*Siri cartwheels into the post* Tada! I'm here!
Sorry this is so late! We went to a concert yesterday and it took a long time to get there, it was a long concert, and it took a long time to get back ;D Also we still want to be uneven with Cassia and Sio! Who are posting again! YEAH! =D
Okay so here we are with a LONG post to make up for it being late! *grins* :D
To anyone who asked our story is 19 chapters. So! Just two more to go! =)
Belothien: Oh dear! I guess we're still killing the fellows you like huh? Sorry! *pouts* But I like Malvegil ;D Oh yes, he doesn't have much of a character yet does he? ;D Thank you! I'm glad you liked the way that ran! It was sort of a nightmare really having to keep everyone updated on both sides!
Karina: Yeah, it's kinda hard not to feel bad for the guy! But you're right, leaders and young guys seem doomed! Oh I am glad you liked the Kallomore/Eression father/son thing, frankly we were a little afraid everyone would guess it ahead of time so I'm glad it was surprising! =D *laughs* Well as long as they're making themselves useful! I mean they have to do something helpful before they run off to save Middle Earth ;D
Lurker_elf: *smiles* Well as much as I would like to lead you on, we DID say only one character death so yeah, Erynbenn and Bartho are safe…for the moment ;D *laughs* Yes they certainly do! Well, I knew it would be silly for Kallomore to be that careless, but you know these 'hero types' usually only need them to be a *little* distracted ;) *laughs* Actually Sarah and I debated for QUITE some time over the whole 'kill them outright' vs. 'make them mortal' thing! We couldn't make up our minds! But we finally decided that having them just die would be too much like the Nazgul, even if having them suddenly mortal was a lot like The Mummy and Pirates of the Caribbean, but hey, you can't win them all ;D Yes, we liked having the Witch King show that similarity to his own situation, which was (in part) why we felt justified in making ANOTHER evil-nasty-ring! ;D Oh! I'm glad we got you to feel sorry for them! =D *giggles* Yeah, it really is one of those phrases! But it's SO nice for ending off a chapter! =D
Lady Sandry: Sorry, Sandry! I'm afraid one of them had to die…and it had to be Poor Idhrin! *hands over tissue* Sorry! *laughs* Yeeah, destroying Rings is sort of becoming the bane of Aragorn's existence! =D Thank you for the kudos! I can't stand it when writing falls into Melodrama! And I am SO happy you don't think it did!
Cassia: Hey Cassia! So great to see you back! =D *laughs* I could let you borrow some cleaner to get rid of those smudges! I use it on my computer all the time…can't imagine WHY! *grins widely* Yeah I was pretty surprised too! *pats Kallomore on the head* You unpredictable villain you! ;) *laughs* Hand-Decapitators! I'm SURE they want to hear that! ;D Yeah, well, it's hard to come up with a better idea for getting a ring off. Other than, Asking Politely (absolutely ridiculous), Yanking And Pulling (likely pointless not to mention rather damaging to one's dignity) or of course Gollum's Method (which is gross and frankly Aragorn's had a lot of Frodo jokes at his expense anyway ;D ) Yes! The sword was Sarah's wonderful idea! We had a perfect opportunity with the added bonus of NOT having to drag the thing to Mordor! =D *beams* I'm glad you liked it! =D *laughs* SEE? SEE?! We're not the ONLY one's who make POTC parallels! *gloats in the most irritating fashion* ;D Though I certainly agree! It also reminded us of The Mummy but oh well ;D Sorry Sarah and I are sort of cursed with 3-D villains, we can't seem to make you just hate them… well… most of the time anyways :D Yeah, wanted to make everyone realize just what a lovely situation Eression was in! *grins impishly* SoThem?! Thank you! *hugs* *laughs* Oh when we went to Oregon (the first time I've been on a plane in years) we made SO many jokes! By the time we got back home we had the entire 'Emergency Exit Seat' speech memorized and could say it just like the flight attendant! =D
Hiro-Tyre: Oh boy! ;D Yes well, you did sort of throw us there, except that you had that opening paragraph that sort of gave you away. ;D Well, I am glad you liked it! And don't worry we appreciate every word of your feedback! =D And we're making absolutely sure it doesn't go to our heads! Yes…it stays way down in our toes where it belongs…most of the time ;D Ah yes, Eression was sort of my Frankenst--Character, and I had a lot of fun making him…confusing I guess. ;) I'm glad you like him! Yes, but we sort of had to kill some one, in all reality it would have seemed like a stretch if we hadn't. Too bad for Idhrin though =( As for the 'Halls' we didn't necessarily mean the Halls of Mandos here. Since it is never specified where humans go, except for occasional uses of the word Halls (Gandalf: He will find his way back to the halls of his fathers) we sort of made a compromise =) I'm sorry if it felt splintered! It's hard to know who will find that style intriguing and suspenseful and who will find it rather annoying and hard to follow, we just try to do our darnedest and hope for the best. =)
