Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.

Note: Thanks for the reviews. I am going to finish this story in a few chapters. This will be the chapters what happened to Eldarion after Aragorn passed into the West. Let's begin. Flashbacks in this.

The palace seemed empty without him as Eldarion wandered through the hallways he had known as a child. The now adult man looked around in search of his childhood friend. He sighed as he remembered that the same childhood friend had passed years ago.

Now a descendant of that childhood friend haunted his steps as he haunted his memories. He turned back to look at her as she cocked her head to the side and regarded him with the silver eyes she had inherited from her grandmother. "You are like a shadow, little one. But that is not your name. Nothing is the same anymore. When the sun rises my former life shall be over. I cannot release him yet I have sworn I will do so. I never imagined it would be so hard."

Eldarion sighed and ran a hand through his long dark hair. Aragorn was resting now and these were the last few moments Eldarion was just a prince. For today or soon anyway he would announce his father had passed away in the night. That was what Aragorn planned to do. To leave with his uncles, Elladan and Elrohir to the Grey Havens.

He whirled around and walked away to his own chambers. He resisted the urge to walk straight into Aragorn's room; he knew the older man needed the rest for the long ride in the morrow. Darkness followed him and he left the door open out of habit, as he became used to the wolf following him around for some time now.

He lay down on the bed, stretching out his lean form and placing a hand underneath his head. He felt the bed shift slightly and looked up when a tongue licked his hand. "Darkness, stop this." He softly chided as the wolf instead lied down on his chest, making breathing harder.

Her ears were flat against her head as he stroked her grey fur absentminded. She rolled on her side, putting more weight on his legs and he breathed easier. He felt her paw on his hand and then a gentle tongue licking his hand.

He found the emotions were nearly overwhelming. The sadness and tears were choking him and he swallowed thickly to try and keep them down. Even as he was a grown man to live without his father seemed impossible for him right now. He sat up and quickly swung his legs over the side of the bed, eliciting a low howl from Darkness as she was flung from the bed.

He tried to get a hold of himself but it seemed in vain so he got up and with brisk strides went towards his father' s room, walking faster and faster until he broke out into a wild run and skidded through the open door.

Aragorn looked up at the commotion and Eldarion stood panting, not sure what to say now besides, "I do not want for you to go." The old king's face was lined with sorrow but there was a fire in the sharp silver eyes that Eldarion had missed all his life.

With a soft sigh and some help Aragorn regained his footing and shuffled over to Eldarion, grasping the younger man's shoulders in a surprisingly strong grip. He pushed Eldarion over to a sitting area and finally the prince sank down upon the couch as Aragorn dropped down beside him.

"As I may have told you, in Rivendell in my childhood, my name was Estel, which means hope. In the last few years hope had abandoned me and it has been restored to me tonight when I heard I have been allowed passage into the West. Elladan and Elrohir are the last of the elves that sail and they wish for me to go with them. I cannot remain, Eldarion, I must go now or I shall die."

"Is the fate of Men such a hard one for you to accept?" The younger man's sorrow and anger burst forth in that sentence.

"Nay, it is not. There was a time when I wished for nothing more but what I cannot accept is the fact that once I die, I will never see Legolas again. I will fade, Eldarion so you would lose me anyway. I cannot remain, ion nin. You will understand one day when all of your life is spent and you are old and weary and all that you have seen and remember has passed utterly beyond your grasp."

"I will never feel that way…" The younger man began. Aragorn gave a short laugh and said. "Do you remember how you felt when Eowyn and Faramir passed? And how sad you were when we attended the funeral of Pippin and Merry? What do you feel when you look at Elana now? She is old and you remember the times long passed. It is what I feel and I tell you now I cannot survive another year if this continues. All my friends and relatives have passed save for you. You have your own destiny, Eldarion and I cannot guide you. You love that woman and she adores you. She would make a worthy queen of Gondor."

"And I would make a worthy king? Is that what you mean?" Eldarion shifted slightly, fidgeting with his hands.

"Yes, Eldarion, that is what I mean. I know the next few days will be hard but they are not harder then they would have been had I passed really. I am passing utterly beyond your grasp and to you falls the duty now to be king of Gondor and to lead our people as I have done in the past." Aragorn clasped his hand over the younger man's and Eldarion raised teary eyes to look at the older man.

"I am not sure if I can lead our people." The prince softly confessed.

"I would not leave if I did not think you could do it. I have faith in you, Eldarion. I have been with you longer then I have been with the loves in my life. I have been with you longer then with I have been with either Legolas or Arwen. There are people who love you and who will support you in everything that you shall decide but I cannot remain. I am sorry, ion nin, I will fade if I remain." Aragorn leaned back slightly.

