Of Wishers and Dreamers
By Secret Wanderer
Rating: PG
Genre: Action/Adventure/Angst
Summary: Aragorn has been having a hard time transitioning between the world of his family and the world of his destiny. When a special delegation is to be formed his most desperate wish will be fulfilled, but you must always be careful of what you wish for.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that is remotely recognizable, much to my great misfortune. This is for fun and a gain absolutely nothing except the happy feeling I experience when reading reviews.
Author's Note: This follows the Cas and Sio story where Aragorn is raised in Rivendell as Estel after both his parents die. Aragorn/Estel is about 20-24 years old. My grammar sucks, just bare with me.
adadaddy/father/dad ion-nin my son mellon-nin my friend (that's basically all the elvish I will use without having a translation right near the dialogue)
Enjoy!
"Please, promise me you won't tell ada."
"You know we can't do that Estel."
"Do you really think ada won't notice?"
"Not if you two tell him. It's not a deep cut. Please, I beg of you. I don't want to see his disappointment again."
"He's never disappointed and you know it. He's just concerned is all."
"How can you be sure? This is the second time this month and it is definitely not improving."
"Well, at least this wasn't a more serious case."
"Like last time?"
"Yes, like last time Estel."
"Go to sleep little brother."
"No, not until I have your word. Both of your words."
"Fine. We promise not to tell ada about this unless he finds out or the cuts worsen."
"Thanks El."
"Sleep well."
Elladan sighed heavily as he watched his twin redress his younger brother's wounds. There was about two things wrong with this picture. One, his younger brother was human and two, those cuts shouldn't have been on there in the first place. Elladan grit his teeth when Estel winced from the, albeit, gentle ministrations. Some humans were just despicable. How could they inflict such damage onto one another with no remorse whatsoever? He and his twin, Elrohir, had found their younger brother in the village stables drugged and with the cuts on his left forearm, just left there like a piece of rubbish. This hadn't been too bad of course; only a group of honorless humans who could not lay down their prejudice.
He couldn't believe that they had promised not to tell, but their devious brother used those "pity me" eyes and he just couldn't stand the way how his brother had begged him. Estel was a proud man and only asked when he really needed something.
"Are you done? I want to get home," Elladan asked, masking his inner anger.
They had stopped just outside of Rivendell's borders just to make sure that nothing was suspicious of Estel's wellbeing.
Elrohir tied of the last bandage before replying. "Yes, we're done."
Estel rolled his eyes and yanked his arm out of his older brother's grasp. "Then let's go. I'm starving."
"When are you not?" both of them questioned teasingly.
"And they call you wise! I'm not starving when I'm not, but right now I am so let's get a move on," Aragorn snapped.
So they got up, broke their hastily constructed camp, and headed home. When they stepped into the courtyard they were immediately assailed by several elves that they recognized being healers. The assailing quickly became assaulting when they started patting them all over, as if looking for something.
"Have you found anything?"
"No sir, nothing yet."
"Well look harder! There's always something wrong with them!"
"Perhaps there's some kind of internal bleeding."
The three barely had time to yell out in surprise when they all spotted their father smiling jovially at the courtyard entrance.
"ADA, CALL 'EM OFF!" Elladan bellowed as Elrohir tried smacking the healers' hands away.
"Why should I do that? They might be correct and you do have some hidden injury," Elrond stated smugly.
At this Estel averted his eyes and murmured something inaudible above the cacophony.
"Ada for once we've actually managed to come home SAFE!" Elohir shouted.
Elrond chuckled lightly and told the healers to leave, which they did all the while sending death glares at the three arrivals.
The three sons embraced their father and said their happy greetings. After some small talk they all headed inside to the dining hall.
As they entered they were surprised to see a few elves from Mirkwood and of Lorien sitting also at the last homely house's large table.
"Ada, what are they all doing here?" Elohir inquired softly.
"We will be sending a small delegation soon and I asked that there be a few elves from both nations attend." Elrond answered.
"Does that mean--," Aragorn began.
"Yes, that means Legolas is here also."
Before the three could express their happiness a dark and sinister thought invaded their minds.
