AN:
Thank you M.M. Chris, DreamingIn2Eternity, ice vixen x, and WhiteCat2011 for your lovely reviews! Also thank you twixxy-dee, and nhwaun for favoriting my works. Another thanks goes to twixxy-dee, and nhwaun for following. And thank you GlidingOne for putting me on your favorite Authors list. (^\\\-\\\^)
I can never thank you all enough for the support, and on with the show!
Eldarion felt as if he was finally coming out of a haze. His mind had more or less cleared, allowing him to finally think clearly. The lanky boy was halfway to the Citadel when the gravity of his previous conversation hit him like the bricks of Barad-Dûr.
"Son of an orc, Legolas knows who I am!"he yelled aloud, freezing in the middle of the street. A couple old women shot him strange looks and a baby, startled by his outburst, began to wail in its mother's arms. Embarressed, Eldarion pushed the conversation to the back of his mind and decided to hightail to Gandalf's house and change into a less bloody set of clothes. His splinted arm throbbed as he ran down the quiet streets and skidded to a stop at the sturdy front door. An experimental tug on the wooden handle proved that the door was bolted. The Gondorian sighed and leaned back, looking for any open windows. A small smile crossed his face when his sharp eyes found one two stories up, with its gauzy curtains billowing in and out like a pair of lungs. With a powerful, chakra-aided leap, the agile genin landed on the window sill. The empty room had a table and several shelves filled with books. There was a vase filled with dead flowers and brown water sitting atop what appeared to be a poem about stones written in Quenya. Eldarion was unpleasently reminded of a tutor he once had when he was eight. All it took was for him to show his parents just what he was learning for him to get the disturbing tutor dismissed.
"Minato-sensei's perverted master was better than him," he thought as he leapt off the window sill, and quietly left the room. It did not take him long to find his backpack and scrolls. Removing the dirty clothing except for the elven cloak, Eldarion quickly donned a simple, navy blue, shirt and loose, khaki-colored pants. He squimed, itching to take a bath and scrub himself until he couldn't remember what it felt like to feel dirty. The grimy boy mourned the loss of the shinobi's incredible indoor plumbing.
"No such thing as a quick shower here," he thought, leaving the room before the temptation to stay longer conquered him. The empty stone hallway echoed faintly with the clicking of his sandles on the floor. Eldarion crept down the stairs, and looked around for a closet. Finding the door, he opened it, revealing a staircase descending into the dark. He opened a scroll and removed a flashlight. Flicking a switch, the thin boy climbed down the stairs, with the pale yellow light guiding his path. The tunnel was musty and filled with cobwebs. A couple rats scurried away from him as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Eldarion looked around, noticing a distinct change in the elevation. The dusty, rock-hewn path lead upward, prompting a smile from the Gondorian.
"Good, I'm on the right path," he thought, before spurring himself into a run. Grey walls flew by as the tall boy ran up the tunnel, the light waving about as the flashlight was moved back and forth. Eldarion did not bother to pause at forks in the path, instead instictively speeding up a chosen tunnel. Before long, he was at a wall. Carefully, the genin probed the wall with his uninjured hand, finally pressing a lever. Eldarion pushed the hidden door out, and to the side, slipping through the small exit. As soon he was out, he immediately closed the door, thankfully not on any limbs. His nose was suddenly assulted by a thousand new smells. The aroma of fried fish and roasted chicken wafed around, acompannied by the smell of crushed strawberries and cooked pears. Eldarion's stomach growled and his mouth watered, reminding him that he had yet to eat anything for lunch. But first he had to leave the nice, warm kitchen. Eldarion wasn't a fool. The hiss of boiling water, the crackle of cooking fat and the clanging of pots and pans clearly indicated that the kitchen was open for business. He wasn't a prince, or an honored guest, so the lanky boy was not keen on getting caught by the always intimidating kitchen staff. Grabbing an apple off the table next to him, he weaved a light genjutsu around himself; one that caused a person looking to close to his position to look away. Seeing the exit, Eldarion calmly strode out of the kitchen while eating the apple, the staff none the wiser.
Dodging maids and courtiers, the grey-eyed genin removed the genjutsu and strode into the throne room, munching on the apple core.
"You're late!" howled his teammates, causing him to jump. Even Kakashi looked rather ticked off.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I got lost,"
"Lies!" crowed Obito, Kuro and Anko. Rin, Kakashi and Susano'o favored him with a disbelieving glare.
