Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Authors Note: Well the story is finished now, and should all be posted in a couple of weeks. This chapter has a passage from The Return of the King so that isn't mine, and also there is part of the song 'Into the West' which goes through a few chapters.
Chapter 49: Hope fades
Years had passed in the country of Gondor and for the rest of the world of Middle Earth for that matter. Years of peace and prosperity, years of bonding and building new friendships, years of freedom. Now, however, the small girl that sat in the branches of a tree knew that these years were coming to an end. Gandalf and Frodo had already left Middle Earth for the undying lands along with all but a handful of elves. Pippin, Merry and Sam had all been laid to rest, for even the long ages to the hobbits could not compete with the turning of time.
She had watched Legolas get crowned King of Mirkwood and then herself as his queen. Little Wing had been made Crown Prince. Legolas rein would not last long; before the month was out he too would travel to the undying lands. During his time on the ships he had heard the fatal call of the circling white gulls and only his great friendship with Aragorn had made him remain. Gimli was now old in the reckonings of dwarves and still lived within the walls of the great white city, ever more Legolas' friend; he too would sail to the Undying Lands, the first dwarf to do so. Galadriel herself had named him Gimli elf friend and none would question her authority.
She swung her legs and looked at the man who had just come to stand before her, the spitting image of his father Aragorn, little of his mother could be seen him, her beauty was passed down into his younger sisters.
"Eldarion, what are you seeking?" Amy said.
"My father is not well, can you heal him?" The young man said.
Amy looked at him sadly, "your father has reached his final years my prince, there is little I can do for him."
"But you can heal everyone; I demand that you heal him! He is of the race of Numenor he cannot die!"
"He is mortal and will die when his time is come. As will you, do not be blinded by your position. The land of Numenor was destroyed because its people believed that they should be immortal. Do not bring that fate to this land. You are stronger than that." Amy said before jumping down lightly and embracing the man as he broke into tears.
"I do not think my father will last the night. I do not want to lose him." He said drying his eyes, yet his breath still hitched.
"No one wants to lose him, he is the closest thing I have to a brother on this land, for the elvish twins have sailed, yet die he shall. He knows his time has come and has already passed kingship onto you. I will still be here for a little while at least, then I too must sail, and all elves shall be gone from this world." She said sadly.
"You cannot sail I need someone to help me! I cannot do it by myself!"
"Stop being so childish, you are the King now! Come let us see how your father is." Amy said putting an arm around his shoulders and leading him back to the palace.
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Aragorn lay on his bed, his head and shoulder propped up by many pillows. He turned his head slightly as he watched the door open and saw his son and Amy walk in. He smiled gently, he knew he was in his last hours and was happy to leave his country and land to his son. He hoped that he had the sense to release Amy from her oath for he saw her desire to sail with Legolas and Gimli. He thought to the large black horse in the stable and smiled to himself at the thought of him in a boat. No Mearas died of old age unless his master did, so Moridin was as immortal as Amy was.
He turned his head to Amy as she picked up his hand. Her soft skin still sending small tremors through his body, even after all this time. "How are you Estel?" She asked quietly.
"I have been better to tell you the truth. I can feel death creeping up on me, like a wolf wearing down its prey. Yet the sight of you still makes me smile Little Warrior." He said, his voice sounding dry and weary. He turned his head to his son who stood on the other side of the bed. "Could you leave us for a moment, I wish to speak with Amy alone." He frowned slightly at the brief flash of jealousy on his son's face and watched as he left the room.
"What is it?" Amy said sitting on his bed.
"I fear for Arwen. My beautiful wife, she will pass before the week is out. Lost from grief she will die. She says she will travel back to Lothlorien to pass, where we first proposed to marry once the war was over." Aragorn said tears pooling in his eyes, his breathing getting laboured.
"What do you wish me to do?"
Aragorn forced the tears away and stared straight up at Amy, looking into her black eyes so full of sadness and compassion. "Do not let her die alone."
Amy nodded her own eyes getting wet with tears. "I will go with her. Follow her if she will not allow me to accompany her. She will not pass away without any company."
