AUTHOR'S NOTE: Actually THIS is the chapter with Tolkien's dialogue in it :). whoops! and it also has the song that Legolas sings in Lothlórien in the Fellowship of the Ring. Thanks again for all the great reviews:) It really makes me want to keep writing.
Arwen was thinking deeply of her brief time spent with Aragorn son of Arathorn and how he had been as a new star that bloomed in the heavens when she thought all others were lost. When she had seen the tremendous change in his body and mind, with a shining countenance most apparent, her steps on the paths of life had faltered. She knew her foresight had not failed her once she made her decision as she walked beside the mighty mortal. He was set for great things if he only made the right choice when the time came.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a musical voice.
"Arwen!" it called from behind. "I have not seen you of late."
She turned slowly to find an Elf called Cemendur approaching from behind whom she had met when she first came to the Golden Wood. "Cemendur," she said softly, "it is well to see you again."
"Yes," he said standing before her, "and well for me to once again gaze upon the fairest that now lives." His blue eyes searched hers for a silent moment, and he frowned slightly. "Pleasing is your company, and yet I sense something changed in you than when I first met you not long ago. Perhaps I am only imagining it..."
"Perhaps," said Arwen concealing a smile. "Things are for the better if I am differed in some way. I must go to meet with Galadriel for she has called me to her this day. Till we meet again, my friend."
Galadriel turned when Arwen came to where she stood by a bright fountain, its sparkling water singing softly as it tumbled down the stone sculpture of a fair Elven-maid with hair swirling down to her unshod feet.
A faint smile touched Galadriel's flushed lips. "I am glad you have come, Undómiel. There is much to be said."
Arwen slowed once she came beside the fell maiden of her kin. "Yet little needs be said. The world darkens and a shadow falls upon my heart."
"As I have seen, dear one. Oft you walk abroad without a light kindled in your eyes or a smile upon your lips. Kind are your words as always, yet...hope is dwindling in your soul and the Shadow of the Enemy has touched your spirit." Galadriel looked then with shining blue eyes into Arwen's, silver and glimmering as the fountain water reflected brightly in their depths. "But there is something that has risen anew in you." An expression of confusion crossed her face. "I had not seen it before."
"Hope has filled my heart, and I am content," said Arwen looking out into the wood where leaves flickered golden and the silver bark of the mellyrn glistened in the soft sunlight caressing the earth. "The Enemy grows in power, yet I shall not allow it to darken my eyes."
Galadriel watched in amaze as Arwen's countenance transformed from despair and withdrawing to renewal and silver light. Something had brought a change—or someone—and the Elven-queen wondered who or what could do such a wondrous marvel.
"Then perhaps you should go on your way," she murmured, feeling a sense of peace come upon her now that all was well. "I shall not trouble you with Middle-earth's trials."
Arwen bid her farewell with a light kiss on her cheek and departed from the enclosure with a high heart and soaring spirit. Galadriel sighed and turned back to the glittering water falling from the fountain's head.
Arwen came to the stream of Nimrodel who was named after a fair maiden of old. She sat down there as she slipped her feet in the cool water as clear as the stars. The Lay of Nimrodel came to her as she had heard it in her life past:
An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.
A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair.
Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.
Beside water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.
Where now she wonders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.
The elven-ships in haven grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea.
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose, and loud it cried,
And drove the ship from elven-strands
Across the streaming tide.
When dawn came dim the land was lost,
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray.
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell,
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel.
Of old he was an Elven-king,
A lord of tree and glen,
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlórien.
From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the waters deep,
As mew upon the wing.
The wind was in his flowing hair,
The foam about him shone;
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan.
But from the West has come no word,
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven-folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore.
Her voice lifted up above the rushing of the stream and filled the air with a sweetness of light. The sound was a beauty so radiant that all who heard stopped to listen. One of these was Aragorn son of Arathorn, Chieftain of the Dúnedain who walked among the trees. His heart leaped at the sound of the voice that blended with the waters. He went in search of the minstrel while it still lasted to find that Arwen Undómiel was sitting with her white feet in the waters of Nimrodel. She had just ended the song. Arwen did not hear him for his feet were light as the Elves as she sang. She now traced a pattern with her slender finger in the water, and her eyes gleamed.
Aragorn gazed at her for a moment before speaking. "I did not know you knew that song so well," he said in his low but soothing voice, a light Elvish-ring glinting on the edges. "Neither have I heard it sung so beautifully."
