The Wrong One
-By Nefhiriel
"Never attribute to malice what can easily be explained by stupidity." - Unknown
A/N: Several people have pointed out to me that the way I asked for reviews in my introduction was rather demanding and might put people off. I am SO, SO, SO, sorry about that! I'm afraid I wasn't looking at it from a readers' point of view. With hindsight, I see how my comments could easily be seen that way. It was not my intent to imply that I didn't want people reading my story unless they were going to review. I love reviews, but I completely understand how things can be to busy and you may not have the time. What I DID mean was: if you review for me, it will not go unnoticed. It will be HIGHLY appreciated and encouraging. It of gives me the energy to post more quickly (see, I wasn't planning on posting this chapter until Friday, but here it is! :-). I hope that you will continue to read my story despite less-than-ideal first impressions. You all have my sincere thanks for pointing my error out, my sincere appologies for having made it, and my sincere embarassment for not having realized how it would sound! Please atribute it all to stupidity instead of malice : )
Many, many thanks to all who kindly overlooked my rudeness and read my story anyways. I was overwhelmed by the number of kind reviews I received.
OK, now you can read the next chapter, I'm off to finish banging my head against the wall...
A note from the Editor: Hello, Imbecamiel here! I'm Nefhiriel's sister, editor, and official publicity agent :-) It's come to my attention that throughout the first chapter, Celboril's name was somehow misspelled. I'm very sorry about that, it's something I really should have caught. My apologies to Cassia and Sio. Please don't shoot the poor beginning author (or her equally inattentive sister) :-) I also feel I should accept some responsibility for the poorly expressed introduction. As both editor and publicity agent, that's something I should have pointed out to her. I guess I'd better go now and stop Nefhiriel before she does some serious damage to her head (or the wall, whichever proves hardest... :-)
Reviewer responses are at the end of the chapter.
One last note. Some of you have mentioned having problems with the full chapter not showing up. I'm afraid I'm not very computer savvy, so I'm not sure what's causing this. I'm uploading this chapter with IE instead of Mozilla. Please let me know if this helps.
-This chapter is dedicated to muindor-nin (my brother). (He bribed me with Skittles : ) He really is a sweetheart, constantly energizing me to do things that I never thought of doing before. -
Chapter 2: Knocked Into Darkness
Aragorn and Legolas took their seats at the long table. A few seats down and across from them sat Dolenil, an elf from Mirkwood who had come to Rivendell a few days ago with a message from Thranduil for Legolas. Legolas had been very relived to hear that all was well with his father. He would send Dolenil back soon with a message of his own, but for now there was no need to rush.
The Silvan elf's blond hair was pulled strictly back from his face in a style common of the elves. His green outfit was immaculate and completely crease-free. Although Aragorn didn't like to admit it, every time he looked at Dolenil's cold and impassive face shivers ran down his spine.
Dolenil bowed his head in a respectful gesture as his eyes met those of his Prince, but when his eyes alighted upon Aragorn it was entirely different situation. He scowled and turned his attention back to the meal. Legolas frowned, and looked at Aragorn who appeared just as bewildered.
"What's wrong with him?" Aragorn asked, "I noticed that he seemed suspicious of me, and even a little angry. But why? I don't recall ever meeting him before. I haven't had a chance to make an enemy out of him, yet I feel like he already has a grudge against me."
"You have an overactive imagination, Estel." Legolas replied.
"But there's another thing has been bothering me. I'm not the only one he's been giving a cold shoulder. Although he wouldn't dare level one of his glares at Lord Elrond or my brothers, he seems so awkward. He shows respect, certainly, but he does it so coldly, stiffly... Something's not entirely right with him."
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that. He's always like that."
"Always?"
"I'm afraid so."
Aragorn stole another glance at elf.
"He never relaxes?"
"Well, not that I've ever seen or heard of."
"How well do you know him?"
"Well enough to know that he's a good elf at heart."
Aragorn couldn't help but shiver and look away as Dolenil's ice-blue eyes caught his and gazed unflinchingly back.
