In Love and War by Dwimordene

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: N43: Powers of the World: Tulkas/"'We have invented happiness,' say the last men, and they blink"; I22: Aspects of Aragorn: Thorongil
Format: drabble
Genre: Character Study
Rating: K+
Warnings: n/a
Summary: Compromise comes in many forms.


In Love and War

Love and princes marry not – so runs the old saying, which, with calculation, has brought many a princely pair to a resolute, if not a particularly passionate, marriage bed.

Finduilas of Dol Amroth is tall and wry, and full of grace: it is hard not to be moved by her. If she is not all he desires, still, they could, he thinks, make a happy marriage...

In Gondor, they honor Tulkas, for war in this land is a vast and brutal empire, and Thorongil learns a new prayer: Tulkas Astaldo, lend me strength to love more than some little happiness!

Comments

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

This moves me, Dwim. He wants more that a politically advantageous marriage, at least. Good use of the prompts.

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Larner! I imagine most people would want more than a politically advantageous marriage, but c'est la vie under dynastic society, right? One more thing he has to struggle for.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Love is always worth seeking for rather than just settling for what can be grasped.

- Erulisse (one L)

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose that's the question Aragorn has to ask himself: is love worth waiting for, given that he is the only direct heir of Isildur's house in a dynastic society, and he is on the front line of a hot war? Can he really defend waiting for Arwen, and failing to produce an heir or several in order to marry her when the war ends? Especially since there's not a lot of evidence other than foresight that the war is going to end in time for him to reproduce, or that Arwen even wants to marry him? Is the woman he believes to be the love of his life worth waiting for? Or should he make a marriage on human terms, be happy with Finduilas, whom he is attracted to, could certainly love and satisfy, but who wouldn't be the love of his life?

[aliana1.livejournal.com]

Nice take on something that Aragorn must have thought about a lot throughout his adult life. I especially like your description of Finduilas, and the Gondorians honoring Tulkas.

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

And of course, I have in no way overthought his decisions in this matter at all. Nope. Not me. Move along.

Glad you liked Finduilas's description and the Gondorian affinity for Tulkas. I figure war zone, outnumbered fight... who you gonna call? Not Nienna!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I can well imagine this happening. Great use of the prompts.

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Linda! I love playing with Aragorn's time in Gondor - there's just so much there to work with.