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Not Alright

Chapter 1

Aragorn stared bleakly out the window to the outside world from inside his father's study. The clouds were turning gray. Again. It would probably start raining soon. Again. Just like the day before, and the day before that, and the day...and right now it would start raining, and it's would stop after hours and hours, then it would rain again tomorrow, and the day after that too, and the the day after that and-

He shook himself slightly, this line of though was going nowhere.

He sighed, he didn't really care though.

His father had summoned here for something important or, at least he though it was something important, if the distraught eyes, and the tight mouth on the Elf that had come to his room and informed him that Lord Elrond wished to speak to him was any indicator. He hadn't been exactly friendly.

But Aragorn couldn't blame blame him, one of his close friends had been the latest to disappear.

He had asked if everything was alright, but the Elf had been very silent and Aragorn had finally gave up up after a soon after

He sighed again, it didn't matter anyway.

Something was wrong.

But, maybe not, he could be wrong, maybe, it wouldn't be the first time he though with another sigh.

It was a very dreary day..

He couldn't be in trouble again, unless...No, surely no one had found out about that so soon. Well it could be possible...

But not likely, no, definitely not likely. Well maybe-

Stop it already! he told himself. Not possible. At least not yet.

He suppressed a smile. A smile some folk would call slightly creepy.

Though he couldn't imagine why...they were just paranoid. Yes that was it.

Turning his thought's back to the gray skies he sighed again...it had been raining for eight days in a row, he was almost glad he wasn't
planning on traveling anywhere soon, well actually, he wasn't almost glad, he was glad. It was Horrid weather for anything of that sort...He supposed this sort of rain wouldn't even faze a full time ranger. In fact, they would probably be thankful for it, at least it wasn't snowing anymore. Aragorn scowled, he would go out into the freezing rain, or snow! In fact, he'd go out in both! if he had to...just like a real ranger, but he was guiltily pleased that he didn't have too, it was just so warm and pleasant here. Who would ever want to leave this place, and go out there..

A drop landed on the window. Another followed. What was he saying? Of course he wanted to go out there. Three more drop's fell, followed by more and more. Okay who was he kidding, He did not want to go out into that. Unless there was a good reason for it of course.

It was in a full downpour by now. He scowled. He hated the rain.

it had been a very bad week for him.

he snickered softly to himself, shooting a quick glance around to see if anyone had stealthily entered, he could hear the words already echoing in his head already, 'Lord Elrond, you're son is laughing at the voices in his head and scaring the inhabitants or Rivendell, again, please make him stop' ,thats was everyone said when they saw him laughing, snickering or maybe even cackling to himself, but he really didn't cackle much, well not that much anyway. And anyways, what was wrong with thinking something is funny inside your head? it was them who were strange for thing he was strange. yes. They were the odd ones. Not him, he was completely normal. he nodded quickly to himself, and refraining himself from looking around again. He didn't care what they thought about him anyways.

...Wait, what was he laughing about in the first place...Oh, yes!

A small smile spread over his face at the thought's again. His brother's thought they were so smart leaving without him, now that he was thinking of them he really missed them, wait, No! He was glad they weren't here right now, alls they did was irritate him, and get him in trouble anyway. Oh yes, it was always them who got him in trouble, he was always innocent, he just had to convince every one else of that fact, would anyone believe him when he told them thought? It must be a Elf thing he thought with another sigh.

There had been nothing wrong with him at all, he had not been sick. He just...hadn't felt that good, but there was a big difference. Oh yes, a very large, significant difference. He nodded to himself again. It had been completely unfair. Another small smile touched his lips, they would have a nice surprise once they got back, things would work out prefect, he just knew it, he was sure they would be just thrilled when they found out how exactly he extract his revenge, they knew he would seek it. Of course they did, they always did. Thing's were always like this with his brothers and him. A slight frown adorned his lips as he remembered that people that them odd, there was absolutely nothing wrong with seeking revenge, in fact, it was rather normal, right? unless you were demented or something, He sighed again, he was sure that none of them were demented. Not in the least. Of course they weren't ...well maybe just a little. but there was nothing wrong with that either.

