Chapter 9
I guess I had bettered tell them
The 5 ran into no trouble as they journeyed to Lindon. Círdan met them at a camp outside of Mitholond and far from the Sea. He had no wish to awaken the desire in the warriors ere they left.
" Welcome, I wish it were under more lax circumstances that we met," Círdan greeted them, " Come into the tents. Dinner is almost ready and you may meet your traveling partners."
Glorfindel bid them to go ahead, staying by Círdan. Elladan led the way inside, his stomach grumbling softly. 3 Elves jumped from their seats that they had been lounging in. They immediately relaxed.
" We thought you to be Círdan," one explained, " I am Esseóre."
" Elladan."
Both caught arms.
" My brother, Elrohir, Legolas, and other brother, Estel."
The 3 Elves' brows furrowed.
" Master Elrond had only 3 children, yet you say there are 4?" one asked.
" I am one of those children. I do know whom my brother is," Elladan answered, with a smile.
The other 2 Elves, Oiralomë and Ellolori were both dark haired. This was good save the fact that Legolas would stand out since he was the blonde. If they were captured… Elladan mentally berated himself for thinking such thoughts. Círdan and Glorfindel rejoined them.
" Let us eat."
~*~
Aragorn slipped out after dinner. He easily found Sulroche. The horse nuzzled his hand, searching for a treat. Aragorn produced a cube of sugar with a smile.
" Estel," a voice came.
Aragorn turned to see Esseóre.
" You should not wander. Even this close to the camp."
" Orcs are not here. They fled long ago. They went that way," Aragorn shrugged.
" You are a master tracker. You will be a good addition. We have 3 sons of Elrond with us. Lady Varda smiles upon our group," Esseóre said, " Or maybe we do indeed have only 2 sons of Elrond, for I do not think you are one."
Aragorn turned.
" Foster son, yes, but by blood, no," he replied, " Elladan has always watched out for me, so he will not like to hear your disagreement. Keep it to yourself. I am glad you came to me instead of him."
" I have no wish to be decapitated before the trip begins," Esseóre chuckled, " All know of the twins. They are already legends."
Aragorn merely shook his head. One would never guess it.
~*~
Glorfindel was late in joining them, not even bearing his weapons and such.
" Elladan, you will lead. I am not going."
A hush fell over the 7.
" But," Elladan began.
" I promised Êlenrana I would merely escort you here. She will take my own sword and kill me if I join you," Glorfindel shrugged with a grin.
" I would like to see that," Estel spoke up with chuckle.
" I will use your own sword and do the same to you if you wish a demonstation," Glorfindel shot back.
" As you wish," Estel began to unsheath his sword.
Glorfindel waved it away.
" Elrond then would take a turn at me also and after watching him kill, you do not want him mad at you with a sword in hand," Glorfindel muttered so only Estel heard, then louder, " Get you all out of here. This camp will remain until you return. If you run into trouble, you should not be too far away."
The 7 thundered off.
~*~
" Who wants to take first watch?" Elladan asked, leaning against his horse.
Aragorn made a move, but Elladan's swift headshake changed that. Elrohir ducked his head at the painful memory. Glórhen had taken the first watch 2 nights in a row.
" I will," Esseóre said cheerfully.
Aragorn pulled out his bedroll, whistling softly to himself. He had heard the tune when they had rested for lunch. The nightingale's tune.
" Beautiful song," Ellolori commented.
" Nightingale."
" My sister does not sing a song that goes like that," Elrohir jested.
Aragorn flushed a deep red.
" So you are the one whom the Evenstar has set her affections upon?" Oiralomë was grinning from his roll.
" Aye, let me be," Aragorn turned over.
" Legolas found them out in the gardens. Do you wish to tell that tale, Legolas?" Elladan joined in.
Legolas chucked, but made no move to tell the story. Aragorn sighed in relief.
" No, I will not tell on him. His father might kill him himself," Legolas said.
Legolas caught Aragorn's thankful glance, even though the story would have been mostly made up for there had been nothing to see. Legolas nodded with a smile back, before leaning against the tree to stare up at the stars. Aragorn closed his eyes, drifting off into a light sleep.
~*~
Aragorn could hear whispers.
" Is he dead?"
" His eyes are closed."
Then Elladan's voice.
" He's sleeping, idiots. Let him be."
" You told us to wake him and he looked dead."
" He is different than us."
" How?"
Elladan paused, adding softly.
" He is Edain."
" Why is he traveling with us?"
" Because he must learn the skills. Father asked it, or he asked it of Father. He will not let us down. I trained him myself."
" Hey, I helped."
Aragorn had to chuckle at Legolas' tone. He opened his eyes.
" I hope you 3 are done talking about me so I can wake up."
3 heads flushed.
" Sorry, it just surprised us," Oiralomë offered a hand.
" Tis fine," Aragorn waved it off and then turned a heel into the forest.
~*~
The 7 dismounted at the obvios site of an orc camp. Elladan shuddered.
" The Elves are dead."
The captives lay strewn in a pile, naked. Most were women.
" Mark it on the map. We will burn the bodies here," Elladan put a hand to his temple.
Aragorn put a hand on his brother's shouldar.
" They no longer suffer, brother."
Elladan just nodded. Elrohir set to making a fire so the goblins did not find the bodies and further worsen the conditions.
~*~
Aragorn was on watch. 3 days with nothing more than signs of them. This was becoming increasingly boring to him. A body fell in beside him.
" I can take a full watch. You need not watch me."
Aragorn surmised it to be Elladan.
" I did not come to watch you. Something draws close," Legolas leaned back against a tree, his bow across his knees.
" You have not alerted the others?"
" They need not know until I am sure of what it is."
A loud piercing scream split the night air. Legolas winced, seeing the dark figures.
" I had better tell them."
AN: Ok, ok, the good part's coming! I promise…