Aragorn

[Bogwoppit]

Thought we would do a different thread to save getting mixed up, then when the others reach your man you can jump to that thread Uni Pinkie feel free to be Eowyn!

When Aragorn left Minas Tirith, it was under a cloud of depression. He had tried, and failed, to be the great king that the whole of Middle-Earth expected him to be. Now he was an outcast once again. He did not belong in the world of Men... he had been too long in the company of Elves. He could not follow the Elves to Valinor... he was not of their kind.

He was angry, at Elrond for allowing him to remain too long under his protection, at Sauron for forcing him out into the light, at Denethor for making the transition from Steward to King so difficult for the people of Gondor, at Arwen for deserting him and leaving Middle-Earth with the rest of her people, even though he had told her to go. But mostly he was angry with himself. He should never have stepped forward to claim the throne, he should never have allowed all those around him to persuade him it was the right thing to do. He should have remained, in blissful oblivion, in the North where he belonged. If he had he would not be in this predicament now.

Had he ever encouraged her? Honestly? Was there some word, some look he had given her to make her think he wanted her to leave her husband - a man Aragorn called Friend? Of all of those who would think to make a claim to the throne of Gondor, only Faramir was worthy, and he would be the last man ever to think himself so. Aragorn cursed for having lost a great friend in the steward's youngest son. If indeed the steward's son he was...

That day still played on Aragorn's mind, even after all these long years... His first time in Minis Tirith, playing squire to Denethor's father, Ecthelion II. The young heir to the stewardship married not more than four years, to a fickle creature, fey, like an Elf herself. She had ever been otherworldly, never settled to life as the wife of the future steward. Luckily they already had Boromir... because when Faramir was born Denethor was convinced the child was not his. Aragorn had overheard him raging at his father about the whole situation, his father calming him, telling him not to risk the stewardship by allowing the people to learn of his weakness, to protect his heritage at all costs.

Aragorn had slipped away then, without ever knowing if it was true, or which of the many Elves then inhabiting Gondor it might be who had turned the head of the young woman. But the memory never left him, and in all his future dealings with Faramir he would fancy he saw the Elven qualities of the shy, gentle young man. He had always admired Faramir's quiet strength, his self control, his courage in the face of adversity. Aragorn had seen the look of despair in the young man's eyes whenever Denethor had turned his face from him, and now Aragorn himself was responsible foir bringing him more despair, more anguish, more pain... more betrayal.

Eowyn... she was beautiful, of course she was, and under different circumstances Aragorn could perhaps have loved her. But he had loved Arwen, and then Eowyn had met Faramir... and all had seemed well. When he left Minas Tirith the last thing Aragorn had expected was for her to follow him. And yet here she was, and refused to go back. What was he to do? He could not return, he had chosen his path. Neither could he abandon her, she was determined to stay by his side. And so for two weeks now he had taken her with him, unwilling to set aside his quest to find himself, however much she begged him to stay in one place. She had wanted him to go with her to Rohan, to her father. But that would have torn the alliance asunder and he could not risk that. Better to disappear quietly and hope that in time the last heir to the throne of Gondor would be forgotten, along with the woman who had followed him.

Another village in another valley, and Aragorn booked them into an inn for the night. Leaving Eowyn in their room he walked downstairs into the bar and ordered a drink, seating himself in the farthest corner to watch the door. Old habits died hard.

[unicorn]

Eskel

[/u][/center]

A silent reluctant grunt escaped his lips as ranger started to walk towards nearest town. Those couple of weeks were hard and too long. Nothing was going on and so Eskel watched the main road with nothing to do than to think...
Think about himself and the road he had took in his life to be in this place.
Think about many possible 'ifs' If he knew his parents would anything change? If he would stay in Rohan would he be thief stil? Whay would happen if he would not been found in Eriador? Would he die?
He thought about his friend. Possibly the only friend he ever had. Aragorn. Where was he? Was he in Minas Tirith? What was going on with him? Why had he not sent any word to him?
Eskel knew that he had never asked Aragorn to do so... but he kind of wished that Aragorn had not forgotten about him.
He thought about the general situation... He was in the far end of everything and he didn't know what was going on in Middle-Earth. Only some shrads of informations.... He heard of some battles in Rohan, in Gondor... Nothing certain. And now it was so silent over the roads. Not only people but also animals were silent and hidding those days. It would seem that whole world was tensed - waiting for something to happen.
And Eskel could feel this tension inside his own heart... Which made him so weary. He wished to drink something hot, a cup of tea.. maybe some alcohol anything warm to eat, something different from the things from wild fields and forest.
That lack of informations was geting on his nerves so much that he could not fight back his annoyence..
There was no travelers on the road for weeks now... Nobody to ask about anykind of information or even gossips.
He hated to go between people... into crowded places but he could not take the silence anymore. He had to know something!
And so he turned in the direction of the town, already feeling unhappy about spending time among people. Again most of them will look upon him like he is a bug or something... With mistrust and some of them with hatred. He will not hear any thanks for guarding their borders. These days he mainly fought back wolfes that ventured too far... too close to villiges and towns.
Eskel adjusted his cloak a little and grunted with a wince remembering that his shoulder was still aching after he hit a tree in one of those fights some time ago. He put a hood up as it started to rain slowly.

