Chapter 7

Aragorn yawned and stretched out on the couch. King Thengel had given the two dragons permission to stay behind the halls where they would not be found at the bottom of the cliff. The man had very nearly forced his father to take his bed and the twins and Legolas were in the guest room.

Erestor and Glorfindel took the other two couches and Raenan had insisted he could stay on the floor behind the couch near the guest room door. The four rangers stayed outside, insisting that they were perfectly comfortable there.

He easily fell asleep and slept well until he heard rummaging outside followed by crash.

Elrond opened the room door and frowned. He was quickly joined by the three elves in the guest room and the three in the main room.

Aragorn groaned and rolled off the couch, grabbed his sword from the floor, stood up and made his way to the door; he paused a moment then quickly flung open then door and jumped out bringing the weapon in front of him. He froze when heard two squeaks of shock.

The man blinked as his eyes adjusted and then glared, "Oh you two... in the middle of the night as well! Being soaked wasn't enough to keep you away was it?" he hissed.

"Uh..." the first said uncertainly.

Aragorn set his sword inside and growled lowly, "That is it..."

The two yelped then turned and fled.

Aragorn immediately took off after them, intent on finding them this time to speak with their parents, not truly realizing he was wearing no more than leggings.

"Estel!" Legolas started, but was unable to go any further as the man was already out of sight.

The ranger followed the two silently, and grinned when they entered the same house, this made his job easier.

After waiting a few moments he walked over and paused, only just then noticing what he was wearing. He froze and spun around when he heard the barely noticeable footsteps in the silence of the night.

Elrond smirked at his son and held out the shirt for him.

Aragorn grabbed it and muttered his thanks, thoroughly embarrassed now. He pulled it over his head and turned and knocked on the door.

A young woman opened the door a while later, looking tired and annoyed at being disturbed.

"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you ma'am," he said quietly, "but I've caught your child and his friend in my gardens again."

"Oh dear," she said, her eyes widening slightly when she recognized him, "I knew they've been up to no good. I'm so sorry. I'll speak to Ranalion's mother and make sure she knows as well."

"Thank you, and once again I'm sorry for the disturbance."

She shook her head, "Do not worry about it. I'm glad you told me... they probably would have gone off again and gotten themselves hurt."

Aragorn nodded and smiled, "Goodnight ma'am."

"Goodnight Captain."

Aragorn sighed and grumbled to himself and turned around to find his father standing off to the side, his arms crossed and one eyebrow raised in amusement.

"I've had enough of them destroying the plants and making a mess of the place. King Thengel doesn't appreciate it either," he paused and winced with a groan as it started raining, "this night can't get any worse can it?"

A sudden flash of lightning lit up the sky, closely followed by the loud crash of thunder.

He groaned again, "Come on... let's get back before it really starts to pour."

Unfortunately luck wasn't on their side this night and it started to pour when they were about half way there.

As soon as the lightning first hit the sky Erestor knew the two wouldn't make it back. He immediately went about making the two some warm tea and managed to find a couple of towels for them.

Glorfindel also got up silently and grabbed an extra blanket from the large closet in the man's chambers for him.

Elrond and Aragorn burst through the door, the elf looking slightly annoyed and yet amused by the man's grumbling. Aragorn was soaked and look simply annoyed; terribly so. They both accepted the towels gratefully.

Aragorn went into his room and came out again a moment later, changed and in his night robes.

Elrond smiled in amusement and took up the room and followed his son's example.

He then went back out into the main room and smiled his thanks as he accepted the tea Erestor pressed into his hands.

Aragorn sat on the couch, looking completely drained and wrapped in the two blankets.

After an explanation they all dispersed one by one back to their temporary beds.

Elrond entered the main room to check on his son a couple of hours later when the slightly agitated movements of his son woke him. He gently placed one hand on his forehead and sighed at the heat. He should have guessed it. Running through the rain in his nightclothes, the man was no doubt cold before it started raining as well.

He lifted the man with little difficulty, waking him in the process.

"Ada?" he sounded confused.

"Aye Aragorn, 'tis I."

"What are you doing?" his eyes seemed unable to open more than half way.

"You are sick young one. I'm moving you to your own room, where you should have been before."

"No... I'm fine... ada put me down," he frowned.

"You are not fine my son," he lay the man in his bed.

"Of course I am... I'm just t...t" he sneezed, "tired..."

Elrond shook his head in amusement and placed the human on the bed, "Now lay down, and get some sleep."

Aragorn immediately tried to get back up, "A-"

"Or I'll make you," the elf cut him off.

Aragorn glared at him but flopped back and was almost instantly asleep.

Elrond shook his head again and took up the humans place on the couch.

Aragorn woke slowly and yawned, he did feel better than he did last night, but still had a slight cold, he was only glad he wasn't out long enough for it to develop into anything worse.

He climbed out of bed, still feeling guilty about taking it, and moved into the main room and struck up a fire in the fireplace.

The four elves in the room woke at his arrival and sat up, Raenan less eagerly than the others.

