For those of you who were depressed by the last chapter, this one is less depressing...for Elladan and Elrohir.

Chapter 10

It had been a beautiful spring. Elladan and Elrohir had now spent more than a hundred years back in the Valley, their endless quest to hunt Sauron's followers to the last yrch curbed by the years that had passed since their mother had been taken. One too many near death experiences had also helped, and finally their father's obvious grief that would come at losing either of them. Elrond had reinstated them as his heirs, though they had not resumed the duties they had once held.

They had taken, in recently decades, to spending the spring through autumn with the Dúnedain again, adding two more well used swords and bows to the endless fight to keep the north safe from darkness. Then they would return home before the winter snows made travelling, for the men at least, too uncomfortable. It meant that they did not have to beg the good graces of the Dúnedain women, who were only too happy to feed the Noldori princes with what little provisions they had. In the spring, the twins would seek out the settlements most in need of man power and while the men toiled to plant the crops needed to see them through the next winter, the twins would take their places on patrol. It had worked for countless years already and it would continue to work for many more.

That summer was different. The number of dangers had increased in recent years, though that was not unusual. Elladan and Elrohir had taken leave of their father in the spring to journey to the west and north into the Dúnedain lands. They had passed two relatively quiet months guarding the northern reaches in the company of Hanborn's patrol, men they had ridden with before and who accepted them as rather two very well trained rangers, rather than the sons of the High King. It was a blessing for twins at these times, to get away from the trappings of their father's court and think of nothing other than hunting and killing and the protection of those that needed protecting. Their winters were spent as princes, their summers as warriors and they were not quiet about which they preferred.

In June they travelled back south to more inhabited lands and switched to Arathorn's patrol instead, only the third time they would join the young Chieftain's patrol since his father's passing three years before. Arathorn had had a child two summer's past with Gilrain, who was now raising a young boy while her husband took up the mantel of Chieftain. Even the Chieftain patrolled, though less further afield than some of the other men. The twins had come to see Arathorn has a shield brother, one of the few Dúnedain they truly considered a close friend. All of the men were friendly and thankful for the help of the princes, but with Arathorn they simply had the best report.

June passed into July and word came of an yrch band to the north-east, nearer to the mountains then they usually worried about. If the yrch went south they would encounter the defenses of the last elven kingdom west of the mountains and if they attempted to come further west into the Angle they would be hard pressed to get further than the first patrol. So far, they seemed to be harrying only the outermost patrols and so Elladan and Elrohir set out with Arathorn's company to stop them. They numbered twenty strong with the company of the outer patrol, and that would be enough – they thought – for even a large band of yrch. The largest yet had been but fifty strong, easy pickings for a company of well trained rangers and two elven lords.

This party was no larger, but the outer patrol was found dead and that limited their numbers, though not severely. This yrch pack was different though, the twins worried. They spoke their fears to Arathorn, worrying that some measure of foresight precluded no direct attack. But the party were making west towards the nearest settlements and had to be stopped.

They had won countless battles against yrch and lost, admittedly, few rangers in recent years. This should have been no different. But the yrch were better trained, or perhaps more organized, than usual, and two battles later Sauron's minions were still alive and two rangers were severely injured. They drew back west as far as they dared towards the nearest village, but two days ride from the main town. There the wounded could be seen to and the village, at least, defended. It added several men of debatable skill to the company and that was better than nothing. With the outer patrol having been decimated, however, word came too late of another pack from the north. The twins and Arathorn took a company of men to ride out to meet them, in the hopes of stopping the group before they met with the first pack. That had been the mistake Elladan would later confide to Dirhael when they came to take Gilrain and the young boy away.

They were outnumbered more than usual and though that might not have meant a loss, the single-mindedness of the yrchs did. They attacked Arathorn from the first moment the battle was engaged and Elladan and Elrohir were left with the responsibility to defend the Chieftain. This systematic attack was unusual and worrying, and when several arrows began to rain down on them in the clearing in which they fought, Elrohir did his best to get Arathorn to the shelter of the trees. Too late. The first arrow aimed at the man Elrohir deflected with his sword, but the second found his mark.