It was geting dark.
He started his long travel from his post in the morning... and took little rest. Eskel's legs were used to long walks and he knew it was no point in resting while the town was in about an hour from the place he was now.

As he walked towards the walls of town Eskel felt chill upon his skin and heart. He hated this particular parts of Eriador, people here weren't nice and kind, they watched him like he was about to hurt them and their family. Well Eskel knew that he was stranger to them and that they didn't know him and what he wanted from them.. But he was only protecting them! And he had never complained to nobody about it! He was hurted, injured instead of them... He protected them and they not knowing this hated and mistrustred him.
That is why he didn't like being in crowded places. He felt like everybody was staring upon him...

He reached the town and asked about the nearest inn. He had never been to this particular town, but seeing some of the men guarding entrence and their faces Eskel already knew what his stay will look like. Expression upon his face was now grim and annoyence grew in his heart.
Finally he found that inn, not so hard to find... the only big building in the town. A little sigh escaped his lips as he walked into the warm room. There was music playing somewhere, few people inside.
Eskel looked only briefly about the room from under his hood... Only briefly before he turned to the manager of the inn and asked in a silent voice for something hot to eat and drink.
The man nodded his head and showed him into the room where he should wait for it. Eskel thought about renting the room for the night and he once more turned towards the manager, removing his hood. The man told him that the room will be ready waiting for him later. Eskel thanked the man and his lips curled in a little shy half-smile at the woman that walked passed by. She only measured him with her eyes and walked away.... There was something that Eskel didn't like about this look... Judging. Eskel looked down at his clothes. He was looking like mess right now... His dark cloak dirty with mud and soaked with rain. His face tired. He walked into the room with his head bowed... and glanced only about the room. Only few people around talking very quietly. Music was louder than those talks and Eskel found himself frustrated, he couldn't eavesdrop, he will have to speak with some of the people. Damn!
Why the hell he had came here in the first place? He already wanted to run away. He grunted silently as he walked father into the room with his eyes now downcast...

[Pinkie]

Far, far from home... Eowyn's pale beauty was in stiff contrast to the encroaching darkness. There were lines upon her face that had no been there before, a shadow to her eyes that spoke of the hard decisions she had had to make since the War of the Ring. She was not a woman in disgrace, but nor was she the best loved in all the land either. She felt like she aught to be in disgrace for all that she had done. It was not a pain she had wanted to bring to a man that she ... cared for, but the crueller action was to remain in a loveless lie with him, to lead him on into believing she could possibly love him when she knew she would not, not ever.

Far, far from ... home... but where was home?
Moonlight dazzled upon the soft curls of her golden hair as she stood by the window of the room at the inn. She held her cloak rolled up in her arms, the length of it hiding most of the travel stains from their aimless wandering in the wilds. Eriador was far from home indeed... and where was her home? Her husband was in Minis Tirith but her heart was in Rohan and it always had been. Perhaps that was part of the reason why she could not love Faramir, why the thoughts of being his wife forever more had filled her with such dread! To be away from Rohan for the rest of her life, to not be the Lady of Rohan, to not be a Shieldmaiden.... It was too distressing to dwell on!

Eowyn turned from the window and carefully placed the cloak over the end of their bed, casting a longing eye to the chair by the window that Aragorn would inevitably end up sleeping on for he would not share her bed despite her insistence that she was no longer married in truth, that she had cast her marriage aside for love of him. He hurt, she knew that he hurt for he had lost the love of the She-elf but given a chance, Eowyn knew she could help heal that hurt. She believed them to be destined for each other. Destiny would never write Faramir into her life.

A knock on the door startled the woman who would be a warrior. Her grey eyes swivelled the wooden door and she hesitated. There was no reason for her hesitation, there was no reason for her to feel... a threat, but she did nonetheless. Cautiously she inched towards the door and opened it a slit. A woman stood with a tray of food, no smile visible upon her face in welcome.
"Dinner, miss?" she enquired stiffly.
Eowyn shook her head sharply. "I will eat downstairs. By the fire." she said, closing the door as soon as the words left her lips.
Oh the woman was prepared for the scorn of people who may or may not recognise her as the wife of Faramir, as the woman who had married the Prince of Gondor and had then left him for love of another. It was no admirable thing to be known for and Eowyn, though she dreaded it, she would not change her mind. She would not return and bow knee to Faramir. She deserved better than Faramir. Her heart had chosen.

A few moments later, Eowyn walked down the staircase of the inn, her plain, pale skirts shushing about her ankles. As she turned into the main room of the inn she put a hand up to shield her eyes from the brightness and crowds. People parted around her as she walked forward, beautiful, elegant, enigmatic. She may not have the dress or accroutements of royalty but she had the bearing, the aura of it and people sensed it from her. Grey eyes saw Aragorn but she knew better than to go to him here, now. Instead she paused when she saw him, offered him a sweet, tentative smile and turned to sit down with her back to the door, off to one side so she was not in Aragorn's direct line of sight but that he would see her out of the corner of his eye at least.

