The Journey Home Pt2

Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkein owns all of this stuff.

It is mid-day and Adrowin and Aragorn are standing in a clearing by a wooded area. Adrowin is holding Aragorn's bow with an arrow notched, with the older man standing behind him, helping him hold the string back. 

"Okay, now I will let go and you keep the bow level and when you think it is on target let go, okay", Aragorn instructs the young boy. He nods in response.

Adrowin closes one eye and tilts his head closer to the bow. Aragorn slowly lets go of his hold of the bow to make sure that Adrowin had a good grip on it. He then hobbles back a little and watches how the younger man does.

Adrowin's hands shake, but he keeps the bow relatively still. When he thinks he has the target, a tree several dozen feet away, locked on he lets the arrow go. It sails through the air high, but not very far. It imbeds itself in the grass a few feet away from the target.

Adrowin sighs and looks down at the ground sadly.

"I'll never be as good as you, Aragorn."

Aragorn limps over to Adrowin to encourage him a little. "Now, you don't think I became a Ranger over night, do you?"

Adrowin shook his head.

 "Like everything else in life, it only takes practice. I have a feeling about you. You might make a fine Ranger one of these days."

Adrowin smiles up at Aragorn, "I will keep trying."

[One week later…]

The whole week has been pretty uneventful. It is now night. The only light is the low hanging moon. Our three adventurers rest, if not restlessly, on the soft grass.

Aragorn taught Adrowin how to use his bow everyday, sometimes even more than once a day. He needs more practice, but he is getting better at it. Adrowin seems to have taken Aragorn as sort of a "foster father" and is spending a lot of time with him.

All three stir in their sleep. It has been a long journey and Aragorn is sure they are at least half way to Rivendell by now.

Aragorn shifts in his sleep one more time.

[Aragorn's dream…]

/// Aragorn is in an open field. It seems familiar. Then he hears Legolas's voice. He's about to yell out his name, when he hears his own voice. His heart sinks, he's replaying in his mind the day Legolas, his Legolas, was killed. He shut his eyes and a tear streaks down his cheek. He wipes it away and quickly runs, or rather limps, towards the voices.

Aragorn stops behind a large tree and crouches down. Moments later he sees Legolas and himself come up a hill. They stop suddenly and Legolas looks around suspiciously. "Orcs", Aragorn asks.

A chill runs up Aragorn's back when he hears himself speak. It all plays out in slow motion right before his eyes. As the arrow whizzes through the air Aragorn wants to jump up and yell out Legolas's name, but his legs don't want to seem to want to move. He watches as the arrow imbeds itself in Legolas's chest.

Aragorn can't take it anymore and collapses against the tree. He sobs into his hands. He nearly jumps out of his skin when he feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up and once again sees Legolas's beautiful face. He jumps up and nearly topples the Elf over. He wraps his arms around the Elf's neck and kisses him on the cheek.

Legolas chuckles at the human, "it's nice to see you too, my love." He gestures for Aragorn to sit down, which he does so, and sits next to the Human. They both turn to each other and hold one another's hands.

Aragorn raises his hand to Legolas's cheek and strokes it. "I thought I'd never see you again." Another tear falls from his eye. Legolas wipes it away.

"I will always be with you. I am always right here", he places his hand over Aragorn's heart.

"You have to promise me something", Legolas adds.

"What, I'll do anything for you?"

"You have to promise me you will not forget Arwen. Do not let my death be the end of what you and Arwen might share. I hate to see you like this. Promise me when you get to Rivendell you will hug her like you have never hugged her before and tell her you love her. Have a family with her and love her till your dying days."

"I will, I will. I promise I will." Aragorn pulls Legolas into a hug and cries into his shoulder. ///

Aragorn is jolted awake by the snap of a twig. He looks around, trying to see in the darkness. He hears a low growl coming from behind some nearby bushes. He turns to see a wolf leap from behind the bushes. It's a good seven feet. Its gray fur stands on end as it arches its back, ready to pounce on Aragorn any second.

Aragorn tries to stand up, but the sharp pain that shoots up his leg reminds him of his injury. He falls to the ground with a yelp.

Adrowin hears the commotion and slowly wakes up and rubs the sleep out of his eyes. He looks over at Aragorn's sleeping spot and spots Aragorn trying to back up from an advancing wolf. He also sees that Aragorn is now backed up to a tree and has very little time left. Adrowin spots Aragorn's bow and arrows. He takes the bow and an arrow and goes to a good vantage point.

Adrowin notches the arrow and aims for the wolf's midsection. Sweat drips from his forehead as he tries to keep his hands still. He closes his eyes and lets the arrow go. He prays to whatever gods were listening that the arrow would hit its target.

TBC…

No I'm not dead or in a coma. Sorry for the long wait. Hope you enjoyed this one. Please continue to review!!