He supposed it wasn't all the twins fault, in fact, it was his father who had told all three of them that he would be staying home, so technically, it was all their father's fault, maybe he could rebel and get back at him, what was he thinking, his father? No. But- nothing harsh of course...it would only include, about five pounds of dirt, and a few books, maybe, Yes he would never know! he-...Stop it! He told himself, He would never do something like that to his father...out of the question. Never.

He did want to have his head firmly attached when this was over. But that wasn't the only reason of course, Elrond was his father, and he respected him greatly.

thinking of him made him give another glance around, what keeping the Elf lord? he had been summoned near half an hour ago. Oh well, he thought, he must have a good reason, It's a good thing I'm not the impatient type...

The rain could be heard pelting violently against the roof.

So bleak...

Thunder exploded overhead, or somewhere close by, and Aragorn jumped a little. Shooting a quick glance around.

He was not afraid of this storm.

How could he be afraid of something he had learned to live with his whole life, no, he was most definably not afraid.

He wondered idly if it was very important, what if something happened to Dan and Ro? He chuckled, of course something happened to them, in shook his head, those kind of thought's were useless, if something happened to them it would be their own fault. it always was. He dismissed the thoughts of how they would react to his little...joke, after coming home, hunting in the wilds for a week, raining every day, he supposed they would catch even less than usual this time. his thought strayed, It hadn't really been their fault, it was his father that had declared him too sick to accompany them, he rolled his eyes, he had not been sick. would anyone believe him though? No. of course not, he was the young human who knew nothing about how he felt, no one ever listened to him, Noo, well, it was probably been his fault anyways, but he tried to ignore the voice reminding him of that part.

His brother's had been all to eager to agree with their Ada, they had even called him cranky!

It didn't matter anymore though. they would get what they deserved, a whole week out hunting in the rain, probably catching very little, only to come home and have a nice warm...welcome.

Aragorn grinned, very pleased with himself. They would think twice before leaving without him again.

"You're scaring me with that look Estel."

Aragorn snapped out of his only slightly twisted thought's, His head turning quickly to the side to see his father standing at the entrance to the room, How had he come to be there? how long had he been standing there? only seconds surely, yes, surely.

Aragorn put on a less demented smile, his eyes almost innocent.

"What look, Ada?"

Thunder boomed loudly outside, making him wince, he was getting a headache from all these storms, He longed to go outside. For fresh air again.

It was strange, really, usually Rivendell had very nice weather, maybe it was just the changing of seasons.

Yes, of course it was, what other explanation was there. Weather was probably mush worse outside of Imladris .

Elrond narrowed his eyes at his youngest son, Estel looked away. Sheepish.

Staring back out into the almost dark night. Estel looked almost as if he were..sulking. Again.

"I'm sorry Ada, you summoned me?"

Aragorn directed the subject to the reason they were both here, Hoping Elrond would forget about his look.

The look his adoptive father was giving him right now made Estel think he could see right through him.

It was rather...eerie. Aragoorn stopped himself from laughing out loud, his father and eerie in the same sentence sounded very wrong.

Elrond walked deeper into the well lit room, closing the door behind himself,

"I pray that whatever you have planned for your brother's will do nothing more than humiliate them."

Aragorn put on a overly innocent look,

"are you suggesting I would hurt my beloved brother's, Ada?"

Elrond nodded without hesitation. Taking a seat, and turning his eye's to Aragorn.

"I need to tell you something very important Estel."

he waited for the young man to give his full attention.

Aragorn turned very serious. This couldn't be good. Well at least he wasn't in trouble, maybe that might be better though, his concern was growing. The look in his fathers eyes scared him a little.

"What is it, Ada?"

Lightning flashed and Elrond read Aragorn's suddenly serious eye's.

He saw the concern. He sighed. He didn't like worrying his son. Any of them., but least of all his youngest.

"Surely you've noticed the disappearance of elves over the past six month's?"

Aragorn's lips tightened, two of the said disappeared elves had been good friends. All the elves, well, most of the elves in Rivendell treated him very well, but they had been more then nice to him, they had been...well, more than just polite, and had actually like him for just him, not because of who he was, he still didn't want to accept the fact that they might have...died, No, something else must have happened. Must have.

