Wishing Away
by nautika
Summary: If we could turn back time, what would we change? Here's one person's thoughts.
A/N: Short fic brought to my mind by the Teitho Challenge "If I Could Turn Back Time". I consider all my fics AU. Since Teitho only accepts fics with Aragorn and/or Legolas, it didnt actually qualify for submission there.
Wishing Away
If I could turn back time, what would I do differently? What would I change? What could I change? Could I wish away Sauron or Mordor? No, I could not. Evil cannot be wished away, it can only be battled and that have we done.
Would I wish an earlier return of the king? Perhaps, but how much earlier? Simply an early return of Aragorn or a return of one of his ancestors to the throne? No, it was not his time, so assuredly it was not theirs.
What of Isildur? Do I wish that Elrond had cast him into the pit of fire thereby destroying the ring that reigned destruction on Middle Earth. Nay. That would be treason for that would result in an end to the line of kings.
What of the survival of my brother or my men? They died honorably, doing what they believed in. Had they survived, they might have died slow deaths, blind, maybe with their minds or bladders failing. For my sake I wish that they still lived, but at least they died well. My men together and my brother with our king.
Ah. My father. What can I wish? What would I have the courage to do for my father? Yes. That is it. Some small thing I might have done, but did not do. A thing that truly would have made a difference. A simple act, only requiring that I had climbed a flight of stairs, entered a door and cast the accursed thing into the Anduin. This I could have done. I was his heir when my brother passed from this world to the next. We knew he had gone from us, his horn and my vision confirmed it. As heir to the Stewardship it was within my rights to touch the stone. I could have separated my father from the Palantir and returned him to Gondor. Given the king a true Steward to rule by his side. What stopped me? Sorrow? No. Never was I so broken by sorrow that I was kept from my duty for always did my father and brother set before me the example of men doing their duty. Fear? Nay, I was past fear. Habit? Is it as simple as that? As horrible as that? That the simple habit of obedience kept me from doing something I knew my father would forbid? Sweet Eru, had I known the pain he would endure in the end I would have done this thing. Yes, if I could turn back time, I would cast the thing into the river and spare him the pain. Wouldn't I?
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