NOTE: Some of the dialogues in the initial part of this chapter have been taken as is from the Appendices of the Lord of the Rings book - The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.
It was Aragorn that she had dreamed of in the night. And it was a good dream, a sweet dream.
Why wouldn't it be?
The dream had shown her first meeting with Aragorn in the forest glades of Imladris. She was walking on the greensward when she heard the lay of Luthien from the lips of a young mortal. The mortal had been high of heart then, and his songs were full of hope. The world had suddenly turned fair then. She had not turned to see him, but he had caught sight of her among the white stems of the birches. To his eyes, she had seemed Luthien, the fair elf-maiden of old who had fallen in love with a human named Beren in the forests of Neldoreth.
To him, clad in her mantle of blue and silver, she had looked Luthien's lookalike to him. And thus he had come running to her, shouting her name as though trance-like. Fair as the twilight in Elven-home he had called her. And she had been amused at first.
When she heard herself being called Tinuviel, she had asked, "Who are you? And why do you call me by that name?"
And he had answered, "Because I believed you to be indeed Luthien Tinuviel, of whom I was singing. But if you are not she, then you walk in her likeness."
"So many have said," she answered gravely. "Yet her name is not mine. Though maybe my doom will be not unlike hers. But why are you?"
"Estel I was called until now," he said, "but I am Aragorn, Arathorn's son, Isildur's heir, Lord of the Dunedain."
She had laughed merrily then and said, "Then we are kin from afar. For I am Arwen, Elrond's daughter, and am named also Undomiel."
"Often it is seen," Aragorn had said, "that in dangerous days men hide their chief treasure. Yet I marvel at Elrond and your brothers; for though I have dwelt in this house from childhood, I have heard no word of you. How comes it that we have never met before? Surely your father has not kept you locked in his hoard?"
"No," she had responded to him, looking up at the mountains that rose in the east. "I have dwelt for a time in the land of my mother's kin, in far Lothlorien. I have but lately returned to visit my father again. It is many years since I walked in Imladris."
It was in that moment Aragorn had wondered how old she was. She had looked into his eyes then and had perceived his love for her growing. "Do not wonder! For the children of Elrond have the life of the Eldar."
The sweet dream played itself in her mind ever since she had woken. Even now, as she walked on the cobbled stairway that wound around the tall mallorn trees, she played the memory in her loop. Just as he had fallen in love with her, she had begun to like him. She had spent much time with Aragorn though her father could wish something else for her. She wondered when she would be able to meet him next.
The last time they had seen each other was when Aragorn had departed southward to explore Middle Earth. When she had bid goodbye to her father and departed from Imladris, he had not been there. She had heard that he was serving a king of a distant land known as Rohan.
And yet Rohan was closer to her mother's country than from Imladris. Was Aragorn still there? Or had he traveled to Gondor? What was he doing there? Had he found a woman there and decided he wouldn't ever return north? Thinking in such a manner, she felt her heart beat heavily. She wished she could see Aragorn again. His love for her had been clear in his eyes back then. She had never spoken of her feelings before. She wished to tell him much of what she felt.
Only her father Elrond and her grandmother, Galadriel, knew of her conflicted heart. Was her love so strong that she could choose a mortal over the life of an Eldar? Was her love so pure that she could choose to remain in Middle Earth while her loved ones took ship to the uttermost West?
"Lady Arwen," an elf approached and bowed to her. "You're needed at the Council."
A frown encroached on her forehead. Usually, her grandparents excused her from attending most of the councils, though she attended some by her own volition, eager to understand how a realm was administered. As many as she had attended, as many she had missed. Her grandparents, however, had never summoned her to attend the council meetings. This was the first time a summons had come, and she wondered about the urgency.
Determined not to be late, she followed the elf, who was named Amaril, up the mallorn to the throne room of the Lord and the Lady of Lothlorien.
In front of her, as she walked the middle between two sides of Lothlorien's councillors, sat on two thrones her grandparents. Her grandfather, Lord Celeborn, sat on the left while her grandmother, Lady Galadriel, appeared calm and composed on the right. Her lips curled into a smile as soon as she saw Arwen approaching.
"You called me, grandfather?" Arwen asked. "Grandmother?"
