Post by Admin on Jan 9, 2021 2:32:11 GMT
Author: Katie S.
Summary: Elrond is leaving for the Grey Havens, and Arwen is planning to stay with Aragorn. Can he learn to make the right choice?
Rating: K/G.
Disclaimer: I make no profit from anything created by Tolkien and do not claim it as mine.
Elrond knew the day was coming. The Three Elven Rings would have to leave Middle-Earth, along with their masters. He did not dread it. He knew what awaited him. White shores, green grass, and lost loved ones. He tried to think of these things as he stood on the balcony of the King of Gondor’s palace, a white pinnacle in the dark night. He was leaving for the Grey Havens the next day and had come to bid a last goodbye to his daughter and son-in-law.
That was the trouble. Of all the lost family and friends he would see in Valinor, there was one face he would never see again: Arwen. The Evenstar of her people, and his only daughter. He had done everything he could to take her with him, or at least all he could bring himself to do. But he knew her mind was made up. He looked up at the deep, black sky pierced with tiny, white, glowing stars. “Ai, Elbereth Gilthoniel,” he sighed, “if only she would understand what was best for her.”
“Is everything all right, Ada?” a woman’s voice asked.
Arwen walked slowly, gracefully to her father’s side, followed by Aragorn. Elrond tensed. He loved Aragorn like his own son, but he still felt that he was the one taking Arwen from him. Aragorn was the one stealing his Evenstar and because of him, her light would one day burn out. Arwen’s father contained his feelings and spoke to Arwen, “Yes, everything is fine. I’m just thinking about…tomorrow.”
She nodded, knowing how he felt. She didn’t want to leave him either, but she loved Aragorn and wanted to stay with him, no matter what it cost. Aragorn looked at his father-in-law and his wife. He knew how hard this was for both of them. He didn’t want Arwen to feel any pain. But Arwen had firmly decided to stay with him, and now they were married, so the separation of father and daughter was inevitable. He also knew what Elrond thought about whose fault it was that Arwen was staying, and he knew it was true. She stayed for him.
The three were silent for a while, gazing at the stars. “They certainly do look lovely tonight,” Aragorn commented, breaking the silence.
“Yes,” Elrond agreed, but very quietly. Talking to Aragorn was not going to make him feel any better.
Arwen could tell what was going on. Elrond was not happy with Aragorn at all, but he wouldn’t say it. She looked at her father, then up to the sky, trying to think of something to say so they wouldn’t part in anger. “Do you remember,” she asked her father, “when you used to tell me those stories about our ancestors? I always loved those stories. Remember the one about the Silmaril?”
“Yes, but which one?” Elrond replied, facing her now, “Our family’s fate has ever been intertwined with that of the Silmarils and mortal Men.” He glanced at Aragorn now, his gaze cold.
“You said it shone brighter than any of the stars, or even the sun,” she reminded him.
He smiled. “I may have exaggerated a bit.”
“I doubt that,” Aragorn said, “Not that I have ever seen it for myself, but I have heard that it was made from the light of the Trees of Light during their lifetime, and from them also come the sun and moon. I would think it would be at least equal to their light.”
“You have seen it, Estel,” Elrond said, now using Aragorn’s boyhood name. That seemed like a positive sign. “It is upon the brow of my father, and Arwen’s grandfather, as he sails across the sky. Eärendil is his name. I believe…yes, there he is now.” He pointed at a bright star in the heavens, outshining all the rest. It was from there that the Peredhel family traced their lineage. That star was what gave them their light.
“He is your ancestor too,” Elrond pointed out to Aragorn, “The father of my brother. You would so well to learn a bit more of your heritage.” But as he spoke, he thought about what he said. Aragorn was not so far from him as he normally perceived. They both claimed the heritage of Eärendil, just like they both claimed the love of the Evenstar.
“I knew of that,” Aragorn said, “I was not such a terrible pupil growing up, was I? A King must know these things. It will be my hope that none of my people will ever forget where we come from. We share the same light as Beren, Lúthien, Eäendil, and so many others.” He took Arwen’s hand. “And now, my house shall have another bond with yours. From now on, my decedents shall be able to look back and trace their lineage back to Elrond Half-Elven, Keeper of Vilya, the Ring of Water, and Lord of Imladris. You do not know how honored I am to share my people with your people once more.”
Elrond was surprised. He was not sure what to say. Sharing his daughter with a Man was the last thing he wanted to do, but now other things were coming to mind. He had loved Estel as a boy and raised him. There was little wouldn’t have done for him. How could he be angry with him now? Were they not both of the line of Eärendil the Mariner, the brightest star in the sky? And was not Arwen the same? He had always wished her to have what she wanted, and now she wanted Aragorn. The look on her face at the wedding had been pure joy, lighting up brighter than the stars in the sky. How could he hold this feeling against both of them?
As they walked back indoors, Elrond touched his daughter on the shoulder. Arwen turned around, knowing he wanted to talk with her. Aragorn saw this, but kept walking. He knew when he was not wanted.
Father and daughter withdrew to the side of the hallway. Arwen hoped her father would not be upset, or try again to convince her to leave. She knew she was going to stay, though she would miss him terribly. She waited for him to speak.
