-Rising Storm-

By: Bill the Pony

Rating: PG-13 (just being cautious)

Feedback: elf_master752@yahoo.com

Spoilers: Not yet really.

Disclaimer: Don't own them, I'll leave that to the Tolkien family and whoever. I make no profit either.

Summary: The shadow of Mordor is growing darker and spreading across the lands like a plague. Dunlendings have allied themselves with orcs, terrorizing the neighboring lands. Worse yet, it is heard that the head of this movement is inside the order of the Istari. A friend of Gandalf has been framed as the head of this evil plot. It is up to Aragorn and Legolas to clear his name before the order of the Istari bring him up as a traitor, allowing the real traitor to continue his scheme.

Note: Not all the names in this actually mean something. I couldn't get enough info for that. As well as I know that this is not all accurate, I had limited resources. Fasse is an original character, in Quenya (as far as I can tell) means 'Shaggy'. :)

Additional Note: This is set a few years at most before the Fellowship of the Ring and the beginning of the War of the Ring. So if that clears up any confusion… As well as, Aragorn is a Ranger by now, that is why you will see him referred to as Strider. Also, from terrain on most maps, I think that Dunland was more plain land than forest, but I'm setting the 'city' of Dunland

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Rising Storm

Epilogue

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Ghâshronk shivered in fear. Death was moments away, his small twisted and burned heart shivered in his greed for a few last beats. The slim, bony hand about his throat tightened. "They have the letter my lord."

"I know. That is why you know I must dispose of you." The white robed figure pinned him to the wall for a moment. "But do not feel so much pity for yourself in your fate. Take comfort that the Dunlending chief will suffer the same path as you, my unfortunate little rat."

And Ghâshronk did, in his last wheezes he thought of the haughty Dunlending, full of pompous pride who felt nothing but scorn for the orcs. Then there was nothing in the orc's thoughts.

The tall silhouette dropped the dead orc like the filthy rag he was. He had used Ghâshronk for what purposes he had needed, and when done with these orcs, why keep them around to filthy his floors anymore?

Saruman turned away, his thin face drawn with bottled rage. So what if the petty little wizards and elves knew that there was an Istar who commandeered the growth of the orcs? What difference did it make if that imbecile, Fasse, got a free trip to Rohan for protection? It accomplished his goal anyway by removing the bumbling wizard from his territory. Saruman allowed himself a quiet smirk. Yes, all was going as planned. He could go on spreading Sauron's black hand over the realms, slowly, like a sickness festering in a wound. Let those little crusaders go on feeling pleased and as noble as they like. Their victory had gained them nothing but the life of a useless wizard. The delay they had caused was minimal. It would not hinder his actions for long.

---

"Would you boys mind terribly if you would kindly inform me of my condition?" Fasse asked worriedly from behind Legolas on Falmarin. After they were a good distance from the city they had switched seats, as Fasse was far from a horseman.

"You're going to be just fine, Fasse," Aragorn assured the wizard. "Much better than before actually with the dirt Legolas managed to dig up."

Fasse looked practically ill. "Dirt? I have no need of dirt! Dirt gets me nowhere, dirt doesn't keep me from being expelled and be-headed by the order! Oh dear, what shall I do?"

Legolas rolled his eyes at Aragorn, who shook his head at the frantic Istar. The elf twisted in his seat, pulling the parchment from the front of his tunic and handed it to Fasse. "Read it. I think it will help ease your mind."

As the horses kept a steady trot, Fasse, bouncing about on the grey's hips, let out a happy yelp. "Joy of joys! Illuvitar bless you both. Though I do wonder who sent this." Seemingly as quickly as he had turned happy did the wizard return to his confused, easily worried self.

"I suppose we will be heading home now." Aragorn said almost regretfully, conversing with Legolas over Fasse's chattering.

Legolas sighed, "And I will be glad to, though you may not be." The elf leaned forward to pat Falmarin's neck. "I need no more drama for quite a while."

"As long as you are in my company, I'm afraid you will always have too much 'drama', as you put it." Aragorn laughed at Legolas's unenthusiastic look.

"Maybe I should send you to your 'room' more often in the future. And have Glorfindel post Lorien warriors to keep you there. Perhaps then I would find some peace."

Aragorn shot the elf a glare. "If you ever…"

"Oh shush, Aragorn! You take everything so literally."

