A Glimpse in a Mirror (Nothing to do with Galadriel)

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The elf runs the brush through her dark hair idly. Twelve days now, Arwen thought. Twelve days since he had left, and all her thoughts went with him. she said quietly. She turned towards her loom thoughtfully, but she could not bring herself to return to weaving. She wanted, more than anything to be with him now.

She turned away from the loom and returned to brushing her hair. She felt useless. Useless, idle, lonely. Luthien had helped Beren in his quest, but what did she do? She stayed here safe in Rivendell, weaving and brushing her hair. She glowered into her mirror at her flawless reflection. Fair skin, midnight hair, deep eyes, delicate features, perfect. Boring perfect. Useless perfect. Perfect like a delicate ornament placed on the mantle, but that served no function.

She blinked suddenly, for as if her thoughts had effected the mirror, it seemed to cloud over. She drew back, puzzled. There was nothing magic about her mirror. It wasa simple reflecting glass. Slowly the mist within it seemed to clear, and she was looking at herself again . . . .

No, she wasn't! Her face, yes, but the woman staring back at her was almost unrecognizable. There was purpose in her eyes, and she was dressed in armor, not the white gown Arwen now wore. There was a sword at her hip, and she looked almost stern. This woman had meaning in her life and freedom. She did things, besides weaving and being beautiful. She was active, not a passive milk-white elven maiden.

Arwen almost hated the reflection of herself. It wasn't fair, she thought. Why can't I be like that? Why can't I *do* something? Why can't I be worthy, like she is? She clenched her hand around the brush, as her other self's eyes met her own. What she saw there made it worse. Not disgust at this weaker self, but pity.

Then the mirror misted over again. Arwen stared at her own reflection and hated herself for being weak.

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Note: Come on, give movie Arwen a break! Tolkien's weak point was his *lack* of strong female characters (Eowyn was strong, maybe, but everything she did in the book was done for the sake of a school-girl's crush! Galadriel's better, but all she does is give gifts and advice; she's passive too.) Don't complain about Peter Jackson fixing the only weak point of the books. -- Lady Belegwen Lightningblade.