A/N: Well, thanks a million to all of you who took the time to review the last chapter! It really means a lot to me, and I found some comments quite flattering (I shouldn't read them too often, could be bad for my ego...). I'd like to answer some reviewers though (don't worry, it won't be long)(I hope).
To IMJinnie, about my attention to details: well, I *did* say I was a logic freak, didn't I? I think I could almost be considered a perfectionist, as I keep reading my chapters again and again until I'm (almost) happy with it, which I'm never since there'll always be something that bugs me. Did I hear you ask for an example? I think I did. Well for example, the scene where Legolas and Gimli go to the gardens in the last chapter, I wrote they "leant their elbows on the balustrade" but I always thought they couldn't (I still do). The architecture of Minas Tirith is most probably the size of Men, and while it would be no problem for Legolas, I doubt Gimli's elbows would reach the balustrade. And after a (very) long pondering during which I considered how to phrase it, I thought "Who other than I would notice, anyway?" So it remained that way, and it seems I was right... No one noticed...
And while this attention to detail makes me a slow writer, on the other hand I think it would make me a good beta... Or a very annoying beta to the least... (I am convinced I am one of my co-writers worst nightmare)
To xsilicax, about me needing no beta: Well, in a way I do beta my own writings (see above babbling), but I'd like to thank you for saying that. English is not my first language, so I can never be totally sure about what I write (I have a very active social life with my dictionary, though...), and that's why I keep asking for a beta.
To RainyDayz: Hmm... Doesn't saying that you enjoyed the scene with "Legolas and Gimli (minus Gimli)" mean that you "enjoyed the scene with Legolas"? Anyway... There'll be plenty of Legolas in the next chapter if you wish to know (Gimli will still be around, though... Sorry, but I really do like that dwarf... ;-p )
To eck: Glad I managed to keep your attention! ;-D
Oh, ok, ok, I'm done now... So on with the story!
Leaving the White City
High in a tower of his palace, Aragorn was standing on a balcony that allowed him to see all the surrounding lands. The sun was now setting down, and it was with a sigh that the King of Gondor looked at the skyline while the darkness of the night began to spread over his kingdom.
How many years had passed since his last journeys through Middle-earth he could not tell. Too many of them he would say, if he was not the ruler of a Man realm with a wife and children. Both his future and duty laid there now, in Minas Tirith.
It had been settled with Crireth that an expedition would leave the White City the next morning at first light, to allow the three Noreans some rest until then. And despite his will to accompany them, he was reluctant to do so. He could not leave his family behind. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
He opened them again when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
"What is it that disturb you, my husband?"
The soft voice of his elven wife never failed to comfort him, and he put his own hand on hers with a slight smile. Without taking his eyes off the landscape he answered: "Nothing, Undómiel. It is nothing…"
"Someone else than I may believe that, but I can read in you, Estel. I have known for a long time now that a day like this one would come."
Aragorn turned to Arwen with an expression of puzzlement on his face.
"I ignored that it would come in the guise of this creature, but I expected it and prepared myself to it." She paused a few seconds to study her husband's face. She could so easily read in his eyes what she was about to tell… "You have been missing your travels for many years now. Strider the Ranger is yearning in you, and you are aching to join the expedition that will leave tomorrow."
Aragorn shook his head. "It is not my role to go with them any more. Besides I am sure my men will be able to handle it alone."
"I am afraid I do not share your confidence, and I am almost certain you are not that confident yourself."
The King of Gondor turned to face the landscape again. She was right. He knew his men to be experienced, but dealing with this creature would be extremely delicate, and important decisions would have to be made. It was no ordinary tracking. Knowing his wife could read him like an open book, he simply answered: "I can not leave."
"The hunt of this creature requires your presence as much as any of Gondor's important matters."
Aragorn sighed. "But what about you, Eldarion and Enariel?"
"Do not worry about us. And while I do not like the idea of you risking your life, I know it has to be done, and I am sure you will come back soon safe and sound…"
Turning to face her once more, he nodded and smiled to her while taking her in his embrace. "Diola lle, nîn meleth (*)," he murmured.
Arwen slightly turned her head towards the door as two familiar figures entered the room. "I think there are two people here who would like to talk to you…" Slowly she freed herself from Aragorn's hug and left with the grace only an Elf could have, slightly nodding at Gimli's and Legolas' bows.