[Bogwoppit]

Aragorn watched... It was what he was good at. He watched and he allowed his thoughts to wash over his mind as he smoked a pipeful of the best Longbottom Leaf. At least that was something that would never change... There would always be Hobbits in the Shire, going about their simple, happy, carefree lives, making good tobacco and good beer, never knowing, even now, half of the trouble the world outside went through to preserve their way of life.

He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye, a flash of golden hair... Eowyn! But as he turned to catch a glimpse of the half smile she threw him the outer door opened, and a closely wrapped figure entered. A kind of hush fell over the room, the same kind of hush which had disturbed Aragorn when he himself had entered, but which had dispersed when those who resided here realised he had a woman with him... Being accompanied by one of the fairer sex obviously made one less of a strange phenomenon. This stranger though was alone, and Aragorn instantly sensed about him a melancholy air, although there was the noble bearing of a Ranger to the set of his shoulders. He flipped his hood off wet hair, and Aragorn sat a little straighter, catching his breath, for here was a face he had not set eyes on in many a long year.

Eskel...

Aragorn arose, and forgetting Eowyn over more important matters he strode across the room, shouldering aside several men on the way. He touched the newcomer lightly on the arm.

"Hail friend, and well met," he said quietly, the traditional greeting of the Dunedain. "It has been too long, brother."

He held onto the hope that news had not yet reached these parts of his defection, his desertion, and that the young Ranger could still indeed be called a friend, for Aragorn was sorely in need of one now.

[unicorn]

Eskel

He was feeling uneasy... Very uneasy. His heart was filling up with anger also. He was angry at himself and at strangers that everytime they passed him gave him that distrustful look. He hated that feeling of being somebody out of place... Not welcome at all.
People didn't know him and that is why they feared him.

Eskel cursed himself again that he had come here. The importance of informations that he wanted to find out was now diminished. He didn't want anything more than to stand up and walk away... Just walk back into the wild when he could be himself.
As he entered the room there was tension all around. Tension because he had went trought that door. He kept his eyes down. He didn't want to look up at anybody. So he sat down slowly at the first empty table and was going to just wait for his food, listen every conversation that he could and maybe then ask some questions, get to bed and leave first thing in the morning.
His heart was aching... As always when he was in places like this. Crowded. He felt bad and wished that this feeling will pass away when the food will come.
He glanced only briefly around the room towards the door and saw a woman who looked slightly out of place also. She was beautiful...

Touch surprised him that much that his heart almost stopped at it. A frown appeared as the touch was a gentle one... One that he had not felt for a long time. His head snapped to the side.
And this time his heart really stopped. There was surprise all over his features.

Aragorn: "Hail friend, and well met, It has been too long, brother."

When his long time friend spoke the greeting Eskel was already on his feet staring into Aragorn's eyes with disbelief. His mouth fell open and for a moment he tried to gather some thoughts and words. But he was unable. A smile broke on his face... Wide sincere smile, one that he had not upon his face for a long time.
Eskel shook his head and his arms went around his friend in a thight embrace. He was so glad to see him!

"I..." he straggeled to find any words, when he finally let go of Aragorn and looked into his face. "I've thought I'll never see you again!"

Frown returned on his face but there was still also a smile. He missed Aragorn...

"How...? What..?" once again he could not find any words. A sigh escaped him. "I'm so glad to see you!"

[Bogwoppit]

Eskel: "I... I've thought I'll never see you again! How...? What..? I'm so glad to see you!"

A small sigh escaped Aragorn's slightly parted lips as he let go the breath he had been holding, and he allowed his eyelids to flutter closed for a long second. When they rose again the anxious look in his eyes had been replaced by one of relief, and he smiled, pulling the younger man into a bear hug.

"Not as glad as I am to see you, my friend," he laughed quietly. "Come, sit with me and tell me of your travels since last we met."

He placed a guiding hand on Eskel's broad back as they walked back to the corner table.

"Bar keep! Drinks over here!" he called as they passed.

As he retook his seat, Aragorn glanced across the room to see if Eowyn was still anywhere to be seen, the faint, now familiar feeling of anger causing a frown to crease his brow momentarily. She was a strong woman, a brave warrior... Why did she weaken herself like this by following a man into whatever fate he made for himself? How dare she interefere in his own melancholy, his own search for he knew not what?

He grimaced, and pushed a lock of straggly hair from his eyes as he looked at Eskel. Gone was the well groomed King Elessar - here once more was the ranger, Strider.

"So, tell me," he began, "what has been happening to the North? What brings you here my friend?"

[unicorn]

Eskel

There were only few things that escaped Eskel's eyes and attention. And Aragorn's sigh, closed eyes and final relief weren't among those things. There was slight frown upon his face through a wide sincere smile. But when Aragorn caught him in a thight, strong hug frown disappeared and Eskel almost laughed at it.

