Part 2: March 26- April 30
The celebrations and feasting continued for seven days, All the Elves rejoiced in the City of Imladris. But after the merrymaking drew to a close, Arwen gradually realized her beloved father was separating himself from her by degrees. This pained her very much and she made a plan with her maidens how to stop this nonsensical idea of his from continuing.
Several evenings came and went, until the night of the eighth of April came. She wrote a letter to her father. It read:
My dearest father,
Will you meet me in the West Room, overlooking the river, tomorrow evening? I have dearly to speak with you about something.
Your devoted daughter,
Arwen Undomiel
She sent by one of her maidens to him. Her maiden successfully delivered it while Elrond was away doing something else. When he returned, he immediately noticed the letter and recognized the handwriting upon it.
"My daughter has written. What for I wonder?" He thought, while opening it. He quickly perused its contents. After finishing reading it, he wrote a reply, which read:
My dear Arwen,
It gives me greatest pleasure to accept your invitation. I will come a hour after sunset.
Father
"Erestor, will you slip this under Arwen's door when you go to your rest?" He asked handing him the note.
"Yes, I shall, Elrond." He replied.
Errands of this sort were fairly commonplace, but special in their own right. Erestor was usually Elrond's messenger in these correspondences anyway.
Later that night, Erestor delivered the letter. Arwen and her maidens were still awake, and Arwen noticed it first. Taking it up, she read its contents quickly.
"What does it say, Arwen?" Her maids cried in chorus.
Arwen answered somewhat absent mindedly."If just says he's coming tomorrow night a hour after sunset."
"Good, he is coming after all!" Said one of the older quieter maids.
Arwen turned to face the maid who had just spoken."You thought my father would refuse an invitation from his own daughter?" She had a slightly amused look on her face.
Another maid added,"Especially if she is the fairest elf in Middle Earth?"
"Come now! Galadriel is fairer than I!" Arwen shook her head.
"Lies!" Insisted the same elf passionately," you are just as fair as she if not more so!"
"Stop arguing, all of you!" Arwen's nurse chided.
"Thank you! I rest my case!" Arwen said, her face very much flushed."We had to argue about that tonight?"
Her maids giggled childishly."Yes."
They all slept well that night, and woke the next morning refreshed. And as planned, Arwen met with her father in the West Room. Much to Arwen's grief, her father kissed her hand cooly ,instead of embracing her warmly as in the old times.
"Father, let me embrace you!" She whispered, a saddened face turned towards his in mute appeal. The embrace was nothing like the ones they had shared in the years gone by. Weak it was.
In her face, Elrond read her thought." Why have you distanced yourself from me? My heart breaks for you and for me and for our separation."
She opened her mouth to say something, but Elrond spoke first. "I read your thought in your face. You need not say it. I know now the pain I have unwittingly caused you and the grief you have borne for these past weeks. Daughter, dearest daughter, I am sorry. I will mend my ways, from now until we must part. Now, I beg you to keep my lonely days company, for I know the value of nearest kin. Will you please?"
Arwen began to smile again."Father, now you understand at last! I will stay with you for as long as possible. It will be my greatest pleasure."
They embraced with renewed strength, care and affection. And their days were filled with love and happiness from then on.