Well I'll go now! Enjoy! *skips away*
______________________________________________________________________________
Darkest Night
By Sarah and Hannah (Siri)
(disclaimers, explanations, and summaries
available at the top of chapter 1)
Chapter 18
Regrouping and Recruiting
Aragorn and Legolas quickly gathered up the twins and followed the man's lead, turning into the shadows at the left of the quaking door and taking a short flight of steps down. The passage was stiflingly narrow — obviously it had been built for the use of single runners in need of a quick departure. Behind them they heard the sound of a splintering wood and knew their time was running short. Soon some of the orcs would realize that they had not gone back into the tower itself and would draw the correct conclusions.
"Even once we get out, we will never outstrip them," Eression shook his head in the dark, his voice low. "Not with the wounded."
"My men are outside," Aragorn replied, hoping that they were indeed still there and had not been slain.
After they had been staggering through the rubble strewn passage for perhaps five minutes the sounds of pursuit began to echo chillingly around them. Aragorn held his brother's slender body close, trying to keep from jostling him. Once or twice Eression whispered back a warning when the ceiling dropped suddenly low above them, threatening to collide with their heads.
When the orcs were so close that Aragorn could smell the stench of their filthy bodies and hear distinctly their yells and taunts, the narrow tunnel ended abruptly in a rough stone door. Eression reached into a cavity on its pitted surface and manipulated something, causing the exit to swing wide on concealed hinges. And suddenly enough that it hurt their eyes, daylight streamed in upon them. They had exited into a tunnel of much greater proportions. To their left, flickering red around the bend, they could see the fires of the orcs' cavern. To their right the wide, low-ceilinged exit that the orcs used sat with its own stone doors sitting open, gray sunlight rippling through, with only an iron portcullis blocking their way. They broke into a flat run.
A prolonged yell of fury battered their ears as they went, coming not only from the runner passage but also from the orc cavern itself. As they came closer to the last barrier Eression stooped in mid-stride and caught up a rock the size of his own head. Slowing his pace to better his aim, he heaved the missile at a target no wider than his own hand: the brake lever for the portcullis. The lever snapped out of place for a few seconds and the chains to ran loose, dropping their stone counterweights and lifting the gate a few feet before the lever fell back into place.
"Get out!" Eression cried, pointing ahead and veering towards the alcove that housed the workings for the stone gates.
Legolas and Aragorn moved with a speed and instinct born of countless battles together. Shifting his grip on Elladan so that he supported his brother with one arm, Aragorn held out his other arm and took Elrohir from Legolas. Dropping flat, the wood elf rolled quickly under the portcullis and onto his knees on the other side, reaching back under and easing first the younger then the elder twin after him.
Making sure they were safely under, Aragorn called over his shoulder to Eression, "We are through!" Then the ranger slid under as well, barely catching the other man's acknowledgement. Lifting Elladan once more, Aragorn turned to follow Legolas out. Only when they were completely beyond the gateway did they turn and look back. Eression had not yet appeared, but the orcs were now visible through the bars of the portcullis.
Then a shrieking, wrenching sound filled the air. The sound of orcish gears running against each other and of chains clattering and tangling. A crack of shattering rock was heard, and then a grinding as the stone doors began to drag themselves closed. When the space between the doors had narrowed to the width of a farm cart, the portcullis behind them broke free with a clang and it plummeted down again — nearly impaling the dark haired man who threw himself under it at the last moment. Stumbling upright, Eression ran forward through the stone gates as they closed with a crash, and behind him the noise of falling stones and machinery echoed within the sealed cavern.
Exhaling the breath he had been holding, Aragorn felt his body trembling with adrenaline as he closed his eyes briefly. No orcs would be coming from that tower. Not for some time.
