Title: Long Way Home
Author: MusicDreamer
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Aragorn has recently been told of his heritage, and has chosen a life of exile. Far away from home, the human finds himself in a struggle to find himself in a fast paced world. Will Aragorn ever find the road that leads him home?
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or any of the familiar characters. This story is slightly AU in and of the fact that Aragorn is not a ranger before he discovers his heritage. Also I am not a Tolkien expert and probably never will be so forgive any wrong dates or other such errors which you may find.
Part 1
Rain fell heavily down upon a lone traveler walking down the muddy road. His feet sloshed about in the many puddles and his whole person was drenched in rain. His elven cloak did over him some protection from the elements, but even it now dripped with droplets of the rain.
The figure was a tall young man in his early twenties. His hair was jet black and his eyes were grey as the storm clouds in the sky above him. The human's name was Aragorn. Why did that name sound so strange? Because, the man thought to himself, I haven't been called that in my whole life. I've always just been Estel.
Aragorn sighed when he thought about the past few days' events. Everything in his life had been so perfect, and now everything was all wrong. It had all started out so innocently. Aragorn had just celebrated his twenty-first birthday, when Elrond had called him into his study. His adoptive Father had said he had exciting news for him. Exciting was not the word the young man would have chosen. The man pulled his cloak more tightly around his body and let the memories come flooding back.
"Estel, I have some news for you. I think you will find it very exciting."
The young man smiled at his Father and asked, "Really?"
Elrond smiled at the young man in front of him. It was finally safe to tell him the truth. The truth everyone had been forced to hide since he was a child. "Estel, you are the heir to throne of Gondor."
The human asked incredulously, "What? That can't be true."
The elf lord cocked an eyebrow, "It is true Estel. Your father was killed by orcs and to hide you from the evil that would hunt you; we gave you the name Estel. But you are old enough to know the truth now. You are to be the hope of your people."
The young man was stunned. The elf had lied to him all these years? He had been told nothing but lies by everyone around him his entire life! He stood up angrily, "I can't believe you would do this! You lied to me all these years?"
Elrond was shocked. He had not expected the boy to take the news so harshly. His face was lined with an expression of deep hurt and betrayal. Something was really wrong. He soothed, "Estel?"
The man spat, "Don't call me that you liar! At least have the decency to start using my real name."
The elven lord stared into the human's eyes. He was trying not to feel hurt by the boy's words, but he couldn't help it. He had thought the human would find this news to be good, not disturbing and evil. He tried again using the boy's birth name, "Aragorn, what's wrong?"
The human laughed. He was hurt so deeply he wasn't thinking straight. The elf he had always looked upon as a Father had in his eyes betrayed him. His brothers had betrayed him; everyone in the world had betrayed him! Not to mention he was the offspring of one of the evilest creatures to ever walk the face of the earth, and Elrond had the audacity to ask him what was wrong! He was fuming. There were a million thoughts playing in his head. Hadn't the other elves told him these things years ago when he was a child?
"He doesn't love you. Elrond only took you in because he felt obligated."
Aragorn burned with anger. Elrond had come after him when he had run away from the evil elf's words and told him that he was not obligated. He had told him how much he loved his little Estel, and how it would break his heart if he lost him. Lies! All of it lies! He yelled at the top of his lungs, "I hate you, and I hope that I never see you again! You are worse than Feanor and the kin slayers!"
Elrond took a step back. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. It felt like the man had just stabbed him with several sharp knifes directly in the heart. He barely whispered, "Then you will not take the throne."
The human stormed heavily towards the door, "No, I will not! I choose exile, over taking on that heritage. I won't do it. Not now, not ever!"
The elf choked out between tears, "Where are you going?"
Aragorn turned back and gave Elrond the most evil look he had ever seen. So much hatred and betrayal were in those pained eyes. He choked out as he felt hot tears beginning to brim up in his eyes, "Away from you and all the other liars in this place. I do not wish to look upon the faces of you liars ever again. I hate all of you! Every single one of you! You, the twins, Glorfindel, Erestor, and every other elf who ever lied to me! Why didn't you just let the orcs kill me when I was young? It would have saved you so much time and trouble. Besides none of you ever loved me anyway. I'm just another weak pathetic human being to you. And that's all I will ever be!"
With those words spoken the human stormed out of the room slamming the door behind him, leaving a weeping Elrond within the confines of the study walls. He was too worked up to actually try and comfort the boy. The words stung too deep.
The man had run up to his room and packed a satchel with his travel clothes, some herbs, and then slung it upon his back. He then picked up his sword, which he had made himself just the year before. He slid it onto his belt and then walked out the door. The only pieces of his elven heritage he carried with him were Barahir, and his green elven cloak.
Aragorn came out of his thoughts and wept. He felt so alone and betrayed. Everyone in his life had lied to him. Even his own Mother had lied to him. Sweet loving Gilraen had lied to him. That was even more painful than knowing Elrond and the elves had lied to him. The one person he had thought could never tell a lie had told a lie every single day since he was three years old! She had called him a name which held no meaning. She had allowed everyone to hide the truth from him. Why?
Had he ever been told a single truth? The man wished there was a way to know. He did regret blowing up at Elrond, but the elf had lied to him his whole life. What had he expected him to say? "Yes, I would love to be the king of Gondor; taking on the heritage of my ancestors, the despicable creatures that had the chance to destroy the one ring, and who had failed."
He wiped the tears away from his eyes, and realized it was getting late. He needed to stop for a rest. Aragorn took shelter beneath several large trees pulling his cloak tighter about himself. He silently cursed himself for not remembering to have the decency to pack a tent. The first few days he had not needed one, but tonight he did. The hurting human cried himself to sleep with the burning tears streaming down his face into the puddles of water that lay at his feet.