AUTHORS NOTE: I'm very glad everyone likes this story so much :). I've put some of the dialogue in a certain part is taken from the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen in this chapter because no one can write such powerful dialogue as Tolkien :). The translations for Elvish are at the bottom of the page too. Enjoy!
Aragorn smiled with gladness as he reached the borders of Lothlórien where the Elves dwelt in safety and peace. He stepped through the golden leaves of the mellyrn scattered upon the ground beneath the eaves of the silver trees. His eyes took in the sight as he awaited the border guardsmen to hear or see him. His keen ears caught the slightest brush of feet on the earth and looked around carefully to see the Elves. His eyes were also sharp, though not as far-sighted, and he caught the glint of golden hair in the sun beaming through the branches. Aragorn halted in his tracks.
1."Umin cotumo. Nan i Dúnadan."
The Elves came into sight with their bows in hand, but they were lowered when they heard him speak in Elvish and saw their friend standing there. There were three. One stepped forward with a smile on his face, and Aragorn and he firmly placed their hands on each others shoulders.
2."Dúnadan ar Eldandil! Márië ana centyë enapa limbë yéni," said Haldir. The two spoke as they walked to the talan where the three brothers stayed during their watch. Haldir then invited Aragorn to stay there with them.
"Nay, my friend. I must reach the city tonight for I am weary of my travels. But I thank you for your hospitality," said Aragorn. "I will stay and talk if you wish for a short time."
"Only if that is your will. I will not hinder you from going to Caras Galadhon to see the fair city again for there you will find rest and peace. Now go and pass through unhindered for you know the way, I deem," said Haldir pointing in the direction of the city of the Elves in Lórien. "Namárië till next time we meet."
Aragorn bowed and continued on his way deep into the forest to the heart of Elvendom.
When Aragorn met the Lady of the Wood and her spouse Celeborn, he bowed low.
"Welcome son of Arathorn," said Galadriel warmly. "We are honoured by your presence."
"I thank you greatly. It is an honour for me to be here in your fair realm in your protection. You do me more service than I could ever hope for," he answered.
"We shall prepare a place for you to stay as long as you wish. You must rest for your journey was toilsome, and you have been long away in Southern parts. Come..." Galadriel beckoned him with a pale hand.
Aragorn son of Arathorn was clothed in silver and white garments with a cloak of silver also. A bright gem was on his brow. Even the Lady Galadriel marvelled at how lordly he stood, though he was Edain, with his noble face gleaming with a light like the sheen of stars; yet this mortal had a bit elvish blood that was of the noblest sort and had been raised by the Fair Kindred. He was elven-wise, behaved as an Elf, and spoke as one in a fair voice. Aragorn knew the Elvish languages whether it was Sindarin or Quenya.
Galadriel watched him wander away through the trees, brushing a hand against a silvery bough as he went. She saw how his mind revealed the mannerisms of Elves when amongst the trees with the water's song in his ears. She suddenly realised that Arwen, the Evenstar of the Elves, was amidst those same trees near Cerin Amroth where Aragorn was headed. She wondered then what fate had been woven that they should meet again after so many years when Aragorn was in the glorious fullness of manhood.
"I wonder that it so happens now, when the Evenstar's light is dimmed, that he comes to our woods. Their fates are bound together," she murmured as she watched the trees' boughs waver in the wind. "No one can sever those ties now...not even Morgoth himself."
Arwen was walking through the trees, breathing in the air of them and feeling the ancient life that thrived in Lórien. She was arrayed in a dress of shining white that contrasted with her dark hair hanging about her face and down her back. Her grey eyes glimmered in the evening that had come. Thoughts ran through her mind that were more blithe than usual to bring her a small comfort in peace; like the sound of the golden leaves rustling in the breeze and the smell of the night air.
Then she saw a glint of white through the trees, moving languidly. She thought it to be an Elf, yet few often wandered the further places in the evening. Arwen had paused without realising it and began walking lightly along the grass again. She attempted to draw nearer the Elf but could not seem to catch another glimpse of him.
Suddenly his presence found her, and she was surprised at the things she felt in him. There was power and greatness there like that of Master Elrond and the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien. Could it be Lord Celeborn?