The two friends walked to Aragorn side by side, and it was Gimli who spoke first. "I am beginning to think there is something wrong with you, Aragorn. It is the second time today you do not hear us coming. That is quite unusual for an experienced Ranger like yourself."
"Especially since even a young child would have been able to hear that Dwarf coming…" Legolas added.
"Are you implying I am noisy, Elf?" the Dwarf retorted, his hands on his hips.
"Deafening would be a more suitable word to describe the indecent amount of noise you produce."
"My friends, my friends…" Aragorn stopped them with a hand. He knew that once started, that kind of feigned argument could go on for hours with them. "I apologize as I have not spent with you all the time I would have wanted to tonight. I had been waiting for your visit impatiently, but I am afraid our reunion will have to be shortened. I will leave tomorrow with a group of men and the Noreans to find this creature."
"Are you trying to keep us away from this adventure?" Legolas asked with a false indignant tone.
"None of you need a new quest to prove his valor. I do not wish to impose that one on you, and you probably both have your own concerns to deal with."
"If you think the concerns of the King of Gondor are not our own, you afflict me for you are greatly mistaken." Gimli answered with a slightly upset tone. "I do not trust those sea travelers, and I would like to keep an eye on them."
At the hearing of the Dwarf's mistrust Legolas slightly rolled his eyes, and at this Aragorn inwardly smiled as he knew it was a very unusual attitude for an Elf. "And if you do not mind Aragorn, I would like to come as well and keep an eye on that Dwarf before he puts himself into too much trouble."
Aragorn nodded. With the mind-controlling creature he had on his hands, what he needed the most was trustworthy allies, and those two were certainly the most trustworthy ones he could ever dream of.
Gimli's answer to his Elf friend's insinuations was quick to come, and it was outraged that he said: "I need no elven eyes to be kept on me. You can attend to your elven affairs, Legolas, and do whatever an Elf is ought to do, while the real warriors go into battle."
"Pardon me but without my arrows, I would not have given much for the chances of the mighty warrior you are…"
The Dwarf told Aragorn off: "You know, travelling with that Elf", he said pointing at Legolas, "is extremely boring. Whenever you encounter foes he would shoot at them at a distance, even before you can have a chance to kill some of them yourself. It is greatly annoying, and honestly I could live with some more excitement than watching enemies fall one by one without doing anything myself." He quickly added before Legolas could say anything: "Hence Aragorn, if you do not mind sharing some fun with old friends, it would be a pleasure to accompany you and your men on this journey."
This time Aragorn smiled openly. "I do not think there will be much fun during this journey, Gimli, but your presence will be greatly appreciated." Seeing that the Dwarf was turning to Legolas with a somewhat winning smile, he turned to the Elf too and added: "Yours as well, Legolas."
Aragorn sat near his son's bed as silently as he could, and watched as Eldarion was peacefully sleeping. He had inherited his mother's fine nose and piercing eyes, but his general features were his father's. A tender smile appeared on the King's face, and he cast a quick look towards the window. Soon would the sun rise behind the skyline, and he knew he had barely an hour left before he and the group of men would leave.
His gaze wandered back to his heir. With a careful hand he pushed away a strand of dark hair on his son's forehead. The young boy slightly stirred in his sleep, but quickly came to rest again.
Aragorn slowly got up, his eyes never leaving his son. He had better go and prepare his package, hence he turned and began to walk to the door.
"Father?" an half-asleep and questioning voice called.
Aragorn froze. "Aye?" he answered, quietly turning back again to find his son helping himself up with his elbows.
"Is it time for my training yet?"
He sat back near the bed. "Nay, Eldarion. It is still very early, and you should go back to sleep."
"But you will train me? You said you would show me how to use a sword today."
Aragorn smiled at the excitement in the boy's voice. Many a time had he seen Eldarion hiding and trying to imitate him with a piece of wood during his own sparring with one of his men. "I said that maybe I would. You are still too young to carry a sword."
"I am not." Eldarion stated with a pout. "I am strong you know."
The King of Gondor smiled even more. "I know. But the time will come when I will teach you swordfight, and in the meantime you will have to be patient."
"So… You will not show me today?" The deception was obvious in his voice.
Aragorn sighed and his smile disappeared. "I have to leave soon, Eldarion."
The boy frowned . "Why? Is it because of those people that arrived yesterday?"
So even he had heard about them… "Aye."
"I do not like them." For a moment, Aragorn wondered if his son had somehow been in contact with Gimli during the night, until Eldarion added with a scowling look: "Because you have to leave because of them."
