He stood at the edge of the Citadel, looking out over the new realm. His
skin glowed red-golden as the sun set in fiery embers over the land. Behind
him, a cloaked figure silently watched for a little while, before turning
and disappearing into the shadows under the eaves.
He was aware of the quiet watcher, well aware. He remained still gazing, searching his kingdom. A bird caught his eye as it soared far above him, just out of reach of the stars. He watched it as it paused, gracefully frozen for a split second before it plummeted to earth.
Watching it fall, he searched his mind. Asking one question—why? He had taken the fairest thing living from her people, her hope of paradise. Taken her, made her bereft of all she had looked forward to. Kept her for himself alone—why? How could he have done such a murderous thing? How could she have said, "yes"?
Was it pure greed? Was it defiance? Had it been neither—perhaps, something more?
He wondered why such a thing had happened at all.
Then, a voice floated down to catch his ear. Like a lark at dawn, it flew sweetly and gladly through the golden air. His head turned. All dark thoughts took flight from his heart as he ascended to answer the call. Yet the next day, and for many days, he returned to the place on the wall. Each eve, as the sun's glory died over Gondor, he stood there as his heart wandered far from the light. Wandering, and wondering. Questioning himself.
He was aware of the quiet watcher, well aware. He remained still gazing, searching his kingdom. A bird caught his eye as it soared far above him, just out of reach of the stars. He watched it as it paused, gracefully frozen for a split second before it plummeted to earth.
Watching it fall, he searched his mind. Asking one question—why? He had taken the fairest thing living from her people, her hope of paradise. Taken her, made her bereft of all she had looked forward to. Kept her for himself alone—why? How could he have done such a murderous thing? How could she have said, "yes"?
Was it pure greed? Was it defiance? Had it been neither—perhaps, something more?
He wondered why such a thing had happened at all.
Then, a voice floated down to catch his ear. Like a lark at dawn, it flew sweetly and gladly through the golden air. His head turned. All dark thoughts took flight from his heart as he ascended to answer the call. Yet the next day, and for many days, he returned to the place on the wall. Each eve, as the sun's glory died over Gondor, he stood there as his heart wandered far from the light. Wandering, and wondering. Questioning himself.