Except what is AU? lol, it's been a loooooong time since I've been on this site... oh, and what the heck are these C2 things? How intimidating. Okay, chapter 2...
Oh, and I apologize in advance for the possibility of this being short. I decided I wanted to make it a cliffhanger. I'm evil comme ca. And plus I had um... like "buyer's remorse", only writers style. I decided not to make Aragorn as ahem... mean? as I intended at first. I'll save it for another fic. Assuming I get through this one.
Um, one last thing. I am going to use this handy dandy elvish phrase thing I found long ago. I don't know what dialect is, and frankly, whatever :) Translations are in the fun curvy parentheses. I can't believe I have an "A" in English with my amazing grammar skills.
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Rather reluctantly, Elladan handed over the reins of his mare to the young stablehand. "This is not some nag from the back of someone's pasture," he said quietly, seriously. It was enough to spook the boy, and he led the chestnut mare away on a loose rein and eyeing her suspiciously. Elladan just smirked and turned back to where the rest of his family was dismounting.
Elrond silently bade his children to follow with just a look. He opened the door into the inn, looked around disdainfully, and then stepped up to the desk. A few minutes later and they were on their way to the stairs.
Arwen let down the cloak on her hood and smoothed her hair out from where it had been gathered. Suddenly she felt very hot, though not because of the temperature. She glanced to her right, unable to help being disgusted by the gazes that were on her. But she stared them down, to the point of not watching where she was going and gently bumping into her brother, Elrohir.
In all fairness, though, he was at fault as well, for he had stopped and was looking at one of the occupants. He was apparently shaken back to reality by Arwen, and he continued without a word.
Arwen paused to discern the object of her brother's focus... but nothing stuck out at her. Just the seemingly typical drunks and such. There was some mild consolation in her mind that surely not all men were like this- she had met many while living in Lorien, and those were honorable. Royalty. Nobles.
She didn't dwell on it any more.
But something remained on Elrohir's mind, and he pulled Elladan aside before they entered the room where they would spend the night. They spoke quietly in Elvish, with Elrohir quite serious and Elladan brushing off his brother's concern lightheartedly. "Uuma dela," he said finally. Don't worry
The room was sparse and hard. Not to any of the four traveler's likings, but could they complain? Their journey was ill timed, and any better lodgings had no vacancies.
Arwen had only been back in the safe haven of Imladris for four days. Those four had not been calm- she was forced to meet so many new elves, and then say goodbye to so many more.
Wariness was increasing among the first children of Illuvatar. Bad tidings had come with messengers from those that dwelled in the woods. Dark creatures were being seen more and more often...
And so many elves had perceived that their times should draw to a close in Middle Earth. Elrond and his children had accompanied them to the Grey Havens. It had been a slow journey, filled with with a certain melancholy. All four had been eager to leave as soon as they could, and unfortunately it ended up with them only making it to this point by nightfall and unwilling to ride through the night.
It would suffice. Elrond shared his knowledge of this place and the other towns they had rode through (or around, in some cases) with his sons, trying to lift the somber mood somewhat. It worked, and before long they had dissolved to talking about every matter they could speak of that had been surpressed over the past days.
Arwen had changed into a light shift, more comfortable and just as elegant as the dark riding wear she had worn earlier. She stood by the large bay window, looking down to the courtyard. Her fingers were idly tracing the metalwork of her pendant. Deep in thought, she did not immediately respond when Elrond addressed her.
"Arwen"
She started.
"Lle tyava quel?" Do you feel well
Arwen nodded slowly. "I'm fine," she replied.
Elrond was not completely satisfied, but he turned towards the fire in the room without another word.
But Arwen broke the silence. "I'm going down to the stables... I don't trust the workers here," she spoke with a slight smile, though completely serious. Elrond nodded his approval, and she picked up her cloak, then left the room, letting the door click slowly behind her.
At the top of the stairs she threw her cloak around her, but was distracted from it by trying to avoid a few men that came barreling up the steps. In the process she didn't notice that the strand of her necklace had snapped, and nor did Arwen notice it falling away when she reached the first level.
She just kept walking. Past the glances, the stares, the men, and everything else about this wretched place that made her feel uncomfortable. Past the tables, past the bar, past the desk, and out the door.
Immediately she let down her hood to welcome the less stuffy nighttime air. Her bare feet chose the dewy grass over the rough stepping stones, and with her long stride, it wasn't so far a walk.
Unfortunately the barn was as uncomfortable an atmosphere as the bar... muggy, dusty, unclean. She was at Asfaloth's stall door in a moment, observing his own lodging sadly. Arwen observed the latch, finding it complicated to open, and worse, rusty. She sighed softly and kneeled to get a better look. Strangely she didn't find the noises of the night worrisome. They were disregarded simply as another horse shifting in its bedding, a lurking stablehand getting ready to leave for the night, a tomcat stalking its territory. Ordinary.
Just as she felt the lock begin to give a bit, she also felt a hand firmly grasp her shoulder.