BURIED
By: Cheryl W
Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings or anything in conjunction with the Lord of the Rings nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 3 (((((
When Barion bent down beside him, Aragorn tried with all his might to move from the man's presence but to his horror, he could not move a finger, could not blink an eye.
Barion's first action was to take Aragorn's elven dagger from it's sheath at the ranger's waist and tuck it neatly in his own boot. Then he sat back on his hunches and studied Aragorn, measuring his potion's effectiveness. Without warning, he harshly landed a punch upon the bleeding slash marring the ranger's left side.
Had he had the ability to writhe in pain or to scream in agony, Aragorn would have done both. Under the restraint of Barion's potion, he could only moan in agony.
Satisfied that his potion had debilitated Aragorn, Barion brutally grasp Aragorn's chin in his hand and brought the ranger's head up so their eyes met. "As you see, I did not exaggerate the effectiveness of my little potion. You may be surprised to know that I originally created this potion to reduce pain and improve healing. Once I was a valued healer among the rangers. I taught Elrond much of what he knows about ministering to humans."
If Aragorn could have, he would have snorted in disbelief at the man's claim. Apparently his mocking disbelief was evident in his eyes for Barion a moment later defended, "No. Truely. I once knew more about human cures than even your vaulted elven "father". Now, I must leave you for a few moments." A cruel smile turned up his lips as he mocked, "don't go any where," Letting let go of Aragorn's chin, he watched with cold pleasure as Aragorn's head dropped harshly back onto the ground. Then he stood and walked into the forest in the direction he had arrived the other night.
'Move!!' screamed through Aragorn's mind and yet his body did not do his bidding. 'Move now or be subject to whatever fate this maniacal man seems ready to bestow upon you!' Move!!' But try as he might, mind was not proving to be stronger than body, not now, not today. Feeling his heart racing and his breathing clawing at his chest to be released, Aragorn knew neither reaction would do him any good. 'Calm down. Focus,' he ordered of himself. 'Save your strength for when you are released from this unholy concoction. You will have your moment and you must be ready to act.'
Listening to his own advice, his heartbeat slowed and his breathing eased. Long ago he had learned that panic was a quick path to death. He almost tried to snort as he thought of the foolishness of his own thoughts. Quick was one thing Barion did not plan to make his death. Possibilities of what the ex-ranger had in mind almost stole Aragorn's hard earned calm but he stamped down his fear.
'Concentrate on something else,' he advised and he did not have to think hard for a new train of thought to consume him, namely Elrond's betrayal. True to Barion's word, the potion had begun to diminish the pain of his wounds..but his heart had no such comfort. To think of the "years" he had spent thinking that he had been loved by Elrond for himself, that, though he knew that some of the reason the elven lord had raised him had been due to his destiny, he had not believed it was the only reason. How many times had the elf lord himself reassured Aragorn that he had worth to him beyond his destiny as the hope of middle earth?!
'Fool!' Aragorn cursed himself. 'Elrond betrayed your father, your real father, and you have called him ada.' Shame, rage and despair battled for supremacy within Aragorn. If fate had let him be the victor in his battle with Barion and he could see Elrond again, he did not know how he would react. Part of him wanted to strike out at the elf lord, to hurt Elrond the way he had hurt him. And yet another part of him wanted to demand the truth, wanted to be told that somehow it was the letters that spoke lies not the only father he could recall, that his love for Aragorn had been true, had always been true.
With sharp clarity, he knew he would not get a chance to take either path. Elrond would never know that his last thoughts of him were bitter ones. He would take the revealed secret to his grave.
A sound broke Aragorn from his thoughts and a few moments later he watched as Barion rode a horse to his side, the beast's prancing hoofs almost trampling him. Barion dismounted gracefully and kicked Aragorn onto his back. Bending down, he grabbed Aragorn's arms and pulled the man over his shoulder. He stood baring his burden well and unceremoniously flung the boneless ranger over his horse's back.
Air whooshed out of Aragorn as his stomach slammed onto the horse's firm back but there was no way to force in more breath as he helplessly draped over the horse. A moment later, Barion sprang into the horse's saddle and uttered not a word before spurring the horse into a gallop.
Jarred unmercifully by the horse's movements, Aragorn's wounds reawakened to agony and his ribs felt like they were cracking little by little each time he lifted from the horse's back only to impact an instant later. Add to this the terrifying upside-down view of the ground that rushed by him and it was turning out to be one of the Aragorn's most hated experiences. Again helplessness assaulted him. He could not hold on to anything to assure that he did not fall from the animal nor could he attempt to escape. He could do nothing but steel himself for whatever came next.