Aragorn closed his eyes, his breathing starting to even out and grow shallower. Amy's eyes widened and she sent a mental shout to all his family and friends. In seconds they came flooding into the room to stand at the side of the dying king.
With the inch of strength he opened his eyes and turned to Amy again and whispered "Hannon Lea." Closing his eyes again he smiled, his last request would be granted, his beautiful wife would not die alone.
BREAK
Arwen had tears streaming down her face as she leant on her son for support, her three daughters were openly sobbing on the ground. She looked up and saw Lureae standing with her arms wrapped tightly round Legolas both were crying softly; even the brazen dwarf was sniffing. Her pointed ears twitched as she heard Amy start to sing.
"Hope fades,
Into the world of night,
Through shadow falling,
Out of memory and time."
Not thinking about it, Arwen sung the next verse and finished the song when her tears prevented her from singing any more.
"Don't say,
We have come now to the end.
White shores are calling,
You and I will meet again.
And you'll be here in my arms,
Just sleeping."
The king took his last breath, happy, before sinking into oblivion. Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who came after there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grace of his youth, and the valour of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together. And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.
BREAK
The next few days were chaos in the palace, made ten times worse by the heightened emotions of everyone in the residence. Several of the walls bore large scorch marks where Amy had lost her temper in the arrangements. Aragorn was taken to the resting place of his forefathers and he and Anduril had been entombed in stone, for evermore people could come and pay their respects to the great king.
Eldarion had his coronation and was crowned, despite his father passing him the crown a week before. It was a not a large affair, only friends and family were there and the most trusted nobles. People were still mourning for the old king. Everyone knew that the new king had a lot to live up to, and not many believed he would be able to cope.
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Three days after the death of the mighty King Amy awoke in the night suddenly. She felt out with her mind to see what had awoken her and felt Moridin's tug.
'What is it?' She said to him in her mind so not to wake up the slumbering elf lying next to her.
'The Lady Arwen left the palace not ten minutes past on a flightily horse.' The horse said.
'So she has chosen her time. Are you ready to run my black horse?' Amy said already removing Legolas' arm from her waist and standing up.
'Ever am I ready to run.'
Amy nodded to herself and let the link slip close. "Legolas. Legolas wake up!" She said prodding the blonde head. It never failed to amaze her how deeply he slept whilst next to her.
"What?" He said turning to her, eyes focussing quickly.
"Arwen has gone. I must follow her, I promised Aragorn. I will be back as soon as I can." Amy said stretching down and kissing him firmly on the lips.
"Go do what you must." Legolas said breaking the kiss and lifting her hand. He brought his lips to the thin metal band around one of fingers. He kissed the bonding ring gently and lowered her hand. "I will be here when you return. I will inform people where you have gone. Ride safe, don't look back."
"Thank you."
With that she kissed his lips once more, lingering for a while before grabbing a shirt and cropped trousers. Not bothering with anything else she ran for the door. Anyone that saw her that night would have thought a ghost roaming the halls, for she ran so swiftly and silently that not even the mice twitched their whiskers.
When she reached the stable doors she opened them with Air and ran in, quickly opening Moridin's stable she did not bother to groom him or to grab her weapons she just vaulted onto his back and together they galloped out of the block. Early morning guards jumped out of the way as they saw them thundering down the streets flying over walls and skidding on corners. The main gates of the city opened before them as they galloped flat out over the plains as the sun was rising.
Despite the reason for their departure it had been along time since they had ridden alone together and they revelled in their own freedom and power. Moridin's long legs ate the ground as he lengthened his neck and reached forward, his crystal hard hooves barely touching the ground as they saw Arwen in the distance.
Amy's grin started to fade as a pressure was building behind her eyes. The further they went from the centre of Gondor the worse the pain got. Till it was almost blinding.
"Moridin, what is this! I cannot get ill!" Amy said struggling to stay upright.
"The oath, you told Aragorn you were bound to fight for this land. I don't think you can leave it without a member of the royal family present. It is linked to you, so I can't feel it."
Amy screamed in rage and pain, she needed to get to Arwen. They could see the elf on the horizon so close, yet so far. "I need to get to her. Then I should be able to leave Gondor."
