Sorry this hasn't gotten posted sooner. Between a case of mental blocks,
school, and just plain laziness, I've written barely at all.
Thanks to the reviewers. Muah, no flames on any of my stories. Makes an author happy. ^^
Disclaimer: See chapter one
~~~
A Grey Dawn
Part Four
~~~
The people of Gondor had never heard such an anguished cry come from anyone, never mind their own king. The horrified sound echoed through the city, it seemed, and everyone froze in their places. What could cause such a thing?
The guards dared not move. For even if they did, the shock of what had just happened rendered them immobile, petrified, and stuck in their place. Aragorn's eyes were shut tightly, clutching to Arwen's hand as if it would bring her back. Undo everything that he should have prevented. Guilt was nearly as strong as the anger and profound sadness that he felt.
Finally, Faramir popped out of the crowd, a very audible gasp slipping from his lips, followed by his wife who skidded to a halt at the sight.
"What in the name of-" The Steward managed to stutter, mouth slightly ajar. It seemed as if all of Middle-earth had stopped. A groan brought everyone's attention to the bushes that the queen's murderers had been hiding in, and one of them was doubled over, an arrow lodged deeply into his shoulders. Aragorn's head snapped over to the wounded man, and lifted Arwen's head from his lap, laying it softly onto the ground before standing. Everyone backed up, for they saw a dangerous light in his eye, and dared not challenge it. He slowly drew Anduril, heading towards the man. Faramir went wide-eyed, springing forward and stopping his friend.
"Aragorn, you mustn't kill him! We need imforma-" He stumbled slightly and the king stepped forward once more, but quickly regained his grip.
"Listen to me! If you want justice, you have to let him live. I would like to tear him limb from limb, and I fear what you may do. But please, we have to remain calm and think clearly for the sake of Gondor." Faramir's word's finally got through, and Aragorn simply stood there, glaring at the Southron, who cowered at the sight.
"We must get inside." Aragorn all but whispered, staring teary eyed down at his dead wife. The most beautiful creature to walk Middle-earth since Luthien, and the most beloved thing in his world besides Eldarion.
"Some of you make sure my son does not come anywhere near us. Is that clear?" No one dared refuse. Two of the guards gingerly picked up the queen after Aragorn nodded, and the group made their way mournfully back inside, crimson staining the green grass.
~~~
Elrond's head shot up, hand gripping the side of the Elven bench, resting in the magnificent gardens of Valinor. Galadriel sat on another, and raised her brow somewhat knowingly, an emotionless void on her face.
"Something has happened." He, instantly looking at his wife's mother. The fact that he couldn't quite understand what this sudden dread was worried him, but Galadriel's unsurprised look worried him even more.
"It has." She replied calmly, although anyone who knew her could see a strange, unfamiliar glint in her sky-blue eyes. He stared at her questioningly, although getting no response for several moments. He needed none, for a sudden vision came to him, and if he hadn't of been sitting, his legs would have most likely given out.
"Arwen is-" He stopped, not believing what he had seen for only a brief moment, but that was enough. The Lady nodded, unblinking.
"The mirror showed it to me. Long ago, before the fellowship set out." As she spoke, a fury raised in the Peredhil, absolutely not believing what he was hearing.
"And did not tell? How- how could you? If I had known, I would have never let her stay if I had known-this!" He exclaimed, rising off the bench. Still, her face remained emotionless.
"That is the reason I did not tell you. That, and the mirror does not show the certain future. You wouldn't have let her stay, would have taken her west unwillingly or no. What would that have accomplished? She would have resented you, Aragorn may have never had the will to overcome the shadow without the knowing that Arwen would be there waiting for him, and you know very well that the chances were that she would die of heartbreak before the ships ever got half way here. Time does not let one forget love. You know that very well." Galadriel said quickly, looking off into the distance.
