Disclaimer: I don't own anything * sobs * though I wished I did. Well, I own a cardboard cut out of Lego-baby now, but other then that, nothing.

Warnings: Slash mentions as always, but nothing strong. Just bitter reminiscences about what should have been….

Other stuff: Thank you's are at the end of the chapter. I wasn't going to continue this, but after watching Return of the King, I felt obliged to do so. Also, while Arwen in the first two movies sucked, I didn't mind her in the last movie, so I'm not really bashing her in this….

Aragorn's pov

Parallel Earth part 3

The crown felt heavy on my head as I turned to face the crowd. I have been nervous a few times before, but never anything of this magnitude. Leading a battle was one thing, but the care and charge of a country was another. A mistake in battle meant my own life could be taken, but a mistake made during my rule could mean the lives of my people. Olorin* had once assured me that when my time came, I would be the best King Gondor ever had as I long as I listened to what my heart told me.

But on this most joyous of days my heart told me nothing but of the laments for those who passed before me. I felt the pain of Theoden's death heavily, and the death of Halbarad* even more so. Looking into the faces of my people, I could see that they nothing but adored me, Elessar Telcontar*.

I am known by many names, but Elessar is new to me. I know that Strider is a ranger from the North, that Aragorn is the heir to the throne of Gondor, but of Elessar I know nothing of. Except he is now King.

I address the crowd, and look at those who are so familiar to me. Olorin stands on my right side, giving me silent support as I address the people of Gondor. Gimli stands on my left, smiling with a look on his face that says 'I knew you could do it'. In the crowd, I can see Eomer, the new King of Rohan, standing among his men, who show me the strongest of respect. And his sister, Lady Eowyn, now stands with Lord Faramir, and I am happy they have found love in one another. An envoy of elves stand behind them and it is in that small crowd where my final choice is to be made.

I begin my descent down the walkway of the citadel. Eomer bows to me, but I see his eyes flit towards where Faramir stands with Eowyn, and I must hold back a laugh. They are next to bow to me and I feel the smallest of tensions undo my heart as I know I will not cause her pain for she has found another. But only a small fraction of the tension is gone, for my choice still stands before me.

The crowd is silent as he makes his way up to me, and I do not believe that anyone knew of his royal title. Prince Legolas Thranduilion of Mirkwood captures the eyes of all with his fair face and lithe body. He is dressed in white, customary for the royalty of Mirkwood with a simple headpiece around his forehead. He is a vision to behold. I clap him on the shoulder and he does the same to me, I whisper something to him, but it goes unheard by both of us. His smile is one of remorse, though I am sure only I can see that.

It is when I gaze into his eyes that the crowd around us seems to disappear and times freezes. There is love in his eyes, the love for me that I have seen so many times, and has confused me so much. But there is also pain, suffering that he must go through every time he sees the necklace around my neck. I wish to be able to lean forward and capture his quivering lips with my own, but that is in a time and place that was never meant to be.

His eyes look sideways and I understand the final emotion in his eyes that I couldn't read. Resignation. He understands that he cannot have my full heart because it was not meant to be. He will live with his grief instead of putting it on Undomiel who is not as strong as he.

"Why?" I whisper ever so slightly, so that no one else would be able to hear.

"Because she will die if I do not leave, and she cannot," he whispers back, I can hear the affliction in his voice. "Some times love means being able to let go."

He pulls back from me so I am able to see another group of elves. The banner of Imladris* is held by an elf I can't see, but as it is drawn away, I see Arwen, and I can see in her eyes she knows of what I have spoken to the prince of Mirkwood. She looks down at the ground as I approach her, but I knew I had to honor Legolas's sacrifice. I put my hand under her chin and tilted her face up so she looked me in the eyes. I know she sees what Legolas has just done, my parallel earth show that as does hers.

Her eyes flutter towards Legolas for a moment, and he bows his head out of respect. He stands strong, except for the torment in his eyes that only a few would be able to recognize. I wonder what my intended will say, but she doesn't have to say a thing. One look between them and you can see what she is saying.

"Thank you" and I know she truly means it.

* * *

Okay, sorry I just had to write that. It's not as good as the first two parts, but I had to get it out of my system.

Thank you's:

JB- Thank you for reviewing…. It means a lot to me when someone says something like that.

Isys- I love your reviews, they always make me feel better! I know you hate movie!Arwen, but I like her in the last one. But I hope you liked the changes I made. The 'joyous news' was the fact that he was alive, because I'm pretty sure Elrond would have seen him fall (being a bit psychic and all)

Ky the Irish Pikey- touching review! I love when people point out what they like, because it helps a lot when I write something else. Cheers!

Believer- I know Legolas has blue eyes in the movie, but I see him as more of a green eyed elf. You know, his name translates to 'greenleaf', he lives in a forest, things of that nature.

The asterisk signs

Olorin* - it's what the elves call Gandalf

Halbarad* - Aragorn's second in command of the Rangers. He dies in the book at the battle of Pellanor fields

Elessar Telcontar*- the name Aragorn takes when he becomes king.

Imladris* - the elvish name for Rivendell