Eression drew level with them, his gray eyes surveying his work impassively. "Father never trusted hired underlings," he explained briefly. "The orc cavern was not originally part of the tower — it would have been a defense error to have another entrance like that — and he wanted a secondary plan if the orcs turned on us." The man looked about worriedly, "You had best get back to your men, and quickly."
Legolas frowned, "Why, if all the orcs are trapped?"
"The original company is, but there was no room in the caverns for the fresh troops that came from the mountains a few days ago." Eression refrained from mentioning that the new orcs had been brought for the invasion of Rivendell; doubtless the heir of Isildur could guess as much. Instead he finished, "Unless the Dúnedain succeeded in slaying them all before the Nwelmai arrived, they are still encamped in the valley."
With a nod, Aragorn turned, "Come with us, then."
Halbarad's heart leapt as he saw his leader issuing from the orcs' gates and felt the thunder of the cave-in through the earth. Calling all rangers in hearing to his side, he ran to the Aragorn's aid as they left the tower behind them. Bartho quickly relieved Aragorn of Elladan and Moranuen took Elrohir from Legolas as the friends let out tired breaths.
"Orcs are coming…" Aragorn turned as he spoke, his ears picking out the sounds of the approaching enemies.
"We will handle them," Halbarad assured. "Fall back and see to your brothers, we must get away from this place as soon as possible."
Malvegil eyed Eression skeptically. "And him?"
"I will help with the orcs," Eression responded before Aragorn could. Aragorn gave a short nod, casting a reassuring glance to Malvegil and Halbarad.
"He is with us," he said before following Legolas towards the others.
The battle was heated, but short. Against all odds the Dúnedain once again had both their leader and the sons of Elrond, and their triumph gave strength to their tired limbs. In only a few hours, most of Elladan and Elrohir's tormentors lay dead upon the tower steps, before the sealed gates, and in the valley.
Eression kicked one of their carcasses bitterly and turned to find Malvegil watching him closely.
"I have never had a love for orcs," Eression said briefly, his voice taut and his heart weary. Mavegil nodded and together they returned to the camp near the edge of the ravine.
Though he could do very little for his brothers in that foul valley, Aragorn worked steadily. Moranuen and Legolas labored alongside him, binding only the most obvious injuries for now.
"Lord Aragorn," Halbarad's unusual use of titles announced he meant to make a suggestion for their next plans. "I feel we must leave this place now. The weather makes me wary and we have need to set this evil behind us."
Aragorn gave a stiff nod as he slowly wound cloth around Elladan's wrists where the manacles had been fastened.
"Yes," he said. "As soon as may be."
"What about Idhrin?" Halbarad asked softly, hating to burden Aragorn further.
His leader's eyes closed briefly. Aragorn had been much grieved at the death of a man whose quiet presence he had long depended upon as a strong point in a shifting wilderness. Now that strength was gone. Even the relief that no more had perished could not remove the loss.
"What about him?"
Halbarad looked away for a moment, torn. He knew all too well that time was short and few men were able enough to bear any weight but their own.
His face softening, Aragorn touched his friend's arm. "We will not leave him here, Halbarad. Not even in death." Turning back to the elves he said, "Mora? Will you help Legolas and I get my brothers onto our horses? It is dangerous to move them, but still more so to remain."
Moranuen nodded his assent and cast a last glance back at the tower in the cliff face, still standing like an immortal monolith. Then he moved to lift Elladan up into Aragorn's arms. He did not look back again as they departed.
The moment they had left the tower and the last noises of its dying storms behind them, Aragorn felt something in his heart ease. Though his worry did not yet lift, it was as though a long shadow had departed. The Witch King had only been another servant in the end — mimicking the craft of his master. But he had marked for himself a dwelling of evil, and only with his passing would it fade. For now at least, Aragorn was relieved simply to be away from it.
It was a weary and haggard group that came to rest outside Arnor by the boarders of the Weathered Hills. Their shelter was made by a small stream, unknown to many, that carried past the hills, ideal for seeing to the many injuries sustained by all.
Aragorn immediately sent Nindalf with a message to Lord Elrond, assuring him of his sons' safety, but in his haste he had no time to write such a message as he would have liked.
