Sára-lissë - Bittersweet by Erin's Daugher (R)

[melina123.livejournal.com]

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Aragorn/Arwen
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

It's fairly rare that a story about Aragorn and Arwen gives some real due to what she has sacrificed. This story does so in a way that is both joyful and heart-wrenching at the same time. Written from Arwen's point of view to Aragorn, she reflects on what they have both gained and lost:

After a moment’s silence, you turned to me, sweeping your hand out over the city and the land in which it sat, "Is it enough, Arwen? Is it enough for the price you will pay?"

Surprised at the bitterness in the words, I searched your face. You were watching me and I realised that even then, still you feared my regret, feared it so much you were trembling with the force of it. Smoothing hair away from the circlet on your brow, I spoke the words that would silence doubt forever, "No. It is not. Though I will love this land and its people, my decision was not made for them. It is you who is enough, I ask for nothing more."

You caught your breath, trapped between joy and remorse, believing me, yet held out of time, struggling with the enormity of what we had done.

There is sorrow here as well as joy -- but no despair. The title describes this story perfectly.

Sára-lissë - Bittersweet by Erin's Daughter

The follow-up is from Celeborn's POV: A Quiet Love by Erin's Daughter