Almost at once the yrch began to retreat, their orders obviously fulfilled. That bore thinking about at a later date. Elrohir caught Arathorn about the arms as he fell, bearing his weight to the ground. At first glance Elrohir knew there was nothing to be done. The arrow had caught the eye and already the man was fading fast. Several of the men, unaware of their Chieftain's predicament were harrying the yrch as they fled. Elladan fell to the ground by his brother's side.

'Gilrain,' Arathorn murmured, already too far gone. 'Ara—', but he managed no further words.

The twins looked at each other. This they had not expected. Despite the growing foreboding in their hearts lately, they had not looked for this. The yrch had known who the leader was, had directly targeted the Heir of Isildur to his death. Someone, somewhere, knew the heirs still lived and where they might be found.

Gently Elrohir lowered Arathorn to lay flat on the ground and broke off the arrow. It left a bloody hole in its wake, but it was better than leaving it for Gilrain to see. The other men were now returning from the pursuit, realizing what had happened. The gound about them, covered in the lush green verge of a summer forest, was stained black with yrch blood and interspersed here and there with red. Two other men were on the ground, but appeared to only be wounded.

'He is dead?' Kahlan asked.

'He is dead,' Elladan said. 'No doubt the reason for the attack. Arathorn was targeted.'

Durnen chocked back a sob; he was the youngest of their company, barely twenty summers old. 'What'll we do now?' he asked.

Kahlan sighed. 'We return to the village with the body of our Chieftain and tell the Lady Gilrain her husband is dead. Decisions will have to be made. Aragorn is but a babe. To lose both Arador and Arathorn so quickly…'

He left the rest unspoken. Yes, there was something to ponder there. Perhaps the troll attack of three year's before was not as accidental as it had seemed.

'If they are targeting the ruling line,' Elrohir began as Elladan retrieved a blanket from the horse he had called back. 'Then there is much to concern ourselves over young Aragorn. He is hardly old enough to defend himself.'

'Whoever sent this yrch party may not know another heir still lives.'

'But we cannot believe it is so, even if I hope for that. No, there is only one recourse. I cannot make the choice for your people Kahlan, but I can offer it. Ever have the Dúnedain found safety at Imladris. Nothing has changed. Aragorn would be best served under the King's protection.'

Kahlan was nodding. 'Yes, no doubt that is true, but it is not my decision to make, nor yours, my prince,' he bowed. 'We must first bring this news to his widow. Then we shall decide what can be done with the boy.'

It was good advice. They made a litter from the blanket and two long branches to bear between the horses. It was a slow walk back, and a wretched one. They men grieved for the loss of their Chieftain, again, and the twins for the loss of their friend.

It was nearly three days before they arrived in the town. They had seen no use in sending word ahead, and had avoided the interim villages. They had crossed only one other patrol, headed north to replace the one that had been killed. The watch would have to be increased, where it could be, even with the men lost in this latest attack. If there was knowledge that an heir still lived, not one of the Dúnedain villages would be safe.

Gilrain knew. Elladan was certain of that the moment they left the trees and came up to the walls of the settlement. She was standing at the gate waiting for them, her son clutched to her breast. She did not cry or wail, but only nodded once. Elladan grieved for her. He knew that their marriage had been a joyous one, but against the wishes of her family. He knew her mother's foresight had dictated that Gilrain would not long be married in happiness. That much had come true.

They stayed three days. Long enough to attend Arathorn's funeral and a meeting that would decide the young heir's fate. It was clear from the outset that Gilrain now cared only for her son's safety, wherever that was. She feared, rightly, that yrch would continue to hunt them and that the village would present a welcoming target. That would mean risking the safety of her people. Her father argued that it would not matter; if the yrch thought they harboured an heir they would attack whether the child was there or not.

