Fantasia: I know that paragraph problem is annoying as I assure you it is
to me I will do my best to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
MaverickGirl: Poor Elrond just might have a heart attack, later on in the story if Estel gets his way.
ThE iNsAnE oNe: I hope you like this chapter as much as you thought you would :)
arabella thorne: Thanks for pointing out the typo I hope I fixed it.
Trustingfriendship: Glad to know you are enjoying the story so far. things are definitely going to start heating up more between the four now.
*Note to the readers: Sorry it took so long to update.I've just been swamped with school. Finals are next week! YUCK! I will try to update again within the next couple of days if I have time. Hope you enjoy the new chapter. :)
Chapter 4 The Dream
As Elrond took his supposed slumbering son from Elladan he knew just as Legolas had that the young man was indeed awake, but was playing possum for some unknown reason. He smiled as his touch soothed the boy, and Aragorn relaxed into his arms. Gently Elrond tucked Estel's head under his chin and cradled the boy to his chest.
He carried Estel into the house and up to his room, carefully setting him down on his bed Elrond started to get him ready for sleep. When the boy was in his nightshirt, Elrond turned the covers down, and slipped Estel into them. Taking a small container from his pocket Elrond set it on the nightstand next to the bed then took a washcloth out of the basin on the stand and started to bathe Aragorn's face. When he was done he picked up the small container and started to smooth the cooling salve onto the scratches on Estel's face.
Legolas watched from the door way as Lord Elrond got Estel ready for bed. He smiled at the warm loving touches that Elrond gave Estel. The boy was truly lucky, the lord's love for him ran deep, as did the love his brothers held for him. Smiling to himself Legolas wondered if the boy really understood how much he was loved by the elves here in Rivendell.
"Legolas?" The elf lord's voice startled him out of his thoughts.
"Yes your grace?"
"Why don't you go get cleaned up and grab yourself some food I want to have a few moments with Estel before he goes to sleep."
Legolas had to laugh when Estel's left eye popped open and he gave his father a guilty look. Smiling down at the boy Elrond continued,
"Yes Estel we both knew that you where playing possum. Now I would like to discuss it with you as to why you were doing that."
"Do you want me to bring him back some food your grace?" Legolas questioned, not wanting Estel to be hungry.
"Estel do you want something to eat?" Elrond questioned his youngest son. "No ada I'm not hungry I'll wait and eat tomorrow. Thanks anyways Legolas." Aragorn answered, deciding to be polite. Since being rude wouldn't pay with Elrond around, and Legolas had let him continue his game of possum without letting his brothers know. So he decided that he really couldn't be angry with Legolas. Besides Legolas was his best friend and he didn't want to do something to screw that up.
Once Legolas had gone Elrond turned to his youngest son, "Now Aragorn I want you to tell me just what this possum thing is all about? Worrying your brothers into thinking that you are sicker than you really are and then continuing the game with me was very wrong of you to do. I had thought that you were more mature than that, you are almost an adult you need to start acting your age."
"Ada I do act my age.. but no one treats me like the adult that I am. Elladan and Elrohir barely let me do anything. They treat me as though I'm just a child in front of everybody. Most of the other elves except a handful of them think that I'm a weak babyish human because that is the image, which my brothers have made me out to be.and I'm sick of it. The possum thing was because of that I decided that since they treated my like an infant I might as well act like one back towards them."
"That may be Estel but it still gave you no right.. your brothers love you very much and since you aren't immortal like we are.they just want to protect you. We don't want to lose you anytime soon Estel and your reckless behavior doesn't help. If you want your brothers to treat you as an adult you're going to have to start being more careful. I don't know what we'd do if we lost you Aragorn."
Elrond stopped, and gently wiped the tears out of Estel's eyes, "Ada I wasn't thinking about it like that I just wanted to get back at them for making me feel babyish in front of everyone."
" I know you were Estel, but that is why you are grounded for the next two weeks, if you insist of acting childish you will be punished like a child. You are not to leave the house or gardens for any reason for the next two weeks and you will apologize to your brothers and Legolas tomorrow. Now get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
Leaning over Elrond kissed Aragorn's forehead and tucked him into bed before blowing out the lamp and leaving the room. When he left Aragorn's room Elrond headed down to the main hall to have a talk with his older sons.
