TITLE: Hero
AUTHOR: Conlai
AUTHOR E-MAIL:
PAIRINGS: Frodo/Aragorn, Boromir/Aragorn, Aragorn/Arwen (implied)
RATING: R
WARNING: non-con and BDSM
SUMMARY: As the quest takes its toll on Frodo and Aragorn, they began to rely on one another more and more for understanding and comfort. Eventually, their deepening relationship will require some difficult choices of them both, but will they live to make them?
Hero
Chapter 2
"A Missive and Dark Words"
Hearing Frodo's soft snores resume behind him, Strider pulled forth from his shirt pocket the bit of parchment he had hidden so quickly at the sound of Frodo's voice. He'd held it so often that now it was like to silk from his constant fingering of it, and it was on the verge of tearing at the soft creases. He unfolded it to view Arwen's flowing script, and the words that he kept close to his heart. Memories filled his mind, shifting from one to another, until his thoughts turned to receiving this treasured missive, only a day ago.
"They are coming for him, Aragorn," whispered Hador urgently, as he and Aragorn slipped through a backdoor at the end of the hall. The diminished voices of those in The Pony's common room were suddenly silenced as Aragorn shut the door gently behind him and turned to face his fellow ranger. "The horsemen know his whereabouts."
"Where did you learn this?" inquired Aragorn.
"They crossed paths with Amras and Eldin not two days ago, a mile off the Greenway."
Aragorn grew nervous. "Are they here? I would speak with them," he said, doubt already glinting in his voice.
After a short pause, Hador shook his head sadly. "Amras was killed."
Aragorn stood stock still, then bowed his head in grief. Amras was one of his dear friends. "And what of Eldin?"he asked, struggling to regain his voice.
"I brought Eldin here, unbeknownst to the landlord. I laid him upstairs. He was badly wounded," Hador spoke quietly.
"Take me to him," commanded Aragorn firmly. Hador nodded and led the way back into the inn. As Aragorn passed the door to the hobbit's room, he noticed that it was cracked open slightly. As he made to close it, he saw Frodo's eyes upon him, surveying him worriedly from his place at the doorframe. Aragorn knelt down before the hobbit. "Stay here," he instructed gently, and he shut the door.
No one took any notice of the two rangers passing hurriedly through the common room and ascending the stairs. Hador led Aragorn to a darkened end of the upstairs corridor. The door at the unlit end of the hallway bore a tarnished brass number thirteen, hanging crookedly on its rusty nails.
"I figured he'd be safe here," said Hador quietly. "None of Barliman's customers like to stay here. Superstitious fools," he scoffed.
Aragorn caught Hador's hand as the man reached out to turn the brass knob. "I'll tend to him," he began, his voice low. "But I must ask you to remain with the hobbits."
"I had planned to see to that," Hador nodded. "The fifth room?"
"Yes. I shall be back as soon as is possible," Aragorn promised. "And Hador,"he said as he opened the door to the room. "Thank you."
Hador glanced inside briefly. Aragorn could hear a slight strain in his voice when he spoke. "Would that I had been able to do more for Amras," he whispered. "I am glad of your help. I would have been able to do no more for Eldin. He, too, I may have lost."
Though Aragorn said nothing in response, he clapped his friend lightly on the shoulder, conveying that Amras's passing had been no fault of Hador's. He watched Hador turn and retreat until he was entirely lost to the light of the single candle in Eldin's room. He shut and bolted the door behind him, and approached the small bed in the corner, keeping the fall of his soft leather boots on the wood floor silent. The sight of Eldin's face was sombre, for the young ranger seemed pale and without life. Aragorn could not so much as detect the rise and fall of his chest until he had seated himself on the edge of the bed. Eldin opened his eyes slightly and turned his head to look at Aragorn. Aragorn laid his hand gently on Eldin's cheek, careful not to flinch at how chilled the younger man's skin was.
He forced himself to smile, hoping to give some strength to Eldin. "Remember me?" he asked jokingly.
"As a boy remembers his father. Yes, Aragorn, I know you." His voice was weak.
Aragorn drew back the covers to expose Eldin's upper-half. An ugly gash spanned from one side of his rib cage to the other, and around it, the skin was dark, as if bruised. A cloth, soaked in warm water was laid across it. Aragorn removed it. "Hador did well not to staunch the blood flow from the wound," he commented. "It is poisoned with something deadly."
He rose and surveyed a small pot that hung over the dying fire. The water in it was near boiling. He reached into a small pouch on his belt and pulled forth six withering leaves of athelas. "Alas, this is near all that is left of my store," he said to himself as he crushed the leaves and dropped them into the water. "I pray it will be enough." He took a clean cloth from a table nearby which he soaked in the water and placed along Eldon's wound in replacement of the other. Eldin cried out weakly in agony, clenching his teeth as the steaming water made contact with his abused flesh. Aragorn did what he could to soothe him.