"I have to!" Aragorn declared. "With you and your elvish stoicism I never know when you are joking."

Legolas laughed heartily, filling the misty forest with elvish song. It was then that a golden ray broke through the heavy clouds above, abolishing the swirling mists about it, piercing the storm. "Ai! It has been so long it seems since the sun has come out to shine!" cried the elf joyfully, lifting his face to the sun's warmth.

"At an opportune time as well. As grateful as I was for the darkness in the city, I loathed the thought of traveling back to Rivendell with a worrisome wizard in the rain and sludge." Aragorn commented, equally pleased.

The companions rode on, far from the reach of the Dunlending men on their thin and un-worked horses. Song and laughter broke the still air, greeting the warming sun. For all an observer would know, the two friends had not just been through a harrowing experience. Or that there was yet deepening darkness beyond the mountains. Friendship proved, once again, to be stronger than any grief, strife, or any terror.

---

From hill to vale, gold tinted the aspens. The sky was clear and the air crisp, still coveting the slight sent of rain.

It had been four days after the storm had passed. Imladris had been assaulted with sleet and hail for many days. Her river had swelled to nearly breaking over its banks. All this while, Elrond had remained secluded in his chambers watching listlessly, lost in his thoughts, as the rain fell in torrents from bruised clouds.

Today was different. Elladan and Elrohir, along with the nobles of the house, could see this clearly. The elven lord had immerged from his quarters, looking refreshed and wearing a robe of deep emerald over a light, airy sleeved blouse of off-white. On his face he bore a smile, a look of ease and peace of mind, an expression that had been noticeably absent since the departure of Aragorn.

"Father, what cheers your heart so?" Elladan fell into step beside his strolling elder.

Elrond basked in the warmth of the sun's smile. "Hope. Hope has returned to me." A smile lifted the half-elf's face. "These past days have been sparse of any hope. But today, today hope will return."

Elladen watched his father closely, "You speak as Mithrandir now, Father!"

The elven lord only smiled.

---

"Alas and alack!" moaned Fasse as he, with the help of Legolas, mounted Ralamir. "If Dunland had not have been so harsh to me, I would not have had to suffer this agony!"

Aragorn rolled his eyes dolefully at his elven companion, helping him lift the wizard to Ralamir's broad back. "My dear wizard, it is not the horse which makes you suffer, or even the horse's back."

After a short discussion back in the confines of Fasse's cave, Legolas and Aragorn had decided it best to bring the wizard with them to Rivendell, at least for safety's sake. The wizard in turn had been more than happy to join them. Dunland had become hostile to the shaggy wizard; it was time to move on. But it had not taken long for Fasse's vigor for their journey to dim. After three and a half days of hard riding – to the wizard's standard – he was more than ready to bed down in a glade and settle there for his remaining years.

The pained Istar sat rigidly upon the bay's back, clutching desperately to the ranger as the horse smoothly broke into a fast…walk. Legolas shook his head, stifling his laughter as he cued Falmarin forward, calling to Gorban behind them. The donkey brayed stubbornly from his position behind the grey horse, far from pleased with his rank as packhorse.

Evidently, Fasse had not been so lonely in his long years in Dunland. As the three of them had ridden back to Fasse's cave, Gorban, the small scraggily donkey had brayed and bugled noisily at their arrival. Fasse, looking for all the world like an ashamed parent, explained that Gorban had found him stuck in a trap. Legolas had thought he had misheard the wizard when Fasse said that Gorban found him in a trap, and not him finding Gorban in the trap. Gorban, though as scraggily and disheveled as Fasse, was a bright creature and had conceded to prying the contraption off Fasse's foot with his blunt hooves and strong jaws where Fasse could not. Their relationship throughout the years had consisted with Fasse feeding the donkey and the donkey in turn keeping the wizard company. Upon their return, Gorban looked most disgruntled and favored the wizard a sharp nip on the ear. It was a funny scene for Aragorn, Legolas and the horses to watch. The short wizard, eye level with the small donkey, had carried on a half apologetic, half scolding conversation with the donkey, who interjected often with snorts and brief braying.

So Gorban, unwilling to leave his food source, had stubbornly followed them, under the condition that he carry Fasse's odd contraptions and belongings. Both Ralamir and Falmarin had seemed pleased to have another equine companion. Much to Aragorn's amusement, even Legolas began carrying on his own dialogues with the donkey before long. The elf, for over an hour during the previous day's trek had carried on a full argument with Gorban about many things. After which, that night Legolas had whispered to the ranger that Gorban was really quite fond of Fasse, but was keeping his tough exterior even harder due to the presence of the elvish horses. From across the camp, Gorban's long hairy ears had lain back against his skull and bugled angrily at the elf.