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed."
Legolas rolled his eyes.
"You of all people..."
"I of all people what?"
"I've never seen you jump to a conclusion so quickly about anyone. Really, I always thought of you as the kind of person who could run in to Morgoth himself and decide to give the 'poor Valar' a second chance."
"But there's just something about the way he looks..."
"So your basing your judgment on my friend by the way he looks?"
"Your friend?"
"Yes, I have picked up a few friends besides you in the several thousand years of my life." Legolas laughed.
"But you're friends with him?" Aragorn ignored Legolas's sarcasm.
"Despite what you may think about Dolenil, he's a loyal subject, a sane being, and a good elf."
"But—"
"Mellon-nin, if I didn't know better I'd think you were bored."
"Bored?"
"Yes, bored and looking for a mystery to solve." Legolas smiled as Aragorn's face became indignant. "You seem to be looking for mystery and intrigue behind every bush. You're going to have to look somewhere else. Dolenil isn't about to commit a murder."
Their conversation was interrupted as a swarthy ranger sat down in an empty seat next to Aragorn. The dark-haired ranger, in a odd, vague way, resembled Aragorn. His warm brown eyes smiled pleasantly and Aragorn and Legolas were relieved to see that they would have a much more amiable dining companion than Dolenil.
"I don't think we ever met." the stranger said, "I am called Acharndil."
"Greetings Acharndil, I am called Strider among the rangers."
"Ah yes, Strider. Taradin has spoken of you often."
Legolas watched curiously as the two men talked together. Acharndil and Aragorn even wore the same care-worn expression. Acharndil must have been nearly forty-five in Legolas's opinion, quite a few years older than Aragorn. But then, when you were Estel, adopted human child of Elrond, surrounded by elves, all thousands of years older than you, well... Ten, fifteen—even twenty years—didn't seen all that extraordinary.
"I saw you come in with a nasty gash on your leg. You're recovering well?" Aragorn asked.
"It causes some pain at times, but it's healing well. I expect that with time even this tell-tale limp of mine will disappear." Acharndil said in reply.
Aragorn was just going to say something more, but a strange twinge of pain flickered over his brain. It was all he could do to keep from crying out in surprise as another stab of pain shot through his body. Then, as quickly as it had happened, the pain ceased. Legolas was engaged in conversation with the elf that sat beside him and as Aragorn's face was turned away from him, he didn't detect his friend's trouble. However, Acharndil did see.
"Is anything the matter?" he asked.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Aragorn answered a bit too eagerly, he continued a little slower, "Nothing, Celboril must have put too much sugar in that lemonade." he brushed it off lightly. "Good thing I drank it for Elladan and Elrohir, wouldn't want them sick!"
Legolas, who had tuned in to what they were talking about again, laughed.
"You forget Strider, elves don't get sick." he said with an amused smile.
"Yes, well this lemonade would have made even an elf sick!"
"Just don't expect them to fall down on their knees and thank you for drinking their lemonade." Legolas said, still smiling.
The light morning meal was soon over, Acharndil was called away, and Aragorn and Legolas rose from their chairs.
Aragorn suddenly felt his head begin to swim, and he grasped the back of the chair for support. He stood still for a moment, allowing his eyes to refocus. Legolas looked at him with concern.
"Are you all right mellon-nín?"
Aragorn managed to stabilize himself quickly.
"I'm fine." he said, shrugging it off as doubtlessly being caused by the heat.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Aragorn said forcefully.
Legolas shook his head doubtfully.
"When you say 'I'm fine' I know something is wrong with you."
"Legolas..." Aragorn said warningly, "I'm alright."
"Just don't blame me you collapse from heat-stroke or-"
"Collapse from heat-stroke?" two voices echoed Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir stepped through the doorway.
"Aren't you feeling well?" Elrohir asked.
"If you're sick don't try to hide it from us." Elladan commanded.
"Don't you two start in as well!" Aragorn groaned.
