I'd fly away
to a higher plane
to float away
to sigh
to breathe... forget
I saw so many things
but like a dream
always losing me in a cloud
Cause I couldn't cry, cause I turned away
couldn't see the score, didn't know the pain
of leaving yesterday really far behind
in another life, in another dream
by a different name
gave it all away for a memory
and a quiet lie
and I felt the face of a cold tonight
still don't know the score, but I know the pain
of leaving everything really far behind
and if I could cry
and if I could live what truth I did then take me there
Heaven goodbye
--Wolf's Rain
Heaven's Not Enough
The morning brought sunshine, breaking through the dark of night, but it did not bring comfort to those who gazed upon its splendor. At least it spoke true for those who awaited audience. Legolas was finishing off the last of his intricate warrior braids as he stepped out of the tent to a see the all familiar scene of his friend gazing into space, lost in the confines of his mind, a scene that he witnesses far too many times.
He sat next to him as he always did in these occasions. "What are you brooding about now?"
"There is a difference between contemplative thought and brooding Legolas."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "Then what pray tell are your thoughts."
Aragorn forced a smile. "It is of no importance."
"Don't do this. Don't shut me out," Aragorn made no pretense of answering. Legolas sighed. "Why are you not getting ready for the meeting?"
Aragorn regarded him quizzically. "What is there to get ready?"
"For one you have to put on some form of formal wear."
"I didn't bring any!"
"Who was the one who packed your gear?"
"I did! I'm no child to be cared for."
Legolas snorted. "You might as well be a child. I saw your ada pack your formal attire personally."
Aragorn grumbled considerably. "Where is it then?"
"They're in the beige bag that also contains some extra socks. I saw you throw it in the tent somewhere," Legolas watched as Aragorn slid back into the tent muttering something unintelligent.
The same messenger from the day before came back to their camp with an air of trepidation. "Prince Legolas, I'm sorry to inform you that the meeting will be delayed slightly."
"Why? For what reasons is there a further postponement?" Legolas asked, impatiently.
"There has been a disturbance. Humans are approaching quickly from southeast upon horse back," the messenger excused himself and sped away to perhaps inform others of the news.
Holding the previously indicated beige bag Aragorn emerged from the tent with apprehension. "This doesn't sound good. If these elves are truly as repugnant as Gandalf said then those unfortunately humans will be in a lot of trouble."
Legolas grabbed his knives. "I agree, let's hurry."
The two raced away, trying to catch the humans before the others did, but with no success. They saw several Dunloreag troops already positioned on the ground and in the trees with bows drawn and attitudes taught. They surrounded five humans on horse back, who rode in front of an open cart pulled by two other horses, its contents covered by cloth and blankets.
The captain that had first greeted them stepped forward, his tone icy. "What is your business that you were riding so fast towards our home?"
"Please," said an older male, "we were being persued by wargs down near the river and were only trying to get away. We had no idea that there were those who resided here."
The captain's sneered with scorn. "Is that so? How do we know that you weren't leading them here?"
One of the younger men looked in disbelief. "How could you think that!"
An elven warriors laughed derisively. "You're humans, we can't trust you as far as one of our young could shoot you!"
The young man flushed with unkempt anger. "You damn elves!"
Every bow string was tightened and now aimed at the young man who was now being suppressed by what looked to be his wife. There was sudden movement in the cart as the blankets began to shift and something dark brown and a non-bipedal shot from one of the ends. It was shot on sight before it could even reach the end of the cart.
A small dog lay with an arrow going through its neck, its life blood seeping out of the guttural wound.
There was further movement beneath the blanket as another followed the dog's previous appearance. Arrows were drawn and poised once again, but were loosened as the source of the movement was revealed.
"Skie?" A boy, maybe 11 or 12, crawled out from under the covers, his eyes full of unease. He then saw what remained of his faithful friend and his eyes widened in horror. He just stared and with a trembling hand he reached out to touch the matted fur, but something in him only allowed his hand to hover over the wretched scene.
"Jaccen, what happened? What…" a little girl, only four or five, tried looking over his shoulder when she also emerged from their hiding place.
Jacen seemed to slam back into reality in full force. "No, Jaina. Get away, don't look. Jaina please, just don-don't…"
Jacen was trying to suppress his own feelings for the benefit of his sister, but he could hardly restrain his own. He put out a hand to stop her, though it went unheeded as she did what he dared not. Her hand drew away with warm blood, making her feel cold inside. She held it out in front of her, simply looking at something that was very common place in these darkening times. The younger man and his wife dismounted and ran to the small girl and boy, letting their comfort radiate through their embrace.
