A/N- (Moralinde sneaks on cautiously.) Hello? (Angry readers begin to throw vegetables, knives, and pillows at the authoress. Moralinde ducks for cover) Sorry! Please, don't hurt me! I just moved to Tokyo from boring ol' PA, and it's been murder getting adjusted.
Disclaimer- I will own Mars before I own LotR.
Pain. Red, rolling waves of pain. No escape, no release, just endless agony. Aragorn had been wounded before, but he had never had been through such torment as this. Then, as if to just make it worse, images began to run through his head. Images of the past, the present, and even of possible futures, none of them pleasant.
...
"Ada, I love Arwen. There is nothing I can do about that!" cried Aragorn.
"Your love would kill her!" snarled Elrond.
"I do not wish for her to die, but it is her choice!"
"She stays for you. She belongs with her people!"
"You mean she belongs with you! Milord, I only wish for Arwen's happiness. Would you deny her that?"
"You will not be wed!" Elrond stormed from the room.
Tears fell silently down Aragorn's face as he clutched the finger where the Ring of Barahir had been before he gave it to Arwen as a token of his love.
...
Aragorn walked through a familiar hall. 'Minas Tirith?' he thought incredulously, for it was not as he remembered. There was no joy, no music. All were in black and weeping while walking up through the seven levels of the city. Aragorn stopped one of the women who walked by, asking, "What is wrong? Who has died?"
"Did you not know?" asked the woman, holding back tears. "The great King Elessar Telcontar is dead. Today he will be laid to rest."
"Telcontar? Strider!" breathed Aragorn, recognizing his alias. With that, he began to sprint through the crowd. He ran into the citadel and then towards the royal quarters.
To his horror, he saw Arwen weeping in the window seat. "Aragorn," she wept brokenly. "I knew you would leave me. Why must Iluvatar be so cruel? I am not long for this world, for I wish nothing more than to join you in Mandos' Halls. Why could you not live on?"
...
Aragorn found himself back in the clearing, watching in sorrow as he was forced to relive his argument with Legolas. Each insult and jibe twisted the knife again and again, until he fell to the ground, weeping in hurt and betrayal.
...
The images became ever faster and more muddled, but did not decrease in confusion and suffering.
....
Aragorn led four people that looked like children through the Wild.
...
"I choose a mortal life!" pledged Arwen.
...
Arwen lying dead upon the very hill where they had pledged their love.
...
Elrond snarling, "None but the King will take my daughter from me!"
...
Arwen taking the ship to the Gray Havens.
...
Lothlorien, silent and somber as a tomb.
...
Images, whirling past, too fast to see, to painful to comprehend. All centered on death, suffering, and destruction. Aragorn cried out in his agony, but the images swirled on, unheeding.
Legolas sat beside Aragorn's bed, guilt etched deeply on his fair face. Every cry that tore from his friend's throat pushed Legolas a little further into depression, a little further into his self-destructive grief.
He was not alone in his misery, however. Beside him was his beloved wife, Aldamir. Although she was no less worried for Aragorn than her husband, she bore her fear with grace, only allowing her eyes to show her pain.
Lord Elrond was in his study across from the healing quarters, working like one possessed to see if there was any possible cure for his foster-son. He remembered reading of one somewhere, and that it all too often resulted in the death of the healer and of the injured one. This, in turn, had led to the dis-continument of the cure, which had led to the loss of the procedure. Now, Elrond prayed that he could find the treatment before time ran out.
Someone knocked on the door to Elrond's study, jarring him out of his frenzy. "Come in!" he called, sighing.
In walked two identical elves. Identical, so long as you looked only at their faces. Of their hair, however, that could not be said. One had bright orange hair, and the other blue. Ordinarily, Elrond would have to stifle a laugh at the sight of his sons, but with Aragorn teetering dangerously on the brink of death, he was in no mood for joy. "Yes?"
"Ada? Is it true?" asked Elladan, frantically.
Elrond had no need to ask what "it" was. "Yes," he sighed. "He is across the hall."
The twins sped out of the room. Their father spared only a second to look after them before returning to his search, as panicked as before.
.O.O.O.
Short, but I should be updating much more regularly, say, every week at the least! Sorry, again, about the wait!
Reviewer responses. (Maybe these'll make you happy so you won't kill me...)
Me- Ah, mellon nin, angst is good. Thank you for reviewing!
Silvertoekee- Yeah, Leggy talks to himself. But I do that too, and I'm not crazy, so he's not either! Just terribly angst-ridden! Thank you!
Mornflower- Hope your school's not as bad as that camp... Thanks for the review!
SorF- Um....maybe? And you're welcome. As for Leggy, if he came to a modern high school, would he even have to worry about stuff like that? I think not.
Sielge-Um...sorry 'bout the wait. Thanks for reviewing, though!
Aranna Undomiel- Ah, Leggy's going to be guilty, not mean now. And as for Aragorn...I honestly don't know yet!
SpastikLeggyluver- I'm glad you're enjoying my fic!
Coolio2- Sorry about the delay! Thanks for the review!
Catmint- Yeah, I did mean one out of ten. I slipped up on that. Thanks for the review!
Grumpy- Not to be rude or condescending in any way, but I did know that. I have read the books (many times!) Thanks, however, for taking the time to tell me. I do hope he did have another one to fight with! Thanks for the review!
Lindahoyland- Thank you!
NFG- Well, um, I guess I can say "better late than never." Thanks!
Joshua Nenya- Sorry about the cliffy! Don't know if this one is one or not...
Lady Laswen- Maybe he used a knife? No idea. I'd have to ask J.R.R. Tolkein about that. Pity he's dead. Thank you!
Mizgreenleafofmurkwood- DIE? Um, okay. Do you mean me, Aragorn, Leggy, my story, or my luverly laptop? Thanks for boosting my review count!
Aldawen Eldartari- Thank you so much for being a faithful reviewer. It really means so much to me. Love ya like a sis! Also, thanks for complimenting one of my love scenes. Never had that before!
Boobtubesandgrass- Thank you! And I did mean "one out of ten". I just sort of...slipped.
Crazzymonkey- Of course angst rocks! Thank you!
Marbeinl- Thank you!
Are you guys happy? (Reviewers produce torches and pitchforks) Um, I'll take that as a no...(Moralinde produces Anduril and prepares to fend off any ammo that angry reviewers will throw at her).