A/N) This is the final chapter to Phantom of Mirkwood and I hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing.
I was just curious as to how you thought of Gandalf in Chapter Seven. My brother James wrote most of it and he really wanted to know what people thought of the confrontation. I would be very grateful if you could comment on this as I am sure it will make his day.
Dreamingfifi: Well Gandalf has a lot to say in this chapter, and Aragorn has to make a decision. Hopefully this will tie up any loose ends. Oh, I like people who have weird names on this site. They usually have some of the best stories on here! Thank you for reading and reviewing.
And thank you to everyone who has reviewed and to the people who may be reading this but have not reviewed.
And a very big thank you to my brother James for introducing me to LOTR by forcing me to sit through FOTR and TTT. Without him I don't know where I'd be today.
Phantom of Mirkwood
Chapter 8
Farewell to Family
The Orcs bodies that had been slain in the battle were removed the following day and burnt. News came to Thranduil that his son was steadily making progress and had woken in the early hours of the morning with a headache and many aches but Legolas could hardly remembered what had happened the night before.
Aragorn rose shortly before high noon and having eaten, Gandalf took him aside.
"Now Aragorn as I said earlier I came here seeking you. I did not expect to find a creation of Morgoth to be loose in these woods but it appears I came at the right time."
"What is it that I have that you desire?" Aragorn asked.
Gandalf laughed. "There is nothing that you have what I want, young human. Long time have I watched you grow from afar, desiring to speak to the heir of Isildur. But Lord Elrond warned me to stay away from you at least until you knew your true identity. Therefore I have kept distance from you; watching you grow into the man you are today."
"Then what is it that you want from me?"
"Nothing much," Gandalf said, "but your companionship on my long journeys."
"Why me?"
"Inquisitive just like all the others," Gandalf said, his eyes twinkling, "I was sent here to aid the peoples of this world and there are some who need the aid more then others. You for one. Aragorn, you need experience; far more experience then you do now and I can give it to you."
"How long would I be away for and what is the nature of this venture?"
"I cannot say. Several years at the most. My journeys are long and treacherous and though you think you've seen danger you have yet to know the real peril you will be in, in years to come if you are not prepared," Gandalf said, "There have been many dark tidings in the east near to Mordor. I need to investigate these tidings and see if there is any way to prevent any war from breaking out. Even now the Haradrim are marshaling forces against Gondor. But your task is different Aragorn son of Arathorn. Yes, you must travel with me but you must formalize yourself with the area of Rohan and Gondor. I can see no other way for you to do this but to join in the armies of Rohan and Gondor and gain their trust. By the time war breaks loose everything should be set."
"This is not yet the time to reveal myself," Aragorn said, "How would I move around without people knowing my real name?"
"Ah," the wizard began, "Use an alias. Not Strider though. That will associate you with the folk of Mordor and the Haradrim if you use that name."
"Then what do I go by?"
"Thorongil," Gandalf replied, "in the elvish tongue it means 'eagle of star'. It is a name that every one of your ancestors has used since the beginning of the Dúnedain. And so it shall continue; that is only if you choose to leave behind all that you love and hold dear."
Aragorn lowered his eyes. To not see Elrond or the twins or Legolas for years would be a trial for him. What if he passed out of knowledge from them and they forgot that he even existed? He shook his head at this thought. They would not do that. Yes, surely they would mourn that I was no longer among them, but the twins always say I should grow up and take my own path in life. They can no longer protect me. I have to learn or a terrible evil could befall me. He thought.
"I see that it is my path to leave what I hold dear. Therefore Gandalf I will travel with you to Mordor and back again." Aragorn announced.
Gandalf nodded. He had been worried that Aragorn would not accept, but he had. "Then we will leave as soon as Prince Legolas has recovered and that will not be a while yet."
*****
"What?"
Aragorn was sitting in the healing ward watching over Legolas and when the elf had woken he had explained what Gandalf had asked him. Judging by the expression on his friend's face, Aragorn could tell that the prince disliked the idea of him going off with Gandalf and leaving him alone. "I will not be gone long."
"Just a minute ago you said that you'd be gone for - how long was it? - about a couple of years?"
"I thought a couple of years meant nothing to you?" Aragorn asked, grinning.
"True enough, but when I'm with you the time flows slower and that means if you're gone for a long time you may come back old and hale. You don't know how long a couple of years is to an elf, Aragorn," Legolas said, "It's a really long time to linger waiting for someone to come back who may never return."
Aragorn could not help laughing. "I certainly will not come back old and hale. I'm only just over twenty-two! If, by rights, I will not age like a normal human. I will still look forty when I'm a hundred. I won't grow old until I'm at least over a hundred years! I definitely will not be over a hundred when I return."
"You'd better not be." Legolas said.
"I promise that I will return as quickly as I can," Aragorn vowed, "but you must understand that I have to go on this journey. Gandalf is the only one who can prepare me for the evil what I have to face in years to come."
"I know. Thing is what do I do while you are gone." Legolas wondered.
