by Cuthalion
Arwen smiled, and as usual I was stunned somehow by the fact that she was real� that such a being walked this earth, that such loveliness had taken the form of a woman, and more than that� that everything my eyes could see was nothing but a reflection of her inner beauty. That my beloved �owyn felt at home in Gondor, that her free spirit endured the walls of Minas Anor more than a few weeks� all this was not only my doing but also the merit of Aragorn�s Queen. She had coaxed the wild Shieldmaiden of Rohan into their friendship with gentle hands and an open heart, and I would be thankful for that for the rest of my life.
�Are you worried, Faramir?�
The voice of Aragorn was quiet and slightly concerned, and all of a sudden I remembered the reason why I�d asked to see both, the King and his Queen.
�I don�t know if I�m worried,� I said, �but I had a dream I don�t fully understand, and I�m seeking help.�
�Your dreams have often been a sign for the change of fate and times,� Arwen said with her melodious voice. �I would be more than glad if you shared it with us.�
We walked down the garden path, reaching a small pavilion. Benches covered with pillows bordered the walls, and an anticipatory servant had placed a tray on the small table in the middle: there were fruits, crystal glasses and a carafe with deep red wine.
The King sat down, Arwen by his side; he poured some wine in one of the glasses and handed it over to me.
�Tell me of your dream.� he said.
�I stood on a shore�� I closed my eyes to remember every detail. �There was a wide bay, surrounded by beautiful ancient buildings, made of white stone. But no one was there� the streets were empty. It must have been evening, close to sunset� the sky was golden, red and purple, and the ocean seemed to burn where the bay turned to a firth. I walked down to a long quay, and finally I saw someone. It was a woman��
*****
It was a woman, and she was moving as if in a slow and gracious dance. Her arms were lifted up to the blazing glory of the sky, and she was surrounded by birds� hundreds and hundreds of birds, raising from her hands and sailing above her head, carried by a soft breeze.
I stood still in awe. I didn�t dare to speak to her.