Title: "After the Wars"
Author: BalianswordChapter: 8, "White Tree"
A/N: This chapter is very metaphorical. The leaf, which you will read of, is not but just a leaf. It instead is something much deeper. For those that do not connect what the leaf means, please contact me, and I shall share. For the rest of you, thank you for reading. Please R and R! Baliansword
The wind lifted a small leaf off of the ground. It was a light color of green, showing its youth. The wind carried the leaf until it landed as gracefully as a swan on the azure stream water. The leaf floated above the water as the stream passed through the woods. The leaf was temporarily caught on a small river rock, but was quickly pushed on. It continued down the stream, until it was caught on a piece of white tree root. Here, even the leaf had to look over at the service going on.
Aragorn watched as the white draped body was lowered into the six-foot hole at the base of the white tree, taking up most of the small isle that had been formed here. It was as if just enough soil had been left here, for the body, and for the few men and elves that surrounded it. Perhaps the woods had known, as had nature, when this tree was created.
Aragorn knelt down and picked up a handful of freshly dug soil. He then dropped it on top of the white wrapped body. It was clear that he would have cried, had others not been around. As a gust of wind blew, the young leaf was pushed down the stream. It was a shame that he would not be able to see the rest of the ceremony. He would have liked to see Aragorn one last time, before he drifted to the end of the world.
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