Heya! I'm back with another full chapter! I promise the journey is about to start soon, but not just yet!

-Nescit Cedere-

I waited as the man undid the bandage.

"You may look now." he told me and I slowly opened my eyes in slits. The moonlight stung and I snapped my eyes closed again. "Is everything well?"

"The moonlight hurts." I answered.

"That is good. Your eyes were not as injured as I thought." My eyes soon became accustomed to the light and I was able to see the man for the first time. He had shoulder length black hair, bright blue eyes, and a bit of stubble. He sort of resembled my Ada. He was definitely a Ranger by the looks of him.

"Thank-you." I bowed my head once again, my vision still a bit blurred and dark. "I do have a question though." He tilted his head.

"What is it?"

"Who are you and what were you doing near Mordor?" I have been wanting to ask that for some time now.

"I was given the name Aradorn." I blinked.

"Aradorn?" His name was close to my Ada's and my Fathers' before him.

"Aye. Now come," He stood and extended a hand to me, which I took. That was when I noticed his ears.

"You are an Elf!"

"Half-Elf." He corrected.

"That means you were given the choice between-"

"-Mortality and immortality." He nodded. "I have yet to decide. Come, we must ride to Gondor."

"Home...How long has it been?" I murmured, looking to the east where the White City seemed to glow in the moonlight.

"Two weeks or so." Aradorn replied and I looked to him, startled.

"I left on the eighth of March..."

"It is the first of April." He said and my eyes widened in shock.

"What?! Oh...They must be worried!" I began to pace back and forth.

"That is why we should leave now. We could reach Gondor near mid-morning if we ride without rest." he called for his horse and mounted, holding his hand down to me. I took it and he lifted me up behind him.

"Will you stay once we arrive? I am certain my Father will want to thank you."

"I cannot. I owed your Father a debt. This will be my way of repaying him for all he has done for me."

"You knew my Father?"

"Aye. I knew him well. I followed him to Mordor and was there when Sauron fell. He saved my life and paid for it." the man sadly said.

"What do you mean?"

"He lost someone dear to him when he rescued me from the blasted troll. Halbarad also."

"Halbarad still lives." I told him and the Ranger perked up.

"Halbarad lives?"

"Yes. Father brought him back from the Halls after he healed Uncle Faramir."

"Thank the Valar..." a smile graced his lips and I was struck by how much he resembled my Father. It made me think...


-Nescit Cedere-

Aragorn slumped back against his throne. It had been a long, dreary, day. The rain continued to fall as thunder rumbled in the distance. He had just held council with the realms surrounding Gondor to create a new treaty. It had been four long hours listening to men ramble on about whatever they had in mind and all the King wanted to do was to retire for the day but the council was still in session. Suppressing a groan, Aragorn straightened and pretended to be paying attention to whoever was speaking when the doors suddenly flew open and two small blurs sped through the room and leaped into his lap.

"Ada! Ada!" Two small voice giggled, wrapping their little arms around him as best they could. The council silenced and watched the two with wide eyes.

"Eldarion? Elrudan? What are you doing?" Aragorn quirked an eyebrow at his youngest sons who gazed up at him with bright eyes.

"Glorfy chasin' us!" Elrudan squeaked and said Elf came running into the room with Erestor close behind.

"You insufferable twats! I thought Elladan and Elrohir were terrible..." Glorfindel shook his head, heading for Aragorn.

"Ada! Save us!" Elrudan giggled, pressing closer to his Ada's side. Aragorn gave them a look of mock fear.

"I would not dare! The Balrog Slayer is too powerful for your Ada!" Glorfindel smiled, gliding over to where they sat.

"Ah! Ada, he comin' closuh!" Elrudan squeaked and attempted to bolt when Aragorn snatched him up, throwing him into the air before catching up.

"Oh no, Elrudan has been taken by a Balrog! Whatever will he do?" Aragorn smiled as he listened to his child's shrieks of laughter.

"Glowfy!" Eldarion laughed as he clung to his Ada's leg.

