Mae govannen, Nosterineth! I am sorry for the long wait, but here it is... enjoy!
For all the others (and I know you are there, thanks to stats, har har): I´m down to shameless begging. Please do not only read but review as well...!! It really means a lot to us writers, so don´t be shy... ;)
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Chapter 4: Trust
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When the evening approached, everyone gathered in the Hall of Fire.
All the candles had been lit, and the tables as well as the ceiling were decorated with bunches of different greens, like holly and fir.
A golden shimmer lay on these, sparkling in the candlelight.
--
There was a lot of singing and storytelling in this longest night of winter, and the food was delicious.
The twins joined Aragorn and Legolas, bearing a bottle of fine wine.
--
When the general merriness had become somewhat quieter, Elrond beckoned the four of them to follow him to a quiet corner.
There they settled down in a circle, and the Elf-lord looked at each of them: "Happy Yule to all of you", he said fondly.
"Now comes my favorite part of this blessed night", he added, somewhat mischievously. "Let me see what we have got here..."
From under his chair he pulled out a large basket. His sons looked at each other, smirking, for they knew what was to come.
.
Elrond reached into the basket, pulled out a present and read its label: "For Ada, from Elladan and Elrohir. Alas! I seem to be lucky this year!"
The others snickered: "You seem to be lucky every year, Ada", Elladan said good-humouredly.
--
Smiling, Aragorn watched his father unwrap the present; this was mending his heart more than he was aware of.
Elrond had meanwhile found a book in the wrapping: "The Tales of Elrond?"
"We have collected the tales that you have told us when we were little", Elrohir explained.
"Including the one where the wee Elven twins got eaten by a troll because they never listened to their father and went into the woods alone", Elladan added.
They all laughed.
.
"Did I really do that?", Elrond asked doubtfully.
The twins nodded vigorously.
Their father could not help but grin. He opened the book and leafed through it, marvelling at the amount of work the twins had put in it.
Then it was their turn.
.
Elladan fished out one package: "For Elrohir from Legolas", he read.
Elrohir opened it eagerly, finding a delicately crafted quiver with a set of fine arrows.
"I would love to try them at once", he said dreamily, but his twin nudged him: "It is your turn now."
So he pulled one out and read: "For Estel, from Elladan and Elrohir."
Estel blushed: "But- I do not have any presents for you", he said, slightly embarassed.
Elladan grinned: "Do you think that could have kept us?, he asked.
"You have already given us the best present ever, just because you are here tonight.", Elrohir added. " You could have worn some nice ribbons, though."
.
The others laughed, while Aragorn blushed even more.
He did not like to be in the centre of attention, and he did not like to be treated special. Though in this case he knew it was different, and that they really meant what they said.
.
"Go on, open it", Elladan urged him now.
Still feeling very red, Aragorn unwrapped the present.
It was a book as well: "Tales of Elladan and Elrohir.", he read and turned to the next page: "The story of a little boy who got eaten by a troll because he never listened to his older brothers."
It was silent for a moment, then the others exploded with laughter.
Elrond wiped his eyes: "I never knew", he gasped, "poor Estel!"
"In there you will also find Why little humans cannot walk on snow- the truth", Elladan said, causing a new roar of laughter.
--
After all the presents had been unwrapped, they still stayed together for a while, talking and laughing.
Then one of the other elves beckoned the twins over, as a new round of storytelling was about to begin and they were supposed to take part.
Elrond and Legolas got up as well, wishing to listen, only Aragorn remained seated in the corner, as he felt tired now.
--
He leaned back and listened, the merry voices lulling him in.
He had not noticed that he had closed his eyes until someone touched his shoulder: "Wake up, sleepyhead", a cheerful voice said.
It was Legolas, who smiled down on Aragorn and held out a hand: "Come. There is something I would like to show you."
Blinking drowsily, Aragorn took the elf´s hand and let him take the lead.
--
They went to Aragorn´s room, but Legolas did not allow his friend to lie down on the bed: "We are just stopping here to get you a blanket."
"Stopping? Where are we going then? And why do I need a blanket?"
Legolas did not answer, only laid a blanket around Aragorn´s shoulders and took him by the hand again.
--
They went outside; the air was crisp and clear, if cold.
Aragorn huddled into the blanket and followed Legolas over to the stable.
In there it was quite warm and cosy.
Legolas lit a lamp, for he knew Aragorn could not see in the dark, and went to his horse´s box. It was dozing, but lifted its head when its master approached.
--
Aragorn was surprised to see it was Alba. "You still have her?", he asked.
"Still?" Legolas sounded amused. "She is a direct descendant of Shadowfax. For her, time measures differently, just like for me."
.
Aragorn nodded, somewhere in the back of his mind he had known this. He slowly reached out to let Alba nuzzle his hand. "You are a fine horse", he said in a low voice, caressing her.
Legolas watched him, smiling: "I have brought you here because my present for you would not have fitted into that basket."
.
His smile even deepened due to his friend´s puzzled expression.
"Close your eyes.", he said.
Aragorn hesitated, but knew that he could trust Legolas and therefore did as he was asked.
Legolas opened the box and led Aragorn inside. He could feel the warmth that Alba gave. Legolas took his hand and guided it to the horse´s belly.
After a moment, Aragorn could feel a faint movement underneath the soft fur.
.
He opened his eyes: "A foal?", he asked quietly, marvelling at the new life benath his fingers.
Legolas nodded, his eyes glinting: "It is due in late february. And I would like for it to be yours."
Aragorn stared at him: "Legolas, no! I could not take such a gift from you!"
"Yes, you could. And you should. You shall, indeed. You are one of the few people whom I consider worthy of it."
.
Legolas saw the insecurity in Aragorn´s face and quickly continued: "You have won Alba´s trust before you even knew me and had mine, and I know you will treat her child good. That equally counts."
Aragorn blushed again: "But I cannot stay here until it is old enough to get used to a rider.", he said, though Legolas knew his defences were weakening already.
"That will not be a problem", he thus said. "You will have enough time to spend with it until you leave; by then it will know you. Alba will stay with it; and when it is old enough, you shall have no difficulty in getting it to trust you. It will remember you, and you are good with horses."
Aragorn looked at him through squinted eyes: "Have you talked to my father about this?"
"Yes. And he agreed to take Alba and her little one in."
His friend smiled weakly. "I am not sure I deserve it", he then said, despair audible in his voice.
.
As if she had sensed it, Alba turned her head to him and gently pressed her nose against his chest. Then she neighed very softly and deep in her throat, just like mares do when they call their foals.
Aragorn stood completely still for a moment, then he laid his hands on her head and leaned his forehead against hers.
"Thank you", he said just as softly.
--
Long after the Yule festivities in the Hall of Fire had ended that night, Aragorn still lay awake, tossing and turning, thinking of Alba´s unborn foal.
The responsibilities it would bring seemed almost unbearable, but on the other hand, it would make a lot of things easier for him out in the woods.
And he would not be alone all the time any longer.
He had forgotten how comforting a horse could be, what a friend. He thought of Turin, his first pony, and suddenly missed him.
Still, he had been a little boy back then, and he had not been the only one in charge.
His self-confidence had been shattered too severely for him to take this easy, and although Alba had expressed her trust in him once more, he did not feel up to the task yet; he was not sure if he ever would.
He had just proven that he had not even been able to look after himself, so how could he provide security for a precious horse like that?
.
It took him a long time to calm down enough to be finally overwhelmed by sleep that night.
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TBC
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