Aragorn did not know how long they rode before Barion finally reigned in the horse but he did note by the way the sun's rays lay across the shadowy land of the forest, that the sun must be three hours from it's zenith. He had no other time for thought as Barion toppled him from the horse to land on the ground with a decided thud.
Again a moan was the only response Aragorn could express for his pain. His unblinking eyes now saw the trees that loomed overhead and the bright rays of the sun that filtered through the foliage. He was not prepared for the booted foot to kick him to his side but it mattered little for he could not have fended off the blow. Now his eyes took in another sight and something turned cold within him...possibly his core of courage.
Hewed into the side of the hill was a tomb graced with a thick wooden door that was sealed with a metal link chain. Carved on the top of the door was the inscription: Bitter is the Gift.
Unerringly, Aragorn knew where he was, he had passed this tomb more times than he could number. A mere two miles separated him now from his home, from the home he once claimed, Rivendell. But with that knowledge came the bitter realization of what Barion planned as his final fate. This tomb had it's legend and it would again be used to fulfill a plan of revenge.
Aragorn had been just a boy when he had asked his elven brothers's about the tomb he passed every time they hunted to the east. Their hesitancy only caused the young Aragorn to press them harder for the tale. Finally they relented and answered his many questions.
The tale now consumed Aragorn. He remembered it well for it seemed it had always come unbidden to him during the darkest hours of night.
The tomb bore the body of a young man, Amarth, the only son of a ranger named Urdil. The boy had just reached his sixteenth year and believed himself a man, ready to take up the task of scouting for the rangers. His father thought him too young but the boy could not be dissuaded and daily pleaded with his father to give him the chance to prove his worth. Finally, Urdil relented and gave his blessing to his son's dream. But upon his first scouting trip, the boy met with three men that knew only hatred for all rangers. Cruelly they beat the boy and left him for dead but he was found and brought to his father. But the boy's body was too weak to endure such cruelties and when fever set in, the boy faded from this life with alarming speed.
Urdil's grief could not be consoled and he had carved the inscription over his son's grave, cursing the Iluvatar's gift of mortality. And then he had taken up his sword and sought the men that had stolen his son from him. Two of the men he slew in battle but the last, the leader of the small group, he spared...for a fate worse than death by the sword. This man he dragged to his son's tomb and told him that he had defeated his son in life but he would not defeat him in death. Before the man could understand the ranger's meaning, Urdil shoved the man into the tomb and sealed it. Urdil sat outside the tomb waiting for death to finally avenge his son's murder, unaffected by the man's pleas and desperate clawing at the door. When Urdil finally opened the tomb he dragged the man's corpse from the tomb, said a final farewell to his son wishing him complete peace now that he had been avenged and resealed the tomb.
Mentally, Aragorn shuttered. That man's fate would be his. Darkness and terror would eat out his soul long before death took it's grasp upon his mortality. He was startled when Barion squatted down in front of him, his cruel smile firmly in place even as his eyes gleamed in sick pleasure. "I'm betting I don't have to tell you what comes next. You do appreciate my choice for your fate, don't you? This tomb has known the bittersweet taste of revenge. It is only appropriate that it should be used again for such means to an end."
Internally, Aragorn assailed Barion with every curse word he knew in every language. Outwardly, only his eyes could telegraph his hatred and defiance. It was not a wasted effort for Barion faltered under Aragorn's gaze and dropped his eyes to the ground.
Barion cursed his own weakness. Still he could not endure the other's gaze! Surging to his feet, Barion crossed over to the tomb and withdrew a key from his pocket. The lock clicked open as if it were new, not it's true age, numbering over seventy years. Undergrowth had crept up the door, making the task of opening the door a strenuous one. When brute strength could not pull the door open, Barion used his sword to chomp away the tenacious plants. In moments, he had cleared away the undergrowth and yanked the door ajar.
Stale, rank air wafted from the tomb and Barion stumbled back under the onslaught, trying hard to not gag. The scent carried to Aragorn and his stomach churned. A few times before he had smelled the stench of death and decay but it had never been so foul or so crippling to his soul. If Barion fulfilled his plan, he would be placed in that tomb and that smell would chock him long before he himself added to it's putrid fragrance.
Having steadied his stomach, Barion again approached the tomb and opened the door wide to allow sunlight to pierce the darkness of it's depths. The length barely allowed a man of Aragorn's height to lay on the floor and the width could be crossed in three long strides but a shelf to the right where the body laid took up half the width. The tomb's only accommodating feature was the tall ceiling, raising over seven feet overhead. But it did the owner of the tomb no good.
