Chapter 39

                  Elrond paused by his daughter's room door.  She sat, idly brushing her shining black locks.  She glanced up slightly, glimpsing him in the mirror watching her.  She sent him a small smile, her eyes slightly brightening.  He set his papers down on a chair and proceeded to enter the room and sit beside her.  She laid down the brush, laying her head against his shoulder.

                  " Ada, I am afraid.  I fear he is lost to me."

Elrond pulled her close.

                  " Shh, Undómiel.  Soon you will sail to join your mother."

Arwen pulled away from him, standing.  She stared at him with a horrified expression.

" What are you saying?  I am still betrothed to Aragorn."

Elrond shook his head.

                  " He publicly annulled the troth before he left.  I know he tried to return the Evenstar to you and that does constitute annulment of the betrothal."

Arwen knelt before her father, taking his hands as she searched his eyes avidly.

                  " What do you know?"

Elrond looked away, staring at his suddenly interesting palms.

                  " I know plenty, Arwen."

Arwen tugged on his hands mercilessly.

                  " What do you know about Aragorn?  Why…"  She trailed off, looking after her father.

Elrond had risen, walking to the other side of the room.  He scooped up his papers again, turning to leave.  He sighed, pausing at the door and lightly pounding the frame with his fist.  He refused to turn, his heart breaking at the very thought of his daughter's heart-rending face when she knew of what he had foreseen.

                  " Aragorn's not coming back, Arwen.  He will fail.  The Ring will take him and he will attempt to take it.  For that folly, he will die.  I saw a man fall with three arrows plunged in him.  He is never returning to Imladris for the Anduin will take his body."

~*~

                  Aragorn gazed back as Lórien slowly fell away behind them.  Galadriel lifted her hand in a parting gesture, a sad smile framing her beautiful face.  Her mouth opened then in its song, following after them with the same fervor, even as she fell away behind them.  Aragorn balanced the row on his knees, touching his forehead and then chest in a farewell gesture.

*Namarië, there is still much for you to do.  We will not meet again, Elessar.

                  Aragorn looked down at the brooch she had gifted him. 

*The Elf-Stone?

He scoffed at his own thoughts.

*If I had been a jewel, no Elf in their right mind would have used me.

~*~

                  Arrows whizzed by their heads, yet they could do nothing about it.  Aragorn clenched his jaw in frustration as he tore the paddle through the water.  They were so close to the west shore now, so close.  Aragorn glanced back in time to see a golden head jump from the boat.  Legolas strung his bow just as dread fell harshly over every heart.  Aragorn tried to fight it, but it was useless; useless until the incantation was spoken.

                  " Elbereth Gilthoniel."  Legolas sighed as he looked up, his eyes searching the dark night.

                  The spell broke and dread fell away to anxiety.  Aragorn's tongue felt like cotton in his mouth when he noticed the ominous dark shade appear in the sky from the South.  It became clearer as it rushed towards them, morphing into, not a shadow nor cloud as desired, but a great winged beast, blacker than any night.  Dread returned with a vengeance, freezing Aragorn with waves of chills running up and down his spine.  He wished he could turn into liquid and melt into the water.

                  Once again, proving to break whatever enchantment lay upon them, the great Lórien bow sang sharply, yet sweetly.  A great scream came so foul Aragorn believed he was deafened by its shrill hatred.  The beast fell from the sky and was seen no more.  The orcs that had been on the east shore disappeared and the Fellowship continued on, unhindered. 

                  Legolas and Aragorn caught eyes.  Nonchalantly, Legolas glanced around making sure no one was watching him.  He glided his boat up beside Aragorn's.

                  " Nazgûl."  He hissed for Aragorn's ears alone.

Aragorn's breath caught in his throat, causing an already anxious Frodo to look up fearfully.  Aragorn laid a comforting hand on the poor hobbit's shoulder as Legolas paddled on ahead.

                  " Are you ok, Frodo?"

Frodo nodded, before looking up inquiringly.

                  " What was that?"

Aragorn just shook his head, answering with silence before paddling after the Elf.

~*~

                  Boromir peered into the darkness watching a log flounder a ways away.  Aragorn joined him.

                  " Gollum.  He had been following us since Moria.  I had hoped we would lose him on the river, but he is too good a water man."  Aragorn said softly, watching the log a bit more and then turning away towards the camp.

                  " If he alerts the enemy to our whereabouts, it will make the crossing even more dangerous."  Boromir said softly.

                  Aragorn turned, watching the man approach him.

                  " Let us take the West road.  Set out from a place of power."

Aragorn shook his head firmly, as if speaking to a young child.

                  " There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us."

Boromir bristled.

                  " You were quick enough to trust the Elves.  Have you no faith in your own people?"  Boromir pointed out.  " Yes, there is frailty, there is weakness, but there is honor and courage to be found in the race of men."  Aragorn shook his head, beginning to turn away.

*Here is comes: the son of the Steward praising his people.

                  " But you will not see it."  Boromir hissed.  " You are afraid."  He pulled Aragorn to face him.  " You have hidden in the shadows all your life, afraid of who you are, of what you are."

Aragorn yanked his cloak away from Boromir's grasp, beginning to turn away.  Anger turned to wrath and he whipped back around with a vengeance.

                  " I would not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city."

~*~

                  Aragorn wiped off his wet face after splashing some cool water on it.  He stared across the waters with a sigh.

                  " You were out of line last night, Estel."

By Legolas' cool tone, it seemed as if the Elf was once again his archery tutor.  Aragorn unfurled his body from its kneeling position, standing only a few inches shorter than him.

                  " You heard?"

Legolas nodded.

                  " The whole camp heard."  Legolas then shook his head.  " That argument has dampened many spirits.  We do not need that so early in our journey."

                  " Early?"  Aragorn asked incredulously.  " All we must do is cross Emyn Muil and then the Dead swamps.  Then we make for the Mountain of Doom."

Legolas shrugged.

                  " I do not think it will be that easy."

Aragorn rose turning away towards a boat.  Legolas clenched his hands in frustration.

*By all means, do not listen to me.  I am only millennias older than you, but, hey, what is age but a number?

~*~

                  Aragorn approached Boromir casually.  The two stood there silently for a moment, merely handing provisions off to be put on the boats. 

                  " I was wrong to say what I did last night."  Boromir suddenly said.  "You are our leader and I should trust your leadings."

Aragorn shook his head.

                  " You must forgive me also.  I should not have spoken ill of your city."

Boromir smiled, clasping his shoulder.

                  " It is actually your city, but I will not easily relinquish it."

Aragorn managed a smile.

                  " You will keep your city, Boromir."

AN: Short chapter, but I promise there will be some action in the next chapter…  Hopefully…Maybe…  Oh and PLEASE REVIEW!!  I promise to add some extra good Aragorn stuff when we get to 200 reviews!!!