(-)Chapter 8(-)

Indeed Aragorn had not had the chance to talk to the man. That had been a week ago now. Sardyn had been accepted easily by the lord, being a good fighter and a strong man.

Lord Venatral was his name, a cruel man who entertained himself by buying unbroken slaves and watching them be beaten into submission. He never beat them himself, was afraid to ruin his clothing, which were all of expensive make and material.

Aragorn worked most of the time in his stables. Annoying since there were always other people there and he never had time alone. When Venatral had guests he would bring him in, though, give him nice, clean clothes and he would have to serve them. A habit the man had, to show off his new slaves and that was how he did it.

The three elves and Nathil were in a cell in the dungeon. Aragorn had not seen them since the short journey here, and he worried about them constantly. Literally, too, even his dreams consisted of the possibilities of what could have happened to them. His head shot up suddenly from where he was grumbling to himself and scooping out one of the many stalls in the stable.

Sardyn smiled as he caught his attention.

Aragorn half sensed the smile and forced himself to keep from rolling his eyes, what was it with this one and that accursed cloak. The hood in particular. He smiled slightly then, oh but he knew why it was there.

Sardyn smiled slightly as he stepped up next to the man, "Venatral is expecting guests any day now. They are apparently looking for someone. He's hoping to sell some of his older slaves to them as well," he sneered slightly, his voice becoming slightly angry.

Aragorn nodded slightly and managed a smile, "At least I'll get out of the stables for a while."

Sardyn laughed slightly, "Indeed..."

Aragorn glanced about him and blinked in surprise when he realized they were alone, "I want to tell you something... you see... I-"

He was cut off as the servant, whose name they found out to be Tolinar entered and frowned at him, "You get back to work."

Aragorn sighed and nodded.

Sardyn blinked, "What did you wish to tell me?"

"I..." he glanced over at the servant and thought quickly, "just that," he sighed, "I killed Kelanus... not the elf," he inwardly rolled his eyes, he knew that the other knew what had really happened already.

Sardyn managed a slight smile, "I know."

Aragorn blinked, feigning surprise, "You did not say anything."

"It did not matter."

Tolinar eyed him slightly, only catching half the words but knowing it had something to do with the death of the man's previous master. He shrugged and went to leave, three of the other stable slaves entering as he left.

Aragorn glared at his retreating back.

Sardyn blinked in surprise at the look, "What's this? You're capable of anger?"

"I killed Kelanus did I not?"

Sardyn just stared at him in shock.

Aragorn shook his head, berating himself and smiled slightly, "I'm sorry, I know not what came over me."

"Nay, it's fine, Ruith, you know that, you can say anything to me remember?"

Aragorn smiled, inwardly laughing, when this was all over and done with he was going to make him regret that remark. He blinked at his own thoughts and smiled, he had been longing for home before he was pining for it now. He sighed.

"Are you sure you are well?"

Aragorn glanced over at him and nodded, "I am well."

"Okay..."

"Sir?"

"No sir," Sardyn smiled, rolling his eyes slightly.

"Sorry."

"And no sorry's!" he laughed slightly, "but what is it that you wished to say?"

"Just... to thank you for coming with me. You did not need to do that."

"Nay," Sardyn smiled slightly, "I wished to leave there anyway and I would not leave you alone."

Aragorn smiled at him thankfully.

Sardyn nodded but said no more as the three slaves passed by them to start their work.

Aragorn watched the three start and with a sigh picked up his shovel. He had been working since sunrise and it was well past noon now. He had accomplished much though, if accomplishment you would call it of course.

About fifteen minutes later Tolinar reentered and bid him go wash up for the guests had been seen about four hours fom here and he would be serving dinner while they stayed. Which apparently may be a while.

Sardyn simply nodded to the servant and left, as though he didn't give the other man a second thought.

Aragorn bit back a smile, he could see through his act though it was difficult for he didn't know exactly what to look for. He then turned and left the stables, going to wash up.

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

Aragorn shifted slightly in the uncomfortable human clothing, normal clothing was no problem but men seemed incapable of creating formal clothing that wasn't uncomfortable. He sighed and went to the kitchen where he would wait until he was called on.

One of the kitchen slaves glanced over at him sadly.

Aragorn felt her gaze and started, he had not seen her before, she was nothing more than a child. He smiled slightly at her but she just looked away. He sighed sadly and walked over and crouched in front of her.

"Hello little one."

