Glorfindel caught Lina and easily swung her into his arms and followed Aragorn through the side door into the inn. Both of them carried their burdens up the stairs and into one of the rooms that was to be their temporary home for the night. Aragorn quickly stripped Legolas out of his wet clothes and changed him into dry clothes before piling a blanket or two on top of the unconscious elf. Checking his friend's head wound once more he turned his attention to Glorfindel and Lina. Stepping across the room, he knelt beside Glorfindel and helped him slip Lina's cloak off to push up her tunic and under tunic to check her wounds. The healer part of Aragorn took over as he evaluated the massive bruises that decorated the right side of Lina's chest. Gently feeling the ribs, he counted two broken and about three bruised while the woman groaned painfully and moved away from his prodding. The broken ones was putting pressure on her right lung and he was surprised that her lung was not punctured. Glorfindel helped him wrap her ribs after he spread a healthy amount of cooling salve over the darkening bruises.
"I am surprised Strider. For once it is not you who is injured," Glorfindel commented to break the silence as Aragorn passed a hand over his face in exhaustion.
"Aye. It is a surprise," he mumbled as he stared at the wood floor.
Glorfindel leaned closer to Aragorn and tried to look through the man's dark locks that hung around his face. The elf did not like the sound of the human's voice and the slump of his shoulders spoke more than physical exhaustion. The elf gently grasped Aragorn's shoulder and squeezed lightly as the Ranger slowly looked up. Aragorn's eyes held nothing but anguish and guilt that almost threatened to pour out of the young man. Glorfindel almost smacked himself for not thinking of it sooner; Aragorn would lay the blame all on himself when there was no blame. He should have expected it but he was more worried about Legolas and Lina.
"Aragorn, what is wrong?" Glorfindel asked worriedly before Aragorn's gaze dropped again to the floor.
He mumbled something softly, but it was too mumbled and soft for the elf to make anything out.
"What was that Aragorn? I could not understand you."
"I almost killed them. I almost got Legolas and Lina killed today and it would have been entirely my fault. If I had stopped when Legolas said to then this would not have happened. They are both injured and I caused it; it is almost as if I took a weapon and injured them myself," Aragorn said with a strange calm that did more to worry Glorfindel more than anything else.
"Aragon, it was an accident and nothing more. You wished to arrive in town and find dry shelter; no one can blame you for that. You know how much Legolas hates getting wet and truth be told, he did look like a drowned blond rat. It was an accident and we just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Glorfindel advised softly.
It was at times like these that Aragorn looked more like a scared, young boy instead of the Ranger from the North destined to become the King of Men. Glorfindel knew that a compassionate heart lay in Aragorn's breast and a strong conscious resided in his head. Legolas had the same characteristics and Glorfindel guessed that was probably why Aragorn and he clicked so well together. The two would die for each other if it came down to that, and sometimes it almost did. Their friendship was what the stories of old spoke about; the kind that forged through all types of darkness to find the bright light ahead. Glorfindel knew that a little Elvin blood flowed through Aragorn's veins. The March Warden would not be overly surprised to see Aragorn almost die of heartbreak if Legolas passed away. Their friendship was one that transcended past death and into the afterlife where the other would soon follow or be waiting.
"Is there something else bothering you Aragorn?" Glorfindel asked quietly as the human sighed.
"I need to be alone for a bit Glorfindel," he said and stood from his seat and picked up his outer coat.
Aragorn left the room and walked down the hall before descending the steps to the main room. Rowdy men and harlot women laughed over mugs and tankards of ale unaware and uninterested to the quiet man that took everything in. Spying an empty table at the corner of the room, deep within the shadows, he moved towards it and lowered himself into the darkest of the shadows. The people that did notice him turned their gazes away from the man, realizing that he was a Ranger. One of the women that worked at the tavern set a mug of ale in front of him and hastily retreated. None looked him in the eyes or cast a look towards him; looking would invite a possible confrontation.