"You changed clothes," observed Legolas, who was favoring him with a knowing look. Eldarion sighed and sat down on the steps leading up to the king's throne, prefering to reflect on that conversation later.
"What I happen to be wearing is not important," he said, looking around at the occupants of the room. "What did I miss?"
"Only the introductions," said Gimli, who was sitting into the Steward's chair, smoking a pipe. The thin boy refrained from commenting on the dwarf's place, and looked to his right see Imrahil and his three sons. Iorlas was present, and giving him a wary look.
"That shouldn't be a problem," he said, punctuating the remark by biting the apple core into half. "What do we know of Frodo and Sam?"
Gandalf sighed, and began to walk the length of the hall. "Frodo has passed beyond my sight," he said. "The darkness is deepening,"
"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it," Aragorn stood with his back to the throne, his stance wide and his arms crossed. A flash of guilt ran through Eldarion. Yes, he was hurt and stressed, but he knew better than to laugh at someone. But the expression of denial on the Dunedain's face was rather hilarious.
"It's only a matter of time," assured Gandalf sadly. "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping,"
"Are you sure?" said Minato. "Orochimaru could be causing some serious trouble for him,"
"Or he could have joined up with him," said Legolas coldly.
Eldarion's head snapped up to look at the blonde archer in disbelief.
"Are you f #*! serious?" said Anko calmly, obviously enraged. All the non-shinobi in the room looked appalled by her language.
"Sure, Sensei isn't the nicest or most moral person, but he would never side with that meglomaniac eye!" she continued. "In fact, he would probably attempted a government overthrow,"
"Attempt is the key word here," said Kakashi, steering the conversation back to the correct topic. "As far as we know, Orochimaru went to Mordor and we haven't heard a word since. Until we get any information, he is to be considered dead or out of commission,"
Imrahil's youngest son, Amrothos, frowned. "So the enemy is regrouping in Mordor," he stated, reaffirming the topic of conversation.
"Yes," agreed Gandalf. "We have dealt a blow to his forces and they have retreated to the safety of his lands lick their wounds,"
"Let him stay there, let them rot!" growled Gimli. "Why should we care?"
"Because 10,000 Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," the Istari explained, hiding his irritation with impatiance.
Minato, leaning against a piller, stood up straighter. The genin exchanged glances, and Obito looked to Eldarion for reassurance. Imrahil closed his eyes and exhaled quietly, trying to digest the information
"I've sent him to his death," said Gandalf sadly.
"No," said Aragorn. "There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that,"
A look sparked in Kakashi's eyes. One by one all the genin's eyes lit up with understanding and anticipation.
"How?" asked Erchirion, Imrahil's second son. A skeptical look was on his face.
"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands," explained Aragorn, his grey eyes blazing. "We gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate,"
For the first time, Eomer entered the conversation. "We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms,"
"Why would it be necessary?" said Kakashi, the other shinobi nodding "Victory is not the goal,"
Aragorn nodded. "We can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves,"
"A diversion," Gimli and Legolas said in unison. Eldarion cracked a smile, covering his mouth to hide it. Then he realized everyone except Aragorn was looking at him. They wanted his approval.
"Certainty of death, small chance of success; what are we waiting for?" he said, a large grin on his face.
Imrahil frowned slightly. "Sauron will suspect a trap. I doubt he would take the bait,"
A small smile crossed the ranger's face. "Oh, I think he will,"
There was not a face in the room devoid of curiosity. Eldarion himself was curious, even though he had a rough idea of what was going to happen.
"When will the armies move out?" asked Eomer, a worried look on his face.
"We cannot wait any longer than necessary," answered Gandalf. "We have two days, otherwise Sam and Frodo will certainly be captured,"
Imrahil nodded. "I shall write to old Forlong of Lossarnach, and ask for his aid. We need as many men as we can muster,"
Aragorn nodded, and noticing Eomer's worried face, said:
"Your people have saved us, Eomer. Do not devout more to our forces than you deem necessary to,"
Aragorn and Imrahil turned to Minato. "Who is going to come with you?" he asked.
The yellow-haired jōnin looked thoughtful. "All of Orochimaru's team is joining us. Hoshi and Rin are going to stay behind,"
"What!?" Eldarion cried. "I am not staying behind!"