Halbarad took the organizing of camp upon himself while Aragorn and Legolas saw to Elladan and Elrohir. The Dúnedain were well used to making impromptu shelters and soon fires blazed around the area and water was hauled from the cold stream. Those who could still walk with comparative ease moved from fire to fire seeing to the others who had not been so fortunate. Unsurprisingly, Bartho had to be argued down before he would allow Halbarad to see to his wounds, and Halbarad found these to be many and grievous.
"Not as bad as some," Bartho contradicted shortly, clenching his teeth as Halbarad gently cleansed several deep welts on the other ranger's side and lower back. Everywhere around him Halbarad could see the toll that the Nwalmai's attack had taken on his fellow rangers… then there were Elrond's sons. Halbarad noticed that Aragorn had set up camp with Legolas far from the rest of the camp, near the stream, and he was even now tenderly seeing to his brothers' hurts. Neither twin had regained consciousness.
Halbarad turned his gaze away and let out a breath, finishing with Bartho's injuries and turning to the next ranger in need of help.
Aragorn was aware that his fingers were trembling as he washed out and bound Elrohir's many wounds, and his breath caught in his throat painfully with the sting of suppressed emotion, but these things he tried hard to ignore as he continued to work.
He felt Legolas' presence as the elf tended to Elladan mere inches away, and though he worked in silence Aragorn knew there was something urgent distressing his friend. This sense had been growing steadily since they had first begun to examine the twins' wounds, but Aragorn did not think he could take any more ill news and instead of addressing the wood elf, he began to rinse Elrohir's hair where it clung to his face with dried blood.
"Estel," Legolas whispered at length, his hand coming to rest on his friend's shoulder. Aragorn flinched in spite of himself. Turning reluctantly he immediately recognized Legolas' hesitation. "Estel, Elladan's leg: it has been broken for some time and… and it seems as though the orcs did not bother to set it properly…" The prince trailed off and waited to see if the ranger had understood the meaning of his words. Aragorn dropped his gaze and Legolas finished, forcing the words out in a rush, "We must set it aright, my friend; he will be permanently crippled if we do not. It is not too late, but it has been too long attempting to heal; we must break it and reset it." Legolas' watched his friend, an anguished pity rushing through his heart. He knew how hard Aragorn must be taking this.
For a long time the human did not move. Legolas wondered if he had not heard. Then his head came up, his face a mask of grim determination, and he nodded.
"Yes, you are right. We must." Gently laying Elrohir on his bedroll the ranger moved over to Elladan and crouched beside the elf's leg.
Silent as falling snow Legolas moved to Aragorn's side, touching Elladan's leg gently to indicate a certain place. "Here, below the knee."
Aragorn nodded and placed his hands where Legolas indicated. The elf took the other side and gripped Elladan's leg firmly. "Ready?" Legolas managed the one word only and Aragorn nodded once more.
At the same instant Aragorn and Legolas pressed against either side of the leg, Legolas providing the exact amount of pressure while Aragorn resisted from the opposite side. There was a sickening crack as the bones broke once more. Elladan twisted as he jolted back into consciousness from the sheer pain and cried out desperately before the wave of agony overwhelmed him again and he fell back weakly into blackness. Aragorn pulled away and allowed Legolas to set the bones correctly in a splint so that they would heal straight. The human seemed to be avoiding looking into his brother's pale face and stared instead at Legolas' hands as they moved expertly over the broken limb.
He knew it had been necessary. He had had to do it…
At last Legolas' hands moved away and Aragorn's eyes turned up to meet his friend's. He knew there were tears in his eyes from the way the wood elf's face was blurred.
It was too much, it was all too much. Having to find his brothers in such condition in the midst of a horrific nightmare — it had been the very worst pain he could imagine. As the ranger turned his gaze from Elladan to Elrohir slowly, he seemed to lose track of time and space as the power that had held him up and the determination that had kept him going suddenly left him, draining him of all the strength he had left.
The next thing he knew he was weeping heart torn sobs into his hands and Legolas was holding him gently against his shoulder, speaking comforting words that Aragorn couldn't understand, until slowly the fear, worry and pain began to ebb away.
Legolas wound a last bandage around Elrohir's palm, securely but with an expert care learned from years of experience. He moved then to sit with Aragorn who was kneeling at Elladan's side, his hand resting on the elf's chest to assure himself of the steady rise and fall of the other's breathing. The ranger gave a slight smile at the elf as he approached.