Elrond found the twins in the common room of the great house sitting in front of a roaring fire eating dinner. Both looked up as Elrond walked into the room, Elladan was on his feet in an instant.
"Ada how is Estel?"
Elrond looked at his son and smiled, "Don't worry boys your brother is fine, just a little tired but he will be alright."
Both twin sighed in relief and released breaths that neither had known they were holding.
"That's great news ada we were sure that there was something else wrong with him, by the way that he was acting."
"Boys I don't know how to tell you this, but your brothers was faking a lot of what you saw earlier today. He was playing possum just to try and get you into trouble with me. Now mind you I'm not happy with either one of you, because you should have been watching your brother more closely and not have allowed him to get hurt. But I do realize that there really wasn't anything that you could have done to make him avoid his injury so there for I'm not that mad at you for it. Yet, in light of Estel's behavior I'm more angry at him than I am at either one of you, which is why your brother is grounded for the next two weeks."
Elrond paused to take a breath before he continued
"I have told Estel that he is to apologize to both of you and to Legolas in the morning, I ask that you accept his apology and listen to what he has to say. Boys I realize that you both love you brother and you don't want anything to happen to him. For I am the same way, I don't know what I'd do if something where to happen to him. But treating him like a child has to stop.by the race of men he is an adult and it's time we start to treat him like one before we lose him for good.before he leaves us. Can you two do that for me.. for him?"
"Yes ada we will try." Elrohir answered before Elladan could say anything.
********************
Legolas entered Aragorn's room early the next morning in hopes that the boy might be awake and that they could have a few minutes to talk before the brothers came in. He had heard from the twins what had happened last night and he wanted to apologize to Aragorn for treating him like a child and allow Aragorn to apologize to him without his brothers standing over his shoulder waiting to hear theirs.
The room was dark, as the curtains where drawn. A small line of light that filtered through the crack in the curtains lay across bed, highlighting Aragorn's slumbering form. The boy was snuggled deep into his blankets on hand below his pillow; the other clutched a piece of cloth. The look on Aragorn's face could best be described as, goofy happy. As Legolas stepped closer Aragorn mumbled something unintelligent in his sleep and rolled over facing away from his best friend.
Aragorn again mumbled some thing unintelligent and lightly giggled. Leaning forward Legolas tried to catch some of what Estel was mumbling in his sleep however, was unable to make anything out. Deciding that the boy was dreaming and having a very pleasant dream at that, Legolas pulled a chair over next to the bed and sat down. He would wait until the dream was over and see if Estel woke up.
Legolas hadn't been sitting next to the bed all that long before the happy look on Aragorn's face disappeared and was replaced by one of terror. Standing Legolas reached over to shake Aragorn awake but before he got a chance Aragorn bolted upright in bed and let lose an ear-piercing scream. His face drenched in sweat and his shoulders trembling staring straight ahead at an unknown terror. Legolas stepped into his line of vision hoping to calm him. Aragorn continued to stare through him as though he wasn't even there.
"Aragorn? Aragorn!" Legolas called out to his friend as he sat down next to the trembling man
Hearing Legolas, Aragorn took a shaky breath and tried to calm down when his breathing was back under control he turned and faced his friend.
"Aragorn are you alright? I've never ever heard you scream like that before?"
"Yes nin mellow I am fine. Although I need to speak to my father about something right away."
Aragorn pushed his blankets aside and jumped out of bed, turning back to Legolas he said, "Will you meet me in the garden's later there is something that I need to talk to you about?"
Knowing what Aragorn wanted to talk about Legolas nodded.
***************
Running up to his father's office Aragorn hopped that the elf Lord was alone, he had no desire to see his brothers as of yet. He knew that they would want their apologies right away and Aragorn hadn't thought of what he wanted to tell them just yet. He knew that he would tell Legolas the truth, but he wasn't sure if he wanted his brothers to know the whole truth. Unfortunately luck didn't appear to be on his side that morning, and as he rounded a corner he ran head long into Elladan.
"Whoa little brother, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Elladan asked as he grabbed his brother's elbows to keep from falling.
