Aragorn: 20 years old!

It was the biggest day of Aragorn's life. He had turned twenty years old. The whole Rivendell was in an uproar at just the thought of their little human that they had looked after for so many years was finally an adult. Nobody could believe it, not even Aragorn. Since he was blessed by the Dunedain of having a longer lifespan, he did not look twenty. He still looked quite younger and so much smaller.

Elrond had decided that it was time to tell Aragorn everything. All the things he had always kept a secret from him about himself. It had all been for his own good, but Elrond prayed that Aragorn would take all the new information nicely. He hoped Aragorn understood why Elrond had been keeping everything from him for so long. For protection.

"Estel, I must speak to you," Elrond said as he approached Aragorn who sat on Elrond's back porch area.

Aragorn had been reading a book enjoying the fresh air. He slipped a bookmark through the pages and looked up to his father.

"Yes?"

"I must speak to you in private," Aragorn noted the serious look on Elrond's face

The young Dunedain looked confused, but got up leaving his book on the table next to the chair, and followed Elrond into his building. They both sat in chairs across from each other next to a large window, who's curtains were pulled back letting in the late evening sunshine.

Elrond took a long, nervous breath before starting the conversation. Aragorn noticed the Elf's jitteriness and waited patiently.

"Estel, before I start talking, I want to tell you that I don't know how you will handle this," Elrond began.

"Handle, what?" Aragorn asked slowly and cautiously.

"There is a lot of things I have to tell you about your past and your future,"

"Are these the same things you have been keeping from me for a long time? The things I have asked about many times?"

Elrond nodded and Aragorn was more aware than ever. The Elf continued,

"So, I will start at the beginning. You were born in the third age, 2931. As you know, your mother and father were Gilraen and Arathorn. You came from the last Dunedain camp of the west and are the sixteenth and last Chieftain of the Dunedain," Elrond paused not thinking he could reveal anything else.

"Yes, I know of this. Please continue, father," Aragorn urged sitting forward a little.

"Before I tell you anything further, please know that I kept secrets from you to protect you, not to make you wonder or get mad at me. Please know this,"

Aragorn nodded as he sat at the edge of his seat waiting. Elrond finally spilled the beans,

"Estel, you are the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor,"

Elrond couldn't meet Aragorn's eyes as he buried his face in his hands. Aragorn almost forgot how to breath for a minute as he stared at the wall past Elrond.

"I am a what?" Aragorn whispered.

"You are to be a king," Elrond repeated quietly, but loud enough for Aragorn to hear him.

Aragorn's mouth hung open as his heart threatened to stop beating.

"No, no- that is a mistake... I can't be a...," Aragorn whispered, but cut off what he was going to say.

"Do you remember the story I told you of my journey to Mordor to destroy the One Ring with the men of Gondor?" Elrond asked.

Aragorn nodded slowly, still staring off into space.

"Do you remember the man who kept the Ring for himself after his father died? That man was from Gondor, he was the king after his own father,"

"Isildur... I am Isildur's heir?" Aragorn choked out.

Elrond nodded slowly and finally looked up to see Aragorn's reaction. He was holding his chest and staring off into the room, with a glazed look to his eyes. He had stopped blinking and could hardly breath.

"Estel, you have to understand that..." Elrond started, but Aragorn quickly stood.

"I can't hear any more, please," Aragorn held up a hand to stop Elrond from stopping him.

Aragorn had put together all the puzzle pieces of his life.

He remembered the kingdom of Gondor and how Elrond had always told him that it was only a place.

He remembered when Gandalf the Grey had come and said something about "the king of Gondor returning."

He remembered the tunic with the white tree of Gondor that Arwen had given him for his birthday.

He remembered so many other clues that had just been proven that this whole situation was true. The Middle Earth map, the book on Middle Earth's history, the glove, the sword lessons, bow lessons, knife lessons, and having everybody teach him Elvish and the right ways to avoid evil.

"Estel?" Elrond whispered.

When Aragorn blinked again, he was sitting on Elrond's bed next to him. He had been so looped into his thoughts that he hadn't known what was going on around him. Aragorn jumped, but Elrond put a reassuring hand around him comforting him. He stayed silent.

"Are you okay?" Elrond whispered in his ear.

Aragorn couldn't speak. He closed his eyes and fell into Elrond. Out of nowhere, he stared crying. Elrond wrapped his strong arms around his son and held him tight as he did many times as Aragorn was a young boy. All those days had passed by so fast. Elrond only wished he could have them back.

A/N: Another true fact about Aragorn's life is that Elrond told him everything about himself when he was twenty years old. That is why I waited so long until this very moment. 

However a  false fact that I put into this story was Aragorn's ring. His ring was acually given to him by Elrond in Tolkien's world, but I had Arathorn give it to Aragorn as a child. 

About seven more chapters! Enjoy! :D