Peace At Last
Aragorn walked upon the garden path, startling a squirrel that had not heard his silent steps. His reflection in a small garden pool caught his eye, and he paused to look into the clear water. His hair had turned a snowy shade of white over the years and the wrinkles around his eyes were more prominent. At last time gained ground on the old King. For over one hundred and twenty years he sat upon the throne. The days of Elessar were drawing to a close. The King had no fears that the Kingdom would be in more than capable hands under the rule of Eldarion.
Aragorn continued up the path and came to a delicate structure held up by four carved pillars. Vines bearing pink and white roses crept all around the arbors and through the latticed roof. The days were still chill, but even so, the King could see some of the buds trying to open. Tears filled Aragorn’s eyes.
His daughter loved her roses very much. It seemed fitting they kept her company now. The flowers had been Legolas’s final gift to her. Aragorn had not seen them since the day they had planted them. Coming here brought to mind too many memories and pain.
“I could not bear to come here as much as I should have, forgive me,” Aragorn thought. He didn’t dare speak a word, lest his own emotions overcome him.
Aragorn reached out his hand to trace the lettering upon the stone surface. He remembered gently guiding her childish hand to form the same letters upon a page of parchment. She had been so proud to write her name for the first time. Joy and discovery filled those times, and at the end of the day she always knew he would keep her safe. No matter what horrible creatures or circumstances her childhood imagination created, there was nothing too terrible or frightening that he couldn’t chase away. But oh how the years passed, each one more swiftly than the last.
“She would have been one hundred years of age this spring,” Aragorn thought while he looked up at the face of the statue that was meant to be carved in her likeness. But stone did not hold life the way she had. Stone flowers graced her hair, but Aragorn could clearly remember the days when they were real. Had any being ever walked this world that held as much life as she did?
The memories flashed by, one by one. Aragorn could remember the day she was born. She had been the first of his children he witnessed coming into the world. From that day forth, his entire view of the world changed. He began to see things the way she saw them. But then she was gone without warning. Over time, Aragorn came to accept that her passing was not his fault, he never ceased to miss her. Every single day it felt as if a part of him had died with her.
“So many lives were saved that day because of her. How can you grieve when she faced her death with courage?”
The thought had tugged at Aragorn’s mind for years, and now in his old age he was beginning to understand. Even while he stood there, the pieces began to fall into place. For so long, Aragorn believed he had been meant to protect her, keep her safe from the world. But in the end, she had given him something far more precious. For so many years, Aragorn had lived in a world that lay on the brink of falling into darkness. He had seen so many die before their time; so many innocent lives snuffed out in those dark days. Aragorn’s life had not been without its weight of heavy burdens. But through her, he learned to truly live and see the world through the eyes of a child. Life was so much more refreshing and pure that way. Even the colors appeared brighter. Through raising his children, Aragorn learned to appreciate the world around in him in a way he had never known before.
His vision blurred with tears of relief as the full epiphany washed over him. He leaned his head against the stone surface of her statue as the weight he carried for so many years finally lifted.
“Thank you for giving me peace, sell nín.”
A puff of breeze kissed Aragorn’s cheek, and he lifted his head. He looked up to see three birds sitting upon the open roof above him. They chirped to him in greeting before taking wing. The king watched them soar against the blue backdrop of sky until they disappeared into the western horizon, unhindered by the world beneath them. Memories of his parents came to mind as the three birds disappeared from sight.
Somehow Aragorn knew his daughter was with Arathorn and Gilraen. And just as quickly as the birds darted on the wind, he realized she was still safe, and the part of him that he thought had died when she passed had never actually died. It only dwelled in another place, and was very much alive. With that revelation, so many things became clear. Now he began to understand how the Kings of old gave up their lives willingly. Fear, at last, gave way to peace.
Aragorn turned back to face the memorial. He had come here to bid his final farewells. But instead all he could do was smile.
“It is only a temporary goodbye isn’t it? There are things I must do first. But I shall see you soon, sell nín.”