Elrond fought back tears, and yet the anger overwhelmed him. "How can you dare to decide what I need to hear about my own daughter? You have-" He shook his head, walking off to. anywhere, trying to not believe any of it, although was failing miserably. As he left, a single crystalline tear made a smooth course down the Lady's cheek, a tear that had not been shed for an age.
~~~
Part Three
~~~
"Where is my father? My mother? I demand to know why you lock me in my chambers like some small child! How dare you? When my parents find out." Eldarion continued to yell, and pound the oak door which had been locked and barricaded, in an act of desperation to keep him from finding out his mother was dead.
"Soon, my prince." One of the guards called, trying to sound cheery, which was not working the least bit. The dark haired young man finally kicked at the door in frustration, and slumped down into a chair. It was quite remarkable how similar he looked to Aragorn, apart from the delicately pointed ears and the Elven beauty that set him apart from the others boys, who were quite jealous indeed.
Finally, twenty minutes later, the door opened, approval given to Eldarion to leave the room. Although they knew that as soon as he heard the 'the news', he would wish he was back locked in his room.
His father stood silently a little ways away, wearing new clothing apposed to the others which he would never dare lay his eyes upon again.
"Come here, my son." He said slowly, inviting the prince to sit on one of the benches in the halls. Eldarion raised a brow, but sat anyway, quite curious to why everyone was acting so strangely.
"I do not know how to tell you this," Aragorn murmured, eyes closed. "Your naneth. she. Eldarion. do you remember how I've told you that the spirits of the dead go to-" He didn't need to finish. The expression on the boy's face told all too well that he knew what had happened, and also by the way he slid off the bench, to his feet.
"Naneth's dead?" He blinked, wide grey eyes shimmering with tears. "No!" Turning on his heel, Eldarion ran down the hall, blinded and senseless from grief. He didn't know how she died, nor did he even care at that point. He only knew that his beloved mother was dead, and he couldn't remember the last time he had told her he loved her.
Aragorn sighed, putting a calloused hand to his head, trying to stay together. He felt numb, in some ways, near despondent as he stared down the hall. Not even one of the healers, one being the one who usually tended to Arwen, coming down the hall brought him out of it.
"My lord?" The king shook his head, looking down at the brown-haired woman with a distant expression. She didn't know if this would be the very best moment to tell him what she had been sent to tell, yet it was better sooner than later.
"It is about your wife." He still said nothing. "Quite a few weeks ago, she came to me complaining of some nausea. I believe that she was sent down there by you." He nodded. "What it was though. I. My lord, she was with child." That brought his head swirling down to face her once more, eyes wider than ever thought possible.
"She told me to not say a word, as she was waiting for the right moment to tell you- The queen was planning to tell you tonight." The woman lowered her eyes, not being able to look at the pained expression on her king's face any longer. "That is all, my lord." She stuttered, quickly leaving with any dismissal of the kind. Aragorn nearly fell back onto the wooden bench, fists clenched tightly. Arwen was--
"No." He whispered, felling as though the world was caving in on him. They not only killed his wife. But now his child as well? They had been praying for another, although it just wouldn't happen. Yet now.
He would get revenge.
Later that evening, after giving up trying to comfort Eldarion, who wanted none and had locked himself in his chambers, and no longer being able to look upon Arwen's lifeless face any longer, Aragorn retired into his chambers, sinking down onto the bed, staring absently at the ceiling. The room was still filled with her belongings, and the scent of flowers that she seemed to have still lingered in the room. Could he not escape the pain?
His eyes drifted over to his hunting knife, laying in the corner of the room. An escape. Gazing the sheathed blade, a sudden desire came over him. It would be so easy, to simply make it all end. How could he ever function as a good king again? Getting up slowly from the intrigue, he gingerly picked up the knife and unsheathed it, running his finger along the dull side.
It would be so easy.
~~~
Plot twists and cliff hangers are one of my favourite things in the whole world. Well, besides reviews. And please excuse the shortness of it all.
