The Gap between Us

“…And as the right and honorable king looked over his subjects, his eyes glanced upon his Elven lover. His smile dimmed as he gazed upon the one he would never be with. Heart tearing in two, he glanced back and forth between the beautiful bride by his side to the lover he knew would never be accepted. How different the two souls of his heart were! One was a dark and mysterious beauty, her dark hair straight as a waterfall and seemingly like a night studded with stars, and eyes the color of the deep blue sea, his royal queen. The other, a creature of the light, with hair made of sunlight and eyes that could blend into the forest, his other half. His lover smiled at him, a radiant smile, but one full of sadness. He passed close by to the king, and gripped his shoulder, whispering in his ear, ‘Be faithful to your queen, my love, for you and I are not meant to be.’ Finishing, the elf turned to the royal couple and bowed low, then melted back into the crowds.

Almost as if gaining strength from his lover’s words, the king smiled at his bride and holding her hand tight, turned, once more, to look over his kingdom on that bright and auspicious day, knowing his life as a Ranger and wild travel was gone and a new part of his life would now begin…”

“And that, my children,” Arwen finished, “Is the end of the story of the One Ring that Ruled Them All and the Fellowship of the Ring who journeyed and fought to protect the land.” At her side, a body stirred.

“But Mother!” a young boy with dark hair and bright eyes exclaimed, “Will the king ever see his lover again?” Arwen laughed slightly and hugged the small boy close to her. “No, my dear, he never will. For his lover, along with the rest of the elves, Frodo, the dwarf Gimli and the wizard took the last boat left and traveled beyond the sea to the new promised land of the Elves.”

The young boy pouted. “But the king isn’t happy then!” Then, eyes narrowing, he accused his mother, “Mother, this isn’t a happy ending at all! I don’t like this story!” On the other side of Arwen, a much older boy stood and huffed. “It’s only a silly bedtime story, Estel. And who ever said stories had to have happy endings, anyways?”

Small Estel leapt up and glared at his older brother. “Stories have to have happy endings! They’re not stories otherwise! They’re just…just…just… TALES then!”

Around Estel, another child stirred, this time, a girl. She stood by Estel and crossed her arms. “I agree with Estel, Arason! Stories should have happy endings!” At this another child leapt to Arason’s defense.
“It’s just a story! Besides, what do children know anyways? A lot of stories don’t have happy endings!” This time, it was Susan, the oldest daughter.

Arwen laughed and decided to intervene before her brood could come to blows. “Alright, alright, happy ending or not, tale or not, it’s time for bed. Especially you, Estel. A five year old doesn’t need to stay up this late. I gave you special permission to hear the end of the story, but now it’s time for bed.” A wave of slumped shoulders and a chorus of “Yes, Mother”s answered her and she stood, letting the gaggle of nurses and nannies take over from there. As she walked towards the door, a small blur ran into her and hugged her tightly. Looking down, she smiled as Estel grinned cheekily up at her.

“Good night, Mother!” Estel called as he kissed Arwen on the cheek and hugged her tight before yawning and being taken away from her. Behind Estel was Arason. As she stood and waited, Arason leaned forward and also kissed her on the cheek, murmuring a small, “Good night, Mother” then bowed politely and turned to leave.

Arwen laughed softly at her two so very different sons then made her way through the halls to her own room. Undressing, she prepared for bed until she caught a glimpse of light under a doorway. Sighing quietly, she crossed the room and knocked softly on the door before opening it and entering.

Inside, her husband and the father of her children was still hard at work, looking over documents and signing or making changes where necessary. Sighting her, he looked up and smiled. Answering his smile, she walked over and stood behind him, looking at the document in his hands and massaging his shoulders.

“What is it that keeps you up so late at night, my lord? Your shoulders are so tense.” Sighing, the man looked at the document in his hands distastefully.

“It’s this dispute between the Sylvians. Some of them, even after all this time, don’t answer or acknowledge me. It’s been sixteen years! Even the far off Nubians acknowledge me as the king, and these Sylvians don’t. I’m not sure what to do, Arwen. The realm has to be unified under my rule, for the sake of the people.”

Arwen smiled and clasped her arms over her husband. “You’ll think of something, Aragorn. You always do. And your council of advisors will help you should you need it. That’s what they’re there for. I have complete faith in you.” Aragorn looked up at smiled, taking one of her hands in his own.

“Of course, my queen. Come, it’s late, and we should be in bed.” Saying so, he drew Arwen into a kiss, the two of them surrounded by relative happiness and fueled by their mutual goals.

----A few years later----

Estel walked swiftly down the hall. He was ten years old today! He wanted to hurry and see his parents so they could give him his present. He couldn’t wait. He remembered when his sister Eleanor had her tenth birthday. Father gave her a horse! Not one of those pansy ponies that Susan liked, but a real horse! Mothers’ present…wasn’t so great. She gave Eleanor some baubles and a few dresses. Estel grimaced. He hoped Mother wouldn’t give HIM any baubles or dresses! He opened the doors to the private family dining room and smiled brightly at his family.

Aragorn smiled at his youngest son as he walked to take his place at the table. Heavens above, but Estel was growing fast. Pretty soon, Estel might be even taller than the elder Arason, who was already his father’s height. Where Arason tended to favor his mother, Estel could have been the twin of himself, and Aragorn knew that this likeness would grow even more as time went on and Estel grew. Waiting for Estel to seat himself, Aragorn stood.

