LOTR Writing Prompts

LOTR Prompt #6: The Father of Hope

"Arador was the grandfather of the King. His son Arathorn sought in marriage Gilraen the Fair, daughter of Dirhael, who was himself a descendant of Aranarth. To this marriage Dirhael was opposed; for Gilraen was young and had not reached the age at which the women of the Dunedain were accustomed to marry.
     "Moreover," he said, "Arathorn is a stern man of full age, and will be chieftain sooner than men looked for; yet my heart forebodes that he will be short-lived."
     But Ivorwen, his wife, who was also foresighted, answered: "The more need of haste! The days are darkening before the storm, and great things are to come. If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people; but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts."
     And it happened that when Arathorn and Gilraen had been married only one year, Arador was taken by hill-trolls in the Coldfells north of Rivendell and was slain; and Arathorn became Chieftain of the Dunedain. The next year Gilraen bore him a son, and he was called Aragorn. But Aragorn was only two years old when Arathorn went riding against the Orcs with the sons of Elrond, and he was slain by an orc-arrow that pierced his eye; and so he proved indeed short-lived for once of his race, being but sixty years old when he fell.
     Then Aragorn, being now the Heir of Isildur, was taken with his mother to dwell in the house of Elrond; and Elrond took the place of his father and came to love him as a son of his own. But he was called Estel, that is "Hope", and his true name and lineage were kept secret at the bidding of Elrond; for the Wise then knew that the Enemy was seeking to discover the Heir of Isildur, if any remained upon earth." -- Return of the King, Appendix A, Part V "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen", Page 1032.

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Arathorn II, the father of Aragorn II, hears rumors of invading Orc armies into Eriador as they try to eradicate the last of the Dunedain in order to destroy once and for all the Line of Isildur. So he and the sons of Elrond, his old friends, ride for battle against the Enemy. 

However, he is struck by a stray orc-arrow as they and their forces battle the Orc Foe. In the seconds before his death, he has a vision of his son, and of his life, until it ends with his son in kingly garments and receiving the Crown of Isildur and the Sceptre of Annuminas, standing besides Arwen, daughter of Elrond, his friend and distant-uncle. 

What are his thoughts concerning this vision? What does he feel? Does he feel hope? Does he feel like he succeeded in leaving this world by literally siring Hope for his people? Write from his POV.

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"Then Aragorn, being now the Heir of Isildur, was taken with his mother to dwell in the house of Elrond; and Elrond took the place of his father and came to love him as a son of his own. But he was called Estel, that is "Hope", and his true name and lineage were kept secret at the bidding of Elrond; for the Wise then knew that the Enemy was seeking to discover the Heir of Isildur, if any remained upon earth." -- Return of the King, Appendix A, Part V "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen", Page 1032.  

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Write Elrond's thoughts as he receives Aragorn and Gilraen into Rivendell soon after Arathorn's demise. What does he see in the upcoming future? What does he see in Aragorn? Does he see hope in Men for the first time in forever? What are his thoughts as Aragorn grows from a little boy to a matured young man, full of wisdom and nobility? 

Write about their relationship from Elrond's POV and how he comes to view him as a son of his own.

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Date Published: 06/22/18