O62 - Because I could not stop for death

[altariel.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: March 3019 TA: March 5th The Dúnedain ride through Rohan
Format: Drabble
Genre: Gen
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Halbarad
Pairings: N/A
Summary: There is no time.
Author's Note: For dwimordene_2011, the Master, I offer an essay in your craft.

Because I could not stop for death

Over the years there had been many days when time hung heavy on his hands. Night watches on the border. The long, patient guard of a merry little people leading lives without care. The long fall into the grass of an ancient kingly people.

Then the summons comes from Lórien, urging him South... And now it seems that the many years of his life have not been enough after all.

The days grow short. There is no time. He knows that his way lies ahead. He knows that his way leads to a door and, beyond that door, waits Death.

Comments

[harrowcatliz.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Chills.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[starli-ght.livejournal.com]

Ooh!! So poignant and so sad, but so beautifully written. Well done!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've never written him before.

[mikononyte.livejournal.com]

Oh that hits right in the sad spot of my heart. *poor Halbarad!*

I want my Halbarad plushie more than ever after this!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

:-)

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

Halbarad's such a tragic story, I think. I always forget till they reach the Paths of the Dead that he knew, he'd Seen that he was riding to his death, though quite how long he'd known it, we don't know... and his quiet courage, in the face of that knowledge, is humbling.

(I drabbled the moment before the Doors of the Dead a while back, here (http://tolkien-weekly.livejournal.com/859757.html#cutid1) on tolkien_weekly...)

[starli-ght.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks for the link!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten that too until I went back to the book this time. I've always intellectually known about this part of this story, but never quite emotionally felt it before. Sometimes you have to step into a character's head. Glad you liked this one. Great drabble of your own!

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Nicely wrapped up.

- Erulisse (one L)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

And now it seems that the many years of his life have not been enough after all.

This line kills me - because yes, that's the sticking point. Can he give everything up? And we know the answer is yes, which is what makes it on some level okay - he can handle this. Which is a source of continual amazement.

The long, patient guard of a merry little people leading lives without care. The long fall into the grass of an ancient kingly people.

And I loved these lines for their symmetry, and for the poetry of that second line, especially.

Thank you for this lovely Halbarad draft! Gosh, maybe I should write something in response to this... hm...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

So far behind on thanking people for comments it's untrue! (Non-negotiable and very tight deadline at the start of the month. Got there, but have been ever so tired ever since.)

I'm really pleased you like this one. You are, of course, the person who got me first thinking about Halbarad. I hope this does inspire a response of some sort...

[zdenka]

*shivers* Beautifully done.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you.