Chapter 2
Lord Elrond had taken to the gardens to ease his troubled mind. For days he had been suffering nightmares that his adopted son, Aragorn, would not return from the wilderness any time soon. He folded his hands in the sleeves of his robes and closed his eyes, allowing the pine-scented breeze blow against his face and through his long dark hair. His eyes snapped open at the sound of approaching voices. Elladan and Elrohir strode towards him, their dark hair flowing against the breeze. Behind them, followed Aragorn. Lord Elrond moved forward to greet them.
" Elladan. Elrohir. Where have you been?" His eyes fell upon the blindfolded Man.
" Is that? No. It can't be. Estel?" Aragorn's head snapped up at the sound of the voice.
" Ada? Is that you?"
" Estel, ion-nin! How fares you?" He wrapped his arms around Aragorn in a fatherly fashion. Aragorn buried his face into his father's shoulder and sniffed his hair. Lord Elrond pulled back and looked at him, holding onto his drawn shoulders, " Estel? What happened to your eyes?"
" Ada, I do not know from which direction you speak. I cannot tell you the colour of the sky, nor the colour of the sky before now."
" Why is it he is blindfolded, Elrohir?" Elrohir looked uncertain.
" It binds Athelas-soaked cloths to his eyes." Lord Elrond looked grim. He moved behind Aragorn who frantically whipped his head around to determine where his father had gone, and rested his hands on his shoulders. Lord Elrond took a step, accidentally catching the back of Aragorn's boots. Aragorn hissed in pain.
" I am sorry, ion-nin. Let's get you to your chamber so that I can take a look at your eyes. Now follow exactly as I say: Left foot forward." After a little confusion, Aragorn's and Lord Elrond's steps were in sync with each other.
Flashback
Aragorn curled up tight and sobbing quietly. His body shuddered with the cold and terror. His body ached with every beating he received. His chest heaved as he struggled to breathe. The footsteps and laughter had died out, leaving him alone, bound and gagged in the darkness. As his sobs ceased, he opened his eyes to look around to try and figure a way out. And it was then he discovered that it was incredibly dark, yet he could feel the light of dawn spilling onto his back and his eyes stung. It was then that his breathing rate increased…
End of Flashback
Lord Elrond gently lay Aragorn on his bed where the Ranger automatically sunk into the pillows. Lord Elrond reached over and began undoing the knot holding the bandage. The bandage fell on the pillow beside Aragorn's head. He carefully picked the Athelas-soaked cloths from his eyes.
" Open your eyes, ion-nin." Aragorn slowly opened his eyes, " How is your sight?"
" I see nothing, Ada!" Aragorn sat up and grabbed at anything he could, " Please do not say that I am blind!!" His hands clasped Lord Elrond's sleeves as he tried to ease the frustrated Ranger back down. Aragorn twisted his face in anguish, " I wish to see my fair lady, Arwen! Ada, I'm scared. I fear I will not see anyone anymore. I do not want to stop being a Ranger!" He buried his face in Lord Elrond's burgundy and gold robes, his body shaking with his wracked sobs. Lord Elrond gently rubbed his back in circles, causing the Ranger to stiffen a little.
" Estel?"
" It is nothing, Ada," replied Aragorn, wiping tears away from his eyes.
" Do not lie to me, Estel. Something troubles you."
" Please, Ada. 'Tis just bruising." Lord Elrond leaned closer to him.
" You are wheezing, ion-nin." Lord Elrond gently pulled back Aragorn's jacket and tunic to reveal black and purple bruising all over his ribs. He delicately ran his fingers down Aragorn's ribs, causing him to squirm in pain.
" Ada, please, stop. It hurts too much."
" I fear your ribs are broken. Elrohir!" He turned to Elrohir, " Fetch me some Marigold salve and some bandages if you will." Elrohir turned and left the room at a light jog, barely audible on the wooden floors. Lord Elrond soaked a cloth in a bowl of warm water and placed it over Aragorn's forehead. Aragorn shivered. Lord Elrond ran the back of his fingers down Aragorn's clammy cheek.
" Be still, ion-nin. You are safe now." Elrohir returned with some Marigold salve and bandages. Elladan moved beside Lord Elrond and took one of Aragorn's bandaged hands into his own. Elrohir carefully laid the items on the bed beside Aragorn's hips and took his other hand, kneeling down so that he was the same height as Elladan who was also crouched. Lord Elrond rubbed some of the salve into Aragorn's ribs, causing him to writhe in agony, clenching his jaw as he tensed beneath the tight grip of the Elves who restrained him. As soon as the Ranger had calmed, Lord Elrond began to gently wrap the bandages around his torso. Aragorn's eyes fell closed.
" I want to see Arwen," mumbled Aragorn as sleep took him.
" You will see her, son." Lord Elrond looked at Elladan and Elrohir. Lord Elrond came to his feet and went to the door, looking back at the sleeping Man and signalling Elladan and Elrohir to follow him. They followed him out and Lord Elrond quietly pulled the door shut a little.
" You don't think he will see again, do you, Ada?" asked Elrohir. Lord Elrond grimly shook his head.
" It looks like he has been blinded by Orc poison. I couldn't say what."
" This will crush him. You know that," replied Elladan, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
" I know, ion-nin. But once a Man has been blinded, there is nothing more can be done for him. Even Elvish medicine cannot work." Elrohir and Elladan looked crestfallen, " I am sorry. I desperately want to do more for him. I want him to be able to see again but I am afraid that it isn't in my power to help him. Not for this."
" It will destroy being part of the Rangers. As much as he loves it here in Rivendell, he does not want to reside here for the rest of his days. You know Estel. He cannot stay here for more than a week before he's disappeared into the wilderness again!" sighed Elrohir. Lord Elrond looked crafty.
" Not entirely, ion-nin. Aragorn may be blind, but do not forget that a blind Man's senses are sharpened. He would not be totally useless."
" You think he can be trained to fight blind with his sword?" asked Elladan.
" Yes. And he would make the perfect tracker." The twin Elves looked at their father and soon they were thinking on the same wavelengths.