Villagers and townsfolk were wary of new arrivals and even warier of Rangers. Most thought them trouble makers and bringers of bad luck. None of them had a clue what the Rangers did for them and it would stay like that. They heard rumors concerning the heir of Isildur and the Rangers of the North but only a few believed it. The few were usually the elder members of the town or village. The few were the ones that heard stories from their parents, grandparents, and uncles; stories that some day the heir of the throne of Gondor would return to the people when he was needed. Most believed it a folk tale that would never come true. It was a tale to keep the hopes of some alive that the lost king would take his rightful place at the throne and lead the world of men to victory. A victory that was in dire need and want.
Aragorn glanced down at the Ring of Barahir that glinted on his finger, almost mockingly. He looked around at all the people in the tavern and wondered how he was expected to rule these people as their king. He could not even protect his friends from a simple mudslide; he was plagued by almost nightly nightmares and injured in his sleep. He knew nothing of being a king and ruling a kingdom. His thoughts jumped back to Tharbad and all the events that precipitated there. He couldn't protect his brothers and friend when it came down to it. Legolas was scarred psychologically and could not bear to be in enclosed spaces. Elladan's bodily scars were just fading but Aragorn saw them clearly, bleeding every time he looked at his brother. He saw his blood and his anguish and blame. Blame towards Aragorn and his actions; he caused everything to happen and got them hurt. They had come looking for him and regretted all of it. He saw Legolas' blame and his throat bloody where his throat was slashed open by Aragorn's own hand.
'What would happen this time?' he wondered. Who would he get killed? Whose blood would be on his hands? Legolas'? Glorfindel's? Young Lina's? A young woman that had trust in him when it was unfounded. He could and would only lead them to pain and possible death. 'What kind of leader was that?' he asked himself. A man who should not be a leader was the answer.
His hand slowly turned the half empty mug of ale on the table as his gray eyes stared unseeing at the mug. Turning his head slightly, he looked out the dirty window to the starry night and let his mind drift to the three people waiting for him up the stairs. Two were unconscious because of him and the other was probably blaming him even if he said he was not. All following him on blind faith and educated guesses about what the nightmares and visions mean; possibly following him to their death. Could he stand under that burden? Did he want to find out or know if he could?
His gray eyes hardened as he stood quickly and pretended to not notice how everyone cast a look towards him. No one in the tavern wanted trouble and a Ranger could certainly provide it. He had no intention to making trouble and walked to the small counter were the owner of the tavern stood.
"Wha kin I do ya' fur stranger?"
"Fix me up a travel pack; I wish to leave at once."
The sun was dawning brightly across the land as everything woke to a new day.
Glorfindel turned to the cot that held Legolas when he heard the elf moan softly. Lina had woken an hour earlier and they had been talking softly ever since. Throughout the night, the elf-lord was tempted to go and search for Aragorn but knew he should not leave the two alone while both were unconscious with no protection. In a strange town, no one could be safe enough when they traveled. Moving out of his chair, Glorfindel knelt next to Legolas' cot and waited until the younger elf's eyes opened and focused on his surroundings. The confusion was momentary until the events from the night before rushed back to him. Glorfindel smiled slightly when he saw the spark of remembrance flicker in his eyes.
"How are you feeling mellon nin?" he asked quietly as the other elf's gaze turned to him.
"Like I had an all-night drinking fest with the twins," he joked lightly and moved to sit up.
Glorfindel moved back while the elf swung his legs to the side of the cot and remained there to let the temporary dizziness pass. His hand crept up to feel the healing wound on the side of his head and flinched when the wound protested to the touch. He nodded to Lina and she waved to him before he quickly glanced around the room and came up empty in his search.
"Where is Strider?" he asked and stood along with Glorfindel.
"Last night he said that he needed some time alone and he left. I have not seen him all night. I expect him to walk in any moment so we can start off," Glorfindel stated and realized how lame that sounded, even too himself.
Legolas' eyes narrowed and Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. "You do not think?"