"Yes you are!" commanded Rin, her arms crossed. "Eowyn and Faramir are in need of a therpist and you are going to help me with that. Besides you are injured and we have decided that you need therapy also,"
The pointy-eared boy stared at her in shock. "I need therapy?!" he cried.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. *"You have Post-Truamatic Stress Disorder, Delusions, possibly an Inferiority Complex, (which I personally think you don't have), and paternal issues,"*
*"Says the person with a serious PTSD, a Superiority Complex, and unresolved paternal issues,"* he grumbled, his ears burning. He could feel Legolas' eyes on him, and Eomer looking at them with a deep frown on his face.
"Fine," he said flatly. "But don't be surprised when I show up,"
Susano'o and Kakashi snorted, skeptical. Eldarion could feel Aragorn's eyes on him. The thin boy looked over, but the ranger had looked away, his face impassive.
"I will be sending the Suna shinobi back home," said Minato. "I think an agreement will come easily enough from them, and they will not betray us to Sauron,"
Gandalf nodded. "I have talked to Húrin the Tall, and he will be running the affairs of Minas Tirith while we are gone and Faramir is incompacitated. Unless anything else it to be discussed, I declare this meeting adjourned,"
A heavy silence descended upon the hall, then was finally broken by Minato clapping his hands together.
"Excellant! Now, can someone tell me where I can take a bath?"
\/\/\/\•/\/\/\/\•/\/\/\/
Rin was glad to finally be clean. The petite medic was almost positive that they had scared the Middle Earthlings when all the shinobi made a mad dash to Gandalf's house in order to get first dibs on a warm bath. It really didn't help that the stone of Minas Tirith was the equivalent of wet floors to unaided feet. Only Hoshi didn't seem to have a problem with moving along on the roofs. It was highly amusing to see her Sensei and teammate shove each other around in order to get to the bath first. In the end, Anko was the one who arrived first, and insisted in sharing with Rin. Hoshi and Obito had disappeared along with Obito's toiletries, leading the petite medic to believe her pointy-eared teammate knew of another place to take a bath. She returned to the Houses of Healing to look after Eowyn, and Merry. Eowyn was in a restless slumber, tossing and occasionally mumbling things in Rohirric. The Suna shinobi were off with Minato-sensei, deciding what they were going to do. While Rin was stitching up Merry's arm, the hobbit gave her a worried look.
"Rin, Eowyn seems to be under the impression I helped her slay the Witch-King," he said, in a bemused tone.
The medic looked up at him in surprise. "Really?" she said, finishing the stitching.
"Yes!" cried Pippin, looking up from a plate of plain-looking food. "Odd, isn't it?"
"Very odd," she muttered. There was a sudden tap on her shoulder, causing her to jump with a quiet yelp. The petite brunette turned around to see Hoshi, holding a bowl of steaming, sweet-smelling water and a rag.
"Would you like me to fix your arm?" he asked quietly.
Rin's eyes widened. *"You can heal like your father?"* she whispered, surprised.
*"Yes,"* he said, rolling up her sleeve to see the injured arm. *"Well to an extent. Nothing very serious, although learning to use chakra has helped,"*
Hoshi dipped the rag into the hot water and, lifting the piece of cloth out and squeezing it, getting rid of excess water. As he put the rag on her arm, the faintly gleaming boy began to sing softly.
Hear my plea,
Gentle Estë,
and heal these hurts.
Clean this blood,
tainted and sick.
Hear me, Estë
Free her limbs,
bound by blight.
O, Lady Gentle
Release her mind,
from the shadow.
So, help me,
Wife of Irmo.
Gentle Estë,
heal Rin, please."
An alien, yet soothing chakra began to flow through her arm, releasing the slight pressure she felt around her chakra. The slightly haunting prayer and the sweet smell seemed to put her on another, more mysterious plane of existance.
"Holy Hokages, I am high," she realized. Then the chakra dissapted, having finished its job. Rin came down from that vaguely euphoric place, and suddenly embraced Hoshi, who looked surprised.
"What are you hugging me for?" he asked tiredly.
