Fire, Steel & Grief by KungFuQueen

TITLE: Fire, Steel & Grief
AUTHOR: KungFuQueen
EMAIL: eas_2000_99@yahoo.com
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Arwen/Aragorn
DISCLAIMER: Standard JRR Tolkien/New Line Cinema disclaimers apply.
FEEDBACK: To the email address above.
SUMMARY: Arwen sits by her King's death bed

*

The servants bustled in and out uncomfortably bringing more warm water and fruit in, sensing the grim atmosphere in the room. But she took no notice of them. Her eyes stayed on her king. So long ago it was, that in the forests of Imladris she had met a young ranger by the name of Aragorn. And yet... it only seemed like yesterday Arwen had set eyes on him.

Aragorn looked at her through his half slitted eyes and noticed her distraught look. "What troubles your thoughts, love?" he murmured weakly.

Arwen turned to him. "Naught that has already been shown to you. Or need trouble your attention, dearest."

Aragorn smiled dimly. "The time draws near, my Queen." he said, closing his eyes again.

Arwen came closer to him. "Are you in pain?" her voice quavered as she stroked his hair.

Aragorn shook his head. "Only in my heart." he said in a raspy voice that shook.

Arwen forced her tears back and made herself be strong for her King.

She could not find the words to speak, however, for her heart was much too heavy with sorrow. Sorrow she had not felt since Celebrian had sailed west. Sorrow she had felt when she departed from Elrond and her brothers. Oh Estel, go not from me! I am not ready, we have spent so very little time together and though Gondor's troubles have been small, we have not spent nearly enough time in each other's presence.

Aragorn spoke before her.

"Tell me..." he began, his breaths becoming more and more shallow at every draw.

"If you could do it again-"

"Unconditionally." she cut him off, the tears streaming like a river down her cheek.

Aragorn took a pause that scared Arwen, but he spoke again. "You pass the chance to ever see your mother again, and-"

"A thousand times over, I would chose exile over the pain of being without you!"

Aragorn smiled up at her, and took another pause. This time, it was more struggled and painful.

"The only reason I am the man I am today..... is because of you."

Arwen laid her head on his chest. "Oh Estel! please, stay longer, do not go from me, please-" she sobbed.

"Ssshh...sshhh..." he chided, stroking her hair and kissing her head.

"Do not think of anything. Just... just sing to me, nightingale.... sing."

And so, with great grief Arwen sung the song of Luthien Tinuviel to her dying king.

Arwen knew he had left her when she ended the powerful song. But she kept her head there and wept. A great and powerful sorrow, perhaps greater than departing her family, lugged her soul down. Queen Arwen stayed there for a great while, no longer weeping, but reflecting. In all the three thousand years she had walked Middle-earth, she had known no pain such as this parting.

"My king," she murmured, rising from where she had rested her head.

"You have broken my heart in the stopping of your own." she said this, and trembling, she arose from her place by Isildur's heir's side, where she had spent many years, and drifted away.

There were only three ways an elf can be killed. That is fire, steel, and grief.

But Arwen was no longer an elf, and so she was susceptible to all three even now.

But especially the third.