Do you know what I hold in my hand? Do you see?
I do, with a clarity that is only borne to a man that has had all that he holds dear to his heart taken from him.
I hold Gondor in my hand, my brother, Aragorn. I hold our previous glory. See it here in the golden glow of the ring in winter sunlight. It is so small and yet it embodies all of our great history, all of our might, all of our proud heritage. As it forms an unending circle, so to does it show me the full circle for our history. Where once we were the might envied by all, so to shall we be again. Be it by blood and death, we shall attain our former glory.
Your eyes are narrowed in the sunlight, my native brother. You watch the twist of this ring on a chain as though you watch the very embodiment of the fires of hell. You fear this. I do not. I welcome it. Would you fear the rise of the sun in the east? Would you fear the coming of spring after winter? The coming of our long absent glory is as sure as any of these, Aragorn, and should be welcomed the same.
Your hand has tightened on Frodo's shoulder, Aragorn. Do you fear that I will put this ring on my finger? Do you fear that I will reach out and claim what is rightfully man's? That is all it would take, Aragorn. It would only take putting this ring upon my finger. It would be an easy act and yet it would solve all that we have suffered and all we have witnessed. What was once fought for in Mordor evidenced in the broken sword of our forefathers would come to completion in a final victory. To put this ring on my finger would secure my birthright.
Your eyes are boring into me, my captain. Is it me you fear? It is not this cold piece of metal in my hand with which you look with contempt, is it?
I walk down the slope and hand the ring to Frodo. I see your hand on your sword, Aragorn. I know that you would kill me rather than let me accept our destiny. It is what you feel is -right-. But know this, dearest brother of Gondor, I will do what I feel is right. I will regain our glory. Be it in this ring, or in its protection, I will regain our destiny.
I will.
I do, with a clarity that is only borne to a man that has had all that he holds dear to his heart taken from him.
I hold Gondor in my hand, my brother, Aragorn. I hold our previous glory. See it here in the golden glow of the ring in winter sunlight. It is so small and yet it embodies all of our great history, all of our might, all of our proud heritage. As it forms an unending circle, so to does it show me the full circle for our history. Where once we were the might envied by all, so to shall we be again. Be it by blood and death, we shall attain our former glory.
Your eyes are narrowed in the sunlight, my native brother. You watch the twist of this ring on a chain as though you watch the very embodiment of the fires of hell. You fear this. I do not. I welcome it. Would you fear the rise of the sun in the east? Would you fear the coming of spring after winter? The coming of our long absent glory is as sure as any of these, Aragorn, and should be welcomed the same.
Your hand has tightened on Frodo's shoulder, Aragorn. Do you fear that I will put this ring on my finger? Do you fear that I will reach out and claim what is rightfully man's? That is all it would take, Aragorn. It would only take putting this ring upon my finger. It would be an easy act and yet it would solve all that we have suffered and all we have witnessed. What was once fought for in Mordor evidenced in the broken sword of our forefathers would come to completion in a final victory. To put this ring on my finger would secure my birthright.
Your eyes are boring into me, my captain. Is it me you fear? It is not this cold piece of metal in my hand with which you look with contempt, is it?
I walk down the slope and hand the ring to Frodo. I see your hand on your sword, Aragorn. I know that you would kill me rather than let me accept our destiny. It is what you feel is -right-. But know this, dearest brother of Gondor, I will do what I feel is right. I will regain our glory. Be it in this ring, or in its protection, I will regain our destiny.
I will.