-Note- Wow…I apologize for the huge delay. This story takes a back seat to "A Friday", and soon to NaNoWriMo. I hope to add chapter 3 before November 1st, but I'm not certain it will happen; this is a difficult story for me to write. I'm trying to balance the angst factor, and so far, it hasn't been easy. :/

I'd also like to remind you that Tolkien writes, "…Aragorn took leave lovingly of Elrond…and he went out into the wild." (p 385, Appendix A, Return of the King, Ballantine edition) I extend that here to include his brothers.

­-Disclaimer- Please see chapter 1.

Contradiction

"Brother! How fare you with these wild men?" Elrohir called, dismounting from his gray mare, giving Aragorn a warrior's clasp of arms. Before the Man could muster a response, he had already turned away, handing his reins to Elladan.

It had been a hard walk to the base of Amon Sûl, where they had arranged to meet the sons of Elrond. Surely, they were looked filthy, and, Aragorn supposed, smelled worse. The twins took no notice and continued to greet the company of Rangers as old friends.

"Marach! How've you been, friend?" Elrohir asked, a note of familiarity in his voice as he addressed a grisled veteran. To Aragorn's surprise, Marach grinned in response.

"Better than last we met, certainly!"

"And young Halbarad!" exclaimed Elrohir. Elladan joined him.

"It's been a few seasons- you've grown!" he observed, clasping the young Dúnadan on the shoulder. Halbarad smiled.

"How is your father?" asked Elladan.

"Fine- at the Halflings' border, last I heard."

"A good man," said Elrohir.

"News from Imladris?" Marach inquired, extending a flask in the twins' direction. Aragorn saw a glimmer of anxiety in his eyes, and hoped that his foster brothers bore no ill reports. He had not been with them long, but he knew the Dúnadain could scarcely handle more duties.

Elladan sighed, relinquished his reins to Halbarad. He took his saddlebags from his horse and set them on the ground. "Naught more than what you've heard already. More orcs in the Hithaeglir, though the battle° should have run them down."

"They breed like rabbits."

"Aye. We'll speak more, later. I assume you're leader here."

"Aye, but not for long," Marach replied, chuckling. "Your lad is doing finely."

"I can see that- he's as dirty as all of you now, a proper Dúnadan."

A low rumble of laughter came from the other men, and Marach grinned, showing his remaining teeth.

"Let's have a fire then, there are no orcs about tonight. We took care of a bunch south of Imladris, near the mountains. Lost two good men."

"Who?" asked Elrohir.

"Thúlon and Aradol."

Elrohir shook his head. "A shame."

(l)

Someone lit a fire. Aragorn sat on the ground, watching the flickering shapes of his foster brothers as they carried on merrily with the Rangers, men whom he had never seen smile- until now. It was strange, he thought, how he was now one of the men who took his brothers away from home for so long.

Halbarad sat beside him with a humph.

"Hello."

"Hello."

"Why are you not with Elladan and Elrohir?" asked Aragorn. "You know them."

Halbarad said nothing. Aragorn turned to him.

"Do you not…like them?"

"You cannot understand," he said softly. "They have never been more than loving brothers to you."

"Then I shall have to learn," replied Aragorn.

"They have two faces, your brothers. You have only seen one of them."

"What-"

"We follow them on these hunts," said Halbarad. "We respect them and would go with them to the ends of the land, but they lead us with not a care as to the lives lost or the families waiting behind. A Ranger camp is defended by women. Wives whose husbands are dead or gone."

"I have been to a camp," Aragorn reminded him. It had been a muddy place; brown tents, brown clothes, barefoot children, armed women. They had all held themselves proudly, with the dignity of their forefathers. So much pride, he thought, in the face of so much death.

"They use us…but we do not object. It is what we do, it is our duty. We defend others at our own cost, but the purpose of the sons of Elrond is different. They do not hunt for the same reasons we do."

"I know the story, you needn't tell me," Aragorn said irritably. "I know it is revenge they seek."

"And revenge they will never find. They are reckless in their killing, and many lives have been lost thusly." Halbarad hesitated. "Your father was one of them, you know."

Across the fire, Marach laughed loudly. The twins began a song. The silvery tune caught on the warm updraft from the flame and dissipated in the clear, dark sky above.

Halbarad sighed and rose. "They are noble and fierce, Aragorn, and kind in their own fashion- just not to orcs, or the families left behind. Someday, I will like them better."

Aragorn followed him. "I do not-" he began, but Halbarad stopped abruptly and turned to him.

"I know you do not understand. Go back, Aragorn. Those Elves are your family. Love them while you can."

(l)

Thanks for reading! Notice the rating went up to PG-13: this is for a later chapter. Some of you probably disagree with Halbarad's opinion of the twins, but he's entitled to it. :D

Review Responses:

Snickers 1514: I'm trying to follow canon as closely as possible- I'm glad you like it!

TrinityTheSheDevil: I was so disappointed to see he wasn't included in the movie! He certainly deserves more stories. :P I am very, very sorry for the wait! I kept trying to squeeze some angst out of this chapter, but it wasn't working. I have a definite plan for the next chapter, and it will hopefully (!) be posted before November 1st.

Grumpy: I'm a Dúnadan fanatic, and there is a sad lack of Ranger stories out there! I'm happy to hear from another Ranger fan. :D

Noldo: Thanks! I wouldn't worry about our two Dúnadan stories- I think they're different enough. Rangers (especially Halbarad :) need all of the stories they can get! :P