Fake Wings
Stand alone... Where was life when it had a meaning...
Stand alone... Nothing's real anymore and...
Stand alone... Where was life when it had a meaning...
Stand alone... Nothing's real anymore and...
...Endless run...
While I'm alive, I can try not to fall while flying,
Not to forget how to dream... how to love
...Endless run...
Calling, for the place of knowing
There's more that what can be linked
Calling, never will I look away
For what life has left for me
Yearning, for what's left of loving
To stay myself longer...
Calling now, Spirits rise and falling
To stay myself longer...
Calling , in the depth of longing
To stay myself longer...
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex—Inner Universe
They were approaching Dunloreag with surprisingly short amount of time. Aragorn was nearly frantic with worry. This was such a bad idea. If the elves of Dunloreag found out the delegations would fail and fall to ruin all because of him. Was he ready to face this responsibility? Aragorn thought long and hard about this, though it hardly mattered because they were now surrounded by well armed elves with both dark hair and the light: a mixture of outcasts of the elven nations.
"Are you the delegation sent from Lord Elrond of Imaldris?" asked an older captain.
Glorfindel stepped forward. "Yes, we are the ones of which you speak, for I am Glorfindel the renowned Balrog Slayer and this," he indicated Aragorn, "is lord Elrond's youngest son Estel."
Eyes turned towards Aragorn and Legolas panicked that perhaps Aragorn would crack, but he stood firm. His leadership and experience of cloaking himself during his stay with the rangers was starting to show.
"I bring greetings from my father and he hopes that this delegation may be one of peace." Aragorn bowed low.
"I was unaware of Elrond remarrying after the death of his wife or that he bore another son," the captain said suspiciously.
"That is because Elrond did not take another wife. I am adopted, fostered by Lord Elrond's kindness."
A truth…but even this one was stained with deceit.
The captain chose to leave it at that and led them to the town, although it looked like a cross over between a huge encampment and a smaller mirror image of Lothlorien. Large tents were spread around under the trees, many of which held elven flets in their boughs.
They were given the choice between the ground and tree before the captain and his men left to go back to their posts, while a messenger boy was told to inform the head of Dunloreag. When the messenger came back they were surprised to hear that the apparent leader named Brakiss couldn't allow them audience on this day and that he hoped that they would get to know the town a bit more.
"Perhaps he is hiding something," Raize suggested bluntly.
"I do not think so. I believe that he is trying to have us feel a sense of empathy for his cause," Legolas said pointedly.
Glorfindel nodded in agreement. "We should investigate, although we must stay subtle. Only observe for right now. Do not inquire."
And so they broke off and had a look around the town. It didn't seem evil or secretive in any way. As every other town there was laughter, strife; unity as a whole, while segregation on smaller levels existed. This place existed as all others did, perhaps with a different opinion then the rest of the world. A hostile and possibly dangerous attitude, Aragorn thought darkly.
At the sounds of loud cheering voices Legolas and Aragorn walked to a place very close to a creek in which they observed a very interesting game played by elves that were about the twins' age. It involved a large and ostensibly heavy ball and rabble of people tackling the person running with the ball.
One of the players with silvery hair noticed them and called a time out for their game. "Hello there, do you need something…"
Legolas supplied their names and picked up the fallen ball with inquiry. "How does this game work?"
"It's called smear the queer or, more formally, blitz ball. Any person can take the ball and their objective is to get past those trees over there without loosing the ball. The others who don't have the ball try to take it from him and once they have it they run from where the previous person dropped the ball and they attempt to get it to the trees."
"I've never heard of this game before." Aragorn asked intrigued.
The silver haired elf gave a big grin. "You two want to try?"
Both looked at each other and agreed simultaneously, but Legolas drew him to the side. "Estel, you have to be careful. Remember what Gandalf's warnings."
"For valar's sake it's a game, Legolas!" Aragorn fumed.
"Yes it's a game, this is all a game: a game to see how long you can convince everyone and if you lose you lose a lot more than honor," Legolas approached this subject tenderly, "Let's work together ok."
"Ok mellon-nin," Aragorn may have agreed, but he had not fully let go of his irritation.
"You two ready yet!" the elf called.
"Yes uhh…"
"I'm Gene. Come on then."
So the ball was thrown randomly in the air and there was a mad scramble to get the ball, once someone started running they only had about three seconds before they were tackled. This game is chaos disguised as madness, Aragorn thought as he ran to catch up with the current holder.