With Gorban and Fasse in tow, Legolas and Aragorn had started home a good four days ago and had kept up a good clip. Much faster than either Legolas or Aragorn could have hoped with a moaning wizard in their company.

As the day wore on, Aragorn became eager to break their easy pace. When the familiar sites of the surrounding territory about Imladris began to appear, the ranger could not restrain himself, very much to Fasse's dismay. With a quick glance at this elven friend beside him, he winked then spurred Ralamir into a gallop across the familiar meadow. Legolas laughed as Fasse let out a terrified shriek. Falmarin lunged beneath Legolas, taking off, unbidden, after Aragorn and Ralamir. Both horses could smell home, there was not need for their riders to direct them.

The horses flew across clearings and through wooded forests, knowing every tree and rock. Even the stout Gorban loped doggedly after them, short legs flaying ever-which way and braying loudly, announcing beforehand their arrival in Imladris.

---

Elrohir leapt to his feet when from the hillside behind him came forth an unearthly howl echoing off the opposing valley wall. It was neither man nor wolf, of the likes that Elrohir had never heard. Orcs? Surely not, for he had never heard an orc make such an obnoxious utterance. He heart pounded faster as another howl sounded. Reaching to his belt he felt for his knife but his hands grasped only air. Never dreaming that orcs would venture so close to Imladris, the elf had left his weapons at home. The scream tore the air once more, closer than he had thought. Then he heard the pounding of hooves.

"Yahoooo!" Aragorn upon Ralamir broke from the tree line first with Legolas upon Falmarin. The human hailed loudly to Elrohir in a most un-Heir of Isildur like fashion.

"Estel!" Elrohir cried happily at his brother's unexpected appearance. "You have returned to us! Alive and unharmed for that matter!" Ralamir slowed as they reached the lone elf on the ground. The bay butted his head against the elf's shoulder playfully. Elrohir laughed and pushed the horse away. Then he noticed the figure clutching to Aragorn's waste with a death grip.

Seeing Elrohir's line of attention, Aragorn introduced the petrified wizard. "Elrohir, let me introduce you to Fasse the…Green," Aragorn supplied, green being the first shade that came to mind as it was the color of the wizard's face at the moment. "Formerly of Dunland." Loosening Fasse's iron grip, he introduced Elrohir to the wizard, who could only manage a weak nod.

Then once more there came the unearthly howl from line of trees Legolas and Aragorn had just passed. Before Elrohir could shout a warning, a dark, dirty grey streak tumbled from the forest, letting out the very terrifying howl that had spooked Elrohir so. The elf then found himself looking to the dark accusatory eyes of a small beast with stubby head, gargantuan ears, and long shaggy whiskers. The creature opened its mouth and let forth another howl, directly into the astonished face of the elf. Elrohir stumbled back.

Aragorn clutched his sides and doubled over Ralamir's neck, along with Legolas who was also lost in uncontrollable fits of gasping laughter. Elrohir sat staring up into Gorban, the donkey's narrowed eyes as he sniff tested the elf. Obviously, Elrohir had never seen the likes of Gorban before. "I nearly forgot," Aragorn forced out as he tried to rein in his merriment. "Elrohir, this is Gorban."

Elrohir pulled himself to his feet, eyeing Gorban with more than a little distrust. Gorban in turn, much to Elrohir's ultimate dismay, seemed to have taken a shine to the elf. The elf sidestepped the donkey. The donkey sidestepped with him. Elrohir took another sideways step towards Aragorn. Gorban stepped with him, blinking lazily at him. "Aragorn, were did you get this thing?"

"He's not a think a thing, Elrohir," Legolas corrected. "He's a donkey."

Elrohir glared at the other elf, "Matters naught to me. Just get the little devil away from me."

Legolas shook his head with a chuckle and scooted forward, making room for the son of Elrond behind him on Falmarin. "Please," Fasse whimpered miserably from behind Aragorn. "May we just be off. I have had quite enough of this adventuring. All I wish for is a bed and perhaps a meal and some healing herbs."

