Chapter 1
Aragorn yawned slightly as he rode at the head of a large group of men.
They had all just come back from scouting the area. There had been sightings of orcs and they were beginning to become suspicious as they had seemed to appear a few at a time, move around a bit near the border, then leave.
They had been out there for three months, searching out the creatures and picking them off as well as they could. This group had been lucky, as they hadn't lost anyone. The same could not be said for every group but there weren't too many losses.
The human sighed, his mind flashing to the same thing it had been for the last six years - when would he see his family again?
He shook his head absently, -Soon? Ada has lost his mind if he thinks six years is soon…-
He was pulled out of his thoughts as they all started getting jumpy, as if awaiting something. The man glanced up and realized they were closer than he'd thought and glanced back with a smile, spurring his horse into a canter, the others following excitedly.
This is the part he wasn't sure whether he liked or not, everyone happy to see their families again, some grieving for those lost… but he watched this in sadness. He enjoyed watching them being reunited… but it only caused him to miss his family all the more.
He stood back and watched in silence as they all met up with each other, young children being lifted up and hugged. Wives and their husbands heading home, hand-in-hand happily.
He sighed and turned and made his way towards the halls where he had been given a nice sized house nearby, as all the captains did.
He immediately went into his room and fell asleep right then and there, in his travelling clothing and all.
Aragorn awoke the next afternoon and shook his head, not feeling to well after an unusually long sleep.
He yawned and simply went about getting himself ready to go out, hating being stuck in the place for too long.
Just as he finished, he heard a noise outside his little home and growled in annoyance, knowing immediately who it was. Aragorn grabbed a couple buckets and filled them with water before going outside and carefully climbing up onto his roof, moving silently until he was just above the two kids that had been causing the sounds.
He bit back another growl and dumped both buckets down on them simultaneously.
The two had been caught unaware and jumped with a yelp.
"I've had just about enough of you two," The ranger called from his roof, "no more calm warnings for you. Four years have you been destroying the gardens and outside walls! Come back one more time and I'll inform your parents!"
The two glanced at each other, stuttered apologies and turned, fleeing immediately.
Aragorn dropped carefully from the roof and sighed, - I tried right? What more can I do…-
He shook his head and was about to turn and go back in when he heard laughing. He spun around to see the 19-year-old Théoden standing there with crossed arms.
"Finally got fed up with them?"
"Aye," Aragorn laughed slightly, "I've finally had enough having to dig dead plants and squirrels out of my gardens…"
The young man laughed again, "Ah, good! They finally got taught a lesson as well from what I saw… wonder what they'll make up when their mothers ask them how they got so wet!"
"Even if they told the truth it wouldn't be believed," the ranger grinned.
"Oh?" Théoden asked.
"Aye! Think about it! 'Some crazy captain decided it would be a good idea to dump water over our heads from his roof because we were attacking his plants'."
The young prince burst out laughing, "Not so believable…"
"Exactly. But… now that I think about it, everyone seems slightly off… if you know what I mean…" he mumbled glancing out at the people walking about in a slightly tense way.
"Aye…" the young man sobered, "A few strange riders have been seen coming towards here…"
Aragorn, for some reason, though this had happened many times before, had a sudden suspicion, "How many exactly?"
The prince thought for a moment, "About… six or seven…" he paused, "Yes, seven."
Aragorn blinked, "Ah… do you wish for me to go out to meet them? I'm sure it would put the people at ease."
"Aye, actually my father sent me to ask you if you could… he says to take your ten best men and go out to meet them."
Aragorn nodded and went off to get them.
Lexandol's house was the first he went to. The man was his best warrior and had become a good friend.
He knocked on the door and smiled at the woman who opened it, she looked slightly surprised to see him but smiled.
"Thorongil! It has been a while, come in!"
He nodded, "Thank you Renala."
"You are here for Lex, am I right?"
"Aye, that is why I am here…"
"Ai…" she sighed, "So soon? How long this time?"
"We are only going out to meet the newcomers before they reach here, we are to be sure they do not come for ill is all."
She looked slightly relieved, "Ah good… come then!"
Aragorn followed the young woman to their living area where Lex sat, playing with his young son.
"Mae govannen Nathil!" he smiled at the child.
The four-year-old looked up and grinned, "Hi Thor!"
Lex shook his head in amusement, "Still with the elf-speech?"
Aragorn laughed, "Aye, always will and you know that."
"Still can't understand why you ever took it up in the first place."
The ranger looked amused and slightly distracted, then a slight flash of sadness passed over his face but he shook it off.
"You'd understand why if you knew my family Lex…"
"Perhaps…" he looked a little curious, it was difficult to get the man to speak of his family.
Aragorn shook the look out of his eyes and smiled at the other man.
Lex sighed, "Come now Thorongil… you've said very little of your family… other than the fact that you were adopted at a young age."
Aragorn sighed, "Maybe later Lex, right now we must go…"
The man nodded, "I heard, okay, let's go."
The eleven men were close enough to be able to see the newcomers. All wore dark clothing with the hoods of their cloaks up.
When they were close enough Aragorn turned to Lex, "I want you to speak to them."
The man looked confused, "Is that not your job though?"
"Aye…" he sighed, "I do not know how much longer I am to stay here," he said quietly to him.
The other mans eyes widened but he stayed silent, then sighed and nodded.
The men all wore clothing that covered them completely. It was hot, but it kept them from getting sunburnt.
They had been travelling for a while now, and they were all completely covered in dust.
Aragorn nudged his horse and moved just behind Lex as they moved closer to the other group.
The newcomers had stopped and were quietly conversing with each other.
Aragorn drew his sword slowly and held it at ready by his side, the others following his example.
Lex cleared his throat and called out to them, "Who approaches the city of King Thengel?"
They all paused and after a moment two of them separated and moved closer to them.
"We mean you no harm!" One of them called.
"We are looking for someone," the other said.
Aragorn frowned, something in his memory flaring up and he blinked, then his eyes went huge as he realized what it was and moved his horse up towards Lex's.
Elven Kitten: sneaks in and glances around before quickly scrambling up into a tree, clothed in army garb and carrying a longbow
Elf Side: Follows slowly Uh… Let's just go to the replies from our last chapter of Alagos o Kuil…
grumpy- lol, yes it is!
Jadesaber- Thank you! Glad you liked the ending! I didn't like it much but I had to admit I was beginning to tire of the plot… too many other ideas in my relatively small head… lol, …
leggylover03- Okay! Lol
mascara freak- Awww… bein' sick sux much! Lol um… normally the words 'the end' should kinda gives that one away huh? Blinks prank idea with Aragorn? Sorry… minds asleep right now… care to enlighten me? Lol… I just had a test… so I used all possible brains I have left during that period… I still think I failed it… lol but since then they've decided to sleep… lol
sielge- Wow… thank you!
E.K.: Cool… Aims bow at a rock but decides not to kill any arrows
E.S.: Rolls eyes You'd never guess she just had one of the best days she's had in a while…
E.K.: I GOT A KITTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E.S.: Is now temporarily deaf -.-
E.K.: Drops out of tree He's so cute!!!! We got him from the SPCA! He's 8 weeks old, he's white with big grey blotches so he looks like a little cow and he waddles! He's adorable! We named him Frodo! XD, he's my lil Fwo Fwo… Lol
F.F.: Meow?
E.K.: FWO FWO!!! Huggles XD, we gots to go! I gotta play with Fwo Fwo more! lol
Elenmeoi