Synopsis : The Manyan series continues…The princes of Mirkwood and the Rivendell brothers joined together for an outing. When something dreadful happened, they all had to rely on a certain eagle to save the day.
Hey, guys! Like I've promised, I return on the board once more…but not with the story "Take My Heart Away". I'm putting it temporarily on hold. Yeah, I know I've promised you that one but many of you guys had requested for a story on Hawkeye. And I am very happy to comply. And thank you all very much for the wonderful reviews. Here goes…
He was Aragorn, son of Arathorn. The heir to Isildur. The only heir to the throne of Gondor. The king in exiled…
The young man shook his head in wonder. I am a descendant to the man who had killed Sauron, the man who had been weakened by the call of that one ring, the man who should've destroyed the ring but did not, leaving Middle Earth in grave danger until it was found again and got rid of for good. And that heavy responsibility will come down to me…Aragorn, or warmly known as Estel to his family and friends, rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. Damn!
His foster father, Lord Elrond of the Rivendell elves, had just disclosed the twenty years secret to him that morning after breakfast. To say that he was shocked was an understatement. He was incredibly…what was the word? Stunned. Yes, that was the exact word. He was stunned out of his mind, walking out into the garden as if in a trance, barely noticing his surroundings, and had stayed under the willow tree in the garden ever since.
Shocked? Hell, I'm shocked! I've just been told that I'm a king! A king in exiled, mind you, but still a king! And I don't want it!
He rested his forehead against his upraised knees, sighing again. Now he understood the length of protection he'd received from everyone he knew. Never had he thought that it would come to this!
"Estel?"
He looked up to see the golden haired elf standing in front of him, returning his stare with a pair of understanding sharp silver eyes. "Hey, Legolas," he replied lamely.
The younger elf prince from the Mirkwood realm sat down beside him on the grass. "That was quite a news, wasn't it?"
Aragorn chuckled. "You can say that again."
"Do you want me to start calling you Aragorn, now?"
"Give me a minute to breath here, will you?"
The two friends sat there together in peaceful silence; the mortal and immortal, one dark haired while the other one so fair, yet both of royal and noble blood…though one of them still have difficulties to accept it.
"All these years, I thought I'm just a son of a simple Dunedain. A king, Legolas? This must be some kind of a joke," Aragorn said in a voice filled with disbelief.
The elf gazed back at him. "What made you think that way?"
"It's too bizarre to be true! All I ever want to be is a ranger, no more. A king? What am I to do as a king? I don't even have a kingdom to rule, for heaven's sake!"
Legolas laughed softly. "Why don't you take it easy for now, Estel. The time for you to claim the throne is still further ahead."
"Easy for you to say! You have known the truth about me all along!" Aragorn groaned. "Now I understand why you guys protect me so much, hovering over me like mother hen wherever I go!"
The elf laughed out loud then. "And it was a tiring feat, I can assure you!"
The young man joined in his friend's laughter. "Aye, I'll exhaust you even more from now on! You'll regret of ever befriending the king of Gondor!"
"Hah! I regret it already!"
The friends' wild laughter could be heard clearly from the palace. Lord Elrond smiled. He turned towards the other elves in the room. "I always knew Legolas could sooth that boy."
Keldarion, the crown prince of Mirkwood, also smiled. The tragic event all those years ago had changed Legolas into a wise and thoughtful person. "I agree. My brother has the touch. They are of the same temperament anyway."
Elladan guffawed. "I could not forget Estel's face after you told him his true identity, father. I was ready to pick up his hanging jaw and closed it for him!"
Elrohir rubbed his right arm and winced. "My arm is still sore after he pushed by me to get to the door! I never thought he could run that fast!"
Elrond glanced through the window and saw the two friends leaving the willow tree, heading back towards the palace. "This is just the beginning. Greater things are yet to come. Then you'll know how fast, or rather how powerful that boy can be."
As the two friends reentered the room, Aragorn looked straight at Elrond and said, "Forgive me for reacting that way just now, father. I had behaved like a child."
The lord came forward and pulled the young man into his arms. "To me, you are still a child, Estel. Nevertheless, I understand your reaction. It is a shocking news to you." Pulling away, Elrond stared deeply into Aragorn's dark brown eyes. "Now that you know who you really are, are you ready to accept your destiny?"
Aragorn sighed heavily. "No. Not in a million years."
The others laughed when they heard that. Elrond smiled. "I guess not. But your brothers and I, along with your friends here will help you through it. You are bound to be a great person one day, Estel. So we'll always be there to guide you."
"In other words, shut up and follow our orders!" Elrohir piped in, smirking. With a snarl, Aragorn turned and lunged at his brother, dragging them both to the floor amid the others' laughter.
Elrond only sighed and shook his head. "In the mean time, I suggest you grow up a little faster."
That night after dinner, the five companions loafed together inside Aragorn's chamber, planning a hunting trip into the woods for the next day. It was actually a hunting lesson for Aragorn, because the elves had no need for hunts game, as they do not eat meat. But Aragorn needed to hone his skill in tracking and hunting, among other things.
The Mirkwood brothers who had been spending the whole summer in Rivendell would not miss the party for anything. They were supposed to return home to Mirkwood several days ago but Legolas had coaxed his brother to stay for another week. "Come on, Kel. What would father do if we were late for a week? Banish us from the realm?" Legolas had said on the day they were supposed to head for home.
"I'm not worried about us being banished, but father in high temper is like and orc on fire! Shouting and yelling, nearly waking up the dead! My ears still ring from the lecture we received last summer, all because you extended our stay here!" Keldarion had replied afterwards.
"Where do you think we should go tomorrow?" Aragorn asked, lying on his bed with his arms behind his head.
"How about the Trachian Plains?" Legolas suggested.
"Trachian Plains? But that would be too far way, isn't it? The woods there so vast and the hills so rocky," Elladan pondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Why? You think I can't handle it?" Aragorn cried out.
"No, I just pity the Plains because you are going to pollute the air with your bad breath!"
"I don't have a bad breath!"
"Yes, you do, human!" Elrohir jumped in. He grabbed the nearest pillow and hit his youngest brother on the head with it. Hence, a very wild pillow war started, and it went on all through the night…
TBC…
Okay, that was a start. Hawkeye and action packed scene coming up!