Thorodriel

Chapter 3 - Home

Thorodriel: Chapter 3 – Home

After soaking in the warm bath until her fingertips wrinkled, Aeweneth decided it was eventually time to head up to her room. Still worried about Gandalf, she grabbed her belongings and headed up the stairs to her small hideaway at the rear of the building. Upon arrival, she realised just how right her father had been. Not a single thing was out of place and everything was just as she'd left it. It was like a shrine to the past: every book rested in the exact same position, her hairbrush still lay on her bedside table, and even the small collection of jewellery she had collected over the years remained scattered over her dresser. Aeweneth sighed and looked to the ceiling, holding back her tears. She knew coming home would be hard, but had hoped that in the centuries she had been away her family would have moved on slightly.

"Focus on Gandalf," she told herself, "this isn't about you, remember."

She finally composed herself and walked to her closet, guessing if the rest of the room was the same then her clothing choices would also be frozen in time. Sure enough, inside the wardrobe was rails of familiar dresses and tunics. She eventually chose one of the more practical outfits that she had left behind all those years ago and began to change.

She had just managed to tie the final knot in her green velvet tunic when a familiar presence tugged at her consciousness. Aeweneth did not need to turn around to know who had come to find her.

"So, you're back then?"

She had been expecting this reunion for some time but had hoped to put it off. Out of all her siblings, Arwen had understood Aeweneth's need to leave Rivendell the least. Their parting had not been peaceful in the slightest. She loved her sister dearly, but the pair had never been as close as Aeweneth and her brothers. Finally, the younger elf turned around and saw the Evenstar in all her brilliance. There was no denying that she was beautiful. Ever the opposite of her younger, more reclusive sister, Arwen's dark hair fell gracefully down her back like the river at the edge of her home and her bright eyes appeared to reflect the light of the stars themselves.

"I don't know for how long," Aeweneth eventually answered, "Did ada update you?"

"Not fully but I know the general idea. I believe he intends to call a council meeting but is waiting for Gandalf's arrival before officially inviting anyone."

At the mention of her old friend, worry stirred in the mind of Aeweneth once more and she forced herself to hold onto hope.

The two elves stood in silence for a moment, unsure as to how to continue, before Arwen eventually made her way into the room and sat on the bed.

"I have sat here alone quite often over the years muinthel... it's strange to see you here again after such a long time."

Aeweneth did not know how to reply, so simply shrugged and sat beside her sister.

"I missed you," Arwen whispered, her voice breaking as though she were about to cry.

The emotion took Aeweneth back for a moment. She knew her sister was hurt by her leaving, but the older elf was not one to openly show emotion often. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about all the years Arwen must have spent alone in this refuge.

"I am sorry Arwen," she started. For once the apology did not feel forced, even if it did come too late. "but you know why I had to leave. I couldn't stay here anymore, not when..." She stopped herself before the tears could fall and took a deep breath. She had come here to help Gandalf not dwell on the past, but her sister deserved an explanation. "...not when I couldn't sleep at night in fear of the shadows. Not when every single thing in this fucking place reminded me of her. Not when... not when ada couldn't even look me in the eye."

There was no stopping the tears now and they flowed freely down Aeweneth's cheeks. She had healed considerably in her years away from home, but the pain was still raw when she thought back to those dark times in her past. Turning to Arwen, she noticed that her sister's face was also stained with tears.

"I know all of that," the older elf eventually replied, "but it didn't make it any easier to see you leave. I needed you Aeweneth. I lost my mother too, remember. And then you left, and I lost my sister as well."

For the first time in centuries, Aeweneth felt like she finally understood Arwen. All those years of hostility and confusion seemed to fade and another small crack in her soul healed. The pair met each-others watery gaze and Aeweneth took her sister's hand in a tight hold.

"I'm sorry, Arwen. I'm home now."

The slight nod from her sister was all it took to settle the conflict between them. Soon the pair were in a tight, familial embrace and feelings of love, regret, and loss all combined in a single moment.

***

"Are we interrupting" came a familiar voice from the doorway.

After making up, Aeweneth and Arwen had soon got to work updating each-other on their lives. Whilst Aeweneth's news surrounded her gift and various adventures with Gandalf, her sister's tales were all the more exciting. Scandalously, Arwen was in love with a human, and Aeweneth couldn't wait to meet the mysterious man who had caught her sister's heart. It was only a matter of time, however, before her cocky older brothers heard of her return and made their presence known.

"Not at all," she said grinning, before running at the pair full speed.

Elrohir caught her in a hug as she leapt at them. Aeweneth had missed her brothers immensely. Before leaving home, they had been extremely close and, given their shared experiences, were her main source of comfort and support in Rivendell. She squeezed Elrohir tightly before turning to his double and repeating her actions. The twins had grown over the years, and seeing them again warmed her heart.

"Did you miss me?" She joked, with a hint of anxiety.

"Of course we did muinthel," said Elladan with a smirk, scruffing up her hair as he always did, "but the place sure was a lot quieter without you."

"Yeh, I heard you brought a load of trouble home with you as per usual" Elrohir added.

Aeweneth flattened her hair and rolled her eyes.

"I don't deliberately get myself into these situations, you know." She replied defensively.

The room immediately sobered and memories of the past flickered in her brother's eyes.

"We know that muinthel," Elladan responded.

The previously happy atmosphere was suddenly dampened. Whilst the four had been through a lot, none of the siblings wanted to dwell on the past. The times ahead were too dark to focus on the things they had lost. They had all lived in sorrow for too long and it was time to move on. Glancing at Arwen and clearing the lump in her throat, Aeweneth decided to be the one to start:

"So, what have you guys been doing all day whilst we were holed up here catching up?"

Happy for the change of topic, the twin's sombre gazes quickly turned back into familiar smirks.

"Well we were just about to head down to the gardens and spar, but I doubt that's the sort of activities weak women such as yourselves would be interested in" Elladan commented playfully.

"Yeh, we wouldn't want you breaking a heel" added his twin with a wink.

Aeweneth was thrilled at the challenge and soon both she and her sister were grinning in excitement. The elf quickly grabbed her twin blades and turned to her brothers conspiratorially.

"Oh, so you're wanting a real fight, huh?" She spun the weapon in her hand and winked at her sister, "I guess it would be a shame if these weak women beat your arses."

Her brother's smile grew tenfold, "There's the little hell beast we all love and missed".

She laughed out loud and headed down the corridor towards the gardens, prepared to show her siblings what she had learned in her years away from home. Turning to them, she winked and added:

"Oh and forget all that grace and finesse crap you taught me; I fight dirty now. Let's just hope you pampered twats haven't gone too soft while I've been away!"