Aragorn smiled at them, "Good morning," he laughed slightly at the expression on Raenan's face.

"Good morning indeed," Elrond raised one eyebrow, "how do you feel."

"Much better ada," he replied truthfully.

"Good."

Aragorn smiled, "I'm going to get those three lazy elves out of my guest chambers."

Elrond shook his head in amusement.

Aragorn opened the door slowly and closed it after him, eyeing each of the elves carefully to be sure they were asleep. Which he quickly found out they weren't.

"You three still think you can pull that on me? Shame on you," ha waited a moment and rolled his eyes when they didn't move, "Okay then! You can all go without breakfast. Makes my job easier," he said wryly.

The three were up almost immediately.

Aragorn burst out laughing, "Good! Now that you're up you can help me!"

Legolas laughed, "Of course Captain."

Aragorn scowled at him, "Legolas..."

The elf just grinned.

Aragorn rolled his eyes, "Come on, let's get breakfast ready. I'm going to speak with the King afterwards."

"To tell him of your intentions to head to Gondor?"

"Aye."

"We'll go with you," Elladan said, "It's been too long for even us and I for one don't intend to go anytime soon."

Aragorn smiled but shook his head, "You can't be away from Rivendell for so long, and what would you do in Gondor?"

"Join their ranks with you for a while!" Elrohir put in.

"You'd have to hide the fact that you're elves..."

The twins shrugged, "Then we'll just stay with you for a while longer."

"We can hunt for you while you're gone," Elladan laughed.

Aragorn rolled his eyes.

The man left the Golden Halls slowly. Ai... he didn't know leaving would be quite this hard. He would be leaving in three days. Sooner than he originally wanted but it worked out better for that was when he was to have his break. He had asked to have Lex take over for him and the King had agreed.

The twins gave him a questioning glance when he came out and he nodded.

"I'm going to head down to Lex's now. I'll invite them up and tell them up here."

"I'll come with you," Legolas said quickly.

The man nodded, "Okay, let's go."

The four rangers had left a while ago to take a look around, adopting the same look they would in any town in order to keep the questions at bay, though it was subtle enough not to rouse any suspicion and end up in the dungeons.

It didn't take them too long to reach the small house.

Aragorn knocked on the door and waited.

A moment later Renala answered the door and smiled, "Ah! Captain Thorongil! What brings you here when you have so many guests to entertain?" she joked lightly.

Aragorn laughed, "I wish to see if you three would like to come up for lunch, I have something I must tell you."

She blinked and smiled, "That would be nice if you don't mind feeding three extra mouths."

"No problem at all Renala," he smiled.

A few moments later the five were on their way back, chatting easily.

Aragorn had even managed to get Legolas to join the conversation.

They reached the house just as the four rangers did and they smiled their welcome.

Renala helped them prepare their catch and they were ready to eat in another hour.

They stayed for dinner as well and Aragorn finally sat the three down to tell them the news after they finished.

"So why is it you've brought us here Thor?" Lex asked him curiously.

"In order to tell you," he paused for a moment, "that I am leaving in a couple of days."

Lex and Renala both looked shocked and Nathil glanced up at him with huge eyes.

"Thor goin' 'way?"

Aragorn smiled down at him slightly, "Aye little one."

"Why?"

"I am going to Gondor; I'm going to join their ranks."

"But why would you leave? You're captain here! You'd be back down to a soldier there."

"I'm not needed here anymore. Gondor needs more soldiers."

"But who will take over for you?"

Aragorn smiled at him, "You will."

"Me? Why me?"

"You're the strongest soldier there and the highest ranking."

"No, you are."

Aragorn sighed, "And you are next then."

Lex was silent for a while, "Good luck then Thorongil... you'll work your way up quickly I'm sure."

Aragorn smiled at his friend as the three left the house slowly.

A/N

Elven Kitten: Grins GUESS WHAT?! I POSTED AGAIN!!!!!!!! Heeheehee... I actually wrote three chapters today! The last one, this one and the last one!!!! Yes... there is only one more chapter... but that's okay! Cuz once again there'll be a sequel!

Gollum Side: DIE CHEESE DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

E.K.: AH YES! Thank you for reminding me! We must find out who sabotaged the cheese!

Elf Side: If you haven't figured it out by now that's rather sad...

G.S.: DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

E.K.: Hmmm... why? Do you know?

G.S.: Oh for goodnessss ssssakesss... yousss isss very badsss at thisss... I SSSABOTAGEDED YOUR CHEESESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

E.K.: Gasp THE SHOCK!!!!!

E.S.: ... uh... okay... hope you all enjoyed this chapter as well! I'll just do the reviews we have and post this before this gets out of hand...

marbienl- Gender operations??? Why would Estel wanna be a girl?!?! Ish scared and cunfuzled lol did you by any chance mean 'species operations'? lol Yesh, she would have been one seriously ticked off dragon... Lmao

starlit jewel- lol, everyone would be anyone who was mentioned in the first two paragraphs of this chapter. hope you enjoyed! Lol

E.S.: Namarie!

Elenmeoi