Most of their trip was uneventful. Nothing much happened to make them stray from the path, so they made good time towards Bree. When they were less than a mile from the town Aragorn turned to Legolas.
"We need to wait until it gets darker. I cannot let you enter the town like that," Aragorn said to his friend.
Legolas looked down at himself. He didn't see anything wrong with his appearance. "Like what? What is wrong?"
Aragorn picked at the elven material and insignia on the clothing. "You cannot go in dressed like an Elf."
Legolas took a step back. He knew Estel well, he trusted him with his life, but he didn't know what the human had planned. He had never had very good experiences with humans. He didn't want to go into the town undercover since that was what Aragorn seemed to be suggesting. "Well…what are you going to do to me?"
Aragorn took his small pack and fished inside for a strip of material that could serve as a headband. He knew the twins often used them when they traveled to human towns with the Rangers. They weren't always safe being known as elves. "Tuck this under your hair and over your ears. The people here are not overly friendly to elves. The do not mind the odd elf walking into their village, but I doubt they'll take kindly to having you where I am going."
Legolas took another step back. He had been looking forward to this trip, but he was slightly scared now. "Perhaps I should just stay here," he said hesitantly. "Why do you not go in; I will wait."
Aragorn sighed; he knew he was starting to scare his friend. "Come here, Legolas." He wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders and led him over to a log. "Sit down here."
Legolas allowed Aragorn to push him down on the log. He looked up at his friend, his uncertainty evident in his eyes. "What are you going to do?" He watched his friend carefully, trying to figure out what Aragorn was up to.
Aragorn took a coat out of his pack and handed it to Legolas. He also took out what look suspiciously like one of his spare breeches that had been badly altered. "Here, I had these clothes made for you when we were in Imladris."
Legolas took them and inspected the stitching. "You did this yourself!" he accused.
Aragorn smiled in a non-too comforting way. "Yes, I did."
Legolas eyed the clothes but eventually pulled them on. "At least they are new." He looked at the pack. "How did you manage to fit the clothes in that?"
Aragorn shrugged. "The pack has more room in it that you can see." He looked up at the sky. "Come, we need to get into the town."
Legolas nodded and tied the strip of material over his ears. "Do I look human enough?"
Aragorn chuckled and pulled his friend close to him for an inspection. "You should adopt a less graceful stride."
Legolas eyed him. "Oh, like you?"
Aragorn rolled his eyes and continued his way towards the village. "We are lucky dark has not fallen yet. The gatekeeper would not let us in otherwise."
Legolas nodded. "Yes, lucky. Lucky like breaking a mirror," he muttered. He continued to fiddle with the material that was covering his pointed ears.
Aragorn slapped his hands away. "Stop it, Legolas! We are almost there and you cannot be playing with your ears!"
Legolas rolled his eyes but left his ears alone. He felt strange in the human clothing. It wasn't as soft as his normal silks. He looked up at the sky and sighed. "It will be dark in less than an hour."
Aragorn nodded. "I know."
The two walked to the gate and Aragorn beat on it.
A window opened and a man looked out at them. "Rangers," he spat. "Well, what are you needin'?"
Aragorn looked at him. "We need admittance; we would like to stay at the Prancing Pony."
The man nodded suspiciously but let them in. "See that you don't go makin' trouble."
Aragorn waved to him when they walked in. "Thanks."
The man just grunted and turned back to his post.
Legolas had adopted a less graceful stride, but he still had cat-like movements. "He was not very kind."
Aragorn shrugged. "It does not matter, mellon-nin. Most people here are not fond of Rangers."
Legolas shook his head. "People are so ignorant."
Aragorn only smiled. "Come, we need to get there."
Legolas sighed. "What is the Prancing Pony?"
Aragorn looked at Legolas a little timidly. "You are not going to like it, Legolas. It is an inn." He held up a hand to stop his friend from arguing. "We need to go there; it will give us information on the slave trade. I really need you to help me. Your hearing is far better than mine; please, Legolas."
Legolas nodded. "I really do not want to go into a place like that, Estel." He had never been to a human inn before, but he had heard stories about how horrible they were from Elladan and Elrohir.
Aragorn squeezed Legolas' shoulder. He knew how much his brothers hated it; he knew it hurt their hearing and sense of smell. "I know. I am sorry that I am making you go in there."
Legolas sighed heavily. "Alright, where is this place?"
