Mirax: Arwen hasn't lost her memory, she just had a brief concussion as an after-effect of hitting her head. It clears in this chapter.

Karinaal Undomiel: Thanks for your review.

Bubble sheep: Thanks! Gald you enjoyed it.

Lief of Rohan: Thanks for your review.

AnimeKitty47: No, but I might do an epilogue of AA's reunion in ROTK, or I might write another fic about their wedding.

Out of the shadows: You contradicted yourself: in one review you said you wanted Arwen and Éowyn to have a catfight, but in another you said you hoped Arwen and Éowyn would not fight. Anyway, I will not have them fight because I think such a thing would be very OOC for both of them, especially Arwen. I may, however, later do a scene where Éowyn and Arwen talk about the problem.

Chapter dedicated to Mirax for first reviewer.

Arwen awoke to pain in her head and back. She remembered little of the previous evening after she had fallen.

"How are you, my lady?" Came a soft voice from the bedside.

Arwen turned to see Miriel sat beside her. Miriel asked another question without waiting for Arwen's reply.

"Can you remember where you are and what happened?"

"I'm in Helm's Deep, or I should be. Did I fall?"

Miriel looked relieved. "Yes. At least you got only a brief, mild concussion. Are you in any discomfort, lady?"

"I have a little pain in my head, arm and back, but nothing I cannot manage. What hour is it?"

"The first hour from the rising of the sun."

"I have slept for quite a long time! I will rise, I think."

"Be careful. You took quite a fall, Aragorn tells me. You have a fractured arm and a sprained ankle. You had concussion last night. The arm's slung up already. Try not to move it. Keep the weight off your ankle. I'll give you a stick."

"I'm not hobbling about like some frail…"

"Alright," Miriel replied, recognising that she would not win this argument. "But ride as much as you can, rather than walking. And don't put your feet in the stirrups." Miriel stopped, and smiled mischievously. "Aragorn would be quite a good alternative to a stick. I'm sure he won't mind you leaning on him."

"Are we leaving the fortress today?"

"Yes, in one hour."

Arwen rose and prepared herself for the coming day. Once she had put on a clean dress and brushed her ebony hair, she hobbled out of the tent and into the morning sun. Her ankle was surprisingly painful, so she decided to use the stick that Miriel had left 'in case she changed her mind.'

She could see people rushing about, preparing to leave for Edoras. A few soldiers were going to Isengard at Gandalf's request. Not enough to do battle with him, Arwen thought, but she knew better than to doubt Gandalf's judgement.

In the middle of her musings, Aragorn came rushing over.

"Miriel said it would be best not to disturb you, otherwise I would have come before," he said apologetically.

"I know," Arwen replied. "There is no need to apologise."

He then began to bombard her with questions. "What time did you get up? Are you in much pain? Are you sure you should be up so soon?"

Arwen answered politely, but soon began to get annoyed at his concern. At what must have been at least his twentieth question, she snapped at him.

"I only slipped and fell down some stairs! Honestly, I was in battle only a day ago. I'm not as fragile as you believe."

Aragorn looked stung. "I apologise, meleth. I was merely concerned. You did not remember where you were yesterday, and hitting your head can be very serious."

"No, Meleth nin. Forgive me; it is I who should apologise. I am touched by your concern, and I do not mean to upset you. But please try not to fuss over me."

Aragorn smiled, and answered with a soft kiss. He offered his arm, and Arwen took it with her good one, dropping her stick in favour of using Aragorn for support. Together they walked over towards the mass of horses and people preparing to leave Helm's Deep.

"Will you be going to Isengard?" Arwen asked.

"Yes, but we will ride with the rest of you for a little way."

"What about the rest of your people? Are they returning to Arnor?"

"Most will be, but two scores are remaining here. I wanted to send Rochwen away, but she was adamant that she remain." Aragorn paused. "What do you think of my people?"

Arwen smiled. "They are most kind. They saved my life, you know." After a slight pause, Arwen continued. "They are all very much like you."

"What do you mean?" Aragorn asked, stroking a stray piece of hair back lovingly.

"They are kind, noble, strong and skilled, yet modest about it. And they were so welcoming of me; I hardly knew how to thank them. It is strange that they would take a complete stranger in and give them food and shelter."

"You're no stranger, Arwen. Besides, they could hardly leave you in the woods alone."

"If… if we win, if you become king, where will they go?"

"Possibly in Gondor, but most of them will wish to stay in Arnor. They have great love for that land."

Rochwen came bounding over, stopping well short of them; a significant change from her earlier habit of bumping into anyone in her path. "Lord Elrond wants to speak to you, hiril nin. Will you go now? How are you? Do you know where you are now?"

