Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.

Summary: AU After the death of his friend, Aragorn falls into a depression and there may only be one person who can draw him out of it.

~*Author's Notes*~ Well readers it is finally here! The conclusion to this story is about to make itself known. This will be the fortieth and final chapter to my tale. I hope that it will meet all of the expectations out there. After you read, please let me know what you didn't really like and of course what you did like. Thanks for sticking with me all this time!

A big welcome back to LadySiri! I hope you enjoyed your trip.

How Can I Survive

Chapter 40

Aragorn awoke to a knock on his bedroom door. He sat up, rubbed his eyes and then quickly bid his visitor to enter, though he already had an idea of who it was. He was true to his guess, it was indeed his foster father.

Lord Elrond walked over to the blue curtains that hung over the man's windows and he threw them open revealing a world of light.

"I am afraid there is no more time for sleep, you must get ready as you have a long day ahead of you. In fact you have a long two years ahead of you" the elf corrected himself. "Halbarad was up at dawn this morning under the impression that you would be as well. He wants to get an early start."

"I am sorry" Aragorn sighed as he got to his feet and removed black breeches and a matching tunic from his mahogany dresser. "I guess part of me was just sort of dreading this day" he admitted.

"Whatever for?" Elrond inquired whilst he placed a comforting hand on the other's shoulder. "I was under the impression that training to become a ranger was what you wanted to do."

"And it is, I want to be a ranger, more than anything."

"Then why is it so upsetting for you to know that today is the day that your preparation will start" the peredhil questioned.

"Because…because my life and my family is here in Imladris. I know two years isn't long to those who belong to the elven race but it is to me. I just don't know if I will be able to last that long without seeing you and Elladan and Elrohir and…and Arwen" Aragorn confessed.

"I see. Estel, you are an adult, at least in the eyes of your people. You are a grown man. But you have survived things much harder than leaving the safety of your home with a trusted friend. I know you can do this, and I know you will make us, all of us proud" the elven lord assured him. "Now get dressed and meet me down in the dining hall."

"Alright already" Aragorn laughed.

*~*~*~*

"He is coming down" Elrond said as he entered the dining hall and saw his three children and his two guests all awaiting to hear what he would say.

"Is he okay?" Elladan asked.

"He is fine, absolutely fine. He just has how do you say, cold feet" Elrond chuckled.

"That is to be expected, I was a little hesitant as well when I first began my training" Halbarad responded.

"As were we" Elrohir spoke up, motioning towards himself and his twin brother whom he stood beside. "But he will realize that it is too much of a good experience and a smart choice and he will not be able to deny himself of it."

"I am sure he will" Gandalf agreed.

"Am I a good conversation topic?" Aragorn jested as he came to where his friends were discussing him.

"Yes, I must say that you are" Arwen joked as she ran her hand own his arm. "Come, come and have something to eat" the evenstar continued as she pulled her beloved toward a table that was filled with lots of delicious food. There were fruits, bread, fish and much much more.

"You can't expect me to eat all of this" the man protested as he was made to sit down. "Especially not for breakfast."

"No, of course not" Elladan replied. "The leftovers you and Halbarad will take with you."

The remark caused Aragorn to laugh. "And I thought I was making to big a deal out of my leaving. You can not even let me eat in peace. You just have to relax, I have survived things much harder than leaving my home with a trusted friend."

Elrond smiled at his foster son's words. He knew his words were just thrown back at him. "Yes, you are right. We should be able to allow you to do what you would like to do on your last day here before you leave."

The others nodded in agreement. They wanted to make sure that Aragorn was happy. Elladan and Elrohir remembered back to when they were getting ready to depart. It annoyed them so much when their father fussed over every little thing.

"Thank you."

*****

Aragorn decided to take a walk through the gardens. It always helped to calm his spirit when he was worried about any particular thing that would upset him.

He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard two sets of footsteps coming up from behind him. Since he had grown up around elves he had learned how to recondition his senses so they were almost as accurate as his brothers.

"If you have your minds set on playing another prank on me, you are sadly mistaken" the man stated, though there was good humour in his voice which told the brothers that he was in a good mood.

"We would never" Elladan responded, as if he was hurt.

Estel turned around and saw the older twin set down a bucket of spring water on the ground.

"Is that so?" Aragorn laughed.

"Listen, I know we have had some rocky times over these last couple of months, and I just want you to know that I will always love like you are my brother, as strange as that may be" Elrohir said as his expression turned to a serious one as he walked closer to the man.

"I know you will. And like I told you before, I feel the same way. I love you, both of you" the dunadan replied as he wiped away the tears that were beginning to fall.

