Authors Note – Second Chapter! Fun!

Disclaimer – See the first chapter.

This story switches between Gilraen and Aragorn's point of view, this chapter in Aragorn's. It also starts in Rivendell sometime before the Council of Elrond in Fellowship of The Ring. I always thought that Aragorn would have told someone about his childhood here. There's a tribute to one of my favorite Star Wars characters in here too, if you notice it. That's all for now.

My Little Hope Chapter Two

"Oh, Hello Strider" Merry said, somewhat happy to see a familiar face. He was on his way to say hello to Frodo when he had nearly walked into Aragorn.

"Hello Merry, where are you off to?" Aragorn asked kindly.

"I was just going to say hi to Frodo actually. I think Pippin must have locked himself in a room or something, and one of the elves is showing Sam some tricks gardening. Sam loves the gardens here. He says some of them remind him of the Shire actually. He really does like it here, but it's no match to the Shire in his book."

Aragorn smiled at the mention of the gardens, knowing which ones the hobbit was talking about. "Aye, I think Master Gamge will indeed enjoy himself here. I have many fond memories of my childhood here."

"You grew up here?" Merry asked in amazement.

"Yes, a long time ago. My mother brought me here when I was only a very small child. Lord Elrond raised me here."

"What was your mother like?" Asked Merry, who was almost as curious about people as Pippin.

"She was beautiful, but very sad. She came here with me when I was two, after my father was killed. Her name was Gilraen. She was very intelligent, she always told me stories about the elves and Sauron's defeat, and the tales of kings from long ago." He suddenly got overwhelmed with memories of her, how she would always tell him a story before bed each night when he was small, how she laughed when he would come home covered in mud and sopping wet as a boy, how she listened to him tell her tales of pretend adventures with dragons. How she watched him fall in love, how she was always getting sick with something, and how fragile and weak she looked the night she died.

"Er, Strider are you okay?" Asked Merry, concerned with how he trailed off into thought.

"Oh, yes Merry I'm fine. I must be going now though. I shall see you later then?"

"Okay Strider, goodbye." Merry went on his way to Frodo, pondering about this new thing he learned about Strider. He thought that Strider's mother, Gilraen, sounded like a lovely person.

Aragorn walked through the courtyard to some trees, and stopped at one near a small stream. He smiled as he remembered a moment that happened long ago at the very spot he was standing.

"Mother, do I have to keep taking history lessons with Elrond?" the 7 year old Estel whined.

"Of course you do Estel. Don't ask foolish questions." Gilraen said with a hidden smile. The boy was as stubborn as his father, a trait that would stay with him for his whole life.

"But his lessons are boring. Except when he talks about wars he fought it. But the rest of the time he's very boring mother." Estel protested to Gilraen.

"Estel, it's very rude to call people boring. I want you to apologize to Lord Elrond when we get back from our walk. Besides, knowledge is much more valuable then fighting. Never underestimate its power. It will save your life in battle. It isn't something you should judge as boring so quickly."

"Okay mother, you win." Estel sighed.

Aragorn laughed at the memory. He had many conversations like that with his mother during their afternoon walks. It was a practice that carried on into adulthood. Perhaps one day he will have a son that will take walks with Arwen in the white city. He smiled at the thought, and continued on his way.