"Do not fear, little Elessar, for I, Glorfindel of Gondolin shall slay this poor excuse of a Balrog!" Glorfindel grinned widely as he pretended to slay Aragorn, who staggered back and dropped Elrudan into the Elf's arms.

"Ai, I have been wounded!" Aragorn gasped. "I fear I must retreat!" His children laughed and clapped their hands together with glee.

"Westor, Glowfy misbehavin!" Elrudan suddenly said and Glorfinde raised an eyebrow at the child.

"Indeed he is, child. Interrupting an important council-"

"I interrupted the Council?" Glorfindel incredulously looked to Elrudan. "I do believe the two of you were the ones who barged into the Council when they were supposed to be napping!"

"Is that so?" Aragorn asked his children.

"No nap!" Elrudan firmly stated and Eldarion shook his head in agreement, earning a sigh from their Ada.

"Whatever will I do with you?" The doors burst open once again and a winded Legolas entered.

"Aragorn!"

"Legolas?" Aragorn whipped around at the urgency in his friend's tone, noting his disheveled appearance.

"Orcs on the Western Border!"

"How many?" Aragorn asked.

"More than three hundred."

"Three hundred?!" Council Members gasped.

"We have done all that we could, but we do not have enough warriors." Legolas panted.

"Faramir," Aragorn looked to his steward who instantly knew what he wanted him to do. Faramir bowed and left at once to gather the army. Glorfindel and Erestor shared a look. They would not be missing out on this battle. Estel entered the room closely followed by Thranduin and Arathorn.

"Ada? We heard there were Orcs..."

"There are." Aragorn nodded. "But what would three hundred Orcs be doing this close to Gondor?" he wondered aloud.

"There is no telling." Glorfindel shrugged, hand on his blade. Elrudan and Eldarion looked around in confusion and excitement. Something was happening! Thranduil then strode into the room, already prepared for battle with Elrohir beside him.

"There are two hundred more approaching from the west." Thranduil informed them.

"That makes five-hundred total." Elrohir murmured.

"We have two hundred Elven soldiers," Legolas said.

"Gondor has only two hundred to spare." Aragorn whispered.

"Four hundred against five hundred?"

"Our men are willing to fight." The Rohirrim leader spoke up. "I have fifty men with me."

"And you have the Rangers as well." Halbarad strode in.

"Halbarad!" Aragorn spared a moment to embrace his cousin. "When did you arrive?"

"A few moments ago." Halbarad answered. "But the Rangers are always ready to fight."

"How many?"

"Seventy-five." Halbarad said.

"That would make five hundred twenty-five against five hundred, including us, five-hundred thirty-one." Elrohir nodded. "The Orcs stand no chance."

"Ada, may we come?" Estel asked, raising hopeful eyes to meet Aragorn's, who hesitated.

"Estel..." Knowing his son would not back down, Aragorn relented. "Very well, but you must stay close to me."

"We will." Estel gave a small smile, but it did not reach his eyes.


-Nescit Cedere-

Elrond sighed as he seated himself by the ocean side, dipping his hand into the water. He knew there was something terribly wrong in Arda but could not discover what and he was too far away to do anything to help. He could only hope that his children and grandchildren would be safe. He had done much research on this Ancient Magic he had sensed but could find nothing. He had a feeling it was linked to an event in the past, but which one?

"Elrond!" Celebrian appeared, running towards him down the seaside, waving her arm in the air. Once she reached him, she plopped down onto the ground beside him. "This is where you have been!"

"Celebrian?"

"I have been searching for you everywhere! Ada found me and said that you were troubled. Is everything all right?" She inquired, brow furrowed in concern. Elrond shook his head, knowing he could not fool his wife by lying.

"I fear for Arda, meleth-nin." Elrond admitted. "I fear for Arwen and Aragorn as well as the children."

"Have you seen anything?" Celebrian asked.

"A great battle between Orcs, Men, and Elves." Elrond answered. "Aragorn was leading the army against the Orcs with Thranduil, Legolas, Glorfindel, and Erestor by his side."