"I need to speak with ada about something is he in his office?"
"Yes he is however he's in a meeting." Elladan answered.
Aragorn muttered a curse before turning and trying to get out of his brother's grasp.
"Isn't there something you would like to say to us Estel?" Elladan questioned as his brother tried to pull away from him. Aragorn stopped struggling, and locked eyes with his elfin brother. "No, not right now there isn't though I will need to talk to you later about something."
With one final tug Aragorn was free from his brother's grasp, and ran to Elrond's door. Knocking loudly, he didn't wait for an answer before he pushed the door open and entered the room, quietly closing it behind him.
Lord Elrond stood up, as his adopted son entered without his bidding, signaling a stop to the meeting he walked to where the boy stood.
"Estel how many times have I told you not to interrupt me with I'm in a meeting?"
"Many times ada, many times however, I must speak with you it is a matter of great importance."
Elrond nodded, he heard an urgency sound in Aragorn's voice that he had only heard a handful of times in the many years that the boy had been living with him. "Alright Estel we will talk." Turning he looked at the elves that he had moments before been in a meeting with.
"My son," indicating Aragorn "needs to speak with me on a matter of importance, we will continue this meeting in an hour."
Most of the elves nodded, happy to have a break while several others sneered as the passed the adopted mortal son of Lord Elrond.
"Alright Estel, what is it.." Elrond said as he took a seat and indicated that Estel should also.
"Ada." Aragorn started before taking a deep breath, and trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Ada.I had a nightmare last night."
"Estel you didn't just interrupt my meeting to tell me about a nightmare did you?" Elrond questioned in slight annoyance. Though he knew that Estel had had frightening nightmares since he was a child, and had often needed to talk to someone about them, he had thought that Estel would have enough sense not to interrupt a meeting to do so.
"No ada.well yes ada." Again he took a deep breath. Before continuing.
"My mind has been plagued with images of suffering for some time now, my night starts with pleasant dreams.but they do not last. Every night my dreams have turned into terrible images that haunt my every waking moment, images of pain, images of suffering, of all kinds. What I had though had been just a nightmare, has come back to me each night for over a month and each night the pain and suffering gets worse. The people of the north call out to me terror in voices. A shadow has grown in their hearts; there is much sickness and dying. I must go to them.. I must join up with the rangers and seek out the people.I need to see if they are well. Ada I must."
"Aragorn, my son it is just a dream. Your heart is calling out to you to full fill you destiny when the time comes. These images are not real the people of the north are well my son I assure you. If the Rangers needed you, you'd hear their call."
"Ada, the dreams get worse and worse every night.I don't know how much longer I can stand the images inside of my head. I've hidden them thus far from you and my brothers, but I do not know how much longer I can hide them within myself before they drive me mad. I must go ada."
"Estel why did you feel the need to hide your dreams from myself and your brother's we could have helped you if you were scared."
"I didn't want you to know of the horror I feel every night, when I wake up from one of those dreams, and while on the trail I'm surprised that no one heard me. I'm sure I woke up at least once or twice screaming but no one ever said anything to me about it, so I didn't volunteer the information. But Ada I must go I have to go."
"Have you for gotten that your grounded Estel, you are not to leave the house or gardens for two weeks."
"Ada please I must go." Aragorn pleaded
"Estel, your punishment stands I told you last night your childish behavior earned you a grounding and that stands no matter what.in two weeks if your dreams still plague you then and only then may you go."
"Ada you don't understand.these can't be dreams I see people that I don't even know along with people that I do know, and love suffering. Why can't you just let me go? I need to do this.grounded or not I need to go do this. I must know if the people suffer or if it is really truly a dream." Aragorn stated with a cracking voice to Elrond.
"Aragorn.I will not let you go. However there is one who will know the truth of the north. I will send for Gandalf right away. You will just have to wait for you answers until he arrives Estel."
Aragorn started to reply, but Elrond held up his hand to silence him. "That is all there is to it Aragorn, now go and apologize to your brothers and Legolas since we both know that you haven't done so yet."
