Author's note: Anything in italics is a flashback.
***
Estel kicked idly at stones as he walked beneath the trees. Elladan had been yelling at him again, calling him a human as though it were an insult. He thought he wasn't good enough to be in Rivendell. Maybe he was right. Estel wasn't fast enough, quiet enough, graceful enough. Everything he did made him seem less than those around him.
"Hello." Estel, who had been staring at his feet, now looked up. He hadn't noticed the man in front of him, and again couldn't help but think that an elf would have known he was there ages ago.
"I'm surprised to see a human here. Are you travelling with your family?"
"No, I live here. I'm Estel."
"That doesn't sound like a human name. Is that what your father calls you?"
"It's what Lord Elrond calls me. I don't have a father."
"But you must have had one. What did he call you?"
"I don't know."
"It sounds to me like Lord Elrond is hiding things from you.
***
"Lord Elrond?"
"Yes, Estel?"
"What did my father call me?" Estel saw the surprised look on the elf's face, but didn't understand it. He also didn't understand why Lord Elrond didn't answer his question.
"Why do you ask?"
"I was just thinking. Estel's an elf name, not human." Estel didn't tell him about the man in the woods. As far as he was concerned, if Lord Elrond was hiding things from him, it was only fair if he did the same.
"It's not what your father named you. But until you're older, I do not feel it wise to tell you your true name."
***
"He doesn't think I'm old enough!" Estel snapped angrily. He was with the man again, and had learned that his name was Ackeran.
"Well, elves live for so long that their children grow up more slowly. Lord Elrond probably is comparing you to an elf. He doesn't know enough about humans to know that you're old enough to be given responsibility."
"It still doesn't mean he should hide things from me."
"I haven't been entirely honest with you," Ackeran said, "and I've no such excuse. I knew your father, and I know your name. You are Aragorn, son of Arathorn, more important among humans than Lord Elrond is among elves."
Estel tried to understand what he'd just been told. His mother was just a sad memory, and he had no memory at all of his father. To learn that this man in front of him knew his father was too much to take in. "But. . . I. . ."
"I didn't tell you at first because I wanted to do what was best for you. I thought that if you were happy here, it would be best to leave it that way. But since you are obviously not, I should tell you that your father often expressed a wish that I look after you if anything happened to him."
"Really?"
"Your father cared about you greatly, he wanted to make sure that you would be safe no matter what."
"With you?"
"If that's what you want. It's your choice. But I wouldn't tell the elves. They won't understand that you're old enough to decide for yourself and will try and make the decision for you. Let's keep it our little secret until you're ready." Estel swelled with pride that this man thought him old enough to choose his own life.
That alone almost made the decision for him. But at the same time he was afraid of leaving the only place he could remember calling home. Ackeran must have seen the hesitation.
"I don't expect you to decide at once. Take as much time as you need, I'll be waiting."
***
Estel climbed out of his bedroom window. Lord Elrond hadn't considered this when deciding part of the boy's punishment should include locking him in his room until he apologised. Estel didn't see why he should apologise. Elrohir deserved everything he got.
He picked up his bag from where he'd dropped it since even Glorfindel would struggle climbing down with that in his hands. He thought he'd been very clever in packing some spare clothes and some food, because he wasn't sure how much Ackeran would have to spare. He just wished he'd packed some things that were a bit lighter.
He made his way carefully to their tree. It had previously been his tree, but he'd shown it to Ackeran and the man had been pleased. It was easy to climb and dense foliage meant that even an elf couldn't see someone in it. He'd liked to hide up there whenever Elladan and Elrohir were mean to him.
It was already dark, the sun having set a short while ago, and in the deepening dusk Estel began to struggle to see where he was going. At last he tripped on a tree root and would have fallen if a hand hadn't come out of nowhere and caught him.
As he turned to see Ackeran he exclaimed in surprise, "You're as quiet as an elf!"
"Not quite," Ackeran laughed, "but my people, and yours, are skilled at going quietly." He looked at the bag Estel held, a strangely intense expression of joy filled his face. "I see you've made your decision." Estel nodded. "Good, then we should leave quickly before someone decides to change your mind for you."
Estel wanted to say that he was tired, but he'd seen how happy his choice made Ackeran feel, and he didn't want to change that. He liked Ackeran.