"Yes, Undomiel," Galadriel answered her. "We would like you to sit at the Council meeting today. Who knows? Your wish might yet come true."
Arwen felt her cheeks go red. She had always known her grandmother to be perceptive. She saw deep into people's hearts and souls and often gleaned whatever it was they desired most.
She took her throne, right next to her grandmother, and awaited someone to speak.
The guards at the gate raised their sharp spears and hit the ground with the butts of their weapons. An elf in forest green strode into the hall with a huge roll of parchment in his hands. He unrolled the parchment, revealing the map of Middle Earth.
"My lady, my lord," the elf addressed the council room, "my name is Sedhellan and am usually in the patrols on our southern marches, but of late, I have been serving on the northern marches. Because of the darkness of that evil tower on the other side of the Great River, my lord."
Celeborn bobbed his head and waved his hands, beckoning him to proceed.
"There's great activity on the Anduin, my lady, my lord," the elf continued, buoyed by Celeborn's interest. "Orcs have been building docks and portways for reasons unknown to us. They have been building small boats as well. Even though they dislike the water, something pushes them, determined to find something they believe can be found in the depths of the river."
"And what do you think the Enemy seeks, Sedhellan?" Celeborn questioned.
"I know not, my lord, but ever the search parties increase. We kill them if they ever come closer to our side of the river, but they are too many river patrols of late, my Lord, my Lady."
"Do the orcs set foot on our shores, Sedhellan?" Galadriel questioned him.
"Nay, my lady, seldom do any evil creature such as an orc set foot on our side of the river. The Golden Wood scares them as much as the water. And while they may brave the water, no force can compel them to set foot inside the Wood."
"Except if the Enemy comes himself," Galadriel said.
"Perhaps, my Lady, but the Enemy has not come yet. I do not think he will. He has enough servants at his command. Terrible, terrible servants."
"Are you referring to the Nazgul, Sedhellan?" Celeborn questioned again.
"It may be that one or two Ringwraiths are housed in the evil fortress of Dol Guldur."
"We have not the strength to take down these docks and portways," Silwin, a councillor who was from Caras Galadhon, said. "We can only harry them. Any action on our part can be a precursor to a deadly war."
"It's agreed, Silwin," Celeborn said, "that we cannot lead our troops in open war against the Enemy. Not yet. But we must find out what it is that he seeks so desperately."
"Do you not guess, Celeborn?" Galadriel asked him, a smile on her face. "Do you really not guess? What was it that was lost to him an age ago? What was it that he deems stolen from him? Surely, news must have reached his ears of Isildur's fall in the Gladden years ago. It was for that reason that we drove him from Dol Guldur in the year of the dragon's death."
"Isildur's Bane!" Celeborn cursed.
"Yes," Galadriel said, nodding. "He desperately seeks it... if he does seek it, he will rule all of Middle Earth and there will be no realm that can stand up to him and defy him." She played with the ring on her finger.
"But Saruman said..."
"Saruman said the Ring had passed into the Sea, but I think not, Celeborn... I think not..."
Arwen could see her grandmother mulling over something. It was evident from her face that she thought the Enemy searching for something in the Great River was a troublesome thought.
"That's not all, my Lord, my Lady," Sedhellan interrupted. "Orcs have been seen to the south and east. Some have even dared cross into the Wold of Rohan, preparing a way towards the Hithaeglir. Some of our patrols have crossed into the land of the Rohirrim and are harrying the orcs as we speak."
"Why in the name of the Valar would you do that?" Celeborn shouted, temper getting the better of him.
"My lord, if the orcs get to the passes of the Hithaeglir, the westward road will be closed to us. Valinor will seem a distant dream. Even now some whisper that we should leave this land and seek the West."
"Then do they mean to let Middle Earth fight the evil of Sauron alone, Sedhellan?" Galadriel asked.
"My lady, that's just a thought... for ever the elves grow weary of the fight against our Enemy, which is seemingly never-ending."
The throne room fell silent.
"Let the patrols retreat to our borders, Sedhellan," Celeborn said. "Though the Rohirrim seldom come so north to our borders, I still do not wish to trouble their king. We can think of what to do with the orcs later."