Aragorn: "Not so glad as I am to see you, my friend. Come, sit with me and tell me of your travels since last we met.

Eskel watched his friend without words. He could not find any at the moment. There was too much of surprise in him right now. He thought that they said their goodbyes and they will never meet again. That Eskel will be again left alone. Left behind. Nobody to worry about him. Nobody to remember. But here he was, standing before his only friend that should be beyond his reach forever. Eskel nodded his head and allowed Aragorn to direct him towards the table in the corner.
His smile deepened as Aragorn called for drinks. They sat down together and Eskel for the first time in those long travels and days felt himself again, to feel easy. Without doubt in his mind or heart. He looked at his friend and already knew that there was something bothering him. His eyes went towards the sae direction as Aragorn's. And with little surprise he saw the woman he had noticed earlier. But kept silent and looked back at Aragorn as the man started to speak.

Aragorn: "So tell me what has been happening to the North? What brings you here my friend?"

Eskel let out a silent sigh as he looked down. After a moment only a mna cam with their drinks giving them both unpleasant look, but Eskel didn't mind this time. There was nothing more important than that he had met with his friend right now. As he was looking at Aragorn Eskel came into conclusion that the man looked almost the same as they had met the last time. The time when Aragorn was going to Bree to search for something or rather someone... when the destiny claimed Aragorn. It was the moment when Eskel was denied to help him, and denied to search for his own destiny and place. Aragorn looked almost the same. Almost. Something changed about the man, but Eskel could not decide what.
Ranger breathed a short, strained laugh.

He shook his head and took sip of his drink. "Roads are empty, forests silent... There is tension in the air, Aragorn. I fear that there is something evil stirring inside, but I don't know what." he sighed again. "I'm here for nformations... I know nothing. I watched the main road for days now..."

With that he paused a little and wondered if he should ask what he had in mind right now. Should he ask about Aragorn's travel... about reason why was he here and not in Gondor.

"Brother..." he said leaning slightly towards Aragorn with another wide smile. "My travels were long and boring. Few more bruises, few more healed wounds..."

And in that time Eskel's smile faded away slightly. He was looking tired and strained.

"After you left I..." no he shouldn't say how much badly he felt that he could not help his friend. That he felt left behind. His eyes looked deep into Aragorn's.
"What happened...?" he asked straight forward and awaited with squeezed heart for the answer.

[Bogwoppit]

Even as he listened to his friend Aragorn was preoccupied. Eowyn... how easy it would have been to love her, in the beginning. Had his heart not already belonged to Arwen he would perhaps have taken the brave shield maiden of Rohan to be his wife, and perhaps none of this mess would have happened. He had no doubt that the deceptively fair and delicate lady would have had the abilty to run a kingdom single-handedly, to be the strength behind her husband's legacy. If only things could have been different. He could not deny that she was beautiful, almost ethereal, and with all the characteristics he admired in a woman. If only she had not married his best friend in such haste when Aragorn had explained his situation and the hopelessness of her love for him. If only Arwen had left Middle-Earth earlier, allowing him to get used to her absence and perhaps allowing him to love again. If only he could put aside his morals and allow her into his heart and his bed now, as she so obviously wished. It would be so easy... if only doing so would not betray Faramir.

If only... the saddest words in the world.

But he must not brood. He was still the king, even if he denied it to all, including himself. He must find the answers that he was seeking now. He must decide what to do about Eowyn, and he must hang on to the few friends he had left, like Eskel.

"Roads are empty, forests silent... There is tension in the air, Aragorn. I fear that there is something evil stirring inside, but I don't know what. I'm here for nformations... I know nothing. I watched the main road for days now... Brother... My travels were long and boring. Few more bruises, few more healed wounds... After you left I..." What happened...?"

The young ranger was right - there was a tension in the air, whispers on the wind, glimpses of shadows where there should be no shadows. But... what could Aragorn do? He was useless now, a broken man without Arwen, his reason for living. He had his sword, he had his horse... he had a good woman if he wanted her, but he had no will to fight any more. He stared at the scarred wood of the table top for long moments as Eskel spoke, deep in thought as he had been so often over the past few weeks. He dare not put voice to these thoughts - that the evil which was Sauron was not yet dead, that the war was not yet finished as they had thought it to be. Instead he covered these deeper thoughts with those closer at hand, and looked up into the concerned eyes which watched him.

"I could not do it, my friend," he replied softly, a small sad smile on his harrowed face. "I was not strong enough to face the responsibility of being the king. I... Arwen... she chose her father over me... she left with them to go to the Undying Lands."

He shrugged helplessly, lifting his mug to take a long gulp of cool ale. Slamming it on the table he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and leaned back in his chair.

"I have let down my fathers, my ancestors; I am not the man everyone thought I was."

