Title: The thoughts of Royalty

Chapter: Dreams of peace and thoughts of the future (2 of ?)

Author: Faline

Rating: PG -- just because it's PG doesn't mean it isn't worth reading! JUST READ IT MAN!

Summary: Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas look for the hobbits that have been taken by the uruk-hai. In the process, they stop for the night and the thoughts of the royalty are allowed to wander once more . . .

Disclaimer: I do not own Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Any of the hobbits, Boromir or even Arwen so don't sue me. This is for fun and nothing more! I gain nothing besides the satisfaction I give my readers . . . yeah, right.

A note from the author: I am in the middle of reading the Two Towers so if I spell something wrong, get a situation mixed up, or seem to follow the movie, I'm sorry and I'm improvising (. lol.

Dreams of Peace and Thoughts of the Future

I was having the dream again. In it, I could see myself riding past the White Tower into Minas Tirith to the clearing of silver trumpets with the banners thrown high in the breeze, their silver and gold embroidery gleaming in the rising sun. I am the king of Gondor. My country is my own and my crown is placed a top my head. My fellowship rides along side of me; the hobbits happily reunited and Boromir back from the dead. Gimli and Legolas ride together, a striking tall blond elf and a short redheaded dwarf, the last from Moria. Gandalf rides behind them all, his horse walking slowly and proudly through the decadent streets. They're all back and we will rule them all.

A hand shakes me awake. I am startled and sit up quickly, my hand automatically flying to the sword at my side. Blinking my vision clear, I see Legolas kneeling next to me, and Gimli stands a few feet away. It is daybreak. "Aragorn, we must go. The uruk-hai are moving fast for Isengard." I nod and roll to my feet. The dream is pushed to the back of my head as I pack my sleeping blanket and we set off West, to Isengard.

The elf and the dwarf chat, if you can call it chat. They speak in mainly hushed tones as we cross the forests and planes. They speak of happier times, and of their childhood. Legolas was a happy child; that much is obvious, and I am reminded of my own childhood in Rivendell with the elves, and with Arwen. Her name brings a smile to my face.

She gave me an engagement stone. My hand drifts to my neck where the white stone rests against my chest. She means to marry me. I know that I will need a kingdom and a title before Elrond will even consider it, but my people will know my name soon enough. They will cry out in happiness after I take back what is mine, and keep my promise to my fallen brother. 'Oh Boromir. If only I could have saved you from the ring.' Even now, so far away from Sam and Frodo, I can feel the momentary pull of the ring of evil. Its cries have grown in pitch as it draws nearer to its birthplace and its evil parent. I shake my head. The ring corrupted Boromir, and it may very well corrupt Sam and Frodo as well. I am just glad that I have gotten away from it, for now. It may come back to haunt me. I have a strange feeling about the future. It is so uncertain and unclear.

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I fall silent and blend in perfectly with the world around me. It's past dusk and the party of uruk-hai we are trailing has stopped to sleep and to eat. This I can tell by listening to the sounds of their hunting for food, and by the terrified screams of the animals that are unwillingly caught. Aragorn signals me closer to his side and I am wary to go. One human has fallen to the power; another will surely be able to fall as well. "We will set up camp here tonight." I nod and look through the trees, assessing the protection and visibility of the small island we have found in a shallow river. My Elvish hearing detects no dangerous creature within twenty miles. The uruk-hai are at least thirty or forty away. I am very tired. We have traveled after Pippin and Merry for a good ten days and we are still in forest. This forest comforts me, for it brings me closer to a place in my heart where the forests of Mirkwood live in memory. It has been months since I have seen the tall forests of my home.

"Legolas, I'm going to find us something to eat. Watch after the fire." I nod as Aragorn departs. I watch him go, silently memorizing the features of his back as he skips lightly over the stream on a lane of stepping stone. This will be the man to rule them all. I can fell it. My gaze falls to the silent Dwarf next to me. He has been quiet since Moria. I do not blame him at all. He catches my eyes and we both smile at the friendship we have formed in the last month or so. We have truly become companions in this isolated land.

Gimli looks at my mud and dirt smeared face. "Ye're looking mighty fouled Master Elf. I will watch the fire if perhaps you wish to enjoy a dip in the river a bit farther down stream." I nod at his suggestion.

