Title: The King's Blessings
Author: Linda Hoyland
Characters/Pairing: Aragorn, Arwen, Faramir
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Book/Source: LOTR book-verse
Summary – Aragorn counts his blessings. A 400 word ficlet given as a Thanksgiving Day gift for all my readers.
Disclaimer - These characters all belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial gain.
Arwen looked up, her eyes alight with love as her husband entered the room. A little way behind him came his Steward. Both men looked weary.
“I am sorry I am late my love,” said the King, embracing her warmly. ”Do you mind if Faramir dines with us? The Council meeting went on too long for him to return home to Éowyn tonight.”
“He is always most welcome at our table as he has become one of our family,” said the Queen. “Come and sit down. Farawyn took her first steps today. I have been waiting for you to come home to tell you, Estel.”
“That is wonderful news! Our little girl is growing so fast.” Aragorn took his place at the table. After the three had observed the Standing Silence a servant brought them the soup, a delicious mixture of tomato and basil, both grown in the Citadel gardens and freshly harvested that day.
Aragorn found himself thinking just how fortunate he was as he looked across at his wife. She was his to love and cherish to the end of his days. There had been times he had despaired of ever winning her love, and then fulfilling the conditions her father had set for her hand, but he had succeeded. Marriage to Arwen was an even greater bliss than he had dared imagine and they now had a fair daughter as well as their beloved Eldarion; the children he had always longed for and feared he would never have.
“You are most gracious to invite me,” Faramir said, raising his spoon to his lips. “I am blessed by your friendship.”
“As we are by yours.” Aragorn regarded his young Steward fondly; the man was a true treasure, who had done everything to assist his lord, when he could so easily have resented yielding the rod to another. Faramir had become the best and truest friend that any man could ever wish for.
The King’s eyes wandered over to the window. His weariness had left him It was a fine night and Gondor lay peaceful beneath a cloudless sky. No clouds of war threatened her horizons. Even the weather had been fair this year and the harvest was plentiful. Aragorn smiled. He had so much to be thankful for. Was ever any King, or man more fortunate than he? Silently he gave thanks to Eru, the giver of all.