******************
Aragorn sought out Legolas first, whom he found in the gardens just as they had arranged. Legolas was sitting cross-legged on a stone bench next to the great fountain that stood tall and proud in the center. Legolas's eyes were glazed over as though he were sleeping however the minute Aragorn was within two feet of him he blinked and they were clear.
Legolas watched his friend for several moments, before either of them spoke. Aragorn was tense if humanly possible steam would have been coming out of his ears. He looked madder than a caged bull and yet at the same time as timid as a mouse.
Aragorn knew that Legolas was watching him, and he tried without much success to calm down. He felt trapped his ada had told him that he could not and would not be leaving to go check on the villagers of the north yet an unexplainable desire to go against his ada's wishes tugged at his heart. Finally feeling like he had calmed down enough Aragorn looked at Legolas.
The two locked eyes, and an un-spoken apology was handed out between the two of them, both understood exactly what the other wanted to say, and both forgave the other.
Legolas was the first to speak, "What troubles you mellow nin?"
"A threat has been growing in my mind, the people of the north are in pain and suffer. But my father refuses to believe it, he has forbidden me to go, help the people. Instead he sends for Gandalf but I fear that by the time Gandalf arrives, it will be to late. I tried to make him understand but he is blind. he does not believe me."
Legolas was about to reply, but a voice behind him caused both he and Aragorn to whirl around only to find them selves face to face with Elladan and Elrohir.
"Estel we talked to ada, he is right you know these images are nothing but some fabricated vision that your mind has built up preparing you for you destiny, you must believe this.there is nothing going on up north. The people are fine. We believe that you saw terror and suffering in your dream, however, that is what it was.a dream. It was nothing more.what makes you so sure that you see the truth in these images.if ada can't see it then what makes you so sure?"
Aragorn stared madly at his brothers; it was plan to see that they didn't believe him.
"Fine I understand.I get the picture you don't believe me that something is happening up there. Well I will wait for Gandalf to arrive.I will continue to let the people suffer.I don't care. as you two don't and as father does not.but mark my words if something is happening up there, like I know it is."
Aragorn stormed off without finishing his sentence. He couldn't, he knew that if he tried he would burst into tears. The pain of so many was on his shoulders and he couldn't do a thing to help them, he had to wait.
MaverickGirl: Poor Elrond just might have a heart attack, later on in the story if Estel gets his way.
ThE iNsAnE oNe: I hope you like this chapter as much as you thought you would :)
arabella thorne: Thanks for pointing out the typo I hope I fixed it.
Trustingfriendship: Glad to know you are enjoying the story so far. things are definitely going to start heating up more between the four now.
*Note to the readers: Sorry it took so long to update.I've just been swamped with school. Finals are next week! YUCK! I will try to update again within the next couple of days if I have time. Hope you enjoy the new chapter. :)
Chapter 4 The Dream
As Elrond took his supposed slumbering son from Elladan he knew just as Legolas had that the young man was indeed awake, but was playing possum for some unknown reason. He smiled as his touch soothed the boy, and Aragorn relaxed into his arms. Gently Elrond tucked Estel's head under his chin and cradled the boy to his chest.
He carried Estel into the house and up to his room, carefully setting him down on his bed Elrond started to get him ready for sleep. When the boy was in his nightshirt, Elrond turned the covers down, and slipped Estel into them. Taking a small container from his pocket Elrond set it on the nightstand next to the bed then took a washcloth out of the basin on the stand and started to bathe Aragorn's face. When he was done he picked up the small container and started to smooth the cooling salve onto the scratches on Estel's face.
Legolas watched from the door way as Lord Elrond got Estel ready for bed. He smiled at the warm loving touches that Elrond gave Estel. The boy was truly lucky, the lord's love for him ran deep, as did the love his brothers held for him. Smiling to himself Legolas wondered if the boy really understood how much he was loved by the elves here in Rivendell.
"Legolas?" The elf lord's voice startled him out of his thoughts.
"Yes your grace?"
"Why don't you go get cleaned up and grab yourself some food I want to have a few moments with Estel before he goes to sleep."
Legolas had to laugh when Estel's left eye popped open and he gave his father a guilty look. Smiling down at the boy Elrond continued,
"Yes Estel we both knew that you where playing possum. Now I would like to discuss it with you as to why you were doing that."