Rin was about to thank the thin boy when she noticed a new presence just inside the threshold. Aragorn and Lothíriel were helping Faramir walk into the room. All of them were frozen in place, their eyes wide in shock. The medic knew that her hug wasn't the cause. She quickly let go, her eyes flicking toward the new arrivals, and back to her oblivious companions. Hoshi picked up the bowl of steaming water, and promptly drank it.
"What are you doing?!" cried Merry, shocked. "You will burn your throat!"
The pointy-eared genin shook his head. "I've done this many times before. It's perticularly useful for any sort of gastrointestinal ailment,"
Finally, Pippin looked up from his food and saw the newcomers. "Faramir!" he cried. "How do you fare?"
Hoshi jumped to his feet, his face white. "H-hello Captain Faramir. It is good to see you awake,"
The injured man nodded, his right arm in a sling. "I am faring as well as a man can in this condition," he answered with a small smile. "It is good to see that you all made it through the battle, more or less unscathed,"
Aragorn was staring intently at Hoshi, who was beginning to squirm. "How long have you been able to heal?" the ranger inquired. "Who taught you?"
"I've been capable of healing insignifiact ills and hurts since I was nine," the pale boy stuttered, fiddling with the rag. "My parents taught me,"
Lothíriel looked intriuged. "Who are your parents?"
The adopted Uchiha folded his arms across his chest. "Guess," he said in a sarcastic, daring voice. The rapid change in voice and posture caught the healer off guard.
"Hoshi, be nice," warned Rin, placing a hand on his arm.
He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I think I'll be nice when people stop poking their noses into my business," he grumbled.
"Truth be told, you are rather nosy yourself," commented Pippin through a mouthful of bread. Hoshi's lanky body tensed, and Rin could hear him grinding his teeth together. Eowyn had been awakened at some point, and was sitting up, a bewildered look on her face.
"What is going on?" she asked, her voice slurred and slightly hourse. Her blue eyes focused on Faramir, who was staring back at her.
"Who is this?" she asked in a monotone.
"I am Faramir, son of Denethor," answered the decesed Steward's son. "I beg your pardon, but I will be sharing this room with you for the time being,"
Eowyn gave him a short nod. "Eowyn, Éomund's daughter," she introduced herself. Aragorn and Lothíriel helped Faramir onto the bed across from her. The dark-blonde man still carried an air of illness about him, and had a haunted look in his eyes. Eowyn looked perfectly fine, but had an aura of cold depression around her. Aragorn straightened up and fixed Hoshi with a commanding look. Rin immediately felt the urge to comply to any order he might give then and there.
"Since you are apparently adept at healing, I want you to assist me here in the Houses," he said, somehow making the demand seem like a request.
Hoshi literally whilted. "I can bandage and stitch, but I can't do any more of that healing with athelas," he said softly, his head bowed with shame.
The ranger frowned, a concerned look on his face. "Why not?" he asked.
"If I use athelas more than twice a day on someone other than myself, I get sick to my stomach. If I use them more than five times, I could fall into a coma," he explained, a blush coloring his face and neck.
A look of understanding crossed his face. "It is alright. Can you still help me?" he asked, an uncertian look in his grey eyes.
"I...I think so," he said quietly, almost to himself. "I believe Minato-sensei and the others are also helping out, so why not?"
A small smile flitted across Aragorn's face and he awkwardly patted Hoshi on the head before leaving the room. The lanky boy looked shell-shocked, his grey eyes wide. Suddenly a large smile crossed his face and he ran out of the room without another word.
"What's gotten into him?" asked Merry, who was talking between bites of his lunch. Pippin stole a small potato off his cousin's plate and shrugged.
"How shall we ever know?" he said. "It is not as if he will ever explain himself fully,"
Lothtíriel frowned, giving Eowyn a plate of food. "Who are his parents Rin?" she asked.
"Yes" added Eowyn, nodding fiercely. "I would like to know the truth myself,"
Faramir's brow furrowed. "The truth?" he wondered aloud, curious.
"Legolas, Prince of the Woodland Realm, seems to believe Aragorn is Hoshi's father," explain Eowyn flatly, her eyes glued to her plate. "Something about that idea doesn't quite sit with me,"
"You know, he might be right," said Rin thoughfully. "but he also could be wrong,"
The five people in the room looked at her expectantly, waiting for an answer. Thankfully, an interruption brought an end in an increasingly awkward silence.