"Then all should be well if Glorfindel, Erestor, and Thranduil are with him..." Elrond exhaled shakily.

"So I thought as well." He murmured, closing his eyes as the memories of the recent vision came to mind.

"Elrond? What is it? What did you see?"


Aragorn gazed down into the mass of Orcs in the valley below them. "It was said to be five hundred." He looked to Glorfindel.

"Either the scouts do not know how to count or the Orcs have received reinforcements." Glorfindel murmured.

"There are seven hundred!" Elrohir breathed in disbelief. Arathorn looked to his father, worry in his eyes.

"Five hundred is not enough." He said.

"Tis Helm's Deep all over again." Legolas muttered,

"Only there were ten thousand Orcs and three hundred men." Aragorn reminded his friend. "If it weren't for the Elves and Eomer, we would have fallen."

"It would be a miracle if-" Estel began but was cut off as Faramir abruptly appeared beside his Father.

"My cousin sends two hundred of her men as well as fifty Dunedain. They are to arrive in less than an hour." he reported and Aragorn gave a sigh of relief.

"As always, Inness has come to our aid."

"I do not understand how she does it but thankfully she was Imrahil's heir." Faramir shook his head before his attention was caught by something in the distance. "Aragorn, unless I am mistaken, I do believe the Orcs have brought trolls."

"Trolls?!" Aragorn and the Elves looked up. The Orcs were indeed accompanied by trolls.

"I suppose it could be worse." Glorfindel muttered.

"It is worse." Erestor deadpanned and Glorfindel shot him a glare. "Look." The Counselor pointed into the distance. Aragorn looked but could not see what the dark elf was pointing at.

"Valar, are those-"

"The Rimodyl." Thranduil scowled in disgust. Aragorn snapped his head towards the Elvenking.

"Rimodyl..." He may have been young at the time, but Aragorn remembered very well what those creatures were. Legolas growled, his hatred towards the Rimodyl was strong.

"At least tell me there are no spiders." Thranduin said.

"Thankfully, no." Legolas told him. A horn sounded in the distance and their attention was returned to the orcs.

"They are charging." Glorfindel announced.

"And we are ready." Aragorn stated, raising his hand, Thranduil mimicking the gesture. The Elves and Men prepared themselves for the order.


"Rimodyl? Are you certain, Elrond?" Celebrian asked, gazing intensely at her husband, who nodded.

"The Rimodyl were there, though they were few in number." Elrond said.

"That was not the only thing."

"No."


Aragorn swung Narsil skillfully as he fought against the Orcs that challenged him. Estel and Arathorn fought nearest him with Glorfindel and Erestor flanking the two. Thranduil and the army of Elves had spread throughout the field and were attacking from all sides with the Dunedain aiding them. All were united beneath Aragorn's command and fought fiercely against the fell creatures.

"There are more coming!" Arathorn breathed in disbelief, raising an arm to wipe the perspiration from his forehead. Aragorn frowned deeply, looking to see the trolls were getting closer.

"Arathorn, Estel, to me!" he ordered his children, who quickly forced their way through to him.

"If we can only-" Elrohir began when a sudden cry rang out,

"GLORFINDEL!" Erestor.

Aragorn whipped around to see Glorfindel flail through the air and crash into the ground not to far from him, violently bouncing off the ground before falling once again. There he lay, motionless. Erestor gave a cry of dismay and fiercely fought his way through the opposing Orcs that dared cross his path to Glorfindel, Aragorn following close behind.

"Ada!" Estel suddenly lunged and knocked Aragorn aside, ducking in time as a troll swung its large mace downwards above them. The troll growled and came towards them, Aragorn struggling to stand as his son scrambled to his feet. A lithe Elf landed before them, broadsword unsheathed and ready.