Nearly 15 feet from the finish line Legolas got possession and was about to be intercepted when Aragorn shoved the attacker. Legolas turned around to nod his thanks, but was startled when he saw that Aragorn had latched on to low tree branch and, using the momentum from the swing, was now crashing into his back. Legolas grunted and dropped the ball, which was picked up by Aragorn and brought the rest of the way to the finish line.
Aragorn was doing a kind of victory dance when Legolas tackled him to the ground. "Hey, I won already, game over!"
"You nasty cheater, I thought we were going to work together!" Legolas was obviously miffed about his betrayal.
"There aren't any teams Legolas, hey ow. That hurts," Aragorn's arm was pinned behind his back in a very painful position.
"It seems that princes have no sense of good sportsmanship," another elf who was tanned from long periods in the sun quirked an eye brow in amusement.
At this Legolas got off of Aragorn, his face flushed with self-consciousness. Aragorn smirked at Legolas, ducking the smack to the head.
The tanned elf looked from the two. "You two seemed to be quite the pair. How did you two meet? Oh, I'm Aeron, by the way."
"Pleased to meet you Aeron. Well, we met about six years ago when Estel attended a council meeting with his father. We really didn't hit it off too well at first, but after awhile we just grew on eachother," Legolas was sincere, even with a simple statement as that you could feel the warmth of each word.
Aeron nodded. "Now, which one of you is older?"
Both looked at each other and simultaneously said, "I am."
Aeron and the other elves stared perplexed at the two friends as they started to bicker.
"I am older and you know it, young one."
"If you had any counting skills at all you would know that I am, dear prince."
A new elf stepped forward, his eyes held suspicion. "How do you not know who is older?"
"I'm adopted, so when I was moving from home to home my birthdays weren't closely recorded, therefore when Elrond took me in he merely started me at an estimated age." Nothing in Aragorn's voice indicated deceit. Aragorn's insides twisted, when had lies come from his mouth so easily?
The new elf was not so easily convinced. "Oh, but is not Elrond the lore master? Does he not also keep records on those who reside in his lands?"
Aeron shoved him angrily. "You need not question them as criminals Rhovan!"
"They are strangers Aeron. We cannot--"
"They're guests!"
"Don't be foolish. They are here to make us go back!"
Gene stepped in between the two, forcibly separating the two. "Cease this my friends." The two stopped willingly, but their wills battled in a silent fury as they stared the other down. "I think we should call it a day, however I would like to know one thing from our guests."
"Yes Gene?" Legolas braced himself for the worst. If they kept this up they would weave themselves a very tangled web.
"Why does Estel have such a strange glow?"
Legolas could have laughed himself into a coma if this hadn't been a serious situation. It had never occurred to him that Aragorn glowed of a soft radiance of gold, like the rays of the sun. No one had really noticed the strange occurrence since the fact that he was glowing was already a phenomenal event, let alone the color. Most elves glowed with a pale blue or silver, usually described as being like starlight on a summer's eve. . It was so ridiculous.
Aragorn stared, bemused at this turn of events. "I don't exactly know. That's just how it is."
"Did your parents have such a glow?"
Aragorn fumbled for words. "I cannot recall…"
Aeron looked indignantly as the other elves started to ask more and more questions. "Daro! Stop! Estel is not on display, do not treat him thusly."
Aragorn eyes showed gratitude towards Aeron. "Thank you, I'm feeling a little tired and the hour grows late. We should all be heading back."
Everyone dispersed, heading their separate ways. Legolas and Aragorn walked in silence until they were inside the tents that they had been given. Both plopped down as relief washed over them.
"That was a bit close mellon-nin."
Aragorn fingered his chain absently. "I know, but it didn't get out of control. Most of them have even accepted me without question," Aragorn looked at Legolas guiltily, "It's kind of nice to not start off with initial prejudice."
Legolas sighed. He was torn between Aragorn's present happiness and the future consequences that may take place. There wasn't much to do now though. They had dug themselves too far in. "Aeron seems trustworthy and Gene is…"
"He vaguely reminds me of Ryce," Aragorn groaned dismally.
Legolas laughed heartily, as Glorfindel entered the tent with a grave expression on his face. "What tidings do you bring?"
"The council will be held in the morning," Glorfindel sighed heavily, "Have you found anything?"
Aragorn shook his head. "No, all seem at peace here."
Glorfindel regarded his pupil with careful observation. Yes, Aragorn, although an adult he was, he was still learning under the tutelage of others, but now his learnings were enforced and developed with his own experience. "That is because you have not yet heard their opinion of humans. Tomorrow you must remember to keep your anger in check, no matter what is said."