She swivelled around to see him. Her eyes brightened at the sight of him standing there watching. "Estel, I did not hear you. You truly have learned from the Elves who raised you in Rivendell; but I felt you there for you are not easily missed."
He smiled, gracing his face with an even warmer appearance. "Yes, I have learned from them well."
"Then come and sit with me. I enjoy your company," said Arwen looking up at him.
Aragorn stepped out from under the trees to sit beside the maiden fairer by far than even Nimrodel of song. The sound of the water was sweet and pleasant to the ear, giving one a desire to close their eyes to listen more carefully.
"Slip off your shoes and put your feet in. Nimrodel's waters renew the weary feet that travel far, removing the stain of journeys passing through the years."
Aragorn hesitated but eventually removed his polished boots, gifted to him by Galadriel, to stick his long feet in the pristine waters of the river where the waves shimmered in the sunlight. Arwen was right about the feel of it. It soothed his feet as though they were soaking in waters created with pure respite. Arwen laughed softly when she saw him. He had closed his eyes as the water touched his feet and a look of repose came over his face.
"It feels good, does it not?"
"Yes...it does," Aragorn smiled with his eyes still closed lightly, shadows casting strange light through the darkness. Arwen studied his strong face. The years were not laid upon him as most of his own kin for he was of the line of kings who lived many years longer than common Men. There was wisdom and care in the lines that chiselled his features; something that did not show in most Elves and also a thing that Arwen was drawn to in him. Elves usually did not show much emotion in their faces. It was usually in their voices.
When he opened his eyes he found them drawn to the Evenstar's shining face cast about with warm light. "What will happen I wonder?" said Aragorn quietly. "The darkness grows but there is light that still shines in that darkness. Who will obtain the victory?"
Arwen was surprised that his thoughts ran along the same path as her own. "The light shall prevail. Not unless Eru wills it will darkness succeed or cover all light. Ilúvatar has everything in his hands even if we do not perceive it with our own eyes. Do not fear for your people who are dwindling daily. They shall become strong again as in ages past...some day. Perhaps you will be the one to lead them to it."
Aragorn was bewildered to hear her speak so and gazed at her with question in his eyes. "How do you know that is what I spoke of: my kindred?"
She smiled as though she knew a secret he did not. "I know your mind well enough to guess on matters, though we have not been in one another's presence long. Do not wonder for many of the Elves—and Half-elven—have the gift of foresight as do the line of Kings of your kin; many of them anyway."
He stared at her briefly, then watched the water flow over his feet beside hers. She saw where his gaze travelled and looked there also: both their feet pale and now seeming to be alive with the flow of water rushing over.
Arwen broke the silence in a hardly audible voice. "You are not the only one who fears the future, Aragorn. I too fear what will happen and the shadow that grows for I have never known such in my life."
Aragorn looked on her with care and reached out to her face fairer than mortals. His fingertips caressed her cheek lightly then stayed. 1."I huinë níra palya mimma hendi nan lala mimma honi."
His words struck her heart as she closed her eyes at his touch and put her hand on his in reassurance. Aragorn was most assuredly right. Deep inside it would not darken their hearts. Arwen opened her eyes to find the Heir of Kings gazing upon her with a brilliant countenance where his eyes held hers. They were elven-wise, radiant as stars, and full of devotion mightier than the roots of the mountains. The decision of her heart resounded inside of her, and she knew her choice was set in stone.
Arwen had her own talan high in the trees surrounded by leaves of gold and blossoms of yellow, and it was not far from the great hall of Celeborn and Galadriel. She smiled when she brought up the memory of Aragorn and her pledging themselves to one another from only a few days ago. Before then, they had spent almost all their time together, but now were in each other's presence at every moment.
Her thoughts were broken when someone knocked gently on the wood beside the doorway where it was only a drapery of beaded fabric made by the Elves. She hurried to the door to find Aragorn standing outside.
"Do you wish to enter?" she asked, granting him a rare smile. Even in greens, blues, or other colours besides white he still appeared a mighty Elf-lord stepped out of song.
"Undómiel..." he said stepping inside, letting the curtain fall back into place. "I know it is not completely well for a man to enter a maiden's quarters, yet...we must speak."
"Of course. I understand." Her eyes dimmed for she had a notion of what he wished to speak of. He had been in Lórien long now, perhaps too long.
