Artura: Ahem... Not sure where to even begin... They are all 'normal' men but grew used to the mountains, same as Hagen, that's why he was able to become Chief. Aragorn tried his hardest to keep it together, while Eomer (like I said in his flashback) already went through some of these stuff and managed to hold on, although he did over do it (as you saw later on...) I didn't feel the need to put the Sango in more detail, true I admit that =/ As for Faramir, I also said in between times, that the weather got worse and worse, to the point he didn't expect and didn't have enough... The reason he went along... He couldn't 'sit back and watch as I also said... The antidote worked quickly... It wasn't more shouting than getting the anger off your mind. Yes... I had to improvise at that point with the tears... It was meant to be a breakdown
True, some might be, but they didn't even really care about if they followed, not to mention they all got separated. I'll try about that 'man' instead of 'male' and as for 'mountain liver' I only used it once and only that one time... As for the actors names... I needed some... unique names. These two seemed enough for me, and since I am imagining them as they were in the Movies, I thought I could use those... Anyway! Thanks for the detailed review! I really appreciate it! Also, not sure if that's a good thing, you only seemed to speak of the Sango and a bit of Faramir ^^''
Alright... Sorry guys for that just needed to... em... nwm...
I don't own anything, but the miss spells are mine...
Chapter 16 (Present) – Failed King part 1
"Aragorn… Aragorn… wake up Aragorn…" a voice called, one so familiar, yet so distant. He did not know it. He? Well yes, he was Aragorn son of Arathorn, King of Gondor! But whose voice was that? He did not know.
"Aragorn… King of Gondor? HA! You make me laugh…" it spoke again. This time, he knew it was a man's voice, but still didn't know what face to put. He wasn't even sure where he was. So, he opened his eyes, thinking of what he might see, but he couldn't have predicted what was there.
His eyes saw nothing but whiteness. It was a void of white, with nothing else around but the King. He floated there in the void, confused at what was happening. Never had he seen anything like this.
"What is this?" his voice echoed though the null as if in a cave. He was only more confused now, before a voice said: "This, Aragorn," they spoke the name with glee, almost as if taunting him. "Is the inside of your mind!" and suddenly a figure appeared out of nothing and floated besides the King.
His eyes widened as he knew this figure. Although it was dark, like a shadow, its shape and features were unmistakable. He looked just the way Elrond described him…
He was tall; gray eyed with long black hair and was most defiantly from the race of man. He wore armor of Gondor and reminded Strider of… of what he sees when he looks in the mirror.
"Impossible… You can not be real… Can't be here…" the King shook his head, hoping it would bring an end to this. But it didn't… The man was still there, now with an evil smirk.
"Oh but I am real, boy. I am here, always have been and always will be!"
"No!" his chest was tight with fear. "This is not real… I am nothing like you! You can't be part of me!"
"I will always be part of you! You think yourself different from everyone else? But you are not! You will be just like every other King. You can not stand it! The stress will soon have the better of you and you will break! You will bring nothing but devastation on your people!"
"You are wrong!" Aragorn wanted this to end. He wanted to be back with Arwen, his love and back to reality.
"You know this… deep down in your heart you know what I speak is true. You are merely too frightened to admit it…" his words echoed in the null for what seemed like an eternity.
"But I can help you… I can make sure you will not succumb to this," at those words, Elessar looked up, meeting his eyes.
"But only… if you accept me," the King started shaking and breathing quickly. He thought his heart was about to break through his chest. He couldn't do this…
"Never!" he gritted his teeth and swung with his hand, making the shadow disappear and the void started spinning.
Elessar found himself, in the next few seconds, panting and gripping the bed sheet while in a sitting position, covered with cold sweat while his whole body was tense.
"Elessar?" a female voice muttered gently next to him, as Arwen rose slightly and opened her eyes.
The King took a few sharp breaths before releasing his grip and relaxed his muscles. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before looking at his wife.
"Sorry that I woke you," he spoke Elvin and kissed her.
"It was nothing. I was already awake," she said back in the same language and smiled.
"Do you not have a meeting this morning?" she gave him a knowing look. He forgot, like usually.
