Alright…I got the elvish from the Internet, so its most likely not fake and trustworthy elvish language. Thanks for reviewing, to all my reviewers. Please tell me what you think of this chapter. So, here we go… …
Chapter 4
The feast had begun and finished, and Aragorn had barely talked to Arwen. Now, as elf couples took their place on the dance floor, Aragorn fell back into the shadows. He watched the girl…no, not girl. A woman. Arwen's already a woman, and more…she's a lady. He watched the lady he had fallen in love with dance with her father. Aragorn knew that the moment of final acceptance and acknowledgment between Lord Elrond and himself had given the two a fresh start.
" Estel?"
Aragorn turned, surprised to see Lord Elrond standing beside him.
" Now that you will be back for a year", Elrond began, " you will have new responsibilities"
Aragorn tilted his head ever so slightly, intrigued, " New responsibilities?"
" Yes", Elrond said in a hushed voice, " In the council room tomorrow at noon, we will instruct you on your upcoming duties"
Aragorn paused for a split second.
" Nothing to worry about, Aragorn", he whispered, faking a smile, " Enjoy yourself. This night is for you"
" I'll be there", Aragorn assured him, " But why, Father? Why did you choose this night to-"
" Estel, Amin mela lle! ( I love you) You are as a son to me"
" And you are as a father", Aragorn replied.
" Nonetheless, you are Arathorn's son, and not mine", Elrond continued, rubbing Aragorn's shoulder, " Lissen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva ( Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet)".
" Tenna' tul're san' ( Until tomorrow then)", Aragorn bowed.
He watched as Lord Elrond strode out the door, his gaze slowly returning to Arwen.
Arwen gulped down a drink as soon as she was off the dance floor, stray strands of her neatly braided hair whipped across her fair face. She had just finished promising herself that she'd dance no more for the rest of the night when a man rested his arm on her shoulder. One glance at him and she knew there was no refusing.
" I accept, Estel"
With his hand gingerly on her waist, and her hand gently placed upon his shoulder, the two moved their feet to the music. Arwen was surprised by how gallantly he could fight and yet how graceful he was at dancing.
Aragorn couldn't take his eyes of the lady in his arms. She twirled round the dance floor, never taking her eyes of his. And as the other elves stood by them and watched, they all had to agree that they were the most graceful couple of all, strange though it may seem.
As Aragorn once more brought Arwen into his arms, her gaze wondered from him to the other elves.
" Diola lle ( Thank you)", Arwen said as she turned back to him.
" For what?"
" For returning my lost self to civilization", she stated in an uptight manner, beaming at him.
Aragorn stared at her, confused for a moment…then he burst out laughing, drawing everyone's attention.
" Yes, that!", he smiled, when finally regaining his composure, " I remember…"
Together they danced, silent as they were, past the balcony, past the elves, and into the most treasured garden of Rivendell. The music faded and the couple stopped under the starlit sky. Tall green hedges surrounded the luscious grass beneath their feet. A tree grew in the middle of the clearing and Arwen led Aragorn to it. The tree's bark shone silver; its seed would've been from Galadriel in Lothlorien. Golden flowers blossomed around the tree, gleaming though it was night. It was under that tree did Aragorn first give her a kiss on her lips.
" Lirimaer ( Lovely one), I do not know you", Aragorn began, " Let us start the right way".
" Vedui' ( Greetings), Estel", Arwen started, and so they began, talking late into the night about things of Middle-Earth and of themselves. And when Aragorn told her about the many wonders and cruelty he saw while away from Rivendell, something crashed to the ground.
" En! ( Look!)", Arwen gasped.
Aragorn knelt on the ground for a better look, searching through the dark for whatever it was. His fingers brushed something soft and smooth. Picking it up, he turned to Arwen and lifted it to the moon for light.
" Alas, tis just a bird", Arwen breathed in relief.
" Nay", Aragorn murmured, " Tis a little sparrow with a broken wing!"
The sparrow let out a soft chirp, shifting its position in Aragorn's hands. He placed the little bird gently into Arwen's open palms and turned away, searching for something.
" Estel? What are you looking for?", Arwen asked.
Aragorn said nothing as he disappeared behind a hedge. Arwen swallowed and sang softly to the bird.
" When Spring unfolds the breechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;
When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;
When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain –air,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!
When Spring…"
On and on she repeated the song sitting down on a rock, cradling the bird till Aragorn finally came back. He was holding on to something he seemed to deem precious.
" What is that?", Arwen asked curiously.
" The Athelas plant", Aragorn said, pulling a leaf out and crushing it with his fingers. A sweet fragrance filled the air as Aragorn applied the moist mixture to the bird, " I have searched long to find it. This plant does not grow on bare hills; but in the thickets. I found it, though it was dark, by the scent of its leaves. It is a healing plant that the Men of the West brought to Middle-Earth. It grows sparsely but its healing powers are great…"
In no time the bird had regained its strength and walked about Arwen's arm. She laughed as it moved to Aragorn's arm. Her laughter was like sweet music, her breath on his arm as she bent to kiss the bird was fragrant and gentle. They watched, hand in hand as the bird lifted its wings and flew into the air.
Arwen glanced at Aragorn who turned to her only a moment later.
" Ta telwa ( It is late)", she said, looking to the sky to emphasize her point.
" Ada would be worried", Aragorn agreed.
There, they sat, silent for a while. Arwen leaned over to him, her lips brushing his ear.
" I think we started right this time", she whispered.
Aragorn glanced at her, the corners of his lips slowly turning into a smile, " Yes, we did"
As Lord Elrond paced his room in worry, and as the bell keeper smote the bell three times, the two shared a deep kiss under the starlit sky.
Alright…Review,review, review. Hope you liked this chapter. The 5th one willl be added as soon as I get reviews…pleasseeeeeeeeeeee review. Thank you.