"No More Shadows" by Linaewen

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

Title:  No More Shadows
Author Name:  Linawen
Prompt:  Winter brings with it the darkest time of the year but also a return to light. Write or create art about a moment in a character's life when she or he began to perceive hope in the midst of darkness.
Summary:  An old man is unexpectedly drawn back out of despair to new hope.
Rating: PG
Warnings:  None

No More Shadows

The old man had stood watching as they carried young Faramir in and laid him upon a bed.  That had been some time ago.  They had said he was not dead, but the old man did not quite believe them.  From where he now sat in the corner of the room, unremarked and seemingly ignored, Faramir looked pale and cold, though they claimed he burned with fever.  He was almost certainly dead -- if not now, then soon enough.  Even those who fought to bring relief to the sick and wounded had begun to lose hope that Faramir would recover, and the healers wept in frustration. Yet they labored on, not willing to give up.

They should just let him go, the old man thought sadly.  Death would be kinder.  What is there to live for?  All is lost!

But the healers continued their efforts and did not heed him.  The old man's eyes strayed from the face of the unconcious man to watch those who now attended him.  The wizard was there -- he had been the one to carry Faramir into the Houses of Healing.  He had gone away for a time, but had recently returned with another, a man cloaked in grey, bearing a green stone upon his breast.  Who was this secretive stranger?  Why had he come?  Did he intend harm to Faramir?

But no, it seemed that Faramir was in no danger from the one whom the others called Aragorn; rather, they actually thought this one might be capable of helping the dying one.  The old man was surprised at how relieved he felt at the thought.  Did he not wish for it to be over?  Was it not better to be allowed to die and avoid the shame of the coming defeat?  Yet if the boy could be saved....

The old man felt a brief thrill of something in his heart.  What was it?  Was he afraid?  Or... was it actually hope he was feeling?  It had been such a long time since he had known hope....

He watched carefully as Aragorn bent over Faramir, a hand upon his brow.  The old man could almost see the ensuing struggle, as if the healer battled an unseen force that threated his patient.  Why struggle? he thought.  Let him go...  But Aragorn did not heed his silent wish, and continued to fight.

The old man's attention was suddenly drawn to a young errand boy who had entered the room, carrying some withered leaves wrapped in a cloth.  Aragorn was glad to have them, it seemed, for he smiled.  Grasping two of the leaves, he breathed on them and crushed them in his hands, and a sudden freshness filled the air.  The darkness that had been slowly overwhelming the old man's spirit unexpectedly drew back and he felt a lightness of heart that made him gasp in relief.  More leaves were cast into a bowl of steaming water, and the resulting fragrance dispelled the darkness entirely.  A new feeling hope rose in in his heart, and with it, sharp fear for Faramir -- but there would be no death for the Steward's son this day, for Faramir was awake and smiling.

The old man wept, for he now saw clearly the folly of his despairing wish for death -- yet he also wept for joy that perhaps he might begin to hope once more, just a little.  If death could be thwarted when it seemed so certain, then might not also defeat be somehow avoided?  It was doubtful; the enemy was too strong.  Yet the old man could not quite bring himself to let go of the newfound sense of hope he was feeling, small though it was.

He breathed in deeply and savored the freshness of scented leaves.

"Walk no more in shadows, but awake!" he heard the man Aragorn say, and Faramir murmurred a reply.

Yes, he agreed silently, eyes closed, breathing deep.  No more shadows....

Comments

[elliska.livejournal.com]

The old man was surprised at how relieved he felt at the thought. and then just a bit later when you show how he felt hope--wonderful. For me, the old man is amazingly individual, especially for such a short piece, but he also is so representative of what everyone witnessing the king's return must be feeling. This is a great illustration of the prompt. Loved it.

[shirebound]

This is beautiful. From despair comes hope un-looked for. This is a wonderful point of view from which to view Aragorn healing Faramir.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

What a great twist to give this little vignette of Aragorn healing Faramir - showing us the scene through the eyes of an old man whose long since lost hope.

I imagine the victory on the Pelennor fields was gained at such great cost, most of Minas Tirith would have yet been sunk in gloom, despite the win. This was a great juxtaposition of dark and light, hopelessness and hope.

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

I liked this look at a scene I've always loved. I can see this happening.

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

This is such a lovely, nicely written story and a great response to the prompt :) Thank you very much for sharing.

[hhimring]

Moving! Briefly, I wondered whether this old man might be the ghost of Denethor. But this is even better--unlike Denethor, your old man is granted a new lease of hope and life!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you for writing about my favourite characters in my favourite scene!I loved this.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Tiny eucatastrophes like that are wonderful, and I love the way he's lifted from such bleak despair!

[astris-eldalie.livejournal.com]

I love your OC's perspective – this was a great interpretation of that scene. And I loved the growing hope that you conveyed so well here.

[greatandgrey]

My dear man,

Seeing your eyes alight with new hope as you watch Faramir healed from the clutches of death, I am gladdened in knowing that I have accomplished my goal further restoring hope in the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. Now, go and make Gondor prosperous! There is much to live for yet!

Gandalf



I hope I did this right.

[marta-bee.livejournal.com]

This is really quite lovely, Lin. I really enjoyed seeing the common-man perspective and the way you talked about despair - it seemed almost like clinical depression or some other sort of oppressive dark mood that makes the danger seem so insurmountable. I can well imagine someone in Minas Tirith getting that feeling, either from the Nazgul all around or the unnatural night or just from the general tone of the city at that point.

[ysilme]

A revealing and consoling view on hope! It's good to see the events unrolling through the eyes of your observer, and get a new view on them. I enjoyed how you're showig Aragorn through the eyes of the old man very much.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

I see the shade of Denethor, realizing the futility of his own death, watching over his son in this manner, finding the hope he needed to go on now that Faramir was awakened, able with his own soul rekindled with hope to find his way through Namo's halls at the last, even if he cannot recall his own name at the moment. I somehow feel relief that Aragorn was not recognized as Thorongil this time.