Aragorn nodded in the affirmative. "I won't forget."
At that Glorfindel exited, leaving the two alone again. The night grew dark and most had fallen asleep. Legolas didn't wish to sleep though, the trees whispered to him, asking him to speak. Legolas finally gave in and went to wander among nature's giants. Aragorn took this opportunity to sneak out and walk a bit as well.
He wandered back to the creek and splashed some into his face. It was beautiful; the water's sparkling ripples looked as if it had captured the very stars above. He was about to cup his hands into the water once more when he saw the reflection of a shadowy figure in the crystal waters. Without hesitation he turned around and tackled the person around his middle and both fell to the ground. The newcomer over powered him and pinned him to the ground. Aragorn brought his legs under the assailant and kicked out, but was dodged and Aragorn grunt as he was punched in the ribs. The attacker hauled him up and pinned him to the tree.
"Stop your struggling! I don't want anyone to hear!" the elf whispered urgently.
It didn't take long to identify the voice and when realization struck him Aragorn hissed with animosity. "You don't want them to hear them kill me Rhovan?"
"No, I just want to talk," with that Rhovan let him go.
With immediate ferocity Aragorn socked Rhovan in the gut. The elf doubled over in pain and wheezed. He looked up. "What was that for?"
"Just talking doesn't mean you have to punch someone," Aragorn let a little mirth slip into his voice, "I suppose you've never had any brothers."
Rhovan nodded in the negative and stood straight once again and started to circle around Aragorn like an animal stocking its pray. "I've no brothers, but I do have a cousin and uncle in Mirkwood. I have heard of another named Estel with the exact same descriptions and character as you. Soft spoken, light hearted, adopted son of Elrond, and a dear friend of prince Legolas," Rhovan paused to see if there was a reaction from Aragorn, but he betrayed nothing, "except there is one thing out of place from what I've heard of you and what I see of you now."
Aragorn's heart was beating fast now and fear was starting to build, but he squashed it down. "Oh, and what would that be."
"Oddly enough the Estel that I have heard of is human."
Aragorn weighed his options and decided that there was no point in rebuking it. "Then what shall you do?"
Rhovan's face hardened. "I do not know how you've done it, but this disguise cannot last forever. For now I will tell no one, but if I sense any amount of danger from you I will expose your secret."
"Oh and what has made you suddenly so gracious? How do I know you won't turn or simply use this as blackmail?"
Rhovan grabbed Aragorn's arm and forcibly pushed up his sleeve, revealing the pale scars in the faint moonlight. "I can see that you've suffered much through humans and I understand about being… different. I am also not blind as to see that you have the ability to be trustworthy, but you must earn it."
Hours later Aragorn still stood in the middle of the clearing alone. He lifted his eyes to the heavens and stretched his hand to the sky as if trying to grab the tiny pin pricks of light. With a sigh he let his arm drop to his side and he walked back to the camp.
The Wisher chased a star, jumping from ocean to ocean and crossing fields and forests, but as he chased he found that there was only more things he had to pass through.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
a/n- Ah, poor Aragorn! Find out what happens next time on Of Wishers and Dreamers…
Gosh I'm so sorry for the delay. I had…other writing that needed attending. Thanks for the encouraging reviews; they never cease to lift my heart. Don't worry everyone. I'm on break and can afford to sit in front of my computer, but I still may be a bit slow because of…some previous engagements that I have been obligated to attend.
Reviewer Responses:
siegle- Thanks a lot. I really need this encouragement. Sorry that I couldn't update sooner. gets down on knees ETERNALLY SORRY!
Silverstreak Wolf- I'm so glad you like it. Yeah, I sweat and bled for that wishers and dreamers thing, but it gave me great satisfaction in writing it.
Dee69- gasps enthusiastically and runs up to 'the snow crane' SEE I'M NOT A FAILURE, TO BE ALWAYS IN YOU SHADOW! HAHAHA (for those who don't understand, in school me and 'snow crane' have been rivals, or at least I've been trying to catch up to her, but in recent years I've given up) THANKS FOR YOU SUPPORT!
grumpy- lol, I liked that part too. It's my own usual response to when people ask about what I'm thinking and stuff. Of course Aragorn would give the herbs to the evil guy! He's Aragorn! huggles Estel fondly
RenegadeRanger- WOOT! Score one for ME! Oh yeah! I hope you enjoyed this next chapter.