~*~Chapter 7~*~
"Oh no…" he muttered.
Terrian looked over at him, "Wha' oh no? Tha' canna be good…"
"Nay it's not little one…" he glanced at the tracks and then looked to the horizon, he could swear he saw dust and knew that the two were simply leading the orcs away from the town, "come here."
The hobbit immediately complied, still being quite intimidated by the man.
Aragorn pointed out the tracks, "They are leading a group of orcs away from the town."
The hobbits eyes grew, "Orcs? Will they be okay?" he examined the largely trampled area, "even I can tell there were a lo' o' them."
"Ai, many," he examined the ground again and shook his head, "about thirty I'd say."
"Thirty?!"
"Thirty. It'll be no problem for them."
"How could it be no problem?!"
A huge flash of light and the distant sound of screeching before silence answered the hobbits question.
Aragorn smiled, "Gandalf… or as you know him…" he grinned, "the old one, is a wizard."
The hobbit's eyes widened even further and he shifted.
Aragorn noticed the movement and smiled reassuringly, "Worry not little one, he is a kind soul."
Terrian nodded slowly, "What about the other one? He was another ranger was he not? I heard you tell Butterbur he was Tyryn."
"Nay, he was not a ranger."
The hobbit frowned, "But… Tyryn stayed with us before… he is a ranger…"
"Ai, Tyryn is a ranger, but I only used his name for my friend, he would not likely be accepted if I told them his real name."
"Why is that?"
"His real name is Legolas."
Terrian furrowed his brow and glanced up at the man, "It doesn't sound like a human name…"
Aragorn smiled, "That is because it isn't. Legolas is an elf."
The hobbit gaped and Aragorn smiled.
"But I heard elves were evil?"
Aragorn shook his head, "Ignore what you heard. Elves are not evil. If you are to trust me on *anything*… trust me on that."
The hobbit nodded slowly, though he still seemed unsure.
Aragorn smiled at him, "You will see when you meet him."
Aragorn paused, confused, and knelt down, the feeling that was creeping up on him was like that of a vision but was something else… the hobbit glanced at him worriedly. The ranger smiled reassuringly at him before focussing on the ground.
His eyes glazed over and he stared unblinkingly, the difference was, he finally got control and blinked, though his eyes were still glazed. He was thinking clearly as well and paused his motion when a voice rung in his head.
- Worry not young one. We are sending your horse back to you. Bring the hobbit with you and we will wait. -
- Thank you Gandalf, - he thought back, knowing the wizard was using his power to keep them from worrying, - though I do not worry, I knew you could take care of yourself old man. -
A sound, sounding much like a snort, rung in his head and he smirked, - I will wait. –
With that the feeling disappeared and he suddenly came to realize the hobbit was shaking his shoulder frantically.
"Strider sir! Please! Are you okay?"
Aragorn blinked and shook his head, "Oh I'm very, very sorry for worrying you Terr, but I was on the receiving end of a very sudden message from Gandalf."
The hobbit nodded slowly but Aragorn noticed the slight fear in his eyes.
"I promise you I am perfectly fine. Though if it is worse that what you just saw…" he paused and sighed, "'tis but one of those annoying visions."
The hobbit blinked but decided not to ask, "Wha' are we waitin' fer?"
Aragorn smiled and pointed to the horizon, "My horse."
In fifteen minutes she reached them, nudged Aragorn and eyed the hobbit.
"Hono mellon," he said to her. // He (is a) friend, //
The hobbit looked at him, "What language is that?"
"Sindarin, a type of Elvish."
"How many languages do you know?"
Aragorn smiled, "Many little friend, many."
Terrian nodded slowly and was caught off guard when the man suddenly lifted him onto the horse. He yelped and clung to her mane.
Aragorn quickly mounted behind him and pulled him back so he could lean against him, "Sorry it I startled you but we must go. Hold on tight and don't let go."
The hobbit clung to the man and squeezed his eyes shut.
Aragorn smiled softly, "Noro lim Erethrintin noro lim!" // Go forward go forward! //
With that the horse snorted and leapt forward in joy.
It only took her seven minutes to get back to where the others waited.
"Mae govannen Legolas! Mithrandir!" he made to get off his horse but stopped when he noticed the hobbit still clung to him.
He grinned and laid his hand on his shoulder, "Come on, we've stopped. You can get off now."
The hobbit slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Aragorn, "Uh… do ye think ye could help me a bi'?"
Aragorn grinned, "Aye," he turned to Legolas and motioned him over, "take him down for me?"
Legolas walked over and lifted the slightly freaked out hobbit off the horses back and put him on the ground.
Aragorn slid off Erethrintin's back no problem. The horse turned and pushed her head into Legolas chest, making the elf smile. She really did have an odd attitude; a friend of Aragorn was a friend to her. Then she turned again and nudged the hobbit.
Terrian smiled slowly and patted her neck.
Aragorn smiled at him, "Come then, I have to get her hooked up to the cart."
Aragorn walked over to the cart and the horse followed right behind him. He let her move herself into the place she was now used to and harnessed her up.
After that he glanced at the seat of the cart and frowned, "There is no way all four of us can sit up there…"
Gandalf nodded, "Someone will have to sit in the back."
Aragorn glanced at the slightly tired looking hobbit, "I will go back with Terrian," he offered, "I think we could probably both use some rest anyhow."
Legolas pulled off the rangers cloak and handed it back to him.
Aragorn smiled and walked around to the back of the cart, Terrian following him.
