Authors note: Constructive critiscism is welcome!
Synopsis: A vignette about Aragorn thinking about Eowyn.
Ghost
In the darkest hour of the night sometimes I will look out of my window. The moon bathes and shimmers over the River Andiun. I allow my eyes to rest there for a moment and then the river will guide me to Ithilien and up to the hills of Emyn Arnen. I taste the smoky flavour of my pipe at the back of my throat and watch the grey clouds unfurling through my nostrils.
Somewhere lost in the wild wind she wanders like a shining star travellling the dark night sky. It is times like this when I wish I had elven eyes for I cannot see her. I imagine she is restless but alive enchanted by the magic of the wind.
Tonight in my dream her soft voice calls to me. It sends me to steal away under the cover of darkness and ride out to meet her. The wind whips the wild grasses into a frenzy as I gallop across the plains. I don't know how long I ride but the hours seem to vanish away quickly. At the front of my mind I am only thinking about her.
Soon I am there at the steps of the place where she lives.
I admire her in the moonlight. She smiles but says nothing. I notice how bare her lips look. I wonder to myself how I could remedy that. She motions me to take a walk with her through the garden she has been tending to all this time. We walk under an archway of blossoming white creepers
"Eowyn." I whisper.
Her eyes are dark and thoughtful but suddenly rain begins to fall over us from the sky. I help her over the wet stones and back into the halls of her house. She is laughing with a glint in her eye. The silver water clings to her hair and eyelashes and I watch the rain shimmer on her lips.
And now we are silent and the light in her eyes tells me to be still. She leans towards me and softly whispers, "There is no longer a place for you in my heart Aragorn. My heart belongs to someone else."
I look down avoiding those grey eyes and feel ashamed for borrowing her tonight.
A silky voice draws me away from my reverie. "Elessar"
I turn away from the window blinking away my dream, my eyes follow the pale of light leading towards my marital bed. Arwen is patting the covers. I tell her I will be there shortly. I tell myself I must let go of this ghostly figure. I can suffer many things but not this. I look again out of the window and promise myself to banish her from my memories and dreams.
But how can I? For I see her face every time I look out over to the River Andiun and see the hills of Emyn Arnen. I know it is only a matter of time before my dreams begin again.