Hi! 'Tis chapter 3. Getready for a long Rhone/Aragorn conversation.

Disclaimer: LotR does not belong to me. But Rhonale and Nori do! AHA- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

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The next day dawned bright and clear, with no threat of the rain that had been the day before. Just as the top of the sun first touched the horizon, Aragorn stood, stretching muscles stiff from the night before. He looked to his companions, but both were deeply asleep, even Nori, and he decided not to wake them. With a sigh he rekindled the fire, then set to work making breakfast.

Rhone woke to the smell of burning food and the sounds of Aragorn cursing.

"You always did burn the salad," she said with a smile, looking up at the clear sky.

"You can't burn salad," he said.

"Well, you did."

"Shut up."

Rhone sat up, and was pleased to find that, while it still stung a bit, she could move with relative ease. She looked to Aragorn, a puzzled expression on her face, but he answered her question before she could ask him.

"I used ethelas." he said, with a shrug.

Rhone nodded. She knew ethelas did wondrous things in his hands.

She stood and walked over, if rather stiffly, and sat beside him, trying to rescue the burnt coney.

"Nice catch." she said, cutting off the burnt parts.

"Thanks," he said. He looked over at the elf an odd look on his face. "Legolas told me you had met up with a mad she-elf, a cousin of his, but until now I did not believe it."

"If you would believe her mad, we would have to discuss that by my blade, little brother." said Rhone, gray eyes flashing.

"Sister dear, I meant no offense." he said, taking a bite of the coney, and wincing at the flavor. "I rarely take what Legolas says at face value. In regards to nature, or his aim, he is always dead on. In regards to family..." Aragorn chuckled. "He often misrepresents the truth. But, I cannot help but wonder: How did she come by that dwarven name?" he looked askance at Nori's battle ax, which rested against a tree. "And her skills with that axe?"

"You know her elvish name is Meneostiel, right?" she asked. He nodded. "She's never liked that name. It was almost impossible to shorten, and marked her too much in her mind as an elf. Well, a year or so ago we were roving about near the Lonely Mountain, when we were attacked and captured by some bandits out of the Iron Hills. We were young, and completely taken off our guard. They intended to take advantage of us, but we were rescued by a group of dwarves on patrol in the area. Nori had taken severe wounds, and might have died but for their quick action.

"While she was recovering, we amused them so much that they adopted us as family. We took a blood oath, and took dwarvish name and everything." She showed him an odd scar on her forearm shaped like an ax. "My dwarvish name is Palin Skyhelm, but I only use it around dwarves. I like my given name. Nori, however, was glad to take a Dwarvish name, for she hated her given name. Then she saw a dwarf warrior, Garin Granitehands, working with a battle ax, and begged him to teach her to use it. He was dubious, for most elves showed no skill with a battle ax, but finally agreed to teach her. She took to it like a fish to water, and soon she was one of the best ax woman in the mountain, better even than some of the men. Finally she was totally well, and we left, to explore the lands more. We go back and visit every few months or so though."

"Well, that makes sense." he said.

"Enough about us," she said, smiling. "How are you doing? What are you doing here?"

"I'm doing as well as any Ranger can I suppose; living from day to day, wandering about the country side..." he shrugged. "I would like to return to Imladris, but I feel it is not time yet. Something holds me from there."

"Then you have not returned to Imladris since you left, Estel? I mean, Aragorn." she swore. "Arg! Why do I always do that? I always forget!"

"Why should you be embarrassed, dearheart?" he asked. "I still wonder who people are talking to when the call me Aragorn. We knew each other as Merina and Estel since we went onto Elrond's care. And you left Imladris much earlier than I did." he sighed. "Before I knew my heritage." he looked at Rhone sadly. "I wish you had been a man. Then I would not have this burden upon me." he looked away, and became very interested in his boots.

Rhone put a forefinger out and lifted up his head to face her. "Aragorn, even if I had been a man I would have conceded the throne to you. I am no leader. Give me a sword and yes, I can kill a man, but tell me to give a speech or sign a treaty, and I would go mad." then she lethim go, and leaned back, smiling. "Anyway, being a girl is more fun. You get to beat up orcs and bandits. I like beating up bandits." she said, a cruel smile on her face. Then her face changed once more and she looked at Aragorn, a mischievous look on her face.

"I've gone back and visited a few times, though." she said loftily.

"Oh you have dearest, darling sister?" he said, in the same tone. He startd to drink from his canteen.

"Elrond's daughter seemed quite...fond of you." she said.

Aragorn choked on his water, and spluttered, some of the water going out his nose. "She did? Really?"

"Oh come on Aragorn! Really! She's in love with you!"

"But she's an elf!" He said, pain showing in his face. "I would grow old and die,and leave her all alone. Her heart would break!"

"Aragorn, it is her choice who she gives her heart to! And if you be the one to recieve it, recieve it well and with open arms. She stared into the fire, her face sad. "Love is hard enough to find as it is." they were silent for a few moments.

"You still grieve for him, don't you." he said, not a question, just a statement, very softly. He knew in his heart he was right. But she denied it.

"I do not grieve for him." she said, her voice hard but full of pain. "He is dead now ten years. I have grieved already for him, and I wish not to dwell on it!"

"Have you even told her?" he said in a whisper, gesturing to Nori, who was still asleep. "Have you not told her why you shy away from any hint of love?"

"I have not, for I do not want her pity!" Rhone said. "My life is my own, brother. You would do well to remember that."

"Aye, all too well." he said, his face inscrutiable.

Then Rhone frowned, and she looked back at Nori. "How long has she been out?"

"I don't know, about thirty six hours.straight." he trailed off as he realized what he had said, and they both ran over to Nori. She was hot to the touch, and covered in sweat. Her eyes were open, but she obviously did not see, and she was muttering to herself.

"Oh, Gods!" Aragorn said. "I checked for poison! I know I did!"

Rhone was checking up and down Nori's arms and legs, and stopped at one of her boots. She looked up at him. "The leather's cut here." She removed the boot carefully, and gasped with dismay. There was small cut on Nori's ankle, and it was a nasty green color.

Aragorn looked stricken. "I didn't think to..."

"Stop!" said Rhone, looking up at him, eyes bright. "It isn't your fault. There was no way of knowing that she was cut there, or that it would be poisoned. Nori propably thought it was a minor scratch." she looked closer at the cut. "And minor it is, though no less deadly. There is not enough to kill her, but the poison could seriously damage her mind." she turned to her brother. "Aragorn, you know herb lore better that I. What plant could be an antidote?"

"Ethelas may hinder the poison, but it will not heal it." Aragorn said.

Rhone bit her lip as her heart sank.

"But we are not too far from Rivendell." He said grimly. "Elrond has the power to save her."

Rhone looked down at Nori, then back up at her brother. "You're right. It is the only way.

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Who was Rhone's love? Will Nori be a vegetable? Can Aragorn burn water?

Find out next time,

Same bat time, Same bat channel.

(I am a hopeless batman fan.)

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