Summary: Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli take Eldarion down the path of the fellowship to teach him of sacrifices made and things forgotten.
Disclaimer: I do not own them, a pity
A/N: This is an AU fourth age fic, the times to get to many places may not be exact.
Chapter 12
Morning came and brought with it a crisp cool day. No birds were singing, but the sky was free from clouds. Aragorn stretched trying to work all of the kinks out. Once again he saw that Legolas had not woken him for his turn on guard duty, and to be honest he was glad for it. Aragorn did not think he would have enjoyed staring out at the sky in Helm's Deep, for it held too many memories of those who he had lost.
"Gimli where did Eldarion say he was going?"
Gimli rose to his feet, taking up his bedroll as he did. "I have not seen Eldarion this morning I awoke only a few minutes before you."
Aragorn's heart began to race again, and suddenly he had a strange sympathy for Lord Elrond. He understood what it was like now to not know where your child was, and it scared him each and every time.
"I see Legolas is not here either, perhaps Eldarion is with him."
Aragorn relaxed a little for he knew Eldarion would not wander off, not after the talk they had the night before. Still his mind would not be at peace until he saw for himself.
"Come Gimli, let us pack up swiftly and be gone from this place."
The dwarf agreed, he too was ready to leave from here. True, they had been victorious, but too many good men had died for that honor. After the last of the food was packed away Aragorn went in search of his son and Legolas.
He found them both sitting over the parapet, staring down at the ground below, but now a small smile graced their faces.
"I thought I might find you with Legolas," Aragorn said, pulling Eldarion closer to him. "Come let us leave this place."
All of them led their horses outside, but it was Gimli who noticed the small wooden board off in the distance.
"What is that there, at the bottom of the hill?"
Aragorn walked over with the others and stared down at the sign, his eyes watering up, and two tears rolling down his face. Gimli saw the tears and knew the sign must be very special indeed but it was carved in elvish.
"What does it say?"
"It says for those who fought bravely, know you will not be forgotten," Eldarion said. "I could not go without leaving something for people to know that men, an elves died here, brave ones, who deserve to be remembered."
Gimli coughed to cover up the sobs, "You have a fine son there Aragorn."
"Yes, I know Gimli, I know, and good friends as well."
Eldarion knew his father and Legolas had declared themselves brothers when he was but a child, and now he and Legolas seemed as if they truly were his family. For the first time as they departed Helm's Deep Eldarion felt safe.
Legolas too felt a change come over him about all the things that had happened here. True, it had been tragic, many lives taken, many families destroyed in the blink of an eye, and yet he still had family, the ones beside him now, and he felt very lucky indeed. Casting one last look back they left Helm's Deep, and headed off towards Isengard.
Aragorn and the others rode swiftly away from Helm's Deep the scars that lingered there still to fresh in their minds.
"We shall ride until we reach The Fords of Isen, and then we will stop!" Aragorn yelled back to Legolas and Gimli.
Gimli was muttering under his breath about how Legolas would gallop he thought just to see if his arse could take the strain. Eldarion however seemed in better spirits than before. It was as if erecting the sign have given him a sense of peace about everything, an Aragorn was glad to see the smile return to his son's face.
He loathed to tell him the occurrences of The Fords of Isen, but this is what the trip was about, so that he could learn, that he could never forget the price others had paid. Aragorn knew there would have to be explanations from him to Legolas and Gimli at some point, for the dwarf had glared at him several times as he pointed out crucial things he thought Eldarion should have known.
It had been a full day's ride indeed to get there, stopping only for short amounts of time, and galloping most of the way. When they arrived Legolas had snickered as Gimli let out a squeal.
"If my eyes did not tell me otherwise I would have sworn we had brought a female along," he commented.
Gimli glared at him, but gave up the staring contest to go and plop down in the river, enjoying how the cool water felt to his backside.
"Uncle Gimli, we are to fill the waterskins from that water," Eldarion called out.
This brought laughter from both Aragorn and Legolas, and soon Gimli was marching out of the river, his backside soaking wet.
Eldarion was enjoying the fire and skipping pebbles across the river, but he did not think that the stop was a special one; that is till his father called him over.
"Eldarion, come have a bite to eat, and then I must tell you of the history of The Fords of Isen."
Eldarion didn't know if he wanted to know anymore history. What he had learned so far was that Arda was once a cruel place, filled only with death it seemed.