"If Legolas is here that must mean--"
A golden blond elf skidded to a stop in front of them, triggering a series of both inward and outward groans.
The elf bowed hastily and gave the formal greeting before eagerly rounding on Aragorn.
"SOO, Estel, have you had any dah-zeezes or any other weird human stuff happen to you lately?" he asked with inextinguishable exuberance.
"Err no, sorry Ryce, I haven't had a disease or sickness in quite some time," Aragorn smiled forcedly.
Ryce was something of a human… fanatic, so to speak. His sole interests were following his Prince Legolas around and trying to work out a way to make a human more 'consistent,' as he fondly refers to it. Since Aragorn was the only human he stayed in close contact with, poor Estel was the test subject for many of his crazy theories and infinite amounts of questions.
"Umm, ada, I think I'm going to freshen up real quick before dinner." He quickly made rushed dash to the stairway.
Elrond shook his head, smiling nonetheless at his son's actions and the look of utter disappointment on Ryce's face. Soon everyone was seated; eating, joking, laughing, and telling long-winded stories of their latest adventures.
"Hey Legolas, how's Mirkwood been holding up lately?" Elohir asked, shoving some mashed potatoes in his mouth.
"It's been good. There hasn't been too much spider activity," Legolas replied, "and the Rangers?"
"Just some minor skirmishes here and there."
"Legolas, would you practice with Estel later? His sparring has gotten rusty," Elladan joked, smirking at the indignant human.
Aragorn appeared angry at first, but a wide gin started to form. "Well 'Dan, I think you should practice your archery considering you shot your own brother in the--"
Elladan got very red at that moment and looked away, Legolas laughed uproariously, and Elohir unconsciously rubbed his backside.
Aragorn laughed as well and decided to take up the offer and spar with Legolas after dinner. The four went out to the sparring rings and took up their practice weapons. Each blow was real, but each followed the rhythmic style and flow that they were accustomed to. Both tested each other's strengths and manipulated their weaknesses.
Dodge to the left, duck, strike, sweep the legs, and then an upward strike to the right. Darnit! He blocked again.
Aragorn's brow was beaded with sweat, but he noticed, with sweet satisfaction, that his opponent was also showing minor signs of fatigue as well. The battle raged on until finally both combatants sat back, breathing heavily.
"I'll…get… you…next time," Aragorn said, drawing in ragged breathes in between words.
"Yeah right…Estel." Legolas was also talking between breaths, but being an elf he had energy to spare and was not hyperventilating as his human friends was. He looked over at him to see if he had garnered a response when he saw some blood blossoming on his friend's clothes.
"Estel, you're bleeding!" Legolas let a quick holler for Elrond to come before Aragorn could put a hand over his mouth.
"Please Legolas, shhhh! My ada can't know," Aragorn said hurriedly.
Pushing away his hand Legolas shook his head. "No, your ada needs to help you."
"Valar Legolas! It isn't that bad! Why must you elves always overreact!" Aragorn quickly looked over at his brothers. "You two gotta help me either convince ada nothing is wrong or you have to hide me."
Both shook their heads and Elrohir answered. "Sorry Estel. The deal was that we wouldn't tell if ada didn't find out, but now he has."
"No thanks to my friend here," Aragorn glared at Legolas.
Legolas' brow knitted with unease. Aragorn was getting fairly upset over a little cut. Aragorn usually got touchy about getting wounded, but this one didn't look so bad considering his clothes weren't drenched in blood or anything. Just in that moment Elrond came striding down to the sparring rings with an unenthusiastic air.
"Don't tell me you two were sparring with real weapons again. The practice ones work just fine for mock battles," he said exasperatingly.
After seeing the crimson stains on Aragorn's long sleeve tunic he immediately strode over to him and made a movement to examine it. The moment he got close enough Aragorn quickly hid his arm behind his back and took a step away from his father.
Elrond left his hand outstretched, waiting for his son to voluntarily let him see what was wrong. He was rather surprised—and concerned—that Aragorn wasn't just complaining loudly that nothing was awry as usual, but let him check just to make him happy.
"Let me see Estel."
Aragorn shook his head, eyes plastered to the ground, head bowed.
