Story Title: Lean on Me
Chapter Title: Exile
Author: J. Chassells
Summary: My take on how Aragorn (mostly referred to as Strider and Estel in this fic) and Legolas met and how their friendship was forged throughout their adventures and misadventures.
Author's Note: My first LOTR fic, so please don't hurt me! Reviews and flames are appreciated. This fic isn't really dedicated to anyone, but if I'd have to dedicate it to someone or something, I think this one goes to the US Military. I'm an extremely patriotic person and I support our military completely and firmly. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, just the plot, yada, yada, yada...
Characters that star in this story: Strider (Estel), Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, maybe a mention of Arwen here and there, and some unnamed orcs and just plain ol' bad guys.
Another A/N: Ooh! I'm even in apprehension as to what's gonna happen! Well, I better to get to typing to quell my curiosity, ne?
Chapter 4
Elladan looked at his brother in confusion and came to a stop beside him. "Elrohir, why were we called to the gate so early?" The younger twin shrugged and said, "Ada didn't come and get us himself, and that seems odd, don't you think?" Elladan nodded and wiped the last of his Elven dreams from his eyes.
He looked at the snow beneath his feet. It had been a late winter and spring had still not arrived. It had been snowing earlier that month, but the whiteness had quickly surrendered to the sun. However, the previous night, a cold front had moved in quickly, covering all of Rivendell in two feet of snow. He paced for a minute before someone else came up beside him.
"Mithrandir! Were you summoned too?" The wizard nodded, and quietly said, "For what reason, though, I do not know." Mithrandir had already picked up that neither of the twins knew why, either. After another minute or so, Legolas walked up, with Arwen next to him. The two looked at the three in confusion, and Legolas voiced their single question; "What is going on?" A loud voice behind them proclaimed, "I will tell you."
The group turned, and the elves frowned as they saw Elrond. His eyes were dark, and his lips were pressed tightly together. Legolas turned as he heard a sound to the side, and a shocked gasp slipped from his mouth. The group turned, and they took in the sight before them in astonishment.
Estel walked slowly, clothed fully in his ranger outfit. His cloak brushed his calves as he led Hijak along the path that had been carved into the snow during the night by the guards. His head was bowed, and Legolas could see that the pack on Hijak's back was full. Estel's bow and quiver hung over his back, and his sword hung at his side. His half-finger riding gloves were on, and his fists were clenched so tight that Legolas could see his knuckles were white.
Arwen was the first to speak after Estel came to a halt in front of the group. "Father, what is the meaning of this?" It was then that Estel finally looked up. His once expressive eyes were carefully guarded and it seemed as though all life had been snuffed out in the young man.
When Elrond didn't answer, Elladan turned to him and found his father having a staring contest with his youngest. It ended when Estel looked down and took something from a pocket. He held it tightly in his hand, and looked back up. He walked slowly towards the group through the snow until he reached the stairs they were standing on.
Walking up them slowly, he stopped at Arwen and pressed the object into her palm. She felt it, knew what it was, and a single tear fell from down her face. Estel ignored it and turned to Elrond. With a nearly inaudible sigh, he reached down and pulled a ring off of his finger. It'd been a gift from Elrond, who'd said it would tell all elves he was a friend to them. Estel glanced at it, then dropped it into Elrond's open and waiting palm.
Elladan cried, "Father, what is the meaning of this?" Elrohir joined in, "What is Estel doing?" Elrond make his voice as steady as it could be. "My sons, Prince, Arwen, Mithrandir...this man is exiled from all realms of Elven territory. He is forbidden from ever speaking the tongue. Never again shall one associate this man with the elves." The earned a simultaneous outburst from all present.
"Father, you mustn't! This is Estel we're talking about here!" Elladan raised his voice to be heard over Elrohir. "You can't exile our brother!" Legolas cried, "You have an oath to him!" Mithrandir started and asked, "Are you quite well, my friend?" Arwen gasped, "For what reason, father?"
Elrond held up his hands and glared at the group and answered their questions with a harsh tone. "Yes, this is Estel we're talking about, Elrohir. That is the problem. He is no longer your brother, Elladan. I have fulfilled that oath in full, Prince of Mirkwood. I am quite well, Mithrandir, and seeing a lot clearer now than I have before. And you are the reason, my daughter." A hush fell over the woods, as though the trees themselves felt the rush of anger that the king emitted.
Arwen cautiously asked, "What do you mean?" Elrond allowed his fury to take the reigns. "What do I mean, Arwen? I mean he cares for you! Loves you, even! And I am not about to let an Adan take away your happiness!" Upon hearing the disrespectful title her father used for Estel, she allowed her own anger to rise. "He gave me happiness, father! I love him!" The silence felt deafening.
Elrond's face flushed in anger, and he quietly, dangerously said, "Then I am doing this for your own good, Arwen." Turning to Estel, he said, "Go now, and leave the name Estel behind. Leave it here in Rivendell, with Elves, where it belongs." The man's eyes showed his emotional pain for only a second before he nodded in submission.
Elladan took a step forward and said in disbelief, "Estel, tithen gwador..." Estel silence him with a raise of his hand and said, "I am no longer Estel, nor am I your brother." The nameless man glanced at Legolas, then quietly said, "I am Strider, a ranger of the North."
That was it. In that instant, he changed. He was no longer the soft, sweet man with Elven-like abilities, named Estel who was the hope of Gondor and of Man. He was Strider, a Ranger, with a cool, calculating air about him. Willing his pain into the depths of his soul, he turned and walked down the steps to his horse. He stopped, turned, and smiled in a way one wouldn't have thought possible if one were in Strider's position.
But smile he did, and said, "My Lord Elrond, Lords Elladan and Elrohir, Prince Legolas, Lady Arwen, Gandalf the Gray... I bid you all a fond farewell." He paused, then said in a less ceremonial way, "Thank you for allowing me to live here as long as I have, and thank you for the kindness and caring you showed me. I know my mortality among you has been nothing but a hindrance, and I hope I can make it up to you some way in the future."
He turned too quickly to see the small look of shock on Elrond's face, and mounted his horse easily. He turned the horse once, using the rotation to take in his last view of his home, family, and friends. He locked eyes with each of the elves and nodded to Mithrandir and calmly said, "Namaarie, awartha nin."
Elrond opened his mouth to object to him using the language of the elves, but Strider suddenly kicked his horse, hard. The horse reared slightly before streaking through the open gate, bearing its rider from the painful memories that lingered in Rivendell. As if sealing his fate, and as the shocked elves looked on, the gate rumbled shut, blocking the rider from view.
The elve's dispatched quickly, each moving to handle the grief in their own ways, but Arwen stayed and stared at the gate, as if blaming it for everything that had happened. A gust of wind blew by, bringing snowflakes with it, causing the she-elf to brush her hair behind her ears. As she did, she felt the object in her hand, and a new wave of pain washed through her senses. She opened her palm, and watched as snow began to collect on the object there.
With snow glistening around it, the Evenstar pendant looked like a tear in a lake of void.
Yeah....R&R!
