Yes, Aragorn had left Rivendell before. Yet, this time was very different. He didn't know if he would ever see his home again. After the incident where he escaped the Witch-king, he realized how much he was loved at home. He remembered how Lord Elrond wrapped his wounds right after the twins brought him back. He remembered how, even after his incredibly stupid mistake, the elves had immediately included him back into their family. They had forgiven him for risking his life and theirs.

He had grown to appreciate his family more, but he'd never paid this much attention to his actual home. It was so beautiful, even in the cold of winter. Most of the trees didn't have leaves, yet they did not look dead. Only peacefully asleep. They had icicles that gave them a resemblance to glass sculptures. Would he ever see those again?

People probably noticed a change in Aragorn during the day, but he didn't care. Aragorn wanted to have as much time in his home… and the people in it… before he had to leave it. Would he ever see any of them again? Legolas' plan was definitely a good one, but it could still end up with him dead or captured. But even if he got away, would the Witch-king really leave Rivendell alone? Legolas believed so because, as he said, "there would be nothing drawing him here. Since his master is no longer in power, he has a limited supply of orcs at his disposal. He should not want to waste orc power for no reason." It made sense to Aragorn, but he was still uncomfortable.

The ground was covered in barely an inch of snow. It was flawlessly white, except when the young man turned around to see his footprints leading toward the stable. There were snow flowers… Aragorn didn't know their elvish name… sticking up in groups. Winter made most places look like baron wastelands. This was not true with Rivendell. Even in winter, it looked as alive and beautiful as it did in spring.

A tear slid down Aragorn's face. He would miss this….

The stable was just the same as usual, but Aragorn was looking at it as though he would never come again. It was cleaner than the stable in Scenesville had been. The elves that worked here truly cared for the horses and this caused them to enjoy their job of scooping out manure. There were more horses here than usual because of the Mirkwood host had mostly arrived on horseback. Aragorn didn't want to spend too much time in here. If he understood Legolas' plan correctly, then they would be leaving on horseback tonight. He would be back here. But there was so much else in his home he needed to see.

Aragorn went within sight of the river, just watching it. He was away from the shore, naturally because of the orcs patrolling the opposite shore. But he could still sit and watch the river flow. He remembered doing this often as a young boy. He remembered as a boy when Elrohir helped him learn how to swim in this location. This was also the same spot in the river he had crossed when he left Rivendell two years ago.

Almost as if to remind the young man of his journey, a figure in Black rode over on a horse. Aragorn could feel his breathing shallow, hoping the wraith wouldn't see him and decide to chance crossing the river now. That would ruin everything. But Aragorn was very relieved that the wraith didn't have the flying steed he had seen two years ago. Taking a chance, Aragorn backed up and, once the river was out of sight, ran.

The next place he wanted to visit was the garden. The flowers, as everywhere in Rivendell at this time of year, where beautiful. Elrond had always taken pride in how his flowers still flourished in the dead of winter. These flowers where colorful, and it was a relief to see the color in contrast to the snow.

But that was not what Aragorn was here to see.

On the far end of the garden was a large monument. Under it was still fairly fresh dirt. Aragorn staggered up to the stone and knelt by it. The grave of his mother. Gilraen had died prematurely nearly five months ago.

Tears streamed in Aragorn's eyes. "I'm sorry, mother," he stuttered before he finally broke down. This was too much. If Aragorn hadn't realized what it would mean by leaving Rivendell, he did now. He would be leaving a part of himself behind. He would leave his mother. How he missed her advise.

"I really need you now," he sniffed. Finally, Aragorn ran out of tears and wiped his face on his cloak. But it wasn't right. No matter how strange it sounded, Aragorn knew he needed to leave his mother something to remember him by. The young man took the broach the held his cloak together and placed it on his mother's monument.

"Thank you mother. Thank you for keeping me safe for this long."