Stolen

Summary: A band of thieves terrorize the countryside and Aragorn and Legolas are relunctantly drawn into an ever-deepening mystery.

Rating: PG-13 later...right now...Can you get, like, below G?

Disclaimer: Absolutely no infringement is intended, and I make no money fromthis. This is written for my pleasure only (and hopefully the pleasure of my readers.)

Chapter One



"This is just a tad..." There was a pause as the speaker contemplated the dark shapes of the tree branches against the dark, cloudy sky. "Dark," he finished. "It's just dark."

"Afraid of the dark?"

"Do be quiet, elf."

"Yes, Aragorn. As my lord wishes."

Aragorn rolled his eyes. Legolas was in one of his moods again. The mood that meant that either Aragorn would become so irritated he'd eventually cuff the elf upside the head or he'd end up joining in the teasing. He sighed. "Why did I even think of coming hunting with you?"

Legolas smiled, though in the darkness, Aragorn was hard pressed to see it. "You invited me."

Aragorn shook his head, smiling. He adjusted his coat. "It's cold," he commented.

"Ah, now the human complains of cold. First darkness, now this."

"You are insufferable."

"My father has actually said that."

"I'm not surprised." There was silence for several seconds. Aragorn, satisfied he'd won the little game, spoke again. "We've probably scared away anything worthy of hunting."

"Don't be so sure," Legolas whispered, gazing beyond Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn quietly turned as the elf strung his bow. The man squinted into the dark, trying to see what Legolas obviously did. He shook his head. He'd never see it in this dark. He frowned at the elf. Legolas glanced sidelong at him and shrugged slightly. Great, thought Aragorn, he knows full well I can't find it.

Legolas sighted along the bow. Aragorn moved to step back to give his friend room, but when he did, he stepped on a loose branch. His ankle rolled and Aragorn pitched sideways. His shoulder hit Legolas' arm as the elf loosed his arrow.

Aragorn righted himself and gazed into the wood where Legolas' arrow had gone. He didn't hear the arrow hit over the sounds of brush snapping as whatever it was charged away. The man risked a glance at the elf.

Legolas stared at a tree not ten feet in front and slightly to the side of him. His arrow was firmly embedded in the bark, the fletching still quivering. The elf sighed, and went to retrieve the arrow. "No venison tonight for Rivendell's stores."

"You missed."

"Yes, I see that."

"I didn't think it in you to miss."

Legolas pulled the arrow out of the bark with some difficulty. "You fell on me." He frowned at a crack in the shaft. "It would be a human to cause my downfall," he said.

"What?"

Legolas looked up, smiled, and spoke again. "Your fault."

Aragorn rolled his eyes again. "We should get some sleep. No more hunting will be done this night."

"Yes," Legolas mused, "the human has scared all the game away."

"There's a clearing half a mile off. Good place for camp. I've camped there before."

Legolas slung his bow back over his shoulder. "Very well. We'll camp." He walked behind Aragorn for a few moments before speaking again. "And we'll change the subject. That is what you were doing? You no longer wished to speak of the stag, so we speak of camping."

Aragorn didn't answer. Perhaps he hadn't won the game after all.



They reached the campsite shortly. With a sigh, Aragorn dropped his pack near the place he'd dug up for a fire pit before. As he bent to clear it out, he frowned. There was ash in the pit, half-charred pieces of wood.

"Someone's been here." Aragorn looked around, finding signs here and there of habitation.

"You said you've camped here. Perhaps others on other hunts, as well. Surely you told you're brothers about this place."

"They were with me."

"Not to worry, then?" It was question; Legolas sought Aragorn's opinion.

"I don't think so. It's been recently, though. Within the last day or so." Aragorn frowned. "I don't remember any patrols or hunts going through here that recently though."

"Travellers, then?"

"Perhaps." Aragorn stood up, searching in the darkness for any more signs.

"Should we make camp some distance away and keep watch? Your visitors may be back this night."

"Good idea." Aragorn picked up his pack. He led Legolas to a small place far enough away so as not to draw attention to themselves should anyone occupy the site but close enough so that Legolas, at least, would be able to take note of anything off.

"I'll take first watch," the elf said.

Too tired to argue, Aragorn nodded. Had he said anything, it might have only precipitated another good natured human vs. elf argument, and he was in no mood to lose another one. As he lay down, he watched Legolas nimbly settle himself in the lower branches of a tree. Aragorn caught sight of the elf's long golden hair before Legolas disappeared from view. Content that he was safe, Aragorn slept without reservation.

TBC...