She whimpered slightly and backed up slightly, eyeing him.

Aragorn gave her a reassuring smile and sat down quietly.

She stared at him a moment, and realizing he wasn't going to move inched a bit closer.

Aragorn just smiled again.

She slowly came closer until she was standing right in front of him, "Who... who are you? I haven't seen you before."

Aragorn smiled, "Call me Ruith," he nodded slightly, "I got here just a couple weeks ago."

"Did you? I've been here for quite a while now."

"Oh really? How long would that be?" he asked with a smile.

"Uhm," she paused to think, "about... 13 years."

Aragorn started in shock, "You're an elf!"

She nodded slowly and winced, "Are you going to hate me now?"

"No, of course not! My best friend is an elf," he smiled, "now what are you doing here?"

"It's my job to clean up after the kitchen crew. What's yours?"

"I have to clean the stables," he sighed, "'t is not a fun job I'll tell you that."

She giggled slightly and glanced up as she heard something hit the floor and sighed, "I gotta go clean that up."

"Of course, here, I'll give you a hand, he has not called me in yet."

She smiled, "Thank you sir."

Aragorn chuckled, -I'll never escape titles...- he smiled, "No 'sir', just Ruith."

She knelt and began cleaning the spill quickly, "Have you seen Master's new guard? He's scary."

"Who? Sardyn?"

She glanced up at him, "If you don't wanna get in trouble you should call them all 'Sir'"

Aragorn smiled, "Of course, thank you for the tip."

"You're welcome," she went back to cleaning and Aragorn helped her rinse off the cloth once she was done as she couldn't properly reach the sink.

"So," Aragorn cocked his head to the side slightly in curiosity, "how old are you?"

"I'm only 64," she muttered with a sigh.

Aragorn grinned, "Indeed? Well, I'm only 49."

She stared up at him, "I'm older than you? But I don't look it..."

"Well I'm not an elf," he smiled.

"It's so weird," she whispered, staring at him wide-eyed.

Aragorn laughed but paused when he heard his slave name called and sighed, "I shall see you later little one."

She smiled brightly at him, "'Kay!"

Aragorn then left the kitchen with a sigh and brought out the food he knew Venatral wanted. His eyes scanned across the three guests, all haughtly men that looked as though they could kill a person and not look back.

Great,- he though flatly, -this will be fun.-

He set the trays down with a nervous smile and went to stand off to the side, as though awaiting further orders.

Venatral grinned approvingly.

Aragorn resisted the urge to sneer at him, knowing it would only get him in trouble. He caught Sardyn's eye from where he sat at the further end of the table, or at least he thought he did, that accursed hood was still up.

Sardyn glanced over at him and smiled, though he knew he couldn't see it, he caught Venatral's dissaproving looks, but he didn't care, he'd be in more trouble if he took the hood down and he knew it.

Aragorn sighed, this was going to be a long night, he snorted slightly, remembering the last time he thought that.

A/N


Elven Kitten: Nyeh... I'm really late tonight and I gotta go to bed soon... shifty eyes XP so yeah... I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

jinga - I'm glad you liked it:) lol, glad you like the character torture:P

BregoBeauty - Lol, yeah... he be dead... yay :P

viggomaniac - lol, glad they turned out more detailed... even though I know this one didn't... XP but yeah... O.o... I'm confused as to when Kelanus became lovable tho... :P lol

Kalayna - lol, No I did not kill the elf... I'm afraid of what would happen if I did... O.O... lol, yay! Triple happy:P

MicroChips - ...O.o... okay... lol, gore is fun:D 9-3425 wuff? O.O... btw... it's difficult for you to smite Kelanus as he is dead... :P

marbienl - :P "love conquers all" yes:) Nyehehehe... he got killed... that was fun... :P stupid human... :P lol, Sweety the ringtone? O.o... cunfuzled XP math is pure ebil... numbers are beginning to scare me... XP lol.

IwishChan - Blinks actually Legolas didn't end up being stabbed by Aragorn, the blood on the blade was from when Kelanus had used it, but yesh... he be dead! Yay:P

Aranna Undomiel - lol, cha... slight understatement... :P Hope you liked the chapter!

Angel - lol, evilness is slowly leaving meh now for this story... slowly :P lol, I hope to get better... I'm gonna try harder in the next one. :)

E.K.: Well, that's it! I hope it turned out ok, Namarie:)

Elenmeoi