Aragorn chuckled and led his friend to the entrance of the Prancing Pony. "This is it, Legolas. Keep your hood up at all times. Do not let them get a good look at you; that material might slide down and expose your ears. Do not let them see much of your skin; you cannot let them see the glow."
Legolas nodded and opened the door to the inn. He stopped at the entrance; the smells that floated to his nose were assaulting.
Aragorn noticed his friend's hesitancy and lightly touched his shoulder. "We need to go inside to find out information. Otherwise we will not be able to find out what we need for the Rangers."
Legolas nodded and entered the inn. He was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea to join Aragorn on his future trips. He sighed and flipped the hood of the coat up so that it covered most of his face. "Where do we go?" he asked quietly in Elvish.
Aragorn couldn't hear him but he could read his lips. "Go to the table in the far corner; the one near the stairs. No one will notice us there, and we will be able to see everything."
As soon as the two had sat down, a busty woman in her earlier twenties came over to them. She smiled slightly at the two. She could not see one of their faces but she could see the other person. "So, you're back again, Strider?"
Aragorn nodded. "Yes, I missed the hospitality I receive here," he said dryly.
The woman laughed hollowly. "Yes, you are a pleasure. What'll it be, boys?"
"House brew," Aragorn said quickly so that Legolas could not interfere.
The woman nodded and walked away quickly.
Aragorn tipped his chair back onto two legs and leaned against the wall. He pulled his hood down to cover his face and wore an expression of distaste. Most people would see him as cool and uninviting. They didn't want to deal with this shady-looking character most of them knew as Strider. Aragorn liked it that way; he got privacy and was soon forgotten.
Legolas eyed his friend. He looked completely different from the Estel he knew. He looked unfriendly and aloof. "Strider?"
Aragorn looked at Legolas with one eye. "Yes?" he said testily.
"They call you Strider?" Legolas asked, not believing it.
Aragorn nodded. "Yes." He was beginning to get annoyed. His brothers didn't know his Ranger alias and he wasn't too thrilled at the moment that Legolas knew it.
Legolas tried hard to contain his mirth. "Well, I guess it suits you."
Aragorn glowered. "How so?"
"Well, you do walk oddly," Legolas said thoughtfully.
"Why you…" Aragorn began threateningly.
"Here it is boys." The woman had returned with the mead. "Enjoy." She quickly hurried off to her other customers.
Legolas looked at his friend oddly. "She does not trust you. Why is that?"
Aragorn shrugged. "I am a Ranger." He sighed and looked around. "The men will soon begin to speak. The drink will loosen their tongues." He pointed at a suspicious group of men with weapons badly concealed. "Watch them, see what they say."
Legolas nodded and turned his attention to the five men.
Aragorn turned his attention to another table. He couldn't hear what the people were saying, but he could read their lips.
"Tell me about the slave trade, Dinol. I heard you knew about it," an older man said to a younger one.
The young man nodded slowly. "Yes, a few men come by a day or two ago. They were talkin' about catching some slaves and sellin' them. I just helped them to get out of Bree. I didn' do nothin' else," he said slowly.
The older man nodded and looked at the younger one eagerly. "Where did they say they were from?"
The man shrugged. "Down south somewhere. Didn't really catch the name."
The older man sighed and took a long drink. "Nothing else?"
Dinol shook his head. "Nope, don' know nothin' else."
Aragorn looked at other tables, but most of the people seemed to be bragging about hunts. Nothing he cared about.
Legolas lightly touched Aragorn's thigh when the man left, trying to get the human's attention without being noticed. "The men are from Near Harad. They are slave holders."
Aragorn looked sharply at Legolas. "Are you sure?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, very sure. Look."
Aragorn looked at the men and began to read their mouths.
"…Yeah, we got them good," a tall muscular man said. "Don't you think, Teren?"
The dark haired man called Teren nodded. "Yeah, those slaves'll be hard workers. Most northern folk are good slaves."
"Did you see the looks on their faces when we caught 'em? Oh it was priceless!" a short balding man piped up.
"We've got to get them back to Near Harad. Another shipment of slaves is being sent to Fleniar. It's a big farming city but they make a lot of weapons too. Plenty of slaves get sold there. We'll do well to sell these northerners. Lord Nelkoo likes them to work his lands. Of course, he isn't the best master; he beats his slaves until they are incredibly terrified of him," the muscular man said.
The others agreed and changed the subject to something more pleasant.
Aragorn turned to Legolas, disgusted. "Selling people as if they were animals."
Legolas nodded. "Well, we have a good lead to follow."