"I doubt that would be wise, Celeborn," Galadriel turned to advise him. "These orcs may be going west, but it is not just Hithaeglir that would be defended against us. Moria too would be colonized by the orcs again."
"And what matters Moria to us?" Celeborn asked. "That underground realm will never be a choice to us. Who knows what the dwarves awoke in the depths of Khazad-dum?"
"And still we would need a path to carve through to the West if needed... Caradhras has become cruel with each passing year, and orc or no orc, we may find that Pass of the Redhorn be held against us."
"So what do you suggest? We let the patrols keep the orcs occupied? We violate the sovereignty of the land of the Rohirrim?"
Galadriel smiled. "Celeborn, my love, Rohan may share its borders with us, but there are seldom of their villages in the Wold. Most of their establishments are closer to Ered Nimrais, far to the south. Even their patrols do not come close to these lands where the orcs pass. Besides, we would be doing them a favor, and I do not think they would have a problem with us hunting orcs in their land."
"Besides, grandfather," Arwen said, "they might not even get the news of these events to the south. As far as I have learned, the Rohirrim do not come so far north, not even their spies."
Celeborn sighed. "Your news is outdated, granddaughter. We have been sighting more of their patrols in the Wold. Ever since Thorongil served them."
The mention of Thorongil made her eyes twinkle. It was a name she had asked Aragorn to take when he served Rohan and Gondor in disguise. The name meant 'Eagle of the Star'. And she had thought it an apt name for him.
"Would that we had Thorongil in our ranks," Silwin said. "It's heard that the young Captain of men took a small force out of Pelargir and laid an assault against Umbar and won the battle with minimal loss. He must be a great captain of men indeed if he could dare such a venture."
Arwen rolled her eyes. "Silwin, are you trying to tell us that you would welcome this mortal into our lands?"
Silwin's face blanched. "No, no, my lady Arwen, I would not suggest to grant entry to any mortal, even if it be Thorongil himself. But I wish we could have him lead a few of us and get rid of this evil fortress to the north."
"Such a venture cannot be thought of here, Silwin," Arwen spoke. "Umbar and Dol Guldur are as different as apples and oranges. The forces of Dol Guldur cannot be destroyed by a token force even if we managed to surprise them."
"But surely their search for this... Isildur's Bane... could be disrupted?" Silwin asked.
"If you wish to hire Thorongil as a mercenary, then tell so, but for how long would you hire him? And while he toils on our borders, you do not even grant him the courtesy of entering the Golden Wood."
"Lady, mortals are not allowed to step foot inside the Golden Wood, surely you know about," Silwin persisted.
"I'm aware of the rules, Silwin," she said. "But sometimes the rules need to be bent."
"But... my lady..."
Before he could continue, Orophin came running into the throne room and bowed to her grandparents and then to her.
"My lord, my lady, two days ago, a mortal crossed into our lands..."
The councillors began to murmur. Silwin's brows raised themselves in fury. "How dare he?" he bellowed.
Her grandparents, however, remained silent.
"How come this news reaches us now instead of two days ago?" Celeborn asked.
"My lord, we intended to send you word," Orophin answered, "but we needed to know who he is. He came with orcs in pursuit and was injured gravely with a potent poison newly crafted by the Enemy. We healed him of it, and my brother, Haldir, talked to him."
"Orcs in pursuit, you say?" Silwin inquired. "Why would the orcs pursue a lone man and fight him under the eaves of our forest?"
"Yes, my lord, we gleaned that he set fire to the Morgul Vale."
His answer elicited murmurs in the entire throne room. Even her grandfather stared at Orophin in awe.
"And who's this man who dared challenge that foul sorcerer-king of Mordor?" Celeborn asked.
"Strange man, my lord," Orophin replied. "Clad in the raiment of one of the Dunedain he seems, though in all manner he feels like a elf-lord of old. A star shines sometimes on his brows. But sometimes he seems a wearied lord dressed so ragged. Great fighter he is. We saw him slaughter many an orc so valiantly, but an orc scimitar touched his skin, and poison spread. Upon his waking, we asked him much, and he told us much."
"And, pray, tell us his name, Orophin," Silwin snorted. "This great lord of men... who you sing praises of."
"I had expected a Gondorian name, my lord, but he calls himself Estel."
