King's Heart

Posted: April 2004
Title: King's Heart
Author: Fimbrethiel
Type: FCHet
Characters: Arwen/Aragorn
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Tolkien is the master. No harm intended, no profit made.
Warnings: None, except major fluffiness
Summary: Arwen reflects on her love for Aragorn in the moments before their wedding.

Author's Notes: I've always been a sucker for the deep and abiding love between Arwen and Aragorn. I mean, she gave up the Undying Lands for him. What could possibly say "I love you" more than that? He must have been something else.

*****

I stand on the dais, watching him and waiting for him, the one who stole my heart. He looks, at last, like one who is finally at peace after a long hard labor. And indeed, he is. His peace has come at a price. He is care-worn, yet I see joy etched in the lines on his face. His toils have taken him far from me, yet I do not begrudge him this. His sacrifices have ensured that his race, the race of Men, will go on. The time of my kin is over, they are leaving these shores to the Undying Lands. I will not go with them. My choice is made.

I have waited so long for this day and now that it is finally here, I can scarce believe it.

The first time I saw him, in the sunny glades of Imladris, he was naught but a gangling colt to my eyes, my eyes that had seen thousands of the years of Men already. He was all eyes, long legs and arms, but I could see that under the awkwardness of youth he would mature into a powerful, proud one. Oh yes, my Estel, indeed he did. I knew in those few moments he was destined for greatness, for although he spoke with the rashness typical of the young of Men, his words were tempered with something else - the wisdom of our people. I knew of the sons of Kings my father had taken in, though I had never met this one. I had known his father and his father's father. But this one… this one was different. Yes, I knew at that moment this one was unlike his fathers before him.

I remember the first time we kissed, upon the mounds of Cerin Amroth. I knew the moment his lips touched mine in the most hesitant of kisses that I was lost. Utterly lost. We plighted our troth and I knew then that I would do anything; give up everything, for this Man. The fate of the Eldar was not for me, nay, I would forego of eternal life for this one. His body had grown since I had seen him last. He had developed the broadness of shoulder and the strength of limb typical of his kind, but it was more than that. His eyes spoke of the promise of deeds that would shake the very foundations of the world.

He touched me and I was helpless to deny him. Me, daughter of Elrond, Lord of Imladris, wisest of our kind, captivated by a mere mortal. The very thought was laughable! Yet I was, brought to quaking helplessness simply by the touch of his hands upon my face. He was so unlike the males I had known, for in my long years the ways of love were well known to me. No blushing virgin was I, but his touches left me trembling like a young maiden. His skin was different, his hair was different, and he loved with a ferocity that must be inherent to his kind. The Edain, with their lives no longer than the blink of an eye to my people, must somehow take advantage of their time on Arda by pouring every fiber of their being into their lovemaking. It was simply his touch that captivated me. His hands… the power in those hands I could feel in my very heart.

I wait for him now, to join with him. I will give up my life for him, as he was willing to do to assure the survival of his kind. I wait for him now, my lover, my soul, my King.

*****

THE END

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