He was not looking for sympathy or understanding, nor was he trying to unburden himself of the guilt. It would take far more than casual talk to do that. But he did feel the need to explain to one whom he knew looked up to him almost as a father figure. He needed Eskel to know that he was not the great man he had always admired.

[unicorn]

(( good to see Aragorn back! ))

Eskel

Eskel noticed that his friend was somewhere far away with his own thoughts. Something was wrong. Aragorn was listenining but his mind had to be somewhere else. There was some trouble lingering upon the man's shoulders and heart. And now Eskel felt very worried. What had happened that Aragorn seemed so diminished? So strangly worried and deep in thoughts? What was troubling him so?
Younger ranger could almost "feel" Aragorn's regrett about something. It was evident in his posture and in his eyes that refused to look up at him for a long time as he spoke. And as he realised that sad truth of something bothering Aragorn Eskel felt afraid of the answer to his question.

He took a moment to look about the room. Nobody dared to come closer to them. Eskel was used to that kind of treatment.... That atmosphere built around him... Atmospehere of distrust, silent respect of fear.
And in that moment he could not help to think what would happen if he had ignored everything and gone after Aragorn on his quest. What would happen if he would come and help his friend? Where would he be now? And would he had been any help for Aragorn? Would he help him to face the demons on his path?
Should he had gone after his friend then? Would it change anything?

But no... He could not ignore direct deny from Aragorn. Even if he felt bad and left behind. Even if he lost his hope for better life, for better future for himself. He was denied of finding his own destiny. But he coould not breake the promise he gave his friend. He could not ignore it. He was a man of honor. Honor and duty were the only things that kept him alive. He got his duty to guard this area to help it's people, even if they didn't care. And he was doing so with heavyness in his heart and soul. Without seeing a light for himself Eskel dreamed of Aragorn as being the light for everybody else than him. He wanted his friend to be the one responsible for happiness around the lands Eskel once saw but didn't remember too well. He hoped to hear of his friend as the one who brought peace and hope to those far away.
Eskel dreamed that one day maybe Aragorn would call for him and warm him with this light and peace. He dreamed that one day his own heart will find peace by Aragorn's side in his kingdom. He dreamed that his life will have some purpose once the evil is defeated.
Because for Eskel Aragorn was the only light in his life. He was the one to teach him and to find hope in him.

Now he had doubts... and he was afraid of what Aragorn was going to say next. He observed his friend with squeezed heart and awaited for him to gahter his strenghts to answer.
When Aragorn's eyes lifted towards his Eskel frowned deeper and felt tension in his body.

Aragorn: "I could not do it, my friend,I was not strong enough to face the responsibility of being the king. I... Arwen... she chose her father over me... she left with them to go to the Undying Lands."

A frown deepened... His heart almost stopped at the first words from the older man. He looked deep into those noble worried eyes of Aragorn and felt his heart like screaming inside. Broken by only short simple statement. By two words could not, and three more not strong enough. With those Eskel felt like falling into abyss. It felt like losing everything he had believed in before.
His heart was so thightly squeezed that it felt hard to breathe... it beated with so furious strenght that it hurted his soul. Younger man felt blood going from his face, depriving it from any color.
Aragorn wasn't strong enought to take the crown? To become a king?
He stared in disbelieve into Aragorn's eyes for a long moment before they slipped slowly downwards. Eskel's soul was searching for something to hold onto to stop falling. But it was already too late...

Arwen left? Chose her father above Aragorn? Deprived him of her love? And his hope?
How could it be? They were so strong in love! Eskel had never met her but knew from Aragorn's words of their strong bond and love. He had seen it in his eyes! How could she leave him so?

His hand grasped the end of the table and squeezed it strongly to feel hurt in his body not in in his heart. But nothing could help him right now.
He felt betrayed somehow and he felt ashamed of this feeling.

Aragorn: "I have let down my fathers, my ancestors; I am not the man everyone thought I was."

No! - screamed his heart. This is not happening! He wasn't hearing it! This wasn't possible! Aragorn was the light! He was the one that should fight back the darkness! He was the one that was suppose to give Eskel hope. He could not fail!

Eskel's lips were moving but no words had found their way into them. He could not get over the shock he felt right now. How was it possible?
He felt tears in the back of his eyes. He had believed! So stronly! He had never thought differently! Aragorn should be a king and he should call for him in time! No! This was not happening.

Eskel closed his eyes fighting himself, trying to get a grip over himself. Slowly he shook his head... and opened his eyes. His hand run through his hair and finally after taking a deep breath he looked back at Aragorn with a deep frown of worry and hurt in his eyes.

"I don't...." a moment of silence. It was very hard to gather any thoughts any words. "I don't understand... This was what you were supposed to do..."

The younger man took another deep breathe and bit his lower lip.

"I thought.... that... I am sorry to hear that my friend." he siad finally gathering his thoughts. And looked at Aragorn with deep worry. And it was the only thing he was able to say. His faith was shaken and he didn't know if he will be ever again able to build any hope around himself.
Aragorn had not only failed his ancestors and his fathers, but also his friend. And he could not hide it right now. And the fact that he was displeased with himself. He should gone with Aragorn!