Looking to the shelf on the right, Barion saw the tattered remains of what was once a fine cloth which still covered the corpse he knew claimed this tomb as his own. To satisfy a point of curiosity, he looked at the inside of the door. "So it is true," he breathed as he ran his fingers lightly over the scratches in the door, desperate scratches made by the man entombed with Amarth nigh seventy years ago. Fighting down a shiver of his own, Barion turned back to Aragorn and plastered on a fearless smile. "Your new home is waiting your arrival."
Crossing over to the ranger, Barion squatted down to again be able to level his eyes at the man. "My little concoction does indeed ease pain and promotes healing and even does a fine job of slowing down blood loss. So neither one of us has to fear that you will die too quickly due to your injuries. And Urdil thought about the short air granted in the tomb and he was considerate enough to plant the dwarven weed in the corner there," and he pointed to a far corner where small green shrubs grew, "which I'm sure you know the dwarves grow in their caves so that their air never runs out or becomes stale. So you need not worry. You will have time enough to savor your new surroundings." Then his eyes fell to Aragorn's right hand. "I almost forgot.." and he reached down and began to pull off Aragorn's ring, Barahir. He jumped when the man's hand clamped into a fist and his eyes flew to Aragorn's, worried that the man would break through his potion's effects too soon.
Instinctively Aragorn had tried to protect the heirloom ring, never expecting his hand to obey his command. But try as he might, he could not move again, not his hand nor any other body part. He could only watch as Barion's fear morphed into smugness when he too became aware of the ranger's continued obedience to the herbs.
"Very good, Aragorn. It usually takes another three hours before any movement can be obtained," Barion complimented bitterly, covering up his own jolt of fear at the prospect of having to engage the ranger again in battle. "But I will have your ring, Estel of Middle Earth," and he pried the ranger's hand apart and removed the ring.
Slipping the ring into his pocket, Barion again pulled the man unto his shoulder and stepped into the tomb. He tossed Aragorn onto the cloth covered corpse of Amarth.
Aragorn felt the sharp edges of bones digging into his flesh as he landed solidly upon the corpse. His momentum rolled him hard against the wall, settling him on the shelf to lie beside the corpse.
"Your father will feel your emotions, Aragorn. He will know that you are bearing the punishment for his sins, that you were made to pay dearly for his betrayal. How long you suffer in this tomb is in your father's hands. For your sake, you had better pray he thinks more kindly of you than you think of him. And it would do no harm if he had some favor with the Valar." Then Barion fell silent as he saw the ranger lying beside the covered corpse amid the small soon to be lightless tomb. A spark of compassion tried to ignite but his memories returned to his last meeting with Arathorn and the emotion flickered out completely. Tauntingly he questioned, "Who will mourn you in earnest, Aragorn? They will mourn Estel's lost chance to defeat evil, Aragorn's unfulfilled destiny to ascend the thrown and Strider's strong sword. But who will miss the man you know yourself to be, the man who is more and less than all his facades?"
Amid the horror of lying next to a corpse, the prospect of being sealed in a tomb and dying a slow, unmerciful death, it seemed strange that Barion's words seemed the cruelest of his tactics. Maybe because Aragorn knew the words bore the markings of the truth...maybe even all the markings of truth. The pathetic answer to Barion's question rang through Aragorn's mind. 'None. None will mourn the man that I truly am for I never had any worth of my own...honor belonged to my facades alone.'
For a moment more, Barion watched the younger man, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Sadly enough, I will not be present to hear your pleas and your fingers clawing at this very door. Alas, I have much to do and will have to be robbed of that pleasure. Then he bowed curtly, "Farewell, Aragorn son of Arathorn," swiftly turned on his heels and strode from the tomb.
Aragorn's heart pounded rapidly in his chest as he helplessly watched as Barion began to push the door closed. Before Aragorn could brace himself for the darkness that was to come, the door closed, it's impact with the stone door frame echoing painfully in the small enclosure. But it was the smothering darkness that caused unimaginable fear to seize Aragorn's very soul. Many times in his life he had been faced with the prospect of his own death. Always he had bore the knowledge stoically. But never had he thought he would be buried alive, forced to endure a darkness that choked his soul even as Elrond's betrayal wholly destroyed his heart.