And one more thing.
REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW.
=D
Thanks to the reviewers. Muah, no flames on any of my stories. Makes an author happy. ^^
Disclaimer: See chapter one
~~~
A Grey Dawn
Part Four
~~~
The people of Gondor had never heard such an anguished cry come from anyone, never mind their own king. The horrified sound echoed through the city, it seemed, and everyone froze in their places. What could cause such a thing?
The guards dared not move. For even if they did, the shock of what had just happened rendered them immobile, petrified, and stuck in their place. Aragorn's eyes were shut tightly, clutching to Arwen's hand as if it would bring her back. Undo everything that he should have prevented. Guilt was nearly as strong as the anger and profound sadness that he felt.
Finally, Faramir popped out of the crowd, a very audible gasp slipping from his lips, followed by his wife who skidded to a halt at the sight.
"What in the name of-" The Steward managed to stutter, mouth slightly ajar. It seemed as if all of Middle-earth had stopped. A groan brought everyone's attention to the bushes that the queen's murderers had been hiding in, and one of them was doubled over, an arrow lodged deeply into his shoulders. Aragorn's head snapped over to the wounded man, and lifted Arwen's head from his lap, laying it softly onto the ground before standing. Everyone backed up, for they saw a dangerous light in his eye, and dared not challenge it. He slowly drew Anduril, heading towards the man. Faramir went wide-eyed, springing forward and stopping his friend.
"Aragorn, you mustn't kill him! We need imforma-" He stumbled slightly and the king stepped forward once more, but quickly regained his grip.
"Listen to me! If you want justice, you have to let him live. I would like to tear him limb from limb, and I fear what you may do. But please, we have to remain calm and think clearly for the sake of Gondor." Faramir's word's finally got through, and Aragorn simply stood there, glaring at the Southron, who cowered at the sight.
"We must get inside." Aragorn all but whispered, staring teary eyed down at his dead wife. The most beautiful creature to walk Middle-earth since Luthien, and the most beloved thing in his world besides Eldarion.
"Some of you make sure my son does not come anywhere near us. Is that clear?" No one dared refuse. Two of the guards gingerly picked up the queen after Aragorn nodded, and the group made their way mournfully back inside, crimson staining the green grass.
~~~
Elrond's head shot up, hand gripping the side of the Elven bench, resting in the magnificent gardens of Valinor. Galadriel sat on another, and raised her brow somewhat knowingly, an emotionless void on her face.
"Something has happened." He, instantly looking at his wife's mother. The fact that he couldn't quite understand what this sudden dread was worried him, but Galadriel's unsurprised look worried him even more.
"It has." She replied calmly, although anyone who knew her could see a strange, unfamiliar glint in her sky-blue eyes. He stared at her questioningly, although getting no response for several moments. He needed none, for a sudden vision came to him, and if he hadn't of been sitting, his legs would have most likely given out.
"Arwen is-" He stopped, not believing what he had seen for only a brief moment, but that was enough. The Lady nodded, unblinking.
"The mirror showed it to me. Long ago, before the fellowship set out." As she spoke, a fury raised in the Peredhil, absolutely not believing what he was hearing.
"And did not tell? How- how could you? If I had known, I would have never let her stay if I had known-this!" He exclaimed, rising off the bench. Still, her face remained emotionless.
"That is the reason I did not tell you. That, and the mirror does not show the certain future. You wouldn't have let her stay, would have taken her west unwillingly or no. What would that have accomplished? She would have resented you, Aragorn may have never had the will to overcome the shadow without the knowing that Arwen would be there waiting for him, and you know very well that the chances were that she would die of heartbreak before the ships ever got half way here. Time does not let one forget love. You know that very well." Galadriel said quickly, looking off into the distance.