"You should have seen his face," Legolas insisted, "just a minute ago he was grimacing in pain!"
"Grimacing in pain?" Aragorn exclaimed innocently, "Now whose imagination is running away?"
"Eglaer!" Celboril's voice called out from the kitchen.
"You know, I think it would be a very good idea if we left about now." the ranger suggested.
"Leave? Celboril would hardly recruit us, I am a guest after all."
"Oh, you'd be surprised. I don't think anyone escapes Ceboril if they're caught lounging around the kitchen after a meal." said Elladan.
"Yes Legolas, I can't believe you've forgotten so quickly! You must have been away for longer than we thought." Elrohir added with a smile.
"On second thought..." Legolas started speaking just as the sound of approaching voices got louder. "The gardens are starting to sound terribly attractive."
Aragorn swiftly fled the room behind his brothers and Legolas. Intent on eluding Ceboril, they never saw the look on his face as fresh wave of nausea swept over him.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Breathing in the welcome, fresh-flowing air, Aragorn inhaled deeply. He was almost certain that all this hot weather was responsible for the way he was feeling. It took a few more deep breaths, but soon the strange feeling began to pass.
It was easy to push away any concern he might have felt in the light-hearted atmosphere that the others' talk created. Despite the fact that he was beginning to feel alright, he was apparently far from looking it.
"Estel, are you sure you're alright? You're looking a little pale." asked Elladan.
"Legolas just asked me if was feeling alright about ten times!" Aragorn said exasperatedly, "Will you three stop it? I'm feeling good enough to take any one of you on—why not all three?" he challenged, hoping to put their minds at ease once and for all by proving to them that he was 'fine'.
" You must be more than sick, Estel!" Elrohir exclaimed, "You must be out of your mind!"
"And we all would just hate to take advantage of one so mentally unstable..." Legolas said, grinning as they all three approached Estel.
"Are you sure about this?" Elladan teased. "Three elves against one human...?"
"Ah, but you forget, spending the summer with the rangers has greatly improved my skills!" Aragorn retorted.
"Are you suggesting that the rangers know how to teach sparring better than your own brothers?" Elladan demanded with pretended indignation.
"Hmm, perhaps not..." he continued with an impish grin, "But they do it far more gracefully!"
With a roar the twins pounced, and Legolas was not far behind them. All of them knew each other's favorite tactics and each of them used that knowledge to their best advantage. Fighting with friends is scarcely a real fight, and much of the time they were hardly making contact at all. Their 'fight' consisted, for the most part, of dodging and ducking, side-stepping and missing. Because of this, the small struggle would most likely have ended in a universal tie when they all gave up from exhaustion. Aragorn was a strong fighter and no one was seriously trying to get an edge on anyone, certainly no one was meant to get hurt.Side dodging, Aragorn eluded a punch aimed at him by Elladan, but didn't see Legolas' fist coming until it was too late. Catching him upside the head, Legolas' punch overturned his already unstable balance and he fell to his knees.
Not realizing anything was wrong, Legolas walked over to give him a hand up. To his confusion Aragorn didn't accept or even seem to notice the proffered hand, instead he was staring dazedly off into nothingness. Instantly Legolas began to fear that something of a far more serious nature than he had first thought had happened.
"Estel, what's wrong?" he knelt down next to his friend. "Mellon-nin? What's wrong?!" he repeated more urgently when all he got in response was a glassy-eyed stare. Aragorn portrayed on his face the same horror and confusion that they would all feel in only a minute.
"Legolas—I can't see."
To Be Continued...
Reviewer responses:
Hanyou-demoness: Glad you found my first chapter interesting! As for the poison... You'll find out about that in a little bit. Sorry I can't tell you, I have to follow the authors code and NEVER give secrets away : ) Wow! You didn't find ANY grammar mistakes?! That's great! I have to give all the credit to my AMAZING sister/editor, she's done an excellent job working out all the kinks in my story ; ) Thank you so much for reviewing, and adding me to your alerts (that just made my day!). Hope you enjoyed this next chapter!