Even Elrohir and Elladan were starting to cry.

"We have been through some rough periods and we have all gotten through them. I know that I was a jerk to you before, but I promise that will never happen again. I just want you to know that no matter what other obstacles are set out for our family, they will never tear us apart again" Elladan stated as his voice crackled a little.

"Come on you guys, it is not like I'm leaving forever, you know that. I will be back before you even know I am gone" Aragorn guaranteed, even though part of him believed he was only trying to convince himself.

"Yeah, we probably look like a bunch of pansies standing here crying" Elrohir chortled.

"No doubt about that. But still, you have to remember that we will always, through thick and thin, good times and bad times, be your brothers" Elladan proclaimed as he wiped away a tear that fell from one of his intense grey eyes.

"I will never forget it" Aragorn responded.

All three of them then saw something that quickly caught their attention. Arwen was approaching them with a solemn expression written all over her fair features.

"We'll just go back in the palace" Elladan offered as he patted the man on the back. Both the twins then made their way back inside.

Aragorn walked over to meet his lover.

"Arwen…" he whispered but he was cut off when she leaned in and kissed him.

"I love you so much" she murmured as she pulled away from him slowly.

"And I love you as well. You are the love of my life. As long as you wear this necklace" he started as he motioned to the chain that hung from her neck. "you will know that I will always adore you" he finished quietly as he placed his arms on either of her shoulders.

"I know you will do so well. You will be such a motivation for others to follow their dreams as well" Undomiel told him.

"Being a ranger is not my dream, it is a choice that I have made. My real dream has already come true…I've met you. All my life I have hoped that some day I would meet my soul mate and that we would be happy together. You, and you alone have made that fantasy a reality and I will be forever in your debt for that" the dunadan announced.

His words caused a smile to cross Arwen's lips as she gazed deeply in his eyes, as if reading his thoughts.

"You were my dream too" the evenstar declared as a water fall of tears fell from her beautiful eyes.

I used to think that dreams were just

For sentimental fools

And I'd never find someone

Who'd give their love so true

But I knew the very minute

Couldn't live my life without you in it

And now I want the whole wide world to know

I'd go anywhere for you

Anywhere you asked me to

I'd do anything for you

Anything you asked me to

Your love as far as I can see

Is all I'm ever gonna need

There's one thing I know for sure

It's true

I'd go anywhere for you

Backstreet boys ~ Anywhere for you

"I will be returning to you" Estel stated, whilst he tried to stop the tears that were threatening to fall down his cheeks.

"And I will be here…waiting for you" she responded, not attempting to stop herself from weeping.

"I owe my life to you Arwen. You saved me from myself and from the hopelessness and depression that I let myself fall in to. If you had not come in to my life I may have never gotten over Legolas' death. I owe my happiness and my life to you and your love" the man proclaimed.

"You owe me nothing. Loving you was not a chore I did when I really would have rather been doing something else. Loving you was something I was and still am lucky to be able to do. You are a blessing that was sent to me so that I could learn the true meaning of adoration and devotion" Undomiel exclaimed as she cupped her beloved's face in her hands.

"Halbarad is waiting for you" Elrond said as he came across them. He hated to interrupt them but he could not keep his guests waiting. Gandalf had decided to ride with them until he would make his way to Isengard to see his friend and fellow wizard Saruman.

They both turned to look at the elven lord who seemed rather uncomfortable.

"Right, I will go meet him now" the dunadan replied as he started walking towards the gates of Rivendell where he knew his mentor would be hanging around.

Arwen and her father moved slightly slower behind him as they too made for the same place.

When all three of them got there they saw Elladan and Elrohir along with Glorfindel waiting so they could wish the man farewell.

He quickly hugged the elves that he grew up knowing as his brothers and he even embraced the blonde elf lord who was standing beside Elrohir. Glorfindel chuckled a bit at this but he still patted the youth on the back. After that, he walked over to his foster father and he wrapped his arms around him as if he would never see him again.

He then walked over to the weeping evenstar. He put his palm to her cheek and pulled her into him in a loving kiss. After they parted he whispered something in her ear "I'll love you with every beat of my heart, I swear."

He mounted his horse that was in between his two fellow travelers. Aragorn took one look, the last look he would have in two years, at the ones he thought of as his family. The people who raised him when both his parents had perished. The people that would always be in his thoughts. And the one person that he knew he would love until he took his final breath.

As he, Gandalf and Halbarad started riding, he murmured something in the wind.

"I will be returning to you."

The end!!

I hope you liked it and I hope the ending was good enough. Please let me know what you think. Thanks so much!

~*Judy Greenleaf*~