"Yes, I did not wash my clothes when you and Aragorn did a few nights ago. Someone had to keep watch. Also, I guess the fact that you threw mud at me did help my look either." The Master Dwarf laughs heartily and I take my leave, giving Gimli a quick bow of my head. In a few seconds, I am swallowed by the darkness that seems to be living in everything in this strange place. It seems as though we have fallen into an enchanted realm. The river runs deep and clear past the island. It takes a sharp curve right about 20 meters away from our camp and this is where I take off my clothing. I fold everything neatly and lay them on my boots to keep them clean.

The stream is warm. I am surprised. It is shallower and colder upstream and yet here, where it should be cold, it is warm. I am not about to complain though. This is exactly what I need and I release my hair from its braids.

There is much light in the forest. The moon has broken through the clouds that have covered it most of the day. I can see silver trout darting around the rocks in the riverbed and a water snake makes it's way lazily past my foot, never suspecting that I could crush it without a moment's thought. One quickly shot arrow and the snake's life would be over. In many ways, this is how my life has become. At any second, an army of orcs or an army of Sarumon's evil creatures, the Uruk-hai, could descend upon my two companions and myself and kill all of us. Sauron could be thinking of a way to rid Middle-Earth of the Dwarf, the wood Elf, and the hidden King in one foul swoop. We would never be the wiser.

My thoughts have led me to a dark place that I care not to dwell. It is in this state that I am most vulnerable and the least aware of the world around me. Perhaps this is why I am not aware of the man behind me before he takes a running start and jump in the water next to me, causing a large wave to crash into my face and pull my feet from under me. I sputter to the surface, momentarily surprised. Aragorn surfaces with a stupid grin plastered on his face. The king and the one who will save us all. I wipe the blond hair plastered to my forehead out of my eyes and turn. "We have much to be sober about my liege. I do not understand your gaiety." I hear him catch his breath and he stops chuckling.

"Forgive me Legolas. I simply felt that you were loosing heart, and you needed to be cheered up. Forgive me for trying." He says this perfectly straight-laced yet I know that he was making fun of me. I spin quickly and slide his feet out from under his with a graceful kick of my left leg. My right arm rises and shoves the man beneath the chest-deep water with a laugh. He grabs my ankles and pulls me down with him. In the clear depths of the liquid cradling us, I can see him laughing as well. We both float to the surface and I am struck by how much of a friend Aragorn has been. True, he is a harsh taskmaster at times, but more often than not, he is a friend.

"I wonder; will we find the little ones?" My mind is distracted and I look at Aragorn. I haven't heard a word that he has spoken. He repeats his question and I can only think of one true, honest answer.

"I know not what the future holds, and nor will I ever, but my one consolation is that I can strive to find the lost members and bring this fellowship back to it's former strength." Aragorn nods and simply floats in the water. I make my way to the bank and climb unsteadily to the mossy shore, slick with mud. Donning my clothes, I return to the water's edge where Aragorn still floats. "We will find them. No matter how long it takes, we will not abandon Pippin and Merry to torment and death." I say this quietly, with a deep conviction. I believe myself and, turning, I hope that he believes me too. For there is nothing worse than losing hope at a time so crucial. I take my leave of the King and return to the fire.

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I do not understand the elf at times. He is confusing and sometimes impatient. Yet, I owe him my life and he has my loyalty. It is a strange thought, that I am the king yet I am loyal to a prince. His father has raised him well. He is a good elf.

The water turns cold around my skin and I shiver. This bath was not needed, but I felt the need to make him smile. Legolas can be far too serious at times. I follow his lead and rise from the water on the other side of the bank. We continue to quest on the morrow, but for now we must eat. I silently enter to woods again and start to scan and hunt as every ranger does. Old habits die hard. I am learning that more and more each day as my hunting and tracking skills are used more and more often in the search for the hobbits. There is a wild boar standing in the woods in front of me. I silently draw my bow and fit an arrow onto its string. The boar is dead before he can comprehend what has happened to him and I retrieve the carcass and head back to camp. My men must eat and I must remember that I am the King.

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