"Go to Glorfindel, Elessar, I will deal with the troll." Thranduil told him and Aragorn nodded his thanks, swiftly making his way to Glorfindel. He watched as Thranduil charged the beast, lunging into the air and bringing his blade down across the trolls chest. The troll snarled and attempted to strike the Elvenking, but Thranduil easily ducked and rolled, slashing at the trolls knees and bringing it down, where he finished it off by plunging his sword into its head. The troll was dead in an instant and the King was immediately attacking another. By the time Aragorn was at Glorfindel's side, Estel protecting him from behind, Erestor had already reached him and had rolled the Balrog Slayer onto his back. Aragorn hissed in sympathy and dismay. The Golden Elf bore a deep wound across his chest, no doubt caused by one of the Rimodyl and was bleeding rather heavily. Glorfindel was still conscious and clenching his teeth together, eyes tightly shut against the pain, his breathing shallow and ragged.

"Arathorn, go to Uncle Faramir." Estel whispered to his brother and the two shared a brief hug before Arathorn bounded away across the battlefield, glancing over his shoulder one last time to ensure they were safe. Legolas appeared and the two were off to Faramir.

"Archers!" Legolas cried and the Elves released their arrows, killing many Orcs instantly. Aragorn worked hastily but carefully, making sure he was not harming Glorfindel in any way. "ADA!" Legolas suddenly exclaimed and faster than the eye could see, had notched an arrow and let it loose, watching as it flew straight and true into the heart of a rather large Orc that was about to stab the Elvenking from behind. Thranduil whipped around in surprise, eyes locking onto those of his son's. Legolas gave an audible sigh of relief and briefly smiled, one Thranduil returned before returning to battle.

"Uncle!" Arathorn whirled around and caught Legolas's arm in horror.

"Child! What is it, tithen pen?" Legolas inquired, noticing the expression of raw fear in Arathorn's eyes.

"Ada!" Arathorn pointed and Legolas turned to see a Rimodyl approaching his friend, Erestor, and Glorfindel.

"We are too far away!" Legolas breathed in horror, looking round to see who he could call to. There was no one. Halbarad was fighting his way towards Aragorn but he would not be able to reach him. "ARAGORN!"


Elrond was silent for a moment, Celebrian watching him with increasing concern.

"What is it, Elrond?" She asked, leaning closer and shaking his arm gently when he refused to answer. "What did you see, Elrond?"


Aragorn pursed his lips. "I cannot heal him here." He informed Erestor who curtly nodded.

"We will have to wait until the Orcs retreat." the Elf narrowed his eyes, hands suddenly flying toward his blades but Glorfindel beat him to it. He suddenly jerked his arm forward, pulling Aragorn down and raising his blade, slicing through a Rimodyl's head. The Rimodyl that had been stealthily approaching the oblivious King of Gondor shrieked in pain and leaped back. Glorfindel grunted in pain and fell back onto the ground, sword falling from his hand and onto the ground. Erestor snapped his eyes towards the Balrog Slayer, worry evident within the piercing violet orbs. "Fool! Stay still or I will take matters into my own hand!" Erestor threatened. Glorfindel rolled his eyes.

"What can you do?" Erestor scowled.

"You do not want to know." Aragorn could hear the Rimodyl returning and stood at once, gripping the hilt of Narsil tightly within his grasp and turned to face the beast. He lunged, catching the Rimodyl off guard. He and the Rimodyl fought fiercely, the Rimodyl lashing its claws and tail out to strike the man and Aragorn skillfully parrying each blow and delivering several of his own, nicking the beast from time to time. The beast became agitated and roared in frustration and building anger, abruptly lunging forward, jaws agape. Aragorn sidestepped and brought his blade down onto the Rimodyl's neck, leaving a deep gash. The Rimodyl flinched back and twirled around, tail flinging dangerously in the air. Aragorn stumbled and leaned back, watching as the tail covered with sharp, jagged, spikes passed over him, merely centimeters from his chest.

"Aragorn!" Legolas shouted, trying to reach his friend, Arathorn staggering beside the Prince. Aragorn's brow furrowed as he faced the wounded Rimodyl. Its attention had been turned to its gaping wound in its shoulder, giving Aragorn the perfect chance to attack. He made to charge and finish the beast when excruciating pain exploded in his shoulder. Aragorn stumbled back in surprise, looking down to see a black arrow coated with a dark liquid embedded in his shoulder.

