Where do I belong?

Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR

A/N: this is a 4 part story here is part one.

Summary: Elladan and Elrohir don't reach the Dunedain camp in time and another finds Aragorn. Raised as a peasant the Ranger stands out, and can't figure out why.

Rain fell from the sky, the last of what was a Rangers camp smouldered, steam rising as what remained was extinguished. The sounds of a baby crying filled the night air; Jerald followed the sound of the wails until he came to the clearing. Dead bodies of orc, man, woman and child lay scattered covered in blood, the wailing continued. Lifting up what remained of a tent. Large innocent grey eyes stared at Jerald, his heart breaking Jerald looked around one last time before picking the child up. Shadow sniffed the baby as her master stood up wrapping the baby in the black cloak that had been in the basket.
Jerald whistled, "Shadow come girl it's time to go home," The dog obediently followed.

"Mama Jerald is home!" The small blond girl jumped from her chair by the window running to greet her elder brother.
Jerald opened the door to the small house his father had made, his younger sister Elizabeth jumped happily waiting for him, "Calm down Liz," he smiled using her pet name.
Degon and Dain came out of the cellar that had become a recent accessory to the house; they were followed by Maryanne and Edward. Degon, Dain and Edward were all younger then Jerald but Maryanne had been the first born.

Jerald's mother walked out of the kitchen smiling she went to embrace her son but he raised his hand, "Mama, I found something," he said slowly opening his cloak.
his siblings crowded around as Jerald opened his cloak to reveal the small child. Jerald's mother gasped, "By gods my son that is a baby no older then two!" She quickly turned to Maryanne, "Mary, quickly get some warm blankets, Dain get hot water, and Edward get the fire going. Elizabeth come with me and Jerald to take care of the baby and you Degon run to the town and get your father!" The woman grabbed the child and went to the fireside.

Maryanne and Dain quickly came with blankets and hot water and Degon had built an impressive fire, Catharine turned to Jerald, "Where did you find him?" she asked as she cleaned the mud off the child's face.
"There was a ranger camp it had been attacked, I think he was the only one to survive," Jerald Rubbed Shadow as the dog went to sniff the baby.
Maryanne looked suddenly worried, "Mother we can't keep him! The town's people will kill us if we do such an act!"
Catharine turned to her eldest, "No, they will not know he will be one of us," She sighed as the child began to wake up.
"I wan mama," the child whispered, they ignored the child doubting he knew about death, "I want my Mama!" the child screamed.
Catharine took the child in her arms and hushed him she softly sang lullaby's she had sung when her children were younger. Her voice comforted the small child and he fell back to sleep.
Elizabeth looked at the baby, "Can we keep him mama?" she asked with childish innocents.

Before Catharine could answer, Degon and Bailith entered the house, "Degon said something about Jerald finding a baby?" Bailith said taking off his coat.
Catharine nodded, "Jerald found him in the remains of a Ranger camp."
Bailith walked over and looked at the sleeping child, "Well what should we do with him we can't give him to master Theodore he will be killed," Bailith crouched down next to his wife.
Jerald looked determinedly at his father, "I am keeping him if you don't like that decision I will leave and take him with me!" He growled.
Bailith laid a hand on his son's shoulder, "I did not say we would get rid of him," Bailith looked at each of his children, "what we are going to call him?"
The children all started to shout out names and only hushed when Catharine waved her hands, "One at a time!"
Maryanne went first, "John, simple and easy," She stated proud of her name choices.
Degon snorted, "No! Call him Loudmouth!"
Dain shook his head, "Crier, that's all he does!"
Edward laughed, "You two have no imagination, let's call him Mosquito cause he is as annoying as one!"
Elizabeth squealed to get attention, "His name is teddy because he is the size of my teddy," She muttered.
Bailith turned to Jerald, "You found him, and you can name him," Bailith watched as his son pondered a name.
"Bill," Jerald said firmly then nodded his head, "I want to call him Bill."
Bailith nodded, "Common but that will make sure he does not stand out."

The last of the smoke and steam rose from the destroyed camp, the horses came to a halt two tall fair identical figures dismounted. Their eye's scanned the camp.
"Oh Valar!" one cried finding the dead body of his friend and companion Arathorn.
The other twin turned to the company, "Find Gilraen and the child!" he cried.

Halbarad's eyes scanned the clearing wildly, he could not lose anyone else in his family. Walking past the twins he violently kicked an orcs head as it rolled away. Golden hair! There was only on Dunedain with Golden hair! Halbarad picked the tent up and there laid his aunt dead eyes wide open. Halbarad chocked and the twins ran to him, and saw the dead body. "I'm sorry," One whispered, while the other crouched down and closed her eyes. Halbarad suddenly ran over to where a basket lay, "its Aragorn's!" he cried.

True. It was Aragorn's but Aragorn was not in it. Halbarad collapsed next to the torn wet basket, "I failed them all," He chocked, in his grief he did not notice the foot prints next to the basket.

The newly named Bill lay asleep in the cot that had been used for all the children that had been born into the family had used. Jerald looked at the child he wanted to have a child to call his own, he was twenty and not married it was rare for such occurrences among mortals. Maryanne was married though she still spent much of her time with the family she had been married at the age of fifteen now she was twenty two, Dain and Degon were not yet married but there were two girls that lived in the main town that they desired they were now thirteen. Edward was getting married in two days and as for Elisabeth the family had not yet thought that far.

Maryanne came over to where Jerald was dozing, "I will watch over him go and get some rest."
Jerald snorted, "Maryanne, it is you of all people who need rest your child will be born soon," He smiled looking at his sister's rounded belly.
Maryanne sighed, "Just at least get some rest," with that she turned and left the room.

Jerald looked at the child one last time before he fell asleep unaware that the defenceless child before him would one day be a mighty king.

TBC….

A/N: okay what do people think so far?