"Do you want me to bring him back some food your grace?" Legolas questioned, not wanting Estel to be hungry.
"Estel do you want something to eat?" Elrond questioned his youngest son. "No ada I'm not hungry I'll wait and eat tomorrow. Thanks anyways Legolas." Aragorn answered, deciding to be polite. Since being rude wouldn't pay with Elrond around, and Legolas had let him continue his game of possum without letting his brothers know. So he decided that he really couldn't be angry with Legolas. Besides Legolas was his best friend and he didn't want to do something to screw that up.
Once Legolas had gone Elrond turned to his youngest son, "Now Aragorn I want you to tell me just what this possum thing is all about? Worrying your brothers into thinking that you are sicker than you really are and then continuing the game with me was very wrong of you to do. I had thought that you were more mature than that, you are almost an adult you need to start acting your age."
"Ada I do act my age.. but no one treats me like the adult that I am. Elladan and Elrohir barely let me do anything. They treat me as though I'm just a child in front of everybody. Most of the other elves except a handful of them think that I'm a weak babyish human because that is the image, which my brothers have made me out to be.and I'm sick of it. The possum thing was because of that I decided that since they treated my like an infant I might as well act like one back towards them."
"That may be Estel but it still gave you no right.. your brothers love you very much and since you aren't immortal like we are.they just want to protect you. We don't want to lose you anytime soon Estel and your reckless behavior doesn't help. If you want your brothers to treat you as an adult you're going to have to start being more careful. I don't know what we'd do if we lost you Aragorn."
Elrond stopped, and gently wiped the tears out of Estel's eyes, "Ada I wasn't thinking about it like that I just wanted to get back at them for making me feel babyish in front of everyone."
" I know you were Estel, but that is why you are grounded for the next two weeks, if you insist of acting childish you will be punished like a child. You are not to leave the house or gardens for any reason for the next two weeks and you will apologize to your brothers and Legolas tomorrow. Now get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
Leaning over Elrond kissed Aragorn's forehead and tucked him into bed before blowing out the lamp and leaving the room. When he left Aragorn's room Elrond headed down to the main hall to have a talk with his older sons.
Elrond found the twins in the common room of the great house sitting in front of a roaring fire eating dinner. Both looked up as Elrond walked into the room, Elladan was on his feet in an instant.
"Ada how is Estel?"
Elrond looked at his son and smiled, "Don't worry boys your brother is fine, just a little tired but he will be alright."
Both twin sighed in relief and released breaths that neither had known they were holding.
"That's great news ada we were sure that there was something else wrong with him, by the way that he was acting."
"Boys I don't know how to tell you this, but your brothers was faking a lot of what you saw earlier today. He was playing possum just to try and get you into trouble with me. Now mind you I'm not happy with either one of you, because you should have been watching your brother more closely and not have allowed him to get hurt. But I do realize that there really wasn't anything that you could have done to make him avoid his injury so there for I'm not that mad at you for it. Yet, in light of Estel's behavior I'm more angry at him than I am at either one of you, which is why your brother is grounded for the next two weeks."
Elrond paused to take a breath before he continued
"I have told Estel that he is to apologize to both of you and to Legolas in the morning, I ask that you accept his apology and listen to what he has to say. Boys I realize that you both love you brother and you don't want anything to happen to him. For I am the same way, I don't know what I'd do if something where to happen to him. But treating him like a child has to stop.by the race of men he is an adult and it's time we start to treat him like one before we lose him for good.before he leaves us. Can you two do that for me.. for him?"
"Yes ada we will try." Elrohir answered before Elladan could say anything.
********************
Legolas entered Aragorn's room early the next morning in hopes that the boy might be awake and that they could have a few minutes to talk before the brothers came in. He had heard from the twins what had happened last night and he wanted to apologize to Aragorn for treating him like a child and allow Aragorn to apologize to him without his brothers standing over his shoulder waiting to hear theirs.
The room was dark, as the curtains where drawn. A small line of light that filtered through the crack in the curtains lay across bed, highlighting Aragorn's slumbering form. The boy was snuggled deep into his blankets on hand below his pillow; the other clutched a piece of cloth. The look on Aragorn's face could best be described as, goofy happy. As Legolas stepped closer Aragorn mumbled something unintelligent in his sleep and rolled over facing away from his best friend.