Eldarion ate his dinner in silence, laughing once in a while at the antics of Legolas and Gimli. He wondered what could have happened here. They had never discussed this place in his history lessons, his father usually speaking of places like Mordor, and of the Mines of Moria. Once dinner was over Aragorn threw another branch onto the fire and pulled his son close to him.
"I fought with the idea of telling you the story of this place, but I have decided you shall know of all the battles in the War of the Ring, and not just the ones that were large, or that most remember. There was a battle here long ago in the First Age, but of that one you know. The battle I speak of now is one the Rohirrim fought bravely, only to see their defeat in the end. Grimbold an Elfhelm led forces against Isengard at this very river."
Eldarion's head perked up for he wanted to know about the Rohirrim, and of Eomer's kin.
"The first battle last but a couple of days an in the end Theodred and many others blood had been spilt. It was Eomer who found the King's son and brought him back to Edoras, but his injuries were too many and days later he died."
Eldarion's breath hitched, but he raised his head and asked the question anyway.
"Did he suffer Ada?"
Aragorn didn't really know how to answer such a thing. Eldarion had only seen the passing of elves so far in his short life, and he knew they chose to let go peacefully into the Halls of Mandos. Before he answered he saw the glare again of Gimli and Legolas. It was almost as if they were challenging him to answer in the correct way. Aragorn knew both thought of Eldarion as their kin, and when he was hurt or saddened then they became very protective. For once Aragorn thought that he would sway the truth a bit.
"He went peacefully my son." Aragorn did not elaborate on Theodred's injuries, only telling the boy of his passing.
Eldarion sighed. "You said there were two battles Ada."
"Indeed I did. There was a second battle this time led by Erkenbrand's army, but they too were defeated. Saruman was a vicious rival to contend with."
But you said Saruman was defeated by a mere adan," Eldarion said.
"He was, Grima slayed him in The Shire, finally freeing himself from his master's cruelty."
Eldarion seemed to be soaking all the information in, but asked if he could go and soak his feet in the river. Aragorn agreed, and once he was away from the others, Legolas spoke to Aragorn, his voice whispering, but his words harsh.
"Do you think it wise to constantly tell the child of death? True, he is adan Aragorn, but he is also elven. His inner light will fade, it seems it is already fading, all because of so many gruesome talks of death."
"Would you have me tell him lies? What I am supposed to tell him of Moria when we get there or Mordor? I will not have him shielded from the reality of war. To learn about it is to never make the mistake again."
"Aragorn, he but a child, Gimli argued.
"Aye, he is my child, one I would lay my life down for this very instant if only to shield him from ever being hurt, but children must know. We cannot shield them from the happenings of the world, or they will grow to be ignorant of its past."
Legolas and Gimli knew Aragorn was not being cruel, but only trying to help Eldarion understand.
"Forgive me Estel. I tried to shield Eldarion as you once were. That mistake almost cost us the King of Gondor, and my friend. You are right, he should not be shielded, but let us also not forget that children need to feel the love and support of their friends and family too."
"I would have died a thousand deaths had I not had both of you by my side."
"We are family, whether by blood or not. I will protect you an Eldarion."
Aragorn shared a few more moments with his friends and then went to sit by his son on the edge of the river.
"Eldarion..." he began to say, but the child cut off his words.
"Ada, you should remember that I hear more than you."
Aragorn knew his son had overheard his conversation with the others. What he did not know was what was on Eldarion's mind. He soon knew.
"Ada, all this death, destruction it frightens me. I do not like hearing about it. I can't sleep for hours rolling the scenes over and over in my mind, but I understand why you must tell me. I promise Ada never to let greed or hatred fill me to the point of waging war, for I wish not to have anyone else bring his son on such a journey."
"You are few in years Eldarion, but already you are wiser than most men. Come and sit by the fire with us."
Eldarion went with his father and plopped down by the fire, but his eyes were downcast. Legolas saw this and soon remedied his sullen mood.
"Eldarion would you like to hear a story about your father and the twins getting caught by Lord Elrond?"
Eldarion's head perked up, "Yes please, tell me this story Uncle Legolas."
Aragorn groaned as all the details were laid out about how his father had indeed caught them sneaking snacks from the kitchen, and had made him cook the next days meal. He had fallen into a fit of giggles when he learned the food was uneatable and that many of the elves of Imladris had fallen ill after eating it.
The story finally over and Aragorn's red face returned back to normal, they all bedded down for the night. Eldarion seemed to be much better now. Gimli took first watch an as the fire crackled, Aragorn put his arm around his son and pulled him closer to him, only then did he close his eyes, knowing his son was safe in his arms.
