I've posted early because I'm not sure if I'm able to update on Wed.
I gather, from the comments people posted, that the last chapter was really evil. I am glad that you didn't take the option of hunting me down and killing me. Anyway, the story is coming to an end, and will be ending in Chapter 15.
This chapter doesn't really end on a cliffy, but on a lighter note, hopefully.
Enjoy!
Chapter 13
Eldarion's Choices
For many days Eldarion did not move from his position beside his father. Instead he let the tears flow. Aragorn was gone. Forever. Nothing could save him now. He'd slipped beyond the clutches of life. At least he was at rest.
Eldarion lay holding his father's hand sobbing, tears running down his cheeks. A bloodstained Anduril lay scattered on the stone floor. The Fellowship had long since left the square. They had met Elrond and Gandalf. Legolas had explained what had occurred with Eldarion and Aragorn. The Fellowship was still suffering.
The hobbits were the worst off for they had been grateful to Aragorn so much during the war of the Ring that it was terrible to see his cold and lifeless body. Elrond had briefly watched his grandson from afar but then returned to help the elves clear up the dead.
Gandalf explained until Eldarion chose to leave then Numenor would remain afloat. The Valar would only sink it again once everyone had left. Most of the elves sailed for Valinor but Elrond remained, and called for Celebrían to come. He knew she would want to see her grandson.
Within a day Celebrían arrived but also with her were the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, for they too wanted to see Arwen's child. Gandalf led them back to the city where the Fellowship awaited.
It was here that a miracle took place.
A sudden light seemed to grow from the Evenstar around Eldarion's neck but he took no notice. It began to shake and finally Eldarion took notice. He slipped it over his head, throwing it away to the stone floor yet it began to glimmer and shake, mists surrounding it. Something was forming from the mists erupting from the pendent.
A female form.
The spirit walked forward and looked intently into the eyes of the boy. "You are Eldarion son of the Evenstar?"
The boy nodded wiping away the tears trailing down his face. "Who are you?" he managed.
"I am Luthien Tinuviel." She answered.
Eldarion trembled. "But…you're dead. You can't be here."
"I can because I am the guardian of Arwen Undómiel's line. My spirit resides within her. I have come forward to give aid to you."
"I don't need aid now! I needed it before! My father is dead and there's nothing that can be done about it!" he cried. "Go away!"
"Then you will not hear the choices that concern the fate of Aragorn Elessar and Arwen Undómiel?"
Eldarion froze. "What do you mean?" he said softly.
Luthien smiled. Her hair flowed behind her. "I mean that there are still choices appointed before you. You can decide the fate of your parents. This was not meant to happen. If it had the Valar would've protected your father more for he is of my line too. They promised to never let my line fail in Middle-Earth and now it will unless something can be done to prevent it."
"Your line would fail? Why?"
"If you went home: Arwen would die. She could not live without Aragorn. The death of the King and Queen would mean you to take their place. The enemies of Gondor could take an advantage of this and kill you and your sisters if they planned carefully enough. My line would fail in Middle-Earth."
"What can be done?" asked Eldarion, his hands still holding his father's.
Luthien smiled warmly. "Three choices have been given to you, Eldarion. The first is to take the risk of what I have just said; or you can elect to send your mother to Valinor to be with her family and you and your sisters will be allowed to go with her. The third choice is to take the risk of bringing back your father from the spirit world. For the moment he has been sent to the Halls of Mandos until you have chosen. If you don't choose to bring Aragorn Elessar back then his spirit will pass onto the world of the dead and rest in peace."
The spirit fell silent leaving the boy to wonder. Finally he spoke. "What are the risks of choice 3?"
"If you chose to bring Aragorn back then the risks would be that he will remember all of it. He will not be healed. He may never heal and could die if he suffers from what has happened. However good will come of it. If he still suffers at the end of his life he will be given a sign to follow the stars into the west. If he so chooses he can sail to Valinor with Arwen and live out his life as it's meant to be."
Eldarion sighed. "Then that is what I will do. My father means more to me then anything in the world and I would do anything to see him alive once more and with my mother. He loves her lots and she him. I could not bear to lose them both now. It would break my sisters hearts, having no parents to grow up with."
"Then so it shall be done. You must go back to Middle-Earth and on the shores your father's spirit will join with his body. He will not wake immediately but he will when he decides to. Just remember, Eldarion, he may never heal." Luthien said and then she disappeared fading away into the air.
The boy picked up the Evenstar and slipped it over his head, then lifted his father in his arms and carried him back to the waiting Fellowship and elves.
Before they left Numenor Eldarion met his grandparents and spoke to them of their daughter and of their sons. On their final parting he said he hoped to remain in their hearts forever as a reminder of Arwen. Elrond and Celebrían agreed and watched as the remaining Fellowship sailed away back to Middle-Earth. Frodo was travelling back to Valinor with the elves but Gandalf was returning to Middle-Earth in hopes of finding the whereabouts of the Knights. For they had not been destroyed as the wizard had thought they would.
The tearful parting of Frodo and Sam had been long, but the two hobbits had eventually parted. Sam had promised to journey over the sea when his time came however he would wait until he had lost all that he had gained.