Aragorn again mumbled some thing unintelligent and lightly giggled. Leaning forward Legolas tried to catch some of what Estel was mumbling in his sleep however, was unable to make anything out. Deciding that the boy was dreaming and having a very pleasant dream at that, Legolas pulled a chair over next to the bed and sat down. He would wait until the dream was over and see if Estel woke up.
Legolas hadn't been sitting next to the bed all that long before the happy look on Aragorn's face disappeared and was replaced by one of terror. Standing Legolas reached over to shake Aragorn awake but before he got a chance Aragorn bolted upright in bed and let lose an ear-piercing scream. His face drenched in sweat and his shoulders trembling staring straight ahead at an unknown terror. Legolas stepped into his line of vision hoping to calm him. Aragorn continued to stare through him as though he wasn't even there.
"Aragorn? Aragorn!" Legolas called out to his friend as he sat down next to the trembling man
Hearing Legolas, Aragorn took a shaky breath and tried to calm down when his breathing was back under control he turned and faced his friend.
"Aragorn are you alright? I've never ever heard you scream like that before?"
"Yes nin mellow I am fine. Although I need to speak to my father about something right away."
Aragorn pushed his blankets aside and jumped out of bed, turning back to Legolas he said, "Will you meet me in the garden's later there is something that I need to talk to you about?"
Knowing what Aragorn wanted to talk about Legolas nodded.
***************
Running up to his father's office Aragorn hopped that the elf Lord was alone, he had no desire to see his brothers as of yet. He knew that they would want their apologies right away and Aragorn hadn't thought of what he wanted to tell them just yet. He knew that he would tell Legolas the truth, but he wasn't sure if he wanted his brothers to know the whole truth. Unfortunately luck didn't appear to be on his side that morning, and as he rounded a corner he ran head long into Elladan.
"Whoa little brother, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Elladan asked as he grabbed his brother's elbows to keep from falling.
"I need to speak with ada about something is he in his office?"
"Yes he is however he's in a meeting." Elladan answered.
Aragorn muttered a curse before turning and trying to get out of his brother's grasp.
"Isn't there something you would like to say to us Estel?" Elladan questioned as his brother tried to pull away from him. Aragorn stopped struggling, and locked eyes with his elfin brother. "No, not right now there isn't though I will need to talk to you later about something."
With one final tug Aragorn was free from his brother's grasp, and ran to Elrond's door. Knocking loudly, he didn't wait for an answer before he pushed the door open and entered the room, quietly closing it behind him.
Lord Elrond stood up, as his adopted son entered without his bidding, signaling a stop to the meeting he walked to where the boy stood.
"Estel how many times have I told you not to interrupt me with I'm in a meeting?"
"Many times ada, many times however, I must speak with you it is a matter of great importance."
Elrond nodded, he heard an urgency sound in Aragorn's voice that he had only heard a handful of times in the many years that the boy had been living with him. "Alright Estel we will talk." Turning he looked at the elves that he had moments before been in a meeting with.
"My son," indicating Aragorn "needs to speak with me on a matter of importance, we will continue this meeting in an hour."
Most of the elves nodded, happy to have a break while several others sneered as the passed the adopted mortal son of Lord Elrond.
"Alright Estel, what is it.." Elrond said as he took a seat and indicated that Estel should also.
"Ada." Aragorn started before taking a deep breath, and trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Ada.I had a nightmare last night."
"Estel you didn't just interrupt my meeting to tell me about a nightmare did you?" Elrond questioned in slight annoyance. Though he knew that Estel had had frightening nightmares since he was a child, and had often needed to talk to someone about them, he had thought that Estel would have enough sense not to interrupt a meeting to do so.
"No ada.well yes ada." Again he took a deep breath. Before continuing.
"My mind has been plagued with images of suffering for some time now, my night starts with pleasant dreams.but they do not last. Every night my dreams have turned into terrible images that haunt my every waking moment, images of pain, images of suffering, of all kinds. What I had though had been just a nightmare, has come back to me each night for over a month and each night the pain and suffering gets worse. The people of the north call out to me terror in voices. A shadow has grown in their hearts; there is much sickness and dying. I must go to them.. I must join up with the rangers and seek out the people.I need to see if they are well. Ada I must."
