Double Drabble, from drabble meme: "15 March"

[cairistiona]

Here's the first one... I couldn't do it as a single drabble, so it's a double.  This one is for Roisin, who wanted one with Aragorn and his children.    I *think* it's 200 even... I had to hand count because I'm writing on the laptop, which doesn't have a word processor beyond Wordpad, which doesn't count my words, and also doesn't give me the accent mark over the "u" in Dunadan.  I'll fix all that after I post it at SoA.  But for now, without further adieu:

"15 March"
Rating: G
Characters and the phrase "dawnless day" are Tolkien's.  I'm merely borrowing them.

Um, tissue alert....


Dark thoughts, fell memories of dawnless days, dread-filled nights.  Sorrow, that unwelcome and ill-bred companion, haunted him each year on this day.  He reached out and trailed a finger along the stone hand grasping the stone standard.  Memory, and this cold stone... they were all that remained.

He could not bring himself to look at the face.  He never could, on this day.  On other days, yes.  But not today. 

His throat burned and he turned away, and found an upturned face beside his knee, innocent grey eyes watching him, worrying. 

"Ada, why does that statue make you so sad?"

Aragorn reached down and lifted his son to his hip.  Glad that his little boy was not too old for such things.  "I miss him," he said, not trusting himself to say more.

"Who is he?"

"An old friend."

"Did you play together?"

Aragorn smiled, remembering an impromptu wrestling match on a spring morn.  "Sometimes."

"Tell me a story about him, Ada."  Eldarion lay his head on Aragorn's shoulder, waiting. 

Aragorn sat at the base of the statue, pulled Eldarion close.  He cleared his throat, and forced himself to look at the face.  "There once lived a Dunadan, named Halbarad..."

Comments

[shirebound]

Oh, this is so poignant. The innocence of a child will help Aragorn's heart to heal.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I was thinking... that Eldarion in his innocent curiousity will help Aragorn finally come to grips with that huge loss in his life. So glad you liked this--thanks!

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

What a most beautifully touching drabble. I love the idea of Eldarion's innocence helping to soothe Aragorn's heart.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Estelcontar... glad you enjoyed this. I think children can help soothe life's hurts. :)

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

They most certainly can, and you did a great job of showing how Eldarion did just that to Aragorn.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Oh, adorable! But poor Aragorn to still be so tortured over Halbarad's death.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I don't know really how long it might have taken Aragorn to really get past Halbarad's death... day-to-day stuff I'm sure fairly quickly, but the anniversary date might still give him trouble, as anniversaries are too often wont to do.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Ah, glad you liked this. :) I didn't really expect to go in this direction with your idea but that's the fun in this sort of exercise, seeing where things might lead.

And I take it you mean the scene of Halbarad carrying little Aragorn and carrying his "standard"? Love that scene and I can see where this might call that to mind, yep, although I was thinking of the book where he rides in with Elessar... I think any statue of Halbarad at Minas Tirith would probably be of him at that crowning moment of his life. :)

[suzll.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this is beautiful. So well done!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[radbooks.livejournal.com]

Very, very touching...

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[silivren-tinu.livejournal.com]

*sniff* That was so sad, but in a beautiful way! I'm really glad you've already written about Aragorn and Halbarad's reunion, though, it makes thinking about Halbarad's death more bearable. *leaves to search for tissues*

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

*hands you tissues*

Thanks, Almut! Maybe you need to go re-read The Bitter and the Sweet as the antidote for this one! *g*

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I just loved this!A lovely bitter sweet double drabble.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Linda! So glad you enjoyed it. :)

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

*cries*

Oh, dear . . . so very sad and yet so touching. Very beautiful!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Lily! *hands you tissue*