Buried

by Cheryl W

(Completed)Secrets of Aragorn’s family are revealed and they threaten to cost Aragorn, not only the relationship he has with all those he holds dear, but his very life. NO SLASH

17. Chapter 17

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 17

Looking down upon his sleeping chieftain, Halbarad winced in sympathetic pain as he saw for the first time the damage Barion had inflicted upon his friend. Unable to quell his curiosity, he gently moved aside the fabric of Aragorn's shirt to see the whole extent of the wound to the man's left side. He did not sense his own peril.

Having been ripped from his sleep by the clamoring of his instincts, Aragorn reacted defensively to the presence he sensed hovering over him. His hand flew to his intruder's throat and began crushing the windpipe under his grasp even as he struggled to shake off his sleep and force his eyes to open fully. When the veil of sleep faded from his eyes, Aragorn saw that he had not an enemy in his crushing grip but an ally. Immediately he released his chokehold upon his friend, watching as the other man rubbed his neck while drawing in deep breaths to replace the air he had been deprived. "For the love of the Valar, Halbarad! Why did you not make your presence be known?!" Aragorn chastised as he slowly began to sit up, instantly finding Halbarad supportive arm behind his back, aiding him to come to sit on the edge of the cot.

Wincing in pain at his body's protest to movement, Aragorn waited expectantly for the ranger's flippant reply. To his surprise, Halbarad, wearing an unnerved look, spoke not with boisterous words edged with defensiveness but with words soft with concern. "Never have I had to announce my approach. You have always known even if I am looking in your direction."

Shame shone in Aragorn's eyes. "Sorry. I guess you caught me sleeping too soundly."

"With wounds like yours it is a miracle you are even conscious," came Halbarad's quiet reply, his sharp eyes daring the other to deny the truth of his words.

Knowing his second in command was almost as stubborn as four elves he knew, Aragorn did not expend the energy for denials. "Or alive. Is that not the unuttered conclusion to your sentence?" he taunted his friend.

A smirk erupted on the other's face. "You said it. I did not."

For a moment levity filled the air as Aragorn's eyes sparked in retaliation but then darker thoughts prevailed. "How many were wounded this night? Did we lose any to death?"

Serious purpose washed away the traces of humor in Halbarad's handsome but careworn features. "We lost none of our men but five bare serious wounds."

Aragorn accepted this news with relief and concern. He hated that any of his men should be wounded, especially by a revenge aimed at the rangers because of his family. Meeting Halbarad's steady gaze, he pressed, "What news do you bring to me?"

"Elladan, with his sharp elven eyes, spotted Barion's men stationed around the entire perimeter of our camp. It seems Barion means to either lay siege to us or raise another attack at first light."

This news did not surprise Aragorn. When Barion had seen him in the forest, surprise quickly morphed into hatred and determination. He would not leave with his prize unclaimed. "Barion has not the patience for a siege. He will lead an attack at first light as you have said."

"That decision is foolish when he could achieve victory by simply starving us," Halbarad countered, not in objections but insight.

"True but he can not temper his desire."

"Desire? For what?"

"For my death. For the death of all rangers," Aragorn quietly explained not with fear but unflinching candor .

Halbarad stilled as if the words sparked an emotion in him he needed to control. It took him a moment or two before he ventured, "Your brothers tell me Barion was once your father's second in command."

Bitterly Aragorn spit out, "Yes, that is true," feeling both shame at his father's trust in such a man and anger toward Barion's betrayal to his father. For their erroneous actions, three rangers' lives had been claimed and the morrow threatened to steal yet more lives precious to Aragorn. Halbarad's vow brought him sharply from his regrets.

"I will not betray you, Strider. Do not let this man's treachery rob me of the hard won respect I have earned from you," Halbarad pledged, his eyes never leaving his chieftain's gaze.

'His fears are not so misplaced. I almost let Barion tarnish the love of my family and my friend?!' shot through Aragorn and for an instant he thought one of the elves had spoken to Halbarad of their discord. Narrowing his eyes with inspection, Aragorn found no secrets in the other's eyes. With certainty, Aragorn surmised that Halbarad's keen insight was the culprit for the ranger's fitting plea. "I know your loyalty, Halbarad. I will not let this man cause further doubts to destroy all the bonds I hold dear."

In an uncharacteristic gesture, Halbarad bowed his head in respect to his leader, "I shall fight at your side until death claims me."

"No!" Aragorn protested, gripping the man's tunic in his hands to ensure his friend's full attention. "Do not make such a pledge! I am just a man."

Shaking his head, Halbarad denied, "No. You are my chieftain and my friend whom I cherish. Your battles are mine and shall always be." Then a twinkle in his eyes shattered his reverent appearance. "Besides, you know that I am the better swordsman."

Sidetracked by the other's boast, Aragorn good naturedly let the other's pledge go unchallenged but the boast he could not. "Once! You beat me but once!"

"I beat you more than once and soundly at that," Halbarad proclaimed, feeling like a weight had lifted from him now that he had made the pledge that had long been on his heart.

"The second time was a staged fight to amuse the young ones," Aragorn explained slowly as if the other did not understand his language.

Halbarad opened his mouth to deflate his chieftain's explaination but another voice overrode his words.

"I see you are talking serious matters between you," Elladan sallied sarcastically as he entered the tent.

Aragorn's eyes held his brother's, the smile dropping from his face as he remembered the cruelty he had bestowed on Elladan in the past few days.

Feeling like an interloper, Halbarad quickly stated, "I will make sure we are prepared for tomorrow," before he slipped past Elladan and exited the tent, passing Elrohir on the way.

Now faced with both his brothers, Aragorn found he could not meet their eyes. Dropping his inspection to his hands he willed the right words to come, the words that would undo all the pain he had inflicted upon them. Truly, what actions had they done to warrant his reproach? Been of elven blood? Been sons of Elrond? Never had their love wavered for him...nor had it held conditions or limitations.

Grief made Elladan's breath catch in his throat. He could not shake the memory of the look Aragorn had bestowed upon him when he entered the tent, a look quickly devoid of the humor that had sparked in it when he conversed with Halbarad. Worst still, now his brother shied away from even his sight.

Seeing Elladan's stricken look and Aragorn's downcast eyes, Elrohir feared that he had missed much though he had only been three strides behind his brother. Would he and Elladan be denied the forgiveness Aragorn granted his father and Legolas?! What worse crime had they committed that it could not also be absolved by love?

Whatever Aragorn had thought would transpire between he and his brothers... it was not what occurred. Without warning Elrohir sank to his knees before him and grasp his hands, causing Aragorn's eyes to collide with his brother's tear filled ones.

"Forgive me? Forgive us? Tell us what we can do to make things as they were between us? We want our brother back," Elrohir's soft voice begged.

"We "need" our brother back," Elladan emphatically pleaded, coming to stand beside his kneeling brother.

Aragorn swung his look up to his eldest brother and then back to Elrohir, his emotions flickering too quickly upon his face for the elves to interpret. "I am sorry...you never gave me cause to doubt your love" his eyes again finding Elladan's, "and yet I did. I was wrong. So wrong."

Before he could say more, Aragorn found himself engulfed by Elrohir's embrace. Leaning his head against his brother's shoulder, Aragorn wrapped his arms around his brother.

"Say no more, all is well between us," Elrohir soothed, his voice thick with barely leashed emotions, giving his youngest brother one more careful squeeze before releasing him.

