Title: The End Has Come
Author: B-witched83uk )
Rating: R
Summary: The royal family of Gondor have their final adventure together.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle-earth belongs to Tolkien
Beta: The Last Evenstar, a great friend and a great editor.
Archive: , Any others please ask.
Feedback: I would absolutely love some because yes I am a praise junky.
A/N: The flashback is taken from A Perfect Day. Also, I'm very sorry for making so many of you cry.
Chapter 17
Become Who You Were Born To Be
The Second Generation
Eldarion stared at the rings on his finger. The Ring of Barahir, and the ring he had placed on Ithiliwen's finger and vowed to love her for the rest of his life. He shook his head and downed the last drops from his glass. It burned his throat on the way down, and did nothing to dull the aching inside his chest. He poured himself another one and drained it in one go. Slamming the glass down, he picked up Andúril and fastened it to his waist.
He held his breath, coming face to face with his sister and dearest friend. Her eyes were red and bloodshot. Her lips were dry and her eyes were dim. Slowly, she held out her hand and took Eldarion's, stroking her thumb over the top of his hand. They simply stared at each other, silently sharing their grief.
"Your Kingdom will look to you now. Tell me, Eldarion, what will they find?" Her voice was whispered and hoarse from too much sobbing. "Will they find their King? Their saviour? Or will they find a drunk? Unable to feel, unable to care?"
Eldarion looked down at the ground, closing his eyes against her words.
"They need you now, this family needs you now. Valar knows it would be easier to sit alone day after day and wait for death to take you, to reunite you with Ithiliwen and Ada, but what about the rest of us, what about those who need you? I need you, Eldarion, and your people need you. Now freshen up and take a walk with me through the streets. Show yourself to those who need you. Become their King."
Silence filled the room that Arwen had once shared with her husband. Her broken sobs had long since died in her throat, to be replaced by a dry bitter taste. She gazed around the room, full of soft candlelight and the smell of lavender burning.
The room looked ever the same. The darkness she was living had not tainted this room, which she now deemed sacred.
She walked over to the bed and let her hand slid over Aragorn's side, the cool silk soothing her skin. She needed to be close to him, she needed to feel his presence, she needed to bury herself in the place he slept for many years and lose her mind to the blissful memories. Perhaps then, even just for a moment, she could pretend he was still with her, she could pretend she felt his arms around her once more.
She slipped between the cool material and sighed softly as her face rubbed over his pillow, the musky woodland scent still clinging to it, still giving false hope.
Aragorn's breath hitched in his throat as he saw Arwen come from behind the screen and into their bedroom. Her nightdress was emerald green silk, and it hugged to her very womanly body. Their eyes locked for a moment, a knowledge of the pleasure they could give one another passing between them.
Aragorn held her close to him and pushed his hard body against her. Her hands slid over his chest and began to part his shirt. The skin underneath was both soft and hard like silk spread over rock.
To him this was torture, to feel her touch him, even in such small ways. The knowledge of what was to come pounded through his entire body. He closed his eyes tightly as her gentle fingers slid down to his waist line, he opened them long enough to see the look of pure love in his wife's eyes. Leaning into her, he stole her breath with a fiery kiss that made her cling to him.
"I love you, Undómiel, with all that I am," he whispered softly into her ear. Arwen bit her lip as the emotions of loving him became too much. The ache that ran through her body had now settled at her heart, and she knew that the only way to ease that pain was to be as close to him as possible.
"Make love to me," she whispered, unable to go another second without feeling him. They undressed in silence, the whole time watching each other. Then, in one fluid motion, he wrapped his arms around her back and picked her up, holding her close to his heated body.
Aragorn lay his wife gently onto their marital bed. He came to lie beside her, turning her to face him. The King and Queen of Gondor held on to one another, making love. Their bodies moved as one, not able to get close enough, trembling in each other's arms. As the night darkened their room, and the candles burnt out, they continued to move together, bringing each other both complete torment and bliss. They loved each other in the most beautiful, most physical of ways, until they were both completely sated.
There in each other's arms, sleep took them, their spent bodies entwined, their mouths still loosely joined, their hearts beating frantically. They rested in peace in the knowledge that tomorrow would bring much the same, and every day after that. They had earned their happiness in more ways then imaginable.