What else he could say? He admired Aragorn for his strenghts and will to fight... And now... his friend was somebody completely different. He was a broken man, just as Eskel himself.
A man without destiny anymore. And younger ranger always saw somebody higher, somebody oposite to himself. And now this believe was broken.

"I should have gone with you..." he whispered. He was not strong enough also to breake the darknes inside him. He felt now bitter of his own fate. Bitterness over that a man who he believed to be somebody strong, higher and better than him turned into normal man, broken with his disability just like Eskel himself. "I was not strong enough either. I should have help you... try to give you strenght... I have failed you also. I have dreamed of you sending for me when the time is right you know? I dreamed that one day you will bring me light. And now you return saying you weren't strong enough..." he swallowed hard. "I have failed you hiding in the shadows when I was supposed to fight the darkness with you."

He looked deep into his friend's eyes again. He felt like something deep inside of him died just in this moment.

"You failed..." he said but his voice was somehow soft. "... but it was also my fault. I should have stay with you even if you turned me away that day. When you denied me to come with you." he sighed. "Don't deny me now... Don't deny my strenghts now and my friendship."

Even if it hurted Eskel needed somebody to hold onto. Even if it was only a broken man just like him. And maybe in time Eskel could help Aragorn to turn back. To face his own fears and destiny. He had to hang onto somebody that had his destiny. Maybe this was his destiny to help another broken man.
But this was only bitterness of it all. He had no destiny and no purpose and Aragorn was in no better position now. Eskel thought that Aragorn should return and claim his way again. But this time... he will hold his tongue. Aragorn needed warm words and a friend not rebuke. But regrett and disapointment lingered from this moment in his heart also.

"You are still my friend... always will be"

[Bogwoppit]

((Wow! That's an epic!! Have you been saving that up??? ))

"I don't.... I don't understand... This was what you were supposed to do... I thought.... that... I am sorry to hear that my friend. I should have gone with you... I was not strong enough either. I should have help you... try to give you strenght... I have failed you also. I have dreamed of you sending for me when the time is right you know? I dreamed that one day you will bring me light. And now you return saying you weren't strong enough... I have failed you hiding in the shadows when I was supposed to fight the darkness with you. You failed..... but it was also my fault. I should have stay with you even if you turned me away that day. When you denied me to come with you. Don't deny me now... Don't deny my strenghts now and my friendship."

It pained Aragorn greatly to hear the hurt and confusion in the younger man's voice. His dark eyes became pinched at the corners as he grimaced, Eskel's words cutting deep into his soul and his heart. Aragorn had failed, that much he knew, but that the young ranger should attempt to take some of the blame to himself... that was more than he could bear.

"You are still my friend... always will be"

Aragorn winced visibly then. He did not deserve the friendship of such a noble warrior. He deserved no friendship at all. He was lost, in a dark place with no light to guide him on the right path.

"Do not offer me your friendship brother," he murmured, barely loud enough for the other man to hear. "I will only drag you down with me."

All at once the whole weight of what Aragorn had done landed heavily upon him, and he sagged in his chair. Not only had he abandoned his friends and subjects, not only had he tempted away the wife of his own brother-in-arms... all this was a drop in the ocean compared to all that Gondor stood to lose. Eskel was not the only one to sense something in the air; Aragorn too had heard the forests fall silent where only too recently birds had begun to sing once again, he had witnessed the closed looks come upon people's faces where they had begun to smile and laugh since the Great War, he had felt the tension in everything - trees, rocks, the very earth, and he knew something was not right.

And he had abandoned those who looked to him for guidance.

He was needed in the White City. No longer was the spurious reign of Denethor the steward enough - that much had been made clear in the War. The people were without direction and even more so now, when for a short while they had had a king to look to.

But he could not do it. He was not good enough. He had lost his direction without Arwen to be his Light in the Dark, and he had begun to doubt his true worth. For if he could not keep the woman he loved, how then could he expect to be able to keep the land he loved also?

Once more he looked towards the fair Eowyn, and wondered. Could he learn to love her? Would she be strong enough to stand beside him? Could Faramir ever forgive him? The answer was no to at least two of those questions, and Aragorn saw no way around.

Unconsciously he laid a hand on Anduril as it lay beneath his cloak at his side. He was a fraud there too... he was not worthy enough to carry the sword that was broken. He should not have brought it with him.

He sighed, and raised a hand for more ale.

"Have you a room here tonight Eskel?" he asked, trying to think of another rather than his own woes. "They are not the most comfortable, but they are adequate."