Aragorn looked up to Elladan, intending to again beg for his forgiveness but the words caught in his throat as he saw the tears streaming down his brother's face. "Elladan.." he began but his brother's choked voice halted his words of concern.

"Forgive me...when I restrained you from leaving home..I did not know of your injuries. I never meant to inflict such pain upon you," Elladan stammered, needing to be absolved of this guilt if he were to feel united with his brother.

Reaching out, Aragorn enclosed his brother's hand within his own, "I can not forgive you for your actions," he solemnly said but, as his brother's face started to crumble in despair and the hand he held started to be withdrawn, Aragorn hurried on, clutching more desperately to his brother's hand. "Elladan, if you had left me leave...I would have died. Of my wounds and of a broken heart. Your actions saved my life and my soul. Always you have protected me, Elladan."

In one swift movement, Elladan sank to his knees and gathered Aragorn into his arms. "I despaired that you had been lost to me forever," he confessed, tightly closing his eyes against further tears.

Aragorn put his hand to the nape of his brother's neck, "I was a fool but I shall never be one again. Never again will I withhold my love from you." He looked to Elrohir, "Either of you."

Joy shone in Elrohir's eyes and he tousled Aragorn's hair without thought.

"Elrohir!" Aragorn protested with a laugh as he was released from Elladan's hold and he took his own swat at his brother's head but as usual, his hand met only air as the elf quickly dodged the man's hit.

Aragorn made to get up to take another swat at his brother but Elladan's strong hands gripped his shoulders and kept him firmly on the cot. "We promised we would not let you get off the cot."

"You never obey father's instructions when it is one of you trapped in his care," Aragorn objected, feeling happiness calm his inner turmoil as he felt himself back on even ground with all those he loved.

It was Elrohir who replied to his taunt. "Yes, but the promise was not garnered by ada."

Aragorn's eyebrows rose in surprise and uncertainty.

Elladan solved the mystery without verbal prompting. "It was Legolas who made us give that oath."

"Legolas?!" Aragorn exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, Legolas. Do not be so shocked. You are right. He is more of a mother hen than Elladan and I combined," Elrohir sallied, a smile on his lips. "He came in and sat with you while father got some air."

"I...I did not sense him," Aragorn stammered, slightly unnerved that he had been so unaware of his surroundings here in the wilds when Barion's attack was imminent.

"You were not suppose to, Estel," Legolas said as he entered the tent but halted at the entrance, suddenly feeling like he was intruding on a private family scene. "Sorry I did not mean to intrude. I will come back later..." and he turned to leave.

"Stop acting foolishly and get over here," Elladan good-naturedly scolded the Mirkwood elf, earning him a surprised look from Legolas. "You can not maneuver your way into our family and then slink away when things get rough."

"Or sentimental," Elrohir tagged on.

Legolas' face gleamed with joy but he made no move until his eyes settled on Aragorn's.

"I thought Mirkwood elves were renowned for their bravery?!" Aragorn taunted as he with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, waved his friend to come to him.

"We are brave, not stupid," Legolas defended but he was standing in front of Aragorn before all his words were uttered.

"That is debatable ...unlike your bossy attitude," Aragorn challenged, watching as his brothers rise from their kneeling positions only to claim spots on the cot across from him.

"My bossy attitude?!" Legolas retorted, claiming a seat on the cot beside Aragorn and handing his friend a plate of food. "I am not bossy." But the next breath he ordered, "Eat everything, Estel."

"He denies as he gives me an order," Aragorn grumbled as if to himself, already eating the tender pieces of rabbit that the plate held.

"Your father said.." Legolas began.

"I said to not wake him," Elrond finished, giving the three younger elves a falsely stern glare.

Good humored protests came from all sides, but they all laid blame on the one person who had managed to slip into the tent under their noses: Halbarad.

"I was on the fringes of waking when he came in, so do not lay the blame at his feet," Aragorn defended the man and also his own weakness. "Besides, he had to report your findings to me," his eyes meeting Elladan's.

A heaviness fell upon the group. Aragorn ate in silence, trying hard to not notice that his father was mixing some herbs which he knew would be used upon him.

"What will Barion do?" Legolas quietly asked his eyes fixed on his friend for things he would not say.

"Attack at first light."

No one spoke in agreement or protest. In truth, there was no need. None doubted Barion's insatiable thirst for Aragorn's death. He would not wait long to try to satisfy that need once again.

Every elf's thoughts turned to the danger Aragorn would face the next day and pleas were upon their lips but none uttered them. Aragorn had made it clear. He would not allow them to fight this battle for him. Tomorrow he intended that only one would walk away from the duel, either himself or Barion.

Finishing the meal, Aragorn intended to stand but before the thought even fully crossed his mind, Legolas' hand pressed on his shoulder, restraining him. Aragorn eyes shot to his friend in protest but Elrond drew his attention as he knelt before him, bandages and the concoction he had mixed moments ago in his hands.

"This will strengthen the stitches," Elrond explained as he lifted Aragorn's shirt and began to gently rub the smooth mixture onto his son's wounds. Still Aragorn flinched in pain and none of the others missed it. Legolas quickly came to Elrond's aid and held up his friend's shirt so that the elven lord could utilize both of his skilled hands to apply the herbs.

Having completed that task, Elrond unraveled the bandages and, with the merest of nods, instructed Legolas to lift Aragorn's shirt higher. Obeying the command, Legolas watched as Elrond wrapped the bandage around Aragorn's chest and stomach, concealing the wounds that Legolas could hardly look upon without flinching in emotional pain.

Fastening the end of the bandage, Elrond met his son's eyes even as Legolas released Aragorn's shirt. "Is there anything I could say or promise that would keep you from challenging Barion?"

Aragorn's grey eyes turned opaque. "No. Nothing. Is there any way that I can persuade all of you to not engage in this battle?"

Elrond gave a sad smile and shook his head while the others verbalized their responses with a resolute chorus of "no"s.

"Then we understand one another. Now I must speak to my men," Aragorn said with a matching sad smile. To his surprise, Legolas removed his restraining hold on his shoulder and instead hooked his hand under his arm and aided him to his feet. Giving a nod of thanks, Aragorn made his way out of the tent, missing the determinedly fierce looks shared by all four of the elves before they followed his lead.

Legolas watched as the night sky slowly showed signs of surrendering to dawn. From his perch on a tree, he could see the rangers as they patrolled the perimeter of the camp, their swords in their hands and their footsteps almost soundless. If Aragorn was right, it would not be long before Barion made his assault.

Aragorn's speech to his men returned to Legolas and his pride in his friend swelled. Unflinchingly Aragorn had told his men that Barion sought his death and the death of all rangers and he would do anything to achieve that goal, anything. Continuing, Aragorn had proclaimed, without an ounce of doubt, "Barion will fail because he has forgotten what it is like to be a ranger, to fight and die to protect one another, to care about an ideal. He perceives our loyalties as our weakness but I say it is our strength. Together we had the strength to endure the wrath of the minions of Mordor and it is that combined strength which we will bring to bare upon Barion and his followers. The morrow will see their end, not ours."

The cheer that erupted and the look upon the rangers' faces shot exhilaration into Legolas' heart. In that instant, Legolas knew the rangers would follow Aragorn into the very heart of Mordor, into the dark depths of Barad-dur. "So would I," he said aloud to the quiet forest. Sliding from the branch, he dropped gracefully unto the ground below.