"Aragorn, my son it is just a dream. Your heart is calling out to you to full fill you destiny when the time comes. These images are not real the people of the north are well my son I assure you. If the Rangers needed you, you'd hear their call."
"Ada, the dreams get worse and worse every night.I don't know how much longer I can stand the images inside of my head. I've hidden them thus far from you and my brothers, but I do not know how much longer I can hide them within myself before they drive me mad. I must go ada."
"Estel why did you feel the need to hide your dreams from myself and your brother's we could have helped you if you were scared."
"I didn't want you to know of the horror I feel every night, when I wake up from one of those dreams, and while on the trail I'm surprised that no one heard me. I'm sure I woke up at least once or twice screaming but no one ever said anything to me about it, so I didn't volunteer the information. But Ada I must go I have to go."
"Have you for gotten that your grounded Estel, you are not to leave the house or gardens for two weeks."
"Ada please I must go." Aragorn pleaded
"Estel, your punishment stands I told you last night your childish behavior earned you a grounding and that stands no matter what.in two weeks if your dreams still plague you then and only then may you go."
"Ada you don't understand.these can't be dreams I see people that I don't even know along with people that I do know, and love suffering. Why can't you just let me go? I need to do this.grounded or not I need to go do this. I must know if the people suffer or if it is really truly a dream." Aragorn stated with a cracking voice to Elrond.
"Aragorn.I will not let you go. However there is one who will know the truth of the north. I will send for Gandalf right away. You will just have to wait for you answers until he arrives Estel."
Aragorn started to reply, but Elrond held up his hand to silence him. "That is all there is to it Aragorn, now go and apologize to your brothers and Legolas since we both know that you haven't done so yet."
******************
Aragorn sought out Legolas first, whom he found in the gardens just as they had arranged. Legolas was sitting cross-legged on a stone bench next to the great fountain that stood tall and proud in the center. Legolas's eyes were glazed over as though he were sleeping however the minute Aragorn was within two feet of him he blinked and they were clear.
Legolas watched his friend for several moments, before either of them spoke. Aragorn was tense if humanly possible steam would have been coming out of his ears. He looked madder than a caged bull and yet at the same time as timid as a mouse.
Aragorn knew that Legolas was watching him, and he tried without much success to calm down. He felt trapped his ada had told him that he could not and would not be leaving to go check on the villagers of the north yet an unexplainable desire to go against his ada's wishes tugged at his heart. Finally feeling like he had calmed down enough Aragorn looked at Legolas.
The two locked eyes, and an un-spoken apology was handed out between the two of them, both understood exactly what the other wanted to say, and both forgave the other.
Legolas was the first to speak, "What troubles you mellow nin?"
"A threat has been growing in my mind, the people of the north are in pain and suffer. But my father refuses to believe it, he has forbidden me to go, help the people. Instead he sends for Gandalf but I fear that by the time Gandalf arrives, it will be to late. I tried to make him understand but he is blind. he does not believe me."
Legolas was about to reply, but a voice behind him caused both he and Aragorn to whirl around only to find them selves face to face with Elladan and Elrohir.
"Estel we talked to ada, he is right you know these images are nothing but some fabricated vision that your mind has built up preparing you for you destiny, you must believe this.there is nothing going on up north. The people are fine. We believe that you saw terror and suffering in your dream, however, that is what it was.a dream. It was nothing more.what makes you so sure that you see the truth in these images.if ada can't see it then what makes you so sure?"
Aragorn stared madly at his brothers; it was plan to see that they didn't believe him.
"Fine I understand.I get the picture you don't believe me that something is happening up there. Well I will wait for Gandalf to arrive.I will continue to let the people suffer.I don't care. as you two don't and as father does not.but mark my words if something is happening up there, like I know it is."
Aragorn stormed off without finishing his sentence. He couldn't, he knew that if he tried he would burst into tears. The pain of so many was on his shoulders and he couldn't do a thing to help them, he had to wait.