((Ooc: Not sure how much more we can really do with these until the others turn up, but Eskel can tag along with them and try to persude him to go back or something if you like ))

[unicorn]

((ooc: Epic... haha.. sorry I didn't notice when I got carried away!
And yes, Eskel would probably want to persude Aragorn into going back or something... He is just not ready to speak his mind more clearly.... yet ))

[unicorn]

Eskel

It was plain to see that his words hurted Aragorn. He could see that look upon his face that made Eskel's heart twist with worry and compasion. There was also a wince across his friend's face and younger ranger watched Aragorn with squeezed heart. He wished he could help him. He wished that this burden wouldn't be upon Aragorn's shoulders. And yet Aragorn had his destiny, purpose in his life... something to hang on to. Eskel had nothing and hearing that Aragorn dropped his own destiny was enough to cut Eskel's heart. To deprive him of believe that he could find his own destiny and dreams.
In this moment he was feeling like nobody.... A man who had no dreams, no fate and no believe.... without heart and will to live.

Aragorn: "Do not offer me your friendship brother, I will only drag you down with me."

Eskel frowned and looked away at those words. Drag him down with him? For all that is sacred in these lands - Eskel would go everywhere for Aragorn. Because he believed that this was true man of fate and he believed that he was the one that could help him in finding his own destiny.
That was before Aragorn told him what happened. That was before he returned and deprived himself of title of his destiny. Eskel still wanted to believe, but within his mind and heart he knew that there was no believe now. Aragorn turned away from becoming who was born to be and Eskel felt like losing everything that kept him alive.

"It's already too late, friend..." he said so silently that he was not sure Aragorn heard him. His eyes wondering somewhere around the room.

He noticed again that his friend was looking at the woman in the other end of the room. He frowned at this... Who was she? Aragorn's eyes wondered towards her from time to time. And he could not help himself to do the same...

Aragorn: "Have you a room here tonight Eskel? They are not the most comfortable, but they are adequate."

He was trying to change the subject to turn away from hurtful matter. Eskel drank some of his ale and shook his head, his eyes going back to look at Aragorn.

"I was going to have something to eat.... listen and leave...." he sighed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "But I think I will stay for one night..." his gaze dropped again. "I'm tired..."

He stood up from his chair and looked for the manager.

"Are you staying?" he asked looking back at Aragorn.

And in truth his heart was rised wiht single little thought of hope. Maybe he could convince Aragorn into going back and facing his true fate? Maybe he could manage to help Aragorn to make the right decision now?!

[Bogwoppit]

"I was going to have something to eat.... listen and leave.... But I think I will stay for one night... I'm tired..."

And in truth the boy did look tired... Aragorn could not help but still think of him as a boy, although many years had passed since Eskel had reached his coming of age. The older man remembered the eager follower he used to have, in the days when there was more peace in the world, before the Ring had come to light after its long rest. There was no sign of that young man before him now - Eskel looked worn down, a look which Aragorn recognised and knew well. Too much pain, too much sorrow, too many battles had made them both into the men they were now, banished the light from their eyes and laid a heavy cloak of sadness upon their shoulders.

And yet there should be no time for mourning the lives they had lost in these harsh, dark days. They were Dunedain, and Dunedain were here for a reason. Ever had the fate of the Men of the West been entwined with the Ring, and the forces of Darkness. So why now did Aragorn turn from his Fate?

"Are you staying?"

He blinked slowly, and raised his head to look up at the young man as he now stood before him. Pushing back his chair he rose also, sucking contemplatively on his almost empty pipe.

"I am... we are..." he replied softly, knowing Eskel had been wondering at the fair woman to whom Aragorn had looked often, and now glanced again.

He opened his mouth to provide an explanation, but no words formed, and he fell silent. Eskel would not ask, that he knew. He might wonder, but he would not ask. But Aragorn also knew that he would tell him, he would tell him everything when the time was right.

"Goodnight my brother," he said instead now, placing a broad hand on the becloaked shoulder and meeting the worried gaze of his companion. "Try to sleep well, for I fear we may yet have a part to play in this new conflict yet to come, though I do not wish it."

He did not want to play a part, not again. He just wanted to be left alone, to disappear back into the wilderness and live the simple life of a ranger once again, the way he once did. But he could not help feeling that his involvment in this was not yet done, and before it was over perhaps Eskel would have a part to play also. Perhaps they had been brought here for a reason, two lost souls on one stormy night.

((No it's not going to get slashy!! ))

He briefly squeezed the young man's shoulder, then turned to retreat up to his room, throwing Eowyn a glance as he did so but acknowledging her no further. The appearance of his friend had made him think, and he had the feeling he would not get much sleep this night.

[Pinkie]

Eowyn politely remained where she had come into the common room - though more than once she felt the urge to go to Aragorn, to sit by him at the very least. He did not quell her spirit like Faramir had, he did not try to tame her and put her in her place - no. Aragorn allowed her to be who she truly was inside. He did not turn her back to Gondor but allowed her to travel the wilds with him and she could do that without ever missing Gondor. She missed Rohan - but as long as she had Aragorn then that loss was bearable. Besides, she was not sure how she would be received in Rohan for having relinquished it's minor claim and influence in Gondor by her leaving Faramir.

