well gosh, the race of Men is more stubborn than Durin's folk when they want to be. see if she ever offers to be an arwenbrella again

So it is true. She had hopes that her ears had misheard the instructions and muttering between other captives, that they were mistaken somehow. Surely no civilization could be so barbaric as to sacrifice their own citizens. Or even strangers, and somehow that strikes her as even colder.

Arwen remains silent, absorbing what he's said, and what she understands, while her fingers soon resume brushing against his stubble.

"What if someone refuses to participate?" She's not so bold as to declare her intentions right away, though Aragorn will most likely suspect them (he has a nigh supernatural ability to ferret out her thoughts when desired), but games have rules. They may be bizarre or arbitrarily applied, certainly, but they will set down somewhere. "Do they have a penalty?"

As much as she doesn't want to know, it would be far worse to jump into trouble un-informed, than with eyes wide open.