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The Stuff of Life  by Linda Hoyland

Title: The Stuff of Life
Author Name: Linda Hoyland

Prompt: "There the air was cool and there wayfarers in summer would rest and drink of the cold water." (Children of Húrin)

Summary: Aragorn and Halbarad search for water on a hot day.

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

Beta: none

The sun burned down mercilessly upon the two Rangers who trudged wearily along the dusty road.

Halbarad paused to take a swig from his water bottle. "It is almost empty," he said with a deep sigh.

"So too is mine," said Aragorn. "We had better go in search of fresh supplies. It means we will be late returning to camp, but no matter. We need water in this heat."

"A detour will be more than worthwhile if we can get out of the sun," said Halbarad. "I cannot recall it so hot in June before. I hope this is not some devilish new trick of the Enemy!"

"I think not," said Aragorn. "Any extremes of weather that we experience, the Elves have encountered countless times before and worse! In any case, Orcs flee from the sun while some decent folk actually enjoy heat waves, though why, I have no idea! Only blizzards do I like less than the heat!"

The two men laughed ruefully, remembering the recent harsh winter when Aragorn had almost been buried in a snowdrift.

"We should get off the road," said Aragorn. "There ought to be a spring somewhere in these woods."

"A few more years as a Ranger and you will know the exact location of every water source for miles around," said Halbarad. "Come, I will show you where the nearest stream is."

"Presuming it hasn't dried out in this heat!"

"It is fed by an underground stream," said Halbarad. "It never dries up." He plunged into the trees and set off like a hound following a trail.

The sweat poured down Aragorn's face as he fought his way through the thicket in pursuit of his cousin. "Is there not a more accessible stream nearby that experienced Rangers like you are aware of?" asked Aragorn.

"Stop grousing, cousin, you will thank me in a few moments. This water is worth battling the undergrowth to reach," said Halbarad.

The trees suddenly thinned out and the two men found themselves in a woodland glade. A stream trickled along mossy banks adorned with pink campions and golden buttercups.

The two Rangers hurried down to the stream and cupped their hands to drink from it.

"Is anything sweeter than pure fresh water? Nothing makes me more thankful than to quench my thirst with it." Aragorn said a little later after drinking his fill and refilling his water bottle. He now lay sprawled across the bank, watching the birds flittering in the treetops surrounding them. A few sunbeams danced across the stream illuminating the wings of the darting dragonflies and making the water sparkle.

"When you are King you will have fine wines to drink every day," said Halbarad. "You will forget to savour water."

"Wine cannot quench your thirst on a hot day like water can," said Aragorn. "Nor can wine look like diamonds sparkling in the sunlight. I wonder if even the Simarils appeared so fair?"

"You are master of Elven lore, not I," Halbarad said matter of factly. "I would imagine, though, that to a thirsty man that no jewel could compare with water."

Aragorn trailed his hand in the water, a thoughtful look upon his face. "Men and Elves have fought and killed over jewels," he said. "Yet what is there in Arda more precious than water? It is the very stuff of life."

Wishing my friends in the USA a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Events take place many years after the first chapter.


B2MeM Challenge:Image prompt: Murmuring Creek
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/the_winterwitch/13030705/5895/5895_original.jpg

Format: Ficlet
Genre: Family, friendship, fluff
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Aragorn, Faramir, Arwen, OFC
Pairings: Aragorn/Arwen, Faramir/Éowyn
Summary: Aragorn, Faramir and their families enjoy a summer afternoon in Ithilien.

Fair Ithilien was the perfect place to be on a hot summer day. The King's Family, together with Faramir, Éowyn, their children and Elbeth had taken a picnic into the woods to escape from the heat.

After the meal was finished and packed away, the adults reclined beneath a great oak in a forest clearing while their children played and the horses grazed nearby.

“I think I will stretch my legs,” said Faramir.

“I will come with you,” said Aragorn. “We former Rangers find it hard to sit still for too long!”

“I will stay here a while,” said Arwen. She leaned back against the tree and began to sing softly.

Éowyn yawned. “It is too hot to move just yet.”

The two men wandered down to the edge of the clearing where a crystal- clear stream rippled. Both men knelt beside it to drink.

“This reminds me of my days wandering in the North,” said Aragorn. “I remember one warm day such as this in my youth when Halbarad led me to such a stream. I was yet unaccustomed to the hardships of the wild and was very hot and thirsty. I quenched my thirst in the stream and told Halbarad that nothing tasted sweeter than water. He replied that when I was King, I would have such fine wines that water would lose its savour. Ah, Halbarad never doubted my destiny, would that he had seen it come to pass!” Aragorn fell silent, lost in memories.

“And has water lost its sweetness?” Faramir asked after a few moments had passed.

“For once, Halbarad was wrong. It has not.” Aragorn cupped his hands and took another draught. "I wish he could be with us today so I could tell him."

"I am sure he is smiling beyond the circles of the world and rejoicing that being King has not changed you," said Faramir.

“Ada!” a small voice called.

“Farawyn!” cried Arwen. “Come back!”

“Want Ada!”

Farawyn toddled up beside her father. He called back to Arwen. “Farawyn is safe with me, vanimelda.”

The little girl eyed the stream curiously. “Fishes!” she cried, pointing to the darting minnows and almost overbalancing. Aragorn caught hold of her and steadied her. “Shall we catch you a fish? Naneth will have a cup for you to put it in.”

Farawyn shook her head.

“Would you like to paddle in the stream then, my sweet?”

Farawyn beamed.

“What a good idea!” Faramir exclaimed. He started to pull off his boots and stockings. Aragorn first helped his little daughter remove hers, then did likewise, before rolling up the legs of his breeches.

“Farawyn’s gown will get wet,” said Faramir.

“It will soon dry in the sun. It should not trouble her; she is after all a Ranger’s daughter as well as a little Princess!”

Aragorn took one of his daughter’s hands and Faramir took the other as they waded into the shallow stream. Farawyn squealed then decided she liked the feeling of cool water against her skin. She splashed her feet happily.

The three waded upstream where the trees grew more thickly, and pine fronds overhung the water. The bed of the stream became more rocky. The water foamed as it rippled over the moss- encrusted rocks. Farawyn laughed delightedly.

In the distance, the other children could be heard playing while Arwen sang.





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