*"Oi, Medic!"* howled Sho from the doorway. *"Where's your little time-traveling teammate? He has my fan!"*
The petite brunette sighed through her nose. "Sorry, but I have to help Sho find Hoshi and make sure neither kill each other. I'll see you around," she said apologetically.
At that, she quickly left the room.
\/\/\/\•/\/\/\/\•/\/\/\/
Aragorn was in turmoil. There was no denying it now; Hoshi was definately of his line. The question now was, how far down the line was he? The ranger shook his head. It was surreal enough to have someone from the future, but now that person was a relative of his and possibly his son... It was enough to make the Dunedain want to scream. But Aragorn forced himself to focus on the task at hand, which was setting a broken leg. Oddly enough, Susano'o was helping him, while singing a song in a strange language. The boy must have done something to the song, because in spite of hearing the strange words, the ranger could understand him.
The bee shall honey taste no more,
the dove become a ranger
The falling waters cease to roar,
ere I shall seek to change her
The vows we made to heav'n above
shall ever cheer and bind me
In constancy to her I love,
the girl I left behind me.
Aragorn was surprised by the song's topic. "What language do you sing in?" he asked.
Susano'o gave him an airy smile. "An odd little one. My mother calls it English, and all shinobi know words from it. However, very few know where it comes from where it came from and who first spoke it,"
"It comes from England," said Hoshi, who was stitching up the side of an unfortunate Rohir. "If you want to know more, ask Gandalf around year 11 of the Fourth Age,"
At the thin boy's declaration, Aragorn frowned. "Wouldn't Gandalf be in Valinor by then?" he asked.
The young Gondorian nodded. "Yes, but it is a long story involving doors, letters and a good many owls and wizards. There is no way I am telling you in full,"
They lapsed into silence, and the ranger finished setting the soldier's leg. Susano'o checked the bandages and nodded, before heading to another bed. The man Hoshi was attending to had numerous other hurts, so Aragorn joined the thin boy to help him. Wordlessly they worked side by side, with the ranger cleaning the Rohir's cuts and splinting a sprained wrist. The dark-haired child finished sewing up the man's side, and looked up him.
"A-Aragorn, could you bandage the torso, please?" he asked, holding up the strips. He nodded and took the strips, freeing Hoshi to help someone else. All the shinobi were helping in one way or another. Minato and Kakashi assisted the surgeons, while Rin and Kuro performed surguries themselves. Anko and Obito, both who did not possess a sufficient amount of medical knowledge, ended up doing odd jobs, such as serving food to patients that could eat. Hoshi and Susano'o did simple bandaging and stitching, but the dark-skinned shinobi had taken it upon himself to sing songs and entertain the injured men. Eventually, he goaded Hoshi into singing while he played an instrument. With a huff, the pale boy sang the song he performed earlier in Meduseld in the shinobi's language, mostly for the Rohir that made up the majority of men in the room. Aragorn tuned out the odd music, concentrating on healing a punctured lung.
*"Sayonara aenaku nattatte,
bokura wa tsudzuki ga aru kara.
Boku ga tsukuru sekai nande
hashiru yo itsuka mita mirai mo, koete,"*
The ranger looked up to see Minato, wearing a blood-stained apron, standing beside him.
"You are looking dead on your feet, my friend," the yellow-haired man said kindly.
Aragorn nodded, and ran a hand through his filthy hair. He was still wearing his dusty cloak and dirty clothes. The only clean things he wore were the Evenstar and the Elessar brooch.
"What you need is a good bath and some rest," the jōnin continued amicably, putting a hand on the Dunedain's shoulder. "Come, Gandalf's being kind enough to lend us his house,"
Normally, Aragorn would have turned down the offer, and continued to heal, but something in the shinobi's voice sounded so compelling that the ranger found himself standing up and allowing Minato to steer him out of the houses. It did not take long for the two to reach the Istari's house. The jōnin lead him in through the back door, whose lock he clearly picked.
"Gandalf is holding a little meeting with Imrahil, Eomer and the other commanders," explained Minato. "It would not be advisable to introduce yourself to them while you look like a dead rat,"
Aragorn gave his companion a irritated look and climbed up the stairs. The jōnin darted in front of him, and pointed to the bathroom.
"The water should be hot, please use the soap and other things I left out for you. I couldn't find much in the way of clean clothes, so I ended up giving them to Obito and Hoshi to clean them. There is a possibility they burned some of them, but they really did smell,"
Now truely irritated, Aragorn strode into the bathroom and closed the door with a significant amount of force.