"You don't think it's just ill fate, or coincidence?"

He still didn't know if this was a good development, or not.

Elrond shook his head slowly.

"I have reason to believe they are being held...captive, in a nearby town"

He actually wasn't completely sure, but he had his suspicions .

Aragorn was confused.

"Captive?"

Elrond looked out the window Ara was seated next to, night was upon them.

"I sent a small patrol of elves to investigate it a few weeks ago.

All the elves that have disappeared have one thing in common, they were all traveling East by the same path. And they were all traveling alone. One or two elves, or even as mush as four or five disappearing wouldn't be to hard to believe, even though it would be hard to accept, but eleven? Very unlikely

every one going alone that way has disappeared, but this group of nine elves, have saw nothing out of place or even the least bit threating out of the ordinary.."

Estel caught on, "until they came to the town?"

Elrond nodded, "exactly."

It was quite for a long moment. As quite as it could be with rain pelting so loudly on the roof.

Elrond continued,

"Folk being wary, or even hostile towards elves is nothing unheard of, but there was something different about this town.

Now it's not for certain, but there is something strange about this town, and elves put themselves in danger to go there to investigate, But one of their own kind..."

Aragorn's eyes searched his fathers face,

"You would wish me to go?"

He was pleased that his father thought him worthy of this task.

Elrond waited a moment before answering, knowing that his son had already accepted the task and planning things out inside his head

"yes, that is exactly what I am thinking."

Aragorn smiled widely,

"then it is settled, when shall I leave? I'll be traveling alone, right? Right, you can't send elves with my, you'd be putting them in danger so yes, I'm going alone, your not going to send anyone after me right?

Elrond smiled slightly, he loved his son so much.

"Though my heart goes against this choice, yes, you will travel alone, as for when you leave, the sooner the better. And no, I'll not send anyone after you...immediately.

That was enough to satisfy Aragorn,

"I'll leave tomorrow then, how long will it take to reach this place?"

this was the first time his father had sent him anywhere alone, even though he though he was kind of old to be getting this excited over something as simple as a short trip.

"I will show you the map to this place later, my son, but it should take about four days of normal travel to get there."

He looked hesitant.

"But Estel, you have to remember to be careful, these people are unlike anyone you've ever had much contact with, they will kill you before they allow you carry their secrets away, from what I've gathered, they aren't exactly the friendly type of folk, or anything even remotely close to that. you must play the part of a normal human convincing"

Elrond was already worrying.

Aragorn was still smiling, he couldn't pass this up, "are you saying that I'm not a normal human, Ada?

A smile touched Elrond's eye's, "No, Estel, you're so much more.

And I will worry every day until you are safe beneath my roof once more"

Aragorn stood, Elrond stood too

"Ada I'm no longer a child, you don't have to worry.

I should go get ready"

Elrond embraced him, surprising his son slightly

"you are still very young, my son. Please be safe"

Aragorn hugged his father back. trying to act irritated, but failing. right now it didn't even matter.

His father was letting him go alone! For the first time!

Stop it-, he told himself, He had to act like a mature adult.

He pulled away

"I love you Ada, I wont let you down.

Elrond let go of his child. "You never let me down, Estel."

"I need to go pack."

Estel turned and was leaving the room

"you're not going to send Dan and Ro after me are you?"

he slowed his step.

Elrond sat back down in his chair searching the desk for things that needed to be opened and read, He didn't have to search long. His eyes lighted on a letter from Mirkwood, it had been a some time since word had come from there, he picked it up.

"If I feel circumstances call for it then yes. I will. you have two week's Estel."

Aragorn turned at the door, standing at the same place Elrond had been not half an hour earlier.

"Alright Ada, but please don't send them out one day before that. Please."

Aragorn's eyes were pleading.

Elrond nodded his answer.

"Worry not, Estel. go get ready."

Estel stepped out of the room, he spoke quietly, but he knew his father could hear him,

"And twenty-one is not young, in the eyes of my race, I'm a full grown man. "

He smiled slightly when he heard his father chuckle as he walked down the hallway, making his way toward his room, He still had a long night ahead of him, but he was excited.

TBC