The blonde beauty bowed her head over a mug of soup, sniffing it in and taking a sip. But only a sip. She sat back in her chair and looked sideways at the table where Aragorn sat. Oh she tried not to but she could not help it! Again she wondered who the other male was with Aragorn. She could only assume that he was a man that Aragorn had once fought with, travelled with or some such.

Aragorn's almost black eyes looked towards her and Eowyn looked away, looking to the fire and taking another sip of soup. It still stirred her heart into a raging torrent when he looked at her. She knew that it was only his respect for Faramir that prevented them being together and whilst she could not fault him for that, for it was such selflessness that she loved about him, the woman also wished that he could see her sacrifice, that he would recognise the bargains she had made with her conscience, her reputation and security for his sake.

The other man was looking at her now and Eowyn met his look without flinching without challenge but without any greeting either. Aragorn was rising from his seat and Eowyn's feet automatically shifted to stand. He squeezed the man's shoulder in farewell and so Eowyn knew this stranger was no stranger at all. As he passed her table, the ranger's eyes met hers briefly and he disappeared into the darkness of the stairwell. The blonde blinked owlishly and tightened her thumbs against the sides of her fingers to still herself. Her curiosity over the stranger was battling with her desire to be with Aragorn. He had looked... withered as he passed her by.

Eowyn stood, all grace and regal beauty, and smoothed a hand down teh front of her dress. She placed a coin on the table in payment for the still full mug of soup, and she looked towards the stranger. She inclined her head to him in greeting and hesitated only a moment before turning to go up the stairwell also. She figured Aragorn would not favour it well if she was to enquire to his friend's face just who he was. Better that she enquired to the man himself as to who his friend was.

Standing by teh door, the blonde pressed her head close to the wood and listened a moment before pushing it open adn stepping inside, closing the door behind her and standing with her back against it, hands behind her on the door handle. She bit the edge of her lip as she looked over at the obviously weary male by the window and stepped forward, reaching a hand out too is shoulder tentatively.

"Why must you carry the weight of the world, Aragorn? Why must it be you?" she asked gently.

[unicorn]

Eskel

[/u][/center]

Aragorn: "I am... we are..."

Eskel's eyes glanced above Aragorn's shoulder at the woman at the end of the room. The one he noticed his friend glancing to very often during their talk. So they were here together. But who was she? Eskel didn't know her and she seemed so out of this place... so different. Strangly there was something in her that felt familiar to him... the look of her face, her hair. She looked like people he had seen in Rohan long years ago. But why was she with Aragorn? Are his assumptions even close to the truth? He wasn't sure what to think really.
Their eyes met. Eskel's worried but also darkly clouded eyes with hers steady ones. She was intriguing him. Who was she?

He looked back at Aragorn with question in his eyes but silent in his mouth. He didn't want to ask anymore questions now. It was not his buisness really... Aragorn's true love left him and now Eskel was seeing him with another woman. This was not his place to question his friend about it. Eskel just nodded his head hoping that maybe later Aragorn will tell him the truth.
But in the back of his mind lingered a thought that he hoped Aragorn do many things and now he had failed... He tried to get rid of those thoughts but it was more than difficult now.
He also needed time to think about this all.

Aragorn : "Goodnight my brother Try to sleep well, for I fear we may yet have a part to play in this new conflict yet to come, though I do not wish it."

A hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly. Eskel watched Aragorn's eyes for a longer moment as he spoke. He just nodded his head again at this and observed how Aragorn was walking out of the room, giving a quick glance at the woman. Eskel stood there for a longer moment considering his friend's words.
Part to play?
He wished whole his life to have some... any part at all. He was always somewhere behind everything and everybody. Always in the shadows... Without a destiny, without purpose to play. And now Aragorn returned refusing his own fate... turning back from it.... and now telling him that maybe he had a part in this also.
Why had he met his friend here? Why he had to hear that Aragorn had failed?
Why him?

A stranger female stood almost in the same moment Aragorn had. This also made him curious... Eskel stood without movement, his broad back straigthened, his hands loosely hanging along his body, his head held high as always. And his dark eyes full of utmost emotions that he could not hide, lingering at the woman.
She was beautiful in his eyes. Her slender hand put a coin at the table and looked back at him. At first Eskel was almost sure she will come to him and ask a question that was evident in her eyes, but she only gave him a slight nod of greeting and left.
Eskel stood for a long time looking in the direction where the woman just stood and finally his head went bowed, his eyes closed.

He had no other choice than to stay for a night and try to talk with Aragorn once again in the morning. He looked at the mug of ale that he had not finished of... And suddenly he felt alone among the crowd again. Stranger among this place. He left the room without looking at anything or anybody. He found manager of the keep behind the counter in the next room.

Once in the room Eskel closed the door behind him and only now he felt the real weight of the things Aragorn had told him.
Shadows... evil stirring... Animals scared in the woods...
Everything was caused by evil allowed to endure. He wanted to believe it was not Aragorn's fault, but somewhere in his mind he could not get rid of those thoughts.
Frustated Eskel lay upon the bed and even there he could not find comfort.... He just stared into darkness without peace of mind.