Cats'Tales

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back Advent Challenge. 

For Juno

Warning - very AU and not to be taken seriously.
Inspired by this picture  http://www.herrderringe-net.de/kalender/6/steward.jpg

Sour Milk

The people cheered when the King arrived and the Steward presented the White Rod.

The King disdainfully accepted it, dismissed Faramir and marched through the City; still glaring. Éomer of Rohan’s army followed at his heels, ready to crush any dissent.

The people turned away and returned to their houses.

“Let’s made a nice cup of tea,” suggested one Goodwife, putting on the kettle.

Her husband scowled when he tasted it. “The milk is sour!”

The City was in turmoil. Not a drop of fresh milk was to be had anywhere!

The King’s gaze had turned all the milk sour!


A/N I was studying the final picture for the There and Back Advent
Calender
http://www.herrderringe-net.de/kalender/6/steward.jpg and IM chatting
juno_magic. I remarked that Aragorn's
expression was fit to turn the milk sour.
She challenged me to write a drabble on that theme.
This is the result,which I'm sharing as a holiday time joke.
Naturally I don't see Aragorn as anything like this ! 

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back Advent Challenge. 

Receiving the Rod

Aragorn had waited for this moment for so long. Now it had come, he hesitated.

Faramir knelt humbly proffering the White Rod, surrendering his position as Steward.

The House of Húrin had ruled Gondor for countless generations and commanded the hearts of many citizens. Dared he, the new King retain this scion of the House of Stewards at his side? Could a son of Denethor be trusted? His very presence might serve as a focus for rebellion.

Yet, he had seen into Faramir’s heart when he healed him

Aragorn beheld the honest, grey eyes and bade Faramir retain his Office. 

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back Advent Challenge. 

Receiving the Rod

Aragorn had waited for this moment for so long. Now it had come, he hesitated.

Faramir knelt humbly proffering the White Rod, surrendering his position as Steward.

The House of Húrin had ruled Gondor for countless generations and commanded the hearts of many citizens. Dared he, the new King retain this scion of the House of Stewards at his side? Could a son of Denethor be trusted? His very presence might serve as a focus for rebellion.

Yet, he had seen into Faramir’s heart when he healed him

Aragorn beheld the honest, grey eyes and bade Faramir retain his Office. 

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back Advent Challenge. 

Smaug the Invincible

How dare they trespass in my lair and take my treasure? Not one cup will I yield willingly. Impudent thieves! I will punish Lake Town, burn it to ashes, and devour its inhabitants. A mighty meal will I make.

Their arrows fly, hurting me less than the prick of a pin. Fools! Do they not see the jewels than encrust my hide? Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds.
as strong and hard as the rocks from which they were hewn.

One archer remains. A madman surely, for who else converses with the birds?

He nocks his final arrow and looses it. 

The Optimist

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back advent Challenge.
With thanks to Raksha


“You have done well to capture Gollum,” said Gandalf. ”I believe he can tell me much.

Aragorn laughed bitterly. ”I wish you the joy of him then,” he replied.” I have been on many a long and hard journey, but none so arduous as this! I had to drag Gollum all the way here to Mirkwood. The creature is wholly evil. I doubt he will be of help.”

Gandalf took out his pipe and filled it thoughtfully, his eyes far away. ”My heart tells me that Gollum has an important part to play in the dangerous days that lie ahead.” 

The Optimist

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back advent Challenge.
With thanks to Raksha


“You have done well to capture Gollum,” said Gandalf. ”I believe he can tell me much.

Aragorn laughed bitterly. ”I wish you the joy of him then,” he replied.” I have been on many a long and hard journey, but none so arduous as this! I had to drag Gollum all the way here to Mirkwood. The creature is wholly evil. I doubt he will be of help.”

Gandalf took out his pipe and filled it thoughtfully, his eyes far away. ”My heart tells me that Gollum has an important part to play in the dangerous days that lie ahead.” 

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back advent Challenge.
With thanks to Raksha 

A Disappearing Act

“Where’s Frodo Baggins gone and disappeared to?” exclaimed the Gaffer.

“It’s the Took blood in him. They are all peculiar. Bilbo was even worse!” Lobelia said haughtily, though she looked as puzzled as anyone else. "Now, my side of the family is far more respectable. We do not mix with such disreputable characters as Dwarfs and Wizards nor go adventuring!” she snorted in a most unladylike fashion.

“But where is Mr. Frodo?” the Gaffer persisted. “He’s a real nice gentleman, he is!”

“I blame that wizard!” said Lobelia. ”Now, I wonder if that fool Frodo left any spoons lying around?” 

Sons of the Sea Kings

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back advent Challenge.

“Why are our people called the Sea Kings, ada?” Eldarion enquired as he walked along the shore at Dol Amroth with his father.

“Our longfathers came to Middle- earth from far across the western seas,” Aragorn explained. “Though even before Númenor was founded, Eärendil built a ship and sailed the oceans. The great Lord of the Waters, Ulmo himself had arisen out of the waves and appeared to Eärendil’s sire, Tuor with wise counsel and warned him that the great city of Gondolin would fall. Tuor went there and wed the King’s daughter, Idril with whom he escaped after the City fell. Afterwards he longed for the sea. One day he built a ship and sailed away with his wife. It is said they reached the Blessed Realm and Ulmo allowed them to remain there for always.

That sounds boring!” exclaimed Eldarion. ”I’d rather sail a ship or play in the sea! Can we go swimming, ada? Look at those big waves! Maybe we will see Lord Ulmo like Tuor did?”

Aragorn laughed. There was no doubt his son was a true scion of the Sea Kings.

In Valinor, Ulmo smiled at this latest son of the line of Tuor. 

Sons of the Sea Kings

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.
Written for the There and Back advent Challenge.

“Why are our people called the Sea Kings, ada?” Eldarion enquired as he walked along the shore at Dol Amroth with his father.

“Our longfathers came to Middle- earth from far across the western seas,” Aragorn explained. “Though even before Númenor was founded, Eärendil built a ship and sailed the oceans. The great Lord of the Waters, Ulmo himself had arisen out of the waves and appeared to Eärendil’s sire, Tuor with wise counsel and warned him that the great city of Gondolin would fall. Tuor went there and wed the King’s daughter, Idril with whom he escaped after the City fell. Afterwards he longed for the sea. One day he built a ship and sailed away with his wife. It is said they reached the Blessed Realm and Ulmo allowed them to remain there for always.

That sounds boring!” exclaimed Eldarion. ”I’d rather sail a ship or play in the sea! Can we go swimming, ada? Look at those big waves! Maybe we will see Lord Ulmo like Tuor did?”

Aragorn laughed. There was no doubt his son was a true scion of the Sea Kings.

In Valinor, Ulmo smiled at this latest son of the line of Tuor. 

The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate.No profit has been,nor will be made from this.

Written for the There and Back Advent Challenge.

Renewal

Faramir took little joy in journeying across Gorgoroth. It reminded him too much of the desolation Sauron had wrought, even after so many years had passed.

He rode in silence beside the King, lost in thought.

Then he saw them, thistles and a clump of horsetail, green and living amidst the mud and barren rocks.

His eyes lit up in wonder. Joyfully, he called his lord’s attention to these signs of hope.
Aragorn dismounted to study the plants. “These are powerful healing plants,” the King smiled. ”The land is being renewed at last!”

“Envinyatar!” exclaimed Faramir. “Our hopes are fulfilled.”