The younger man turned back to the elves with loathing, his voice coming out as a hiss. "Do you see what you have done? They are children."
"They…we-we did not know. Why were they hidden if they were only children? It could have easily have been a plot," the captain answered defensively.
The man shook his head incredulously. "We were running from wolves. Surely even elves can understand a need to protect their children!"
Before anymore violence could ensue, Legolas, with the help of a newly arrived Gorfindel went to argue with the captain, while Aragorn went to comfort the human family. He made sure his hair concealed his ears and could only hope that they weren't too perceptive.
"Greetings, you can call me Strider. Come, let us leave this place and then we can take care of your friend," Aragorn motioned for them to follow him. They did not however and chose to be wary.
"The elves are just going to let us walk away?" said the older man with a sneer.
"My friends are taking care of it," he again gestured for them to follow and led them out of elven territory.
He could feel the stares of the others and when he felt that he far enough he unclasped the chain and slid it into his pants pocket. These people needed someone to trust right now. By "someone" it meant another human.
"You travel in odd company and with a curious name. You also choose…unusual friends and even stranger clothes," the women said scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"How could you even stand those elves. If I had ever met a haughtier being I must have poor judgment indeed," the young man scoffed indignantly.
"They aren't all bad, believe me, I've lived with them quite long enough to know." Aragorn didn't feel up to the challenge of converting their views. It would be a fruitless effort and the elves had acted harshly, it was within the family's right to be angry.
They buried the dog and the family payed their respects to the diseased companion. Aragorn watched from afar, remorse etched in his features. He had pets and friends that he had watched die. The elves behavior was uncalled for, but what could have been done? Nothing, the biasness was born and bred into both sides. There was just misunderstanding and the innate fear of what they did not know.
The family thanked him and left, the boy holding his sister against his chest, whispering words that didn't need to mean anything. Aragorn simply watched, wondering idly what it would have been like if his life had been different, if his parents had lived. When he really thought about it, Aragorn decided he would not have had it any other way, but still…
Aragorn's thoughts came to an abrupt close as he heard feral snarling coming from the depths of the forest. The humans weren't lying then. There were wargs in the area, but they were not coming after him. The whistling of arrows cut through the tumult and Aragorn rushed to their source, putting the chain back over his head. He saw Aeron battling now with an elven short sword, its curved blade slicing through flesh. Aragorn could see that he was outnumbered and outmaneuvered. His instincts decided to make an appearance, but only to scream at his stupidity. He had not brought a single weapon.
Aragorn's eyes swept across the battlefield and spotted Aeron's discarded bow and quiver lying sprawled upon the ground. Aragorn made a dash to retrieve them and ceased to be an observer and was now a target. A warg took it upon itself to be the first to see if it could maim the newcomer and launched itself toward Aragorn. Aragorn dodged to the side and made a swipe to the quiver, but the warg crushed him under its foul weight as it jumped onto his chest.
Aragorn's panic levels soared and he moved his left hand to try and get the snarling jaws from getting any closer to his face when he felt something. In his hand was the strap of Aeron's quiver. So I'm not as unlucky as previously believed, Aragorn thought humorously. The angle of the quiver in accordance to the hand that held it was not in his favor. The only way to get one of the arrows was to use his right hand, which was currently the only thing that kept the warg from chewing off his head.
In a second of quick decision making Aragorn used all of his strength to push the warg's head away and used those precious moments to reach over and grab an arrow. Before he could strike the warg used its claws to slash him from his shoulder to chest. Aragorn grit his teeth in pain and brought the arrow down on the warg's skull. The thing gave a last snarl before collapsing on his side and off of Aragorn. Aragorn got up and couldn't help an inward chuckle, Amazing, I'm even luckier. Usually the damn thing would just fall on me and trap me there.
With no time left to spare Aragorn grabbed the bow and fitted an arrow, pointing it at the last warg which was quickly over powering Aeron, who was slowing considerably, doubtless from the countless wounds he had sustained. Aragorn fired with no hesitation, his arrow hit true and pierced into the wargs throat. True, he had been aiming for the head, but the thing had moved at the last second. This must be my grossly overdue lucky day, he thought dazedly.
He made his way to Aeron, who was leaning heavily against a tree, panting heavily. His healing instincts flared as he took in the severity of the wounds. Aeron wasn't too bad, if he had been left out here for several hours he would have been in trouble. He had a gash on his left side and cuts that crisscrossed down his right leg and a few on his back.
