Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 39- Mortality
TA3019, March 1st
Athriel knocked softly on the door and waited for Arwen to invite her in. The last couple of days had been incredibly difficult but she didn't know how to fix it. It was just too much to see them just now. The only thing that kept her going where her visits with Arwen, her training and of course Erestor. Anything to distract her from what she had done to the twins.
As the door opened Athriel cold sense that something was wrong. The room seemed less bright and there was an air of sadness. It wasn't Arwen who had opened the door, but her father Lord Elrond. He looked sadly at her face and Athriel began to panic. "What's wrong?" she asked, but the Lord of the valley didn't say anything. Instead he just indicated for her to go inside and left.
Athriel peered around the door frame frantically. She relaxed slightly when she saw Arwen sitting by the window. She was ok, everything was fine. On top of everything else she didn't know how she would be able to cope if anything happened to her. Arwen was like a little sister to her, she had watched her grow. Slowly she walked over to the window and sat down. "Is everything alright?" She asked. Arwen nodded but didn't turn away from the window. "Everything's fine. It's as it should be" she said sadly. Athriel couldn't understand what was happening. Something had changed she just didn't know what it was. That was until Arwen finally turned to face her.
Athriel gasped. The light had gone from Arwen's eyes; the light of their kind had gone from her. The Evenstar had chosen mortality. "Why?" she asked although she knew the answer, Estel. "Aragorn. My place is with him, not in Valinor" That explained the sadness she had seen in Elrond's eyes as well as the sadness she felt within herself. Arwen would be lost to them. If Estel failed she would fade, and if he succeeded she would stay here with him and never sail. She couldn't now, she was a mortal now. Athriel couldn't help it; she pulled her little sister into a hug and cried.
For a long time they just sat there holding each other, until Arwen pulled back. She wiped the tears from Athriel's face and smiled. "There is no reason to cry Riel. Aragorn will succeed, and I will be happy." She nodded trying to remind herself that this was Arwen's decision. She had chosen this; it hadn't been forced on her. As Peredhil she had always had the choice. Suddenly she sat up straight, what of the twins, they also had that choice. What would they do now that their sister had chosen mortality? "Do they know?" She asked. Arwen nodded. "Ada was on his way to tell them when you arrived"
Athriel stood; she had to speak to them. She had to know what they were going to do. She turned towards the door and stopped. "I..." She started. She couldn't just run out of Arwen's rooms without explanation. But the younger elf smiled. "I know" she smiled back before she caught Arwen in another embrace. "Promise me you'll be happy Arwen, really happy" she whispered into her ear. Arwen laughed and whispered back. "Promise me you won't let them choose as I did, not for my sake." They pulled back at the same time and answered together. "I promise"
As soon as the door closed behind her Athriel set off at a run. It was ridiculous and irrational, but she couldn't help it. She had to get to their rooms as fast as she could. She had to. The past couple of days vanished as she ran. It didn't matter anymore what her 'death' had done to them, it didn't matter the guilt she had felt. All that mattered was that they needed her now, like they had when their mother had sailed.
She skidded to a halt when she reached the door. It was open a crack so she peered through it. She could make them out sitting side by side looking like lost children. Elrond was still there standing by the window, obviously trying to keep his composure. Taking a deep breath she knocked. "Enter" She wasn't surprised when she heard Elrond's voice inviting her in, rather than theirs. Slowly she opened the door and stepped inside. Without thinking she strode past Elrond without a word and sat between the twins. As one they snuggled into her. As she stroked a hand down each back she watched as Elrond leave. Thank you he mouthed when he reached the door. She just nodded. They would be ok, they had to be.