Chapter 40
Rauros' gentle thunder constantly roared in the near distance. They docked on the lawns of Parth Galen. Aragorn glanced around guardedly, the ominous and mysterious shadow and threat growing in his mind. By the tight look on Legolas' face, Aragorn knew the Elf mirrored his sentiments exactly. He watched Frodo pass him into the camp they were setting up and a ludicrous urge seized him.
*Grab it. Grab it and run away. You can easily overpower them all; Elf included.
He stilled his evil thoughts, closing his eyes tightly and drawing a deep breath. He stayed still until he was sure Frodo was yards away from him. A hand touched his shoulder.
" It is calling to you." The soft Elvish translated itself in his mind.
Aragorn pressed his lips together tightly, responding in Sindarin.
" Just as it called to my forefathers."
Legolas shrugged.
" And yet you are not Isildur." He patted Aragorn's shoulder comfortingly. " If it is of any value to you, that color of gold would not suit your finger."
Aragorn's tense face dissolved into a smile. He swatted at the Elf with a laugh.
" Crazy Elf."
Legolas just grinned as he slipped away.
" Smelly man."
Aragorn crossed his arms with a sour look.
" Forgive me for not being able to hold an impeccable appearance after traveling this long."
Legolas waved a hand.
" Forgiven."
Aragorn began towards him, a mischievous light in his eyes. Merry suddenly spoke up. His two words made everyone freeze and then leap into action.
" Where's Frodo?"
~*~
Aragorn thrashed about in the underbrush of the forest, searching for the hobbit.
*Boromir's anger caused a hobbit to disappear. I wager my life that it was more than anger that drove Frodo away.
A small body slammed into his, nearly tumbling back into the brush head over heels.
Frodo was on his feet with a quickness Aragorn never realized a hobbit had. Aragorn outstretched his hand peacefully. Frodo backed away his eyes open wide in fear.
" Frodo?"
The hobbit eyed him warily; eyes darting about as if checking for any possible escape routes.
" It has taken Boromir." Frodo said.
The piece fell into place.
*Boromir tried… No wonder Frodo ran away.
" Where is the Ring?" Aragorn demanded.
His feet moved forward, pulled by a dark force. Frodo shied away again, nearly tripping backwards. The gold caught Aragorn's eye as he battled his own inner turmoil.
" I swore to protect you."
*I want it. I want it, NOW!!!
Aragorn strained to remain planted to his place. Frodo sensed the battle of wills, remaining cautious around the strong Ranger. The hobbit unfurled his fingers from around the Ring and held it out in innocent enticement.
" Can you protect me from yourself?" A pause. " Would you destroy it?"
Evil clenched Aragorn's heart as the Ring beckoned him. Aragorn took a step forward, hand hovering before him and eyes fixed on the golden band.
~*~
Arwen tossed and turned in her bed, trying to sleep. She could not force the horrible images out of her mind. Her body shuddered as it played over again.
*Three arrows; lying alone among orcs; the river carrying his body into the deeps; it cannot be true.
She felt as if she was falling; plunging down into the darkness with nothing to stop her. The sensation refused to stop and she screamed as she plummeted to her doom.
~*~
Elrond flew into his daughter's room, his brain foggy as to whose screams he heard. Elladan and Elrohir slid in after him, leaping to opposite sides to still their writhing sister. Elrond shook her gently, before his soft words pulled her from the dreams. Her scream died off as her eyes opened eerily empty. She stared at them as if she had never seen them before.
" Arwen?" Elrond asked softly.
She blinked and then put a hand to her throat.
" Water?" She whispered.
Elrond took the glass handed to him by Elladan and offered it to her. She drank it slowly. She put it aside, closing her eyes as another tear cascaded down her cheek.
" What is it, Arwen?" Elrohir leaned in, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Arwen reached for her father out of habit. Elrond accepted her into his arms, scooting to sit beside her as she burrowed into his chest. The Twins rose, sensing that what needed to be spoken was not for their ears.
