people's grace, and everyone I love just to be with him."

The Elven Lord stepped back amazed. A long silence prevailed between the two, Elrond with his eyes to ground, deep in thought. Arwen moved closer, gently placing her hands on his.

"Ada,' the Elven maiden whispered, 'I love him, and he loves me. Understand what I am saying to you now. I am willing to give up my immortality and I am willing to give up my place on the ship to Valinor. I am willing to abide the Doom of Men for our love."

At those last words Elrond looked up, eyes wide in surprise. "You do not…" The Elven Lord slowly nodded his head and sighed. "Arwen, my daughter,' he cupped her chin in his hand, 'you do not yet know your fate. And though you love Aragorn and he returns your feelings, you do not yet know the grief that comes with this decision. Your beauty… " Elrond began but was cut off by his daughter. "And the likeness of Lúthien shall fade from the world…" Ended Arwen. "I know Ada. But it is a sacrifice-" "Arwen." His cold gaze met hers. "Don't." He sighed again. "I love you too much too loose you." Arwen's lip trembled, followed by a tear. "And I to you Ada." The Elven Lord enveloped his daughter in a warm embrace...

Blue eyes flickered open to release more tears. Now all was made clear to the Elf. She softly gasped, realizing what truth there was in her father's foreseeing. At last at last, she understood the Doom of Men. She pitied them, short-lived mortals whose time spent under the sun was so short, that they did not live to see the moon and the stars. But Aragorn had seem them, many a time. And many a time the two would stand atop the Cidatel's tower together and endlessly gaze at the stars for hours on end with the moon as their witness. Aragorn would turn his glance over at her, and it was then in those sittings that Arwen saw the light in his eyes. But compared to the stars, the light which shone in Aragorn's eyes burned out the clearer. In his glance always shone warmth and love for his companion as his palm closed around hers. It was a trait she loved about him, and the way she would remember her beloved until she drew her last breath.

But now returning out of that memory, she turned her glance to where Aragorn lay. Suddenly there shined a soft light surrounding Aragorn, a golden aurora concealing him within its grasp. The Queen stared, barely believing her eyes as a single tear slipped down her rosy cheek. The years of all his toil and labour were thrown aback, and it seemed to Arwen that Aragorn looked the same as he did those many long years ago when first they met in the Garden of Elrond.

The touch of a soft hand on her shoulder caused Arwen to turn. The Queen turned to see Legolas, a warm, welcoming, but concerned look upon his face.

"Amin hiraetha." A weak smile reached the Queen's lips. "Diola lle Legolas." The Elf pressed a hand to his breast and bowed his head. "Arwenamin, his passing away is not the end, nor the beginning. Do not fall from this loss. Did not the Lady Gilraen once say; "I gave hope to the Dúnedain?" Legolas questioned. But Arwen with tears in her eyes looked into Legolas' and said coarsely: "I will not fall, but did not the Lady Gilraen once say in return; "I have kept no hope for myself?"

The Queen sadly turned her back to Legolas, eyes wandering to Aragorn's tomb. The maiden stood there motionless, the black veil over her face now and again rustling with the most serenest of gestures. Pale was the colour which painted Aragorn's face, but red were Arwen's rimmed eyes from crying a river of tears. And yet the Elf still wept silently, remembering the long years they had spent in glory and happiness, while inside her heart slowly broke into a thousand pieces.

"Aragorn,' the maiden started, on the verge of breaking down, 'Mela en' coiamin, all these long years I never thought this day would come. How am I to go on through this cold and bleak world without you here? The day we met my fate was set, as I forsook the West and we both renounced the Shadow. I shall never forget our meeting among the white birches. I loved you evermore! But sleep now my love, upon your stony bed you shall now lie. Farewell Aragorn, light of my life, words cannot express my grief as I go now on alone in this world, my kin afar, my light extinguished. Elen sila lumenn omentilmo. Farewell!"

The Elven beauty stood there a moment caressing his face, then leant in to his face and softly kissed his lips. Already they were cold, as was Arwen's heart. Running her gaze over him for the last time she spoke: "Our love shall not die as the light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane. Beyond the twilight we shall meet again!"

Having said that she turned and fled, all those who saw her knew, she was aggrieved and could not bear to part from Aragorn, the one thing in her life that kept her knowing there was a purpose in living, staying in Middle-Earth than sailing to the Undying Lands those many long years ago with her father Elrond and all who loved her, Evenstar of her people.

Ada- Father

Amin hiraetha- I'm sorry

Diola Lle- Thank you

Arwenamin- My Lady

Mela en' coiamin- Love of my Life

Elen sila lumenn omentilmo- A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting

Author/Banshee Queen: "Oooooo next chapter you will be in for a shock. Next chapter stars Eldarion...their first & only son. And a very angsty conversation involving Arwen & Eldarion. Stay tuned..."