Fatherhood (N33)

[arwen75]

B2MeM Challenge: 5 Books 5 Characters: Arwen and Aspects of Aragorn: Father (N33)
Format: Short story
Genre: General
Rating: G
Warnings:  None
Characters: Arwen
Pairings: Aragorn/Arwen
Summary:  Arwen thinks about her son and his father
Authors Notes: Another longer offering from me – this is mainly what I wrote at gone midnight yesterday morning – tidied up a little as I re-read it this morning. I always tend to assume (probably from my fanfic reading) that Eldarion was not the only child Arwen & Aragorn had. I also – as you may have noticed by now – tend to write about thoughts/musings. I just seem to always end up doing that – not good at dialogue etc. – which is probably partly because that is how I am in real life.

Arwen smiled at the sight of her son in his Ranger’s uniform following his father and the Steward about the Citadel. She also realised that it would soon have to be replaced as he was growing so fast. Aragorn was so good with him – patient and loving and always willing to explain. She knew Eldarion was looking forward to the day when he would be considered ready to go with his father and Faramir on a hunting trip. His father had promised him when he was able to handle a sword and a bow to the weapon-master’s satisfaction then he could go with them. She knew her son was practicing as hard and as often as he could – he longed to be able to join the Steward and the King on their trips. She encouraged her husband and his friend to get out into the countryside when they started to feel closed in. Both were Rangers in their hearts and although they accepted the necessity of being in Minas Anor, she knew that they needed the time away as well.

In some ways she dreaded the day that Eldarion was considered ready although she knew her beloved in some ways looked forward to it. He longed to be able to give Eldarion all the knowledge that he had gained over his years spent in Imladris training with her brothers and Glorfindel, and that gained later in his years as a Ranger in the North and a mercenary in the South. They hoped that their son would not have to experience what his father did, but men being men, Melkor’s taint was still in Arda and as such skirmishes and indeed even wars would still be fought. The Heir to the Kingdoms needed to know about many things including fighting, as well as the softer skills such as diplomacy. Unfortunately much as she would wish otherwise for her son she was wise in the ways of the world after nearly three millennia within it. She had seen much during her long lifetime and knew that the taint on Arda would exist until Melkor was finally defeated at the Dagor Dagorath.

Arwen was content however that her husband should have a major part in the training of their son. Eldarion loved to copy his father as much as he could – hence the miniature ranger’s uniform that he wore whenever he could. He was not fond of the fine clothes that at times protocol demanded – much as Aragorn also disliked them. She had to persuade both of her men-folk at times into the appropriate clothing although her husband was more accepting being older and therefore wiser in the ways of the world. She remembered her first sight of him clothed by her grandmother on Cerin Amroth those many years earlier when she had finally pledged herself to him. Then he had been clothed as a elven prince and she could see the man he would become.

In some ways she had been surprised about how easily he had taken to fatherhood as he only real experience come from her own Adar when he had been in hiding in Imladris. However it seemed to come naturally to him and you could see his love for his children whenever he came near them. She was grateful that he was so good with them and indeed all children who came to him. In some ways he was father figure to the Steward as well giving him the gentle love and support that Denethor had never really shown his second son. Learning from that although Eldarion had a special place Aragorn tried to treat all his children equally. He loved them all that was so clear from his interactions with them – and indeed had loved them from before they were born.

She knew because of that love that he would endeavour to protect Eldarion, as her brothers had him as he grew, but he would also make sure that his heir grew to understand the world and its myriad of complexities. Such a man was Aragorn – one who would not shrink from the truth when required. He was making sure his children all grew up with the knowledge of the bad as well as the good things in the world as a father should. He protected them but also let them discover things for themselves. He would ensure that the son who followed him onto the throne understood Arda to the best of his ability.