26. The Evenstar
[In the gardens of Rivendell, Arwen and Aragorn stand atop of a bridge. A love song plays softly in the background:
"O môr henion i dhû: Ely siriar, êl síla. Ai! Aníron Undómiel. Tiro! Êl eria e môr. I 'lîr en êl luitha 'úren. Ai! Aníron…"
(From darkness I understand the night: dreams flow, a star shines. Ah! I desire Evenstar. Look! A star rises out of the darkness. The song of the star enchants my heart. Ah! I desire…)]
Arwen: "Renech i lu i erui govannen?" (Do you remember when we first met?)
Aragorn: "Nauthannem i ned ol reniannen." (I thought I had strayed into a dream.)
Arwen: [tenderly touches Aragorn's cheek] "Gwenwin in enninath… U-arnech in naeth i si celich." (Long years have passed… You did not have the cares you carry now.)
Arwen: "Renech i beth i pennen?" (Do you remember what I told you?)
Aragorn: [his fingers run across the pendant on her breast] "You said you'd bind yourself to me. Forsaking the immortal life of your people."
Arwen: "And to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone." [Arwen gives Aragorn the pendant.]
Arwen: "I choose a mortal life."
Aragorn: "You cannot give me this!"
Arwen: "It is mine to give to whom I will… like my heart."
[They kiss.]
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