Arwen laughed. "Which question shall I answer first? I'd best go now, I'm much better and I'm in Helm's Deep, Rohan." She paused for breath. "Arwen will do now, child. I believe we know each other well enough for that."

"Am I to go, also?" Aragorn inquired, looking as though he'd prefer not to.

"I don't know, Estel. I'll ask." She went running off, yelling: "Lord Elrond!"

A few minutes later she was back. "He wishes to speak with his daughter alone, but, and this is a direct quote," Rochwen paused, taking a deep breath and proceeding to imitate Lord Elrond in a deep, strict voice. "As she seems to have abandoned her stick in favour of using Aragorn for support, he may escort her to me, then leave." Rochwen managed to say it all in a serious tone, without giggling.

"Rochwen," Aragorn scolded. "That's hardly respectful. I'm ashamed," he said, with a complete lack of sincerity.

"Then why are you grinning?"

Aragorn allowed that question to go unanswered, and they walked towards Elrond, who was talking to Lindir and a few other important elves in a deep, serious voice.

He broke off when he saw them approaching, and Aragorn reluctantly gave Arwen's arm to her father, placing a light kiss upon her lips before they parted. Elrond frowned slightly, but said nothing.

"How are you?" He asked as they walked to a more private area.

"Please do not fuss about my minor accident yesterday, Estel has already done enough of that for both of you!"

"I should hope he has. It would make me angry were he not concerned about you."

"Ada! Of course he is concerned. He loves me; even you cannot deny that. And I return the feeling."

Elrond sighed. "Anyway, I did not bring you here purely to discuss your relationship with Estel." He paused. "You must return to Rivendell."

"What? Come all the way here, fight and then miss the victory feast at Edoras? All of the Rangers are going before they return."

Elrond sighed. "Very well, we will attend. Have you, by any chance, brought something suitable to wear?"

"Oh… no, I haven't. But I can find something to borrow." She paused, remembering the 'we'. "You may return if you wish. I am sure I will be perfectly safe riding back with the Dunedain."

"No, Arwen. Do not get too close to them. They will one day die, and I do not wish you to be miserable." Elrond told her, a note of concern in his voice.

Arwen began to get angry. "As will Estel, and as, I suspect, will I. Would you prevent me from making friends with them?"

"It is they who led you into this."

"They did not! I chose to come, and I would have anyway whether they had allowed me to come with them or not."

"Arwen, you cannot become one of their own. You are an elf."

"Their ancestor is my uncle," Arwen replied. "And your brother. What would he say about this?"

Elrond cast his eyes to the ground, a wave of pain washing over him at the mention of his late brother. Age upon Age had gone since the two last saw one another, and many Ages were still to go before the two stood even the slightest chance at re-union.

"I do not know, Arwen," he replied at last. "I wish I did."

"I'm sorry, Ada," Arwen said, realising that she had upset her father. "But if I do marry Estel, would you have me left alone with no friends in the world of Men, and little knowledge of their cultures or traditions?"

"No," Elrond replied. "I just worry for you, that is all. You have spent almost no time in the company of other elves since you got here."

"They've been busy."

"So have the Dunedain. Maybe you shall marry Aragorn, but please do not forget who you are. You are no mortal woman, you are an elf-maiden."

"I'm one quarter mortal anyway," Arwen pointed out.

Elrond sighed. "I was pained so much by Elros' choice, but he was adamant about it and neither I nor my parents could sway him. I do not wish to see you go the same way. Mortal life is not what I would have my children choose."

"Is eternal life better or worse? There's no answer to that question, Ada."

Her father ignored her. "Just spend some more time in Elven company and less time in the company of mortals," he told her, his tone making it clear that he would accept no argument.

He took her arm and walked her down to where Aragorn was faithfully waiting.

"You may leave, Estel. I shall walk with my daughter."

Aragorn looked at Elrond in confusion. "Do you not trust me?" He asked, obviously insulted.

"I have not spent much time with her of late," Elrond said.

"Ada…" Arwen began to protest.

"Come," Elrond said, pulling gently on her arm and leading her away.

He led her to Legolas, Lindir and several other Elves, sat talking on the steps leading to what was left of the wall. They rose in respect when they saw her approach, and room was made for her. Arwen listened politely to their talk, inserting an odd nod or smile here and there, but her mind was elsewhere. Often, she would glance down towards the Rangers milling about in the courtyard.

After a while, a young Rohirric boy rode up.

"The King Théoden respectfully reminds you that it is time to leave the fortress," He said, bowing to them. It was evident he had not seen many Elves before.

Rochwen rode up as they were rising to leave. Legolas and several others had already left, leaving only Elrond, Lindir, Arwen and a few other elf-lords.

