(-)Chapter 2(-)

Aragorn didn't even blinked as he was stripped of his tunic and cloak and tied from a strong tree branch, his feet barely touching the ground.

Nathil sat, shaking and crying quietly, "No... please don't! Don't do this!"

Kelanus barely glanced at him, "Do you wish to take his place boy?"

"No," Aragorn immediately answered in a flat, oddly calm voice.

Kelanus snorted, "Well good, I don't think it would be as fun making him scream. Gag him," he motioned to the boy.

Aragorn didn't even flinch when the first lash to his back came.

Nathil was forced to watch as time over time the barbed whip struck the man's back, sides, chest and stomach.

Aragorn managed to keep the pained screams inside and just barely managed to keep the pained look out of his eyes.

Kelanus threw down the whip in frustration, "Don't want to speak for me? We'll have to try something else then."

He pulled out a blade and pressed the tip into place just above the man's heart.

Nathil tried to scream but it was muffled behind the thick cloth in his mouth, his eyes wide.

Aragorn just glared as best he could at the man in front of him through blurry eyes, inwardly wondering if he was going to kill him.

Kelanus pushed the blade in about a centimetre and slowly drew it down, he did this five times before stopping and glaring at the man. Shaking his head he picked up a long iron rod that was sitting with the tip in the fire behind him and came up and pressed the red-hot metal against the man's back and into the cuts.

Aragorn gasped slightly before managing to keep from making any noise, cursing himself inwardly for the fear that spread through Nathil's eyes and for giving the man what he wanted. After this was done many times the rod was thrown to the ground and the vial Kelanus held was opened.

The man grinned wickedly and poured the colourless liquid into his wounds.

Aragorn's eyes widened in pain before he finally lost his grip on the last shreds of consciousness and slumped forward.

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

Aragorn whimpered slightly as he slowly woke, to find himself staring up at a hooded figure that was tending to his wounds.

"Wh-who are you?" he moaned.

The figure glanced up at him but didn't say anything.

"Ah! You are awake," the voice was slightly wary.

Aragorn glanced back at the person speaking and frowned in confusion.

Kelanus grinned, hiding the wicked gleam in his eyes, "You've been out a while Bodruith."

Aragorn frowned, "I have?" he managed, "Is that my name?"

Kelanus frowned, "Do you not remember?"

Nathil whimpered from behind the cloth in his mouth.

"Ah yes, that is Vandorin, he has been saying some nasty things lately and that is his punishment, ignore him."

Aragorn just blinked at him and made to stand but quickly found his wrists and ankles were bound.

Kelanus cut the ropes off him, "They were for your protection, you were thrashing and many times came rather close to the fire."

Nathil glared at the man.

Aragorn stood unsteadily and glanced around the camp which consisted of ten men. There were five tents set up and three fires set up in the middle. Eight of the ten men were sitting around the fires, the ninth, Kelanus, stood beside them and the tenth was no where to be seen. Aragorn blinked as he realized his mind was already mapping out escape routes. He frowned but shrugged slightly and glanced over at Kelanus, unsure of what he was to do.

Kelanus turned to find the man staring at him and he frowned, "Never meet your better's eyes, look to the floor," he growled, "next time you'll be punished, you're lucky I'm a patient man."

Aragorn started in surprise but did as he was told.

"Good. Now, go and help Sardyn get some firewood."

"But... where is he? Which way do I go?"

Kelanus sighed in annoyance and pointed across the camp, "He went that way, now go, and watch out for them elves," he smirked, "you don't want them to catch you, they'll eat you alive."

Aragorn immediately scurried to do as asked.

Kelanus followed him quietly, making sure he didn't run off, and nodded in satisfaction when the man met up wish Sardyn and he turned around again and went back to camp, leaving the two.

Aragorn shifted slightly and quietly peeked up to look at the other man who he found was staring at him and he quickly looked back down.

The other being smiled slightly but quickly forced it from his face, frowning at himself, he couldn't allow himself to let this human into his heart. He shook his head, he didn't even know the man... how could he already be liking him? This had never happened before. He growled at himself.

Aragorn shrunk back slightly at the noise, wondering what he had done to offend the other man, and silently started lifting the wood off the forest floor.

Sardyn walked over and stacked a bunch of wood into his arms, "You carry this," he grumbled.

Aragorn nodded immediately, easily holding the heavy weight as the other man stacked it up to his nose. He blinked at the hooded man, who he had found was staring at him.

Sardyn snickered slightly at the look, desperately trying to keep it inside, and only half succeeding.

Aragorn blinked in surprise but quickly lowered his eyes when he realized he was staring and flinched, hoping desperately that Kelanus wouldn't find out what had just happened.

Sardyn felt a slight pang of guilt at the suddenly scared man in front of him and with a small smile dropped a pile of dirt on his head simply to get a reaction.