Once he had looked over the rest of Eldin's body and cleaned the minor hurts upon him, he covered the ranger's limp form once again and tucked the blanket around his shoulders. Eldin's eyes were shut as if he was slumbering peacefully, so Aragorn was mildly startled when he spoke.
"My bag is on the table. Pray, give it me."
Aragorn handed him the worn haversack, and Eldin took from the pouch a piece of folded paper. He laid it in Aragorn's open hand. "It chanced that I was in Imladris not yet a month ago. The Lady bade me bring you this..." he stopped, trying to regain his breath.
Though Aragorn's heart jumped excitedly at these words, he remembered Eldin's condition. "Speak no more," he said softly. "Rest, if you are able. I shall stay at your side for a while longer." He slipped the note into his shirt. He brushed his palm over Eldin's eyelids, shutting them gently. He slid his hand down to caress the cold cheek, until he was sleeping, and Aragorn could continue his work without causing Eldin so much pain. He removed the cloth from his wound and laid his warm hands upon Eldin's mangled skin. He focused every ounce of his energy on helping him to heal, on driving the consuming darkness from the body of his dear friend. A low groan escaped Eldin, as he felt a strange heat enter him and spread throughout, burning like wildfire even as it drove away the cold of the Morgul blade that had pierced him so deeply. After several minutes, Eldin's breathing become easier as he relaxed into a shallow sleep.
Aragorn pulled his hands away from Eldin, a light sheen of sweat upon his brow. He let himself fall onto the mattress at Eldin's side, for he was so drained from giving his energy to another body that he could not yet support his own weight. He found that Eldin's eyes were open once again, yet now they stared piercingly at him, clear and sharp once again, free of the Shadow. A tear shone in the corner of one.
"Why do you weep?" asked Aragorn, forcing the words out.
"Amras," whispered Eldin. "I could not save him."
With some difficulty, Aragorn moved closer to Eldin to offer him a comforting embrace. He made to lay a kiss on the other's forehead, but Eldin jerked his chin upward and met Aragorn's lips with his own, crushing them together. Aragorn was only slightly surprised by this intimate act, for he knew what Eldin was doing. He parted his lips willingly to welcome Eldin's tongue. Aragorn felt some of the heat passed back into his weakened body, and, after a moment, felt that he could stand again. With a last endearing bite to Aragorn bottom lip, Eldin broke the kiss. "You looked like you needed that," he stated, drying his eyes.
"I think I may have," Aragorn said as he rose, finding his legs working quite well. "I'll send Hador back up in a moment. Try to sleep." Aragorn shut the door gently behind him, and made his way back down to room five.
He found Hador standing outside the partially open door, watching the Hobbits within. "They do not know of my presence," said Hador quietly. "I guess that yet another dirty ranger would frighten them even more than you already have."
Aragorn nodded. "That is best. You should go back to Eldin," he instructed. Hador looked questioningly at him, wanting news of his friend's condition. "He shall be fine," Aragorn smiled. "But continue to bathe the wound in heated water, with athelas, if you have it."
Hador went quickly back toward the common room, and Aragorn slipped soundlessly in with the hobbits. They were all in bed, but Frodo raised his head from his pillow. "Strider!" he exclaimed softly. "I didn't know where you'd gone - I - well, I was worried."
Strider was very nearly touched by this remark. He smiled as he pulled a chair from the corner and set it down by the window. "You should not waste time worrying for me."
Frodo laid down again on his pallet, and apparently fell asleep. Strider pulled the letter from his shirt, and slowly, carefully, untied the green silk ribbon with which it was bound. Upon it was neat Elvish script, unmistakeably Arwen's hand. His hands shook with delight as he read it.
Estel,
Amras and Eldin have informed me that you are travelling towards Imladris. I look forward to being with you again, if only for a short while. I received your message from last August, and I believe that the day's heat has taken strange effect on you. I have never known a more impudent man than you, Estel. No, I will not wait for you in my bedchamber, and, if I did, it would not be without a sufficient amount of clothing, my dear. Furthermore, do not so much as expect me to kiss you until you have bathed.
Glorfindel has set out to find you and your charges. We have learned that Nazgul follow you closely. Please, my love, tread carefully, and come home safely. Your path is dangerous. I love you.
Arwen
As Aragorn reread this last sentence for the thousandth time, his heart gave a wild beat. He folded the letter again, and held it gently in his hands, raising his eyes to the star-bound night sky, he whispered, "Amin melleth lle, Arwen." A sudden thought struck him, and he turned, looking towards Frodo. "And you, as well. Goodnight...little hobbit."