Estel. She could feel her heart pound. Eru had granted her wish. She would soon see Aragorn and tell him exactly how she feels about him.
"A mortal with an elven name," Silwin spat. "But, regardless, a mortal is not allowed within the bounds of this great realm, Orophin. The penalty of such a crime is death."
"The rules are set, my lord," Orophin said, "but pardon us if we thought to be fair. The man did mention Imladris and Lord Elrond. He seems to be an elf-friend and he also mentioned another name to us. He also called himself Thorongil."
Another set of murmurs passed through the hall.
Even Silwin looked awestruck. But he quickly resumed his annoyed posture.
"Estel," she pronounced his name, standing up. "Then, Orophin, lead him hither to these halls. Why have you delayed? For know you all that Estel was indeed raised by my father in Imladris. And he speaks truly for Estel is also Thorongil, a name I myself suggested he use when in disguise in the South."
She could feel Silwin's probing stare, but she ignored it.
"You well know, my lady," Orophin said to her, "that Lothlorien permits no mortal into the realm. He was also injured, and we wanted to know about him before we decided what needed to be done. When we got wind of who he is, Haldir immediately sent me here to know of the Lord and Lady's judgment."
"The judgment has already been decreed in our rules, Orophin," Silwin said. "Elf-friend or not, a mortal shall not set foot inside the Golden Wood. I would not suffer his presence here. We know well the treachery and weakness of men."
Silwin's comment set off another round of murmurs in the hall.
She sighed. She knew of Silwin's hatred for the mortal kind. "He's no mere human, Silwin," she said. "Estel is Thorongil, but his real name... is Aragorn. Son of Arathorn. The heir of Isildur himself."
The councillors spoke amongst themselves at her revelation.
"The line of Isildur is dead," Silwin muttered.
"No, Silwin," Arwen smiled at him. "His line was kept alive and spirited to secrecy ever since we came to know that the Enemy looks to find Isildur's heir. The Enemy has not forgotten Isildur and what he did during the wars of the Last Alliance."
Turning to Orophin, she asked, "How fares he now?"
"He's well, my lady, though a little weak."
"Good, lead him to the city then. Here he shall find rest from all his toils and labors so far."
"Arwen," her grandfather said to her, "even if he is who you say he is, even then I won't bend the rules we made for the safety of our people. I will not let our borders be compromised."
She was taken aback by her grandfather's words.
To her left, Silwin looked triumphant.
She had expected her grandfather to take her side, but it seemed he did not wish for Aragorn to enter Lothlorien. Her heart almost failed hearing his words.
Her grandmother smiled at her, and that smile brought her comfort.
"Orophin," her grandmother called out to him, "bring him hither for I much desire to speak with him."
And then she turned towards Celeborn and said, "Estel is the hope of our people for I foresee that we shall be delivered by this and this man alone. He has strived hard against the Enemy, trying to repair his forefather's faults, and long hard roads still lie in his future." When she said this, her eyes found Silwin. "It is for the goodness in his heart that a mortal such as him shall be granted entry into our realm. I declare him elf-friend, and he shall ever be welcome into Lothlorien."
"But...," Celeborn complained.
"I bid you do not deny this man his reward," Galadriel interrupted him. "Grant him entry into this land and I assure you that you won't regret. Besides, we have to know what passed in the south and the east. We need to know why Mordor has pursued him to our borders and why there are orcs to our south and east."
Silwin shook his head.
"Thorongil or no, my Lady, why does he command this respect?"
Her grandmother smiled. "Just moments ago, you wished to hire him as a mercenary to fight against Dol Guldur. Lo, Eru has granted your wish! For his designs have brought Thorongil to our doorstep."
"But he's a mortal.. and our rules.."
"Rules can be bent under exigent circumstances such as these," Galadriel explained. "Even though you hate men, you praised his skill moments ago. Do not fall back now that you know who he really is, do not revert your judgment. Do not let hatred cloud your mind. It would one day destroy you."
Silwin turned away and sighed.
Galadriel turned to Orophin and said, "Tell your brother he is free to accompany this Aragorn to Caras Galadhon."
Orophin bowed and left the court.
Aragorn was coming to Caras Galadhon, and she looked forward to meeting him.