"Why?"
by nautika
Written for Teitho Drabble Challenge (which gave a range up to 300 on number of words)
Summary: Aragorn's thoughts after hearing Elrond's view on his feelings for Arwen.
Disclaimer: The characters are Tolkien's. This is a not for profit fiction.
Why was I spared? My father Arathorn perished at the hands of orcs. Then came I to Imladris to live as a son to the Lord Elrond, who filled my life with security and love. Yet my elven father says she who I love is too far above me; that I am but a yearling to her. Why did I not die with my human father, rather than suffer this pain? The pain of knowing my present father views me as unworthy, as somehow less. The pain of loving one I cannot have unless she sacrifices immortality. The pain of knowing those who have loved me and cared for me will suffer because of the choice of my heart. The pain of ever wondering…do they wish they had left me to die? Oh, a bitter thing is this, destined to be trapped inside stone walls with guards and councils while those who have loved me leave me, loving me less because of what I have done. Would that I had died? I have not even the freedom to wish it, for with my death, Middle Earth would be ruled by the Lidless Eye. Why was I spared? To suffer? To sorrow he who raised me? To deny a mother eternity with her daughter? To know that were I he and he took my child eternally from me, I would wish he had never been born? I was not spared. Death would have spared me. No, I was not spared at all.
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