“Well, I think we all know what day this is. I think our young one, oh excuse me, you’re not so young anymore, knows even better.” Arwen smiled and took his hand while Arason, Susan and Eleanor laughed at Estel. Estel grimaced but smiled eagerly, no doubt, Aragorn knew, awaiting his presents.
Aragorn laughed, seeing the eager expression on Estel’s face. “I won’t keep you waiting any longer, son, but, Happy Birth-day! I’ll let Arason give you his gift first.” Arason stood, and held a large package in his hands.

“Well, pipsqueak,” here an indignant squawk was heard from Estel as Arason made use of the hated nickname again, “happy birth-day. This is part of my gift to you.” Estel eagerly took the package and opened it. A cry of delight echoed in the hall as he unwrapped a beautiful saddle and pommel. He grinned happily at Arason and bowed. “Thank you, Arason!” Arason nodded and sat back down.

Next, Susan stood up. “Don’t go charging off yet, Estel. I still have my present to give.” She gave Estel a long slim package. When Estel unwrapped it and looked with awe at the long wooden rod and accoutrements, Susan grinned. “I asked Mother, and she said it was time you learned how hunt with something other than that slingshot you have. So here are the makings of your first longbow. After you’ve made it, come find me and I’ll teach you how to use it properly.” Estel smiled in absolute delight. Everyone in the palace and for leagues around knew of Susan’s prowess with the longbow and hunting. Only Mother was better than Susan at the longbow, and no wonder, Mother was the one who taught Susan! And a longbow wasn’t something EVERYONE could use! It was even harder to handle than the crossbow, needing great strength. Some people even said the longbow was a favored weapon of the long-lost Elves!

Eleanor stood now, laughing. “Well, my present’s going to seem a bit small now, compared to a horse and a longbow. But, here you go.” Estel reached over and un-wrapped a series of books, all his favorite tales of old, including his absolute favorites, the tales of the One Ring, The Fellowship of the Ring, and The Return of the King, bound in thick embossed leather. Estel smiled and hugged his sister, thanking her with more than words at this preservation of his fast disappearing childhood. “Thank you, Eleanor. I’ll take this everywhere I go.” Eleanor smiled and hugged back. “You should be thankful. I had to corner Mother for three months to record all the stories properly.”

After Eleanor sat down, Estel turned to his parents. Arwen smiled and gestured her youngest over. “This gift I give you, Estel, may not seem like much, but I want you to treasure it, because this carries more memories and feelings than you know.” Saying so, Arwen clasped a small necklace around Estel’s neck. Estel looked down at the small silver charm hanging from the necklace, admiring it’s glow even as his heart fell. Mother DID give him a bauble! What a horrid gift. …Well…it WAS pretty… Estel bowed to Arwen. “Thank you, Mother, for this gift.” Arwen laughed. “Don’t look so despondent, Estel! This is more than just a bauble. I hope it’ll bring you much joy later in life.”

Aragorn smiled, recognizing the necklace now hanging around Estel’s neck. He once wore it also, when Arwen also called him Estel on that bridge in the far off Elven lands. Thinking of Elves, Aragorn’s smile dimmed as he was reminded of his love, Legolas. What was Legolas doing now, he wondered, in that legendary Elven land. Whatever Legolas was doing, Aragorn wished that his Elven love was content and happy.

Finally, it was Aragorn’s turn as Estel turned to him, hopeful that his father would give him a better present than his mother. Laughing silently, Aragorn held out a small sword. “I give you your first sword, Estel. This sword will teach you the basics of swordsmanship, and all that it entails. Use it well, for it is your companion, as well as your teacher.” Estel brightened at his gift and took it from his father reverently.

“Thank you, Father.” Aragorn smiled fondly at his youngest. Then he gestured for the servants, proclaiming, “Now, let us enjoy this feast and eat cake!”

Estel ran down the hall towards his father’s office, grinning madly. The Armsmaster just praised his swordsmanship! He said he was a born swordsman! Estel wanted to quickly tell his father of such news, knowing that warrior that fought in the Great Wars such as his father would be delighted in the news. Reaching the office, Estel opened the door, forgetting, as he often did, to knock. What he saw inside, forever changed him.

Aragorn’s back was to him, gazing at a portrait on the wall, revealed behind two hanging curtains that Estel, nor any of his siblings had ever seen opened. The portrait depicted a young man, with long golden hair dressed in forest greens, holding a longbow, with a quiver full of arrows over his shoulder. Aragorn sighed. Estel pricked his ears, trying to hear his father’s words.

“Oh Legolas…..I miss you, so much, my love. So much. Where are you, Legolas? Are you happy in those Elven lands of yours?” Aragorn’s shoulders slumped. “How I rue that I didn’t make you stay, even though I knew it wouldn’t be fair to Arwen. Gods, Legolas, how I miss you.” Estel’s eyes widened. Legolas! Wasn’t that the name of that Elven lover of the king’s in the tale of the ring? But that was a tale! And Legolas was an Elf and there were no elves! Looking closer at the portrait, Estel hurried to stifle a gasp as he saw, clearly, the pointed ears on the person in the portrait. Then…that was an Elf in the picture!

Estel closed the door quietly and walked down the hall, slow and full thoughts now. There was no denying it, that WAS an Elf in the picture. Then…was that Elf Legolas, like in the stories? Then…who was the king who had to choose between his two loves? …Could it be….Aragorn?


TBC! Tell me if you like it! And can you guess the pairing? ^__~