Darkness Remains

Elessar, he is.
King of Gondor.
More then one night he has lain awake in bed, the sheets strewn about him. He has thought of many things; past present and future. Of friends and foes, battles won and lost. Of his Arwen Undomiel, who more then once has stayed awake for him, on these sleepless nights that plagued him so.
Of Mithrandir, and Saruman. White wizards both, alike yet different.
Pure, and corrupted.
Gandalf has stayed yet in these lands; but for how long? Aragorn has appreciated the Istari’s wisdom and grace, his council and company. But Gandalf hinted at returning to the land from whence he came, as was expected. There was naught that the king could do to stop him, nor did he wish to. The wizard’s time here was long, and weary he was of this land. Gandalf much desired, and perhaps even needed to return with the elves, on the last ship leaving Middle Earth indefinitely.
Legolas however would wait for the king’s death before he would depart his woodland realm. He swore upon it he would never leave his friend until the king's death. Gimli would go as well, accepting Legolas’s invite of joining him to the Undying Lands, both as a friend, and a brother.
The hobbits, such gentle folk, wished only to see their homeland. So Aragorn provided them with all they needed for their journey home. They would return as heroes, so triumphant on their fine dappled ponies.
Elessar thought of brave Boromir, who gave his life for Merry and Pippin. Never would he see what befell his homeland.
Would he be proud?
Would he be saddened by the loss of his father, who, in his mad grief took his own life in the midst of battle?
The Fellowship was scattered, and the brotherhood that once brought them together was broken.
Broken?
Not that, nay.
But certainly, not united. They were alone, in a sense. Torn from each other, and that gap would never be filled.
Yet, others came into their lives.
Sam always spoke of Rosie Cotton, who undoubtedly he must have wed, or will soon.
And his own Arwen.
But be as it may, his comrades were gone.