Isadora: Thank you SO much for being an honest critic. I count myself blessed to have you for a reviewer. I really appreciate the fact that you were willing to be completely honest with me. It helps to know that someone will tell me the truth about what I write. I'm so glad you liked it, though (even despite the bad intro.). I hope that you will keep reading, and continue being honest with me. I know that I need to learn tact and how to express myself better, so thank you for helping me in that way.
Cassia: (stares in disbelief and awe) Cassia?! Is this the REAL Cassia – and she likes my story?! I was so thrilled to get an e-mail from you! I could just HUG you! Wait a minute, this is the great Cassia, is hugging appropriate? (hesitates, and then huggles a wide-eyed Cassia) This is sooo wonderful! Hurrah! (jumps up and down in excitement) You want more of the story too?! (switches abruptly into "responsible, mature, author mode") Thank you very much for your kind comments. I am very glad you find my writing style easy to read. My sister had said the same thing, but I didn't really believe her until you backed her up. BTW we were relieved to hear that you survived hurricane Ivan! I would truly be a tragedy if one of the authors of the MC were to disappear. Then we'd never get to read Darkness Before Dawn : ) Imbecamiel and I have been watching the trailer almost every day. I am so relieved that you think Celboril is in character so far. Imbecamiel and I have a soft spot for him because our mom is JUST like him. She seems to have a particular obsession with keeping the floors clean, and frequently calls everyone within hearing distance to come and exclaim over the "gigantic" pile of dirt and dog hair she's just swept of the kitchen floor. Recently my father responded with "No honey, I'm not going to fuel your obsession". We all had a good laugh over that – for several days. (relapses back into "hyper MC fan mode") She REALLY likes it!? Oh yes, oh yes – she likes it! (runs of screaming) Imbecamiel! Cassia reviewed! And she likes it!...
Patty: Glad you like my mystery lurker! He was a lot of fun to write, actually. As I'm sure you guess, we'll be seeing more of Mr. mysterious person in black cape (grin). Will Aragorn suffer for it? Of course! I am an Aragorn fan, thus the laws of fanficton demand that he MUST suffer for it (evil laugh) Your promise of reviews is very reassuring, and much appreciated! Thanks so very much!
springfairy: Ooo, lots of Estel makes you happy? Then I can promise you lots of happiness henceforth in my little corner of the web (grins) I happen to be a VERY big Aragorn fan myself. Thank you so much for the kind review (huggles) Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
polingly: Mae govannen, gwathel-nín esse Ilúlvatar! It's so good to have the President of the SNWCG reviewing for me (grins) Eglaer is certainly a poor kid, and not "out of trouble" by a long shot. I should hope Aragorn DOES learn his lesson about drinking other peoples stuff! If I weren't such a kind, gentle author he could get into some SERIOUS trouble in this story. Wait a minute. Who am I kidding? He IS in serious trouble! By the end of this Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas will never let him drink anything that hasn't been pre-tasted : ) One thing you might find interesting is that I've taken an idea from the SP and used it in this story. It won't come in till later, but it'll be fun to see if anyone other than you notices it. I think you'll catch it easily enough. I can't wait to see what your response is to this chapter and the ones to come.
Rangergirl: I'll be sure to tell Aragorn, but I doubt he'll listen to me. You know those rangers, they tend to have mind of their own... Still, you never know. And with the twins and Legolas to help me, we might be able to keep him out of trouble for a little while (little being the operative word here, this IS Aragorn we're talking about : ) Glad you like it! Thank you for your review, it was very encouraging!
arcane: Oh, thank you so much for reviewing! (huggles) You reviewers are so wonderful to me! I will definitely keep posting. And there's lots more to come. I'm glad you think the beginning is good.
the magik dragen: Thank you for giving me such an honest review! I definitely don't consider it flame (though, considering your name, it might have been a logical conclusion to leap to : ).I'm forever grateful for people like you who don't leave me looking like a fool (or a rude author). There's no way I can learn to express myself better if people don't tell me when I've made a mistake. Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter (and I hope that I'm learning to express myself better).