"I know I cannot ask of you to remain but can you not stay another day until the hard part is over?"

"No!" Aragorn's voice was firm and his eyes hard as he continued. "If I did then you would ask my help with everything. I cannot offer you that help anymore. I must think of myself now, my son, I know it sounds hard but you must be strong and remember all the lessons I have ever taught you. Never forget the legacy of Aragorn and Arwen. You are that legacy and you are one to be proud off."

Eldarion nodded, the next moment something leaped from the shadows and Aragorn gave a startled yelp. A pink tongue licked his face and laughing softly, Aragorn pushed the wolf away. "Darkness, stop that. I will tell tales of you and Luna to Legolas. I am sure he will love it." The king gently pushed the wolf of his lap.

"It seems the royal family of Gondor has more secrets then one." Elrohir's deep laughter greeted them from the doorway as both father and son looked up. Darkness sat up, ears perched and cocked her head to the side and looked at the elf.

"Eldarion found a wolf in the forests of Ithilien a few years ago and decided to raise it. She has cubs as did the daughter and so we come to Darkness." Aragorn watched with mild interest as the wolf stalked forward, keeping low before sniffling the elf outstretched hand and then poked his leg with a paw before jumping back.

Elrohir laughed softly at the animal's movements and then gave her a quick poke at which she growled. "She is not yet a few years old. She is still playful and you said you had found her in Ithilien. I am surprised she was not shot by your scouts."

"Her mother was killed by our hunters and Eldarion took her home and named her Luna. She passed away a few years ago after coming home pregnant. She was in heat when Eldarion left for Ithilien to visit Boromir. She followed him and somehow well, she became ill tempered when she finally returned."

Luna growled at Eldarion when the prince tried to get closer. The younger male frowned at her and beckoned her once more. This was unusual behaviour for her to display, even when she was threatened by someone. She finally went to him, thought is seemed not willingly.

She followed him as he walked into their private sitting room and she finally settled in front of the fireplace, rolling up like a ball. Eldarion studied her. She seemed to be a little bit fatter then she had been before, but how he could not imagine?

Aragorn had told him, she had followed him when he went to visit Ithilien, staying out of sight and hearing of both him and the company that travelled with him. She had come back before him, a few weeks ago and now she seemed tired and drawn, not allowing anybody close and walking around like a caged animal.

She was restless and Luna got up again, walking around before settling down again. Her form seemed gaunt while her belly seemed thicker; Eldarion cursed himself for not studying healing when he had the change. She released a soft howl and then came to him to be petted. It did not last long as she turned and eyed the bowl of fruit standing on the low table.

Aragorn entered the room at the moment Luna went for the fruit. Eldarion was on his feet in a moment as he shouted for her to stop but she did not obey him. "Daro!" Aragorn cried out sharply and in a commanding tone and she looked up at him.

"Come here this instance." The man pointed his finger to his legs and she walked over, defeated. The next moment Aragorn hissed sharply at her and she was near his feet in an instance.

She had dropped low on her belly and had now turned on her back, presenting her belly to him in surrender. Aragorn looked down frowning as he gestured for her to lay still.

As the king crouched down and reached out to touch her upon the stomach, she turned quickly and growled at him. The next moment Aragorn's hand closed upon her neck and he dragged her forward, saying sharply. "Enough, Luna!" He pushed her down on the floor, keeping a firm hand on her and she howled helplessly. "Ada, you are hurting her."

"No, I am showing her who her master is." Aragorn answered softly. He stroked her fur and she relaxed but remained on her side, quite aware of the fact that Aragorn was still angry.

She allowed his hand to reach down as Aragorn frowned. The king muttered softly to himself as he trailed the fur on her abdomen. Soft fingers pressed gently and she yapped softly, raising her head.

"By the Valar…" Aragorn cursed to himself as he got up. She jumped up at him, asking to be petted which the king did. "What is the matter, Ada?"

"She is carrying cubs." Aragorn only said as Eldarion rose. "She will become a mother then. That is great, we shall have small wolves." Aragorn only sighed softly as Eldarion celebrated.

"So that is how Darkness came into being." Eldarion finished. Elladan had joined them and as the prince fell silent, he realized why they were all looking at him. "It is time." The oldest elf said softly.

Swallowing thickly, Aragorn nodded and embraced Eldarion, holding on for a long moment. Eldarion felt the older man tremble and words unspoken passed through his mind. Aragorn pulled back to look at him and say. "I know, I will always know."

The older king accepted Elladan's aid and together the three family members left Eldarion and the life they had led. Eldarion found the emptiness overwhelming and the younger man did not care as he collapsed on the couch weeping with only Darkness for company.

Hope you liked it. Please review.