"I am not sure my friend," Legolas said lightly, "but I think these injuries may be equal to all of our wounds over the years put together."
Aragorn's smile turned dry, "They'll never live it down."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "Oh that is certain."
Around the friends the camp had gone to rest. Many Dúnedain lay sleeping, some sat together in quiet groups, their talk coming in snatches to the ranger's ears.
Aragorn let out a long breath and turned slowly to look at his brothers once more. "I should have been there sooner." The regret in his voice was evident but Legolas had clearly expected the words to come and immediately shook his head.
"Do not blame yourself Estel, you could have done no more than you did."
Aragorn's blue eyes shone with the echoes of tears, but Legolas knew they would not fall again and after a moment the ranger gave a nod and reached his free hand over to clasp the elf on the shoulder.
"Thank you, my friend," he whispered. "I could not have reached them if not for you. And you have again turned back my own despair."
Legolas smiled and reached out to return the gesture which they held for moments, no further words needing to be spoken before their hands dropped away once more.
Aragorn smiled wearily as a cool wind slipped by carrying the earthy smell of the nearby stream and the ranger closed his eyes to take in the quiet sounds of night.
His eyes opened suddenly as something beneath his fingers stirred. Looking down the first thing he saw were Elladan's eyes staring up at him blearily. The elf blinked to assure himself of reality, and then he smiled suddenly as he recognized the face above him.
"Estel." The word was a mere breath.
Aragorn smiled back in absolute relief, but he seemed unable to speak and Legolas moved beside him, redirecting Elladan's attention for a moment.
"Welcome back Elladan, how do you feel?"
"That *is* a question," Elladan turned his smile on Legolas, his voice whispery and low, but tinged with humor and life. "I can't say that I have felt worse." Elladan turned his gaze back to Aragorn and gently reached up to touch his brother's face. Aragorn put his own hand around the elf's and held it there. "It is good to see you," Elladan whispered, recalling how deeply he had deeply feared he would never see his young brother again.
"It is good to see you finally awake!" the ranger chided with a smile. "You had us worried."
"You worry too much Estel."
Aragorn's eyes turned mildly defensive, "*I* worry too much? You, my brother, are far more the offender than I!"
Elladan let out a hoarse laugh but stopped at the ache in his ribs, flinching as Aragorn quickly moved to help settle him again.
"Easy," Legolas admonished, turning to lift a water skin from Aragorn's satchel. "You had too close a brush with death to be pushing your strength now." Aragorn took the water from the elf and helped Elladan sit up slightly in order to drink it without choking. However the dark-haired elf pushed it away at Legolas' words and turned concerned eyes up to Aragorn.
"Elrohir…is he—?"
"He will be well," Aragorn reassured him softly. "He is still unconscious but he will live, of that I am sure." Elladan turned carefully to look, letting out a shaking breath.
He had nearly lost his twin, and even now the horrors of that near tragedy plagued his heart. It was all too familiar — he didn't think he could bear losing someone so close again.
"Come," Aragorn broke into his thoughts gently, redirecting Elladan's attention. "Drink some, it will do you good."
The man sat apart from the camp, apparently not going anywhere near the other men, and yet he did not seem to be in any hurry to leave either. He sat with his back against a tree, staring off into the distance. The fires glinted off his silver eyes and though their comforting warmth beckoned him he remained where he was and tried not to draw any attention to himself.
This, however, was not to be — though Eression was far too preoccupied with his own thoughts to note the Dúnadan's approach until the man was right beside him.
"Has anyone seen to your wounds?" Malvegil inquired, dropping beside the Black Numenorean.
Eression jumped slightly in surprise and turned to face the man. "I have none so grievous," he answered after a moment, thinking that the ranger would likely return to the camp and his companions. It seemed that Malvegil would not be turned away so easily.
"Perhaps, but you sound just like Lord Aragorn, Halbarad and Bartho when you say it, meaning that your wounds are much more severe than you are letting on."
Eression wasn't certain how to respond to that but Malvegil did not allow him much chance.
"Come away from that tree and let me have a look," the man ordered shortly, leaving absolutely no room for argument, though Eression felt it worth a try anyway.
"I am well," he protested quietly, not moving from his position as Malvegil began to remove things from his own pack for dressing wounds.
