Oh, and just so you know, this fic that I LOVE (Taken, by Crimson Coin) finally updated. However I am not even clicking the link until this is finished.
Julia- I had to come up with a valid reason for them to tease her :) As for the time thing, I didn't check the facts. (Read: I'm lazy) The story I mentioned, Longing to Leave, is under my favorites. A lot of people flamed the author for it being super unrealistic re: timeline, but I just think they couldn't deal with the assumed pairing. Sigh. And now, Anarian, Arnor... I just finished Silmarillion today, and god, does it have me mixed up... Anarian (Minas Anor) MT, but Arnor? Wow. My brain is fried. Is it the same thing? The 'definition' makes it sound like it, you'd think I'd know seeing as the drowning of Numenor is one of the last books in Silmarillion... again, wow.
rs- Oh, he was never really going. In my mind, at least, it was more of a spur-of-the-moment, make-up-a-sufficient-excuse type of thing... As for his leaving Rivendell, seeing as I've gone AU with the whole Aragorn-meets-Arwen storyline, I decided he would go off and be a ranger regardless, and not to Elrond's liking... Elrond's comment to him was more of a "I'd rather have you in Rivendell than out there..." I am confusing myself. Many apologies.
Thanks for everyone's kind comments... please keep them up!
------------------------------------------------
Exactly one week and two days later, the four travellers were not far off from their destination. The journey had been relatively easy, with no encounters with anything or anyone remotely concerning. Anticipation was building among the four.
But for now it was quiet, save the soft chirp of insects and the stomping and breathing of their horses. It was near dawn, yet still dark. The moon was quite bold, with a large halo around it. One had to sleep on their stomach to avoid staring at its beauty for one, and to fall asleep as another.
The three elves were lying down, but Aragorn sat up with his legs crossed, staring into the distance. Finally he sighed and laid back.
"Can't sleep?"
Sitting up quickly, Aragorn turned towards the voice's source. Arwen had sat up as well, her legs drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees. Her pale skin was brightened in the moonlight, as well as the sparkle in her eyes.
"I can't seem to rest." He slumped slightly as he said it, but the tiredness didn't show on his features.
"Ta tuluva a' lle." (It will come to you.)
He sighed yet again. "I would hope so."
Arwen couldn't miss the tone of his voice. "Something has you worried." She idly played with the bottom hem of her dress, waiting for him to gather his thoughts and elaborate.
"Lorien. Though it's not my first time... the last was memorable to say the least. I was with your brothers, just passing through briefly..."
"I could guess," Arwen began. "The lady spoke to you, yet she never opened her mouth?"
Aragorn nodded slightly, smiling. "Rather disturbing if you're unprepared."
Arwen grinned, not doubting that. "You shouldn't be concerned." Her voice softened slightly. "Sleep."
He rubbed one of his eyes and nodded, settling down.
There was silence for a long minute, but then:
"And you? Why are you awake?" Aragorn asked, his voice low.
She didn't answer.
---------------------------------------
A few hours later, all four were awake, saddling up and getting ready to head off. The air was foggy enough to cloud their visibility, yet they found no cause for alarm.
"It really should only be galloping distance to Lothlorien," Elrohir noted out of the blue, a mischievous grin coming to his face which Elladan mimicked. "Marvelous idea."
Aragorn swung into the saddle, settled quickly and looked to the twins. "We could race, you know... just a proposition."
"And a goodone at that," Arwen said as she lithely mounted bareback. With one light cluck to Asfaloth, the pair cantered off, staying slow for a few moments to give them a trying chance.
The distance was longer than predicted, but just as the horses were beginning to tire, the edges of the Golden Wood came into sight. All four instinctively slowed their pace, and Arwen drew up her hood. The others followed suit. Elladan and Elrohir took the lead, with Aragorn a few steps behind them, and Arwen last.
Once they set foot inside the forest, silence engulfed them, save the crackling of leaves underfoot. All they could see were miles and miles of green, gold, and brown, with every leaf illuminated by a soft light.
The serenity was not to last though.
Before they had a chance to react, five elves appeared out of -what seemed to be- nowhere. An observer might have seen that two dropped down from the flets above, while the remainder had been hiding behind the trees. All had either their bows notched or swords drawn.
A first one, obviously the leader, stepped up to Elladan, staring him down, while his companion held his bow unshaken towards Elrohir. The twins dropped their reins, and Elladan sat up a little straighter, raising his chin. A third warden had his bow towards Aragorn, whose hand was on his sword hilt.
Elrohir raised his eyebrows, though it was hardly visible under his cloak and the shade of the trees. "You intend to detain us, I presume."
The leader laughed. "I intend to have you leave."
"Seems to be a blatant disregard for the Lady's wishes."
The leader took down his own hood, trying to get a better look at the speaker. As he spoke, he looked to Aragorn and Arwen. "And how would an outsider know anything of that sort?"
The twins had their eyebrows raised, easily recognizing the warden to be Haldir. They exchanged quick, subtle, smiles. Haldir's eyes were narrowed in suspicion. "Who are you, then?"
Elladan smirked. "Ones of far higher influence than yourself." Haldir obviously had no sense of humor, nor any remembrance of their voices.
Haldir wore a scowl as he continued to face away from the twins. "And you both? Nothing to say?"
Aragorn shook his head casually. Arwen, however, sighed. "Well, for starters, learning some courtesy would do you good," she said, reaching up and gently lowering her hood.
Haldir gave a small gasp and bowed slightly. "My lady," he spoke. Her face softened a bit. But when she didn't respond, he nodded, and went to the head of the group.
"My lords, and lady... I apologize." He tried to make eye contact with Arwen as he said the last two words, though she was looking to the third male. Haldir, though inherently curious about who was passing into the realm, didn't question him. Instead; "I assume you know the path."
Elrohir spurred his horse on, with the other three travelers right behind him. Arwen was resolvingly not meeting Haldir's gaze, though for those who looked closely, she did give him a subtle nod, the apples of her cheeks blushing slightly.
-------------------------------------------
Hours later, the travelers had met with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. With the exception of a few awkward moments over the evening meal, things had gone smoothly. Galadriel had remembered exactly who Aragorn was, but luckily none of those 'moments' had pertained to him. They were more along the lines of how life was going for the twins. Apparently they weren't quite meeting expectations, though it didn't seem to alarm either. While Celeborn, the twins, and Aragorn discussed the recent orc threat, Galadriel had taken up Arwen's arm after dinner and led her away.
"You missed it, didn't you?" Galadriel asked, breaking the silence that had ensued once they were on a more private flet.
Arwen's attention spiked. "Missed?"
"Rivendell."
"Oh," Arwen said, already curious as to where this would lead. "I did. Lorien is nothing short of stunning, but even so..."
Galadriel was silent for a few moments as the tension grew. "Funny that I should have heard the same word to describe yourself."
Arwen's eyes narrowed. "Who said it?"
"I'm sure you think you know... and maybe you do. Or maybe you'd be completely shocked."
"And I'm not sure I follow."
Galadriel walked to the edge of the flet, peering down. Arwen followed her gaze, noting that it seemed to focus on the Mirror. Galadriel's piercing blue eyes turned upon her granddaughter, and they held a sparkle to them. She only nodded, as if to confirm what Arwen was thinking, and then left the flet, leaving the other elf mystified.
-----------------------
A/N: Ok, so that was pathetically short. But now I get to read my fic, you guys get to read this one... and all is good. I know exactly what the next chapter is going to be- might be a little shorter so I can drag the scenes out, I've been planning it since the start. So excited!