BREAK
Moridin clenched his teeth and flared his nostrils before reaching along their mental bond, he snatched at the bond he thought was between her and Gondor, instantly pain washed over him yet still he held on. Her pain was lessened as he took more of it into her. He screamed before running even faster, they had to reach Arwen before they left Gondor.
"Norolim my beautiful horse. Norolim my saviour." He heard her say.
Stretching his head further he forced more air into his lungs, they would reach Arwen, it did not matter how much he hurt, nothing would hurt Amy. Nothing would hurt the one he loved.
As he saw the horse in front of him come into focus he broke his stride for a second and forced more oxygen into his lungs before calling. "Stop horse. If you do not stop now I shall kill you for I am the King of horses. Stop now!"
He watched as the horse slowed despite the urging of the elf on its back. Slowly it slowed to a stop and waited for the King to catch up. As he got closer he noticed that the headache was lessening and Amy was feeling less pain on his back. Finally he came up along side the horse that was still refusing to move despite Arwen's encouragement.
BREAK
Amy gasped as she felt Moridin grab some of her pain. He was very good at manipulating their bond, he could do things with it that she could not do. Now all she wanted to do was hug him for taking away some of the pain. Telling him to run faster she slumped on his neck. She smiled as she heard him call out to Arwen's horse, yet the closer they got the lesser her head hurt. Finally sitting up she faced Arwen.
"Why did you follow me Lureae?" Arwen said looking very tired and grief stricken.
"Come let us carry on. We shall follow you." Amy said not answering her question purposely.
"Why did you follow me?" The elf said again.
Amy just shook her head and closed her eyes. Indicating that she did not want to talk about it at that moment. Moridin surprisingly kept quiet.
BREAK
They reached the golden slopes of Cerin Amroth a day and night later. There Arwen slowly dismounted and sat on the fallen Mallorn leaves. The city of elves was deserted, hollow and dead. In its barrenness it still held its beauty and wonder, and Amy's heart went out to the place she had called home for years whilst she learnt how to use her powers.
Arwen slowly lowered herself to the ground and looked up at the dark elf above her. She moved her arm as Amy sat down beside her. "Why did you follow me?" She asked again.
Amy was silent for a minute then she looked round at the dying elf and smiled. "Because no one should die alone. Aragorn's greatest fear was that the one he loved would die alone without him. And although he may not be here in body he is here in his mind."
Arwen smiled gently. She had loved Aragorn enough to give up her immortality for him, yet never would she regret it. "Thank you Lureae. I know there are other reasons yet I will not press."
"I suppose the other reason is because you are elf kind. One of the Elder, a beautiful, immortal being. One day long ago I was told that my father died to save the world, and I thought that I should too die to save the world. I was given the choice to die or live, I do not think that I would ever be strong enough to choose that. You are immortal, yet you have chosen to live as a mortal for the one man you love. You are stronger and luckier than I shall ever be." Amy said bowing her head.
"Lureae, you are the most powerful being in the world, why do you say such things."
"You knew your family, spent time with your mum before she sailed, you had two brothers that loved you. Had a father that adored you, two grandparents that doted on you. What did I know of my blood family? My father killed himself when he did not need to, my mother was murdered, all my brothers and sisters were slain before their first years. I would give up my power in a second if I could just be normal. Now I just want to sail and be with Legolas and my friends."
"I know we have not always seen eye to eye, yet I am glad you are here with me now. In my final hours. Amy." Arwen said closing her eyes.
Amy smiled sadly; there was no need to say any more. The fact that she had called her Amy rather than Lureae meant she was finally accepted by the dark haired elf lying beside her. She picked up the dying elf's hand and shuddered at how cold it felt.
"Be at peace Arwen daughter of Elrond. Go to the halls of Mandos and greet your love, for he is there waiting. I will look after your children for as long as I can. Go be at peace, last journey of Arwen Undómiel." Amy said.
Arwen took one more last shuddering breath before at last succumbing to grief and passing away. Her hand went limp in Amy's and her eyes closed as her chest sunk and did not rise again. She was gone.
