Chapter 1: Rangers
Aragorn paused as he walked behind Halbarad. His neck hurt suddenly and he tried working out the kink, but it remained so he shrugged and followed after the other ranger.
"Did you feel that?" asked Halbarad stopping.
"Feel what?" Asked Aragorn, his soft voice rumbling in his throat.
Halbarad glanced to the south-east, his brow furrowed.
"One of the Elfin kin…no…the feeling is gone now."
"Orcs?" asked Aragorn.
"No, I think not. Something less obviously evil. It has passed now, let us be on our way."
"Where are we going?"
"I thought maybe to check on the men of Dale and see how their rebuilding has come along."
Aragorn nodded, "Bard has done well, if all I hear tell is true."
"How old were you when Smaug was destroyed Aragorn?"
Aragorn thought about it for a moment before answering, "About ten."
Halbarad smiled at his relatively new friend, "It is still a little hard to believe."
At the furrowed brow from Aragorn he chuckled, "That a scrawny runt like you will ever be king."
Aragorn rolled his eyes at him. He was quite used to the jesting by now and didn't take it at all seriously, nor did he find it particularly funny.
Halbarad beamed at him, "We will take our time, you can be our guide, we will see how you do, if we even get there."
Aragorn shrugged and turned south-east. Halbarad could joke all he liked, but Aragorn was a son of Elrond and unbeknownst to Halbarad, he knew full well where Dale lay. He let a half-smile onto his face. Halbarad thought he was tricking the young man, but Aragorn knew he would be avenged in Halbarad's little game, and he wouldn't have to say a word.