Aragorn strode through the woods with a high heart in that resplendent place. It had been a lengthy amount of time since he had visited Lothlórien, and he remembered it well. His senses suddenly grew alert for there was someone else there with him in the shadows. He turned his head and saw nothing, then turned the other way seeing nothing of note there as well. A shiver ran down his spine. He wondered at the reaction for the woods of Lórien were protected from enemies, and no evil could remain there for long.
Arwen restrained a gasp of awe when she first saw the tall man in silver and white. He appeared as an Elf-lord out of the West, so great and noble was he. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she could not move, halting in her silent steps. There was something about him that was familiar…yet different. It was as though he was of elven blood, but also of different descent.
When she realised with stark amazement who he was, it was then he felt her near him.
Aragorn now knew someone was watching him or coming towards him, so he thought of where they were and turned his keen eyes in that direction.
A maiden as fair as the morning sun and the evening stars reached out a slender white hand to alight against a tree as she glided past to make her way to him. The tree seemed to thrive with life at her touch. Her eyes were like stars themselves as they shone with wisdom pooling in the brilliant depths. The maiden's tresses were shadowy falls running down her back, and a strand gently brushed her face fairer than mortals. Aragorn had never seen anyone so stunning, and he could never forget such a face that appeared in his dreams so often. No words came to him. He could not speak while gazing upon the beautiful maiden that was now at arms-length, her eyes inquisitive.
Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond, stopped and smiled, and it made him shudder at the loveliness of the brightness of it unfolding upon her face. She spoke in a silvery voice full of curiosity. "Favourable it is to meet you again, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Lord of the Dúnedain." The smile faded. "You are much changed last I saw you."
Aragorn thought he glimpsed wonder in her eyes, and he bowed before her. "Yet little changed are you, Maiden of Light. I wonder that we meet again now after so many years."
"Yes...long have I been in Rivendell and Lothlórien, though you I have not seen in all that time since you departed. You wandered the Wilds of the North?"
"I did, with my kin the Dúnedain before I journeyed further south into the lands of Men: Rohan and Gondor."
Arwen shifted closer on the cool grass. "Noble are the Men that abide there in those lands for their blood still runs true. It is grievous that the Elves and they are estranged after all these years."
"Indeed, Undómiel. Indeed."
Aragorn's eyes searched hers, silvery liquid mingling with shining stars. Arwen felt her heart was quickened and her hands restless. Never had any man found such excellence in her eyes, and Aragorn son of Arathorn appeared the greatest of lords and kings in his shining silver and glimmering white apparel.
"Would you care to walk?" Aragorn asked. He also felt his heart beating heavily in his breast as he gazed upon the maiden who had haunted his dreams with visions of shimmering starlight and golden sunlight.
She took his arm, and they continued walking. The golden leaves were scattered at their feet but hardly rustled as the two passed for they stepped without sound.
"How, then, are the Southern kingdoms of Men?" Arwen asked softly.
Aragorn glanced down at her radiant face. "Mostly well, yet hope wanes in some hearts for the days of legend are lost, and dark things are burgeoning. Ever all Free Folk fight against the Enemy, yet will Middle-earth ever be free of him?"
"Perhaps," Arwen murmured stepping over the twisting root of a towering tree. "There are too many choices ahead of too many people to see what will become of us all. Many are tied to the fate of Middle-earth." She looked up into his noble, kingly face. "You are one of them, Estel."
Aragorn nearly faltered in his step when he heard the name she called him by: the name he had been called in Rivendell until his fate was revealed to him by Elrond. To hear it from her sweet lips bestowed upon it a new meaning in his heart. "My path has been laid for all the ages of this world, and I was set to find it in my youth. If it is as you say...it will lead down a dark road."
Arwen's smile was gradual as she stopped to look at him. Their eyes met once more, and she held his intensely. Aragorn's gaze bore into hers with a kindness and care she had never felt before alongside the same strength as she possessed.
"We should return to Caras Galadhon," Arwen said quietly. "It is growing late, and the evening wanes."
Aragorn agreed and she laid her trembling arm in his once again. It stilled in the reassurance of his strong yet gentle grasp. The look in his eyes was something she would never forget, not until the ending of the world.
That night, Aragorn was given food to eat—for which he thanked the Elves—but the Elf that brought him the meal glimpsed something strange in the man's eyes that had not been present earlier.
He tilted his head in an inquisitive fashion when Aragorn set the tray on a nearby table. "Is something troubling you, Dúnadan?" he asked, hoping the man would feel comfortable enough to share his thoughts.