As soon as Aragorn was out of earshot, Elrond asked, “Will you be all right?”
“Yes, Ada,” she answered, “I will be fine. I have a life here now, and it is a good one.”
“But you could have another,” he explained, knowing already what her response would be, but talking anyway, “and you would live forever with all of the others who have gone already.”
“Ada,” she said, “I have given my place to Frodo. He going with you, is he not?”
“Yes, he is,” Elrond admitted, “but surely the Valar could find a way for you to stay in Valinor with your kin. They are merciful. I know you love him, but you could be so much happier with your people, with me.” Even as he spoke, he felt less sure than the last time they had argued about this. He knew he couldn’t persuade her and that she had an even better reason to stay now. He just couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
“Ada,” she said, “you remember the tales you told me of Eärendil. You have not seen him since childhood, and he will not be waiting for you on the white shores of the Blessed Realm. Yet he is close to you, always shining his light upon the world to remind you of who he is, and who you are. I may not carry a Silmaril upon my brow, but you need not feel separated from me forever. The light of the Evenstar may fade one day, but until then, I will not be far from you. Eärendil looks after me as well, and I know you shall see him even from across the Sea. When you look at him, think of me, and I will not seem so far away. I will do the same. I know he would approve of this. He would be proud of you for letting me go, for it is a hard thing to do. He will remind you of me, and keep me close to you until the end of all days. I will miss you, Ada.”
She embraced him tightly, and he held onto her, knowing he had to let her go, but not at all wanting to. He held back tears, though he wasn’t sure if they were meant for his sadness or her joy. When they finally let go, he walked her to her bed chamber silently, holding her hand as he had when she had been a little girl. As she whispered “Good night,” and closed the door, he felt some odd sense of relief that he hadn’t expected. She was ready to leave him, and he was ready to say goodbye.
The next day, Elrond left for the Grey Havens, and soon set sail with Galadriel, Gandalf, Círdan, and the two Hobbits: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. When they came to the white shores, shining like silver glass, he stepped upon the land of the Blessed Realm and looked back toward Middle-Earth where the sky was now night. He looked up into the stars and found him: Eärendil, brightest of stars. Somewhere, he knew, Arwen was looking at the same star and thinking of him. She was not so far away. She was only on the other side of the star.
A deep voice spoke inside his head. “I am proud of you, my son.”
Elrond looked up again at the Mariner, sailing across the sky. He knew he had done the right thing. Arwen was happy, as was Aragorn. There was no way to bring her back to him now, but he didn’t feel like he had even left her. She was still nearby, watching their ancestor pass into the new sunrise.
Summary: Elrond is leaving for the Grey Havens, and Arwen is planning to stay with Aragorn. Can he learn to make the right choice?
Rating: K/G.
Disclaimer: I make no profit from anything created by Tolkien and do not claim it as mine.
Elrond knew the day was coming. The Three Elven Rings would have to leave Middle-Earth, along with their masters. He did not dread it. He knew what awaited him. White shores, green grass, and lost loved ones. He tried to think of these things as he stood on the balcony of the King of Gondor’s palace, a white pinnacle in the dark night. He was leaving for the Grey Havens the next day and had come to bid a last goodbye to his daughter and son-in-law.
That was the trouble. Of all the lost family and friends he would see in Valinor, there was one face he would never see again: Arwen. The Evenstar of her people, and his only daughter. He had done everything he could to take her with him, or at least all he could bring himself to do. But he knew her mind was made up. He looked up at the deep, black sky pierced with tiny, white, glowing stars. “Ai, Elbereth Gilthoniel,” he sighed, “if only she would understand what was best for her.”
“Is everything all right, Ada?” a woman’s voice asked.
Arwen walked slowly, gracefully to her father’s side, followed by Aragorn. Elrond tensed. He loved Aragorn like his own son, but he still felt that he was the one taking Arwen from him. Aragorn was the one stealing his Evenstar and because of him, her light would one day burn out. Arwen’s father contained his feelings and spoke to Arwen, “Yes, everything is fine. I’m just thinking about…tomorrow.”
She nodded, knowing how he felt. She didn’t want to leave him either, but she loved Aragorn and wanted to stay with him, no matter what it cost. Aragorn looked at his father-in-law and his wife. He knew how hard this was for both of them. He didn’t want Arwen to feel any pain. But Arwen had firmly decided to stay with him, and now they were married, so the separation of father and daughter was inevitable. He also knew what Elrond thought about whose fault it was that Arwen was staying, and he knew it was true. She stayed for him.
The three were silent for a while, gazing at the stars. “They certainly do look lovely tonight,” Aragorn commented, breaking the silence.
“Yes,” Elrond agreed, but very quietly. Talking to Aragorn was not going to make him feel any better.
Arwen could tell what was going on. Elrond was not happy with Aragorn at all, but he wouldn’t say it. She looked at her father, then up to the sky, trying to think of something to say so they wouldn’t part in anger. “Do you remember,” she asked her father, “when you used to tell me those stories about our ancestors? I always loved those stories. Remember the one about the Silmaril?”
