Author/Banshee Queen: "The wait is over! The fourth chapter is here! Lol. Thank-you very much lindahoyland and RS for reviewing. They were much appreciated and really encouraged me to post forth this chapter quick as I could. :D
Warning: this chapter is very very sorrowful.This chapter is full of flashbacks, practically brimming to the top. This is what all the'drama' has been leading up to. Anyway enough of my rambling, on with chapter!
Disclaimer: "I do not own Lotr or any of the wonderful characters Tolkien created."
Chapter 4: Beyond the Twilight
As Arwen came to the edge of the forest Lothlórien she reined in her horse. Glancing up at the tree-tops she stared in awe and fear. They loomed far above her, tall and intimidating; a reminder of the once mysterious and frightening glory of the Galadhrim kingdom. The Elf dismounted, pulling back the cowl of her cloak and removing the saddle and reins from her horse Hodoer. The animal shook its mane proudly, gladly grazing the ground after its long and tiring journey. Arwen sadly smiled.
"Hodoer. Tula sinome."
The horse trotted over to her, muzzling her cheek, whinnying in protest as she petted his head.
"We've been friends for an age you and I, but I must leave you now, you are free. Lle ume quel. Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle."
As if her horse knew she was saying farewell it nuzzled its head against her shoulder roughly. Moved by this astonishing show of affection, Arwen petted the horse one last time and then, without a backward glance, slowly made her way into the forest.
The Elf glanced up at the tree-tops, so quiet and motionless. Being back among the trees of her childhood homeland brought back so many memories Arwen thought lost to her long ago. Flashbacks played in her mind.
"There is nothing for you here, only death."
Along pause descended upon the conversation. The Elven lord glided to her side, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders, the grey light of his piercing eyes meeting her sapphires.
"Ah im, u-'erin veleth lin?"
Her answer was lost with the rising breeze…
"You have my love Ada…you always had it…and always will." The voice in her head answered.
A salty tear escaped her eye as it sped down her cheek. Her father Elrond who like all of the house of the Peredhil, had already sailed to the Undying Lands. He was just one of the many whom she loved dearly.
But Arwen kept on, weaving in and out of the trees. Her heart paining her, every memory cutting a piece of her heart away. Suddenly another familiar person sprang to mind and she halted in mid-thought. Remembering the first time she and Aragorn met she weakly smiled, all the while tears running freely down her face. The Queenclosed her eyes…
The maiden turned to him and smiled. "Who are you? And why do you call me by that name?"
The young mortal cautiously approached her.
"Because I believed you to be indeed Lúthien Tinúviel, of whom I was singing. Estel I was called, but I am Aragorn, Arathorn's son, Isildur's heir, Lord of the Dúnedain."
Arwen smiled meekly, an innocent smile, but enough to melt and capture his young and naive heart.
Many many long years passed, and the next vision she saw was of the two of them standing on a bridge in Rivendell.
Aragorn patiently sighed, gently running his hand over her smooth and supple skin. Every word she had ever spoken to him he had mesmerized. How could he not remember?
"You said you'd bind yourself to me, forsaking the immortal life of your people."
The Elven maiden's eyelids flickered open, her deep blue eyes piercing through his heart.
"And to that I hold, I would rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone. I choose a mortal life…mortal life…mortal life…"
The Elf gasped and opened her eyes. Panting, tears brimming in her eyes, she looked at her surroundings. Milky white Mallorn trees reached for the sky, soft shafts of sunlight seeping through spaces in the trees. It had been many years since last she had returned to the enchanted forest. Arwen approached a nearby Mallorn. Laying her hand on the bole of a tree a deep sigh escaped her lips as she leant against it. It was smooth and cold, just as she had remembered it to be. So many memories, her grandparents; Galadriel and Celeborn, her twin brothers Elladan and Elrohir…her mother Celebrián. Her mother. My mother. My mother.
"I remember my mother."
Another flashback ran through her mind…
It was an Autumn sunset, her mother sat sleeping with a book in her lap against the very same tree. She had been reading that afternoon, a hobby which she carried out almost religiously every day. Clad in all silver-white, a circlet of silver lay upon her head. Her dark hair strayed in a sudden wind, whereupon she opened her eyes which shone like sapphires. Arwen ran from behind the tree, presenting a flower to her mother as she smiled and embraced the child.
The years grew on and after receiving a poisonous wound far from healing, and growing weary of Middle-Earth, Celebrián sailed over sea. Yet another of the many people Arwen had loved...
For a year Arwen dwelt in Lothlórien, alone, in her despair, waiting for death to creep up upon her. She stared vaguely into the thin air, watching the lifeless leaves fall to the ground. The wind stirred the carpet of leaves and Arwen immediately snapped out of her trance listening to the calls of a nearby owl.
The owl hooted…there was something about its call that sounded familiar, almost as if there were two voices calling…Arwen's heart missed a beat. Could it be? It couldn't…could it? Separating the two voices her eyes widened in horror and surprise.
The Elven maiden rose from her chair, leaving her book behind, slowly descending deeper into the forest. Someone far off was calling her name, echoing among the trees.
"Arwen…Arwen…"
The Elf broke into a run, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm here! Where are you? Aragorn? Estel…?"
She whirled around in all directions. Coming to a sudden halt, still and wavering not, stance imitating that of a stone carving. The Elf slowly rose her eyes…and froze.
What lay before her, was what kept her from proceeding any deeper into the forest the one year she had spent in Lothlórien.
