Title: Destiny
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings or anything in conjunction with The Lord of the Rings nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
I'ld love some feedback.
Elrond stood at the entrance of the great hall, watching his human son's tense stance before the fireplace as he fixedly gazed on the leaping flames. The elf had come to feel the unrest in his son these past months, unrest that stirred sadness in Elrond's heart. With words soft and gentle, Elrond interrupted his son's solitude, "I sense that the time for your destiny draws near, my son. I believe you sense it too."
Estel did not turn at the sound of his father's voice, but he answered with a tone striving for neutrality, "I believe the choice lays before me now."
Shock tore into Elrond as he realized what his son was trying hard not to say. "Choice? Estel, it is the destiny of your blood."
But Estel shook his head, still facing away from the elf he loved as a father and bitterly renounced, "Nay, it is the curse of my blood."
His son's anguish tore into Elrond's heart and he raised his hand intending to offer Estel the comfort of his touch. "Estel.." he tenderly began.
But with reflexes inordinately fast for a human, Estel scampered from his father's touch and, from a distance safe from Elrond's grasp, he turned resolute eyes onto the lord of Rivendell. With unwavering determination, he declared, as if his words would not destroy all that brought him joy, "I am going to join the Rangers in the north."
Elrond felt intense shock and pain as he had not felt since his twin brother had chosen mortality. He ordered with angry desperation, "You can not!"
Estel did not falter at his father's anger. It was not an unexpected reaction, though it pierced Estel's heart with desolation. Firmly, Estel used the last vestige of his strength and refuted the one he loved most in Middle Earth. "Yes, I can. Isildur's bane was not the ring of power, it was his soul. A soul that reflects in my own. I will not bring more death and ruin to man. Gondor needs no king."
Fear saturated Elrond, obliterating his previous anger. The true depths of Estel's words, of his decision were finally reaching the elf lord. "You are wrong. Gondor needs a king. I know your soul, Estel. It does not hold the greed for power as Isildur's did. It will prove it's honor when you accept your destiny and wear the crown."
Frustration burned in Estel's eyes. "No. You speak as an Elf not as a Man. Man is weakness, man is frailty, man is corrupt from birth. You can not change the nature of mankind by placing a crown upon it's head. No, you can only drive it's corruption deeper into it's heart. Do you forget the Nine that does the One's biddings. We have no strength against that evil."
Elrond's look softened and he stepped closer to his human son and with love and faith encouraged, "I speak not for mankind, I speak for you. You have the strength, Estel. The strength that your forefather did not. The strength that the Nine did not."
But Estel harshly rebuked "You do not know that!" Turning his back to Elrond, Estel walked to the window and feasted on the beauty that was Rivendell. When next he spoke his voice rang with both heartbreak and steadfast purpose, "I will not ruin Middle Earth on that false hope. You have always said, 'I was there when the strength of men failed'." (Elrond flinched at the words, pained to know his words were heard by Estel.) "I have no desire to be the man you see fail Middle Earth again. I will be leaving in the morning." Then without warning, Estel crossed to the door.
With anguish Elrond called after his son, "Estel!"
His father's cry brought Estel to a halt in the doorframe but he did not turn around to face his father, he could not if he were to remain steadfast on his path. But his quiet, defeated words reached into Elrond's very soul. "Estel is dead and Aragorn has chosen exile. Only Strider remains."
Then Estel walked away, leaving behind the only father he had ever known, and discarding the life that had always brought him happiness and peace. Destiny was a cruel master even at the best of times but it was cruelest to those who dared to defy it. He would receive no leniency from destiny's calculating grasp and he felt he deserved none. For mercy's ministrations should never be wasted on cowards.
******
I'ld love to hear what you think. Especially if you think I should do another segment to this tale.
Thanks for reading!
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings or anything in conjunction with The Lord of the Rings nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
I'ld love some feedback.
Elrond stood at the entrance of the great hall, watching his human son's tense stance before the fireplace as he fixedly gazed on the leaping flames. The elf had come to feel the unrest in his son these past months, unrest that stirred sadness in Elrond's heart. With words soft and gentle, Elrond interrupted his son's solitude, "I sense that the time for your destiny draws near, my son. I believe you sense it too."
Estel did not turn at the sound of his father's voice, but he answered with a tone striving for neutrality, "I believe the choice lays before me now."
Shock tore into Elrond as he realized what his son was trying hard not to say. "Choice? Estel, it is the destiny of your blood."
But Estel shook his head, still facing away from the elf he loved as a father and bitterly renounced, "Nay, it is the curse of my blood."
His son's anguish tore into Elrond's heart and he raised his hand intending to offer Estel the comfort of his touch. "Estel.." he tenderly began.
But with reflexes inordinately fast for a human, Estel scampered from his father's touch and, from a distance safe from Elrond's grasp, he turned resolute eyes onto the lord of Rivendell. With unwavering determination, he declared, as if his words would not destroy all that brought him joy, "I am going to join the Rangers in the north."
Elrond felt intense shock and pain as he had not felt since his twin brother had chosen mortality. He ordered with angry desperation, "You can not!"
Estel did not falter at his father's anger. It was not an unexpected reaction, though it pierced Estel's heart with desolation. Firmly, Estel used the last vestige of his strength and refuted the one he loved most in Middle Earth. "Yes, I can. Isildur's bane was not the ring of power, it was his soul. A soul that reflects in my own. I will not bring more death and ruin to man. Gondor needs no king."
Fear saturated Elrond, obliterating his previous anger. The true depths of Estel's words, of his decision were finally reaching the elf lord. "You are wrong. Gondor needs a king. I know your soul, Estel. It does not hold the greed for power as Isildur's did. It will prove it's honor when you accept your destiny and wear the crown."
Frustration burned in Estel's eyes. "No. You speak as an Elf not as a Man. Man is weakness, man is frailty, man is corrupt from birth. You can not change the nature of mankind by placing a crown upon it's head. No, you can only drive it's corruption deeper into it's heart. Do you forget the Nine that does the One's biddings. We have no strength against that evil."
Elrond's look softened and he stepped closer to his human son and with love and faith encouraged, "I speak not for mankind, I speak for you. You have the strength, Estel. The strength that your forefather did not. The strength that the Nine did not."
But Estel harshly rebuked "You do not know that!" Turning his back to Elrond, Estel walked to the window and feasted on the beauty that was Rivendell. When next he spoke his voice rang with both heartbreak and steadfast purpose, "I will not ruin Middle Earth on that false hope. You have always said, 'I was there when the strength of men failed'." (Elrond flinched at the words, pained to know his words were heard by Estel.) "I have no desire to be the man you see fail Middle Earth again. I will be leaving in the morning." Then without warning, Estel crossed to the door.
With anguish Elrond called after his son, "Estel!"
His father's cry brought Estel to a halt in the doorframe but he did not turn around to face his father, he could not if he were to remain steadfast on his path. But his quiet, defeated words reached into Elrond's very soul. "Estel is dead and Aragorn has chosen exile. Only Strider remains."
Then Estel walked away, leaving behind the only father he had ever known, and discarding the life that had always brought him happiness and peace. Destiny was a cruel master even at the best of times but it was cruelest to those who dared to defy it. He would receive no leniency from destiny's calculating grasp and he felt he deserved none. For mercy's ministrations should never be wasted on cowards.
******
I'ld love to hear what you think. Especially if you think I should do another segment to this tale.
Thanks for reading!