"Would what?" Elrond asked, almost smiling as he saw the younger elf spin around in shock.

Ashamed of being caught speaking aloud to himself, Legolas forced himself to answer the elder elf truthfully, "Follow Estel even into the heart of Mordor...like those rangers would."

With his elven eyesight, Legolas saw a flicker of objection pass over Elrond's face. Drawing in a breath to defend his claim, he found he was too late for Elrond spoke before he could.

"All of them may have the yearning to follow him into that evil realm but very few possess the will or the heart to actually do so," his eyes seared into Legolas'.

For the first time, Legolas felt as if Aragorn's father was questioning if he were worthy to be his son's friend.

The elven lord's next words comforted Legolas, "You have both the heart and the will, Legolas." Then Elrond's eyes reflected their full years as sadness crinkled up the skin around his eyes. "But it is a path I pray neither of you have to take."

"What have you foreseen?" Legolas breathlessly asked. "Tell me that I do not fail him...that I am at his side no matter the path he treads."

Elrond put a hand upon Legolas' shoulder, "Nothing is clear to me, young one. The future is still unset but do not doubt your loyalty to my son...for I do not." Reassured that his words had eased the fear in the younger eyes, Elrond could not stop his own fears from surfacing. "The future is still unset," he sighed, his tone full of worry and despair.

Worry creased Legolas' light features, "Even the future of one day is unset," his thoughts drawn back to the upcoming battle. Meeting Elrond's eyes he confessed, "I do not know if I can do what he asks."

The same questions weighed upon them both. Could they stand idly by and watch Aragorn battle Barion?! Could they watch him die and do nothing?! Even at Aragorn's request?!

Elrond removed his hand from Legolas' shoulder. "I do not know if I have the heart to even attempt to do as he asks."

Legolas did not rebuke the elven lord for his own thoughts did not run so contrary. "Is Estel awake?"

Elrond nodded. "Let us return to his side." Legolas, in silent agreement, paced the elven lord as they walked back toward the camp.

The camp was now alive with activity as the rangers bade their families farewell, secured their swords and filled their quivers with arrows. Though the threat was thick in the predawn air, these men did not shrink away in fear but faced it with strength, unity and hope.

Legolas and Elrond joined Elladan and Elrohir as they stood among a crowd of rangers listening intently to Aragorn.

"I must give you all one last warning. Barion has in his possession a potion that causes immobility if inhaled. I do not know what quantities of this potion he has mixed but his men may also have this weapon at their disposal. So be wary of this new threat."

Aragorn caught his father's shocked expression and quickly turned to Halbarad who stood at his side. "Have all things been readied, Halbarad?"

Elrond did not hear the words that passed between the other rangers for his son's warning claimed all his attention. Yes, Barion had once set his talents to healing, had once taught Elrond how to care for mortals. To know that the other had twisted his skills for such evil...evil he had apparently used on his son made Elrond ill. The ability to heal was a gift from the Valar not a weapon to wield pain and death.

Turning to his companions, Elrond quietly probed, "Did he speak to you of this potion?"

Elladan and Elrohir gave stunned shakes of their heads and turned their attention to Legolas, awaiting his reply.

"No," Legolas bitterly answered, his fury at this new revelation of Barion's heartless tactics barely controlled. "He said nothing of it."

Suddenly the assembled rangers disbursed to their duties. Aragorn, walking toward his family and friend with a spark of uncertainty in his eyes, wondered what they thought of his newest confession.

With controlled measure, Elrond quietly stated, "This potion of Barion's...he used it upon you and that is how he was able to place you into the cave."

Aragorn did not wish to remember the events his father spoke of but he knew he must if he was ever to wrestle his soul from the memories' foul grip. "Yes, after he had defeated me in battle."

A dwarven curse erupted from Legolas. Stepping closer to Aragorn, he lowly growled, "The man is without honor. You owe him no such concessions to the code today in battle."

"Maybe not to Barion but I owe it to myself, Legolas," Aragorn calmly but firmly justified.

Elrond's next words drew his son's attention. "This potion...did it have other ill effects?" his worry for his son's wellbeing always prominent in his mind.

A bitter smile turned up Aragorn's lips even as his eyes darkened, "To the contrary. It's two additional effects were well meaning. Nay, it had three properties which I found comfort in."

Astonished Elladan demanded, "And pray tell what were these advantages?"

"It dulled my pain, lessened my blood loss and last but certainly not least..." his eyes stared unwavering into his brother's, now unwilling to conceal anything from the ones he loved, "it made me quite unable to disgrace myself by screaming when he sealed the tomb."

Pain and rage battled for supremacy in Elrond's heart. How could he bare to know his son had endured such horror?! And dear Valar, how could he allow Barion the opportunity to harm his son yet again?!

Unable to properly read his father's reaction, Aragorn's voice softened, "In a strange twist of circumstances, I believe his potion saved my life for surely I should have died from the wounds he inflicted upon me."

Legolas denied, not with rancor but tenderness. "For myself, I believe we owe your survival to the mercies of the Valar and to your own father's pleas from the Halls."

"I would prefer.." Aragorn began but a yell halted his words.

"Arrows!!" came the cry from the west.

"Take cover!" Aragorn yelled, his order sending his men scattering toward the dense safety of the trees. Ducking and running, his best friend at his side, Aragorn braced himself behind a tree, his shoulder touching Legolas'. To his right, he saw his elven father also had taken shelter behind a tree's wide trunk and the twins had done the same on his left side. As his eyes scanned the camp, Aragorn's heart clenched as he saw flames racing up a tree trunk where the burning arrow had embedded itself. Another fiery arrow struck the ground and started the underbrush on fire.

"He will burn the entire forest!" Legolas exclaimed, his disbelief that anyone would take such drastic measures for victory evident in his tone.

"Yes, and he will consider it a small price to pay for the extinction of all rangers," Aragorn venomously realized, his hand tightening on his sword hilt as he stepped from the safety of the tree trunk and faced the surrounding forest where his enemy lay in wait. Spying some of his rangers flanking the forest around him, Aragorn ordered, "Ringdur, Turcul, Mirir and Mor stay within the camp and put out the fires as best as you can." Without hesitation the men sheathed their swords and ran back into the now burning camp to do their chieftain's bidding. Turning to the tree where his father was, Aragorn began, "Ada help.." but he found the tree bare of his father's presence. Quickly scanning the nearby forest he could not catch sight of his father's figure but he watched grimly as more burning arrows set the forest afire before him.

Looking at his brothers, Aragorn ordered, "Elladan, Elrohir, protect the families of the rangers."

"No! We will stay at your side!" Elrohir denied, the same matching determination on his brother's features.

Crossing the distance that separated them, Aragorn gripped Elladan and Elrohir's shoulders. "I know a ranger's life is dangerous, that my men would willingly give their life to do their duty. And I have to accept that, that I can not protect my men from harm or death. What I can not accept is to see my men's families suffer such an ill fate. No man's loyalty should cost him his family. Please, my brothers, please protect the innocent ones from harm."

"We will do as you ask," Elrohir quietly promised, his eyes revealing his inner struggle.

Elladan put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder, "You can best Barion, Estel. Do not doubt yourself."

Aragorn simply nodded and watched as his brothers ran for the section of the camp where the families were gathered. Turning to Legolas, he began, "Legolas these fires need to be put out," but the Mirkwood elf's stance was defiant.

