Imladris

The conversation lingered on the Steward of Gondor and his family before Aragorn described the Prince Adrahil of Dol Amroth and his courageous son Imrahil.

"The heritage of elves runs strongly in Imrahil. His heart is true. Dol Amroth will have no fears when the ruler ship passes from father to son."

"You do not have similar confidence in Ecthelion's son?"

"I am confident that Denethor will make a wise and shrewd leader. He will fortify Gondor's borders and seek to establish a buffer between Gondor and Mordor.

"Osgiliath?"

"One of the most likely targets."

"Yet, I sense unease."

"Denethor strikes me as a hard man who sets the bar high. I tried to ever employ a diplomatic course and never sought to usurp him just offer council to his father like any of the others. Yet Denethor believes that his opinions should carry the most weight. Perhaps his new wife will be mitigating influence." Aragorn mused as he watched the dancing fire.

"She is of the House of Dol Amroth." Elrond prompted when Aragorn fell silent.

"Yes, Finduilas is the older sister of Imrahil."

"Denethor was suspicious of you?" Elrond correctly read between the lines.

"I have no idea how he found out. But his resentment rules deep. I am sure he suspects that Thorongil is none other than the Chieftain of the Dúnedain. Mark my words, Mithrandir will not find Gondor as welcoming once Denethor rules."

"Surely, your service to Gondor should weigh in your favor."

"For Ecthelion, who charged me to lead the assault on Umbar." Aragorn described the battle of the Haven. His voice cracked as he described the furious encounter that ended with the slaying of the Lord of the Havens.

"Your strategies saved many lives." Elrond praised.

"But too many good and noble people were lost on both sides."

"You weave a far different tale of war than the untried youth who left Imladris with ideas of the glory of battle. Reality is far different." Elrond had seen too much war in his life beginning early in childhood. In response, he had raised his children in the protected valley, providing a stable loving environment until each ventured forth into adulthood.

"Would that war could be a thing of the past."

"I fear much war lies before us before peace can prevail. There is no greater teacher than experience." Elrond paused as he leaned over to rest his hand on Aragorn's shoulder. Warmth and support flowed from him into this beloved foster son. "These skills and growing knowledge will serve you well in the future."

"I have no wish to serve again as commander in war."

"None of us wish such things. Indeed, those who truly do are not the people who should be in command. But war will come to you and to us far sooner than we hope."

"I would settle down with my love and raise a family." Aragorn looked at the fire. Time and again he had tried to turn the conversation to Arwen, yet it flowed back to the tale of his time in Gondor. Perhaps now was the time to return to his question, to ask again for Elrond's blessings as he sought Arwen's hand in marriage.

"You must heal first from the wounds of war and then freshly revived, you must face even more challenging tasks ahead."

"Have I not faced enough - in Rohan, in Gondor and in Harad? I have grown in experience and seen the world. Is it not enough to please you?"

"You have pleased me. Do not think otherwise. I am proud of you Aragorn. You are a son of my heart. The one you should seek to please is yourself. You must meditate and beseech Eru to reveal his plan for you. Would that I could grant your wish and take some of these tasks from you! Yet I say to you Aragorn that you are truly Estel – the hope of many to keep the darkness at bay." The young man bristled at the implied denial. Yet, he pushed on.

"My Lord Elrond, my own spirit has found strength and respite in love. Joyfully, she feels the same way, and we have plighted our troth. I come to ask her Father for permission to wed her. Would you grant me the Lady Arwen's hand?" Elrond looked away, silently studying the fire. It took all of Aragorn's willpower to wait for his foster father to respond.

"They hunted down the Father only stopping when they believe that the line was eliminated. A young mother and her toddler were two frightened refugees who found safety and solace in secret. Now that boy has grown into a man whose great deeds already draw some to speculate on his lineage. A marriage to Arwen Umdomiel would confirm your heritage and bring the enemy to your door. They would pursue you both unrelentingly."

"We could settle here with your blessing."

"I could hide a young mother and babe, but what hope do I have in keeping the union of my only daughter, the Evenstar of her people, silent? Imladris would not survive the onslaught." Elrond's voice faltered. Aragorn barely caught the soft words. "Neither would the happy couple. Again, I would fail to protect those that I love."

"Do you foresee a time when it would be safe for us to marry?" Aragorn repeated numbly. His foster father sat pale and stiff, apparently staring at the dancing flames.

"You must be no less than King of Gondor and Arnor." The normally rich voice sounded hollow and far away. The next words slipped out in choked tones quite unnatural to the dulcet tenor. "Death rises on winged servants to blot out the light. Sulfurous flames fanned by those birthed in darkness creep over land soaked crimson with blood of the innocent. Bloody will be the end, lest darkness be vanquished by a kinship between the white tree and the toil of the every man."

"The white tree no longer blooms in Minith Tirith though Ecthelion holds the white rod for at least awhile longer before his son Denethor will succeed him. He would never step aside for the likes of me. What would you have me do?" Aragorn rose in protest, quickly turning from the fire. It was impossible to fathom the words of his foster father. Anger, sorrow and disappointment could loose any tongue to utter words that would later cause regret. Far better was it to leave and wait – until the volcano of emotions cooled. "I am but a chieftain of a fallen people. All I can promise Arwen is my love." Shaking his head in disappointment he left the room before he could utter something he would regret. His emotions made him shut the door forcefully and the guards reacted, one of them moving from their stand at the end of the hallway.