TBC )
Love to hear what you think!Replies to Reviews:
BabeyRachey: Thanks for the compliment on last chapter! And yes, Barion is evil! And after reading this chapter, you know Aragorn is REALLY in need of some help! (grins evilly) Please drop me a review!
Ymmas Sirron: I had to laugh when I read your review because I almost used "whooping" in my reply to your review last chapter! Great minds think alike! Glad you're enjoying the angst 'cause you know I LOVE writing it and there's definitely more to come! I can't wait to hear what you think of Barion after this chapter!
Someone Reading: I'm so touched that you rate Mire as one of your most loved stories!! And I'm really glad you tuned into this one and are enjoying it so far. I was kinda wondering if I'ld hear from you and you didn't disappoint. Hope to hear from you often!
Sielge: Thank you so much for putting this story on your favorite list!!!! Now the pressure is on me to do a good job with it?!?! Please continue to review!
Athelassa: You "love" this story! Thanks for that! And I hope I don't let you down as it goes along. Glad you like Aragorn doubting Elrond's love..you know I love those relationship issues that need to be resolved. Ok, NOW do you hate Barion? No matter your answer I'm glad you find him interesting. It's always hard to make a bad guy that's not boring to read about. Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
Marbienl: Did I forget to post that warning at the start of this fic that I tend to only feel a chapter is "complete" if it's got a cliffie! I truly appreciate your email and the fact that you pointed out the lines you liked best! And you are just too smart to trick aren't you! You guessed Aragorn's fate of being buried, literally. As for your questions....you know I'm not answering them but they do give me ideas so keep 'em coming! Please email or review or send up smoke signals after you read this chapter!
Nerfenherder: Thank you so much for not hating my crazy "revenge on dead people" idea! I knew I was kinda out on a limb with that but I needed it to set up this chapter and explain why Aragorn had to be buried alive. It's amazing what desperate plots you create just to find a plausible means for torture your favorite character. And a HUGE thank you for compliment on the sword fight. Man that was HARD to write! I wanted it to track like a real duel but since I know nothing about fighting, I forced my nephew to "act out" the fight. I appreciate that you put in the quotes you liked from the story! That really helps me improve my style. Very observant of you to note the reasons why Aragorn was defeated...I really hated to have him defeated! But like you said, he was weary, emotionally wounded, and unused to formal fighting! Poor Aragorn! Love hearing from you so please keep it up!
Grumpy: I really appreciated your review! I struggled writing the fight scene, I wanted it to be detailed and still allow Aragorn to retain his pride even in defeat. Putting the man through angst, burying him alive in a tomb...fine... but taking away his pride?!...Hey I got some heart! And yes, Barion deserve to DIE! Especially after burying Aragorn alive! Sorry to say, we are both going to have to wait awhile for Barion to get what he deserves! Love to hear from you about this chapter!
Bill the Pony2: You "loved" last chapter! Awesome!!!! Glad you liked my action writing...it's kinda a break from my normal angst but I love watching action movies so I had to give writing it a try. Hope to hear your thoughts on this chapter!
Tychen: Truly...it is NOT Aragorn's day! And I appreciated your "evil smirk of anticipation" (and had to laugh out loud at that line of your review)!! And yes, Elrond should sense Aragorn being buried alive...but does he?! (You know I'm not going to answer that?!? Well, not until the story continues) Does it help to tell you that Legolas, Elrond and the twins will be in this story? OK probably not after the cliffie this chapter! Well, I tried to give you hope...but buried alive in a tomb...there's not too much hope left is there?! ("evil smirk" can be found on my face now!) Can't wait to hear from you!
MagickalStar135: Sorry I didn't make your Sunday deadline for posting but the chapter just wasn't quiet done! Barion is totally a jerk and I hate him myself. Thank you so much for your compliments! It makes posting another chapter a pleasure instead of a dreaded event where I wonder what someone will write that they hate this time. (I'm so insecure sometimes!) And as a warning: I LOVE cliffies! Hope you get a chance to read and review!
WendyRain: Thank you so much for your review! I'm really flattered that you liked Mire and wanted to read something else by me!!! And it's always great to hear from someone who loves Aragorn best and also loves to see him tortured! It's so great being insane!!! Hope to hear from you again!
Aebbook: Thanks for your compliment! As for Aragorn's fate...it ain't looking good is it? I guess you just have to tune back in for another chapter to see what happens next! (which translates to "pretty please keeping reading") And please review again!
Elven Kitten: Thanks for reviewing! And yes, Aragorn needs a hug about now...and a forklift wouldn't hurt! Drop me a review!
Gotta Run!Until next time!