"Hiril nin?" She asked, deciding it would be best not to call Arwen by name in front of her people.

Arwen turned and smiled. "I've told you already, call me Arwen."

There were a few glances and slight mutters from the assembled Elves at Arwen's statement.

"Would you like to ride my horse back to Edoras? You can't walk, and he's very gentle. He understands Elvish," Rochwen offered. She used the Elvish tongue out of courtesy to the noble lords there, as well as out of friendship for Arwen.

"The Lady shall ride my horse, child. We thank you for your offer," Lindir replied before Arwen had a chance to answer.

"I can speak for myself," Arwen said, giving him an angry look. "I would be pleased to ride your horse, Rochwen, but I know you must wish to ride yourself. Perhaps I may enjoy the privilege of riding him another time." Arwen secretly would love to accept the girl's kind offer, but knew her father would not allow it.

"Are you staying at Edoras for the celebratory feast?"

"I am."

"Do you need to borrow a dress? Miriel and the others have several they could lend you."

"Thank you. I believe I shall take you up on that offer, as I do need a dress."

"Why do you offer?" Elrond asked coldly.

"You are welcome, Arwen," Rochwen said, ignoring Elrond's comment. "The offer stands if you should wish to ride." Rochwen spoke now in the Common Tongue, no longer wishing to seem respectful. She could tell that Elrond was trying to cut off Arwen's newfound friendship with the Dunedain.

"The Lord Elrond asked why you offer, child," Lindir said, the hint of a sneer in his voice. "Reply."

Rochwen's quick temper boiled up suddenly. "Oh, perhaps because we ARE capable of being courteous, unlike you." With that, Rochwen stuck her foot in the stirrup, mounted and galloped away.

"Come back here now!" Lindir yelled after her.

Rochwen simply ignored him, whilst Arwen rounded on her father and the other Elven nobles.

"What is the matter with you? I cannot bear to ride with you to Edoras when you are behaving like such children." Arwen turned and walked away, cringing slightly at the resulting pain in her ankle.

"Arwen!"

Arwen sighed and turned at her father's voice.

"Yes?"

It was Lindir, not her father, who spoke.

"We only wish for your happiness. You need to be with your own kind, more than you have been of late. But I agree, it was incredibly discourteous of me to say what I did," Lindir replied. "I shall go now and apologise."

"I shall come with you."

Together, Arwen and Lindir walked over towards Rochwen, who had rejoined the other Dunedain. She was wearing a stony expression, but was silent after having delivered her messages back to the adults.

Lindir approached her. "May we speak in private, child?" He asked.

Rochwen pouted slightly. "Whatever you want to say can be said in front of my people or it cannot be said at all," she replied without expression.

Lindir sighed. "I wish to apologise for my earlier behaviour. I was merely concerned for Lady Evenstar."

"You're forgiven; I can be sharp-tongued at times. Why are you concerned?"

Aragorn approached them. "Are you bombarding poor Lindir with questions?" He asked with a hint of amusement.

Rochwen scowled. "I only asked one. Should I ask it again, or did you hear?" She asked, turning back toward Lindir, who was looking extremely uncomfortable.

"I said I was concerned. Leave it at that," He answered eventually.

Rochwen opened her mouth to speak, but Aragorn gave her a forbidding look.

Miriel then spoke. "I thought I told you to keep the weight off that ankle."

"I tried to assist her, but she was determined to walk alone," Lindir answered.

Aragorn looked at Arwen, concern evident in his eyes. He walked towards her and took her arm, and she leaned against his shoulder.

His eyes returned to Lindir. "Leave Arwen in our care, Lindir. I promise no harm shall befall her if it is in our power to prevent it."

Aragorn led Arwen away before Lindir could answer. He took her towards Rochwen's horse, Meretel, fully saddled.

"Meretel," he said in soft Elvish. "This is my betrothed. Bear her as gently as you can, she is injured."

Meretel snorted and tossed his head, and Aragorn turned to Arwen. He lightly lifted her into his arms and placed her into the saddle.

"Rochwen will be here in a minute to lead you," he said.

"I do not require leading!"

"I want to show your father that my people and I will care for you as well as he would. Please, do not argue. I ride to Isengard, but I will return in a few days. Then, we can be together."

Arwen leant down and Aragorn kissed her several times before Rochwen arrived.

"Ahem," Rochwen coughed to announce her presence politely to the loving couple. They broke apart.

Théoden blew a large horn to announce that the time for departure had come. "Move out!" He bellowed, and several other Rohirrim took up the call.

Aragorn and Arwen shared one last, brief kiss before Aragorn mounted his horse, Brego.

The company walked out through the narrow entrance to Helm's Deep, the noise of hooves loud in the morning silence.

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