Today's
Challenge:
"Darkness is only driven out with light, not more
darkness."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Write a
story or poem or create artwork where your character battles and
overcomes their darkest hour.
Title: The Price of
Love
Author: Linda Hoyland
Characters/Pairing:
Aragorn,Ecthelion, Denethor,Arwen
Rating: PG
Warnings:
none
Book/Source: LOTR book-verse
Disclaimer - These
characters all belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. This story was
written for pleasure and not for financial gain.
Aragorn
sat in his cabin, staring through the porthole. They would soon reach
land and he would have to leave its sanctuary. Above him, he could
hear his comrades still celebrating their victory over the Corsairs
far into the night.
If only he could return with them and
deliver the tidings of victory himself to Ecthelion! He loved the old
Steward dearly, and knew that love was returned. Why, though did love
have to be so destructive? The first man he had loved as a father was
now somewhat cold towards him because of his love for Arwen. He had
come to Gondor in the hope of winning renown and with it the love of
Elrond's daughter and his foster father's consent to woo her.
He
had found the honours he sought in Gondor and more,the fatherly love
of her Steward, Ecthelion. Aragorn had never sought to take
Ecthelion's love from his son and heir, Denethor,but despite his
attempts to be but a faithful Captain, his bond with the Steward had
grown. Aragorn could imagine the father he had never known as being
not unlike the Steward, while Ecthelion had yearned for someone who
would give him the warmth and affection that Denethor was so loth to
express.
Denethor had grown to hate Aragorn for the bond that
had formed with his father and had set about trying to discover his
true identity. Aragorn was certain now that Denethor knew he was heir
to the throne of Gondor, as did his father. What he feared was the
use either might make of that knowledge.
Ecthelion loved him,
maybe more than he loved the son of his loins;the old Steward also
loved Gondor and if he thought a King would renew her will to fight
against Mordor, he might well offer the crown to his favourite
Captain in the aftermath of so great a victory. That was,if Thorongil
could produce the proofs that he were indeed Isildur's heir. He would
move swiftly while he were still Steward,knowing his son had other
plans.
As for Denethor, Aragorn was certain that the
Ecthelion's heir was doing all in his power to discredit him. As well
as Denethor's open attempts to damage his reputation,there had been
too many pretty girls in taverns offering themselves to him, and
strangers trying to get him to overindulge in drink for such matters
to be mere coincidences. If Denethor could not discredit him, what
else might he do, slip a knife under his ribs in a dark alley,
challenge him to open combat? He doubted the former, though jealousy
could drive a man mad, while the latter could lead to war and brother
fighting against brother. Such a fatally weakened realm would then
fall easily into Sauron's clutches.
Aragorn knew he must
leave, but to do so now! He cared about his men and many were good
friends. It would hurt Ecthelion so much,maybe damage his already
failing health. Would the old man ever understand that Aragorn had
acted out of love both for him and for Gondor by leaving?
Then
if he left now would he ever return? Denethor would never offer him
the crown. Would his son be any different or even his grandson? It
would be too late to win Arwen's hand in marriage. How could he ask
her to forsake the life of the Elder for a few short years at his
side?
Aragorn looked out again. They were about to make land
at Dol Amroth. The white sands and the great castle gleamed in the
moonlight. This land was so fair!
The moon then vanished
behind a cloud plunging everywhere into darkness. Aragorn felt the
darkness in his heart was even deeper. Surely this was his grimmest
hour.
He placed letters and reports he had written on the
table in his cabin, including a note for Ecthelion. He yearned to say far more than the cold brief words. It was too dangerous, though as he knew Denethor would read it. Then
gathering his belongings together, he prepared to slip away into the
night.