Cheryl
By: Cheryl W
Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings or anything in conjunction with the Lord of the Rings nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 3 (((((
When Barion bent down beside him, Aragorn tried with all his might to move from the man's presence but to his horror, he could not move a finger, could not blink an eye.
Barion's first action was to take Aragorn's elven dagger from it's sheath at the ranger's waist and tuck it neatly in his own boot. Then he sat back on his hunches and studied Aragorn, measuring his potion's effectiveness. Without warning, he harshly landed a punch upon the bleeding slash marring the ranger's left side.
Had he had the ability to writhe in pain or to scream in agony, Aragorn would have done both. Under the restraint of Barion's potion, he could only moan in agony.
Satisfied that his potion had debilitated Aragorn, Barion brutally grasp Aragorn's chin in his hand and brought the ranger's head up so their eyes met. "As you see, I did not exaggerate the effectiveness of my little potion. You may be surprised to know that I originally created this potion to reduce pain and improve healing. Once I was a valued healer among the rangers. I taught Elrond much of what he knows about ministering to humans."
If Aragorn could have, he would have snorted in disbelief at the man's claim. Apparently his mocking disbelief was evident in his eyes for Barion a moment later defended, "No. Truely. I once knew more about human cures than even your vaulted elven "father". Now, I must leave you for a few moments." A cruel smile turned up his lips as he mocked, "don't go any where," Letting let go of Aragorn's chin, he watched with cold pleasure as Aragorn's head dropped harshly back onto the ground. Then he stood and walked into the forest in the direction he had arrived the other night.
'Move!!' screamed through Aragorn's mind and yet his body did not do his bidding. 'Move now or be subject to whatever fate this maniacal man seems ready to bestow upon you!' Move!!' But try as he might, mind was not proving to be stronger than body, not now, not today. Feeling his heart racing and his breathing clawing at his chest to be released, Aragorn knew neither reaction would do him any good. 'Calm down. Focus,' he ordered of himself. 'Save your strength for when you are released from this unholy concoction. You will have your moment and you must be ready to act.'
Listening to his own advice, his heartbeat slowed and his breathing eased. Long ago he had learned that panic was a quick path to death. He almost tried to snort as he thought of the foolishness of his own thoughts. Quick was one thing Barion did not plan to make his death. Possibilities of what the ex-ranger had in mind almost stole Aragorn's hard earned calm but he stamped down his fear.
'Concentrate on something else,' he advised and he did not have to think hard for a new train of thought to consume him, namely Elrond's betrayal. True to Barion's word, the potion had begun to diminish the pain of his wounds..but his heart had no such comfort. To think of the "years" he had spent thinking that he had been loved by Elrond for himself, that, though he knew that some of the reason the elven lord had raised him had been due to his destiny, he had not believed it was the only reason. How many times had the elf lord himself reassured Aragorn that he had worth to him beyond his destiny as the hope of middle earth?!
'Fool!' Aragorn cursed himself. 'Elrond betrayed your father, your real father, and you have called him ada.' Shame, rage and despair battled for supremacy within Aragorn. If fate had let him be the victor in his battle with Barion and he could see Elrond again, he did not know how he would react. Part of him wanted to strike out at the elf lord, to hurt Elrond the way he had hurt him. And yet another part of him wanted to demand the truth, wanted to be told that somehow it was the letters that spoke lies not the only father he could recall, that his love for Aragorn had been true, had always been true.
With sharp clarity, he knew he would not get a chance to take either path. Elrond would never know that his last thoughts of him were bitter ones. He would take the revealed secret to his grave.
A sound broke Aragorn from his thoughts and a few moments later he watched as Barion rode a horse to his side, the beast's prancing hoofs almost trampling him. Barion dismounted gracefully and kicked Aragorn onto his back. Bending down, he grabbed Aragorn's arms and pulled the man over his shoulder. He stood baring his burden well and unceremoniously flung the boneless ranger over his horse's back.
Air whooshed out of Aragorn as his stomach slammed onto the horse's firm back but there was no way to force in more breath as he helplessly draped over the horse. A moment later, Barion sprang into the horse's saddle and uttered not a word before spurring the horse into a gallop.
Jarred unmercifully by the horse's movements, Aragorn's wounds reawakened to agony and his ribs felt like they were cracking little by little each time he lifted from the horse's back only to impact an instant later. Add to this the terrifying upside-down view of the ground that rushed by him and it was turning out to be one of the Aragorn's most hated experiences. Again helplessness assaulted him. He could not hold on to anything to assure that he did not fall from the animal nor could he attempt to escape. He could do nothing but steel himself for whatever came next.
