"A Distant Land"
-By Jaya and Gypsy (mailto:darksidhe@carolina.rr.com)
Chapter One -- Evenstar He was sitting at the desk in the corner of the spacious bedroom. It was still dark, for the sun had not yet risen and the only light came from the flickering candle in front of him. It cast a coppery glow upon his hair, while wreathing his face in shadows and gold. It was not just the light and the dark, there was something else, making him appear older and somehow more worn. ~Aragorn~
There is something almost indecisive about the way his pen hovers over the piece of paper. It is the third letter actually, he had already started two others and discarded them just as quickly.
~Aragorn this doesn't suit you.~ She thought to herself. ~Trust the words, not that it matters. He would come no matter what you write of this I am certain.~
The sound of the scratching pen invaded the previous silence. She closed her eyes again knowing it was not the time to say anything. Arwen, would not confront him. If her husband could not admit the truth to himself, much less to her, then that was where it would stay. She tried not to let it bother her, and in truth most of the time it did not. It was something that she understood, though perhaps could not whole-heartedly encourage.
Some time later, after Aragorn had left the room, Arwen rose gracefully from the bed. As she walked silently across the room, her flowing pale blue robes fell gently in soft folds about her slender body, bare feet making not a sound. Carefully she picked up the letter, letting her eyes scan the neatly scripted words. Poetic, but still slightly rough around the edges.
'Friend Legolas,
Soon, I will be setting off upon a journey, that will cross the sea to another place. I will not say the purpose of the visit in this letter. It is my hope that you will consent to join me on this quest. Little is known, however it is always a pleasure to have your bow and keen eye sight about. One never knows when they might save our lives, and it would be a pleasure to travel with you again.
It is good here, but there is much I miss about before, like our travels, and the simplicity of things. However it cannot be helped.
I have requested that Gimli join us and he has already accepted. I expect him to arrive sometime in the next fortnight. It would also seem that the dear Hobbits, Merry and Pippin are set upon accompanying us as well, despite my attempts to dissuade them, they will not listen to me. My dear friend it has been long since our parting. It is my hope that you will join me, that we might sail the seas together. We travel as soon as the worst of the storms are over. That should give you time to reach us, if you leave Rivendell post haste. I hope to see you soon. May you have a safe journey my friend.
Sincerely
Aragorn'
Arwen set the sheet of paper back down on the desk with a sigh. She stared at the cluttered surface, at the still burning candle which was no longer needed as the first rays of golden sunlight shattered the shadows; at an old ink spill that had never come out of the dark red wood surface; and finally to the gold inlaid pen he always used, that lay next to the stack of papers still awaiting his signature.
~Aragorn, you work too hard~ She thought turning away. ~Perhaps I should have insisted he go sooner, I hope this trip will give him the break he needs.~
It was only a few weeks later when she decided that perhaps it was not all together wise to wait for him to come to her. It was obvious that he had no intentions of doing that. Arwen knew that without some word from her he would never follow his heart, and it touched her to know that despite the feelings that obvious ran deep in him, he did not let them change anything and it was all because of her. Though she did not approve, she knew that she had to let him be free to follow his heart, if that was what he choose. She would wait for him and when he returned they would decide what had to be done.
She sat on the bed with her bare feet drawn up beneath her. Once again watching him, while his mind was off in other places, with other people. For a few moments her eyes returned to the piece of half filled parchment that lay upon the writing board in her lap. It was the letter to her father that she had started the night before. Perhaps it was foolish to think that it might reach him before he reached the Havens, but still she had written it anyway.
Studying the tall rugged figure of her husband, the king of Gondor, she knew she was proud of him. In the end he had become a great man among men, though in truth, he always had been a great man. Aragorn, son of Arathorn now stood staring out into the night. Despite the fact that his features had softened some, since his past days as a Ranger, he looked more worn, and weary these days than he ever had before. She knew the duties of a King sat heavily upon his shoulders, that many times he chaffed under the tight reins that were kept upon him. She knew that he longed for just one day without a paper to sign, or someone's problems to solve. Arwen also knew that Aragorn longed for the days when he had been able to come and go as he pleased, without a word to anyone if he did not wish it.
~He will not go without my permission, and yet he cannot ask for that wish he which he truly wants. Dear Aragorn, you always did what people asked of you, what you knew was right. Yet the one truly selfish wish you had... You won't reach out and take it, because of me...~
Arwen sighed, sitting the writing board on the bed beside her. She ran her hands along the cream coloured robe that she wore, walking over to stand next to him by the window. ~If I set him free, he may never come back to me.~ She thought with a sad little smile. ~But I can not hold him here because of my own selfishness.~
Putting a delicate hand upon Aragorn's shoulder, she spoke in a soft voice. "He will come Aragorn, do not worry so." Arwen thought she felt him tense beneath her fingertips, but made no mention of it. Not saying anything at first, Aragorn slid an arm around her slender waist, pulling her warm body close to his own. Somehow her closeness helped to cut through the maze of thoughts that had been wreaking havoc upon his brain. He tired not to think of someone else, and what it would feel like to have that other body next to him. ~Ah Arwen you should not have married me, I am not good enough for you~ He thought bitterly. ~My thoughts stray to another. I should not be so weak.~ Aragorn sighed, but the bitter stew did not boil over the top, yet.