Instead of answering, the blond haired archer crossed the room in two strides and pulled the door open. Glorfindel was right behind him with Lina trailing asking what was wrong. The elf headed directly for the barn and threw the door open to have it crash into the wall behind it. His eyes scanned down the stalls and saw three horses that he easily recognized enough. The fourth stall door stood wide open with no horse in it and it was suddenly clear to Legolas what happened. Biting back a snarl, he grabbed the stall door and swung it forcefully to hear it clang sharply into its rightful latch. His gripped the top of the stall door and bowed his head as he controlled his breathing.
'That infuriating human!' he snarled to himself and struggled to hold himself back from releasing his rage. He should have known that Aragorn would do something like this. That man could gather enough guilt to shock the Ainur; if he could, he would blame the bad weather on himself. He heard heavy-footed steps behind him and turned his head slightly to look at the new arrival from the corner of his eye. It was the inn owner who was looking scared beyond belief as Legolas trapped him with his frozen gaze. Lina grabbed Glorfindel's arm and pushed him towards Legolas while she went to the owner. Glorfindel once again doubted his intelligence on agreeing to come on this trip. He knew how lethal and intense Thranduil's wrath could be and he did not doubt that it passed on to his son. It was very rare when Legolas became enraged, for the elf almost always had a tight control on his emotions. But when he did release it, it was nothing short of a spectacle. Glorfindel pitied the poor fool that was ever on the receiving end of Thranduil's and Legolas' temper and at that moment it seemed that he was going to be the poor fool. Hopefully he could escape with all his limbs still attached and no bodily injured. He doubted it though.
"Legolas, I am sorry, I should have expected how Aragorn would respond to Lina and you getting injured. Last night we talked about it but I assumed that when he left we had resolved it," he started and readied himself to duck out of the way if something flew towards him.
"You have nothing to feel sorry for Glorfindel. That infuriating human can create guilt at the snap of his fingers and harbor it for days. It has become much worse since Tharbad," Legolas muttered as Lina walked back into the barn without the owner.
"He left a note," she said softly and held it out to Glorfindel.
He unfolded it and scanned it before reading it out loud. "'I can not, in good conscious, allow you to come any further with me. I do not wish for any of you to be injured or killed because of me. Please, do not follow me.'"
"The owner said that he left earlier last evening, a bit after sun set. He asked for a travel pack and the normal provisions. He is probably furlongs from here by now," she said as Legolas released his hold on the stall door and stood with his back to the other two.
"Lina, I want you to get your pack together and ride for Rivendell. Bring Elladan and Elrohir with you to Annúminas. I get the feeling that we may need them once we catch up with Aragorn. We will leave you something to tell you where we go next if we are not there. Glorfindel and I will ride after Aragorn and hopefully pound some sense into him once we catch up with him," Legolas said and turned to walk back towards the room.
"Are you sure that is a good idea, Legolas?" Glorfindel asked as Lina and he followed.
"If we are to meet with the dragon that I saw in the vision, then we are going to need all the help we can get. Lina, it may be a good idea to also ask Sauros to come with you and the twins."
"Oh, Elrond is not going to be happy with me. I will have all three of his sons on a wild goose chase," Glorfindel muttered to himself.
Lina nodded and slipped past Glorfindel to grab her pack and stuff everything in it. Legolas and Glorfindel packed their packs and all three hurried to the stables once grabbing some food from the kitchen. Anil snorted eagerly as Lina led him out of the stables and into the bright sun. The horse could sense the urgency of the group and was eager to help in any way he could.
"Ride the straightest path that you can and as quickly as physically possible. We may meet on the way to Annúminas and then combine our forces. When you reach Rivendell, be wary in the surrounding woods for the guards. Do not draw your weapon on them or try to slip past them. Some are wary of unknown humans entering the wood of Rivendell," Glorfindel advised to Lina as she mounted Anil carefully, being careful of her tender ribs.
"Until we meet again," she said to him and nodded to Legolas.
"Ride safely. I pray you find no problems during you journey," the archer replied quietly.