Naesse: I'm relieved to find that you think my story is off to a good start! I will most certainly keep posting it. Thank you soooo much for taking the time to review, it really encourages me!
goddesscal: Oh goody, now I can stop practicing that evil laugh! It's rather hard on the throat, you know : ) How those villains do it I'll never know... We'll leave that problem to Anakin (grins). So you like Aragorn trouble? I think you'll be pleased at the direction this story is heading in, then. I can assure you there will be plenty of angst for all, and Aragorn in particular will get more than his fair share : ) I worked and agonized hard over this story, so I'm happy to see it's paying off, and that you think I have done a good job with characterization. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
jacquelinestel: Yes! I am so glad to see you here! I ALWAYS read your reviews on Linuvial Greenleaf's stories, and you just crack me up! My sister and I are still quoting you: "crazy? I was crazy once..." We've got that whole thing memorized, and drive our mother crazy walking around repeating it over and over : ) I just get the funniest pictures of Aragorn and Legolas when I read your little "skits" between the two of them – hilarious! You should have heard me cheer when I saw your name on the review : ) You're such an awesome reviewer, thank you for taking the time to read my story. All these reviews just make my day!
Opaleye: (blushes bright red) Thank you for saying such kind things about my story! I'm so glad that you don't think my character interactions seem forced. I really love writing dialogue, and I'm happy it shows. I hope you liked this chapter as much as the first, and thank you again!
Iccle Fairy: Oh, you are such a kind reviewer! (blushes) I must admit, I never expected so many wonderful, praising, reviews. I'm amazed that so many like it! To answer your question: I've been writing for ohh...a little over a year, now, I think. And yes, I absolutly LOVE Pirates of the Carribbean. I actually wrote a short humerous two-shot fic (you can see it under my bio, if you like). I like to impersonate Captain Jack frequently, which drives my sister insane when she's trying to teach me Spanish ; ) I LOVE rambily reveiws! I tend to write them quite often myself, and wouldn't trade ramblily reviewers for the WORLD! As long as you let me ramble back... I'll be happy : )
Twilight-la-fae: Yeah, (as you can read at the top) several people have pointed out to me how that first introduction sounded. I'm really sorry about that, and didn't mean that I wouldn't be updating at all if I didn't get reviews, just that I would be updating much faster (I need that energy : ) if I did get reviews. Thank you so much for pointing that out in a kind way. Glad you liked the "prissy elf" "clumsy human" thing. It was kind of a last minute addtion, so I was afraid that it might not blend into the rest of the chapter. (grin) Yes, it's too bad THEY can't hear the suspecful music, it might make them a LITTLE bit more careful : ) But then, this is Aragorn, Legolas, and the twins we're talking about, LOL. Is this a fast enough update? : ) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
grumpy: I'm so glad you think I've made a good start! Hope this chapter was satisfactory as well. As for your questions... You'll just have to wait and see! Isn't that what all good (or bad : ) authors say? Madening, aren't we? (grins) Thank you so much for reviewing!
sielge: Oh, WOW!!!You think my story is beautiful?! That is so wonderful to hear! I hope you think this chapter was just as beautiful. I've really been working hard on it, and your comments are soooo much appreciated! Is this update soon enough for you? : ) Thanks again for saying such wonderful things (blushes and huggles sielge)!
Don't you just love cliffies? Well, this entire story is, for the most part, entirely cliffhangers—so be prepared for more! This is going to be so much fun! (evil grin) The next chapter will be called "Innocence or Guilt". Oh, and Cassia, I assure you (my editor can back me up : ) that I wrote the last line of this chapter loooong before I read your preview for Darkness Before Dawn. I really didn't plagiarize your story – REALLY!
Thank you all for the WONDERFUL, OVERWHELMING, FANTASTIC responses!
- Nefhiriel
Vice President and co-founder of the SNWCG (society for nerve-wracked computer ghosts)