Farewell and Look Forward by Paranoidangel
Mar. 9th, 2014 04:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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b2memTitle: Farewell and Look Forward
Author Name: Paranoidangel
Prompt: Exile by Enya
Summary: Elrond looks back on his farewell to Aragorn
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Beta: Linda Hoyland and hhertzof. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Though the ship sailed west, Elrond faced east, where the rising sun was lightening the sky to blue and wisps of cloud were turning red. Middle-earth had vanished soon after their departure and, although he felt a little of his weariness easing, he could not rest. His thoughts were with those he had left behind and the goodbyes he'd said.
To his daughter, who had chosen the path of Men, words had been hard to find, but they'd not needed to say much. All that they felt for each other they'd already known.
His sons had been wise, already looking after Rivendell between them and knowing that it was a reunion with Celebrían that would bring Elrond peace. He hadn't needed to give them any words of wisdom, knowing Rivendell would not go to ruin in their care and his sons were well able to look after themselves.
It was his foster son that he'd spoken to first, wanting to start with the easiest farewell, but even he had underestimated how much he would miss Aragorn too.
Elrond and Aragorn gazed up at the white tree. It flowered now, the white blossom along its branches filled the air with their scent and caught the light, making the petals seem brighter. Despite the hope it offered to the Men of Gondor, Elrond well knew that this was not the end, and remnants of Sauron's evil would take time to defeat. He knew too that Middle-earth had many protectors including a few who would not let the rest become complacent.
"My time in Middle-earth grows short," Elrond said after a short period of silence. "I will not visit here again."
Aragorn nodded and when he turned to Elrond there was sadness on his face. "All that I know about ruling with wisdom and kindness I have learned from you."
Elrond smiled, thinking of the lessons Aragorn had learnt from others, within Rivendell and without, but he said, "You honour me."
Aragorn shook his head. "It is you who has made me the man I am. You who gave me a father's love when I had none. That is not easily forgotten."
It hadn't been easy to give, at first. When Aragorn was brought to Rivendell, after his father's death, Elrond had showed him warmth, but distanced himself, not wanting to replace Arathorn in Estel's life and knowing that he would lose Aragorn just as he had lost all the sons of Elros he had fostered. Estel, though, had invited affection from all of Elrond's household and Elrond couldn't remain hard-hearted for long. "It was easy to love Estel, he was caring and free with his affection."
Aragorn ducked his head, but Elrond could see his wistful smile.
Once Estel had grown and become Aragorn once more, Arwen's love for him had come as a great blow and although Elrond continued to advise Aragorn when he needed it, he found could no longer offer the same affection as he had Estel. Now Elrond knew he would not see Aragorn much after this day, he reflected on his feelings and found he'd been wrong.
"I regret the distance that has come between us." Elrond put a hand to Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn shook his head, but Elrond continued to speak. "I blamed you for Arwen's choice and I should not have. It was always her place to choose, not mine to influence her."
"I don't blame you," Aragorn said, smiling. "I am grateful for the gift you have given me in Arwen. I will treasure her until the end of my days."
Elrond relaxed, knowing Aragorn spoke truly. "You will be a great king. Of that I am certain."
Aragorn smiled. "Thank you, my lord," he said formally, and then perhaps remembering some of that old affection himself, threw his arms around Elrond and hugged him.
When the sun at last crested the horizon, Elrond took a leisurely walk to the bow of the ship. The morning star shimmered as the sun rose and as he gazed up at it Elrond wondered if he would see Eärendil in the Undying Lands. There had been others he'd loved as a father, although none held that title. Despite not being able to remember Eärendil at all, Elrond still felt affection for him.
But of Eärendil's feelings for him, Elrond could not guess. He would have seen much on his journeys across the sky. What did he think of his son and of his grandchildren who remained in Middle-earth yet? Did he even think of them as family?
"Cast aside your fears." Galadriel joined Elrond on deck, showing an unerring tendency to know what he was thinking. "The Undying Lands will soothe them; there is no need to worry."
Elrond looked over at her. She looked happy - happier than he'd seen her in some time, despite Celeborn's absence.
She smiled at him. "Separation is easy to endure when reunion is so sweet."
"And what if you are never reunited?" he asked, speaking his worries aloud as he thought of Celebrían, who might never have recovered from her wounds, despite her sailing.
Galadriel lay a hand on his shoulder. "Look."
He turned to where she pointed and saw land: Tol Eressëa. When he stepped off the boat a short while later he smiled, feeling the cares of Middle-earth leaving him, to be replaced with peace and a loving warmth.
