The Edge of Night

Leaving Imlandris

Slowly, Alatauriel fixated her saddle on top of her horse. The palomino, christened Tuarwen by her mother Celebrian, shook out her pearly mane in greeting. The horse's piercingly green eyes staring at her intently, as if trying to understand her master's feelings. Alatauriel sighed. She did not particularly want to leave her home in Rivendell. She did not want to leave her father, her brothers, or her twin sister. Her mother was already overseas, having been captured and tortured by orcs. Alataruriel shuddered at the very thought. She remembered her father and sister panicking and she and her brothers packing up their horses and charging the orc camp. They managed to rescue their mother and several other elves, but all of the captives never got over it. Eventually, they all had to sail across to the West that very same year.

"Tari?" Her twin sister Arwen's voice broke Alataruriel out of her thoughts and she turned. Arwen was rushing towards her, her dress flowing behind her.

"Arwen?" She barely had time to open her arms slightly before Arwen rushed into them. She could feel hot drops of Arwen's tears dropping onto her riding outfit. "Arwen, please do not cry! I will be back again, you know that." Arwen looked up, her eyes puffy, but still smiling.

"Ah, I do, but I will miss you so."

"But you were at Caras Galadhon, not…" Alatauriel cut off. A figure had just walked through the stable doors. It was Aragorn, the man who was here under their father's protection. She barely left her chambers, so she had only seen him once and had never talked to him before. His gaze drifted to them and he started.

"Oh! my Lady," he said, bowing deeply to Arwen, "I am sorry. I did not see you. I surely hope I am not interrupting you, am I?"

"No, no, not at all," replied Arwen. His eyes strayed to Alatauriel.

"I do not believe we have been introduced yet. My name is Aragorn, Son of Arathorn."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, my Lord. My name is Alatauriel. But it is such a long name to say, most beings call me a shortened version; Tari."

"So you are Arwen's twin sister? The one I keep hearing about, but have never met?" Lady Tari nodded. "Well, it is a pleasure meeting you, Lady… Is it all right if I call you Tari?"

"Why, yes of course, Lord Aragorn."

"Then it was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Tari. If you do not mind me intruding on your privacy, are you going somewhere, milady?"

"Now that you bring it up, yes. I am leaving for the city of Caras Galadhon to live with my mother's family, who rule over the city itself."

"Lothlorien? What business do you have there?" 

"My business there is mine and mine alone."

Aragorn bowed his head. "I am sorry if I offended you in any way."

"Not at all, Lord Aragorn." She smiled, trying to assure him she took no offsense. It obviously worked. Aragorn raised his head again. 

If I may ask, how long is the ride to Lothlorien?"

"About a week, as the eagle flies."

"That is a very long trip, milady!"

"It is. I will have to pack much more. I will have to see if poor Tuarwen will be able to make the trip." She patted the horse's golden coat.

"Would you like some help gathering supplies?"

"If you would be so kind, I would. Thank you so much, Lord Aragorn!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Aragorn and Lady Tari came back with all of the remaining supplies, they found Arwen waiting for him.

"You might want to consider putting the supplies into sealed bags so they don't fall out while you are riding, Tari," she said.

"Good idea, my Lady," said Aragorn, a little too enthusiastically for Lady Tari's liking. It did not take much brainpower to realize that Aragorn and Arwen had something going on. Gently, Aragorn placed all of the supplies, now in sealed bags, into the saddlebags of Tuarwen. Carefully, Lady Tari climbed onto Tuarwen. Now on her horse, she swung her cloak around her and flicked Tuarwen's reins. The palomino horse stared forward and out of the stable.

"Goodbye, Lady Tari!" Lady Tari heard Arwen and Lord Aragorn call out.

"I shall be back soon, friends! Goodbye!" called Lady Tari and, after turning and waving, flicked Tuarwen's reins and galloped off into the rising sun towards Lothlorien.