A Woman's Heart

The shores of Anfalas

~ T.A. 2960 ~

It was a dark day along the deserted beaches of Anfalas; barely past midday and yet the environment was shrouded in a twilight veil, as heavy storm clouds coiled in the sky like snakes ready to strike. Howling winds mercilessly whipped at any obstacle in their path like tiny icy daggers; the ocean was restless, its huge waves breaking furiously against the shore like a wild animal trying to escape its cage.

Yet for all the unleashed fury of nature, one lone figure was standing upon the sand looking out over the sea. The dark green hood and cloak did little against the wind, but the young man didn't seem to mind, apparently lost somewhere in the depths of his thoughts.

"I had a feeling I would find you here."

The elderly voice startled the hooded figure, which now turned to watch what looked like an old man approaching, bearing a wooden staff in his right hand, his left one holding the pointy hat upon his head.

"I needed some solitude with my thoughts." the young Ranger smiled lightly in reply.

Once more averting his sapphire gaze to the waves, he heaved a sigh whilst the wizard stopped next to him.

"What troubles you, Aragorn?"

"Nothing..."

With a slight shake of his head he then turned to look at the wizard again.

"And everything... it has been nine years since Lord Elrond revealed my true lineage to me. I fear that I will fail, as Isildur failed before."

With his concern fading, the Maia was left to smile under his mustache as he leaned on his staff.

"I cannot tell what your future will bring, Aragorn. But I am certain you will have the wisdom to surpass any challenge that lies before you."

Lowering his eyes to the sands for a moment, Aragorn yet again averted his gaze to the waves... and that was when he caught a fleeting glimpse of something which perked his attention, causing him to narrow his eyes as he tried to discern what he had seen.

"Gandalf... do you see something in the water?"

Arching his brows at the sudden change of subject, the wizard too averted his gaze seaward, but shook his head.

"Not really..." he muttered.

Stepping away from him, the Ranger approached the water's edge until the angry waves now engulfed his feet up to the ankles; his efforts of straining his gaze were soon rewarded when the ocean once more showed him what he had spotted before – a fairly large piece of wood, most likely from a sunken ship, drifting upon the boiling waters. And barely clinging to it...

"There is someone out there!"

His urgent tone mingled with the sound of his sword hitting the sand, followed by his cloak, just before he rushed forward without hesitation.

"Aragorn!"

Gandalf's call came too late to stop the young Ranger, and so the wizard was left to raise his staff and begin chanting an Elvish spell to calm the raging sea until his friend returned to the safety of the shore.

It took no more than a minute for Aragorn's body to protest at the strain put on it by the icy waters. Not long after, he found that his willpower was the only thing that kept him going. As he approached he finally discerned that what he had seen was a child... a small girl. He could tell by her expression that she was exhausted from fighting the unleashed sea, and yet he could not help but marvel at her endurance. And then, right before his eyes a wave crashed on top of her, sweeping her off the wooden plate and sending her beneath the surface.