~*~Chapter 6~*~
Aragorn yawned and fell back on the bed. The room was small and cramped with the three beds in it. The man briefly wondered why they didn't make the rooms bigger before falling asleep.
Legolas glanced at the man and grinned. He hated the smell of the place but was slowly getting used to it. He could only hope they would leave early.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Aragorn woke up early, surprised to find it was still dark out, even Legolas was still sleeping, he blinked, wondering what had woken him up when an image flashed through his vision. He jolted slightly and blinked, thinking back he noticed it as a short vision, when he thought about it, he remembered seeing his father on one of the men's wagons. He recognized the lands though. They were moving faster than he had expected. They were just passed Weathertop already. Then he blinked, the end flashed dark… it looked like Gandalf's cart but there was something wrong.
He got out of bed and glanced at Legolas and Gandalf, smiling at the wizard when he realized he was awake and whispered, "I'm going to get the cart ready… Legolas will not want to stay here."
The wizard smiled back at him and nodded as he stood and walked over to the window, sitting in a chair facing it.
Aragorn walked down and was about to walk out the door when a noise from the back room caused him to turn. After a moment the door opened and Butterbur came out.
"Where are ye goin'?" he asked suspiciously, "Ye haven't paid for me services yet."
Aragorn glanced at him, "I fully intend to. The others are busy. I was to go and get the cart ready."
"I din't see yer friends last night."
Aragorn shrugged, "You were busy."
The inn-keeper nodded slightly, "How'm I supposed ta' know yer gonna come back?"
Aragorn thought for a moment, hesitating before reaching down for his sword. Butterbur took a step back, his eyes widening. Seeing this, Aragorn raised his hands before un-buckling his sword from his belt. He quickly un-did the three leather straps down the length of the sheath. They held the two swords together so they would not hinder his steps.
He then laid it on the desk along with his bow and quiver, "If I don't come back, you can keep these."
With that he strode out of the inn.
Butterbur glanced down at the weapons, he didn't know much about them but he knew enough to be able to tell they were of fine make. Probably worth much more than what the man owed him.
Aragorn moved quickly towards the stable, passing their two horses and heading towards the cart, his feeling of unease returning. Butterbur was an honest man and he knew he could trust he would get his weapons back. The thing bothering him was his vision. When he reached the wagon he knew why.
The small man standing near the wagon looked up sharply. He drew his sword and looked the ranger over.
Aragorn's hand drifted to where his sword was and he mentally cursed himself. He drew the second sword, the one he rarely used.
The man glanced at it and laughed.
Aragorn held the weapon easily, being used to the weight difference of the broken sword.
In the blink of an eye Aragorn had jumped onto the seat of the cart and off on the other side.
The other man barely got his sword up in time to block the other.
Aragorn caught sight of a whip on his belt and he suddenly realised this was one of the men who caught his father.
He pushed the man back, "You're a slaver."
The man narrowed his eyes, "Course not."
"Why do you have a whip then?"
The man paused for a moment, "It's for my horses."
"It's covered in blood."
The man glanced at it, "Must've hit the horses a bit too hard."
"It's too dark."
"What?"
"The blood on your whip is too dark. It's elf blood."
The man shifted and Aragorn brought his sword towards him again, Narsil flashed red-orange in the light of the rising sun.
The man blocked again, started to question his ability to beat the other.
"Do you know the name of the elf you caught? Do you know who he was?"
"His name… I believe he said it was Muina. As for who he was," the man dodged a blow and shrugged, "he was one of the dark-haired elves from that valley."
"Rivendell?"
"That's the one!"
Aragorn bit back a small smile, Muina… secret… hidden… both worked. He blocked one hit and spun to the side, almost bumping into a wall. He spared a swift glance around him. He could tell by the other man's tactics that he wasn't as experienced as them. He ducked under a swipe and used the flat of his sword to pull the man's legs out from under him, cutting the back of his legs a bit.
The man fell flat on his back and winced as his stinging legs came in contact with the dirty floor.
Aragorn got to his knees so he could keep the tip of the foot-long sword near the man's neck.
"Stand slowly," he said coldly, slowly moving smoothly to his feet as the other man did so as well.
The man gulped as Aragorn grabbed a rope they used to tie down the elven cloth over the fireworks. The ranger quickly bound his hands tightly enough that he couldn't get free but loose enough so that they wouldn't cut off the mans circulation or rub his wrists raw.
That done he poked the man in the back lightly with the hilt of his sword.
Butterbur glanced up as the door opened and was surprised to see the ranger with a bound man being pushed in front of him.
"What is de meaning a dis?!"
