Disclaimer: I own nothing :

Summary: After the death of his friend, Aragorn falls into depression and there may only be one person who can draw him out of it.

How Can I Survive

Chapter 17

"It seems like whoever has him went to a lot a work covering their trail" Glorfindel commented to his companions. They had just set out that morning to continue their search for Estel. "I know, but why would someone go to so much trouble to hide their tracks?" Elrohir asked. "Simple. They don't want us to know that they have him." The older twin answered his brother. "They probably know what your wrath on them would be and they are doing all they can to avoid it" the fair-haired elf lord said trying to lift some of the fog of the damp spirits of his friend's sons. All he got in return was a small smile from Elrohir.

They had went in a larger party this time so just in case they found anything they would be prepared in numbers.

"Well so far they're winning" Kementari said sadly. He was one of Lord Elrond's most praised trackers. He had been with the search party looking for Estel and Elladan a couple of months ago, and the young man had grown on him. He might even consider them to be friends. The elves had all set out on foot, this morning for they thought that it would be easier to conceal themselves without the animals should they find anything.

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Arwen had begged her father to let her go out and help the others but she had been denied her wish. Elrond remembered what had happened last time one of his children asked to be off assistance in investigating where a missing person may be. He wasn't about to make that mistake again. He learned from the previous events that it wasn't a good idea.

However the Evenstar wouldn't accept no as an answer. The lord of Imladris was unaware of his daughter's plans though. He wouldn't be until she was gone, was Arwen's hopes. She had not left her quarters since the night before, and she denied the breakfast that Elrond had brought up for her. Her stomach was already upset and eating wouldn't help. Elves are immune to sickness so she knew she wasn't ill. She brushed the thought away and settled on the idea that she was just nervous. Arwen had made up her mind of what she was going to do and nothing would change her mind.

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"What are you talking about?" Aragorn demanded. "Be still young one. Patience is a virtue. I will continue" Terral said with a grin glued to his face.

"A long time ago, when your dear father still lived, you may have called us allies. We trusted each other so to speak. For clarification, this was when Arathorn was the chieftain of the dunadan." His words didn't answer any questions in Estel's mind, it just gave more. Terral could see the confused look on his captive's face and that only added to his contentment.

"He was a good leader, I'll give him that but I knew I could have been a better one" Terral said with a look of glory etched on his face along with that of sorrow. "I gave him a choice, a choice damn it and he made the wrong decision." the man continued. Tears were evident in his light green eyes, that almost made Aragorn pity him. Almost. He couldn't hand out mercy to the person who would give him none.

"I told him how I felt, I told him that I knew I could have been a greater captain than he. He didn't say anything but the laughter was apparent in his eyes. He told me I would have my time to shine but this wasn't it. But he didn't comprehend that it was my turn to be in charge, to have people follow me." Aragorn didn't know what to say to this. He was about to say something but it seemed that Terral wasn't finished in his story.

"Many people felt the way I did, I eventually found out. Others thought that I could have done a better job than Arathorn, so they helped me come up with a murder plan. A scheme to assassinate your father. Unfortunately there was a mole in my group. Arathorn was smarter than I gave him credit for, and he had a feeling about what I was doing, so he sent a spy. They found me out." Estel thought he was done but again he was mistaken.

"So he banished me and my followers. He condemned us. But now that he is dead I can not have my revenge on him, so of course my first thought was you. You are the next in line to succeed your beloved father, so I will ask you the same thing. Hand over the reins to a more skilled rider."

The young man didn't know what to say to the other's proposal. If he accepted he may get out of here alive, but then he knew firsthand that people don't always stick to their word. He knew that because of Thartel. But if he did accept where would that put people's faith in him. How would he be labelled. If his father could be strong and not give in, couldn't he? Or was he weak? People already thought low of him, and this would not help. He had wanted to begin training as a ranger, but they would no longer have confidence in him. He had weighed the situation enough to know what the right answer was.

"No, you are not worthy" Estel spat. Terral threw his head back and laughed as he simultaneously shook his head. "You are just as stubborn as your father, do you know that?" He stood from the chair and with a flick of his wrist orcs appeared out of the corners of the prison he was in. "You can continue to play with him, and try to weaken that little will of his." The orcs nodded eagerly showing that they would do their best.

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"We have been searching for hours now and we still have found nothing" Elladan said glumly. "Well then maybe we should head back to the palace and inform Elrond of what we found…or what we didn't find" Glorfindel suggested and the others agreed. It would do no good to follow tracks that always led to nothing.

The group made their way back to Imladris to give the bad news to somebody they knew would be hoping for good news.

The company was met by a frantic Elrond. He was sweating, which rarely happens to elves if ever, he was breathing heavy and his breathes were hitched. It seemed he was waiting for them to return. He was standing by the gates, pacing the ground. "Hir nin?" [my lord] Glorfindel asked worriedly. Elrond seemed to relax down at the sight of both his sons returning but he still looked extremely upset.

A little bit calmer, he managed to say "She's gone, Arwen went to look for him." "What" Elladan demanded. "She left?" The peredhil turned his attention to his eldest. "I'm afraid so, but now that you're back I'm sure we can find them." Elrohir had his hands covering his fair face not knowing what else to do. Glorfindel put an arm on the younger elf's back, but Elrohir just shoved it away and exposed his face once again. He didn't want to appear fragile, but the uneasiness was etched into his strong features. Fear was unmistakably engraved in his dazzling grey eyes as was his twin's.

"We will locate her whereabouts" Elrohir said trying to cover the anguish that his heart was feeling but to no avail for the others were experiencing it as well. "Yes we will, but I want you to get some rest first" Elladan was about to interrupt his father but Glorfindel put his hand on the twin's shoulder silently telling him to let the elf lord continue. "It won't do us any good to have you searching when all you are thinking about is the tiredness that is slowly seeping into your bodies." Although Elladan still wanted to go look for them he knew his Adar was right, it wouldn't help them nor would it help Arwen.

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Elrohir was in his quarters sitting in a plush chair, with his balcony doors open allowing the breeze to enter and blow his twilight coloured hair. It appeared as if the tranquil aura that always seemed to follow him had somehow disappeared and he couldn't regain it. He tried praying to the Valar to help calm his anxious spirit but it did not alleviate his pain.

"Hasn't my family been through enough?" he begged for an answer but he didn't know from whom. He was just talking to whoever could hear him. But there couldn't have been many for he was whispering and even an elf would find him inaudible. "Haven't we grieved a sufficient amount, or do we have to keep experiencing tragedy?" He began to cry the tears that were pleading to fall since he had learned of what his younger sister had done.

"I just want my family to be happy for once." "Be strong young one." The voice came out of nowhere and it nearly made Elrohir fall out of his chair. He knew he could no longer speak to Elladan in his head, how could he to another? "Lady Galadriel?" he asked almost sure that it was her. "Yes it is I. Do not be ashamed to cry" she said that just as her grandson had started to wipe away his tears with his index finger. "You are a brave and valiant warrior and you will make a difference in the lives of many" she advised

"Why do so many bad things keep happening to us?" Elrohir asked hoping she would have the answer to his question. "I am afraid I do not know. But Estel and Arwen both have important roles to play in the future. They are needed as are you" Galadriel said in a very soothing and comforting tone. Then she said one last thing to him before her voice left his head "Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha" [may the leaves of your life never turn brown]. After she aid that Elrohir knew that their conversation was over. But he also knew that he would never forget it. He would put his trust in her - The Lady of Light.

Well what do you think? Oh and I know the thing about Arathorn is probably wrong, but this is AU so it doesn't really matter does it? : r and r pls!!