Aragorn slightly shook his head. "Nay, Eldarion. Do not blame the messenger for the bad news he carries." Realizing his son might be a bit too young to understand what he meant, he went on: "It is not because of them I have to leave, but because of what they informed me of. There is someone very evil that is killing people and I have to go and stop him. Do you understand?"
The boy began to nod, but soon the nod transformed into a shake. "But why is it you who have to go?"
The King tried to find a simple answer to offer the five years old child. "Because it is very important."
"Why?"
"Because that person is really very evil."
"Why?"
Had he had more time, Aragorn would have happily played his son's question/answer game. But he had not, hence he had to quickly put a end to it. "Because he was not being nice with his little sister when he was a child."
"Wh-…" Eldarion suddenly broke off and frowned, looking at his father intently. Aragorn could not help smiling any more. "I was not being not nice with her. But I can not play with her, and she is always sleeping or crying."
Aragorn took a deep breath and laid a hand on his son's shoulder before speaking with a very serious tone. "Listen to me carefully Eldarion. Be nice with your sister, and take care of your mother during my absence. Will you do that for me?"
Eldarion's face suddenly became as grave as if he had just been entrusted with a mission of outstanding importance. "I will."
"Good." Aragorn bent over to kiss his son on the forehead. "Now go back to sleep." He turned round and began to walk towards the door, and his heart missed a beat.
"Father?"
"Aye?"
"Can I have a sword to defend them?"
Standing on the doorstep, Aragorn laughed lightly. "We will see."
Aragorn carefully wrapped the lembas some of Arwen's elven maidens had prepared for them, putting it into his package along with some regular food and a skin of water. He secured his sleeping bag and checked his daggers and sword. As everything was at its place, he made his way to the yard.
His two former companions were already there and ready, as well as most of the men he had chosen for this journey. The latter were taking care of the Noreans, equipping them with what they needed, particularly weapons as none of them carried any. Aragorn saw each of them had been given a dagger as he had requested. A sword could do more harm than good when handled by inexperienced hands, and it was wiser to give them shorter blades.
His decision was confirmed when he saw the way the Noreans handled the daggers, looking at them as if it was the first time they saw one. Only Qeladon, the older man, quickly fastened it to his belt. As for Crireth he hesitated before doing so, while Cindra, the young woman, was still staring at her weapon. She said a few words to her father in her own tongue, and while Aragorn did not speak the language he could tell her tone was definitely one of disapproval.
"Ah, Aragorn! Here you are at last!"
The King turned to face the Dwarf walking to him, closely followed by an Elf.
"Maybe you will be able to solve a little difference of opinion the Elf and I have been having recently." Gimli went on.
"What is it about?" Aragorn asked, hoping it was not another of their endless arguments about their fighting skills.
"As time is an important parameter in this journey, it would be wise to ride on horseback," Legolas began. "Yet it seems no horse has been prepared."
"You are right, my friend. We should ride," Aragorn answered. "But considering the nature of this creature, we will have to take it by surprise, and horses would make us too noticeable. Hence we will go on foot."
Gimli smiled. "I am glad to hear that. I have had during the last few years enough horse riding for a lifetime."
"To be honest, I am glad too for I will not have to endure the Dwarf's constant complaints about horses." Legolas retorted.
Before the situation could become aggravated, Aragorn preferred to leave. "If you will excuse me my friends, I have to go check if everything is ready."
Elf and Dwarf exchanged a look while the King walked away, mirth in their eyes.
Aragorn reviewed his men, and soon all was ready.
It was time to leave.
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End of Chapter Three...
(*) Diola lle, nîn meleth = Thank you, my love
Well at least that's what it should mean, though I wouldn't be much surprised if you told me I was wrong, as I used a Sindarin/English dictionary, which means the translation is quite literal and might not be totally correct (in that case, feel free to correct me!)
Well, here we are anyway! I hope you liked this chapter, that finished the settlement before the *real* action begins! (if it ever begins...)
Oh, and there probably won't be any new update before next week. I have an important report to finish (plus oral presentation of the project of course, where would be the fun otherwise?) And I know you guys love to hear about my thrilling life. Don't deny it, I know you do. You just pretend you don't.
Anyway, that basically means I want many reviews, because I really need to be cheered up these days... (does the puppy eyes look to readers and indicates the so good-looking review button)
Next chapter: "Cohabitation" (Lots of Legolas in this one, I promise!)