“Yes, but which one?” Elrond replied, facing her now, “Our family’s fate has ever been intertwined with that of the Silmarils and mortal Men.” He glanced at Aragorn now, his gaze cold.
“You said it shone brighter than any of the stars, or even the sun,” she reminded him.
He smiled. “I may have exaggerated a bit.”
“I doubt that,” Aragorn said, “Not that I have ever seen it for myself, but I have heard that it was made from the light of the Trees of Light during their lifetime, and from them also come the sun and moon. I would think it would be at least equal to their light.”
“You have seen it, Estel,” Elrond said, now using Aragorn’s boyhood name. That seemed like a positive sign. “It is upon the brow of my father, and Arwen’s grandfather, as he sails across the sky. Eärendil is his name. I believe…yes, there he is now.” He pointed at a bright star in the heavens, outshining all the rest. It was from there that the Peredhel family traced their lineage. That star was what gave them their light.
“He is your ancestor too,” Elrond pointed out to Aragorn, “The father of my brother. You would so well to learn a bit more of your heritage.” But as he spoke, he thought about what he said. Aragorn was not so far from him as he normally perceived. They both claimed the heritage of Eärendil, just like they both claimed the love of the Evenstar.
“I knew of that,” Aragorn said, “I was not such a terrible pupil growing up, was I? A King must know these things. It will be my hope that none of my people will ever forget where we come from. We share the same light as Beren, Lúthien, Eäendil, and so many others.” He took Arwen’s hand. “And now, my house shall have another bond with yours. From now on, my decedents shall be able to look back and trace their lineage back to Elrond Half-Elven, Keeper of Vilya, the Ring of Water, and Lord of Imladris. You do not know how honored I am to share my people with your people once more.”
Elrond was surprised. He was not sure what to say. Sharing his daughter with a Man was the last thing he wanted to do, but now other things were coming to mind. He had loved Estel as a boy and raised him. There was little wouldn’t have done for him. How could he be angry with him now? Were they not both of the line of Eärendil the Mariner, the brightest star in the sky? And was not Arwen the same? He had always wished her to have what she wanted, and now she wanted Aragorn. The look on her face at the wedding had been pure joy, lighting up brighter than the stars in the sky. How could he hold this feeling against both of them?
As they walked back indoors, Elrond touched his daughter on the shoulder. Arwen turned around, knowing he wanted to talk with her. Aragorn saw this, but kept walking. He knew when he was not wanted.
Father and daughter withdrew to the side of the hallway. Arwen hoped her father would not be upset, or try again to convince her to leave. She knew she was going to stay, though she would miss him terribly. She waited for him to speak.
As soon as Aragorn was out of earshot, Elrond asked, “Will you be all right?”
“Yes, Ada,” she answered, “I will be fine. I have a life here now, and it is a good one.”
“But you could have another,” he explained, knowing already what her response would be, but talking anyway, “and you would live forever with all of the others who have gone already.”
“Ada,” she said, “I have given my place to Frodo. He going with you, is he not?”
“Yes, he is,” Elrond admitted, “but surely the Valar could find a way for you to stay in Valinor with your kin. They are merciful. I know you love him, but you could be so much happier with your people, with me.” Even as he spoke, he felt less sure than the last time they had argued about this. He knew he couldn’t persuade her and that she had an even better reason to stay now. He just couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
“Ada,” she said, “you remember the tales you told me of Eärendil. You have not seen him since childhood, and he will not be waiting for you on the white shores of the Blessed Realm. Yet he is close to you, always shining his light upon the world to remind you of who he is, and who you are. I may not carry a Silmaril upon my brow, but you need not feel separated from me forever. The light of the Evenstar may fade one day, but until then, I will not be far from you. Eärendil looks after me as well, and I know you shall see him even from across the Sea. When you look at him, think of me, and I will not seem so far away. I will do the same. I know he would approve of this. He would be proud of you for letting me go, for it is a hard thing to do. He will remind you of me, and keep me close to you until the end of all days. I will miss you, Ada.”
She embraced him tightly, and he held onto her, knowing he had to let her go, but not at all wanting to. He held back tears, though he wasn’t sure if they were meant for his sadness or her joy. When they finally let go, he walked her to her bed chamber silently, holding her hand as he had when she had been a little girl. As she whispered “Good night,” and closed the door, he felt some odd sense of relief that he hadn’t expected. She was ready to leave him, and he was ready to say goodbye.
The next day, Elrond left for the Grey Havens, and soon set sail with Galadriel, Gandalf, Círdan, and the two Hobbits: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. When they came to the white shores, shining like silver glass, he stepped upon the land of the Blessed Realm and looked back toward Middle-Earth where the sky was now night. He looked up into the stars and found him: Eärendil, brightest of stars. Somewhere, he knew, Arwen was looking at the same star and thinking of him. She was not so far away. She was only on the other side of the star.
A deep voice spoke inside his head. “I am proud of you, my son.”
Elrond looked up again at the Mariner, sailing across the sky. He knew he had done the right thing. Arwen was happy, as was Aragorn. There was no way to bring her back to him now, but he didn’t feel like he had even left her. She was still nearby, watching their ancestor pass into the new sunrise.