Aragorn did not know how long they rode before Barion finally reigned in the horse but he did note by the way the sun's rays lay across the shadowy land of the forest, that the sun must be three hours from it's zenith. He had no other time for thought as Barion toppled him from the horse to land on the ground with a decided thud.
Again a moan was the only response Aragorn could express for his pain. His unblinking eyes now saw the trees that loomed overhead and the bright rays of the sun that filtered through the foliage. He was not prepared for the booted foot to kick him to his side but it mattered little for he could not have fended off the blow. Now his eyes took in another sight and something turned cold within him...possibly his core of courage.
Hewed into the side of the hill was a tomb graced with a thick wooden door that was sealed with a metal link chain. Carved on the top of the door was the inscription: Bitter is the Gift.
Unerringly, Aragorn knew where he was, he had passed this tomb more times than he could number. A mere two miles separated him now from his home, from the home he once claimed, Rivendell. But with that knowledge came the bitter realization of what Barion planned as his final fate. This tomb had it's legend and it would again be used to fulfill a plan of revenge.
Aragorn had been just a boy when he had asked his elven brothers's about the tomb he passed every time they hunted to the east. Their hesitancy only caused the young Aragorn to press them harder for the tale. Finally they relented and answered his many questions.
The tale now consumed Aragorn. He remembered it well for it seemed it had always come unbidden to him during the darkest hours of night.
The tomb bore the body of a young man, Amarth, the only son of a ranger named Urdil. The boy had just reached his sixteenth year and believed himself a man, ready to take up the task of scouting for the rangers. His father thought him too young but the boy could not be dissuaded and daily pleaded with his father to give him the chance to prove his worth. Finally, Urdil relented and gave his blessing to his son's dream. But upon his first scouting trip, the boy met with three men that knew only hatred for all rangers. Cruelly they beat the boy and left him for dead but he was found and brought to his father. But the boy's body was too weak to endure such cruelties and when fever set in, the boy faded from this life with alarming speed.
Urdil's grief could not be consoled and he had carved the inscription over his son's grave, cursing the Iluvatar's gift of mortality. And then he had taken up his sword and sought the men that had stolen his son from him. Two of the men he slew in battle but the last, the leader of the small group, he spared...for a fate worse than death by the sword. This man he dragged to his son's tomb and told him that he had defeated his son in life but he would not defeat him in death. Before the man could understand the ranger's meaning, Urdil shoved the man into the tomb and sealed it. Urdil sat outside the tomb waiting for death to finally avenge his son's murder, unaffected by the man's pleas and desperate clawing at the door. When Urdil finally opened the tomb he dragged the man's corpse from the tomb, said a final farewell to his son wishing him complete peace now that he had been avenged and resealed the tomb.
Mentally, Aragorn shuttered. That man's fate would be his. Darkness and terror would eat out his soul long before death took it's grasp upon his mortality. He was startled when Barion squatted down in front of him, his cruel smile firmly in place even as his eyes gleamed in sick pleasure. "I'm betting I don't have to tell you what comes next. You do appreciate my choice for your fate, don't you? This tomb has known the bittersweet taste of revenge. It is only appropriate that it should be used again for such means to an end."
Internally, Aragorn assailed Barion with every curse word he knew in every language. Outwardly, only his eyes could telegraph his hatred and defiance. It was not a wasted effort for Barion faltered under Aragorn's gaze and dropped his eyes to the ground.
Barion cursed his own weakness. Still he could not endure the other's gaze! Surging to his feet, Barion crossed over to the tomb and withdrew a key from his pocket. The lock clicked open as if it were new, not it's true age, numbering over seventy years. Undergrowth had crept up the door, making the task of opening the door a strenuous one. When brute strength could not pull the door open, Barion used his sword to chomp away the tenacious plants. In moments, he had cleared away the undergrowth and yanked the door ajar.
Stale, rank air wafted from the tomb and Barion stumbled back under the onslaught, trying hard to not gag. The scent carried to Aragorn and his stomach churned. A few times before he had smelled the stench of death and decay but it had never been so foul or so crippling to his soul. If Barion fulfilled his plan, he would be placed in that tomb and that smell would chock him long before he himself added to it's putrid fragrance.
Having steadied his stomach, Barion again approached the tomb and opened the door wide to allow sunlight to pierce the darkness of it's depths. The length barely allowed a man of Aragorn's height to lay on the floor and the width could be crossed in three long strides but a shelf to the right where the body laid took up half the width. The tomb's only accommodating feature was the tall ceiling, raising over seven feet overhead. But it did the owner of the tomb no good.