It was roughly two days before Middle-Earth came in sight and during that Eldarion told them of what had occurred and the choice in which he'd chosen. Gandalf explained that it was lucky that the Prince had been given those choices. They were only possible because Middle-Earth itself had not been affected by Morgoth's return. If it had been then Eldarion would not have had the choices.
Cirdan awaited their return at the Grey Havens, his eyes intrigued when he saw the Fellowship. He helped moor the boat to the side before allowing them to come ashore.
Eldarion stepped on land first carrying Aragorn. Even as he stepped onto the earth, a bright light echoed around him. He laid Aragorn on the floor as instructed by Gandalf and stepped back, letting Cirdan hold him by the shoulders.
They watched intrigued as an elvish voice recited the ancient language, something that even Legolas had never heard off! Then something sprinkled down upon the form of Aragorn. He started to breathe in air. His spirit was returning just as Luthien said it would!
Aragorn's eyes fluttered open for a brief second before he fell unconscious. The light disappeared and Eldarion wearily approached the King.
His father was breathing; the wounds were clearing up. The blood vanished leaving just a few nasty looking bumps. Eldarion smiled happily, tears falling down his face.
He had saved his father. He had done what he set out to. His father was alive; his family was whole.
Things were not so great in Gondor.
The Lady Arwen had fallen into darkness. Nothing could pull her out of it. The elf had nearly died two nights previously when Arwen said she'd felt her husband's death. It was getting too much to bear. Thanks to the healers and Éowyn they had managed to save her.
Whether or not some magical force was keeping the Queen alive, no one knew. She never woke but remained asleep. Something was at work. The Queen hardly breathed and it seemed that she was dead.
The only thing that could save her was the call of her husband, and he was far away.
Arwen remained in her 'death-sleep' and never once did she move or make a sound. A maid was ever watchful for someone had to be alerted if the Queen made a move. If there was any sign that she would wake, they wanted someone professionally there to help her.
However no such need came.
She lay in the bed for nearly two months before the King and the Prince returned home.
Sam had been home for a week. He had began writing a new edition to the Red Book and though Sam hadn't played much of a role, Frodo had done, and the hobbit was sure that his dear friend would have wanted this recorded. He named the new book: Of Melkor and Telcontar.
Sam's wife and his children went to stay with Rose's brother allowing Eldarion and Aragorn to recover. The boy was worried about his father, since the man had not yet woken. It had taken them three days to get from the harbour to the Shire. Gandalf went on ahead to Gondor to prepare Arwen for her husband's return while Legolas and Gimli traveled their own ways to their lands. Faramir also elected to remain with Eldarion.
Two days had passed since arriving in Hobbiton and though the rule that no man shall enter the Shire had been broken, Sam as mayor, had allowed it so his dear friends could heal. Most of the hobbits ignored the visitors yet a few of the younger ones wished to see the 'big people'.
Merry and Pippin headed home and hoped that Eldarion would say farewell to them when he left for Gondor.
On the seventh day since Aragorn's reincarnation he woke. He was alone when he did and unsure of where he was. An ache in his chest and shoulder throbbed mercilessly. Memories seemed to wash back and he remembered the road he had trod. He had died! Yet, here he was in a comfy bed surrounded by homely things. Was this where Ilúvatar sent men at death?
He did not think so.
"Strider?" Sam had heard movement from the other room and had come to investigate it. When he saw Aragorn awake he was unsure of what to do. Eldarion and Faramir were tending to their horses out in the Party Field. King Éomer in Rohan had sent these when Gandalf had presumably passed through.
Aragorn shook his head when he saw Sam standing in the doorway. "It can't be." The man sounded a bit astounded. "Am I dreaming or is this really real? I'm still alive?"
Sam couldn't help laughing. "Of course you are alive! I wouldn't have a dead man in my house would I?"
"We're in Bag End?"
"Yes. Eldarion and Faramir are outside, I presume, to be tending to your steeds." Sam said. "And I have my orders: you are not allowed to leave this house until you have fully recovered!"
Aragorn nodded still slightly confused. "May I see Eldarion and Faramir?"
"Certainly. I will tell them that you have woken." Sam left the King alone.
"Ada?" Eldarion gently shook Aragorn's arm unsure of what Sam said was true or not. The man had fallen back to sleep. He startled awake and glanced around before seeing his son.
The boy could not speak a word but grasped his father in a hug, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Faramir watched from the small doorway, a sad smile sliding across his features.
Three days later at midnight Aragorn, Faramir and Eldarion were ready to set out home. With them were to go Merry and Pippin who had elected to go to Minas Tirith for a year and their property's had been handed over to the most ablest of friends in their countries.
The aid of Eldarion, Aragorn managed to clamber onto one of the horses. His body was still healing but he desired to see Arwen; for he feared that something bad had happened to her during his disappearance. No word from Gandalf had been sent.
The last day Aragorn had not been happy. He had hardly smiled but lain in bed miserable. The others brought it down to anxiety but what Aragorn truly feared was what had happened to him. He didn't feel whole. Part of his soul was gone.
TBC
See? No evil cliffy! Apart from a un-healed King. I can't bear to kill Aragorn and leave him dead; it's not in my character. Hopefully the way I brought him back doesn't seem too cliché.
The last two chapters will be posted together on Saturday or maybe a little earlier on Friday night. I won't make any promises. A little preview of the sequel to this will be attached as well.
Farewell for now!