But Elladan saw through that argument. He knew the Dirhael had been the one to warn against his daughter's marriage, even more than his wife's vision. This decision to protect Aragorn would mean he would lose his daughter too, for all intent and purpose. Elladan could not imagine how difficult that would be, but for the safety of his grandchild he thought Dirhael might be persuaded. When it came to the decision, however, it was Gilrain's insistence on protecting her child and Elladan and Elrohir's insistence of the safety of Imladris that won out. Even if they learned an heir still lived and that heir was sheltered in the kingdom of elves, it would take a force led my Sauron himself to assail the mountain city. Even the men knew this much, many had visited Rivendell at one time or another.

But Elladan was insistent on one more thing, knowing it would not change Gilrain's mind.

'No one must speak of the child, to any ears. Even the safest may be overheard. If they do not know an heir still lives than we should endeavor to keep it that way. Aragorn's name must never be spoken of amongst your own people. You must continue on, as if bereft of your Chieftain, as the yrch believe you are. The Lady Gilrain too would be safest if none knew of her.'

Dirhael very nearly refused that last request. He would lose his daughter completely. But Gilrain was adamant and Kahlan and the other elder rangers agreed. It was safest.

A party of two other rangers were sent with Gilrain. They travelled under cover of darkness whenever possible, keeping to the woods rather than journeying south to the road. It was slow going with a young child to contend with, but Aragorn was remarkably well behaved. He was too young to understand what had happened. Too young to know his father, who he had not seen for several months anyway, was not to return. Soon enough he would grow old enough to understand, and Elladan did not relish the coming of that day.

It took two weeks for them to make their way to the borders of Imladris. Another day to enter the Valley itself. Elrond waited for them in the courtyard by the bridge. In all their years of life, their father's face had not changed, except to become more grieved at their mother's passing. But now it seemed as if his face was lined with years of care and worry and the grief of yet another loss.

Elladan helped Gilrain to dismount. She had yet to cry, to show her grief. She was concentrated only upon her son. Elladan hoped the peace of the Valley might change that, to at least allow her to grieve.

She took a knee on the flagstones before the King. 'I thank you, your majesty, for allowing me to bring my son to the safety of your halls.'

'Rise, Lady Gilrain of the Dúnedain. You are welcome here. Allow me to offer my condolences on the loss of your husband. I met him once, some years ago, and he was a good man. I wish there was no need for you to make this journey, but I offer a place of refuge and safety here at my court for as long as you have need.'

She bowed low again. 'Allow me to introduce you to my son, your majesty.' She uncovered the wrappings she had twined about the boy that morning when they had broken camp. 'This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, now Chieftain of the Dúnedain.'

'And so he will ever be, my lady,' Elrond said. 'But within these walls we shall ensure none know of him. You and I will talk more of this in the coming days. For now, you are a guest here. Míracil will show you to appropriate quarters and see to your needs. Rest today, we shall speak more tomorrow.'

Gilrain bowed again, and took quick leave of the two men who had accompanied her, following the elleth into the house.

'It does my heart glad to see your returned to me, my sons, though I grieve at what has befallen. Go, refresh yourself, and we will speak further later.'

'Father,' Elladan and Elrohir echoed each other, bowing as was appropriate. Elrond did not enjoy the trappings and courtly manners, but sometimes necessity dictated them.

'You have travelled far,' Elrond continued to the two Dúnedain. 'Stay and rest before you return to your folk.'

'We thank you, your majesty. And for the care of our future Chieftain, that now is your duty.'

'A duty I fully accept. The child will have ever care and consideration while he dwells here in my court. I accept him.'

The appropriate words having been spoken, Elrond left the two men to the care of another to see to their needs and retired to his office. He had had word from the border when the company had crossed the day before, but his heart had foretold the truth before that. He wondered what his sons would have to say on the matter, but of one thing he was certain, it had been no accidental attack. The child would have to be protected at all cost. Elrond did not know of what future there would be, but some glimmer of understanding had come to him as he gazed at the boy in Gilrain's arms. He was important. Elrond would personally ensure he lived to fulfill that importance.