"That can be arranged, friend Fasse. I agree, let us be off and go home!" The four, with Gorban trotting contentedly at Elrohir's heel, set off on their last stretch home.

---

"Lord Elrond!" cried a dark haired elf upon a high walkway. "There is movement in the forest! Horses of elvish blood and another creature with them."

Elrond looked up abruptly. "What are their colors? The horses I mean."

The keen eyed elf shaded his eyes with a hand, trying to catch another glimpse of the horses. "Ah! A bay I believe and the other a dappled grey. The other creature looks to me a…a warg?" the elf's brow furrowed in confusion.

Elladan, from beside Elrond cast his father a curious glance. "Do you know who these riders are?"

"I believe so. Come with me!" With more haste than Elladan had witnessed in his father before, the half-elven lord walked swiftly towards the entryway arch. Waiting, Elladan then heard the sound of hooves at a lope. Then through the high stone and ivy laced arch rode two welcome faces to both of their eyes.

"Estel! Legolas!" Elladan rushed forward to embrace his youngest brother in a crushing hug as the man dismounted. "As odd as it is to say, it is good to see your old face again! Life has been to dull without you to pick on."

Aragorn swiped at the elf, who dodged nimbly aside. Elrond then grasped him by the shoulders. "It lightens my heart immensely to see you, and in one piece!"

The human looked uneasily at his father. "Then you are not upset?"

Elrond shook his head. "Angry? Of course not, Estel." He shook his head again. "I've tried to protect you too much Aragorn. I realized that these past long days. Nay, I cannot be angered by your actions and you need not explain your reasons. I trust your judgement." Aragorn looked more than a little relieved while also feeling slightly bewildered at Elrond's confession. But whatever the reason, it eased his heart.

"So you started the welcoming party without me?" Legolas, Elrohir and Aragorn looked up at the familiar voice. Gandalf laughed, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Fasse, welcome! You look as though you had ridden an Oliphaunt here instead of a horse!"

Fasse cast a woeful look at his fellow Istar. "It makes no difference when your bones are as frail as mine."

Seeing as how the shaggy and bedraggled wizard looked not in the least bit inclined to walking the few steps to Gandalf, Gandalf walked to him. Clasping hands Gandalf greeted his old friend warmly. "I see these two have taken good care of you," he said as he motioned to Legolas and Aragorn who were already back at their banter with the twins.

Fasse gripped Mithrandir's hand. "Yes, yes. I dare say they have, at least in comparison to this beast here." He sent a hot glare at Ralamir. The horse only snorted and moved to join Falmarin.

Gandalf chuckled and took a step back, allowing Elrond to join in the welcome. The elven lord reached out to grasp Fasse's hand in his strong palms. "You are welcome under this roof for as long as you wish to stay, friend. Anything you wish, you need only ask." Elrond smiled warmly at the diminutive wizard.

"I will take my leave, if I may, for I have need to steal away our two young adventurers." Gandalf nodded to Fasse and clapped him on the shoulder once more. "We will have much time to talk, friend. And we will use that time soon."

Fasse could only nod dumbly. The grandeur and beauty of even the courtyard of Rivendell awed the little traveled wizard. And when he was dwarfed between an Istar, much greater than himself, and an elven noble such as Elrond, he could not help but feel insignificant and quite overwhelmed by it all.

"You actually knocked him out?" Elladan tried to clarify over the jumbled words of Aragorn and Legolas's conflicting accounts.

"No! I just…"

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I did not. All I did was…"

"Oh, stop avoiding the truth."

"I'm not avoiding the truth! I'm telling you I did not…"

"You're such a bad liar."

"Aragorn! Would you stop interrupting me?"

Elladan was now completely confused and Elrohir cared not in the least what actually happened besides that it was all very entertaining. That was until there was a loud braying directly behind the younger elf's ear.

"Flames of Valaraukar!" Elrohir sprung to his feet, crashing into Elladan mid-leap.

"Crazy elf! Get off me!" Elladan pushed his sibling off him roughly, though a little frazzled himself by the unearthly bellow. He could not help but eye the strange horse like creature strangely.

"Blast that beast!" Elrohir cried, taking a step backwards as Gorban advanced on him. "Why won't it leave me alone?"

It was now Legolas and Aragorn's turn to have their merriment on behalf of the twins. Elrohir continued to back away from the donkey, with Gorban snuffling after the elf. Elrohir cursed once more, then turned tail and ran. Gorban, stared after the fleeing elf for a moment, before braying lonesomely and loping after Elrohir, his long scraggily ears flopping madly.