Elrond fought back tears, and yet the anger overwhelmed him. "How can you dare to decide what I need to hear about my own daughter? You have-" He shook his head, walking off to. anywhere, trying to not believe any of it, although was failing miserably. As he left, a single crystalline tear made a smooth course down the Lady's cheek, a tear that had not been shed for an age.
~~~
Part Three
~~~
"Where is my father? My mother? I demand to know why you lock me in my chambers like some small child! How dare you? When my parents find out." Eldarion continued to yell, and pound the oak door which had been locked and barricaded, in an act of desperation to keep him from finding out his mother was dead.
"Soon, my prince." One of the guards called, trying to sound cheery, which was not working the least bit. The dark haired young man finally kicked at the door in frustration, and slumped down into a chair. It was quite remarkable how similar he looked to Aragorn, apart from the delicately pointed ears and the Elven beauty that set him apart from the others boys, who were quite jealous indeed.
Finally, twenty minutes later, the door opened, approval given to Eldarion to leave the room. Although they knew that as soon as he heard the 'the news', he would wish he was back locked in his room.
His father stood silently a little ways away, wearing new clothing apposed to the others which he would never dare lay his eyes upon again.
"Come here, my son." He said slowly, inviting the prince to sit on one of the benches in the halls. Eldarion raised a brow, but sat anyway, quite curious to why everyone was acting so strangely.
"I do not know how to tell you this," Aragorn murmured, eyes closed. "Your naneth. she. Eldarion. do you remember how I've told you that the spirits of the dead go to-" He didn't need to finish. The expression on the boy's face told all too well that he knew what had happened, and also by the way he slid off the bench, to his feet.
"Naneth's dead?" He blinked, wide grey eyes shimmering with tears. "No!" Turning on his heel, Eldarion ran down the hall, blinded and senseless from grief. He didn't know how she died, nor did he even care at that point. He only knew that his beloved mother was dead, and he couldn't remember the last time he had told her he loved her.
Aragorn sighed, putting a calloused hand to his head, trying to stay together. He felt numb, in some ways, near despondent as he stared down the hall. Not even one of the healers, one being the one who usually tended to Arwen, coming down the hall brought him out of it.
"My lord?" The king shook his head, looking down at the brown-haired woman with a distant expression. She didn't know if this would be the very best moment to tell him what she had been sent to tell, yet it was better sooner than later.
"It is about your wife." He still said nothing. "Quite a few weeks ago, she came to me complaining of some nausea. I believe that she was sent down there by you." He nodded. "What it was though. I. My lord, she was with child." That brought his head swirling down to face her once more, eyes wider than ever thought possible.
"She told me to not say a word, as she was waiting for the right moment to tell you- The queen was planning to tell you tonight." The woman lowered her eyes, not being able to look at the pained expression on her king's face any longer. "That is all, my lord." She stuttered, quickly leaving with any dismissal of the kind. Aragorn nearly fell back onto the wooden bench, fists clenched tightly. Arwen was--
"No." He whispered, felling as though the world was caving in on him. They not only killed his wife. But now his child as well? They had been praying for another, although it just wouldn't happen. Yet now.
He would get revenge.
Later that evening, after giving up trying to comfort Eldarion, who wanted none and had locked himself in his chambers, and no longer being able to look upon Arwen's lifeless face any longer, Aragorn retired into his chambers, sinking down onto the bed, staring absently at the ceiling. The room was still filled with her belongings, and the scent of flowers that she seemed to have still lingered in the room. Could he not escape the pain?
His eyes drifted over to his hunting knife, laying in the corner of the room. An escape. Gazing the sheathed blade, a sudden desire came over him. It would be so easy, to simply make it all end. How could he ever function as a good king again? Getting up slowly from the intrigue, he gingerly picked up the knife and unsheathed it, running his finger along the dull side.
It would be so easy.
~~~
Plot twists and cliff hangers are one of my favourite things in the whole world. Well, besides reviews. And please excuse the shortness of it all.
And one more thing.
REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW.
=D