***
Estel woke shaking from some nightmare that faded so quickly he couldn't remember it moments later. He felt comforting arms around him, and a voice murmured, "It's alright, little Hope, you're safe."
Estel clung onto Ackeran, but thoughts and memories slowly filled him, driving away the last remnants of the nightmare. He remembered Lord Elrond holding him after a fever, calling him just that. Little Hope had been an affectionate term that should belong to just him.
Estel began to feel guilty about leaving. He had been angry with Lord Elrond, but he did care about him. He was probably so worried about him. Estel wondered if he should have written a note, explaining that he was with a friend of his father and would be safe.
Elladan and Elrohir were probably already searching the woods around Rivendell for him, afraid he had fallen in a hole or encountered some fierce animal. He knew now that Lord Elrond was right, he shouldn't have burned the letter from that elf maid Elrohir liked. He'd just been so angry, and in the morning light he couldn't even remember why.
He felt Ackeran's arms around him, but wished for more familiar ones.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Ackeran said, his face all kindness.
"Yes there is," Estel said, "I was wrong. I was wrong to come with you. Rivendell is my home. I'm sorry, Ackeran, but I have to go back."
"Why?" Ackeran demanded, an anger that almost frightened Estel in his eyes.
"It's where I belong."
Estel stood up, but Ackeran caught his arm in a painful grip.
"You lied to me! You said you'd come with me!"
"I was angry and I made a mistake. Let go of me." Estel really was frightened now, the fierceness nothing like the kind man he'd come to like.
"How would your father like you if he knew you were a liar?"
"I didn't lie. Let go, you're hurting me."
"I suggest you do as he says." Estel twisted round as far as he could at that familiar voice. Elladan and Elrohir both stood under the shadow of the trees. Bows were strung and arrows aimed at Ackeran. They must have thought he'd been kidnapped, he realised.
"Don't hurt him," Estel protested, remembering the gentle smiles that Ackeran usually wore.
"He deserves no less than death," Elladan said, "he is the reason your father is dead." The grip on Estel's arm vanished instantly, and Estel stared at Ackeran.
The man sank to the ground, all traces of anger gone. Estel didn't notice the shocked and haunted look on his face, thinking only that Ackeran had lied to him. He didn't make any move towards the two elves.
"Estel, come," Elrohir ordered. Still Estel didn't move, "Estel, he's dangerous. He betrayed your father to the orcs." Feeling betrayed himself, Estel ran and through his arms round Elrohir, barely hearing Ackeran's whispered denial.
"Have you been hurt?" Elladan asked Estel.
"No, he's been kind to me." Elladan looked in surprise at the man who was kneeling on the rough ground, his hair covering his face as he bent forwards, shoulders shaking with sobs.
"Let's go home," Elrohir said softly.
"What about. . ." Elladan began.
"Leave him be," Elrohir replied, watching the wrecked man sobbing at the past.
***
"Well," Ackeran asked, "Do you mean to kill me?"
"No," Aragorn replied, "I want answers. I want to know why you betrayed my father, and why you tried to kidnap me when I was a boy. You were supposed to be my father's friend, his second in command."
"I was. I cared about your father more than anyone else in the world."
"Then why did you betray him?"
"I didn't know," Ackeran's voice almost broke from tears unshed, "I spoke of his plans to another. I didn't know he was a spy."
"You're saying you didn't betray him?"
Ackeran shook his head. "I betrayed him. He told his plans to me in confidence, and asked that I tell no one. I think he suspected a traitor among his people."
Aragorn had lowered the sword by now. He thought he could see the way the pieces fit together: the tale Lord Elrond had told him, Ackeran's actions both when he was a boy and now.
"I spoke of Arathorn's plans when I should not have done. When I heard about the orc attack I hurried to his side. Elrond was there, trying to heal him. Arthorn looked at me and asked why I had betrayed him." Tears filled Ackeran's eyes but still did not fall. "He died before I could ask his forgiveness."
"So you tried to take me in, hoping that in raising me and protecting me you would earn some measure of that forgiveness." Ackeran nodded.
Aragorn looked down at the sword he held. His escape from his restraints had been too easy, his sword arm left untouched. "And when you couldn't find forgiveness, you sought death. You wanted to die by my hand."
***
Author's note: Sorry, Karone Evertree and Avari, about the lack of Legolas in this chapter, but I just had to give a bit of explanation about Aragorn's side of the story. There will be more Legolas in the next chapter.
