-General-
A dream came to me, somewhere afar,
With great applause, I saw myself shine like a star.
Endless joy I felt upon arrival,
And a voice said: "You belong here, my child."
I'll walk my path, I'll reach my aim,
One day I'll triumph, and honor shall be my flame.
Each step I take will draw me near,
I'll search without fear, with courage, sincere.
The leaves whispered a melody that wove itself into a precious song. The voice singing it carried a feeling beyond compare—so pure and deep that even the wind, moved with compassion, carried its echo all the way to the village.
This was a small gift Aldril left for the children of the village they passed through, a cheerful gesture before parting ways. The offering was well received, for the children—guided as if an invisible voice were whispering the lyrics into their ears—could sing it without a single mistake.
"And you said I was the only one who liked pretending to be a bard," Aragorn remarked with a wide smile, glancing sideways at Tauriel.
"He loves children very much," she added, her tone softening as she recalled the three energetic little figures. "That's why he spoils those three rascals so much."
Aldril, who had heard Tauriel's words, turned to her and smiled tenderly.
"Children are pure beings who still know nothing of evil. I fight to keep them that way: pure, free… and unburdened by hardship in the future."
Nodding, Aragorn looked at the children joyfully singing. A smile formed on his face and, as if something deep within had stirred, he stepped forward. With a firm and clear voice, he sang aloud the final lines of the song:
"I'll walk my path, I'll reach my aim,
Though far it may lie, strong I'll remain.
Each step I take will draw me near,
Through any road I'll go, with courage and no fear."
He didn't say it out loud, but knowing his ancestor's past and the fate awaiting him, he felt fear. With everything now revealed to him, at the age of twenty, he had chosen to leave Rivendell under the pretext of needing to clear his mind and find answers about what choice to make.
During one of his journeys, he crossed paths with Aldril, who was passing through the nearby woods of Eregion.
.....
Aragorn rode in silence, lost in erratic thoughts about the fate that awaited him. The weight of his lineage and the uncertainty of the future followed him like a constant shadow. Elrond, aware of the turmoil haunting him, had offered him a path: to join the Rangers, the Dúnedain—men of long life like himself. Perhaps, by witnessing firsthand the struggles of Men, he would find the clarity he so desperately sought.
He did not fear for his safety. Glorfindel himself had trained him in the art of the sword, and his skill was renowned even among the most seasoned Elves.
It was then that his horse came to a sudden halt, bowing its head in a gesture of submission. Alert, Aragorn furrowed his brow, reached for the hilt of his sword, and unsheathed it swiftly, ready for the unexpected. Mere seconds later, a figure emerged from between the trees.
"Mr. Aldril?" he exclaimed in astonishment, unable to hide his surprise at encountering such a legendary figure in that place.
"Aragorn?" Aldril tilted his head slightly, and with a single glance, recognized him. The young man already bore his signature beard, but it was the Evenstar brooch hanging from his neck that confirmed his identity.
That pendant, a jewel with moonlike radiance, had been given to him by Arwen as a symbol of their bond. Its subtle glow shimmered even in the forest's shadow.
Though beautiful, the jewel paled beside the radiant gem hidden beneath Aldril's shirt. Even the one Tauriel wore—a gift from a marriage proposal—outshone any other jewel, gem, or treasure known throughout Middle-earth. And with good reason: both gems were legendary, forged by the mightiest of all Noldor in history.
Shortly after, Tauriel joined them, and thus, the three set out on the road to Rohan, the destination Aldril had chosen to visit. Aragorn, of course, accepted the invitation without hesitation; he needed to clear his mind and rediscover himself. Besides, Aldril was no mere stranger—he was a distant relative: a direct descendant of the daughter of the first King of Númenor, and thus a very distant kinsman.
As the days passed, Aragorn began to open up. He shared his worries with Aldril, who listened in silence, without interrupting or judging him for what others might call "running from his responsibilities as heir to the throne of Gondor."
"So, you're searching for answers," Aldril said calmly after a moment of reflection.
"The truth is… I don't even know what I'm searching for. I don't even know who I am," Aragorn admitted, shoulders slumped. "They say I'm the future king of Gondor, but… I don't think I can do it."
The pressure overwhelmed him. The expectations weighing on him were too heavy. He doubted his ability to lead men as Elrond once told him he must. It was an immense burden.
Aldril frowned, his voice steady but calm:
"You are someone worthy of being king, Aragorn."
"No, you don't understand… I shouldn't even be here."
"Exactly," Aldril interrupted, firmly. "You've traveled far seeking answers... but they aren't here."
Aragorn fell silent. Aldril's words struck him like a storm, slowly dispersing the fog that clouded his mind.
"Don't you see?" Aldril continued. "It's not about you... it's about the fear of letting down those who have placed their hopes in you."
"But I can't be a king…"
"It's not about can, Aragorn," Aldril said, locking eyes with him. "It's that there is no choice. No man can outrun his own story."
Aragorn's eyes widened at those words, which resonated deep within him like an ancient echo awakening something long dormant. His vision blurred; tears threatened to spill like a dam on the verge of bursting.
In that moment, a sense of resolve was born within him. He lifted his gaze, meeting Aldril's eyes with a firmness he had not shown before.
"What will you do, Aragorn?" Aldril asked, though he already knew the answer by the renewed light in the young heir's eyes.
"Allow me to accompany you on your journey. I must see the world with my own eyes, help those in greatest need, and unite all the free peoples once more. Only then will I truly be worthy of reclaiming the throne of Gondor," Aragorn said with renewed determination.
Aldril nodded, a calm yet proud smile crossing his face.
"And I will help you become the greatest king of all time."
***
Filthy orcs!! In case you didn't know, Aldril likes the movies Hercules and Mulan, which is why Aragorn sings the songs he has heard from Aldril.
"[email protected]/Mrnevercry"