Untempered Steel

Part 2: Trouble Comes In Twos

He was dreaming of mountains, but not the flower-covered slopes that bordered Imladris. These mountains were tall and gray, closing in around him. He heard voices ahead, muffled in an unnatural, clinging mist. Orcs? He fitted an arrow to bowstring with elven speed, speed he knew he did not possess in the waking world. The voices were still there, just ahead of him. Could it be men instead of orcs? Could it be elves? The voices reverberated off the stone walls of Raven Pass, and Aragorn realized suddenly where he was. He knew the voices belonged to orcs, even if he could not see them. Without another thought he let his arrow fly, but it was too late. Arrows fell around him, and he felt a sharp pain in his eye as one found its mark. His hand reached for the shaft, slick with blood and brains. Vaguely, he realized he shouldn't be alive, shouldn't be able to think at all. The mountains around him dissolved into nothingness as he fell, but still intolerable pain remained. Legolas! His scream shook the stones but it did not bring the orcs to gloat over his body. Nor did Legolas appear out of the mist, a stricken expression on his fair face.

He was alone. No one would come to his rescue. There would be no end to his agony. He was trapped between life and death, unable to save himself and unable to die. "Ada!"

A cool hand smoothed his forehead; he heard concern in his father's voice. "I am here, Estel. You were dreaming."

"I can't see you!"

"Open your eyes."

He was slumped on the floor in his father's library, his head resting against Elrond's knee. The first thing he saw was the table leg in front of him. The second was the worried frown on the elf lord's face. "Are you well?"

Aragorn touched his eye with a shaking hand. Feeling foolish, he changed the gesture, brushing loose strands of hair back from his face. "I am well." He managed a strained smile. "I am only tired, father. Truly."

"It is dawn now. You should go to your chamber and sleep properly." The elf lord looked as weary as his son. "Rest all you can, Estel, before you leave us. You will have need of it."

The words fell between them like a door slamming shut, ending the conversation. Aragorn pushed himself stiffly to his feet, reluctant to meet his father's gaze. Whether it was for fear of the pain he would betray or of seeing the reflection of his anguish in the elf lord's face, he didn't know. His emotions were complicated and he was too tired to figure them out. Nodding wordlessly, he took his leave.

Aragorn went to his room but did not go directly to bed. The sweat of the nightmare still clung to his body, so he gathered clean clothes and made for the family's bathing chamber. He hoped he would be alone so early in the morning, but when the steam billowing out of the room cleared he could see the large marble pool was already occupied.

Legolas opened one eye lazily when Aragorn entered. He was resting against the far wall of the pool, immersed from the chin down. His long, loose hair floated around his shoulders. "You made it out alive. I was starting to worry."

"Alive for the moment." Aragorn slipped behind a gilt screen into the washing area. He undressed quickly, his fingers shaking as he untied the lacings on his tunic.

Aragorn heard the water rippling quietly as the elf abandoned his place and swam closer. He sighed. Legolas must have noticed the strained tone of his voice. "Estel?"

Aragorn threw his filthy clothes to the side. He pumped warm spring water into an urn, then upturned the vessel over his head. "Everything is well, Legolas," he said at last. "I have never made Father so angry before, but I don't think he is any more."

"That's good," the elf said softly.

Aragorn couldn't see Legolas, but he imagined him staring at the screen, his chin resting on the side of the pool. He could sense his friend's patient, silent presence.

"There is more," Aragorn continued softly. He wrung his long hair out and threw it over his shoulder. Producing a long, straight razor he began to shave, feeling his way by touch alone as he looked up at the domed ceiling of the chamber. "Father thinks it is time I left Rivendell and lived among Men."

There was a silence in which he imagined Legolas frowning, surprised and yet not surprised by this turn of events. "Perhaps he is right," the elf finally said. "Your people need you. They have been waiting for you though many dark and bitter seasons."

"Have they?" Aragorn stuck his head around the screen, genuinely surprised.

"Of course." Legolas's eyes narrowed as he studied his friend's face. "You cut yourself."

"Did I? I didn't feel it," Aragorn muttered, disappearing behind the screen again. He emerged a few moments later and dove into the pool, cutting cleanly though the warm water. One more thing he would miss when he left home. He surfaced a few feet away from Legolas, who had closed his eyes once more. Aragorn looked at the elf's still face. For an immortal being, he seemed as painfully young as Aragorn was himself. How could he have ever placed his friend in such danger for such slight cause? "Legolas? I'm so sorry about dragging you to Raven Pass. I've been such a fool."

"Shh. You apologize needlessly. I go where I will and my decisions are my own. You should know that, even if Lord Elrond does not." The elf smiled. "So please relax. You're disturbing the water."

Aragorn chuckled and closed his eyes, listening to the ripples gently breaking against the edges of the pool. He could feel his tired muscles just beginning to unwind when suddenly he heard a laughing voice that caused them to tense again immediately.

"You were right, Elladan! Our fastidious little brother is indeed here," Elrohir called over his shoulder as he burst into the room.

"Don't let him leave." His twin's voice sounded in the hall outside.

"Oh, don't worry. I don't think he's in a position to go anywhere at the moment." Elrohir folded his arms over his chest with a satisfied smile as he fixed his gaze on the young man in the bathing pool.

"You're looking unusually smug this morning," Aragorn muttered.

"Go ahead and insult us," Elladan said, entering unhurriedly. "It makes our task all the more pleasant."

"We just left Father," Elrohir explained. "He told us about your little escapade. What a disobedient lad you are, Estel!"

"Headstrong," Elladan added.

"Reckless," Elrohir agreed.

"We felt Father was rather lenient, so we came here to punish you properly. I'm afraid we'll have to wait, though." Elladan looked at his twin for agreement. "It would be unseemly to lay hands on the child in the presence of our mutual friend." He bowed to the Prince.

"You two are not always as amusing as you imagine yourselves to be," said Legolas. "Now is not the time for jests. It is hard for Estel to leave Rivendell."

Elrohir laughed. "Hard for him and for us! Who do you think Father has ordered to escort the young scapegrace into the Wild?"

"You're coming with me? But. but I thought I had to go alone?"

"Why would you think that?" Elrohir dropped his pose and sat down carelessly beside the pool, one hand trailing through the water. His eyes still danced with mischief, but there was seriousness in their depths. "First, O little one, Father is not as cruel as you rate him at the moment. No, don't interrupt," he said as Aragorn opened his mouth indignantly. "Second, without guidance from those older and wiser than yourself," here he made a vague gesture that included himself, Elladan, and the room at large, "where do you think you would go? You cannot simply ride up to the Rangers and say, 'Hello, I'm your new Chieftain.' For one thing, it is not easy to find them unless you know where to look. Then there are introductions to be made, formalities to be observed."

"He's correct," Elladan said. "You're fortunate we know your people so well and are willing to help you." He smiled benignly. "In fact, one might even say you're blessed with our companionship."

"One might also say cursed," Aragorn said, but now he was smiling, too.

"I think the child is trying to provoke us." Elladan cocked his head and looked at the young human wonderingly. "I would have thought you had learned your lesson about reckless behavior." His hand shot out, grabbing Aragorn's arm.

"Legolas, help!"

Legolas shook his head, settling back against the side of the pool with a resigned sigh. He knew how these things usually turned out, so he didn't even blink when Elladan was pulled into the water. Amid the splashing and shouts he heard Aragorn's laughter, a soothing balm to all their worried spirits. The Prince of Mirkwood smiled and closed his eyes.