***
Estel kicked idly at stones as he walked beneath the trees. Elladan had been yelling at him again, calling him a human as though it were an insult. He thought he wasn't good enough to be in Rivendell. Maybe he was right. Estel wasn't fast enough, quiet enough, graceful enough. Everything he did made him seem less than those around him.
"Hello." Estel, who had been staring at his feet, now looked up. He hadn't noticed the man in front of him, and again couldn't help but think that an elf would have known he was there ages ago.
"I'm surprised to see a human here. Are you travelling with your family?"
"No, I live here. I'm Estel."
"That doesn't sound like a human name. Is that what your father calls you?"
"It's what Lord Elrond calls me. I don't have a father."
"But you must have had one. What did he call you?"
"I don't know."
"It sounds to me like Lord Elrond is hiding things from you.
***
"Lord Elrond?"
"Yes, Estel?"
"What did my father call me?" Estel saw the surprised look on the elf's face, but didn't understand it. He also didn't understand why Lord Elrond didn't answer his question.
"Why do you ask?"
"I was just thinking. Estel's an elf name, not human." Estel didn't tell him about the man in the woods. As far as he was concerned, if Lord Elrond was hiding things from him, it was only fair if he did the same.
"It's not what your father named you. But until you're older, I do not feel it wise to tell you your true name."
***
"He doesn't think I'm old enough!" Estel snapped angrily. He was with the man again, and had learned that his name was Ackeran.
"Well, elves live for so long that their children grow up more slowly. Lord Elrond probably is comparing you to an elf. He doesn't know enough about humans to know that you're old enough to be given responsibility."
"It still doesn't mean he should hide things from me."
"I haven't been entirely honest with you," Ackeran said, "and I've no such excuse. I knew your father, and I know your name. You are Aragorn, son of Arathorn, more important among humans than Lord Elrond is among elves."
Estel tried to understand what he'd just been told. His mother was just a sad memory, and he had no memory at all of his father. To learn that this man in front of him knew his father was too much to take in. "But. . . I. . ."
"I didn't tell you at first because I wanted to do what was best for you. I thought that if you were happy here, it would be best to leave it that way. But since you are obviously not, I should tell you that your father often expressed a wish that I look after you if anything happened to him."
"Really?"
"Your father cared about you greatly, he wanted to make sure that you would be safe no matter what."
"With you?"
"If that's what you want. It's your choice. But I wouldn't tell the elves. They won't understand that you're old enough to decide for yourself and will try and make the decision for you. Let's keep it our little secret until you're ready." Estel swelled with pride that this man thought him old enough to choose his own life.
That alone almost made the decision for him. But at the same time he was afraid of leaving the only place he could remember calling home. Ackeran must have seen the hesitation.
"I don't expect you to decide at once. Take as much time as you need, I'll be waiting."
***
Estel climbed out of his bedroom window. Lord Elrond hadn't considered this when deciding part of the boy's punishment should include locking him in his room until he apologised. Estel didn't see why he should apologise. Elrohir deserved everything he got.
He picked up his bag from where he'd dropped it since even Glorfindel would struggle climbing down with that in his hands. He thought he'd been very clever in packing some spare clothes and some food, because he wasn't sure how much Ackeran would have to spare. He just wished he'd packed some things that were a bit lighter.
He made his way carefully to their tree. It had previously been his tree, but he'd shown it to Ackeran and the man had been pleased. It was easy to climb and dense foliage meant that even an elf couldn't see someone in it. He'd liked to hide up there whenever Elladan and Elrohir were mean to him.
It was already dark, the sun having set a short while ago, and in the deepening dusk Estel began to struggle to see where he was going. At last he tripped on a tree root and would have fallen if a hand hadn't come out of nowhere and caught him.
As he turned to see Ackeran he exclaimed in surprise, "You're as quiet as an elf!"
"Not quite," Ackeran laughed, "but my people, and yours, are skilled at going quietly." He looked at the bag Estel held, a strangely intense expression of joy filled his face. "I see you've made your decision." Estel nodded. "Good, then we should leave quickly before someone decides to change your mind for you."
Estel wanted to say that he was tired, but he'd seen how happy his choice made Ackeran feel, and he didn't want to change that. He liked Ackeran.
***
Estel woke shaking from some nightmare that faded so quickly he couldn't remember it moments later. He felt comforting arms around him, and a voice murmured, "It's alright, little Hope, you're safe."