"No, I will stay at your side," Legolas refused, his eyes blazing as brightly as the fires that surrounded them. "You spoke of victory in unity to your men. Take your own advice, Strider. Together, you and I can defeat Barion."

"We do not have the luxury of time to argue!" Aragorn shot back.

"Good then it is settled. Come let us finish this!" Legolas said and began to stalk toward the outskirts of the camp, knowing that it was there that Barion awaited his opponent

"Stubborn elf!" Aragorn grumbled as he followed after the elf. He had taken only a step before he shouted, "Legolas!" as he saw an arrow streaking through the air destined to cross his friend's path.

Heeding his friend's cry of warning, Legolas dove to the right. He was singed by the flames as an arrow flew by him to land in the ground where he had been but an instant before. Instantly, the underbrush burst into flames. Legolas was starting to scramble to his feet to avoid being engulfed when a hand latched onto his arm and hauled him to his feet. Together he and Aragorn lightly ran from the sweeping flames under foot.

"Curse Barion and curse the dryness in this region! All surrounding regions were flooding this season! If only we had such luck now!" Aragorn exclaimed as he and Legolas halted to get their bearing on their surroundings that though they bore no flames, were started to become thick with smoke. Suddenly a solution sprang into Aragorn's mind, "My father, we must find my father."

"He headed this direction," Legolas supplied, knowing in his heart the elven lord's intentions.

"He is seeking out Barion," Aragorn easily surmised, a reprimand in his tone. He did not say more as his men on the outer patrol cried our another warning.

"They approach!"

Aragorn and Legolas both broke into a run, the elf holding back to keep even with the injured human.

Aragorn stumbled as Legolas gripped his arm and yanked him toward him. An arrow embedded into the tree where Aragorn's head had just been. Steadying his friend even as they continued to move forward, Legolas mentally readied himself for the battle to come. Aragorn had spoken truth...Barion would fail...in all his endeavors. Suddenly Aragorn and Legolas came upon the fighting. Immediately their thoughts were given over to their instincts. Aragorn ducked a sword swipe even as his own sword cut a path across his attacker's stomach. Spinning he blocked a downward sword stroke, delivered a punch to the man's jaw and took advantage as the man stumbled under the assault to skewer the man with his sword.

Having achieved a moment of reprieve, Aragorn's eyes scanned for Barion and his father among the combatants and the gathering smoke. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of silky brown hair, his father's hair. Spying Legolas dispatching four men to the Halls with two strokes of each of his twin blades, Aragorn knew that the elf did not need his assistance against such inept foes.

Running toward the spot he had last seen his father, Aragorn heard the voice that had haunted his dreams of late. Barion's voice.

"I did not think to meet you again, Elrond, lord of Rivendell. I know you do not waste your precious time upon mortals...unless duty forces you to do so..as it has in the past," Barion sneered as the two combatants circled one another, swords at the ready and their eyes searing into each other.

"You speak of the past, you live in the past. Many things have changed since you have been in exile," Elrond countered, tightening his grip upon the hilt of his sword, waiting for the man to make his attack.

"Do not tell me you "enjoy" your burden now?" scoffed Barion, enjoying the flinch his words generated from the elf. "I am not such a fool...even one in exile still has a grasp of the truth."

Elrond's reply was a deadly hiss, "Aragorn is my son and you will die for what you have done to him."

Barion gave a bitter bark of disbelief. "Your son?! He is not your son! He is no elf! He is mortal! He is your burden to bare, your duty to fulfill, your only "hope" to wipe the disgrace from your brother's bloodline!"

"Once your words were true but they have not been for many years," Elrond countered, forcing himself to not let the man's words work their deception in his heart. It was no hard task to see how Barion had feed on Aragorn's dark thoughts in there last battle and had won a victory against the exceptionally skilled ranger. Barion's greatest skill was not in his swordsmanship but in his treacherous words. "Aragorn taught me the merit of mortals, the heart and strength and goodness that they possess. He taught me that loving someone that will one day fade away is not a bitter curse but a precious gift not to be squandered away by fear. You should have learned this lesson yourself...then you would not be here avenging your family's deaths but instead you would honor their lives, their love for you by trying to rid the world of evil."

The elf's words scored a wound into Barion's heart and his eyes flamed with hatred. "Such flowery speeches you elves make but where will you be when our need arises, when the true evil unveils itself and sets it's eye upon the world of men?! You will scamper off to the undying lands. No, it is the fate of mankind I fight for this day. I have seen evil, I have felt evil, these rangers would have us weak and defenseless. They speak of compassion and rightness but they do not understand that Sauron will crush them in his hands if they do not harden their hearts. There can be no mercy, no weakness if we wish victory. Arathorn let his pathetic emotions rule him..and they killed him. We must rid ourselves of the weaker of our numbers so that we can be stronger in battle."

"Your hatred and grief have blinded you! These rangers are the strongest foes Sauron could face! It is their compassions that give them strength, that counter Sauron's evil," Elrond defended and found his words were not false. Aragorn had been right, once he had scorned men but not now, not these brave rangers...not his mortal son.

"Their compassions?!" Barion spat. "Arathorn's compassion led the rangers to rebuild a town destroyed by fire while orcs raided our camp and killed my wife. It was Arathorn's "weakness" for his son that caused him to banish me when all I sought was to rid ourselves of our foe. And if Arathorn had not "blessed" my son with a parting gift of a ranger's coat, my son would not have been killed for mistakenly being thought a ranger. Do not speak to me of compassions, for they only bring death!"

A new voice entered their verbal battle. "Death comes to all mortals," Aragorn said as he stepped from the forest and came to stand beside his father. "It matters not where we are, what garb we wear, what allegiances we hold. It gives no consideration for our wishes."

"I wish for your death," Barion maliciously declared his full hatred unmasked now that his true opponent had come.

"You will have to work much harder for it this time around," Aragorn lowly promised his steely gaze fixed upon Barion as he took a step forward to challenge the man.

"No!" Elrond ordered, putting his arm in front of Aragorn, arresting his forward motion even as his eyes did not waver from the man that poised the threat to his son.

"The fight is between Barion and I. No other," Aragorn firmly stated, shooting his father a quick look. Then his voice dropped to a level so quiet that it only reached the elf's ears. "Ada, only you can distinguish the fires before they claim all our lives."

"Estel.." Elrond protested though he had begun to make that same realization himself.

Aragorn's eyes fell back upon Barion and their depths radiated strength and resolve. "Go. Save my men before it is too late. Do this because I ask it!" he implored of his father.

Lowering his sword, Elrond turned to his son, torn once again between duty and love.

"These men are my responsibility. Do not let them die. Please," Aragorn implored, sparing a glace to his father's stricken face.

Elrond found himself unable to refuse his son's plea. "I will do as you wish," he promised, giving Aragorn's shoulder a loving squeeze, he slowly turned his back upon the combatants and walked back into the smoke and flame engulfed forest.

Barion smiled, "Finally, alone once again. You have proven to be a hard foe to kill."

"So I have been told," Aragorn sallied back a harsh smile of challenge on his face. "Let us not delay this any longer." Raising his sword in front of his face as Barion had done before their last battle, Aragorn set the rules, "Honor will dictate our battle as it did last time."

"So, you are going to let me be victorious again," Barion taunted, matching Aragorn's stance.

"No, not this time, Barion. The time for your victories has passed," Aragorn contradicted, his tone cold and hard.

