From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 14:09:45

*is walking down the street, having left her little girl with her uncle*

*sees you ahead of her and just stops*

*inhales slowly*

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 14:19:19

*is busy looking in a shop window and nearly walks into you when you stop*

*catches himself at the last second* *brightly* Oh! I'm sorry. I wasn't looking. Eärwen.

*nods and continues past you*



*FREEZES*

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 14:24:58

*turns around on the spot and looks at you without saying anything for the longest time*

Problem, Finwion?

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 14:30:35

*turns back verrrrry slowly*

Problem? No. No problem. Why would there be a problem. ? ! What? How are you how is Galadriel how are you?

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 14:38:45

You have that frown line between your eyebrows, Aro. You're vexed.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 14:43:21

Wow, you remember that, huh? That's sort of funny isn't that funny? *breathes*

*much more calmly* You're not so different now. *baffled apologetic smile* Sorry. I didn't think I was gone that long, is all.

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 14:48:27

*smiles tentatively* You weren't gone that long. I think I just underwent a-- a religious experience -- while you were gone.

I still -- I still don't remember everything but I remember some things. *looks at her feet* Like that frown line?

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 14:53:13

a religious experience

*frowns, wanting to understand* *softly* What does that mean, exactly?

I remember some things

*uncomfortably* It's all still sort of random, isn't it? Well, for me it is, at least. You were really...clear in my mind for a split second there, but... *shrugs*

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 15:10:29

What does that mean, exactly?

It means -- *wipes at her eyes which are suddenly rather damp* -- it means Eru answers prayers. Sometimes, in person.

*bites her lip* *softly* I know you've made your decisions in this life and I can't argue with that, even if I want to. I know that you're Findaráto's father, and Artaher's, and Angaráto's, and Ambaráto's, and *suppresses a choke* Nerwen's, and I know it because I can see you with Findaráto on your knee in your office, trying to stop him from grabbing at your paperwork.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 15:19:45

Sometimes, in person.

*flatly* Are you telling me you talked to God? *really cannot reconcile you with the girl he met two weeks ago for an awkward cup of tea*

*feels his heart beating in his throat* *blinks back tears of his own* Not Galadriel's, though. We can't go back there. I'm not a king anymore. I don't even remember what it means to be one. *sounding mournful* And our kingdom's gone, Eärwen. It's gone. *lamely* Even Findaráto's changed.

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 15:27:03

*nods awkwardly* I couldn't sleep and I met Eru. He's sweet.

Even Findaráto's changed.

She's still Findaráto and she's happy, Aro. That's what's important. *takes a hesitant step towards you* I'm not a queen anymore. What use would I or the children have with a king? And -- and -- I didn't marry you because you were a prince? Or the son of Finwë.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 15:32:06

I couldn't sleep and I met Eru.

*just shakes his head soundlessly* *wonders if you've gone completely mad*

*isn't sure what it says about him that that was his first thought*

*vaguely* She's not that happy. *lets his gaze drop to the ground* I had something to offer you then. ...Why did you marry me?

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 15:36:07

*walks over to you and places her hands on your cheeks* Why did I marry you? Because I was heart-breakingly in love with you. You don't remember?

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 15:41:16

*reaches up and clasps your wrists with both hands*

*can't look at you or answer for a long moment* I have nothing to offer you. I'm only me and I don't even know what that means.

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 15:46:29

*blinks back tears and rests her forehead against yours* You were all I ever wanted. Only you. Whatever that means.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 15:49:31

*in flat-out reaction* I'm not. I mean, clearly I'm not. Right?

*takes a step back from you, amazed at his own hurt vehemence* *without feeling* That wasn't fair of me, I'm sorry.

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 15:52:51

*moves away from you* No. No. It was fair. I was stupid. I was a stupid girl and I thought I'd learned but I haven't, have I?

*takes a deep, shuddering breath and blinks furiously* I -- I should go.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 16:36:57

*becomes aware of just two things: one, you're upset, and two, he's the cause of it*

Hey. No. I'm sorry. *gathers you into his arms* *gently* I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 16:42:37

*breathes in and out slowly, adjusting the nearness of you* And I never, ever meant to hurt you. If I'd known you, if I'd even passed you in the street, I'd still have been young and foolish, but I wouldn't wanted to have made you sad.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 16:45:39

*rubs your back slowly and rests his cheek against your hair* *almost too quietly to be heard* And I...I didn't remember enough to know I'd be sad.

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 16:48:36

*softly* Arafinwë.

*holds on to you tightly, as those she's afraid of letting go of you*

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 16:55:46

*lets go as soon as he thinks he has the strength, feeling a thousand things and not knowing what to make of any of them*

I—I need to go. Clear my head a little, you know?

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 17:01:23

*nods slowly* You do. So do I. *places a gentle kiss on your cheek* I'll see you, Arafinwë.

	From: ingoldo	Date: 05/17/2007 17:06:56

*wants to say just the right thing but finds he can only echo you* I'll see you, Eärwen.

*gets only a few steps away before pressing his fingertips to the cheek you kissed*

	From: telerinprincess	Date: 05/17/2007 17:14:43

*lets out a breath she didn't realised she'd been holding*

*doesn't like this aching feeling at all*