\/\/\/\•/\/\/\/\•/\/\/\/
Minato was bewildered by the ranger's annoyance toward him.
"Maybe I was getting too chatty," he thought. He never really was a chatty sort of person, but sometimes words carried him away. The jōnin was very curious to see what Aragorn was going to do to get Sauron to take the bait, and very much wanted to be in on the plan. The only thing he could do was find Hoshi and hear what his student knew. In order to save time, the Yellow Flash teleported to his student, scaring the daylights out of the healers. None of the patients reacted, excepts for a chuckle here and there. Hoshi was stitching up the palm of a rider's hand as the two discussed horses. Minato tapped the lanky genin's shoulder.
"Hoshi, can I talk with you?" he asked.
"In a minute, Sensei," he answered, finishing the stitches and wrapping a bandage around the closed wound. When he was done, the pointy-eared boy stood up and looked expectantly at his teacher.
"We need to go to a more private place," Minato explained, beginning to walk out of the Houses. Hoshi followed him, murmuring quietly.
What did you see in the Seeing Stone?
Is it the Eye, fiery and red?
Or your lady love, cold and dead?
Oh, what did you see in the Seeing Stone?
They entered an abandoned warehouse and sat down. Hoshi shivered, pulling his cloak close to his body.
"What is it you wish to know?" he asked.
Minato folder his hands in front of his face, and explained his business.
"Do you know what Aragorn is planning? If so, tell me what you know,"
A wary look crossed Hoshi's pale, faintly glowing face. "It involves a palantír, and it will take place in the throne room. Why do you want to know?"
His student was obviously holding back information, but it didn't quite matter. "I simply want to be in on the plan and be present when it unfolds," he said.
The adopted Uchiha nodded slowly. "Then make sure everything is in order, and please keep an eye on him," he said. Minato was struck by how commanding Hoshi was, and the confidence he carried himself with as he walked out of the rotting building. The jōnin stood up, and snuck up into the Citadel. Avoiding guards, he peeked into the throne room. The palantír, wrapped in a piece of brown cloth, sat innocently on the steps leading up to the king's throne.
"Odd place to put that," he thought. Then his keen ears picked up the sound of footsteps approaching the hall. Remembering that he had tagged one of Gandalf's doors, the jōnin hiraishin-ed back to the house. It was only when he accidently kicked open the door that he realized he had tagged the bathroom door. After being cursed at in Elvish and having a bar of soap thrown at him, Minato quickly closed the door.
"Sorry Aragorn!" he yelled as quietly as he could.
The clean ranger was out a few minutes after that, glaring at the jōnin.
"I'm sorry!" apologized the jōnin. "I forgot that I tagged that perticular door,"
Aragorn sighed through his nose and walked into a guest room. Legolas and Gimli were already in there, cleaning their weapons.
"What happened?" asked the elf, who was fletching his arrows. Minato idly wondered what bird produced that shade of green for their feathers.
"Minato appeared on the door and as a result it opened as I was taking a bath," Aragorn answered tonelessly.
Gimli laughed. "Men are too self-concious!" he declared.
"Indeed," agreed Legolas. "If it was an accident, I do not see the problem,"
The dark-haired ranger glowered at the two, but said nothing. Minato decided to kill time and keep relabeling all of his tags in orc blood. Sitting next to Aragorn, he took out his brush, the blood, and several blank tags. The ranger had retrieved his sword and was cleaning and sharpening it.
"What is your plan to trick Sauron?" asked Gimli, a curious look on his face.
The tall man looked reluctant to disclose his scheme. Minato thought about using a barrier Jiraiya-sensei created, but he was almost positive that it made evesdroppers think the topic of conversation was on women.
"I can put a sound-proof barrier up," he offered. But Aragorn shook his head.
"It is not that important a plan," said the ranger. "All I am going to do is introduce myself to Sauron from the Palantír of the White Tower and make him think I took the ring from Pippin,"
Legolas frowned. "But the palantír is broken. It can only display Denethor's hands, burning and crumbling,"
"It will work for me," Aragorn said confidantly. "It is my birthright, is it not?"
The archer still looked uneasy. "You should have someone go with you, just in case things go wrong,"
"I will go!" Minato volunteered, delighted for the opportunity.