Aragorn started slightly then froze a moment before sneezing, causing a couple of pieces of wood on the top of the pile to start wobbling. His eyes widened slightly but the pile was steadied by the other who was laughing quietly.

"I'm sorry, I know not why I did that."

Aragorn's gaze immediately found the ground.

Sardyn smiled at him, deciding to trust his heart this time and see where it would lead him, besides, he was getting tired of the monotonous tasks he found himself in when he followed his head. Which was screaming at him now that he could still turn back, for in this there was a possibility that his identity could be revealed. He ignored it this time, for the first time. Something about this man made him want to learn more, to test his luck. He smirked slightly, his heart was insane.

"Come now! Don't look so down," he joked quietly, "listen, when we're alone, you need not act like a slave."

Aragorn quickly shook his head, "I'll be punished if I don't."

"He has already told you this? You've only just awoken..." the hooded man froze and cursed slightly, "you are bleeding again, put down the wood."

Aragorn did as was asked of him.

Sardyn dissapeared suddenly and reapeared again a moment later with fresh bandages and a small jar, "Sit down please," he muttered.

Aragorn quickly did as he was told and about ten minutes later all his wounds had been cleaned and wrapped, "Where did they come from?" he muttered.

Sardyn froze, -Do I tell him?- he then shook his head slightly, "I do not know, I was not there at the time," it wasn't a complete lie... he hadn't been at the camp when he had been beaten and he hadn't been there when they were captured in the first place.

Aragorn stood stiffly and picked up the pile of wood, "I should get back before he gets angry."

Sardyn sighed, "Of course."

Kelanus frowned as Aragorn and Sardyn entered the clearing, "What took you?"

Sardyn shook his head, "My ankle acting up again is all. I apologize."

"Indeed," Kelanus frowned, "it will not be too much trouble?"

Kelanus did not particularily like this man, but he wanted all his men in full health, he would not allow any weak links in his group.

"Nay, it is not too much trouble," he muttered, "it shall not hinder my fighting, if that is what you mean."

Kelanus frowned again, he hated the way the man always seemed to know what he was thinking, "Good... we wont reach the trading post for another two months with the stops we're making."

"The one between Fornost and Bree?" Sardyn vendured carefully.

"Aye."

"We did not do well last time... it is rough there."

Kelanus snorted, "So we lost a man, we made plenty of gold there on the slaves."

"Indeed..." Sardyn muttered.

Aragorn quietly placed the wood beside a tent near one of the fires and slunk off to fall asleep against a tree.

Nathil, who had fallen asleep, although a shallow, disturbed sleep, had by now awoken and had been watching the events, turning away as he watched the man he had admired so slink off to hide from a man he could easily take on.

"There is something different about him," he murmered, glancing down at the boy he had silently come up behind, a moment later and quietly pulled the gag out of his mouth, knowing he would wish to speak.

"There is," Nathil rasped quietly, "he was... is a good man."

"Nay, not just that," Sardyn shook his head slightly, "he is stronger than most men and... unlike the others I have seen inflicted with this poison, he still has a... I do not know what to call it... there is still part of him there... the poison did not kill his memories, it seems, only hid them... I believe there is a chance he will come back."

"But it is slim," Nathil muttered angrily, "you need not hide it from me, even with the hope it is highly unlikely."

"It would have to be a very powerful jolt to bring his memories back into place," the hooded man murmered sadly, "it is extremely unlikely... if you must know."

A/N

Elven Kitten: XP blah... yes... it was a horrible torture scene I know... but hey, maybe the next one will be better Innocent smile but yeah, lol, hope you all enjoyed it after that... XP lol.

viggomaniac - Yay:P I'm so glad you liked it! (Maybe! lol, what stories do you like?) XP vile/vial... XP I knew that too... and looking back I realized I had made that same mistake before... XP lol, thank you for pointing it out! lol maybe I'll remember this time... :P

IwishChan - lol, oh he's not just stupid... He be ebil:P

Nessa Ar-Feiniel - Well if I told you it wouldn't be as interesting now would it? Lol, (any less interesting and people would leave :P)

MicroCHips - Lol, oh yes, beautiful spanish... but I'm not a boy, so it's amiga, not amigo, lol. Yesh... much nastyness... Lol, it will be fine... (no, that's not the horrible ebil scene you tempted me to write...) and yes master, more...

Kalayna - Lol! Is it really that bad? My cliffies aren't that bad... especially when you compare them to some other stories... I can do worse though if that's what you want:P Kelanus? He is just a soldier of Rohan... Muahaha! An EBIL soldier of Rohan:P

horsiegurl - Thank you! Hope it came up soon enough:)

Iorhael - Yes... poor Aragorn... lol, what's creepy? Kelanus? lol

grumpy - Nope. I don't think his journey home will be as easy as he'd hoped... lol, for sure! Never ride with unknown soldiers! lol

E.K.: Yay XP lol, okay then! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Namarie!

Elenmeoi