"Your timing is truly impeccable, my friend."
At Rivendell, upon hearing of Levi's arrival, Elrond personally came out to greet him.
"Impeccable? How so?"
Levi handed his horse to the stablehand, again instructing them to simply place the horse in the stables without special care, then followed Elrond for a walk through the grounds.
Elrond spoke slowly, choosing his words with care. "Estel has come of age. He is about to depart for the outside world for true trials."
"Before this, I plan to tell him his true name, his origins, and everything about his family."
Yes, the current Aragorn did not even know his real name. Everyone he could contact called him by the name Estel—Hope in the Sindarin tongue.
This was a form of protection.
But now he had grown into a man. It was time for that protection to fall away.
"It is indeed time," Levi agreed. "Some truths he must face himself."
"Indeed."
The two spoke in words few could understand, like speaking in riddles.
"Where is he now?"
"Probably in the garden. I will take you to see him."
Levi nodded.
"The last time I saw him was over ten years ago. Let me see how much that young man has grown, whether he has become stronger."
"It is not just growing taller..."
Elrond said this cryptically, sighing slightly.
"Oh?"
In the garden, the young Dúnedain chieftain walked with measured steps, his eyes moving as if searching for something.
"Estel..."
Suddenly, a clear voice called from behind.
An elven maiden appeared silently behind him.
Aragorn turned, his eyes brightening instantly.
Before him stood a noble maiden as ethereal and beautiful as stars appearing at twilight—dark hair cascading like a river of night, grey eyes holding the light of distant ages.
"Arwen."
Aragorn immediately walked over, taking her hand gently.
Arwen smiled softly. The two maintained a comfortable distance, sitting together on a stone bench by the fountain, enjoying this moment of tranquility. Water trickled musically behind them, and somewhere a bird sang.
"This lad has really grown up."
On a distant terrace, Levi observed the intimate hand-holding between human and elf, while Elrond rubbed his temples beside him.
"This is what I meant."
The old father sighed deeply, quite troubled.
"The end of love between elves and mortals can only be endless sorrow."
As a father, Elrond clearly did not wish to see his daughter walk such a path.
"Happy times are always brief. In the long years afterward, what can fill her empty heart?"
Elves could die from excessive grief—fade from the world entirely.
And Arwen, this maiden so beautiful that even elves described her as star-like, her foretold ending was indeed to voluntarily give up her immortal life from sorrow, dying as mortals do.
"Not necessarily. Life always has meaning. If one merely has a long existence, but nothing particularly worth caring about in that life, is that long life truly meaningful?"
"She still has family—me and her two brothers."
"But now she has met someone she cares for more, has she not?"
"How can you say that? Nothing is decided yet. We have been together thousands of years, while they have known each other barely a year."
Elrond shook his head stubbornly.
"Perhaps this is just a youthful impulse," he said, though he did not quite believe his own words.
The two continued their observations from the terrace, speaking in low voices.
Meanwhile, Aragorn and Arwen remained completely unaware of their audience.
After discussing for a while, the two observers felt their behavior seemed inappropriate.
Best give the young ones some privacy.
So only Aragorn and Arwen remained by the fountain.
Moments later, the two bid each other a reluctant farewell.
This brief meeting ended—they had merely sat together viewing the garden, with few words spoken and hand-holding as their most intimate contact.
Quite inexperienced, both of them.
"Tomorrow then. Tomorrow Aragorn will learn his identity."
Elsewhere, Elrond finalized the schedule, pacing his study.
It's hard to say whether he was not somewhat provoked into hastily arranging Aragorn's departure for external training.
Levi said from the side, "I have something to give him. Remember to summon me when the time comes."
"Of course. I was planning to invite you to witness it—not just for my sake. Estel will be very pleased as well."
"But I am curious—what are you giving Estel?"
"You will know tomorrow."
Leaving this statement, Levi departed.
Elrond remained in place thinking, then shook his head after a moment, abandoning speculation about Levi's intentions.
As for Levi, he headed straight to Glorfindel's dwelling, enjoyed a light meal, then prepared some food himself—a small impromptu gathering between old friends.
In Rivendell, time always passed strangely, as if moving at a different pace than the outside world.
Here, whether moving or still, things would not change even after hundreds or thousands of years. Staying here without deliberate tracking, it was difficult to judge how much time had passed by observing one's surroundings alone.
In a blink, it was the next day.
On this day, Levi and Elrond walked side by side into a great hall with high arched ceilings and tapestries depicting ancient deeds.
Someone was already waiting there before them.
"Uncle Levi!"
Upon seeing the arrivals, Aragorn immediately called out and came over to greet them, his face bright with genuine pleasure.
"Long time no see, Ara... Estel."
Elrond, who had been smiling slightly, suddenly turned his head, looking at Levi with puzzlement.
I did not mention Estel's true name yesterday, did I?
Just now... was it my imagination?
Not noticing Elrond's unusual reaction, Levi patted Aragorn's shoulder, unable to help sighing with emotion.
"Seems like just yesterday you were a boy, and now you have already grown taller than me."
This young man stood at least six feet three inches tall.
"In my heart, you will always be someone I must look up to," Aragorn responded with sincere modesty.
"Who can say about the future? After all, your journey has only just begun."
"I am ready." Aragorn nodded firmly.
The current Aragorn only knew he was about to embark on rather long-term training—as for other matters, he knew little.
"I did not expect you to come personally. I am quite honored."
He continued speaking with Levi, his tone warm with affection.
"Levi said he has something to give you," Elrond spoke to draw Aragorn's attention.
But due to what his words expressed, Aragorn turned his head expectantly toward Levi.
"But it must wait until after this matter."
Elrond's firm statement pulled his gaze back.
"This matter?"
"Yes."
"Estel, are you prepared to know everything about yourself?"
Aragorn's expression became serious, a shadow of uncertainty crossing his features.
"Everything about myself?"
At this moment, Aragorn's mother Gilraen also entered the hall, standing quietly not far behind him, her face composed but her hands clasped tightly together.
Elrond's voice carried the weight of ages and authority.
"Your true name is Aragorn. Your father was Arathorn, the fifteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain, and you are the sixteenth—the current Dúnedain Chieftain."
He paused, letting the weight of this sink in before continuing.
"Moreover, royal blood flows through your veins—the blood of both Arnor and Gondor. You are the Heir of Isildur."