Estel clung onto Ackeran, but thoughts and memories slowly filled him, driving away the last remnants of the nightmare. He remembered Lord Elrond holding him after a fever, calling him just that. Little Hope had been an affectionate term that should belong to just him.
Estel began to feel guilty about leaving. He had been angry with Lord Elrond, but he did care about him. He was probably so worried about him. Estel wondered if he should have written a note, explaining that he was with a friend of his father and would be safe.
Elladan and Elrohir were probably already searching the woods around Rivendell for him, afraid he had fallen in a hole or encountered some fierce animal. He knew now that Lord Elrond was right, he shouldn't have burned the letter from that elf maid Elrohir liked. He'd just been so angry, and in the morning light he couldn't even remember why.
He felt Ackeran's arms around him, but wished for more familiar ones.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Ackeran said, his face all kindness.
"Yes there is," Estel said, "I was wrong. I was wrong to come with you. Rivendell is my home. I'm sorry, Ackeran, but I have to go back."
"Why?" Ackeran demanded, an anger that almost frightened Estel in his eyes.
"It's where I belong."
Estel stood up, but Ackeran caught his arm in a painful grip.
"You lied to me! You said you'd come with me!"
"I was angry and I made a mistake. Let go of me." Estel really was frightened now, the fierceness nothing like the kind man he'd come to like.
"How would your father like you if he knew you were a liar?"
"I didn't lie. Let go, you're hurting me."
"I suggest you do as he says." Estel twisted round as far as he could at that familiar voice. Elladan and Elrohir both stood under the shadow of the trees. Bows were strung and arrows aimed at Ackeran. They must have thought he'd been kidnapped, he realised.
"Don't hurt him," Estel protested, remembering the gentle smiles that Ackeran usually wore.
"He deserves no less than death," Elladan said, "he is the reason your father is dead." The grip on Estel's arm vanished instantly, and Estel stared at Ackeran.
The man sank to the ground, all traces of anger gone. Estel didn't notice the shocked and haunted look on his face, thinking only that Ackeran had lied to him. He didn't make any move towards the two elves.
"Estel, come," Elrohir ordered. Still Estel didn't move, "Estel, he's dangerous. He betrayed your father to the orcs." Feeling betrayed himself, Estel ran and through his arms round Elrohir, barely hearing Ackeran's whispered denial.
"Have you been hurt?" Elladan asked Estel.
"No, he's been kind to me." Elladan looked in surprise at the man who was kneeling on the rough ground, his hair covering his face as he bent forwards, shoulders shaking with sobs.
"Let's go home," Elrohir said softly.
"What about. . ." Elladan began.
"Leave him be," Elrohir replied, watching the wrecked man sobbing at the past.
***
"Well," Ackeran asked, "Do you mean to kill me?"
"No," Aragorn replied, "I want answers. I want to know why you betrayed my father, and why you tried to kidnap me when I was a boy. You were supposed to be my father's friend, his second in command."
"I was. I cared about your father more than anyone else in the world."
"Then why did you betray him?"
"I didn't know," Ackeran's voice almost broke from tears unshed, "I spoke of his plans to another. I didn't know he was a spy."
"You're saying you didn't betray him?"
Ackeran shook his head. "I betrayed him. He told his plans to me in confidence, and asked that I tell no one. I think he suspected a traitor among his people."
Aragorn had lowered the sword by now. He thought he could see the way the pieces fit together: the tale Lord Elrond had told him, Ackeran's actions both when he was a boy and now.
"I spoke of Arathorn's plans when I should not have done. When I heard about the orc attack I hurried to his side. Elrond was there, trying to heal him. Arthorn looked at me and asked why I had betrayed him." Tears filled Ackeran's eyes but still did not fall. "He died before I could ask his forgiveness."
"So you tried to take me in, hoping that in raising me and protecting me you would earn some measure of that forgiveness." Ackeran nodded.
Aragorn looked down at the sword he held. His escape from his restraints had been too easy, his sword arm left untouched. "And when you couldn't find forgiveness, you sought death. You wanted to die by my hand."
***
Author's note: Sorry, Karone Evertree and Avari, about the lack of Legolas in this chapter, but I just had to give a bit of explanation about Aragorn's side of the story. There will be more Legolas in the next chapter.