Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Elrond, Lord of Imladris. We all know her as the elvish maiden who gave up her immortality for a man. But there is more to her story then just that which she gave up. This is a story of her childhood. There have been many different stories and ideas of what her childhood was like. I hope this might open your mind to what could have possibly happened. It is your task, however, to choose which one to believe…

Regarding child development: Elves choose the begetting day (birthday) of their child, and the child is born on the exact day a year later. If baby Arwen seems a little more alert than what you've seen in newborns, I am doing that on purpose. She has had three more months in the womb than a human child, and elvish children develop many skills faster than a human child in their first year of life. "Laws and Customs of the Eldar" tells us that an elfling learns to walk and talk before one year of age, and that they gain mastery of their bodies quite early. In this story, Arwen looks and acts like an eight-year-old would as human, but she is still more developed.

Disclaimer: I own Talathiel, that's about it.

"The day has come," Elrond said, smiling into his wife's eyes.

He got out of bed and helped her change into a white linen frock.

"Yes, I agree, she is ready to come into our world," Celebrian replied as she leaned against her husband's chest.

They then walked down a long corridor and turned to go into the new coming baby's room. The corridor was a long stone path that looked out onto the city and was aligned with pillars. The room smelled of lilacs and white roses. There was a canopied bed in the middle of the room adorned with stone carvings of Elfin Queens from long ago. Elrond easily picked Celebrian up and set her on the bed. He passed his fingers across her enlarged stomach, feeling the baby's little kicks.

Celebrian giggled, "That tickles!" she said.

Elrond smiled and playfully continued to tickle her. Celebrian laughed aloud and gently pushed him away.

"Stop," she whispered, "You'll wake the twins!"

Elrond smiled, "I'm sure they are already awake and on their way here," he replied, "They have been waiting impatiently for three weeks now. I don't think they will be missing their sister's birth."

Just as Elrond finished his sentence, Elladan and Elrohir walked into the room.

"Mother," they exclaimed, "Is it almost time?"

"Time for what?" Celebrian teased.

She laughed. Her laugh was light and merry. It almost reminded the twins of a cool, rushing stream.

"Elladan, go find some towels," Elrond said, "And Elrohir, you may go heat some water."

He then turned around and continued to feel the baby's kicks. In doing this, he could tell the exact time the baby would be born.

"How long?" Celebrian asked.

Elrond thought for a moment and replied, "One hour."

A few minutes later Celebrian's hands jolted to her stomach and she cried out in pain. Elrond rushed to her side and took her hand.

"A contraction?" he asked.

Celebrian nodded, "Yes."

The twins came in again, carrying the water and towels. They were followed by a raven haired elf dressed in a simple, dark blue frock. This was Talathiel, meaning 'plain', Celebrian's 'lady in waiting'. She was the one to bring the baby girl into the world. She hurried to Celebrian's side and gave her a glass of water.

"Now, my lady, take a deep breath in," she said, "Now let it out. In and out, In and out."

Elrond began to concentrate on Celebrian's pain and held her hand so he could bear some of the pain for her. But Celebrian would not let him.

"No, I can handle it myself," she said and braced herself for another contraction.

"Aren't we stubborn this morning," Elrond frowned at his wife's prideful manner and continued to hold her hand.

The minutes passed by and Celebrian's contractions grew closer together. The twins left the room and waited outside. Finally, the top of the hour came. Celebrian's brow was covered in sweat. Elrond wiped it away with a damp cloth.

"Take a deep breath," Talathiel said, "Now push!"

Celebrian braced herself against her husband and pushed with all of her strength. She relaxed again and breathed in deeply.

"Good," Talathiel said, smiling, "Very good. Just a few more."

Elrond took Celebrian's hand again and tried to bear the pain for her. He felt her pain rush through him, to his relief.

She sighed, "Thank you."

It came time for another push and Celebrian braced herself. She felt Elrond's muscular body come up behind her and hold her.

"Push," Talathiel said.

The husband and wife pushed together.

"One more," Talathiel said.

Celebrian pushed with all her might and suddenly the pain stopped. Talathiel took the baby and wiped it clean with warm, wet towels. She then took a clean cloth, wrapped the baby in it, and gave her to Celebrian.

"Lady Celebrian," She said, "Say hello to your new baby girl." She smiled.

Celebrian gasped with delight. "She's so small!" she said.

Elrond smiled and kissed his wife. He then walked out of the room to find Elladan and Elrohir. The three walked in again, their faces full of joy. Elrond kneeled beside Celebrian. The twins stood on the other side of her. Talathiel was cleaning the mess up.

"What will you name her?" Elladan asked. The twins seemed as giddy as a couple of children in a chocolate factory.

"I think you should name her 'Caladwen'" Elrohir said, "After the evening star's light."

"She shall be an evenstar," Elrond said, "I see her future, she shall be a noble lady."

Everyone was silent. Celebrian looked into the gray blue eyes of her newborn.

"Arwen," she said, "Arwen, the evenstar of Imladris."

Elrond smiled and kissed his wife's head. "That isa beautiful name, my love, beautiful," He said.