He grasped her hands. "It is time. I must depart to the North for I am needed among my kindred. My heart will ever dwell here, yet my feet must tread other ground until I come again in darker times."
Arwen held tightly to his hands and looked down. "I knew the day would come," she looked up, "but it is finally arrived, and I am grieved. As soon as you leave...my heart shall go with you."
"And may our parting be not long," Aragorn murmured meeting her gaze.
She sighed. "Yet I fear it will be, that we shall be sundered for many long years as before."
They descended the many stairs curled around the tree, a pair surrounded by a soft, gleaming light to the trained eye. On they went until they began to climb the hill of Cerin Amroth where the glinting niphredil and golden elanor shone like stars among the grass. Once they reached the crown of the hill, they stood close at each other's side looking over the lands from that high place. There they were promised to one another with a great gladness.
"Dark is the Shadow, and yet my heart rejoices; for you, Estel, shall be among the great whose valour will destroy it," said Arwen grasping his hands in hers and gazing up into his eyes.
"Alas! I cannot foresee it, and how it may come to pass is hidden from me. Yet with your hope I will hope. And the Shadow I utterly reject. But neither, lady, is the Twilight for me; for I a mortal, and if you will cleave to me, Evenstar, then the Twilight you must also renounce." His voice was gentle and earnest, falling upon her ears like a warm wind from the South.
Arwen stood still as a white tree, looking into the West, and at last she said, "I will cleave to you, Dúnadan, and turn from the Twilight. Yet there lies the land of my people and the long home of all my kin...I will wait," she said. "There will be many years we are parted, yet I will wait for you though it be a hundred years more."
"As will I," said Aragorn leaning down. He kissed her lightly, and she looked up into his eyes with surprise and wonder. He slipped the Ring he bore upon his hand from his finger.
She gazed upon it then and knew its name. "The Ring of Barahir."
"I give it to you," he said gently placing it in her hand that he had grasped. "It is the gift of my love for there is no greater thing I could give unto you other than my heart which you have already taken."
Her eyes shone as she slipped it upon her hand. "I have also given you my greatest possession: my love. And I can thank you with nothing less."
Then they stood together and were glad for love is greater than all wickedness in the world and cannot be dimmed so easily. Not even death can break it.
Arwen lay on a bed of soft cushions in her dwelling, her cheeks wet with tears. Her heart was rent with the leaving of the leader of the Edain who had become dearer to her than life itself. Something inside calmed her soul to keep her from weeping for she thought of the years ahead when they would surely meet again. Everything had come crashing down upon her: Aragorn's departure, her decision to remain in Middle-earth and become mortal, and the crumbling of all that was bright and good as the Shadow appeared again to trouble all Free Folk.
Arwen stood to look out upon the city of Caras Galadhon. The night had come like a wave of darkness; the stars the only light save the silver and gold lamps of the Elves that glimmered in the dark. From where she stood, she could see the talan with the large hall built upon it where Celeborn and Galadriel dwelt.
When she alighted the stairs to go sit at the fountain which brought visions of Valinor and the Undying Lands, a wind came suddenly out of the North, cool and fresh. It almost seemed a sign she was in Aragorn's thoughts as he journeyed. She did not intend to stay long for the night had come, but someone came up behind her and stood beside her. Arwen did not look up, so the Elf cleared his throat quietly and spoke.
"Arwen, you seemed troubled."
Arwen raised her eyes at last to find Cemendur standing beside her and looking down upon her with true concern. His eyes held traces of worry. She sighed lightly inside. Perhaps Cemendur would provide company in times of darkness when the one who had was gone. "Yes, Cemendur, I am troubled. But I will not tell you why for fear of revealing too much," she said, turning her attention back to the luminous water. The light of it reflected and shimmered in her eyes.
Cemendur felt pity for the beautiful maiden for his heart was downcast at seeing such beauty turned to despair. One as fair as she should not suffer in this manner. What could I do for her? Surely she does not have the same opinion in everything with me as I have perceived, so it is clear she would not desire to speak with me for long.
"If there is anything I can do for you, please ask me to do so for I feel grief only by looking at your sorrow."
She smiled grimly, meeting his gaze. "There is nothing but to be in my company when I need it most, my friend. None can comfort me now for I have attained great loss this very day."
Cemendur nodded though he did not completely understand and smiled upon her. "Then I shall do what you request. You only need ask it of me and I shall come to your side at once."
1. The Shadow will spread within our eyes but not within our hearts.