Arwen's body shock violently as she clutched her dead husband's pillow to her chest. She sobbed loudly, crying out her pain. She closed her eyes tight, breathing shakily. "Daro an nín, meleth nín, im aphad lle ned an guruth," she choaked out.
Wait for me, my love, I'll soon follow you into death
Never again did any being in Middle-earth see Eldarion smile. That is not to say that he was not still a good man and an honest man, just an unhappy man.
The white stone walls of Minas Tirith gleamed brightly in the midday sun, a sight of silver and pearl. The entire Kingdom were gathered in the top courtyard. Children dressed in their best clothing looked on excitedly, eager to catch a glimpse of their soon-to-be King.
Eldarion stood before his people, crownless and still a Prince. He looked over to his sister, who was smiling at him from the side. He caught her wink and returned it, grateful for her faith in him. Arwen's hand reached out for his and she brought it to her mouth, kissing her only son softly. Eldarion turned slowly, his back to his Kingdom, and kneeled before Elladan.
Elladan patted his shoulder, the pain of Aragorn's passing still fresh in his heart. He lifted the crown above his nephew's head and spoke aloud.
"Now come the days of King Eldarion Telcontar. May they be truly blessed." He placed the crown on top of Eldarion's head and the entire Kingdom broke out in to a tremendous applause. Closing his eyes, trying to compose himself, Eldarion slowly stood and faced his people.
'Become who you were born to be,' echoed through his mind in his father's voice.
The instant he raised his hands, the courtyard fell into silence. "Long has my father ruled Gondor with valour and fairness. Today I take his place on the throne, but never in your hearts. I do not know what valour is in me, but I do know that I shall not rest nor surrender while my father's blood flows through me. I will be standing here with the courage of men when the last hours of the world draw in, facing them head on. When our foes surround us and try to take what is ours, I will be here." He pointed to the solid ground beneath him. "They may come with weapons, they may come with fire, but I will be here. They may break our gates and walls, but never our spirits. They may take our dignity, and they may take our hope, but I will be here. As your King, as your lord, as your defender, I swear to you, good people of Gondor, that this will be a new day, a better day. When we stand united and in one voice proclaim that we are strong, that we are fearless, for we are Gondor, and we are great."
The entire Kingdom roared with such pride and trust in their new King that the sound could be heard for miles.
Arwen stood silently as tears fell without shame from her frozen grey eyes. She gazed at her son and instead saw Aragorn, standing tall and proud. She closed her eyes and felt him speak to her in her mind, felt his presence telling her it was time. Her time had finally come, her part in the world was no more. She looked over at Elladan and felt the weight of his stare. He slowly nodded his head, not needing her to voice her request.
TBC
ME132: I'm sorry Kay, but Aragorn is dead. You know how it works, no amount of sexual healing will bring him back, believe me, I was up for days trying. Eww, I swear I'm not really in to necrophilia.
Cerridwen-Evereven: I know it was sad, I sobbed my little heart out when wrote it. I felt like I was killing him, mean old me.
EbonyBeach: Thank you so much for the great review. I'm sorry I have made you cry so often, but it is healthy to have a good cry now and then. You think it was overwhelming to read? Try writing it. I was emotionally drained for the rest of the day.
Calandra: Thank you, its nice to hear such kind words about my writing. I am really proud of this story and I am kind of sad that the series is coming to an end. I wanted to write one last fic to tie up all lose ends and I also wanted to go out with a bang, so it is nice to know that people appreciate it.
tindomiel-tintalle: I did actually do a family tree but it was on a program and I couldn't get it on to something else. The profiles is a very good idea, I will have to have a go at it, the only problem is that I find it difficult to find the time.
DreaminofLorien: Tolkien is probably pissed at me for ruining Aragorn's death scene. "Why did she have to go and add to it? It was fine how it was." That is one of my favourite lines too, it is also kind of used in TTT.
Viviana: I'm very sorry about the crying, I'm afraid it can't be helped. However the love that Aragorn and Arwen shared will live on in their children and their grandchildren.