"You are wrong," Barion snarled as he swung his sword toward Aragorn's neck. It met with the steel of Aragorn's sword and the two combatants' eyes met amid their crossed swords. "You say death comes for us all... today it comes for you." Shoving Aragorn's sword back, Barion brought himself maneuverability to thrust his sword toward Aragorn's stomach.

Leaping to the left, Aragorn felt the blade whoosh by his side even as he arched his sword toward Barion's exposed back. Barion gave a cry of agony as Aragorn's blade sliced deeply across his back.

Spinning around, Barion came face to face with his opponent, grimacing at the pain emanating from his back. With a cry of frustration he charged for the other man, sweeping his sword to the man's right side but again his sword was brutally halted by the blade of Aragorn's upside down sword.

With a twist of his wrist, Aragorn swung his sword upward, forcing Barion's blade to arch overhead. Smoothly, Aragorn swept his blade toward Barion's stomach. Barion stumbled back, clutching his bleeding torso.

"There must have been good in you once...my father saw it," Aragorn said as he watched as the other man tightened his grip on his sword, struggling to stand upright through his pain. "How could you turn into a murderer?"

"You dare judge me?! With the blood on your family's hands?!" Barion challenged. "What I do I do for all of Middle earth. Your compassion, your weakness will see us all enslaved to Sauron."

Reeling from Barion's verbal assault, Aragorn barely reacted in time to Barion's attack.

Feigning a sweep to his left Barion reversed and swung his sword right.

Aragorn sprang back from the slashing sword. However, he was not quite fast enough for he felt Barion's blade skim over his right leg. Smelling weakness, Barion pushed forward, swinging his sword left then right then left but each stroke was met with a matching block from the ranger who refused to relinquish any ground.

With a growl, Aragorn went on the offensive. Slamming his sword low into Barion's blade, he unbalanced Barion and sent the other man back two steps. Relentlessly he continued his attack with a thrust of his sword that Barion barely parried in time. Almost instantly the ranger's sword hissed through the air where Barion's neck had been a moment prior.

Ducking, Barion felt the breath of the blade sweep by his hair and retreated back a few steps, trying to get his sword up to a defensive position but the ranger never gave him that luxury.

Grasping his sword with both hands, Aragorn powerfully swung his sword down upon Barion's raising sword.

Barion could not compensate for the force of the blow and his sword point pierced the ground. Sensing his own vulnerability, Barion abandoned his weapon and rolled away from the killing stroke he knew Aragorn could take. Coming to his feet, he looked across the little space that divided he and his opponent, his sword was enticingly sticking in the forest floor ...right in the middle of their battle ground.

"You lied...on more than one matter. My father did beat you in your duel, Barion," Aragorn lowly said, his eyes searing into the other man's eyes even as his breath came out loudly due to the exertion heaped upon his weakened body. Barion's stance seemed confident but Aragorn could clearly see the fear in the man's eyes amid the wisps of smoke that had increasingly gathered in their battlefield.

"Is this where you ask me if I yield?" Barion bitterly asked, his tone already pronouncing his answer should that be Aragorn's question.

"No," Aragorn firmly answered. "You would yield today but tomorrow you would be back, seeking your revenge. Today we finish it," and he backed away to allow Barion to again claim his sword.

Wary, Barion stepped forward toward his sword, his eyes ever on the ranger but Aragorn simply took another step backwards. Pulling his sword free from the forest floor, Barion resumed a stance of defense.

Had it not been for the fierce gleam in his eyes, Aragorn's look may have seemed one of amusement. "Come, Barion," he bade, his left hand beckoning the man forward. "I stand here, ready for you to send me to the Halls as you keep promising. Why do you keep me waiting? Has your revenge cooled in light of your own agony?"

With a cry of outrage, Barion rushed forward intending to lop off Aragorn's head.

Ducking the blow, Aragorn drew his sword deeply across Barion's chest.

Agony erupted in Barion and he stumbled under it's assault. Numbly he looked down to see blood running down his chest from the deep diagonal wound.

With one final stroke, Aragorn sent Barion's sword spinning from his grasp. Before Barion could draw another breath, Aragorn's sword rested at his throat, drawing blood immediately.

"End my life," Barion encouraged, his voice low and filled with hatred and his eyes gleaming with malice as he stood defenseless before the one he had left to a fate worse than death. "Commit murder to protect your precious secret. It gets much easier after the first murder...I speak from experience."

Breathing heavily, Aragorn's dark eyes did not give away the turmoil in his soul. For all Barion had done to him, to his men, to the ones he loved, he deserved death. And yes, Aragorn admitted if only to himself, fear shot into his heart when he thought of his secret being revealed to Sauron...of being brought to kneel before the dark lord. He could prevent that fate, he could avenge Thangril and his other men's deaths, he could have his revenge upon the man who had sealed him into a tomb and almost destroyed the love he had for his family and friend. It would take but one stroke. His hand trembled, with indecision or fatigue he did not know which.

Suddenly he remembered the vow he had pledged when he dedicated his life to the service of the rangers. "I will not render evil for evil unto any but ever follow that which is good." Words that his own father, Arathron, had added to the ranger's oath when he had become chieftain.

"For the lives you have taken you deserve death," Aragorn snarled but then he lowered his sword, letting out a breath as peace came over him. "But like my father..I am no murderer. Arathorn was not wrong to aid that village, to spare your worthless life or to give your son that coat. He knew that one should do the right things without the promise of rewards and in spite of the possible consequences."

Surprise and maybe even a flash of conscience flickered in Barion's eyes.

Without preamble, Aragorn's instincts clamored within him that danger was near. Ducking and spinning around, Aragorn barely escaped being beheaded by one of Barion's men. Instead of victory the burly man achieved only death as the ranger's sword plunged through his torso. His towering form toppled forward in death.

Unprepared for the man's quick collapse in his direction, Aragorn found himself unable to pull his sword free of his victim or get out the corpse's path in time. Weakened not only by his wounds but by his recent exertion, Aragorn could not bear the man's weight and instead crumbled to the ground, effectively pinned under the corpse. 'Enough with corpses!' he wanted to scream as he tried to get his trapped hands free so he could roll the man from him.

Barion never gave him the chance. Having snagged the dead man's sword from the ground, Barion quickly crossed to the two downed men. Pressing his foot upon the dead man's back, he ensured that Aragorn could not become free of his burden, even as he put the sword to Aragorn's throat. "I guess the Valar are on my side. Maybe your father never made that plea on your behalf...maybe instead he turned his back on you like you have done to even his memories. Today you will have the chance to ask him yourself." Swiftly, Barion swept the sword up and plunged it toward Aragorn.

To Barion's disbelief, a blade blocked his blow inches above Aragorn's face. Looking to his right he saw that a golden haired elf welded the elven sword.

Furiously, Legolas slashed his sword up, forcing Barion's sword to leap away from his friend. Stepping closer to his downed friend, Legolas growled, "This is a duel of honor...or have you lost that last bit of your soul when faced with defeat?"

"I have not had the pleasure of killing an elf ...lately," Barion snarled, facing his new opponent.

Legolas laughed but Barion almost shivered at the harsh sound. "The pleasure of killing you is not mine to enjoy." With disdain he kicked the corpse off of Aragorn and offered his hand to his best friend, his eyes never leaving Barion.