" Night, Ada, Arwen. We will know if you need us again." Elladan said wearily.
Arwen threw a pillow at him.
" You have screamed also, Elladan."
Elladan's face only paled. Elrohir put a hand on his twin's shoulder, studying Elladan's face carefully.
" If you had seen what I had, you would have wished death." Elladan replied before both he and his brother disappeared around the corner.
Elrond stroked Arwen's soft hair, humming an Lórien tune Celebrían had taught him before her untimely departure. He turned his eyes downward, finding his daughter's fists clenching his shirt and the tears that wetted the material. She looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. He tenderly wiped them away with a worried frown.
" What is it, Undómiel? Why does my star weep?"
She sniffed and wiped her eyes like a young child before answering.
" Tis Aragorn's fate, as you say." Her voice cracked. " I cannot seem to get it out of my mind."
Elrond drew her close again, resting his chin on the top of her head.
" I should not have told you." He sighed despairingly. " I am sorry, Undómiel. I of all people should know what it feels like to lose someone."
Arwen fingered his soft sleeping shirt, her gaze solely fixed on the invisible pattern.
" Do you miss her, Ada? Or did she still hate you?"
Elrond shifted, breathing in deeply.
" I miss her with every breath, Undómiel. We did not part on bad terms, but many things were left unresolved. I loved your mother; and though you barely saw it, she, at one time, loved me. There is a hole left in me with her passing."
Arwen looked up sadly.
" That is how I feel, Ada, with Estel gone, I mean. I feel like half of me has been cut out and trampled on. If I must live this way forever, then I choose not to live. I do not want to feel dead inside."
Elrond closed his eyes painfully as he gathered his sobbing Undómiel to his chest.
*It only grows worse as more and more of those that you love forsake you.
~*~
Aragorn closed his eyes taking a deep breath.
*Aragorn, Aragorn, Elessar.
The Ring called to him. The hobbit watched with a degree of fear, poised to take off at any moment. Aragorn gave up resisting and fell to his knees. Frodo closed his eyes frightfully, expecting the Ring to be wrenched from his grasp. Power surged through Aragorn.
*Take it, NOW!!!
His hand began to move forward of its own accord. It hovered for a moment over the Ring, before his hand covered Frodo's and put the tiny hand against the hobbit's heart. Aragorn removed his hands and took a deep breath, feeling the dark magic fall from his figure. He shook his head slightly, before looking up at Frodo.
" I would have gone with you to the end; into the very fires of Mordor."
~*~
Elrond paces his study, clasping his hands before him in a nervous gesture. He cannot go back to sleep, even though he is weighed down with tiredness.
*Something has happened out there with the Fellowship; and by the heaviness in my spirit, it cannot be good.
Elrond sighs.
*They have only just left Lórien. What evil can there be?
Yet deep in his heart, the nagging continues; and it kills him to know he can do nothing; nothing but wait and hope. Perhaps even pray. He stares out across his majestic Valley and is thrown back in time.
* Flashback *
Elrond stares over his new Valley, listening to Ereinion and Elendil argue behind him. He sighs, staring at two young Elflings playing.
*If we do not counter Sauron, they will reap the detriment.
Elrond sighs heavily*So many to die…
"Elrond?"
Elrond turns at the sound of his name. Elendil has left already and a worried Ereinion stands behind him.
" Your thoughts are far away, mellon-nin. You did not hear Elendil and I yelling at each other."
Elrond shrugs.
"My mind was elsewhere, majesty."
Ereinion crooks an eyebrow with a humorous smile.
" Ah, away with your silver lady?"
Elrond cannot help the flush upon his face and he manages an indignant look.
"No, Ereinion. My thoughts were with what our choices will leave for them to deal with." Elrond motions to the two young children.
Ereinion sighs.
" Leave that kind of thinking for another day, Elrond. I am afraid that is one subject I cannot bear to tussle with right now."
End FlashbackElrond shook his head.
*We should have bothered with it. It might have saved all the lives we are about to lose.