Hidden Secrets
Disclaimer: I only own Aranwen, Beran, Star and the plot!
Chapter Sixteen: Lament for Gandalf
T.A. 3019
After fleeing the Mines of Moria and the fall of Gandalf the Gray, the weary Fellowship reached the borders of Lothlorien. They had been running since Moria and stopped only when it was deemed necessary by Aragorn, who was now leading the remaining members of the Fellowship. The sight of Haldir and the other Elves was a welcome one, even if it was frightening at first for those unused to Elves.
The small group was led into Caras Galadhon blindfolded. Once they arrived, their blindfolds were removed and they looked upon the fair Lady of the Golden Wood.
"Welcome…" began the lady Galadriel.
A dark colored figure rushed past Galadriel and to Aragorn. It was Aranwen and she hugged Aragorn tightly, overjoyed that he was still alive. Aragorn's face reflected his happiness as he hugged his daughter back.
Aranwen had been standing behind Galadriel and Celeborn, blending in as an Elf until she had realized that her father was among the group. Her dark hair had been brushed and was left loose and fell around her face. A midnight blue gown brought out the blue in her eyes which regained much of their lost sparkle when she saw Aragorn.
"For a moment there, I thought you were Arwen," Aragorn told Aranwen with a smile.
"Really? I never thought I could ever pass for an Elf. Most people do not even believe that I am a Ranger," Aranwen replied.
"I find that very hard to believe," he said, ruffling her hair.
Aranwen giggled and said, "Ada!"
Celeborn was the one to end their reunion and happiness when he asked, "Tell me, where is Gandalf?"
The faces of the Fellowship fell and Aranwen knew at once that the Balrog had slain Gandalf like she had seen in the Mirror. Legolas confirmed it with a few well-chosen words. Everyone seemed shocked except for Aranwen and Galadriel and the Fellowship.
Celeborn and Galadriel spoke to each member of the Fellowship in turn before they retired for the night. Aranwen tuned out the conversations and slipped away from everyone to her room were she lay upon her bed wondering how things ended up this way. Every time she thought she had figured something out, she was wrong. She though her parents had died when she was twelve before learning that they were alive and well, abet being apart from each since before her birth. She had seen them part on bad terms and cursed her father.
Then she thought she saw Aragorn and Frodo slain by a cave troll when neither had been wounded, yet Gandalf had died fighting a Balrog so that the Fellowship could be saved. Everything must have a reason otherwise why would it all be so strange?
Unconsciously, Aranwen's hand touched her stomach. Life grew within her, life that she would have wanted one day, but life that she was unprepared for. She was a Ranger, a wanderer. She was not ready to start a family, let alone one with the person who she hated most. Beran, Valar curse him, was unfit to be a father. He would hunt her until he succeeded in killing her and then he would take her child as his own and raise him as a killer.
No one could save her from Beran. Not her ada, the Elves, nor the combined armies of Mordor and Isengard. He was her enemy and her battle alone. She would have to face him one day and find out the truth of every one of his numerous lies before she killed him or he killed her. He could kill her as long as her child was safe.
Sadly, she knew, her child would grow up without either of his parents as she had. And sadness was all she felt as she closed her eyes and musical voices of the Elves filled the air and her ears with a lament for Gandalf.
Author's Notes:
A strange chapter, I know. But I had to mention the Fellowship's arrival somehow. Next update will skip to the Fellowship's departure. Look for it by Monday.
Reviewers! It's nice to know that I surprised everyone with Aranwen and Beran being married: )
IwishChan – She'll be joining the Fellowship in the next chapter!
YoginiGal – Yes I did hint at that! When Beran and Aranwen meet again, he'll tell her that, using a flashback.
Fae Black – That is a disgusting notion! Thanks! That last chapter took me forever to write and drove me insane!