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 25
Once he was done Aragorn sent the letter off via carrier pigeon and went to find the others. He was glad he had found the letters, for it was nice to know that his father had carried his memory over the seas.
Aragorn did indeed find the others sitting in the Hall of Fire, listening intently to tales from the other elves that were there. Aragorn entered and took a seat beside Eldarion. He remembered many fun filled nights listening to tales of elves finding their way to Arda and how they managed to build Imladris. Eldarion seemed to be enjoying the stories as much as he had in his youth, and all were saddened when the dinner bell chimed alerting them to the evening meal.
Everyone stood up and thanked the elves for their tales and promised to come back later to hear more, but it was Gimli's stomach growling, that had them all rushing to find the identity of the glorious aroma coming from the kitchens.
Opening the door they found Erestor talking to one of the cooks, and a banner was strung over the table that read, "Welcome home Estel and friends."
"You need not go through so much trouble Erestor," Aragorn said, taking his customary seat to the right of Elladan.
"And just how often is it that you actually come home Estel? I do believe if my calculations are correct it has been nearly forty years since last I have seen you, a worthy enough time for a banner."
"I am sorry it has been so long. I will make sure it is not that long before I return again."
The others sat in silence staring at the many things laid across the table for them. There was roast, thick and glistening, and potatoes smothered in butter, but Gimli was not looking at any of those, he was staring at the platter of ears of corn. He loved corn and he hadn't had any since he was very small. The thought of eating them all entered his mind.
"Well, what are you waiting for, eat before the food gets cold," Erestor told them, taking his own seat next to Elrohir.
Everyone filled their plates, even Legolas filled his with roast and a hearty helping of the fresh tomatoes.
"Where did you get these vegetables this time of year?" Gimli muttered around the ear of corn he was eating.
"We keep them in the cellar after the harvest. We happened upon these fine vegetables however from none other than a hobbit who passed through here not but a week ago."
"A hobbit?" they all questioned.
"I thought they did not venture out of the Shire."
Erestor put down his fork. "Many of the periannath travel from its borders now after Frodo came back. It seems Peregrin Took regaled them all with stories of what laid beyond their borders, and the hobbit's curiosity has gotten the better of them. This is not to say all periannath leave their homes, but a few have been brave enough and have brought us many fine things, including the vegetables you see before you."
"I care not what brought them from the Shire for this corn is marvelous," Gimli said, taking yet another and gnawing on it.
"It would seem you would slow down Master dwarf, before you choke to death on said corn," rebuked Erestor.
Everyone laughed as Gimli's face reddened in embarrassment, but it did not seem to slow him down much. Aragorn himself finished off two helpings of roast, and he even ate a helping of the roasted potatoes.
"I am so full I could not eat another bite," Eldarion exclaimed, pushing his plate away.
Erestor stood from his chair, and walked into the kitchen, but when he came back he was carrying a tray, and on top of it lay a huge chocolate cake, and several raspberry tarts.
"Does this mean I shall have to tell the cook to simply throw this cake out?"
"Erestor! get over here with that cake!" Aragorn yelled. It had been too long since he had seen one, not since months before he left Minas Tirith.
"As fine as the cooks are in the palace, nothing they fix is more delicious than the cook's in Imladris' chocolate cake."
Aragorn cut himself a big slab and grabbed his fork. The first bite he took was like heaven, the chocolate as sweet as could be, and the cake so moist it nearly melted in his mouth.
His belly heaving with food, Aragorn pushed himself away from the table.
"I think I shall take a walk in the garden and have a smoke from my pipe, who will join me?"
Gimli gladly offered to join him in a smoke, and even Legolas and Eldarion wandered out to the garden to sit and watch the sun set.
"It is like I never left here," Aragorn mused out loud.
"Ah, you are correct Estel. I feel young again here, like I did when you were but a child and we caused much mischief and grief to the inhabitants who dwelled here."
Aragorn puffed on his pipe and sat back gazing up to the last rays of sun. "I wish I had never left. As much as I love Minas Tirith and its people, I have only ever truly felt at home here in Imladris."
Eldarion shook his father from his thoughts by grabbing his elbow. "Ada, can we visit here more often? I like hearing tales about when you were a boy like me, and it is peaceful here, and so pretty. Minas Tirith is a wonderful place, but nothing is like here where I can gaze out my window and see nothing but the garden below, and trees and earth as far as my eyes can gaze."
Aragorn pulled his son into a hug, "We will indeed come here more often, perhaps next time bringing your naneth with us. Too long have I stayed away, something that will not happen again; however we are here now and shall not be leaving for a couple more days, so let us enjoy it while we can."
After his smoke Aragorn bid the others a good night and went into the house. He didn't tell the others he wished to read more of the poems his father had written. He didn't want to share those memories with anyone just yet. Closing the door behind him he sat down and pulled the papers from the desk once again.
Eldarion yawned, "Perhaps it is time you were off to bed as well," Elladan said coming from inside the house.
"I am not tired!" Eldarion protested, but another yawn forced him to relent.
"I shall take you to your room if you would like," Elladan said, holding out his hand for Eldarion.
They walked up the stairs, Elladan telling Eldarion about each of the people in the pictures on the wall, and by the time they got to his room he could barely fight off sleep.
He quickly changed clothes and snuggled deep into the covers.
"What if I can't fall asleep?"
Elladan placed a kiss upon his brow. "If you have trouble falling asleep I believe you can do a bit of reading before bed."
Eldarion was about to ask him what he should read when he remembered the diary of his grandfather in the drawer. He smiled and shook his head, and let Elladan tuck him in.
Once Elladan was gone he tried to fall asleep, but being in a strange bed without knowing exactly where his Ada was had him a bit uneasy. Eldarion pulled the covers back, and leaned over the side of the bed, opening the drawer that held the book. He opened it to the page where he had last started reading and began.
Elladan came into the room a couple of hours later to find Eldarion fast asleep, the book opened on his bed. He carefully removed it and placed it back in the drawer.
"Goodnight tithe pen," he whispered, before leaning over and blowing out the candle. He stopped though just before closing the door, recalling back many years before when a little boy laid in the huge bed, and he knew Eldarion would hold just as special a place in his heart as Estel had. Smiling he went in search of his brother.