"I caught this man snooping around your stable," he threw the coiled whip on the desk, "he's a slaver."
Butterbur gaped for a moment, "Well, put'm where I can watch'm and I'll send someone to get somebody who'll take'm to de dungeons."
"Sorry about this Butterbur. I hope this has caused no inconvenience."
The man sighed, "Nay… I thank'e fer gettin rid of'm."
"It was not a problem," he shot a look at the man, "if he gives you trouble, tell me or one of the others and they'll help you out. Now I'm going to finish what I was about to start."
He nodded to the innkeeper and walked back outside.
By the time he had finished, the elf and wizard were outside. The former thrilled that they weren't going to stay.
Aragorn went back into the inn, paid Butterbur and retrieved his weapons before coming back out.
"Okay! Let us be off."
Aragorn once again walked in front of the cart as it went through the town. When they reached the gate the keeper glanced at them and opened the gate.
Though before they went through Aragorn paused and glanced to his right, surprised to see the hobbit that had been at the inn the night before.
The man walked up to him and knelt in front of him, "What are you doing out here?"
The hobbit shifted, "I was 'ent to bring someone back to take away tha' man ye caught."
Aragorn smiled slightly. The hobbit didn't seem only nervous around him though.
"Something bothers you?"
The hobbit shifted again and glanced around, "I don't like it here… I've lived here all me life and tried to make de best of it but…"
"It's not where you belong."
The hobbit looked surprised, "That's exactly how I feel… how did ye know?"
"I'm a ranger… I feel that way all the time," he glanced in the direction of Rivendell, "I suppose I'm lucky to have my family… although I have not seen much of them…" he paused, realising he was blabbing, "sorry," he smiled.
The hobbit smiled back this time, seeming a little less nervous, "Me name is Terrian… er just Terr."
Aragorn smiled, "You know… I believe we could take you with us to The Shire if you wanted."
The hobbit looked surprised but he grinned, "I would love that! Oh… but I'd have to go back to the inn to explain and I don't wanna hold ye up…" his face fell.
Aragorn smiled and glanced back at the others, Legolas was grinning obviously having heard everything that was heard. Gandalf was just smiling.
Aragorn turned back to the hobbit, "I'll go back with you and explain. After that we can teach my friend over there the consequences of eavesdropping."
The hobbit glanced over and noticed the grey elder grinning while the cloaked one seemed rather stiff.
"Come," Aragorn stood, "I don't wish to have my horse out here any longer though. She doesn't like all the people."
The ranger glanced at Gandalf and nodded, signalling he'd be out soon. The wizard nodded back and drove the cart through the gates.
"Let's go," the ranger smiled reassuringly at the nervous hobbit and stood, "they will be waiting when we get back."
The hobbit nodded and the two set off at a fast pace towards the inn.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Aragorn smiled and glanced over at the hobbit as they walked up to the gate. The keeper opened the door and let them through.
Aragorn glanced around, frowning when he saw the tracks of running horses, cart wheels and orcs.
A/N
SilverKnight7- …I'm gonna cry again… *Sniff*… *Cries* HAPPY?! I UPDATED!!!!! Lol, sorry… but… *Sniff*
leggylover03- I'm glad you like this chapter! ^_^
mascara freak- Hissssssssssssssssss… but… I'll try my best to put in more of Legolas in the future… ^_^
Kandice- A new reviewer! Yay! Happy days!!!!!!!!! ^_^ *shudders* homework is evil… *Groan* but having to watch the Super Bowl is worse… cursed football… I'll have to hide all day… ^_^ sorry if it seemed to take too long!
E.K.: That was… fun?
E.S.: Mhm… great fun…
G.S.: *Snores*
Aragorn: *Mutters* I'm going to bed…
Legolas: AI! Don't leave me alone with them! *Runs after him*
E.K.: That was rude…
G.S.: *Snores*
E.S.: *Sigh* well… uh…
Elrond: … why is it that I have now been tortured more then them?
E.K.: You know… I really couldn't tell you…
E.S.: Slavers… *Shudders*
G.S.: *Jumps up suddenly* BEWARE THE EVIL CHEESE!!!!!!!! *Starts to snore again*
E.K & E.S. & E & A & L: O.o
E.K.: What the heck was that all about?!
E.S.: I have a feeling we don't wanna know…
E.K.: I suddenly want cheese…
G.S.: *Jumps up* EVIL! *Snore*
E.S.: *Thinks* cheese?
G.S.: EVIL!!!!!!!!! *Snore*
E.K.: *Giggle* well, c y'all!
E.S.: Namaarie!
~Elenmeoi