Summary: Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli take Eldarion down the path of the fellowship to teach him of sacrifices made and things forgotten.
Disclaimer: I do not own them, a pity
A/N: This is an AU fourth age fic, the times to get to many places may not be exact. Any reviews are welcome, flames amuse me
Chapter 1
The huge white towers of Minas Tirith were no longer ruled by the fearsome Denethor, but now the inhabitants of Gondor lived in peacefulness. The War of the Ring was over, and had been for many years now.
Aragorn, was now ruler of Gondor. The people of his kingdom adored him, treasured his wisdom, revered his courage, but his family knew him for who he really was, merely Estel.
For now he found himself in the upstairs library. He had taken it upon himself to teach Eldarion the history of men an elves. Who better he thought than someone who had been a part of both, and could teach the child with unbiased eyes.
For now he was pacing the floor of the library, a flood of questions coming from his son.
"Ada, how is it that a hobbit could do all that you have said, and yet you claim they are no bigger than I? You tell me everyday how I am too small to do this or that."
"Yes, Eldarion they were small in stature but their courage and heart made up for it."
"Ada, but you said they raised the finest pipeweed in all of Arda and were smoking it as well! Naneth said if she caught me trying to smoke Uncle Gimli's pipe again I would be without a bottom to sit upon."
Estel laughed at his son's remark. True, Arwen was a queen and every bit a lady but to make her angry was a fools gesture, and a tragic one at that.
"Why do we not stop the lesson for today Eldarion, and perhaps you can go an ask Legolas to teach you to fletch the arrows a little more. As I recall the last time you ended up breaking four of them, and another two snapped into pieces as he was aiming.
"It is not my fault Ada. Gimli said that I should use his knife to sharpen them, that it would please Legolas."
Estel could only imagine Gimli's alterior motives for that, but he was almost certain that they were sinister. He ushered Eldarion out of the room, and told him to he would come to collect him before dinner, then Estel found himself wandering to the one place he knew Arwen would be, the gardens.
He always found her here amongst the flowers. She had told him many times it reminded her of Caras Galadhon, and the beautiful mallorn trees. She had brought a seedling of one of the trees and planted it here in her garden, and now it's blooms brought the allure of olden times to the both.
"Estel, what brings you here so early in the day? Are Eldarion's studies over with so soon, or are there more pressing issues on your mind?"
"Worry not my love for all is well."
"Then why does your mind seem so troubled, even though your face tries to hide it?'
Estel chuckled and ran his hand through her hair. "How is it I am never able to hide anything from you?"
Arwen stood up tall and straight, her eyebrows disappearing into the sky it seemed.
"Have you not learned by now you cannot hide your feelings from me? It did not work with Ada, and it shall not work with me."
Estel held his hands up in submission. "I will discuss what is on my mind with you tonight, but for now let us enjoy the beautiful day out. I have left all duties behind today in order to have lunch with my queen."
Estel held his hand out and Arwen placed her small one in his. Together they went to grab a picnic basket from the kitchens, and then take their lunch out to the gardens where they could go without title, and for an hour be just as they once were, Estel, and Arwen.
At five o'clock sharp Estel left the study and all the paperwork behind and went to collect his son. He walked through the streets of Minas Tirith, not in regal robes, but in simple leggings and a tunic. He found people would be more likelu to come to their king with their problems if he seemed approachable, that and he detested the heavy robes, and crown he wore during celebrations. They made him feel out of place.
He had come to the guard at the last level to the city and spoke his greetings. The guard waved him through the door, bowing as he did, and Estel was on his way over to greet his son, and friends.
He heard them long before he ever saw them. Legolas and Gimli were having words over what really happened as Gimli was now stating to Eldarion. Estel hid behind the bushes to see if he could listen in.
"You see Eldarion, the Mines of Moria are a dark and scary place, but being a dwarf I was unafraid. Nothing within a cave could ever scare the likes of a son of Gloin."
"Really Uncle Gimli?" Eldarion said his gray eyes growing large. "I would be scared if goblins were after me."
"Nonsense, you are son of Aragorn. He fought those goblins off left and right, cleaving his way through the mass that came in through the door, even saved that twit Boromir though at the time I could not see the point in it."
Legolas sat listening the whole time, wondering when Estel was coming as he was hoping to speak to him when the third arrow of the day snapped beneath his hands.
"Eldarion, just what did you use to fletch these arrows?"
Legolas' eyes grew to mere slits when Eldarion pulled the broad bladed dagger from his side. Then his glare turned on the dwarf.
"I suppose you told him to use it. am I right Gimli son of Gloin? Perhaps you could tell Eldarion another story, like the coming of the balrog, and how a certain dwarf emitted odors at the sight of it that made us all green."
"Why you prissy elven..." Gimli said his hands reaching for Legolas' throat.
"Peace my friends," Estel said, emerging from his hiding spot behind the bushes. "I do not think Eldarion is ready quite yet to see one of your better arguments. Perhaps you can put off the rest of the story until next time and join us for dinner instead."
At the mention of dinner Legolas smiled. It had been weeks since he or Estel had enough free time to have dinner together, and he welcomed the thought of spending an evening in the company of friends.
"I suppose I can put off telling the story of Legolas and the wine after the coronation until another time."
Estel's breath caught in his throat and he seemed to choke on his own spittle. "Yes, I think Eldarion is still a bit too young to hear about that just yet."
"What do you mean too young laddie. You were off stealing she elves clothing, and your father's wine according to the tales I have heard."
Eldarion snickered and looked as if he were about to ask more questions before Aragorn pulled him by the collar of his tunic towards home.
"I will expect you both within the hour," he called over his shoulder. Aragorn himself laughed when he heard Legolas start to argue that it was not nearly enough time to wash and get ready, and Gimli's reply of how he was clean enough already.