SUMMARY: Aragorn finds himself alone in the woods and blind. He is found by Elladan and Elrohir and returned to Rivendell. He delves deeper into torment at thinking he will lose his place as Captain of the Rangers and lose Arwen. But he can do much more with his disability, and discovers who betrayed him to the Orcs in the first place...

DISCLAIMER: All characters are created by J.R.R.Tolkien, not myself, so I do not own them... (Though I wouldn't mind owning Aragorn:P)

AUTHOR NOTES: Hey, guys! I've written a few fanfix now and this one is presently incomplete, but I hope you like it when it's done! Reviews are fully appreciated!! Thankies!!

Blind Hatred.

Chapter 1

Footsteps. A heartbeat. Aragorn knew he had opened his eyes. But why was it that he remained in darkness? His heart beat had grown stronger with the passing moments. Each sound that touched his ears was far more surpassing than he had imagined. Finally finding the strength in himself to sit up, Aragorn forced his arms behind him to help himself up, yet his shoulders were stiff and painful. He felt around, hoping that night had befallen him. The rough bark of a tree brushed his fingertips, and dewy grass soaked through his mud-splattered trousers. He rubbed his eyes, hoping that he would ease the darkness but did not prevail.

He sniffed. The air didn't smell that of fresh night time moisture, but of a dry yet cold morning. His heart beginning to race, Aragorn fearfully felt his face. No cloth covered his eyes. So why couldn't he see? Something had dried to his chiselled cheeks. Balancing himself with the tree, he cautiously took a step forward. He held onto each tree he passed, Anduril in his other hand. He surely couldn't have been far from home. He had only been hunting venison to feed himself while he journeyed back to Rivendell. However his journey seemed to take longer and the air about the place was far from comforting.

He paused. Footsteps were fast approaching behind him. His heart beat rose again. He tried to steady his breathing. The beings did not smell of Orc, but indeed of something sweeter. As their presence edged closer, Aragorn flailed his sword hand around, hoping to ward off any that neared him. A hand gripped his wrist.

" I bade that you leave me be!" cried Aragorn, fighting to free himself from the grip.

" Strider! Be still, mellon nin. It is Elladan and Elrohir," soothed Elrohir.

" 'Ro? 'Dan? Where are you?"

" Do you not see us, mellon nin? We are beside you," answered Elladan.

" You lie!"

" Aragorn, please. Let us tend to you." Aragorn slid Anduril back into the scabbard on his belt so that it hung from one lean hip. He sighed. Elrohir and Elladan took Aragorn's arms and eased him down into the grass by the tree roots.

" What was your cause for being here, mellon nin?" asked Elrohir as he opened his pack and neatly laid out his herbs on the grass before him.

" I was returning to you. My heart is weary from much toil."

" Toil?" asked Elladan as he started a fire and put a bowl of water over it to boil.

" Foul, stinking Orcs chose to intercept my path. I do not recall every inch of detail, but I do remember minding my own business, my bow and arrow ready in arms to catch venison for supper. It was as if they came from nowhere."

Flashback

A certain drug induced headache had fallen upon his mind, making his eyes feel heavy and sore. His shoulders had cramped. When he finally felt like he could open his eyes, Aragorn looked down at his ankles which had been tightly bound with rope. He knew then that his wrists were too. He looked around the dank chamber in which he sat in, where only a small glow from the moonlight cast itself on the cold stone floor in which he sat. He dared not speak. He simply rested the back of his head against the wall, his long dark hair glistening with cold sweat. He closed his eyes, hoping that he could will away his headache.

The door crashed open and an Orc stepped inside, its knife held in two hands. Aragorn looked straight up at it, his heart beat racing. It crouched down before him and tied a dirty rag between his teeth. Aragorn fought against his bonds and tried to push the gag from his mouth with his tongue. The Orc pinned him against the wall and fished into its pockets…

End of flashback

Elladan could not move for the shock burdening him in the moment. Elrohir took Aragorn's hands and grimly crushed two Athelas leaves between them and dropped them into the bowl of hot water. The leaves automatically cast a refreshing scent that lightened the hearts of the Elves and the Ranger. Aragorn felt for Elrohir's arm and curled his fingers around his tunic sleeve. Elrohir looked down at Aragorn's bloody hand, then up at the sorrowful features of a Man who had aged terribly since he had last been seen by his Ada and brothers.

" How is your sight now, mellon nin?" asked Elrohir, searching Aragorn's eyes. He soaked a cloth in the Athelas water and gently dabbed Aragorn's eyes.

" It is frightful to say that there is none."

" We will have to take you to Ada. He will know what to do." Asking Aragorn to hold the cloth over his right eye, Elrohir took another cloth and soaked it in the water. He pressed it against his left eye. Elladan tied a bandage over the Athelas-soaked cloths.

" We must tend to those wounds on your wrists, then we will have to properly examine you. How long is it since you bathed?"

" A week, perhaps. I smell of Orc blood."

" As soon as I've examined you, we will get you straight home to Ada. Then you can bathe for as long as you wish!" Aragorn gripped tighter to Elrohir's tunic, " What ails you, mellon nin?"

" Arwen! I will not be able to see my sweet Evenstar!" Elrohir caringly held Aragorn's fingers.

" Let Ada do what he does best, then we can determine your sight." Aragorn nodded.

" I am tired, 'Ro. Let us be quick for I need to rest." Aragorn closed his eyes as Elrohir gently rubbed honey into his wounds.

Besides some bruising on his ribs and a wound to his side, Aragorn had no life-threatening injuries. Elladan and Elrohir carefully eased the Ranger to his feet. Elladan gathered the herbs and bowl back into his pack. Elrohir placed Aragorn's hands on his shoulders.

" I need you to keep your hold on me. Rivendell is little more than a few hours away. Be careful not to tread in my heels!" Aragorn let out a stiffened laugh. It took careful steps to ensure that Elrohir did not lose his suede shoes.