AN: ) means flashback(

"Who's 'they'? And what is going on?!" Gimli nearly shouted. He hated it when the elf and human spoke to each other in elvish, but this secret exchange between these two rangers was driving him insane! Especially after he had been so rudely awoken.

"'They' are the Delaney brothers. When Lan and I were hunting orcs, we stopped by an inn for the night. Orcs attacked, and they set the inn aflame. Fire spread quickly, and a falling, flaming beam separated the innkeeper and his wife from their two children. We were barely able to get the two children out before the inn collapsed. I carried the one who was kicking and screaming: he was about twelve. While Lan carried the younger one, he was about eight. Well, after the inn collapsed, let's just say they weren't too pleased with us." Aragorn's mind went back to that fateful day.



)The brothers broke free from the rangers' grasps and they ran to what was left of their home. The elder one sank to his knees by the smoldering wreckage. Lan went over to put a hand on the grieving boy's shoulder, he jerked away from her touch and slashed a knife he somehow had hidden in his shirt across her right cheek. Lan stumbled back, her palm drenched in her own blood as she held it against her cheek. Aragorn moved towards them when the boy bared the knife at him. Aragorn held his hands up in a sign of peace. He began backing away, back to where Lan had already backed up to. The older boy's screams pierced their ears, tearing at both of the rangers' hearts. Screams of them murdering their parents, and how they should leave, and how someday, somehow, they would be back, and they would make sure justice was served(



"After that fateful day, we never heard about them again." The fire shot up a flame, dancing on the group's faces as they sat around the fire; the only light in the dark night now. The dancing flame played across Lan's face, revealing the scar on her right cheek. It was faint, but jagged. It looked like a gnarled old tree branch had cruelly whipped across her face and left that scar. Aragorn continued to stare into the fire, lost deep in his thoughts. Something wasn't right.

"Where was your brother in all this?" Legolas's voice still held distrust, but at least he had put his bow away. He eyed her with suspicion from the log he sat on with Gandalf, across from her. The dancing firelight illuminated his features making him appear every bit of the warrior Mirkwood prided him to be.

"He was needed elsewhere, and we were actually on our way to meet up with him." Lan's reply didn't portray much emotion, but Aragorn was able to detect a hint of sadness in it. Then it clicked. He knew what was wrong.

"Lan, where is Megiltura?"

Lan's eyes clouded, like the clouds when it is about to storm, and her voice was hollow sounding and almost cold, very unlike the elf he had known before. "He's dead."

====
REPLIES:

Arwen Greenleaf: sorry it was short. Here is another chapter. Their relationship isn't lovers, but more as friends. I hope this is soon enough.

Gemini969: thank you. I am glad u liked it.

SPECAIL THANKS TO:

Gemini969

Mirkwood-angel

For putting my on their favorite list.

AND:

Christi Carter

Ancalimawen

Child of the stars1

Lynn Murphy

Gemini969

For putting me on their author alert list.

AN: I know some of the chapters are short, but I planned them that way and have already written out the story. I am just revising them so I can post them. Updates will be as fast as I can. I hope this makes sense, and if it doesn't, tell me in a review so I can fix it

! Adios!

Lulu belle