In the Early Hours of the Morning
As he paces through the empty halls, his light steps faintly echo. It is early in the morning; the sun itself is barely beginning to rise as he slowly and aimlessly follows the winding halls. He knows that he probably should have slept longer; today will be long for the Council will meet again, but he cannot sleep. For him, the memories of this place are far too familiar for him to sleep any more.
With a jolt he stops and turns to face the statue that he had just passed. Realizing it for what it is he sinks into a nearby chair and mindlessly opens the book that he had forgotten that he had brought, intending to reflect on the many thoughts and memories that converge on him. To any passerby he appears calm, even relaxed in the quiet hours of the morning, but beneath the mask of the Ranger he thoughts are in turmoil.
It was here, nearly seventy years ago that he learned his true name and his entire heritage that had been kept secret until that day. Even as this vivid memory finally fades many more rush to replace it. Images of his childhood and of this statue flit through his mind. Even as a child this hall had somehow seemed special, important. Once he understood his future task the hall, and what it contained, it became a place of reverence for the father he barely knew and for what was to come. As he quells the many memories he turns his attention to the tome that he brought, intending to read and to study of the vast lands surrounding the kingdoms of Gondor and Anor, in hopes that the knowledge will guide him in the task before him.
Author's Note/ Disclaimer: Aragorn, Rivendell and anything else you may recognize is not mine!
Feb 22 2008: For all of you who read this yesterday I apologize for my many errors, I should not have worked on it when I was only half awake! They have been fixed, please don't hesitate to let me know if there are any errors that I missed.