"We should go. I need to find a messenger to send something to my father and to Halbarad," Aragorn said. "I was actually hoping that he had been wrong about the slave growth." He put some money on the table and stood up.
Legolas sighed and lightly squeezed his friend's hand. "Come, Strider. We got our information."
Aragorn nodded and followed his friend out of the inn. When they exited Aragorn led them back towards the gate. He knew the gatekeeper wasn't going to be too happy that they wanted to leave so soon, but he had to let them out. It wasn't too dark, so he could still open the gate.
Legolas looked at Aragorn, slightly concerned. "Are you alright, Strider?" He figured it would be best to use his alias since that was what the townsfolk knew him as.
Aragorn jumped slightly at his friend's voice. "Oh, yes, Legolas."
Legolas nodded slightly but didn't take his gaze off of Aragorn. "Are you sure?"
Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Yes, Legolas. I was just wondering whom I could persuade to take a message to Rivendell; no people here would really want the job. I cannot go; I must follow the slave traders. If I lost them, I might not be able to find a good way to the city they mentioned."
Legolas paused. "I will take a message to your father."
Aragorn smiled slightly. "Would you really?"
Legolas nodded. "Of course."
Aragorn sighed. "Are you sure? I do not wish to send you off to Imladris when you would rather return home or some such."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "I will go. You go back to the inn and watch the two people; I will leave for Imladris tonight."
Aragorn sighed heavily. "I am sorry, Legolas. I really do not wish to send you; it is not fair."
Legolas placed his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Strider, I volunteered. You are not sending me."
Aragorn smiled. "Thank you, mellon-nin."
Legolas grinned. "Walk with me to the gate, I do not wish to annoy the gatekeeper. You may have the honors of doing that!"
Aragorn glared but eventually chuckled. "Let us head to the gate, then!"
A/N I hope you all liked this chapter.
Reviewer Responses:
Linuvial Greenleaf: Heehee, thanks! I love your stories and books as well, mellon-nin. I hope you continue to like this fic. I miss you! I know I haven't been on much, but I will send you a few letters from California when I leave Monday. I hope I can talk to you again soon!
Catmint: My wonderful beta. I love how you've beta-ed my fics and I know you did a good job with this one. Don't you remember beta-ing it when I was in Paris? Oh well, you did!! hugs (No more stars so I boldfaced it!!) Well I hope you continue to like this, I know you will!!!
Estel-Elf-Lover: I am happy to know that you at least read it! I really love my lurkers, but I wish you guys would all review. Hugs I am so happy you liked how I had the emotion for my previous fic. It makes me feel good to know that you really liked it. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you continue to read and review!!!!!!
Jacquelinestel: hugs I am so happy you like the promise!! Heehee…UPDATE!!! Pokes hurry up and update!! Your fic is sooooo good!! I am going to be in California in 6 days so I want another chapter!! Whines hurry!!
BabeyRachey: Yay! I am soooo happy you like this! It makes me feel really good to know that you are enjoying this. I always love to hear from you!
Someone Reading: I am so happy you like the emotion and that you are really looking forward to more. I hope you continue to enjoy this fic, and I hope you continue to leave me such wonderful reviews. I hope you are doing better, and that the grieving is not so painful. Hugs I know you miss them. : (
MusicDreamer: LOL! I know!! They should never have used "safe trip" when referring to Aragorn and Legolas!! It just doesn't work that way. They can't help but find trouble. It is almost like their middle name!!
Sadie: Heehee I am soooo happy you found it! I hope you continue to like it. I try to make it new and exciting. Is this update soon enough? Soon I won't be updating fast, because I will be away. Shrugs I will try hard to update fast until then!
DreaminofLorien: Heehee, dark and torturous! I hope you enjoy!
Shadowfaxgal7: I hope you really liked the story!!! Heehee "squishy things in the bed"!!!! I loved that part! I am so happy you left me a review! Yes!! I love the twins!! Oh! Thank you so much for the compliment! I really try hard to add a little bit of humor to an angsty fic. I hope I can add some flangst (fluffy angst -) Enjoy! I love your reviews and I hope you leave me more soon!
Beling: I love that you enjoyed it and showed me your favorite parts!! It makes me happy to know that you like some of the parts so much!! Hugs I hope you continue to enjoy the fic like you did the first chapter. I have had a bunch of fun writing it, and I hope you like it more! This is the sequel, so I don't know if it will be as good as the other, but I will try!!! (I don't know if I would stick my hand down in Aragorn's pack either!!)
