Prequel to my version of The Lord of The Rings trilogy

The Evenstar

It was a quiet night. The stars were scattered across the sky, their soft glow barely illuminating the dark plains surrounding the camp. Aragorn sat a little distance away from the others, leaning against a tree. His hand brushed the Evenstar pendant around his neck as he inhaled deeply from his vape pen. The smoke swirled up into the night air, dissolving slowly as he exhaled, his thoughts lingering on Arwen.

"Thinking of Arwen, are we?" a familiar voice broke through the silence.

Aragorn turned, surprised to see Liv approaching. She walked with a calm confidence, her gaze gentle as it met his.

"How did you know?" Aragorn asked, a faint smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

Liv smiled back, sitting down next to him. "Aragorn, it's impossible to lie to me. And besides, I know you too well by now."

Aragorn chuckled softly. "You always seem to have that gift, Liv."

She gave him a playful nudge. "It's a burden and a blessing."

A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment, the distant crackle of the campfire and the quiet murmur of soldiers mingling with the sound of the night wind.

"Can I ask you something?" Aragorn spoke up after a while, his voice contemplative.

Liv turned her head, her gaze softening. "Of course, Aragorn. You can ask me anything."

He hesitated, turning the Evenstar pendant over in his hand, the cool metal pressing against his palm. "How did you know you wanted to be with David?" His eyes met hers, a mix of curiosity and perhaps a hint of uncertainty behind them.

Liv took a deep breath, her expression turning thoughtful. "I just knew," she replied quietly, a small smile touching her lips. "Even though I'm only 15, I feel it deep inside me. There's something about David... when I look at him, I feel this sense of peace. And when I look at Lily..." Her voice softened as she spoke of her daughter. "I see so much of him in her. It's like... everything makes sense."

Aragorn nodded, absorbing her words. "You make it sound so simple," he mused, his mind wandering back to Arwen and the impossible choices they had faced.

Liv leaned closer, her voice low and comforting. "Sometimes, when love is real, it is simple. Even if the world around you makes it complicated."

Aragorn stared at the ground for a moment before taking another long pull from his vape. "I just wish it were as simple for me and Arwen. The path we've chosen... it's not an easy one."

Liv reached out, resting a hand on his arm. "But it's your path, Aragorn. You and Arwen are meant for each other, no matter how difficult it may seem."

Aragorn smiled, grateful for her words, though the weight of his choice still lingered in the back of his mind. "Thank you, Liv. You always seem to know what to say."

Liv stood, stretching a little. "That's what friends are for. Now, don't stay up too late. You've got a long journey ahead tomorrow."

With that, she left him to his thoughts once more, the soft sound of her footsteps fading into the distance.

The next day, the sun rose high in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the plains of Rohan. Aragorn rode silently at the front of the company, the weight of the Evenstar pendant heavy around his neck. It glimmered faintly in the sunlight, catching the eye of Eowyn as she walked beside him.

"Where is she?" Eowyn asked softly, her gaze lingering on the jewel. "The woman who gave you that pendant."

Aragorn's expression grew distant, the memories of Arwen clouding his thoughts. He could feel Eowyn's eyes on him, waiting for an answer.

"My lord?" she pressed gently, her voice tinged with concern.

Aragorn exhaled, his voice low and thoughtful as he finally responded. "She is sailing to the Undying Lands... with all that remains of her kin."

Eowyn's brow furrowed slightly. "And you let her go? Did you not fight for her?" There was an edge of disbelief in her voice, though she tried to mask it with her usual grace.

Aragorn turned to face her fully now, his gaze steady. "Arwen chose her path, as I chose mine. Our fates are bound by more than just love, Lady Eowyn. There is duty, destiny... and sacrifice."

"But love... isn't that worth fighting for?" Eowyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Love is always worth fighting for," Aragorn replied gently, "but sometimes... it is also worth letting go."

They rode on in silence after that, the tension between them thick, but unspoken. Eowyn's heart was heavy, though she would never admit it. She looked forward, her thoughts swirling with questions she didn't dare ask.

Aragorn, meanwhile, clutched the Evenstar tightly, as though by holding it, he could somehow feel Arwen's presence beside him, even from a world away.

As the day stretched on, the path ahead became clearer, though the journey was far from over—for either of them.