Lina nodded and turned Anil before kicking him into a canter to leave town. Her cloak billowed behind her as she disappeared into the trees and lost to the other two's eyes. Legolas and Glorfindel looked at each other before mounting their horses and turned towards the other direction of town and started off. They would ride towards Annúminas and hope to find Aragorn's tracks from his horse when they were a good distance away from the town. If the human was traveling by foot, the task would be harder for the man was extremely hard to track. But Aragorn's horse left prints and droppings, easily tracked by someone who knew the basics of tracking.
"I find it interesting that Aragorn was unable to make Lina go home and yet you told her to ride towards Rivendell and she went immediately. Why is that?" Glorfindel asked a few minutes into the ride.
"Perhaps because Lina knew that I trusted her abilities and knew she would not fail," Legolas replied as she shrugged his shoulders and continued to look for horse tracks.
"How do you know that she will not fail?"
Legolas looked up and over at Glorfindel with an unreadable expression. He stopped and thought about the question as his horse moved along and finally came to an answer that fit.
"Lina reminds me of a younger Aragorn. Neither of them knows how to fail and will find a way around a problem if it is called for. They will not give up until death takes them away."
"I just hope that she is not as stubborn as Estel," Glorfindel muttered and Legolas agreed to that whole-heartedly.
Lina had ridden as hard as she could and stopped only to rest Anil and herself. She traveled by night but rode slowly so she could pay closer attention to her surroundings. She had been lucky and encountered no orcs or delays during her ride except for the day before she reached where she was now. It had been a week since she parted ways with the others and she was just about to enter the woodened realm of Rivendell by crossing the River Loudwater that marked the realm's south border.
Anil snorted uncomfortably and shifted under Lina as she stared into the heavily wooded area. Her hand rubbed under his thick mane and soothed the horse as best as she could before sitting back and scanning the darkened treetops from under her hood. Despite Glorfindel's assurances, she was just a tad bit worried about riding into an elven realm without any type of pass, except her word. She carried no sword by her side and only her bow and arrows along with a set of twin blades were with her for protection. Glorfindel had also warned her to not draw any weapons, but she was itching to feel the comforting weight of one of her blades just to sooth her nerves. The nerves came from the close brush with a small troop of orcs the night before that came very close to discovering her. The nerves also came from the fact that she was about to enter an elven realm during the dead of night.
Shaking her head and taking a deep breath, she nudged Anil into a trot and splashed through the river to enter the forest. Riding just a few yards into the forest, a deer erupted from the brush and startled Lina and Anil. Anil shook his mighty head and snorted again as he pranced in place as Lina calmed her breathing. Unable to stop herself, she reached for one of the blades and held it by her side, immediately feeling safer and more confident. If she encountered elves, then she wouldn't raise the weapon in a threat but slowly slip it back into its small scabbard. Nudging Anil on, they slowly walked East through the deep shadows of night and both human and beast kept their ears tuned to the surrounding forest. Several times Lina stopped Anil and tilted her head to listen closer to the forest and would almost swear that she heard someone. If the elves were allowing her passage then she wasn't one to question why and would urge Anil on again. Why could Glorfindel not come back instead of her? Or Legolas? These Rivendell elves knew them and would not shoot either of them, just her if she sneezed or coughed. The logical part of her brain already knew the answer and it made sense to the logical part, but the part that concerned self-preservation ignored the answer.
Lina's fingers tightened on the blade's handle as she spun Anil around to face the way she came. She knew she heard something that time and it was not in her imagination. From the corner of her eye she caught slight movement in the trees but was gone by the time she looked towards it.
"I mean no ill intentions for the residents of Rivendell. I just seek passage and a meeting with Lord Elrond," she called out as she held the blade tightly but relaxed her muscles.
"The blade you hold contradicts your words."
"Reveal at least one of you and prove to me that you are an elf and I will put my blade away."
Lina carefully eyed the surrounding treetops as her other senses reached out around her. Her ears listened behind her for any movement as well as Anil's ears. She took care of the front and he took care of the rear; it was a great arrangement. Anil's ears flicked backwards suddenly and Lina's head soon followed as she looked over her shoulder as she held the blade ready. An elf was crouched on the forest floor and watching her intently as she slowly turned Anil around.
