Chapter 3
Immediately Aragorn whirled around, hope filled his heart. But when he saw what was happening, he froze. Arod came running straight at him, but there was no sign of Legolas. Horrified, the ranger gasped, for the excited horse without the prince confirmed his suspicions that something had happened to the elf.
No sooner had the enraged stallion reached the yard than the human grabbed the reins and stroked him reassuringly over the neck. Quietly he whispered reassuring elven words, what he had learned from the archer. At the thought of the beautiful warrior, his heart contracted in fear. "It's all right, Arod," the man breathed softly and stroked the white horse's neck reassuringly.
The animal was sweating and breathing very quickly. Obviously, it had come here immediately after the disappearance of its rider. There was something soothing about it and at the same time, it made the ranger very afraid. What had happened out there?
His determined gaze was directed at the green, dense forest. Aragorn knew he had to do something. Clearly something had happened to Legolas, for he would never leave his horse behind, and with all his supplies. The only thing that reassured the ranger a little was that the weapons had disappeared.
Maybe the elf had still managed to defend itself. A little bit of hope spread in the human heart, but he knew that there were other possibilities he did not want to think about at the moment.
Determined, the man turned around, handed the reins of Arod to his worried father, and headed for the main house. He would immediately pack his things and set out. The ranger had no time to lose. If something had happened to the prince, the ranger had to hurry.
At this thought, a lump formed in his throat, but he swallowed it down. Aragorn knew that it would do no good to panic now. He had to be focused if the ranger was to find the archer.
"Estel." At the sound of his Elvish name, the ranger turned. Concern and fear were visible in the eyes of the Lord of Rivendell, but at the same time, there was uncertainty. "Where will you go, ion-nin?" The human looked at his father in confusion. Was that not obvious? "To find Legolas?" Elrond looked directly at his son. "It seems dangerous out there, Estel. I don't think there's anything we can do."
Anger rose in the man. There had to be something you could do! Even if it took him days to find a lead! Aragorn would not just give up his friend! "I will not leave him to die!" His heart contracted in pain at the thought. He knew Legolas was in danger. Never would the beautiful warrior have let his horse go unless it was an emergency.
The ranger spun around and ran to the main house. Behind him, he heard the sigh of Elrond but ignored it. Of course, the human knew that his father was only worried about him, but at the moment he could not pay any attention to it. The life of the Prince of Mirkwood was at stake. Again, everything contracted within him.
Quickly the ranger put on his ranger's clothes and reached for his weapons. He packed some things like herbs and food and ran outside again. To his surprise, Elrond was already standing there with his horse, Arod restlessly beside him. The lord still seemed unenthusiastic, but came up to Aragorn and squeezed his hand. "Take care, Estel, and do not take unnecessary risks. Bring Legolas home safely."
The man saw his own fear and anxiety in his father's eyes and realized how much Elrond cared for the archer as well. "I will, Ada." With these soft words, he bowed his head briefly and then went to his horse. Quickly, the ranger climbed up and then looked at Arod, who seemed incredibly restless. "Show me the way."