Gratefully Aragorn took Legolas' hand and soon found himself pulled to his feet. Walking to the corpse, he pulled his sword from the corpse and faced Barion. "Please do not say you yield," he challenged with a dark smirk upon his face.

With his heart in his throat, Legolas lowered his sword and took a few steps backward, his eyes unwaveringly focused on his best friend. Valar, he had almost been too late! He had lost track of Aragorn amid the battle and the growing flames and smoke. And then, to come upon his friend helpless at the hands of Barion! It made his blood run cold and it had taken all of his loyalty and self control to not strike Barion down then and there. It had not been Aragorn's order to not engage Barion in battle that had stayed his hand. Instead it was the remembered sight of his friend awakening from his nightmares, fear in his eyes and the uncertainty he sensed in the man since he had suffered such a defeat at Barion's hands. Only Aragorn could defeat his demons...and only in one way. He and he alone had to bring death to Barion.

Coming to the decision and standing by and watching his friend fight Bairon was a different matter entirely. His breath caught as Barion's sword arched for Aragorn's chest.

Aragorn parried the blow easily and let Barion withdraw his sword and make another attack on his left side. Again Aragorn blocked the blow and shoved the man's sword away. In frustrated rage, Barion gave a yell and lunged forward. Aragorn met the challenge and lunged forward as well suddenly eliminated the space that had been between them.

The two combatants froze, interlocked in battle and Legolas found he could not breath, that his heart had ceased to beat. "Aragorn!" he cried, taking a step forward, terrified that his friend had been impaled.

For a moment, neither of the men moved or spoke, only their clashing eyes expressed their emotions.

"I was wrong, it seems. It is I who will see Arathorn this day." Barion choked out, blood coloring his lips. "I will tell him the truth...," a smile of sick satisfaction crossed Barion's face even as his breathing became more labored and his eyes began to glaze over. "I will tell him that you have forgotten him."

"No!" Aragorn cried, his hand flying out to clutch at the man's shirt but Barion was tumbling to the ground, his eyes now bereft of life. Tangled up with Barion, Aragorn collapsed to his knees. Withdrawing his sword from Barion, he watched as the man's body slumped to the ground, the sightless eyes staring up at the sky.

Barion's words echoed through Aragorn, shutting out the world around him. Barion would tell his father he had forgotten him! The horrible thing was, Aragorn didn't know if the man would be lying.

Reaching his friend's side, Legolas dropped down to his knees and gripped the ranger's shoulders. "Are you well?" But the elf's breath caught as Aragorn's despairing eyes met his own. "What is wrong, Estel?"

Quietly, Aragorn brokenly said, "He has won, Legolas."

A thrill of panic shot through Legolas but his sharp eyes could detect no mortal wound upon his friend. Putting his hand on the nape of Aragorn's neck, Legolas denied, "No, he has lost Aragorn. You live."

But Aragorn shook his head, "It was not my pain or even my death he sought."

"It was Arathorn's," came Elladan's voice from behind them.

Aragorn looked up to see both of his brothers at his side. "He is going to tell my father that I have forgotten him."

Elrohir quickly refuted matter of factly, "Well that is a lie."

Instead of receiving assurances from his brother's words, Aragorn paled "Is it?" he choked out but then a question sprang to his mind. "The rangers' families..."

"The fire is out of control, Barion's men have fled. Most of the rangers have returned to camp and are trying to find a path out of the forest that is not blocked by fire," Elladan explained.

Aragorn took in his surroundings for the first time since he and Barion had engaged in battle. Smoke permeated the air and he could see fire consuming the underbrush and the trees scattered around him. "Ada?! Have you seen Ada!" he questioned, a new fear spiking into his heart as he climbed to his feet, grateful for Legolas' aiding hand upon his arm.

"No, we came to seek you out and we thought ada would be at your side," Elrohir replied new worry darkening his expression.

"He was," Aragorn bitterly answered, wondering if he had forced his father from his side only to condemn him to further danger...or even death. His eyes met his brothers'. "I pleaded with him to put out the fire....but that was some time ago."

"Put out the fire...alone? How?" Legolas questioned in confusion and skepticism.

Aragorn's eyes met Legolas', "His ring, Vilya," his voice quiet and secret as if Sauron himself were listening in the woods.

"He would have sought out a clearing," Elladan began, his brow furrowed in worry.

"This way," Aragorn said as he began to head south, picking his way through the forest amid the fires, feeling the heat and choking on the smoke. Legolas and his two brothers trailed behind him. Suddenly an arm wrapped around his waist pulling him backwards. Before he could determine what danger his friend had sensed, Legolas tackled him to the ground, the impact awakening agony in the man's back and knocking his breath from him. Instantly Legolas leaned over his friend, shielding Aragorn with his body as a burning tree landed upon the ground in front of them, it's flame engulfed limbs halting mere inches over their prone bodies.

Legolas gave a cry of pain as some of the burning leaves dropped from the limbs and fell upon his back but he did not move, unwilling to leave Aragorn unprotected. Smoke and heat smothered Legolas and Aragorn began to cough harshly. Legolas nearly jumped when a hand wrapped around his left arm and began pulling him out from under the tree. Quickly he tightened his hold around Aragorn's waist, ensuring that the ranger would also come with him to safety.

In horror, Elladan and Elrohir had watched the tree fall, his brother directly in its path. Before they could give a shout of warning, Legolas was pulling Aragorn back out of the tree's path. But with sick dread, the twins each knew neither Aragorn nor Legolas could move fast enough to elude the tree's burning limbs. Legolas must have sensed this too for the prince wrapped his arms around Aragorn and threw them both to the ground. An instant later, the tree had crashed to the ground, obscuring Aragorn and Legolas from their sight.

"Aragorn!" Elladan had cried out in terror, rushing to the burning tree and falling to his knees, his brother already at his side.

Desperately, Elrohir lay down upon the ground. Heedless of the burning limbs overhead, he began to crawl forward, determined that fate would not take his brother and his friend from him this day. When his seeking hand found Legolas's arm, he latched onto it for dear life. "Pull us out Elladan!" he yelled. Instantly his ankle was seized and he was pulled toward safety, dragging Legolas with him even as the prince held onto Aragorn.

Lying on his back, the limbs overhead so near, Aragorn could do nothing to aid the progression of their escape except to tightly hang onto Legolas. It seemed forever but at last he saw sky overhead instead of the flaming tree.

"Are you well, Estel?!" Legolas demanded, releasing his death grip upon his friend and pulling back to look into the man's face.

"I am not the one with smoke coming from my clothing, mellon nin," he replied with choking breaths, a twinkle in his eyes.

Before Legolas could reply, Elladan was pulling him to his feet while Elrohir crouched down, wrapped an arm around Aragorn and helped him to stand. The twins drew the two friends back from the spreading underbrush fire.

"We must get out of here!" Elladan ordered, his eyes scanning their surroundings for a path clear of fire.

Choking and rubbing at his burning eyes, Aragorn could hardly believe what he saw. Fire surrounded them now when only moments prior only isolated areas were burning.

"We are trapped!" Elrohir said, speaking aloud what they had all come to realize.

"Maybe I will be meeting my father in the Halls today after all," Aragorn softly wondered, finding Elrohir's hold on him tightening as if his brother was vowing to fight even the Valar to not let that happen.

TBC

1 Thessalonians 5:15

One more chapter to go!!!!