"My companions have their arrows aimed for your heart traveler; I would not attempt anything if I were you," he said as her eyes narrowed.
He looked very similar to Glorfindel but she could see a clear difference. The hair was several shades darker blond than Glorfindel's and he held himself differently but possessed the same physical fitness of a warrior.
"Well, you are not me and I will do as I like…but I will accede this time. I am going to slowly slip my blade back into the scabbard and remove my hood," she said and he nodded.
Just as she said, she carefully and slowly slipped the blade home and moved to push back the hood with one hand. For a few moments, she sat silently as she held the elf's gaze until he nodded again. Several more elves dropped from the trees and from other hiding places still with their weapons ready.
"What do you wish to speak with Lord Elrond for?"
"I just parted company with Lord Glorfindel and Lord Legolas about a week ago and was sent here with a message. I have ridden hard for the past week and my horse needs rest, would you allow me passage and continue on my way?" she asked respectfully.
"I will, but you must pass over your weapons."
"If you so wish."
Lina slowly dismounted before handing everything to the elf. Her double blades, quiver full of arrows, bow, and a few small daggers placed strategically on her person. A girl could never be careful enough in the wilds alone. When she was done, she lifted her cloak and spun in front of him to prove that she held no other weapons before dropping the cloak back to its place. The elf motioned for her to follow him as he started to walk away with Lina following. Anil stayed directly behind her with his snout nudging her lower back occasionally to show his support. Her eyes remained locked to the elf's back as they walked through the woods and she noted that the trees were starting to thin and the grass became more well kept. She took in everything around them as they crossed a stone bridge and she saw the full picture of Rivendell's beauty.
Elegant vines curled around beams that were in the middle of blossoming. Smooth, soft stone built the walkways and arches that graced the courtyard. The stone benches were empty for the night and most of the visible windows were also dark. Another elf appeared and bowed to her slightly before motioning towards Anil. Glancing at the horse, Lina motioned for him to follow the elf and watched carefully as he glanced back at her and softly nickered. She motioned again for him to keep going and watched as he disappeared around a corner.
"Your horse will be well groomed and fed for you, have no worry for him," the elf soldier said and she turned back to him.
The other elves that escorted her in had disappeared, leaving only her and two other elves; the one that seemed to be the captain and the one that he had handed her weapons over to.
"Lord Elrond will already have been informed of your arrival and will be waiting for you. I will take you to him and leave you there with your weapons. I must be going back to my patrol."
"I thank you very much Master Elf for you aide. I admit, I did fear that I would be shot upon entering Rivendell after I crossed the river," she admitted as they walked up a set of stairs and into an airy hallway.
"If you had posed a threat, then I would have ordered you shot. Do not doubt that."
Lina raised an eyebrow and decided from then on to just keep her mouth shut and not attempt to make conversation. She decided that elves must not be much into talking about things. She knew that she would not doubt an elf's ability to easily kill her; she was confident, not stupid. She knew that an elf could easily take her in a fair fight but that was why she rarely fought fair. Nothing was deemed illegal in a battle for your life. She used everything within her grasp and ability to be the one that came out alive in the end. Valar knows that sometimes she almost became the one that did not walk away but by some miracle she had walked away. But against this elf that she now followed? Yeah, she would have been lucky to last five minutes.
The elf knocked on a large set of double doors that were a deep wooden red with intricate designs etched into the wood. Leaves and vines decorated the door that Lina stood in front of her and she knew that she could spend several hours just admiring the craftsmanship of this building.
"Enter."
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Eh gads, it took me a while to get this chapter out *pant pant* but here it is and I hope everyone likes it. I did get a warning to be careful and not turn Lina into a Mary-Sue and I will try my damndest to not let this story turn into one. I doubt it will but I will keep my eye on it. This section of the story concerning her is there to allow me to branch off from these stories and maybe write ones containing only Lina and her escapades but we will see how that pans out. So everyone please review for me! Love you all!