"NO!" Arathorn yelled, shoving any in his way aside. Estel, having heard his brother's cry, turned in time to see his father keel forward with a gasp. He felt his heart drop and blood freeze as Aragorn fell to his knees, a thicker arrow deep in his stomach. Aragorn bit his lip, forcing himself to stand and take one last swing at the Rimodyl that had once again lunged forward to finish him off. His sword decapitated the beast, the head flying into an Orc nearby. Aragorn panted heavily, ignoring the pain in his chest and shoulder. He knew his wounds needed attention at once but there was no way he could have them seen to.

His brief moment of distraction, Aragorn suddenly realized, would be his downfall.

While he had been focusing on his wounds, searching for his sons and friends, he had been unaware of another creature approaching from behind until it struck. Aragorn felt the teeth sink into his shoulder and back, lifting him from the ground and forcefully throwing him into the ground, the arrows snapping on impact and burying themselves further into the man. Aragorn screamed in agony as the creature placed its large foot against his chest, pushing the arrows in further. Arathorn and Estel watched with tears blurring their vision as they screamed and yelled, fighting even harder than before and pleading with the Valar to allow them to reach him in time. Thranduil, Erestor, and Glorfindel watched with dread, the Elvenking sprinting towards the large Rimodyl that had pinned Aragorn beneath it. Legolas, Faramir, and Halbarad attacked another Rimodyl that stood in their way. Aragorn gripped his dagger and stabbed the foot of the Rimodyl, who lifted its foot with a hiss. Aragorn rolled over and stood as fast as he could, jumping out of the Rimodyl's way.

He felt a sharp tug at his heart. His sons were in danger.

Aragorn looked to see Estel in the grasp of a troll, Arathorn doing the best he could to rescue his brother, expression full of fear and horror but disguised it with a look of wild determination as he attacked the troll. Estel yelped as the troll tightened its grip, crushing his ribs and arms. Thranduil slayed the Rimodyl that would have followed Aragorn then looked to see Aragorn charging the troll holding Estel.

"Aragorn, no!" The Elf shouted, chasing after the man, hoping that he would be able to reach him before he did anything rash. The troll bent down and reached for Arathorn, snatching the fourteen year old. Arathorn panicked, staring wide eyed at the troll who had opened its mouth and was raising Estel towards it. Arathorn kicked and struggled, tears streaming down his face, speaking rapidly in Sindarin. Estel looked to his brother.

"Do not give up, Arathorn! Everything will be well!" he attempted to ease his brother's fears but Arathorn furiously shook his head, incoherently continuing on his rant in Sindarin. A familiar battle cry filled the air as Aragorn tackled the troll from behind. The troll became unbalanced and fell onto the grass, shaking the ground. Estel rolled out of the trolls grasp, coughing as he inhaled the dirt that blew into his face, searching for his brother. "Arathorn!"

"Estel!" Estel clenched his teeth as his ribs throbbed, his body feeling numb as he forced himself to crawl to his brother, pulling the shaken fourteen year old against him as they watched Aragorn violently finish the troll, that had regained its footing. The troll fell limply to the ground. No one had noticed the calm that eerily settled over the battlefield as all eyed were drawn to the royal family of Gondor. Aragorn slowly stood from where he knelt and looked to see his sons safe and sound. He tried to approach them when he pitched forward, eyes silently communicating to his sons as he collapsed, never to rise again. Estel and Arathorn paid no one any attention, focused only on their Ada, refusing to believe what they had just seen, but they knew deep within their heart...

"No..." Arathorn stammered. "No...No,no,no,no...ADAAAA!" His voice echoed over the field, piercing the very soul of every being on it.

Aragorn lay on the ground, motionless and pale.


Elrond slowly raised his head, facing his wife, eyes swirling with pain and immense sorrow, a haunted look etched into his features.

"I saw Aragorn fall."


Woo hoo! Another chapter finished and more to come! I know its been a bit gloomy, but it'll brighten up soon!