Replies to Reviews:

Marbienl: The opening scene in this chapter came from your suggestion about Halbarad finding out about Aragorn's wounds! Thanks for that inspiration!! I was very pleased that you like Aragorn and Elrond's reconciliation scenes...especially when Aragorn almost passed out. You know I love to get all the angst I can out of any injuries I inflicted upon my dear Aragorn! And yes, Estel definitely got his bad humor from the twins! If you write the story I'll love to be involved but don't feel pressured to write it.. I myself can't write what I'm not inspired to write. So now you know how Barion met his end. How'd ya like it? Thank you so much for all your encouragement and your friendship! Anxiously awaiting your email!

Lirenel: Yes, it is so fantastic to find so many Christians here! It really makes me happy to meet others who believe! Thank you so much for saying that you love the story!!! I really take those things to heart! Hope to hear your thoughts on this chapter!

Lindahoyland: ah...so I've almost converted you into kinda liking Elrond! Thank you for your wonderful words about the reconciliation scenes. They were hard to conjured up because the characters had traveled such a hard road to finally get to that point of forgiveness and I didn't want to make it seem too easy or too impossible. And you are absolutely right, these stories do take on a life of their own!! To think I only had three chapters written before I began posting and now I'm writing the end...18 chapters later! But it's been an awesome time...not only writing but the wonderful time I've had getting to know all you my great reviewers ....like you! Love to hear what you think of this chapter!

T.A. Hagen: I was so glad that you felt contentment after reading last chapter because I worried that it would come off feeling hockey! I had to laugh as you described your delimia in printing my story! Thank you again for taking the time/paper/risk of scorn from your office assistant to print out my story! I just so flattered by that! As for new stories in my head...always! I'm constantly thinking of new plots but as far as decently fleshed out plots...I've got two but they seem kinda cheesy after all this angst. I'll dust them off after while and see if they shine. Thanks for your wonderful review and I can't wait to see if you liked this chapter!

Anon: Thanks for your review! Glad you approved of my Aragorn and Elrond bonding. Now that you read this chapter and saw Aragorn defeat Barion...did I do OK? Love to hear from you!

Koriaena: Thanks for your review and I'm glad you liked the forgiveness part. But the real question is how'd you like this chapter! You wanted action...did I satisfy that desire?

LaurelinX: You said my chapters were worth the wait...hope you meant that cause I made you really wait for this one but it turned out to be more complicated than I planned! It's wonderful to hear that I surprised you...that's the job of a writer at least that's what I want when I read a book. And you have my blushing over your compliments! So glad you enjoy the small things I put in the stories because I think it's the small things that always get me sappy ..the things that make each character someone you feel you know, someone you like to "watch" for their reactions. Its great that you like how I portray Elrond...I always want him to be the loving father to Aragorn (unlike the persona he shows in the movies (boo hoo!) So glad you thought my conversations and actions seemed "incredibly human". I just put myself in their shoes and stumbled my way through it...the way Aragorn and Elrond did. I LOVE complicating things! It makes things so juicy!!! You made me realize that even if I never said I was a Christian I was still showing my beliefs in the story ..even a story filled with anger and violence. That's an awesome thing for me to learn! Just like it was awesome to learn you are a Christian too!! Hope you had a fantastic holiday and hope to hear from you when you get back!!

MoonFire1: I'm not familiar with Chris Rice but you have me very interested to catch that song! I was so floored that you said chapter 16 was your favorite!! I loved hearing that!!! I was afraid that I would disappoint with my father son reconciliation or that you would be frustrated that I didn't get that face off between Barion and Aragorn in the chapter! Your opinion really means a lot to me!

Joslin: thank you for your wonderful review! (I never get tired of compliments!) I'm so glad you asked about Elladan and Elorhir's reconciliation because that gave the me the courage to not shove their conversation under a mat and feel compelled to rush the fight scenes! (though I know you were looking forward to those scenes too!) So now you've got your twin reconciliation AND the fight scene AND I threw in a forest fire ! You have to tell me your thoughts on all those things!

Sielge: Thanks for you compliment! And as you wished, we had our big showdown with Barion and Aragorn in this chapter! Can't wait to hear whether you liked it or not!

Claudette: So glad you tuned into this story because I love getting your reviews! Very pleased that you thought I got the "dialogue spot on" between Aragorn and Elrond! Let me tell you it took a few tries and lots of talking to aloud to myself. (Ops..I should not have admitted to that). I too love reading about the bantering that goes on within this wonderful family...so full of fun and love and respect for each other! As for the body language, I just thought that Elrond would revel in his son's touch after fearing that he would never be allowed that honor again. I like your thoughts on the sleeping arrangements...which I "conveniently" brushed over because I don't think our elven friends went to sleep. Hey if the tv shows can go to commercial and come back with some problem solved ...so can I, right? Right? Oh...well maybe I can have Elladan reprimand Aragorn about his muddy bed ..next chapter! Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Viggomaniac: You had me worried! I thought you were going to say you disliked something last chapter...and then you whammed me with such a truly beautiful review I could not help but grin ear to ear. It's through your encouragement that I was "allowed" to develop the characters and their relationships. Since this story has been a work in progress my reviewers opinions/reactions dictate the flow of the story but you have supported me in anyway I chose to take each chapter...even when the chapter consisted of yet more angst. I personally love delving into the depths of a character of learning why they reacted as they did and to get to have those conversation that I am never brave enough to have in real life...you know the real nitty gritty ones that would solve all the problems in a relationship. And you are so right, "Word Fairy" the word should have been "self deprecatingly"! I struggled with that and I should have just put in a word I was certain of! But I've recently reread parts of this story and am ashamed of all my mistakes! I should just fix it all and repost the chapters! Something to do on a rainy day I suppose! Really looking forward to your review on this chapter!

Grumpy: I loved what you said "not only did Lord Elrond stitch him up but also put a bandage on his heart"! Awesome thought! And I think it took a lot for Elrond to "not" treat Aragorn like his injured boy in front of the rangers but it was much better that he controlled himself! The reconciliation might not have happened at all if he had acted differently. Looking forward to your next review!

Beling: I was very moved by your beautiful review! I feel very honored that you allow me to hear your thoughts on such personal issues. You spoke of being a twin and having lost your sibling and I immediately thought of my young niece who also is a surviving twin. I wonder if she feels something or someone is missing in her life or if she will feel that acutely when she gets older. But I'm sure your family feels about you as my family feels about my neice..that it's just a wonderful blessing to have her in our lives! Especially when we were so close to never having that gift! Well now I'll get back to the story: It felt a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you said this chapter was "the payoff for me. Whatever happens form now on is all icing on the cake because you've made me so happy." As much as I write for myself, with a work in progress like this one has been..I also write hoping/needing to meet the high expectations of all my wonderful reviewers. To know that I didn't ruin the story for you by doing an inept job of healing the rift I had created between father and son made me very happy! And you even took the pressure off of me to make the fight scene "the best chapter" or the ending "perfect". Thank you!!! And for you to admit I had you crying...I'm pleased that I wrote something that felt true enough to garner such a reaction from you! I agree with your assessment on what draws us to the LOTR characters..their devotion to a higher calling. It seems an out of date thinking...to think of others before oneself. To act for the good of all instead of for my greater good. I've turned very calles to expect those traits in others...I'm always wondering what their true motives are. I guess I should also realize I've begun to act that same selfish way in my own life! And just like Elrond, we've all made bad mistakes...most we try to shove under a mat but "we" know they are always there until we admit then, ask for forgiveness and learn to forgive ourselves of our wrongs. (Easier said than done, I know!) I think Aragorn and Elrond's final parting is what draws me to write these sappy stories..that and the rift that is showcased in the movies. I'm a "fix it" kinda gal...and having seen the problem I go ahead and write stories to solve their relationship problems so I feel better at the end of the day. Strange that I heap yet more angst and tribulation into the relationship I'm trying to "heal". Never said I was smart! Ah..Aragorn's "who am I" ponderings...pretty deep murky stuff that! That's another sore point with me...how can he ever "truly" know that he is loved for himself when his destiny is intertwined with everything he is or has ever done! I loved your insight when you said that Aragorn does not show self doubt even when he denying his role as king! So true so true! Some would perceive his "exile" as weakness but I have seen it as a strength. So glad you liked the slow pace of the conversation between Aragorn and Elornd! And I even earned a bear hug for the "Elrond reveling in Aragorn's touch" and Aragorn's "I wish you to tend me!" I'm very proud of myself on earning that from you..and your tears for all the sappy stuff I couldn't help but throw into the chapter! (cruel woman that I am!) I can't thank you enough for every word, for every insight for every piece of you that you shared with me in this review. You've really touched my life and made me see things in life with clearer vision. Thank you!

