All through the night Simbelmynë sat at her window, wondering whether it would be best to leave at that moment without ever seeing Aragorn again. If she could but decide, she might not have to face the hardship of rejection and further abandonment that she feared so entirely. Leaving would be as easy as taking a horse and riding out to a few villages to ask if they had seen any Rangers passing through. In that way she could find her cousin, Arahael. It was true that they had not seen one another in some time and that to be with him again would give her some feeling of family. However, she was not all too fond of traveling with the other Rangers. They could be a raucous bunch and Simbelmynë tended to prefer quieter company. That was why she enjoyed Aragorn's friendship and why she began to tag along with him more and more until she felt able to call herself his companion. In truth, she had become quite attached to him and it was this reason that she took it as such a slight when he left her in Rivendell. He had ever taken her on his journeys and it was difficult to understand what had changed. Unless he no longer wanted her to follow him, Simbelmynë was lost as to the reason for her long stay in Rivendell. She closed her eyes and went over in her mind the day he had left her.

The sun was pale and cool, the air chill. Aragorn and Simbelmynë had arrived a few days earlier and she was still admiring the beauty and peace of the elven valley. Her eyes were bright and any could see the gladness in her heart for being in such a breathtaking, serene place. Aragorn, on the other hand, was somewhat quieter and more reserved in his happiness to be returned to Imladris. He had already visited with Arwen and told her of his news, but Simbelmynë still did not know. No words had yet come to tell her.

"Do you like it here?" he asked finally in a soft tone.

"Very much," Simbelmynë sighed in content. "It is more than words can name."

"Then my news is good."

"What news?" Simbelmynë felt something in his words that did not sit well. She turned to face him, searching his eyes. "Aragorn?"

"I am afraid that you are to stay here. I have an urgent call that I must attend to at once and it is far too dangerous for one so young as you."

"But why?" Simbelmynë was indignant and hurt, and nor her voice nor her words could hide it. "You have never made such a claim before. Am I not proven worthy to you?"

"Please, do not take this as my preference. I do not want to put you in harms way any more than I must. Here you will be safe and well cared for. I am sorry, but I will not be swayed. I leave tonight."

"Tonight? How can you…?"

"I have known of this for a short while now. Such is the reason that I have brought you here. I had meant to tell you these days, but I knew not how. Understand, my friend."

"I cannot." Tears shone in her eyes as water reflects moonlight. She stared at him, lost for words. It was apparent that she could do nothing to change his mind and her heart ached as it had not for many years. Finally, she spoke.

"If you must go, then you must. I will not stand in your path." Aragorn moved toward her and took her face in his hand. Had she the strength, she would have pulled away, but it seemed as though all power had been leeched from her body.

"I will return. I cannot tell when, but this I promise you…"

The memory was too painful and Simbelmynë withdrew herself from it, cheeks damp with fresh tears. Somewhere deep in her mind, she had always felt that he would someday abandon her, that she would become too much of a burden. She had only hoped that when that day came she would be older and that he would return her to her cousin, not make her wait for what seemed an age in a foreign land. Now, she waited, in hope that her darkest dreams were false, her mind ever battling with itself.

"I should not leave yet. Once he has told me for certain that I may not return to his side, I will venture out to find Arahael." This seemed the most logical of her thoughts, so Simbelmynë turned her mind to what a conference with Aragorn might be like. At the mere thought, she grew shy and a hand went instinctively to her cheek. It was not concern now that caused her cheeks to redden under the fading moonlight, but an anxious excitement that made her feel something like a small child.

"Why do I cause myself such grief over something that has not yet happened?" she muttered, scolding herself.

"That is not a wise thing to do, Éorla."

Simbelmynë froze and clutched the stone edge of her windowsill. All the blood rushed from her face and faintness overtook her, darkening her sight. She could not turn to see who had spoken, but the voice was not one she could have easily forgotten. A few deep breaths were all she could manage to attempt calmness.

"Are you really so surprised that I am returned? I had hoped you knew and trusted me better than that. I do not break my promises."

Simbelmynë squeezed her eyes shut and spoke in a softly quavering voice.

"I have not been called by that name for nigh on two years now."

"Do not be angry with me, Éorla, as I will not apologize. I admit that I did not return here entirely by choice, but my journey has led me. This should cause you no hurt, however."

"And why not?" she broke in, the words out of her mouth before they had reached her own mind.

"If I had meant to abandon you here for whatever purpose, what reason would I have in coming up here to speak with you?" He smirked and folded his arms. "Would you believe me if I claimed to have missed you?"

"I do not know. Is that your claim?"

"It is. I did not intend to rid myself of you when I left. Your stay here was intended to keep you safe. Only that."

"Aragorn." At last, Simbelmynë raised her eyes to him, seeing that he stood next to her. She had not even noticed him enter her room. His eyes were tired, but gentle.

"Yes?"

"I… I do not know what to say. I did not trust you. Goheno nin."1

"You are not the one who need ask for forgiveness."

Aragorn said no more but took a now weeping Simbelmynë into his arms. Her hands grasped his shirt with all the might of a child who wakes in the night in terror and clings to their father for comfort.

1 Forgive me