"Arwen, I..."
Instead of letting him go on she simply shook her head, looking up at him, but his face was turned away from her. "Ne, say nothing, for I already understand more then you realize, or maybe I just know you better then you know yourself sometimes." She brushed a dark strand of hair behind her ear. "I do not want you to say anything yet, I want you to go and I want you to relax and think not of me." Reaching up, she turned his head so that she could look into his eyes. "Aragorn I want you to do what you know is right in here--" Arwen touched her finger to his heart. "--not what you think is right up here--" The finger traveled delicately up to his temples. "Do you understand me?"
There was a pause and Aragorn said nothing until she looked away.
"But..."
"Just promise me that you will do as I ask." Arwen cut him off again, before he could go any further. "When you return if you wish to talk to me, I will be here. If you still cannot approach me on your own, then I do not wish to hear of it. The decision will be up to you alone, my Ranger. I trust you to make the one that is right for you." Sliding out of his embrace she moved silently across the floor to once again take her place on the bed. Picking up the writing board, she placed it upon her lap, and took up the pen once again.
"Have you heard back from Foromir?"
"I have," came the quiet response
"What has he to say, has he agreed to assist me while you are away? Will Eowyn be accompanying him?" She inquired. Aragorn kept his gaze upon the stars above and the city below for a little while longer, listening to the soft sigh of the earth upon the wind.
"Foromir will be here in a few weeks, but there was no mention of Eowyn."
"A pity, I should like to visit with her again, I enjoyed her company the last time they were here." Arwen commented. "I will be gone for some time, I doubt that Foromir would leave her there alone for so long." He shrugged not altogether certain. "I will sail easier knowing that Foromir is here to help you, should the need arise," Aragorn added almost more to himself than to Arwen. "I trust the two of you implicitly, otherwise I would not dare to embark upon this endeavor."
"You worry too much, my love."
The window no longer held any interest to him as his eyes followed her back across the room. Could he really have been so mistaken about this wonderful woman, the beautiful daughter of Elrond? Aragorn stood there studying her. The golden hued candlelight complimented the dark contrast of her hair against the cream colour of the robe she wore. ~Both the light and the dark, wise and beautiful.~ he thought, almost as if seeing her in that light for the first time.
A few moments later she looked up at him with a wry smile.
"Come to bed Aragorn." It was more of an order then a request, but he did not mind. "You must sleep tonight, it will do you no good to stay awake and brood."
He chuckled despite himself. Moving to the bed, he sat down next to her for a moment, reaching over to play with a strand of her dark hair.
"Thank you, Arwen," he said softly, brushing a kiss across her lips, before turning away. "I will try, but I do not know if I will be able to rest my thoughts enough to sleep. There is so much still to be done, and I would like to set out soon."
Arwen nodded.
"I know, but tonight do not worry about it. Sleep now and everything will look easier with the dawn of a new day, and a good nights sleep behind you."
"You are wise like your father."
"I have been told, but every man is wise in his own right."
"And stubborn."
Arwen settled her gaze on Aragorn, a look of warning on her fine features.
"Do not try my patience tonight, Aragorn. You may be King, but I am still your wife."
"Aye that you are," the King of Gondor said with a chuckle
Looking through the window, high up in the walls of the place, Aragorn saw the people gathered below, waiting to see him off. The King was not ready to face them quite yet, instead he left the window behind, to find Arwen waiting for him. She stood in the doorway, on the other side of the hall, watching him thoughtfully. The soft, sky blue gown she wore did nothing to hide her beautiful figure. It was delicately embroidered with deep blue flowers and accented by a soft sheen of silver cast by the few pieces of jewelry that she wore.
"You are leaving then?" She asked quietly.
"If you would have me go."
Arwen walked over to stand before him, studying her husband's face.
"Aye, I would have you go, Aragorn. I would have you go and find a way to put your heart at peace."
The tall, rugged man said nothing. Instead he enfolded her within his strong arms, pulling Arwen's slender body against him. A gentle scent of lilac rose greeted his nose, and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"I will come back, Arwen," Aragorn whispered, brushing the back of his hand along her cheek.
"May the winds be in your favor." Arwen stepped away from him. "Remember Ranger, follow what is in your heart, not what is in your head. I would have you be happy in the choice you make."
He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Turning away, Aragorn started towards the door, only to turn back to her when he was half way there.
"Spring is here, take joy in it, Arwen. I do not deserve one such as you."
Instead of answering, she simply gave him a sad smile.
"Go, before you are late, and they sail without you."
"They would not sale without the King."
"Just go Aragorn!"
"Good bye Arwen." He said turning and walking away from her without another glance. Aragorn stopped only for a few final words with Faramir, and a quick hug for the Lady Eowyn, who stood beside her husband, before leaving the Palace. Then it was over, and Aragorn, son of Arathorn and King of Gondor, mounted upon his horse and road down through the city to the port; where the ship that would carry him and his company across the sea was moored.