With a look of panic, Strider jumped out of bed, grabbed a pair of bottoms, a top and pair of shoes. He couldn't be late again!
With a quick kiss on the Queen's forehead, he left his chambers and quickly walked down the hall, while Arwen shook her head, but smiled and lay back in the bed.
It has been three months since he became King, and still wasn't used to the 'routines' of a King. This kind of life just wasn't mead for him.
When he arrived, the nobles were already there, apparently waiting only for him. He cursed inwardly, embarrassed at this and quickened his pace.
"Apologies for my lateness," he said as he sat down and looked around.
Everyone hid their annoyance with fake smiles and words of 'It does not matter.' He knew they don't want some former Ranger as a King, even if he was the heir.
The only one he knew wasn't annoyed or mad, was the Steward, Faramir. But this time, when he looked at the Prince, he had a look of disappointment and sighed.
"You see? None of them think you are right for the throne," this voice was so close, but so far away. He knew the person couldn't be here, but it still send shivers down his spine.
No one else heard it. Only him. They started the meeting, but he didn't know what they talked about, as the voice continued: "You and you alone can hear me, Aragorn," at that, the same figure from the dream appeared at his side to the right.
"Will you allow this disrespect to go on?" it asked and the King froze.
"How can you expect others to treat you as a King, if you do not punish disrespect and disloyalty?"
Elessar swallowed hard and moved his eyes so he could see the man. He still couldn't believe this was really happening.
"My Lord?" the Steward asked and brought the former Ranger's attention back to the council members.
"What are your thoughts on this matter?" Faramir raised an eyebrow.
The King couldn't breathe as he had no idea what they discussed. He swallowed again and then the shadow said: "The most reasonable course of action would be to send a search party and have them find more information."
And without thinking, Aragorn repeated what he said, not even sure what it meant. But by the nods and looks of real agreement, he assumed he made the right choice.
"That concludes today's meeting. As ordered we shall send our best Rangers to scout out the area and report back," the Prince stood up and everyone else followed suit.
A few seconds later, they each left for their courters.
Aragorn walked down the hall until he reached the door to his bed chambers. He put his hand on the handle and froze like that for a few seconds. He wanted to tell Arwen about what happened, but decided against it and walked further down the hall to his private study.
Once there, he closed the door tightly, sat on the chair and put both hands on his face as he put his elbows on the table.
"You seemed stressed," the figure appeared again.
"Why would I not be?!" he wasn't sure if it was fear or anger that he felt.
"But I did what was needed, did I not? Or should I say, you did," the shadow smirked and started pacing in front of the table.
"This is the kind of help I offer to you, King Elessar. I have more knowledge of what must be done and how than you. So why not accept it?"
"I want nothing to do with you!" he stood up, almost tripping over the chair.
"Who will you trust if not yourself then? The Steward? You saw how he turned against you today. He is not your friend. He only wishes the power to rule Gondor," the figure snared.
"No, you're wrong! He isn't that kind of man!"
"How can you know? Was it not you who couldn't save his brother? If you had, his father would not have hated him so! And was it not because of you that his father went mad?"
"How could I be responsible for that?!"
"You ran away from your legacy! Had you taken the throne, he would have been spared. And so would everyone that died in this war! It was your selfishness that caused so much bloodshed!"
"Do not speak to me about bloodshed and blame! If it hadn't been your weakness this war would never had happened! If you would have destroyed the One Ring, Sauron would have been defeated!" he snapped. Never has he felt so much hatred for one being.
"Yet I am dead," it was such a plain and simple answer that it knocked the King aback.
"But you, my heir, are still alive. And who do you think they will demand recompense from? Everyone knows who you are and they will blame you for my deeds. You know this. And the more you struggle to deny that, the more you will suffer. And with you, so do I. We are one, you and me. It matters not how much you lie to yourself about that, it shall forever follow you wherever you go. There is no escaping it, so you might as well accept it," he gave a hand.
Aragorn stood there, shaking and taking deep breaths, letting it all sink it. Could he really accept the help of this man? The one responsible for so much death… But… he was going to be blamed for any way right? Something inside him kept telling him to say 'yes'…
A sudden power forced his mouth to utter words he never wanted to speak: "I accept..."
To be continue in Failed King part 2