"From what little I know: you escaped a fair number of orcs in the bowels of that tower and you fought alongside us to finish the orcs outside. I know you sustained at least two cuts across your back in that fight because I was standing right beside to you, so don't even pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. Now move away from that tree, sit over here, and let me see to those before they become infected."
Eression had opened his mouth several times during this lecture but he realized now that there was nothing he could say and after a brief moment he moved obediently away from the tree and seated himself in front of Malvegil.
The ranger saw first to the two gashes which were indeed lying across his back and also tended the many other cuts and bruises Eression had sustained from the orcs and from Legolas in the tower.
When Malvegil was finally satisfied Eression turned a rare smile on the man and nodded his thanks. Malvegil waved it away easily and began to repack his satchel. He had rebraided his hair since the fight and in this dim light he struck Eression very much as an elf, though he was really too strong in stature to fool anyone even from a distance.
After a surprisingly comfortable silence Eression posed a question that had been turning in his mind for quite some time.
"Malvegil?"
The ranger looked up as though he could read in the former captain's tone that he had something important to ask. "Aye?"
"Am I… a prisoner here?" Malvegil looked slightly confused by the question and Eression clarified himself quickly, "I have the impression that your leader does not wish me executed, but I have had no guard, I am not even bound — I wonder if that means that I am… that I am free to go?"
Malvegil's face became very hard to read. Something that seemed like an unexpected sympathy passed behind his eyes and he took a moment, letting the whispers of night and the sigh of the forest rest between them before speaking.
"If Lord Aragorn has not restrained you in any way, then I should say you are free to go…" Malvegil left his answer noticeably unfinished and Eression waited for him to conclude. "Eression," Malvegil said at last, "you are a man of Numenorean descent. I know not where you would go now, but I think that Lord Aragorn would accept you willingly under his command if you were to ask."
Eression's face seemed to change then to an almost visible grimace. Fear could be read there, uncertainty, and a river of guilt as well.
"Nay, I do not think that would be wise for me, Malvegil, though I thank you for considering it possible."
Malvegil nodded. Then, catching the sense that Eression wished to be alone, he gave a slight bow and returned to the camp murmuring an elven melody beneath his breath.
Eression watched him go and immediately felt the press of his surroundings. Wishing at once to be gone and knowing that he was not to be held here he rose immediately and turned toward the forest at his back.
Aragorn smiled softly as his brother drifted back to sleep; a peaceful and dreamless sleep that the ranger knew was well needed.
Letting out a long breath, Aragorn turned his smile on Legolas. The elf was crouched beside him rifling through the ranger's belongings seeking out bandages and Valar knew what else.
"Legolas, what are you doing?" the ranger asked lightly, watching the elf with an ever broadening grin.
The prince turned his gaze up to meet his friend's and gave a slight shake of the head. "Amusing Strider, but if you think I missed the injuries you endured you are gravely mistaken."
Aragorn rolled his eyes heavenward; he had assumed as much. "Ah yes, we mortal humans were the only ones to sustain injury, is that what you are saying my friend?"
Legolas chose not to reply but the idle glance he cast upon his right arm proved to the ranger that Legolas was well aware of his own injuries. Aragorn laughed, a truly musical sound on such a worn and plagued night.
"Strider," the elf broke into the sound smoothly, "I have not the patience required for explaining — yet again, I will add — the very great difference between the healing capacities of elves and those of humans."
Aragorn gave a wry smile at that; Legolas could see a retort hanging on the man's lips, and raised a forestalling hand.
"Do not even begin, Strider, I have closed my ears to your protests and will be satisfied that your wounds have been properly seen too before I allow you to move anywhere. I believe your time with the Dúnedain has made you more resistant than usual."
"I am in good company here," Aragorn rejoined teasingly, but he complied to his friend's insistence and came to sit before the elf. "Not to say that you weren't quite bad enough."
Legolas smiled; he couldn't really help it. His friend's lighthearted banter had been greatly hindered by the anxiety and fear he had suffered of late, and the elf had missed it sorely.
It was not long before both the ranger and elf's wounds were cleaned and bandaged. Aragorn sat staring into the camp. He felt as though he should be weary but he also knew he could never sleep. Instead he rose to move around the camp and check on his men, a duty which he realized he had rather neglected for fear over his brothers' injuries.