"So I see you have brought another partner in crime back with you to torment your brothers, Estel." Gandalf joined the remaining trio; his eyebrows peaked in mock disapproval.

"Nay, the donkey insisted on coming with us. I had no choice in the matter. Legolas though, has become…" Aragorn could get no further in his narrative without garnering an assault from the golden haired archer of Mirkwood.

The wizard coughed into his hand, drawing about the attention of the two invigorated friends once more. "I would ask that before you two kill each other, I could have the pleasure of speaking with you in private." Legolas snickered and elbowed Aragorn in the ribs. "Both of you."

Aragorn managed, once the Istar's back was turned, to blow a raspberry at the elf. Legolas shoved him aside. "You're so childish, Estel." He whispered, gaining an attempted slap. The elf skittered out of the way easily.

"You're both childish." Gandalf said dully, his back still turned. "I do not know what mad sickness I was suffering when I sent you two on an errand to save someone when all that is on your minds is the harm of the other. Why you two are friends I will never know."

---

A breeze rustled the silk and linen curtains drawn aside from the arched window. A few russet leaves blew from overhanging boughs through the open window, falling to rest upon the tapestry rug. The last wisps of clouds had disappeared a few moments ago, unnoticed.

"I must thank you both for your service." Gandalf began. "My trust was not misplaced, as I can see." The wizard sighed, folding the letter Legolas had handed him earlier and placed it in his deep pocket. It would come in great use when he presented Fasse's defense before the White Council. "The concern I have carried for Fasse's safety has been a great load on my mind along with…other things," the Istar skirted. "Your decision to bring him here, to Imladris, was a very wise. Even with the White Council's outright condemnation of the accusations placed upon Fasse, he still would have been in danger from the hand of evil. He will be sheltered in Rohan once all is settled. He will be safe, and of some use there." Mithrandir turned from them, his hands folded behind his back as he gazed out the window. Though he spoke of a weight being removed from his back, Aragorn could still see the wizard's shoulders sag.

"We had hoped," Aragorn spoke, "that there would be perhaps a name or some seal of sorts in the letter." He said after an uncomfortable moment of silence.

Gandalf smiled, hearing the regret in the ranger's voice. "That was not your errand. I doubted that whoever this figure is, he would not have been so careless." Mithrandir turned half way. "You did all that I asked. I can ask no more of you."

Aragorn met eyes with his elven friend for a moment then tentatively spoke once more. "We are here to serve the free peoples of Middle-earth, not ourselves."

The wizard turned now fully to them, looked at them with a sad smile. "Yes," he said quietly, "I know. All too soon I fear I may have to call on you once more." Legolas observed that Mithrandir's eyes seemed lost, or seeing into future events. He could not help but feel a certain foreboding. Gandalf looked upon them, seeing their troubled expression. "There I go again, warning too much and assuring too little!" His eyes twinkled, all phantoms banished. He moved to clap both of their shoulders, leading them from the room. "Now if I heard right, there is to be a feast tonight!" Gandalf sized them up, taking in both of their cuts and bruises and overall disheveled and muddied state. "And I do not think that the Lord Elrond would wish to see his honored attendee's looking as such."

And so the sun seemed to shine brighter, as if seeking to abolish even the shadows of the mountains casting their shade over the valley. For now the storm had been driven back by the breath of Illuvitar to cower, brooding, behind the fiery mountains. At least for a time the storm would be bound to its shadows from whence it was formed, and until the bindings were allowed to break, laughter and friendship would still reign. Then the sun smiled. Friendship would always reign as long as the spirit remained strong and friends' hearts remained bound. Together, they would be ready to serve their individual purposes, one, with a duty to Middle-earth, to guide and to defend; the other, to offer his silent support with both hand and heart.

End

A/N: Well, that's it! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I. This really was just my own personal confidence builder and it has helped! Perhaps, as I have set up in the last chapter, that I will write a sequel. Don't know when exactly I will write it, there'll probably be some shorts in between. Or even a few more longer stories. We'll see what happens. If I do write a sequel I think it will take place in Rohan during the War of the Ring with the events of the Two Towers. Or after the if. I really don't know!

Thank you all so much for the encouragement and advice y'all have given me! You guys are the bomb! : )

Bill the Pony…signing out.