Author: Celebrian Helyanwë
Email: elf-friend@SAFe-mail.net
Feedback: Yes please. Flames will be fed to Gashdul, Snaga and Zurdok.
Archive: Go ahead.
Disclaimer: No, the Lord of the Rings and all canon characters do NOT belong to me. How many times do I have to tell you that? I only own the plot bunny and the original characters. I have a good mind to disown most of them, though. If you want to use them, ask me. Also, the animations aren't mine. I found them at a website, but I can't put a link here, because I don't remember which one it was.
Summary: Legolas and his patrol have been kidnapped by an unknown enemy. In desperation, Thranduil sends to Elrond for aid. Elrond sends the only person who has any chance of finding the prince's trail: Aragorn. But when Aragorn joins Legolas's captors in disguise, will the prince be able to trust him?
Author's Note: This takes place after my songfic Perfect Time. I am working on the premise that both of Aragorn's parents were killed by orcs when he was two and that he was present at their deaths. I am not quite clear on how elven ages run, so when I say Legolas is around 200, I picture him as around a human twenty and just come of age.
Chapter One
"The leaves were long, the grass was green.
The hemlock umbels tall and fair..."
Thus sang Estel as he walked the forest in Rivendell. He had just come into his own. Everything he saw seemed to join in his joy. His eyes sparkled in the light of the setting sun. He trailed his hands along the bark of the trees, happy to be home once more.
Suddenly, the song came to life. Luthien walked before him. He ran toward her, crying her name lest she vanish. She looked at him with a curious expression on her face. "Why did you call me that?" she asked him.
Estel gaped at her. "Aren't you -- I mean-- I thought you were -- were indeed- Luthien Tinuviel," he stammered, his face turning bright scarlet from his chin to his ears.
The maiden rolled her eyes and smiled. "So many have told me before," she commented. "Who are you?"
"I have always been called Estel, but my name is Aragorn son of Arathorn."
The young woman suddenly laughed. "Why then we are distant kin!" she cried. "Im Arwen Undomiel Elrondiel."
"Elrondiel! Then why have I never met you before? Surely Ada hasn't kept you locked up somewhere?" Aragorn was confused.
"Oh, no, I have been with my grandmother in Lothlorien for many years. It has been a long time since I was last here in Imladris." She looked at Aragorn's face and smiled. "Wherefore are you so surprised? Didn't you know the children of Elrond Peredhil have the life of the elves? Come, tell me about yourself, for I have heard much of you."
So he regaled her with tales of his adventures with their brothers and their pranks on the older elves of Rivendell. She gave him detailed descriptions of life in the Golden Wood.
A few days later, Elrond called Aragorn into his study. Aragorn held his breath. The last time his father had called him into his study alone, it had been to talk about Estel's love for Arwen.
"Estel, I have received a letter from King Thranduil. His young son's patrol has disappeared and no one has been able to find them. There are signs of a fight where they were last seen. If the prince is not found soon, his captors will probably kill him. You are an excellent tracker. Would you be willing to search for the prince?" Elrond's face looked sad and tense.
"Young? How young, Ada?" Aragorn wanted to know.
"He just came of age last month. This was his first patrol. He is an only son and his father loves him dearly," Elrond explained. "If he is killed, Thranduil may die of grief."
"I'll go, Father."
"The last trace of them was found on the north-east side of Mirkwood. Your brothers will go part of the way with you. I am sending them to Angamar which is besieged by orcs."
Aragorn knew how hard it was for Elrond to send all three of his sons out on dangerous missions. "I'll go right now, Ada," he said, standing up and walking to the door.
"Aragorn, you are to leave tomorrow with your brothers." Elrond's
mood was lightened by his youngest son's enthusiasm. The young man was
full of
life and eager to use his energy to protect the free peoples of
Middle-Earth.