"Please Estel. I just want to see."
Aragorn shuffled uncomfortably until he hesitantly held out his arm. Elrond carefully rolled up his sleeve and gave an audible gasp. It wasn't the severity of the cuts, by all means, they were fine, but the odd shapes of the cuts startled him. They weren't random, but crudely spelt a word and as Elrond examined all of them his eyes widened. ELFSLAVE was cut into his son's skin along his left forearm.
Elrond swallowed his disgust and led his son, head still bowed, into the house and leaving the two guilty looking twins behind. They were going to have a lot of explaining to do on the importance of telling your father these things.
When they reached Aragorn's room he motioned for him to sit down while he gathered some bandages and water. When he broke the silence at last, Aragorn finally raised his head to look into his eyes, sadness permeating through the grey depths.
"Why did you not bandage these Estel? They're far from needing stitches, but they still need to heal."
"I thought that you'd notice the bandages through my sleeve. I'm sorry ada," Aragorn apologized mournfully.
"It's alright Estel you'll only need to keep the wrapping for three days or so, but why did you not tell me?" he purposefully did not ask how he acquired them, knowing that the twins would probably tell him later and, evidently, he had a pretty good idea of the situation.
Aragorn gripped the bed sheets in his fists before answering. "I didn't want you to be worried or…"
"Or what?" he asked patiently.
"Or disappointed in me," Aragorn whispered softly.
Once again Elrond was on the receiving end of surprise, much to his dismay. "What do you mean ion-nin?"
Aragorn sighed. "Disappointed that I'm always getting in trouble or in these crazy situations, dissatisfied that I can't ever fit in, or frustrated at having to patch me up every time I step out of the house." He knew he was sounding like he was five years old again, but his status of fitting in hadn't improved much from then anyway.
Elrond shook his head and smiled. "Yes, I have to admit that patching you and you brothers is very exasperating and the fact that all of you, including that prince, can get in such dire situations when you simply go out buying some cooking ingredients from a neighboring town, but I am never disappointed. You're my son and just because some people can't accept you doesn't make me angry…well, it makes me angry at them for being so stubborn, but never you ion-nin."
"Thanks ada," Aragorn smiled thinly.
"You're welcome. Now go to sleep, I was watching you spar and you must be exausted," Elrond then leaned in close to his son's ear, "I'm sure you would have gotten Legolas after your seventh move if you hadn't hesitated."
Aragorn laughed out loud. "Yes, I should have." Elrond was about to leave when Aragorn stopped him, "Who's going on the delegation?"
"It's…complicated, but a council will be held tomorrow afternoon, so if you're going to attend you have to remember to dress in one of you more formal wear."
"Yes ada, good night then."
"Good night ion-nin."
Legolas swore loudly as he, the twins, and Aragorn ran to the correct council room, all of them still pulling the last of their formal wear on. It had been a certain someone's idea to go swimming after breakfast and they had lost all track of time. Now they had to enter the council late. What would his father say if he knew? Not anything complementary, that's for sure.
All four of them smoothed their clothes one last time and opened the doors to the 3rd council room of Imaldris. As they walked in all talk ceased and their cheeks burned with embarrassment. Each bowed, giving the usual greeting and introductions, all the while offering varying excuses for their delay.
Their father waved it off, frowning with only slight displeasure. "Now that we are all here we may begin the council that will discuss the forming of a delegation to speak with the faction that has withdrawn from the village of Woodhall. Gandalf, what information have you gathered from your stay?"
The wizened wizard said nothing, contemplative as he always was. Though bent with uncountable age his eyes shone bright, only darkening when he was concerned…as it was now.
"My stay was brief, but you do not need more than a few hours to assess the situation," he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "They left Woodhalls seemingly because they can no longer tolerate the constant passage of humans, thus they left and have started a new settlement christened Dunloreag. They haven't killed any of the unfortunate wanderers, but have and will shoot without question. This may get out of hand and it will do nothing to improve the tensions between the many other towns or settlements on this side of the Misty Mountains."