Aragorn gave the jōnin a concerned look. "Why are you so keen in joining me?" he asked.
The Yellow Flash shrugged. "I just happen to have a difficultly sated curiosity at times," he explained.
The ranger nodded warily, reluctantly accepting his new company. "After dinner, we will leave for the Citadel,"
‡*‡*‡*‡*‡*‡*‡
After a chaotic and utterly bewhildering meal, Minato and Aragorn slipped out to the Citadel. Walking across the shadowy courtyard with the skeletal white tree, the jōnin shuddered. Aragorn stopped in front of the white tree, and unsheathed his sword. A wind whistled through its bony branches, shaking the leafless tree. The ranger kneld down and held his sword up; as if he were presenting the blade to the ethreal plant, which appeared to nod its approval as the wind rushed around them. The shinobi was in awe with how connected the man and tree seemed to be. Minato inhaled to cool night air, ready to follow Aragorn when the man finally stood up. The grey-eyed ranger silently lead the way, and carefully opened the doors to the throne room. The beautiful stone hall was bathed in moonlight, especially the king's white throne. The palantír was waiting on the ivory steps, still wrapped up in the brown cloth. The jōnin slowly closed the dark, heavy door, and lingered behind the ranger. Aragorn strode forward, his sword gripped in his right hand. He came to a stop, then dropped to his knees before the bundled orb. Moving his left hand cautiously forward, Aragorn flipped the covering off the palantír. The was a sudden surge of chakra, and the ranger flinched, looking away. Hesitantly, he hand hovered over the stone before seizing it in powerful confidence. He lifted it up, forcing himself to look into the sphere. The palantír turned into a fivery orange, and a horrible presence filled the room. Trembling slightly, Minato moved closer. Aragorn was staring down a terrifying reptilian eye without the slightest bit of fear about him.
"Long have you hunted me," he growled. "Long have I eluded you. No more,"
With a smooth, powerful movement, Aragorn displayed his sword to Sauron, challenging him.
"Behold the Sword of Elendil!" he declared, a triumphant look in his eyes. The presence changed from one of haughty confidence to cold terror. Minato was wracking his brain to figure out just what Aragorn had said to disturb the evil eye to the point it was metaphorically wetting itself in fear. But Sauron's fear did not last long. The smug arrogance returned, and he seemed to be showing the ranger something. Aragorn's eyes widened, his sword dropping back to his side. A terrified look appeared on his face as he leapt to his feet, all but tossing the palantír. As he did so, the clasp on the necklace he wore broke, and it dropped to the floor. Jumping into action, Minato caught the necklace and the runaway Seeing Stone before either could get damaged. The jōnin stood up, looking the ranger over. Aragorn was breathing heavily and shaking slightly, a distressed look on his face.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly. The tall man tried to say something, but his throat had closed up, and no words came out. Minato threw an arm around his shoulder and steered him to the steps.
"Come on, sit down," he said, sitting down beside him. "Breath in, breath out. It's going to be alright,"
Aragorn breathed in a shuddering breath, and exhaled, not looking the calmer for it.
"Your necklace broke," the jōnin said, trying to be casual. "But it can be fixed," He opened his hand and offered the cracked jewel to the ranger, who seemed to almost come to tears because of it. Minato sighed.
"What did you see in the palantír?" he asked, curiosity eating him from the inside out.
"Arwen," he croaked. The jōnin flipped through his memories, recalling mentions of her name, but he knew nothing about her.
"Who is she?" he asked.
Aragorn gave him a watery smile. "My betrothed," he said softly. "Sauron is killing her,"
"Oh, she is the one you mentioned before we went into the Paths of the Dead," realized the shinobi. "She will get better,"
"Only if we bring down Sauron," he responded, a morose look on his face. "Even then..."
"Ah," Minato rubbed the back of his head, not knowing what to say. How he wished Jiraiya-sensei was here.
"You know what?" said the jōnin as lightly as he dared. "Let's go back to Gandalf's house and get some rest. Lingering here in the cold isn't going to make you feel better,"
Aragorn nodded silently, sheathing his sword. Minato got to his feet and offered the tall man a hand, which he accepted. They began to walk out of the hall, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the hall. Then a voice froze them in their tracks.
"Where do you think you are going?"