Tychen: Thank you so much for saying that the scenes between father and son were touching and true! I am not a parent so I just had to hope my instincts led me though the scenes with some skill with my knowledge of being the child in the situation and about trying to resolve damaged relationships. And you are right, how can Barion stand against an Aragorn with the "rock solid footings of his family's love, to death and beyond"! (He couldn't as you saw in this chapter.. I would feel sorry for Barion but...well I'm not that nice of a person!) I loved that you felt like the conversations between Aragorn and Elrond were so personal that you felt you were intruding!!!!!! What a wonderful compliment that is! Ah.. so your "angstometer" is tipping toward Buried! That's awesome news cause I'm kinda favoring this one a little more myself! You must tell me the angstometer's final results when this story wraps up. Waiting with trepidation for your review!

Et-Spiritus-sancti: First, thank you for you wonderful review! Secondly...thanks for liking my "fringes of the camp" phrase! I rewrote that sucker half a dozen times until I felt pleased with it! Like you, I don't need a lot of description on the doctoring stuff...I got a great imagination too! Besides I know absolutely NOTHING medical...except what I saw on tve and the movies! I loved that you thought this section was the "most touching father-son moment you've written so far!" Then I did my job well! Yes, Aragorn has many persona but he is all of them, most be all of them to be at his strongest. And I did have fun writing this chapter and having Barion meet his fate! Hope you like it and of course I'm dying to hear your thoughts! I'm still blushing over the fact that think I should try to get my work published! When I was younger I had that big dream but I didn't handle rejection well and quit trying after getting back those terrible form letters of rejection but you've put that hope back into my heart! I owe you a great big hug for that encouraging speech!

Lady Elwen: Sorry!!! I did get your email and I should have emailed you write back but I didn't! Please forgive me! I really loved hearing from you and for all the information you provided to me! So pleased that you are enjoying the plot of this story and it's a real compliment that you feel that I've "captured the emotions and reactions of the characters as perfectly as if they were real people"!! I always strive to keep things believeable but with my love of angst and sap sometimes I got off the meter! Glad to hear I haven't fallen off the deep end in this story! No need to apologize I'm just flattered that you sought out my story and dropped me not only an email but a review too! Thanks! Hope to hear from you again!

Tailspin: Yes, poor Aragorn got fixed up right at the start of the 't have the ranger die of blood loss now could I? (Even I'm not that cruel!)Ops...I wondered if I was going to get flak for not having Legolas in last chapter. Hope you forgive that cruelty with his important presence in this chapter..I even gave you his thoughts..thanks to your little prompting for him! Glad you liked the banter between father and son...I just think that's one of the most touching ways to show their love for one another...through their ease with each other. And let me assure you, I think long and hard sometimes before I come up with those "amazing parallels"! Waiting impatiently for your next review!

Elven Kitten: Thanks for your wonderful review and I'm glad you were happy and even danced at Aragorn and Elrond's reconciliation. Hope you didn't jar Aragorn too much when you did your dancing? Remember he's a little wounded at the moment....thanks to my cruelty.

Soul of the Evenstar: Thank you for your wonderful compliments! I'm glad you prefer the touching sequences best...I'm more in my element with them! Emotions I have...fighting skills I don't and everyone says "write what you know". (how boring!!! That's why I stopped writing a journey! My life puts me to sleep!) Thank you for saying I have great insight into the workings of a relationship! I tend to stand on the sidelines of life and soak up all the action going on around me and analyze it to death. Guess that pastime pays off when I write angsty stories like this one! So you write! I'll have to check out some of your stories. Hope to hear your thoughts on this chapter!

Elvingirl3737: You put the pressure on me to make this chapter and it's fight scenes worthy of your praise! I struggled, wrote, rewrote, whined, fretted and then, other a pizza at lunch, the whole battle sequence fell into place! Hope you like it and feel vindicated at Barion's fate! As for last chapter, I so pleased you liked the reconciliation!!! That was a tough one to write too! Of course I had to throw in some bantering, teasing and humor!

Thank you so much for sharing that you are a Christian too! I am so overjoyed when I hear that and it's been wonderful with everyone opening up about their faith!! As for my being a good witness, well you have to remember I'm hiding being my computer screen!! But this has turned out to be a wonderful experience by getting to really come to know all my reviewers on a personal level! I feel like I've gained so many friends! Just like I feel you and I are friends! Looking forward to your review on this chapter!

No Big Deal: Sorry about your family illness. Is it OK if I send a prayer your way? I am so flattered that you read the chapter three times!!! Glad it was worth the wait and felt like a realistic solution to the rift between father and son! I struggled with how to begin the conversations and I thought, that would be exactly how they would fee...uncertain and struggling. And then I just filled it in as their words brought them closer and closer until I felt the gap could be bridged. Thank you so much for having confidence in my content. I feel guilty sometimes for having the violence in but I try to not make it the center of the tale...I tend to use it as a means to an end...namely hurt/comfort/angst. Gotta hurt 'em to heal 'em. Though some of the characters do thing I myself would not do, they still must keep to the moral code I uphold as a Christian. I feel I'm liable not only for my actions but for how I use my gifts ...namely my writing. If I don't use it to make people feel better about life then I should not use it at all. Sorry about the long wait for this chapter..especially after you thanked me for my timely updates! Ops! Love to hear what you think of this chapter!

Lenneth: So glad you liked that Aragorn and Elrond got back on good terms! And I was pleased that you didn't think I went too fluffy! (I tend to do that!) As for Halbarad, I'm relieved that I didn't miss an opportunity to learn more about him! Besides, that gives me free reign to make him anyway I want him to be! Like you, what I know of him has been in fan fics and the small part he played in ROTK, but his loyalty to Aragorn is not fabrication..that is straight from the book! I love writing about loyalty between men. Can't wait for your next review!

Nefhiriel: Thanks for dropping me the review! I know that real life interrupts these little obsessions...more's the pity if you ask me! I love diving into these stories...like you didn't already know that! Hope to hear from you again when you get a breather!

Well, there's only one more chapter to finish this tale! I can't thank everyone enough for reading, reviewing and sticking with this story! You've all been a wonderful blessing to me!"

Cheryl W.