Legolas offered to stay by the twins, but Aragorn had moved only a little closer to the softly burning fires when a sight caught out of the corner of his eye stayed his feet. It was a man and even in the dark at this distance Aragorn could easily tell who it was. He glanced into the camp once and noted that no one seemed at immediate unrest. Moving swiftly he caught up to the man as he walked quietly into the forest that surrounded them.
"Eression!"
Aragorn's voice brought the man to a sudden halt and the Black Numenorean turned slowly to face him.
Recognizing the other immediately Eression bowed slightly. "Lord Aragorn," he greeted humbly.
"Were you leaving Eression?" Aragorn asked, even though it was clear enough that this had been his intent.
"I was." The other man seemed uneasy. "I had been told that you do not wish to detain me; I felt it would be best if I left."
Aragorn frowned, his eyes searching those across from him.
Seeing the expression, Eression mistook the meaning and spoke quickly, "I assure you I meant not to escape your justice, Lord Aragorn. I only felt it would be best if I did not remain…" Eression trailed off as Aragorn held up a hand.
"Peace Eression. I mean you no harm, and there is no justice of mine that you would have need to escape. Not anymore. There is little praise to be found in many of your actions, but you have returned to me my brothers and for that I would not count you my enemy." Aragorn paused and moved a step closer to Eression, meeting his gaze fully. "Are you certain that you wish to leave? If you ask it, I would be glad to have you join us here."
Again Eression became troubled and seemed as though he wished to run, but he remained where he stood and shook his head slowly. "I do not think it would be wise, my lord. Too many here would feel ill at ease if I remained in your company, but if…" the man trailed off and seemed to be seeking something in Aragorn's eyes. "If it is because of what I know of your heritage, Lord Aragorn, I can only assure you that not for the sake of personal gain nor through torture or death would I reveal what I know."
Aragorn nodded and a smile touched his lips as he dropped his gaze for a moment. He felt in his heart that asking Eression to stay was right. He could not fully understand why, but something in the man's face spoke of truth. When Aragorn's eyes came up to meet Eression's once more, his heart was sure and his voice firm.
"I trust your words Eression, and that is not why I wish you to remain. You are a man of strong character. I would say you have a good deal to unlearn, and even greater is that which you must come to know, but I am certain that if you could be as loyal to a better cause you would find your life fulfilled to the utmost."
Eression's hesitancy was obvious even though his eyes betrayed the deep longing Aragorn's words inspired, but still he felt he could not and shook his head again dropping his gaze suddenly.
"I have brought you pain, my lord. I have brought the house of the elves pain in my own folly, and I have in part succumbed to a darkness I willingly followed. Yet you granted me mercy, you saved my life when it should have been taken. I could not begin to repay what you have given me—"
"And I would not ask it of you." Aragorn took a step nearer and placed a hand on the man's shoulder bringing Eression's eyes back up to his. "Mercy does not demand recompense; that is not its way. It is something I freely give you. Your heart is not dark and I fear that if you were to leave now, all you would find awaiting your soul is a wilderness. Where truly would you go?" Aragorn's tone softened and he smiled slightly. "Here I can offer you no power; our victories are as small as they are concealed. We are not glorified for our might, for that we have little, and suspicion — not respect — is what we are bound to receive. Our task is to protect those who have no power and could not defend themselves from death if it came. This is all I could give to you, but I offer it unreservedly if you would accept it."
Eression slowly looked around him, his eyes tracing the camp of rangers over Aragorn's shoulder, the forest that surrounded him, and at last coming to rest on Aragorn. For a long time he simply stared into the Dúnadan's eyes, seeing the truth and hope that led the ranger's life. Held there was all the Black Numenorean knew he had longed for. He could not understand it, but that was something he felt certain time would change, and the former captain knew beyond all shadows of doubt that he wanted that change.
"I will stay," he whispered at last. "I would be honored to serve under you, Lord Aragorn."
Aragorn squeezed Eression shoulder and gave a nod. "I would be privileged to accept you services, Eression." The ranger paused before smiling slightly, "And you have no need to call me Lord Aragorn. Malvegil does and I have no idea how to make him stop; Aragorn will easily suffice."