There, kneeling before her feet…lay the hill Cerin Amroth. It was beautiful, just as she had pictured it in her dreams.
"Oh yes I dream. But most of all…I dream about my beloved Aragorn."
The hill lay quiet, peacefully sleeping, Elanor and Niphredil flowers scattered atop the moss covered mound. Through the trees a soft shaft of light shone down, the hill concealed in a milky dreamy twilight...almost as if time stood still. Time did stand still.
Stepping forward as if in a trance, the Elven beauty stretched forth her arm, vaguely searching the thin air. Descending the hill, her gown lightly trod on the flowers, making a path from where her graceful footsteps had been. The light around her grew suddenly stronger, brighter than any light from the sun yet softer than any glow from a star in the night sky. Shielding her eyes she slowly fell to the ground. For what felt like an eternity, she had been falling forever in the Timeless Halls of Mandos until the flowers beneath cushioned her fall. The Elf twisted and turned, moaning relentlessly as her loved ones filled her mind, voices but a whisper in flashbacks through her head.
"A im u-erin veleth lin?"
"Ada, you have my love. I promise you-"
"Amin mela lle naneth."
"Eldarion, I did not want to leave you-"
"Beyond the twilight we may meet again."
The sound of Aragorn's voice soothed her soul.
The Elf stopped moving altogether and immediately fell into a deep slumber.
"Aragorn, Aragorn…when we first met…a mortal life…"
Suddenly Arwen heard a voice…
"Arwen. Awaken Melamin."
Arwen slowly opened her eyes. Raising them however, she saw a tall figure standing against the light, his face covered by shadow.
"This is a dream." The Elf softly murmured.
"Then it is a good dream." The stranger said cooley, holding out his hand.
Placing her palm in his, she stood before him, the shadow disappearing from his face. Arwen gasped, there standing before her…
...was Aragorn. Tears filled her eyes as she gently touched his face.
"Cormamin lindua ele lle, nae saian luume'." Aragorn smiled as he gently caressed her cheek.
"Oio naa elealla alasse'."
Suddenly a light breeze swept through the Mallorn, rustling their silver leaves, as far off a flute was heard playing, singing a sleepy lullaby. Now and again the music came closer, but as quickly as it came, it would retreat with the wind. Upon that fair hill of many ages Arwen laid her palm in Aragorn's, and they danced, delicately swaying to and fro, over-joyed to be united again. Arwen looked into Aragorn's face, he was as young again as he was those many years ago when first they met in the Garden of Elrond.
"Oh my dearest Aragorn, my grief was like no other beyond the circles of the world. So many, many days I wept for you as my grief strode on, effortlessly, ever relenting, never ending. But now to see your face, to touch your skin, to kiss your lips, 'she trailed a finger across his mouth, 'brings me joy I never knew could return to me."
A warm smile reached Aragorn's lips. A weak smile, but still a smile that told a story and showed understanding.
"I know how you have suffered, for I have too. This hill is where we first plighted our troth, and it is here where I've been waiting for you."
Arwen returned the gesture, but then a look of sadness washed over her face.
"I despair at what you say Aragorn, for I know this is a dream. Soon I shall awaken and yet again my grief shall stir."
The Elf solemnly bowed her head, glance straying to a figure which lay before her feet. There, lying on a bed of Elanor and Niphredil flowers lay a fair maiden to look upon. Her dark hair lay sprawled above her shoulders as the wind ruffled the folds of her gown. Aragorn looked down at the figure, then into Arwen's face. Gently, he took her by the shoulders and looking directly into her eyes and spoke true.
"She is you. Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her people. The past is behind us, let it go, beyond the twilight a new path stands before us. Let us explore its wonders. There will be no sickness or death. Nor hunger or grief. Only the two of us, together forever in eternal mirth. Our love shall not die as the light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane."
The Elf stared into his eyes; hers glistening with tears.
"Through the Timeless Halls my soul shall forever soar, but it is to you that my heart belongs to."
Aragorn smiled, then took her hands into his.
"Khila amin."
A surprised look pinched the Elf's face.
"Manke naa lye autien?"
Aragorn smiled eagerly, then ever so softly whispered…
"Beyond the twilight…"
Arwen's eyes flashed, a murky sapphire. Abruptly she flung her arms around his neck, as he joyfully held her in his arms. Her soft, sweet lips met his again as the warmth of they're kiss lured away all they're senses.
And as they met each other again beyond death with a kiss, the forest sighed happily, just as one who has been relieved of some heavy burden. As the two souls entwined together and made their way above the tree-tops, the forest suddenly filled with sunlight as a cool and comforting breeze swept through, ruffling the folds of a fair maiden's gown. Her lips full and red, her skin soft and milky white, her hair dark and laced with shadow; became suddenly discovered again as the true beauty of Lúthien Tinúviel shone through the sleeping maiden...
Hodoer- Wise One
Tula Sinome- Come here
Lle ume quel- You did well
Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale' quenle- May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back
A im u-erin veleth lin- Do I not also have your love
Ada- Father
Amin mela lle naneth- I love you mother
Melamin- My Love
Cormamin lindua ele lle , nae saian luume- My heart sings to see thee, it has been too long
Oio naa elealla alasse'- Ever is thy sight a joy
Khila amin- Follow me
Manke naa lye autien- Where are we going
Author/Banshee Queen: "Oooooo how did you like that guys? Please review and tell me what you think...