Looking to the shelf on the right, Barion saw the tattered remains of what was once a fine cloth which still covered the corpse he knew claimed this tomb as his own. To satisfy a point of curiosity, he looked at the inside of the door. "So it is true," he breathed as he ran his fingers lightly over the scratches in the door, desperate scratches made by the man entombed with Amarth nigh seventy years ago. Fighting down a shiver of his own, Barion turned back to Aragorn and plastered on a fearless smile. "Your new home is waiting your arrival."
Crossing over to the ranger, Barion squatted down to again be able to level his eyes at the man. "My little concoction does indeed ease pain and promotes healing and even does a fine job of slowing down blood loss. So neither one of us has to fear that you will die too quickly due to your injuries. And Urdil thought about the short air granted in the tomb and he was considerate enough to plant the dwarven weed in the corner there," and he pointed to a far corner where small green shrubs grew, "which I'm sure you know the dwarves grow in their caves so that their air never runs out or becomes stale. So you need not worry. You will have time enough to savor your new surroundings." Then his eyes fell to Aragorn's right hand. "I almost forgot.." and he reached down and began to pull off Aragorn's ring, Barahir. He jumped when the man's hand clamped into a fist and his eyes flew to Aragorn's, worried that the man would break through his potion's effects too soon.
Instinctively Aragorn had tried to protect the heirloom ring, never expecting his hand to obey his command. But try as he might, he could not move again, not his hand nor any other body part. He could only watch as Barion's fear morphed into smugness when he too became aware of the ranger's continued obedience to the herbs.
"Very good, Aragorn. It usually takes another three hours before any movement can be obtained," Barion complimented bitterly, covering up his own jolt of fear at the prospect of having to engage the ranger again in battle. "But I will have your ring, Estel of Middle Earth," and he pried the ranger's hand apart and removed the ring.
Slipping the ring into his pocket, Barion again pulled the man unto his shoulder and stepped into the tomb. He tossed Aragorn onto the cloth covered corpse of Amarth.
Aragorn felt the sharp edges of bones digging into his flesh as he landed solidly upon the corpse. His momentum rolled him hard against the wall, settling him on the shelf to lie beside the corpse.
"Your father will feel your emotions, Aragorn. He will know that you are bearing the punishment for his sins, that you were made to pay dearly for his betrayal. How long you suffer in this tomb is in your father's hands. For your sake, you had better pray he thinks more kindly of you than you think of him. And it would do no harm if he had some favor with the Valar." Then Barion fell silent as he saw the ranger lying beside the covered corpse amid the small soon to be lightless tomb. A spark of compassion tried to ignite but his memories returned to his last meeting with Arathorn and the emotion flickered out completely. Tauntingly he questioned, "Who will mourn you in earnest, Aragorn? They will mourn Estel's lost chance to defeat evil, Aragorn's unfulfilled destiny to ascend the thrown and Strider's strong sword. But who will miss the man you know yourself to be, the man who is more and less than all his facades?"
Amid the horror of lying next to a corpse, the prospect of being sealed in a tomb and dying a slow, unmerciful death, it seemed strange that Barion's words seemed the cruelest of his tactics. Maybe because Aragorn knew the words bore the markings of the truth...maybe even all the markings of truth. The pathetic answer to Barion's question rang through Aragorn's mind. 'None. None will mourn the man that I truly am for I never had any worth of my own...honor belonged to my facades alone.'
For a moment more, Barion watched the younger man, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Sadly enough, I will not be present to hear your pleas and your fingers clawing at this very door. Alas, I have much to do and will have to be robbed of that pleasure. Then he bowed curtly, "Farewell, Aragorn son of Arathorn," swiftly turned on his heels and strode from the tomb.
Aragorn's heart pounded rapidly in his chest as he helplessly watched as Barion began to push the door closed. Before Aragorn could brace himself for the darkness that was to come, the door closed, it's impact with the stone door frame echoing painfully in the small enclosure. But it was the smothering darkness that caused unimaginable fear to seize Aragorn's very soul. Many times in his life he had been faced with the prospect of his own death. Always he had bore the knowledge stoically. But never had he thought he would be buried alive, forced to endure a darkness that choked his soul even as Elrond's betrayal wholly destroyed his heart.