"Keep Elladan and Elrohir entertained. I'm sure you three will have enough dangerous scrapes that when I return form my journey with Gandalf you three will not be able to keep talking about it," Aragorn laughed, "Besides even without me there you'll keep ada on his toes with all the injuries that you sustain."
"Very funny," the prince made a grab at Aragorn but the human moved away, "I am not the one who always ends up getting injured. You are that person. I usually have to drag you home with me or back to Rivendell."
Aragorn sat back down in his chair, smiling, "Oh, no. Look what happened last night. Who was the one ended up being hurt and nearly dying because of it?"
"Fine I give you that one! But the rest of the times its you I drag home with me." Legolas replied.
"Okay, I give up arguing with you. I never win so those no point in trying," Aragorn said, "Partly I'm glad that I'm going with Gandalf. Maybe being away from you and the twins will help me mature better and learn not to listen to elven twins and elven princes. Father always has said I should spend less time with you and more time on my own."
"You know my father says that as well."
"You know what I think ada and yours talk to each other about trying to separate us. Maybe ada convinced Gandalf to ask me to journey with him." Aragorn mused.
"That is unlikely," a voice said. Gandalf stepped out from the door way, laughing, "I think Aragorn you know better then that. I am doing only what is best for you. You do not have to come if you wish not too."
"I will journey with you." Aragorn said.
"Good," Gandalf said, "I'm afraid now that Legolas has to take some medicine and rest. Orders from your father. Aragorn, come, Elrond wishes to speak with you."
*****
Aragorn left the room he had just spent an hour in talking to Elrond. The elf lord had given him advice and many cautions, and knowing that if he ignored these - like he'd done before - Aragorn would not live long. He had told his foster-son that he and Gandalf would be leaving within the week. At this news Aragorn protested saying that Gandalf had explained that they would leave as soon as Legolas was well, but Elrond replied that dangerous tidings had come out of Gondor and they needed aid, and Gandalf needed to begin his journey as soon as possible. Reluctantly Aragorn had excepted.
The week flew by. The twins took Aragorn hunting; Legolas rose from the healing ward and was able to go riding, but not hunting. That last week seemed like a dream, and at last came the morning when Aragorn was taking leave of Mirkwood with Gandalf.
He had packed all his weapons and belongings and as a going away present Legolas gave him a quiver full of Mirkwood arrows that the elf prince had himself wrought in secret. King Thranduil had given the human a special cloak that would aid him in the cold weather if any befell him. The twins - with the aid of Legolas - had fashioned a Mirkwood bow that had been made to a humans' size and strength. Elrond had given Aragorn a brooch that held the crest of Rivendell and the name 'Estel' encrusted onto the golden leaf. Arwen had given her father a heart stone that was to be given to Aragorn.
"This, Aragorn, is a gift from Arwen," Elrond said and he held up a red glowing gem. It was small in size and would fit nicely into his front pocket. "It is a heart stone and there are only a few of these left in Middle-Earth. It will remind you of the happier times. It will aid you in times when your path is clouded and dark before you. It will lead you to the light if ever you should fall into darkness. Keep it by your heart, Aragorn, it will aid you better."
Gratefully Aragorn placed the stone in his pocket and hugging Elrond he proceeded to the edge of the forest with Gandalf. At the edge stood Legolas, the twins and the King. They were joined by Elrond. The five elves watched as Aragorn and Gandalf set off on their journey.
When at last there forms had disappeared, Legolas sighed, "I'm going to miss that human."
"So am I," Elladan said, "I never thought that I would miss a human like I do now."
Legolas laughed, "Come on. We'd better get back. I'm sure that the time will fly by and Aragorn will soon be coming back."
The king and Elrond glanced at each other and moaned.
"They are going to be so much trouble," Elrond said, "Perhaps we should prevent our sons from journeying to our realms. Then maybe we will be left in peace."
"I'm sure they will find a way to create trouble even when they are apart." Thranduil said, "Come, my friend, lets see what mess they've got themselves into already."
The elven lords walked off into the woods heading back to the palace.
*****
Aragorn stood on the hill overlooking Mirkwood with Gandalf at his side. He had watched his elven brothers and father walk into the forest and a feeling of loneliness crept up into him. He touched the stone that was in his pocket and warmth crept into his limbs and his mind wandered far into the past. A small smile crept across his face.
"Aragorn," Gandalf said, laying a hand on the human's shoulder, "Come, we have a long journey ahead of us."
Aragorn slowly turned from Mirkwood and followed the wizard into the wilds of Middle-Earth, to lands unknown to him.
The End............or is it?
A/N) Well this is the end to Phantom of Mirkwood. I was just wondering if you would like a sequel - kind of - but about when Aragorn comes back from his long journeys with Gandalf and he is reunited with Legolas, the twins, Arwen and Elrond. If you would like this please put this in a review. And if you do then the sequel will be called 'Reunion' and will probably be only a few chapters or maybe just one.
Once more thank you for all the support that you have given me on this story.