Impressions

Flame and Shadow – Aragorn

With grateful thanks to Raksha for her help in polishing this

Flame And Shadow


The King, his Queen beside him, lit the bonfire. It first flickered, then flared to full flame.

Aragorn drew Andúril and stepped away, hailing the year’s rebirth. The firelight rose behind him, seeming to wreath his sword and noble features in living flame.

Faramir hung back within the shadows.

“Come forth and stand beside me,” Aragorn invited.

“A new age has dawned, the returned King should greet the year,” the Steward answered.

“What is the future without the past?” Aragorn replied. “Our land needs both. Together we shall build Gondor anew.”

As he spoke, the bells proclaimed the sun reborn.

A/NThis was written for the final day of the "There and Back Challenge". The theme was inspired by Raksha's beautiful story, "The Burning of the Year." And this is my own version of a sequel to it, taking place an exact year later.

I imagine the events taking place during the Winter Solstice of 3019 after "The White Tree" but before "Shadow and Thought."