"Lord Elrond is fine." Aragorn managed though the guard disregarded his assurances. Protocol required that he check up on their Lord. The home guard was specifically charged with guaranteeing the safety of their legendary leader. A moment later Erestor emerged into the hall. With the door to the councilor's study open, the discussions of the mill maintenance carried into the hall. The councilor noted Aragorn's retreating figure as well as the guard's approach to their Lord's chambers.

"Coldol? Is everything alright?" The guard waved him over and both went to knock on the doors to Elrond's study. Aragorn heard none of this for he was already descending the center staircase. His feet led him to the quiet garden in which he had often sought solace as a child. In fact, he was surprised to find himself at the bench and sat looking out into small enclave of the private family garden.

"Only safe when you are King of Arnor and Gondor." The words pulsed through him in time to the frantic beating of his heart. His hands clenched. "Is there naught that I can do to persuade him? Naught that we can do?" He struggled to control the tumultuous mix of emotions raging through him. His hand instinctively fingered a pendant hidden in his pocket. "A sign to remember me by. I love you Aragorn of the Dúnedain." Arwen's melodic voice flowed through him. The gentle breeze stirred his hair as if she had just whispered those words of love to him. He blushed at the memory of their evening on Cerin Amroth. What memories! He was glad for his quite secluded surroundings. How long would he have to depend on memories to sustain him? Sounds of from the garden gently drew him back to the present. At first it was the tweet of the robin, then the hum of the wind in the leaves, and finally the scratch of a small shovel in the dirt. When he looked up, laughing azure eyes met his. Lady Gwidian was kneeling at the far end of the garden, thinning and dividing bulbs.

"I was wondering when you would notice me, Penneth." She chided. "To think that you are said to be a skilled tracker – leader of the rangers. Yet, a simple elven lady is able to catch you unaware. What will they say?"

"None would call you simple." Aragorn smiled. "As I have heard told, you are one of the Avari, mysterious and afraid of no one."

"And what brings you out here, when you are responsible for a great number of people who reside far beyond this valley?"

"Some of my people reside here."

"Now you are splitting hairs." Gwidian laughed. "For Master Elrond and the warriors of this valley are well able to protect those here. Or is there someone else who you wish you were responsible for? Your thoughts are easily read. Who is the young lady who holds your heart?"

"Perhaps you might give me some advice, for I have had some trouble convincing her Father that I can protect and provide for her."

"Is this your first attempt?" Gwidian stopped as she suddenly remembered snippets she had overheard from a strange conversation between Gilraen and Elrond the night before. She choked out the next name. "Arwen?" Aragorn nodded in confirmation.

"I am told that the very mention of our liaison would bring danger to both our peoples."

"She declared her choice?" The elven lady exclaimed then clarified at Aragorn's confusion. "She declared herself of the second born. She follows in Elros' footsteps?"

"Elros?" Aragorn paused then whispered in dawning knowledge. "She said she would forsake the twilight and cleave to me."

"The choice of the peredhil can only be made once."

"Then her Adar can not gainsay us."

"I doubt your Lady would let anyone decide things for her." Gwidian looked around the garden as if reassuring herself that they were still indeed alone. Then she added softly. "One child follows in his brother's footsteps. Let not all his children follow that path."

"Elladan and Elrohir would never." Aragorn paused.

"They have not yet made their choice. Even the wisest can not tell the future, though some are gifted visions of what may come."

"He foresaw," Aragorn paused suddenly unwilling to divulge more. His and Arwen's joy came at a price.

"Others also have some gifts of foresight, though none but the Lady of Light's is as strong as our Lord's. What does your Mother say?"

"She has grave fears of the future. Yet she wishes us joy."

"Your Mother had but a brief time with her beloved. If that is to be your fate, any parent would wish to protect you."

"Protect their child from love?"

"Protect them from harm." Gwidian sighed. "Premonitions often surface in your Mother's family and your beloved's Adar is at times sent visions of what might be. I say to you that you should stop and meditate on these things. For both of you may also gain such insight as they seem to run in your families' bloodlines."

"We wish to marry as soon as possible."

"That is the euphoria of first love. Think on this. For you are already pledged heart to heart for each other. If Arwen has made her choice, she will not waver. Waiting will only cause your love to deepen and mature. Others have also waited."

"Others who are not of elven kind?"

"Even among men, some period of waiting is not unheard of."

"Not of such a length that has been suggested."

"But you and your beloved will ultimately decide on when it is time to publicize your betrothal and when is the right time to wed."

"Did you wait?"

"Aye, my parents were not keen on my choice of mate. Erestor was not of the Avari, and his parents did not do him any favors with such a name." Gwidian smiled at the memory.

"Erestor's name?" Aragorn smiled. "One alone."

"One culture's sign of strength can be interpreted by another culture as a warning of - let us say asocial behavior." Gwidian scowled mockingly at Aragorn's hoot of laughter. "We did not wait as long as they might have liked. We were not going to please everyone. But other couples waited. Elrond and Celebrían heeded her parent's warnings and waited a yen until they married."

"Elrond and Celebrían!" Aragorn exclaimed.

"As Erestor tells it – Elrond was ever worried about putting his family in danger. Given his family history, one can understand."

"Yet I doubt I can ever achieve what has been suggested."

"You and your beloved will discuss and decide."