Aragorn looked up with wonder at how discerning the Elf was and hoped his feelings could not be often read so easily by others. He answered quickly before the Elf really believed something was wrong. "No, I am well. Thank you."
The Elf nodded and bowed before leaving Aragorn in solitude. He sighed in relief that the Elf had not inquired further into the matter. His heart ached at the thought of leaving, but eventually he would have need to return to the North. He wondered if the fair Evenstar was staying much longer or if she would ever leave Lothlórien. He had planned to stay in Rivendell for a time, yet he wondered if his plans would change now that the circumstances became known to him.
All he could think of was Arwen Undómiel that night, depriving him of rest, and he ate little. When he finally fell asleep, his rest was dreamless and without comfort.
The next morning dawned bright and golden with voices of the Elves singing of the sun's rising filling the crisp air. The sun sent her rays through the silver branches and into many dwellings, brightening the woods. Aragorn woke early that day and was again brought food. He smiled warmly before taking the elvish bread with him down to the earth where he walked again through the wood that filled him with such peace and hope. There he greeted many Elves in their own tongue and held converse with them for some time. He felt strangely at home here differently than in the stone walls and buildings of Minas Tirith where he had last dwelt. Though it was his destiny to rule and live there when the time came, he did not know how he would endure it for the rest of his life to not be able to take rest and enjoyment in the lands of the Elves.
He stumbled by chance upon the Evenstar who sat on a tree root that made a curving seat, watching the sun rise with a cluster of grapes in her hand: the remains of breakfast. She appeared so ethereal in the sunlight that Aragorn could not approach her at first. There was no need. Arwen caught sight of him first. She smiled and beckoned him to sit beside her on the large root as she moved over, which gave Aragorn a peculiar feeling for the other Elves glanced at the two with interest. It was not common to find one of the Edain in close company with one of the most renowned and most beautiful of the Elves.
Arwen turned to look upon him, seeing his sharp eyes looking out over the land. She saw his longish dark hair lying still about his handsome face without the breeze breathing through it and studied him to make sure she would never forget; though she doubted such a thing would ever occur within her heart after the decision she had made.
She quickly turned away before he noticed her gaze lingering too long and said softly, "How long shall you stay here in Lórien?"
"For now...I do not know. Time passes swiftly here, and I cannot follow as well as in the lands of Men. There time is commonly predictable."
"Is Gondor a fair land?" asked Arwen.
Aragorn saw before him a vision of pale majesty in white stone built as strong as the mountains where it was placed and lofty towers and fortresses of great girth. Impregnable were the high walls harbouring the great city, yet once one had seen the city for long years, the signs of decay began to seep through. Minas Tirith was the fairest and mightiest city of Men, yet slowly time crept into the cracks of stone and dark corners of walls. The white banner of the Stewards flew upon the great height of the Tower of Ecthelion glimmering in the shining sun, but it was not the banner of Kings that had flown of old when the Throne was occupied.
Aragorn described Minas Tirith and its proud levels to Arwen as he thought an Elvish minstrel might, and he glimpsed a sparkle of wonder glaze her eyes.
"Wondrous are your words, Estel, for you speak as the Elves do in song. I have seen Minas Tirith in a vision of your speech. If I come to that resplendent city, blessed will my days be."
They sat in each other's company for some time in silence. The sun now rose high above the earth, her golden orb glowing with heat. Nonetheless, the heat was not too much to bear in Lórien. The air was temperate most often if not cold with winter.
"Estel, I must leave you for now," said Arwen after their time watching the sun rise into the clear blue sky, "for I must speak with Lady Galadriel. I shall surely see you again...perhaps later today as well. Come and dine at the Lord and Lady's table tonight for it would grace the grand hall to have you with us."
"I shall if you wish it," he said standing after she had. He bowed low and found her watching with shining, esteem-filled eyes of grey. Before she left, she looked deep into his eyes and smiled softly. Aragorn released the breath he had been holding while she held his gaze and watched her recede into the distance to find Galadriel, Lady of the Wood. Something had changed in her demeanour that had not been present before when he first met her; and it was certainly for the better in his mind.
1.I am no enemy. I am the Dúnadan.
2.Dúnadan and Elf-friend! It is good to see you after many years.