The man helped the hobbit up before jumping up himself. He used the edge of the cart to get to the corner near the bench and cleared a spot for them, then dropped to the floor and leant back against the short wall. The hobbit just lay down on the floor and fell asleep. Aragorn smiled and threw his extra cloak over the small being before leaning back against the wall again and falling asleep himself.
Legolas just grinned when he looked back at them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Within three hours the man had woken up and sat thinking of a way to bother the elf. He grinned and poked the elf in the back. Legolas sighed lightly and rolled his eyes. Aragorn smirked as he poked him again, this time he turned and the man was able to sneak the elf's bow off the seat beside him.
"Strider must you?"
"Aye, this is only the beginning elf."
Legolas sighed, but then grinned wickedly, knowing this would take the man's mind off his father, "So is this a continuation?"
"You bet."
The hobbit had awoken during this and gave Aragorn an odd look, "On what?"
The two looked at him and smiled. Aragorn frowned after a moment though, "You don't look well…"
The hobbit glanced down, "I'm sorry Strider, sir but… I think I caugh' a cold outsi' last nigh'."
Aragorn smiled, "No need to be sorry, everyone…" he glanced at Legolas, "Okay… all *mortals* get sick once in a while."
The hobbit smiled slightly, "Is probably jus' a fever…"
Aragorn glanced at the hobbit; it was obvious he was still young, "How old are you?"
The hobbit glanced up, "I'm 14 sir…"
Aragorn's eyes widened, "Only 14?! What are you doing out alone? You haven't even come of age yet!"
The hobbit sighed, "Me parents worked fer de inn… some group of strange men came in, got themselves drunk an' killed everyone… includin' me parents…"
Aragorn's eyes sparked with sympathy, "I'm really sorry for you…"
Terrian sighed, "I thank'e but don't be… it ain't yer problem…"
Aragorn frowned slightly, "As your new friend I'm making it my problem."
Legolas smiled then quickly hid it and turned to the hobbit, "You had better watch it… it wouldn't be called a good thing to be his friend… means you have to pull him out of all kinds of scrapes…"
A/N
Elven Kitten: Hey every1!!!!!! Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!!!!
Elf Side: *Sigh* Must you start your authors notes in the same way every time?
E.K.: *Glare* It's my story…
E.S.: OUR story…
E.K.: Whatever… well yeah… we are one person…
Gollum Side: *Glances around warily*
Aragorn: Uh… what's wrong with it??
G.S.: The cheese!! It is out to get me!!!! *Presses itself into corner*
Legolas: Interesting…
E.K.: Very… well… on with replys!
SilverKnight7- Glad yur happy!! ^_^ And I'm glad it's great! Thanx!
Kandice- Yes… it was terrifying… *Shudders* even though I ended up only having to watch part of it… after that I escaped up to my cousins room and played Xbox for the rest of the day… ^_^ but yes, I'm still alive and that means I can post!! Yay!
leggylover03- At your command! ^_^ hope u enjoyed!
mascara freak- You enjoy my arguments with myself? ^_^ I'll admit… cheese CAN be evil… *Cries* you're so mean! Crushing my dreams like that… *Cries again* I don't pretend she doesn't exist… I only ignore her when the conversation turns to Aragorn.
Arwen: *Mutters* Ain't that the truth…
Other than that we're pretty good friends! ^_^
Lady of Nimrodel- Lol, I used to be like that… now I have so many reviews I can't keep track of them… ^_^ I'm glad u like my elves! I hate it when people make them out to be weak… ELVES ARE SUPERIOR IN ALL WAYS!!!!!!!!!!! Uh… sorry 'bout that… ^_^ but it's true!!! Well… unless being short is a good thing… then go Hobbits!! ^_^ … hmm… share Aragorn? Well… we'll see… lol, no one truly owns him… I just like to say I do… it's unfortunate that Tolkein owns him… oh well… *Smirks* I stole him… ^_^ and more Aragorn torture? Maybe not right away but… *Evil grin* oh yeah.
Aragorn: Oh no… no more please!! *Groan*
Aut-of-Mandos- Ah yes… when the elf least expects it… *Evil grin* and The Silmarillion was great!!!!!!!!!!!! To bad it was a library book… *Sniff* Otherwise I'd re-read it! And don't be sorry! Being odd is fun!!!!!
E.K.: Well… that was fun… E.S.: Ooooooooof course it was…
G.S.: *Sigh* The cheese hassss gone…
E.K.: ^.- um… of course… what did it walk out of the fridge?
G.S.: Yupsess it did! *Points to cheese floating across the floor*
E.K.: O.O
E.S.: O.o… wait a sec… FRODO! STOP STEALING OUR FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frodo: Eep! *Drops cheese and runs*
G.S.: *Eyes cheese warily*
Cheese: BOO!
G.S.: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Runs from room*
E.S.: FRODO!!!!!!!!!
F.: I'm leaving, I'm leaving… *Mutters* No fun boring elves…
E.S.: I heard that!
F.: *Stomps out of room*
E.K.: Tsk tsk… very unhobbit-like…
Pippin: How would you know?
E.K.: …I don't really… but… hey… how did you get here?! You're not in my story yet!
P.: Uh… gotta go!!!!!!!!!
Merry: *Who had followed* Uh… bye? *Leaves*
E.K.: I knew hobbits were quiet but that was ridiculous…
E.S.: Agreed…
G.S.: *Freaked out voice* The cheese!!!!
E.K.: *Rolls eyes and flings cheese into fridge* better?
G.S.: Yupses!!! Much better preciousss!!! No more wicked cheesesssss!!!!!!!!!!
E.S.: Well… namaarie!
~Elenmeoi