"Yes it may, let us first put together the party that shall go," Elrond swept the room with his gaze before it fell upon the four friends, with Ryce sitting beside his prince. "Ryce, you're curiosity for humans may put yourself and your company in danger, so you will have to stay behind. You two," he pointed at the twins, "promised to go help the Beornings three months ago and evidently I don't have much confidence in you're keeping a level head in these delicate situations and I'm sorry Estel, but you can plainly see the reasons why you cannot attend."
"I understand," Aragorn said calmly, even though his heart clenched uncomfortably.
"For Rivendell I advise both Erestor and Glorfindel and I expect that Legolas will be the one to go for Mirkwood," Elrond looked expectantly at the young prince.
Legolas had to battle within himself. He felt guilty that Aragorn would be left behind, but he had duties to fulfill.
"Of course Lord Elrond."
"And who will go from those of Lorien?" Elrond asked.
The seven who had come from the golden wood conversed quietly for several minutes until each nodded in approval. One faced Elrond with an expression that could have been carved of stone.
"We will send no one. We see no threat or incentive in bothering those of Dunloreag."
Lord Elrond sighed. Of all the representatives or delegates his mother-in-law could have sent, she had to send these ones!
"Very well then. Perhaps I will send captain Rëssia as well, but for now let us make our way to dinner. This council is adjourned."
Each person stood, bowed, and took their lead. Aragorn did not get up from his seat. Elrohir, already at the door, glanced back and noticing his brother had not risen dragged his twin back into the council room.
"What's wrong little bro?" Elrohir said, smiling softly.
"Being left behind as usual. You know, this is the second time in barely two days at home that I've felt like a child again." He did not speak fondly, but that of a resigned and beaten man.
"Isn't that what home is all about? Feeling young again? Remembering happy times, making memorable visits, and occasionally adding a new dent in ada's spotless walls." Elrohir's smiled widened, reminiscing on years that seemed to pass away, but were still close enough to almost feel again.
Aragorn returned the smile. His brother was right and he was happy that he was. It's comforting to know that there's still somewhere that never changes. Something to grab onto when you feel like the world's dragging you in. This place, his family... they'll always be there to catch him when he slips.
Elladan also smiled, but it was for a much different reason.
"I have an idea. Estel, ada's not letting you go because you're human right?" Elladan took his brother's hand and stated dragging him out of the council room and down the corridor to his and his twin's jack-and-jill rooms.
Estel confused, though always cautious, yanked his arm away.
"Elladan last time you had an idea Legolas had fallen on top of me from atop of a cliff on April Fools day," Aragorn said, starting to slowly slink away from his brothers.
Elrohir, not all the way comprehending, still chose to side with his twin and they both started to corner the human against the wall across they're adjoined rooms. The thing is that Elladan was the most reliable person to trust when it came to pranks and he could feel an idea radiating from his twin.
"Estel, you didn't answer my question," Elladan cooed sweetly.
"Fine, uh yeah, I'm human so those elves would kill me on the spot, which is bad by the way," Estel babbled, his attention fully on his escape, which was now blocked by the unforgivingly solid wall.
All of a sudden both of the brothers advanced and grabbed his arms, practically hauling him into the room. He struggled vainly against them until he was thrown headlong onto the bed.
"Well, what if we make you look like an elf? Then ada would have to let you go," Elladan said jovially.
"Did you take a crazy pill Elladan! I know what I'm saying from hard earned experience that I can definitely not look convincible like an elf and evidently I might have the misfortune to end up like you!" Estel exclaimed.
"Hey, you'd be luck to look like us and not like those scruffy rangers you hang out with," Elrohir defended. "Just cooperate!"
Aragorn sighed and gave a long-suffering glance before he ceased his movements. He had a horrible feeling about this.
The twins, grinning from ear to ear, sat in back of Estel and started separating his hair and trying various straightening techniques. Much to Estel's chagrin they even started to brush it.
"What are you three doing instead of attending dinner as young lords of Rivendell should be doing?"
Three pairs of eyes shot to the doorway to see Gandalf leaning against it, his brow furrowed in question.
"We're helping Estel with his poor girl friend trouble. We're trying to make him look like his dashing brother," Elrohir stated, with a flurry of his hand.
"Why thank you brother," said Elladan smugly.
