What is so important to you that without it, life would not be worth living? Why?

[theranger]

Aragorn is stretched out on the beach. The sand is a little damp under his back, but it's soft and he's been there for a while so his body has moulded it to its shape. He does that now and then, when he feels the need to be in touch with the earth again the way he used to when living outdoors. He lies down on the ground and watches the sky, and thinks...

So many things have changed in his life, still there are others that are exactly the same.. because they're important, because they're not only a part of him, but because they're what defines him as a person, what makes him the man he is.

Truth above all, truth to himself.

Why? Because what value can you place on just about anything if you start out by telling lies to yourself, by mocking your life itself?

Still, being true to yourself means a whole lot more than those who don't live by the same rule might believe.

It can mean being ready to draw your sword on someone who is dear to you if you see the darkness lurking in his eyes.
It can mean telling a loved one that her destiny should not be with you, a mortal who would bring her death.
It can mean accepting a new world, a different world and a different life, because in there you found something you hadn't been looking for but had been missing during your whole life.

Comments

[stillsharpe.livejournal.com]

Richard's boots are crushing the tiny pebbles and the sand of the beach. The rhythm to his steps is definitely that of an whole army on the attack. He stops beside Aragorn, his shadow covering the ranger for a short while until he flops down to sit.

"She's gone," he announces in a low growl.

[aragorn-tm.livejournal.com]

The ranger looks up, startled out of his thoughts. Somehow Richard's sudden appearance on this beach doesn't surprise him, what does puzzle him is the hard cast to his features, the scowl knitting his brows.

"Who, Buffy?" he asks astonished.

[stillsharpe.livejournal.com]

"Yes, indeed. Gone, with a note left that doesn't say why or where. And she's carrying my child."

Ricahrd grabs a fist of sand and crushes it in his fist. "Women."

[aragorn-tm.livejournal.com]

Aragorn's eyebrows have shot up in surprise at the mention of a child and at the thought of Buffy disappearing. Now he frowns as he reaches to grab Richard's arm.

"You think she's left you.." he whispers, the tone hovering between a question and a quick assessment of Sharpe's mood.

[stillsharpe.livejournal.com]

Richard shakes his head. "Dawn, her sister, is dead. We exchanged a couple of messages on those ..cell phones thngs. Maybe she needs to be alone. I ..can understand that. I think. But why leaving?"

His hand rests fo ra moment on Aragorn's, squeezing it in gratitude for the companionship Aragorn always offered him, since they first met.

[aragorn-tm.livejournal.com]

"I don't know, Richard.. I've never had a sister.. I had two brothers, well sort of brothers, the sons of my foster father.. If something had happened to one of them I would have gone to hide in the woods for a while, maybe Buffy is doing right that.." Aragorn muses, taking the question seriously, the way he always does.

"Are you happy about the baby? Or does it bring too many memories?" he asks almost shyly, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Sharpe's back and rubbing gentle circles into it.

ooc: am assuming they will have talked about Teresa and Antonia

[stillsharpe.livejournal.com]

"It brings many memories..but also a chance to do better. I don't regret leaving Antonia with Teresa's family, it was the right choice and the only one...but for a bastard like me, to have a family, it means something, my friend, and so it does."

Aragorn's touch is soothing, as always. "I told her to take her time. I won't run after her. I'll wait here...for a while."

[aragorn-tm.livejournal.com]

"Love.. children.. They mean roots, don't they? They feel weird for tramps like us, born to run and never stop long enough to take root. But love.. it feels good.. and a child, a child must be special.." Aragorn sighs thinking of Weps' son and his arm tightens around Sharpe's back.

"She'll come back, she loves you. So wait, but don't wait too long or she'll think you don't care enough to go and take her back. Women are like that.."