YIPPIE! I HAVE ONE HUNDRED REVIEWS! *throws confetti* OH VALAR I LOVE ALL MY REVIEWERS OUT THERE THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE! *tightly hugs everyone* CHAMPAGNE ALL AROUND!
SilverKnight7- Berry flavor is very yummy but I have not been able to find any berry flavor up here at my parent's house. And my bag is down at my other place. It sucks. This chapter answered your question and next chapter will have the twins in it. Have no fear! The twins are here! Oh, please, you are making me blush. No I am not; I am average.
Frodo16424- Well, thank you very much. Lina is the best; I am just loving her to death and her antics.
Gwyn- That is hilarious! LOL, oh my god that is the best thing I have heard in the past few days. I will have to remember that and use it on some guy friends I know. *wipes away tear from laughter* Eh, gads that was hilarious. Anyway, I am not going to allow Lina to dominate the story; I am putting my foot down. The part in this chapter with her was kind of necessary from where I am looking. That will probably be the only piece on just Lina and no one else. I am being wary.
Ringmarciel- A very Happy New Year to you too. I hope this chapter satisfies you for your next chapter fix and I will be working hard on the next chapter.
Snow-Glory- Did we like Lego-angst? I hope we did! Aragorn and Lina will working well together later on in the story and I am looking forward to writing it. I can not wait till I get to that part! The dragon will come up later on in the story and it will not be welcomed.
Star-Stallion- *blushes* Well, I do not like doing a half-assed job with my writing. It is all the way or no way. Heehee, eh gads, that saying is going to get me into trouble sooner in life. I love the Scottish accent; in the words of the comedian Robin Williams: If you really want a lesson in linguistics, go drinking with a Scotsman. It gets so much worse when they drink. And what are you talking about? I am an average writer; that is it, end of discussion.
Cloud-123- Can you believe it? I am at 100 reviews! I have not been this happy since…since…well never. Well, I am sure I can think of an instance where I was but not at the moment. Well, thank you very much.
Elvendancer- I have a brother that is four years older than me; we fight like cats and dogs most of the times but he is protective of me also. He hides it though. A Happy New Year to you too and I will try to get more sleep but I doubt it because I am about to head back to school.
Bill the Pony2- Anil is just hilarious. I can see him doing all of it: chasing Aragorn, giving him dirty looks, protecting Lina. So lovely.
Dha-Gal- My lovely betanator! *reads the long review before looking up at Dha* Are you okay? I think not so I will back away slowly. Heehee, I love becoming hyper and it is rare when I get out of control with my hyperness. My parents can usually tell because I start to talk extremely fast and no one can understand me and I will pick up an accent that usually is not there. Heehee. (I fixed the fractured/broken thingy just for you! J)
Roccovende- It is perfectly fine that it takes you a little time to review. I know people have lives. It is just a hurt everyone time at Spades' writer land. It is the best time to visit us. Come on down!
Grumpy- I have a marvelous New Year's and you? I hope you had a good one. Lina is a woman; therefore, she had a good amount of pride in herself. It is a curse most of the time, believe me.
Elven Kitten- I get a penguin! Yeah! I always wanted a penguin! *watches as penguin chases my cats around the house* Never thought Peanut would be afraid of a penguin. Thanks.
Astievia- I can not believe that I have 100 reviews! It is just phenomenal! *giddily bounces in chair*Well, I do not actually own horses; I ride horses for other people. I am a trainer and shower but not owner. Anil is a compiling of all my favorite horses and their attributes. Your friend's saying is very true.
Legalady- I have found that I am very bad about writing cliffhangers. Do not know why but I am. Maybe I have read too many books with cliffhanger chapters *shrugs shoulders*. Okay, I was just worried about my reviewer. I love all you guys like my extended family *wipes away tear*.
Lauren- It did? Really? Wow, I never thought it came out that well in the words. And have no fear, my brother already thinks I am psycho just because. No real reason; he might still be holding a grudge because I gave him a concussion when I was a toddler. That might be it.
TILL NEXT CHAPTER!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!