TBC )
Love to hear what you think!Replies to Reviews:
BabeyRachey: Thanks for the compliment on last chapter! And yes, Barion is evil! And after reading this chapter, you know Aragorn is REALLY in need of some help! (grins evilly) Please drop me a review!
Ymmas Sirron: I had to laugh when I read your review because I almost used "whooping" in my reply to your review last chapter! Great minds think alike! Glad you're enjoying the angst 'cause you know I LOVE writing it and there's definitely more to come! I can't wait to hear what you think of Barion after this chapter!
Someone Reading: I'm so touched that you rate Mire as one of your most loved stories!! And I'm really glad you tuned into this one and are enjoying it so far. I was kinda wondering if I'ld hear from you and you didn't disappoint. Hope to hear from you often!
Sielge: Thank you so much for putting this story on your favorite list!!!! Now the pressure is on me to do a good job with it?!?! Please continue to review!
Athelassa: You "love" this story! Thanks for that! And I hope I don't let you down as it goes along. Glad you like Aragorn doubting Elrond's love..you know I love those relationship issues that need to be resolved. Ok, NOW do you hate Barion? No matter your answer I'm glad you find him interesting. It's always hard to make a bad guy that's not boring to read about. Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
Marbienl: Did I forget to post that warning at the start of this fic that I tend to only feel a chapter is "complete" if it's got a cliffie! I truly appreciate your email and the fact that you pointed out the lines you liked best! And you are just too smart to trick aren't you! You guessed Aragorn's fate of being buried, literally. As for your questions....you know I'm not answering them but they do give me ideas so keep 'em coming! Please email or review or send up smoke signals after you read this chapter!
Nerfenherder: Thank you so much for not hating my crazy "revenge on dead people" idea! I knew I was kinda out on a limb with that but I needed it to set up this chapter and explain why Aragorn had to be buried alive. It's amazing what desperate plots you create just to find a plausible means for torture your favorite character. And a HUGE thank you for compliment on the sword fight. Man that was HARD to write! I wanted it to track like a real duel but since I know nothing about fighting, I forced my nephew to "act out" the fight. I appreciate that you put in the quotes you liked from the story! That really helps me improve my style. Very observant of you to note the reasons why Aragorn was defeated...I really hated to have him defeated! But like you said, he was weary, emotionally wounded, and unused to formal fighting! Poor Aragorn! Love hearing from you so please keep it up!
Grumpy: I really appreciated your review! I struggled writing the fight scene, I wanted it to be detailed and still allow Aragorn to retain his pride even in defeat. Putting the man through angst, burying him alive in a tomb...fine... but taking away his pride?!...Hey I got some heart! And yes, Barion deserve to DIE! Especially after burying Aragorn alive! Sorry to say, we are both going to have to wait awhile for Barion to get what he deserves! Love to hear from you about this chapter!
Bill the Pony2: You "loved" last chapter! Awesome!!!! Glad you liked my action writing...it's kinda a break from my normal angst but I love watching action movies so I had to give writing it a try. Hope to hear your thoughts on this chapter!
Tychen: Truly...it is NOT Aragorn's day! And I appreciated your "evil smirk of anticipation" (and had to laugh out loud at that line of your review)!! And yes, Elrond should sense Aragorn being buried alive...but does he?! (You know I'm not going to answer that?!? Well, not until the story continues) Does it help to tell you that Legolas, Elrond and the twins will be in this story? OK probably not after the cliffie this chapter! Well, I tried to give you hope...but buried alive in a tomb...there's not too much hope left is there?! ("evil smirk" can be found on my face now!) Can't wait to hear from you!
MagickalStar135: Sorry I didn't make your Sunday deadline for posting but the chapter just wasn't quiet done! Barion is totally a jerk and I hate him myself. Thank you so much for your compliments! It makes posting another chapter a pleasure instead of a dreaded event where I wonder what someone will write that they hate this time. (I'm so insecure sometimes!) And as a warning: I LOVE cliffies! Hope you get a chance to read and review!
WendyRain: Thank you so much for your review! I'm really flattered that you liked Mire and wanted to read something else by me!!! And it's always great to hear from someone who loves Aragorn best and also loves to see him tortured! It's so great being insane!!! Hope to hear from you again!
Aebbook: Thanks for your compliment! As for Aragorn's fate...it ain't looking good is it? I guess you just have to tune back in for another chapter to see what happens next! (which translates to "pretty please keeping reading") And please review again!
Elven Kitten: Thanks for reviewing! And yes, Aragorn needs a hug about now...and a forklift wouldn't hurt! Drop me a review!
Gotta Run!Until next time!
Cheryl