Author Name: Paranoidangel
Prompt: Exile by Enya
Summary: Elrond looks back on his farewell to Aragorn
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Beta: Linda Hoyland and hhertzof. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Though the ship sailed west, Elrond faced east, where the rising sun was lightening the sky to blue and wisps of cloud were turning red. Middle-earth had vanished soon after their departure and, although he felt a little of his weariness easing, he could not rest. His thoughts were with those he had left behind and the goodbyes he'd said.
To his daughter, who had chosen the path of Men, words had been hard to find, but they'd not needed to say much. All that they felt for each other they'd already known.
His sons had been wise, already looking after Rivendell between them and knowing that it was a reunion with Celebrían that would bring Elrond peace. He hadn't needed to give them any words of wisdom, knowing Rivendell would not go to ruin in their care and his sons were well able to look after themselves.
It was his foster son that he'd spoken to first, wanting to start with the easiest farewell, but even he had underestimated how much he would miss Aragorn too.
Elrond and Aragorn gazed up at the white tree. It flowered now, the white blossom along its branches filled the air with their scent and caught the light, making the petals seem brighter. Despite the hope it offered to the Men of Gondor, Elrond well knew that this was not the end, and remnants of Sauron's evil would take time to defeat. He knew too that Middle-earth had many protectors including a few who would not let the rest become complacent.
"My time in Middle-earth grows short," Elrond said after a short period of silence. "I will not visit here again."
Aragorn nodded and when he turned to Elrond there was sadness on his face. "All that I know about ruling with wisdom and kindness I have learned from you."
Elrond smiled, thinking of the lessons Aragorn had learnt from others, within Rivendell and without, but he said, "You honour me."
Aragorn shook his head. "It is you who has made me the man I am. You who gave me a father's love when I had none. That is not easily forgotten."
It hadn't been easy to give, at first. When Aragorn was brought to Rivendell, after his father's death, Elrond had showed him warmth, but distanced himself, not wanting to replace Arathorn in Estel's life and knowing that he would lose Aragorn just as he had lost all the sons of Elros he had fostered. Estel, though, had invited affection from all of Elrond's household and Elrond couldn't remain hard-hearted for long. "It was easy to love Estel, he was caring and free with his affection."
Aragorn ducked his head, but Elrond could see his wistful smile.
Once Estel had grown and become Aragorn once more, Arwen's love for him had come as a great blow and although Elrond continued to advise Aragorn when he needed it, he found could no longer offer the same affection as he had Estel. Now Elrond knew he would not see Aragorn much after this day, he reflected on his feelings and found he'd been wrong.
"I regret the distance that has come between us." Elrond put a hand to Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn shook his head, but Elrond continued to speak. "I blamed you for Arwen's choice and I should not have. It was always her place to choose, not mine to influence her."
"I don't blame you," Aragorn said, smiling. "I am grateful for the gift you have given me in Arwen. I will treasure her until the end of my days."
Elrond relaxed, knowing Aragorn spoke truly. "You will be a great king. Of that I am certain."
Aragorn smiled. "Thank you, my lord," he said formally, and then perhaps remembering some of that old affection himself, threw his arms around Elrond and hugged him.
When the sun at last crested the horizon, Elrond took a leisurely walk to the bow of the ship. The morning star shimmered as the sun rose and as he gazed up at it Elrond wondered if he would see Eärendil in the Undying Lands. There had been others he'd loved as a father, although none held that title. Despite not being able to remember Eärendil at all, Elrond still felt affection for him.
But of Eärendil's feelings for him, Elrond could not guess. He would have seen much on his journeys across the sky. What did he think of his son and of his grandchildren who remained in Middle-earth yet? Did he even think of them as family?
"Cast aside your fears." Galadriel joined Elrond on deck, showing an unerring tendency to know what he was thinking. "The Undying Lands will soothe them; there is no need to worry."
Elrond looked over at her. She looked happy - happier than he'd seen her in some time, despite Celeborn's absence.
She smiled at him. "Separation is easy to endure when reunion is so sweet."
"And what if you are never reunited?" he asked, speaking his worries aloud as he thought of Celebrían, who might never have recovered from her wounds, despite her sailing.
Galadriel lay a hand on his shoulder. "Look."
He turned to where she pointed and saw land: Tol Eressëa. When he stepped off the boat a short while later he smiled, feeling the cares of Middle-earth leaving him, to be replaced with peace and a loving warmth.