"I was talking about myself," Elrohir pointed at Elladan, "The only girls you got were the ones who pitied you because they thought you were raising little Estel all by your lonesome because your "fiance" left you."
Elladan face flushed with indignation.
"Well, when was your last date?"
They continued to bicker incessantly, each bringing up wonderful blackmail material for later use. Gandalf merely ignored them and looked over at Estel, who had skillfully tuned them out from the beginning.
"So what were they trying to do?" Gandalf asked.
"They're trying to make me look like an elf, so I can go on the delegation," Estel said, staring detachedly at his brothers who had gone as far as wrestling upon the floor.
"Ahhh," Gandalf was shaking with barely suppressed mirth, "well they were doing a pretty good job. If they had progressed any further you would look like the perfect elf maiden."
Aragorn puzzled for a second before comprehension dawned on him. He fingered the braids that his brothers had made and to his utmost horror he felt the unmistakable feel of the girly weaves.
His brothers had stopped their brawl on the ground and looked disappointedly at Gandalf.
"Awww, you spoiled it Gandalf we were going to see if we could get it to go as far as--" but Elladan never got to finish seeing as Aragorn had jumped on both he and Elrohir.
"You're gonna pay for that brother," Aragorn threatened darkly as he punched his brother in the gut.
None of them ever hurt each other, but Elladan couldn't suppress the 'woof' of air as it left his lungs. He twisted oddly and reached up, grabbing at his brother's collar and pulled.
The fighting stopped when they heard the pitter of something small sliding across the wooden flooring. Elladan looked in horror as he realized what he had done. Lying upon the ground was Aragorn's only link to his real family: a fine golden chain of the late Arathorn.
"I-I'm sorry Estel. I shouldn't have been so careless. I'll fix it, I promise," Elladan stuttered, full of remorse.
Aragorn didn't answer right away as he scooped up his prized possession and Elladan had feared that he was angry at him until he turned back to face him, only grinning tenderly.
"It's ok Elladan. The clasp is loose and I've been meaning to bring it back to the smithies, but I keep forgetting. It was only a matter of time before it broke off."
Gandalf, still watching from the door, extended his hand.
"Here I'll fix it and I'll even make it indestructible if you want," he offered, his eyes twinkling.
Aragorn handed it to him with relief.
"Thanks a lot Gandalf."
"Why don't the two of you go and scrounge some left-overs from dinner, while I mend this," Gandalf indicated the twins still comfortably sitting on the floor.
At the mention of food, the twin's faces lit up. With barely a backwards glance, the twins were out of the door and running to pillage the kitchens. Aragorn strode to stand in front of the mirror to take out the last remains of the braids in his hair, grumbling excessively. Gandalf took this opportunity to turn his attention to the chain resting in his hand. He whispered strange words, words that hadn't been heard by anyone on this middle-earth. Then the object glowed with a radiance of translucent light and faded in a blink of an eye.
Aragorn glanced over at Gandalf. "Did you say something Gandalf?"
"No, but I fixed the clasp. Good as new and it's even shinier." Gandalf extended the trinket towards its owner.
Aragorn beamed happily and began fastening it around his neck. "I can't thank you enough my friend I don't know what I'd do without you. I--," but he never finished because as he looked back into the mirror something was very different.
Aragorn's hand trembled as he reached up to touch his ears. This couldn't be real. He nearly yelped in surprise as he saw his hand pass by his face. He looked at his whole self in the mirror. This definitely couldn't be real because that would mean that the person staring back at him was an elf.
TBC
Woodhall- Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter III, Page 91, Paragraph 1, Line 7
jack-and-jill- (in case you didn't know) Two rooms connected by a bathroom
AHAHAHA! Well, that was the first chapter for Of Wishing and Dreaming. How was it? Was it too rushed? Did it not have enough description? TELL ME, TELL ME, TELL ME! Please review and tell me what you though and if there's any grammar errors (especially those stupid colons and semi-colons and commas) please tell me the correction and the grammatical rule for it. I'll try updating soon, but I hope that I can have a consistent update day of every Wednesday. Reveiws will only speed the process, so I hope to see a lot.