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~~~~~~~
And like the rain that falls into the
sea
In a moment what has been is lost in
what will be.
When love takes you in
Everything changes...
--Steven Curtis Chapman
~~~~~~~
Legolas stepped quietly into the courtyard, followed by Aragorn. The
human stopped, taken aback by the look on Lord Elrond’s face. The older
elf stared wordlessly between the two young friends, half afraid he was
simply imagining his son home, afraid his heart was tricking him once
more, playing the last light of day into some twisted vision to suit
his longings.
Legolas bowed slightly, touching his hand to his heart and sweeping it
outward in the typical Elvish gesture of respect as Aragorn stepped
hesitantly forward. Now that he was home, now that he stood before his
father, he did not know what to say or where to begin. His hands shook
with the adrenaline that the fear had spiked through his system and he
simply bowed in an unspoken request for forgiveness, touching his
fingers reverently to his forehead as he did so.
Not only had he threatened Arwen’s peace and happiness, he had run from
his family, he had shut them out of his life and wounded their hearts
in the process. Aragorn wasn’t sure they could ever forgive him. He
wasn’t even sure how to ask.
Elrond stepped forward, testing the vision. It did not move although
the human flinched almost imperceptibly at his advance.
Aragorn closed his eyes and held his breath as his adoptive father
walked closer to him. The silence was unbearable and yet at the same
time unbreakable. Legolas watched mutely as Elrond slowly slid his
hands along the sides of the human’s face and tipped the ranger’s head
up. The elf’s long graceful fingers brushed the tanned cheeks softly,
his eyes searching the silver ones, memorizing them again as his own
filled with unshed tears.
Brushing the hair away from the young man’s left temple Elrond gently
turned the boy’s face and traced the slight mar near his eye, the
remnants of the scar that decorated his son. Silently he fingered the
tips of the long unkempt hair now streaked with deep red highlights
from days spent working under the hot sun. And when the elf lord looked
once more into the hesitant silver eyes that watched him so closely,
Aragorn realized that his father knew. Knew where he had been and
somehow without even a word passing between them knew what had happened.
"I’m sor..." The ranger started to apologize softly, but the elf lord
pressed his fingers against the human’s lips, silencing him. Without
another word he pulled the young man into his arms and held him tightly
as he let out a deep sigh of relief. A sigh he didn’t even know he had
been holding, a sigh that had been waiting for release for the past few
years. Estel was finally home, he closed his eyes briefly as he felt
Aragorn’s arms wrap around his back and tighten.
Elrond glanced up, seeking out Legolas’ face over his adopted son’s
shoulder, and the elf prince could see the tears welling up in the elf
lord’s eyes, nearly spilling over. There was no need to explain
anything at the moment. It was just so good that they were home, safe,
once more. Legolas nodded at the unspoken thanks.
Aragorn didn’t move from the embrace as his father hugged him tighter.
He had forgotten how it felt to be treated kindly after so long, had
forgotten the way his father smelled and the feel of the crisp cool air
of Rivendell on his skin in the evenings. His shoulders shook slightly
and could Legolas have seen the ranger’s face at that moment he would
have noted the tears streaming down the young human’s cheeks as well.
All was forgotten, all was forgiven, and something in the fair halls of
Imladris sighed in the sweet afterglow of reconciliation as the world
of men and elves came together once more and the tiny mended family
turned and walked back into the ancient vaulted halls.
The
End
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