"Little Arwen," Elladan said as he gently took the baby into his arms.

Elrohir bent over the baby trying to see her.

"Elrohir, you're hovering," Elladan said, annoyed. He turned around.

"No I'm not," Elrohir replied and again bent over the baby.

Elladan quickly turned around, "Yes, you are."

"No, I am not!"

"Yes you are!"

Their voices began to rise. Arwen stared up at the two with wide eyes.

"No, I am not!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

Elrond cleverly took the baby from Elladan and rocked her in his arms. He smiled.

"Where the twins arguing?" He asked her. Arwen cooed. "Yes, I agree. They were being childish, weren't they? Yes, they were."

The twins frowned and walked out of the room.

"Why do you always hover, Elrohir?" Elladan asked.

"I do not!" Elrohir said.

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't"

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't!"

Their voices faded away and finally there was peace in the room again.

"What are we going to do with those two?" Celebrian asked, smiling.

"They get it from their mother," Elrond replied.

Celebrian shot him a glare. Elrond just laughed and handed her the baby girl.

"Talathiel, thank you for your services," he said.

"I am forever at your service, my lord," she said and bowed.

She then took the pale of water and left the room. Celebrian looked into her babies eyes and smiled.

"Arwen," she said, "Arwen Undomiel."

(twelve years later)

Grey clouds covered the sky. Rain drops dripped from the leaves of the trees. There was little light in the room for Arwen to embroider, but still, she wanted to finish it for her brothers before they left.

"Come, Arwen," Celebrian said, "Glorfindel is taking your brothers to the sea. We must bid them farewell."

The little elfling quickly finished tying the knot in her embroidery, folded it up, and put it into a leather pouch that held another piece of embroidery.

"I am coming, mother!" she said with a smile and raced to her mother's side.

The two walked out of the bedroom and into a corridor. Arwen tugged on her mother's hand to hurry her. But Celebrian just steadied her pace and held her daughter back.

"Patience, little one, patience," she said, "Elladan and Elrohir will wait for us."

She looked down into Arwen's gray blue eyes and smiled. They walked on through the long corridor, their shod feet barely making a sound on the stone floor.

"Why do Elladan and Elrohir have to leave?" Arwen asked.

Celebrian smiled at Arwen's curiosity. "Glorfindel will teach them of life in the wild, and perhaps help them grow as elves by taking them to the sea," she replied.

They finally reached the end of the corridor and walked outside to a small stairway. The air smelled of sweet, summer rain from the night before. The ground was moist under their feet.

Elladan, Elrohir, and Glorfindel had just finished packing when Celebrian and Arwen walked out of the trees and into the clearing. Elrond was already standing by Glorfindel, talking to him about the journey. Arwen let go of her mother's hand and ran toward her brothers.

"Elladan!" she said, "Elrohir, I have a present for you!"

She held up the leather pouch to her brothers. Elrohir opened it and pulled out the two pieces of embroidery.

"Thank you, Arwen," He said smiling.

He unfolded the pieces and gave Elladan his. Both had their names embroidered in a midnight blue with gold vines intertwining them.

"They are very beautiful, Arwen," Elladan said, "You have improved greatly over these passed weeks."

He picked her up and gave her a hug. Arwen gave him a kiss on the cheek and hugged Elrohir. She was then set lightly on the ground.

"Am I not loved as well?" Glorfindel asked with sadness.

"Of course you are, Glorfindel!" Arwen said and ran to him with a smile.

Glorfindel swung her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Arwen gave him a hug in return.

"I'll miss you, Glorfindel," she said as she was put back on the ground.

She walked back to her mother's side and watched as the three elves mounted their horses. Seeing them ride pass the city walls made her realize how long it would be before their return. As she thought of the two months of waiting for them a single tear slid down her cheek. She buried her face in her mother's gown and cried in silence. Celebrian picked her up and held her close in comfort.

"Peace, little one, they will return home," she said.

Elrond walked beside her and held her hand, for he knew how much Celebrian would miss them as well.

A short distance away, Talathiel watched from the trees as they walked back to the house of Elrond. Her sharp, crystal eyes flared with ice cold hate. She was now 1,224 years of age. Her service to the lady had been short, on account of her trying to take the dear baby Arwen away. Ever since Arwen had been born, Talathiel had wanted her for herself. When she tried to take Arwen away, Celebrian caught her and forced her to swear that she would stay away from Arwen for as long as she lived. But Talathiel has hidden herself in Imladris, waiting for a chance to take the child away. Now that Glorfindel and the twins were going to be away, she was devising a plan to steal the little Arwen Undomiel.

A/N: Well there ya go. Hope you like it. I've been wanting to do a story like this for a REALLY long time. And I had lots of inspiration for it. (That's why I haven't updated my other stories for so long, hehe, sorry :) Anyways, reviews a GREATLY appreciated. No flames, however, if you feel pissed off at me for writing this, go paintball a cow or something... If you're going to criticize my work, please,NO USELESS criticism, try CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. It helps a lot.