Eression smiled back and it was as though he couldn't help himself, he could not truly know what this road could hold for him, but he felt in his heart that it would be as Aragorn said: and it would fulfill his life to the utmost.
Moranuen sat for a moment or two amongst the bags, his search for extra bandages momentarily laid aside. Silent as only an elf could be, his presence had gone unnoticed by Estel or Eression, and as they moved back towards the center of the small camp, Mora could not keep a smile from his graceful lips.
"Oh, Estel," he murmured, years of experience filling the two words and giving them a weight beyond anything else he could have said. From anyone else that offer might have seemed foolhardy, but Aragorn son of Arathorn had many years of experience reading the intentions and merits of others and the elf had yet to see him proved wrong.
Recollecting his errand Mora completed his search, grimacing as his cut and bruised fingers rubbed against the rough leather of the packs. Ordinarily he would not have left Elladan and Elrohir's sides — both because he was their friend and because he was their subject — but even before, when their condition had been much more critical, he had known that his presence would do little except interrupt Aragorn and Legolas' rhythm as they worked. Besides which: very few of the Dúnedain were capable of retrieving bandages on their own, let alone securing them.
Gathering as large an assortment of materials as he could safely carry, he hurried lightly back towards one of the fires and laid them out, sorting them according to which ones he would need. Fortunately, perhaps due to Aragorn's experienced advice, all the Dúnedain had packed well for this journey.
"What is amusing you?" Halbarad asked, looking up from his work at Erynbenn's side.
"It would be best, I think, for Estel to tell you himself whenever he deems the time right," the elf answered cryptically, his eyes twinkling afresh. "You know his ways."
"Aye," Halbarad nodded ruefully. He tensed as Erynbenn inhaled sharply and seemed about to roll onto his side. "Lie still; we don't want you breaking any of those a second time."
The ranger coughed hollowly, his body shuddering with pain. "I feel as though I've been sat upon by Bartho's troll."
"Do all humans jest like this after escaping death?" Moranuen mused, placing a hand on the young man's forehead to check for fever.
"Only Dúnedain," Erynbenn corrected, feeling some of the pounding ebb inexplicably from his head. "The theory is that one must either learn to laugh or else spend one's existence in misery."
"You are quoting Estel," Moranuen said. It wasn't a question.
"It is better than quoting Bartho," Erynbenn retorted, finding talking to be his only distraction from the burning sensation in his chest as he breathed. "'Expect death and injury becomes unimportant by comparison', or 'The surest route to trouble is to delegate the tasks of one's mind to something or someone else'."
Halbarad suppressed a snort of laughter, "I do not believe I've heard that one."
"We were on a scouting trip in April," Erynbenn explained.
"Ah."
"What happened in April?" Mora asked, adding some herbal powders to a large pot of fresh salve he was making.
Erynbenn answered automatically, "Lindamar's betrayal; or rather its annivers—" He broke off mid-sentence, his face turning from white to an odd gray color.
Moranuen's first instinct was to get him a new dose of pain reliever, and then he sensed the presence of someone standing just over his shoulder — and directly in front of Erynbenn. Casting a glance over his shoulder he found himself looking up into Bartho's face. A face whose expression was a mixture of too many emotions for the elf to easily read.
"I—" Erynbenn started, moving to a half sitting position and flinching as white-hot barbs ricocheted along his nerves.
Shaking his head, Bartho knelt and gently pressed him back down again, "There is no purpose in hurting yourself over it."
"I should not have—" the young man began afresh, but was again cut off.
"*I* should not be so easily bothered," Bartho countered. "Years cover over a mountain of foolishness, and many years there have been. Do not distress yourself; it is of no consequence."
Erynbenn nodded slightly, "Thank you."
At his side Halbarad smiled, "Proof that those men who survive can get away with much. Keep that in mind, will you?"
"I will."
"Good," Bartho nodded. He eyed the younger man's chest critically. "That needs work."
Tearing a bandage neatly lengthwise, Moranuen nodded, "It does. And now that you are here to help Halbarad support him, we can hopefully do it properly."
"Can we not wait for Aragorn?" Erynbenn suggested, humorous resignation in his voice as he tried to at least stall them.
"Nay, we cannot," Mora chuckled. "If my own past experience does not lead me wrong Legolas will soon be ordering your leader to bed, and once asleep little but disaster or his brothers' waking will be able to rouse him."
TBC…