"Aeron, come my friend. I will help you back," Aragorn looked in concern as Aeron's eyes turned to him, but were clouded in confusion.
"Estel is-is that you," Aeron voice will filled with uncertainty and a hint of…suspicion?
"Yes, it's me," Aragorn stopped walking, frowning.
"No, it can't be. What's wrong with you? You're-you're," Aeron pointed at him, "You're human!" It wasn't a question.
All of Aragorn's previous thoughts of good fortune were thrown clear away. He turned back to where the fallen warg was and put a hand up to his neck. He felt the cuts there, right at the base of his neck, what he didn't feel was the glittering object that lay in the grass only a mere 11 feet away. He retrieved it quickly and replaced it to its previous place and strode back to Aeron.
He looked the elf right in the eyes and with a voice he used to command troops he said, "Aeron, you cannot tell anyone of this. I have my reasons and if this were to be revealed things may be put into motion that cannot be reversed."
Right before his eyes he could see the trust and friendship he had built crumble from its very foundations, this from the start was only supported by him being an elf.
Aeron nodded gravely. "I understand."
Aragorn heart ached as he helped Aeron up and they carefully made their way to camp. They walked for the most part in silence and it hurt him deeply. Aeron had leaned his secret in the most unwieldy manner. Now there were two. Two, that at any moment, could tell everybody that he had been lying about everything. He felt Aeron drifting off and he knew he would have to start a conversation in order to keep him aware.
"Why were you there alone anyway?"
"I was told to follow you and make sure that the human were well off the borders," Aeron's tone was listless, either from the blood loss or the fact that Aragorn was there.
"I see."
Aeron laughed ruefully. "From the way you reacted with those humans I should have guessed. I should have known and it was not only that. You're glow, you're age…everything about you seemed a bit out of place," he scowled grimly at the ground, "I can't believe I fell for your ruse so blatantly."
This cut an ever deeper wound into Aragorn. "No, please Aeron--"
He didn't continue as they entered through one of the side gates of Dunloreag. Maybe the reason why he had stopped talking wasn't because of those who now surrounded him and placed Aeron on a stretcher, it was because… he couldn't say anything. He could say nothing that could soothe the betrayal he felt in Aeron.
An hour later Aragorn stepped out from the healer's tent. He had personally seen to Aeron's wounds and had only just finished. Aeron was sleeping peacefully. A ray of sun filtered through the leaves in the trees and glared at him. He shielded his eyes and stared at the bright sun. It seemed to taunt him as it shone on his face. He turned his back on it, not able to face the truths it illuminated in front of him.
The Dreamer made wings out of wax so he could fly, but when he got too close to the sun the wax melted and he crashed to the ground.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A/N- Ugh, I am sooooo sorry about the delay. I really hate responsibilities, but I guess they're the only way we become true adults. –sighs- Anyways, thank you for the reviews. They were the things that were pushing me to get my ass up. Oh, also, sorry about the profanity in this chapter. I HAD to. It just felt right for the moment. I'll see if I can push for another chapter, but I'll probably not be able to. I've been neglecting one too many projects, but I promise I'll try. Thanks everybody.
Reviewer responses:
viggomaniac- I apologize for my modernized slaughter. No, smear the queer is not middle earth material, but as for the name Gene -smiles maliciously- it's actually an inside joke. I've read a lot of classic literature and Gene used in my context and later context would be a very cruel irony towards his book character. I do hear you concerns and I promise to be more careful. I sincerely thank you for your offer, but I feel that I must decline. Apart from my modernisms, pride is another of my many fall outs. I give you my word that if you find another time frame problem I will take up your gracious offer. As for my age, I cannot guess what your definition for young is so I will not comment upon it. I am soo grateful you do see potential in me, given my flaws. I hope you stick with me and perhaps come and review my other stories I will make eventually. Yeah, I'm probably going to have a preview for my next story, Concealing the Wounded Heart, at the en of this story.
grumpy- Oh yes, bad Rhovan –hits rhovan upside the head- Don't worry he probably won't reveal anything. Right? –glares at Rhovan evilly-
Silverstreak Wolf- I'm glad you liked the game part. I thought it was pretty stupid, but I couldn't really think of anything else. I'm really sorry I couldn't update soon, but I hope you're happy with my chapter.
goddescal- Yay, thanks for the review. It's good to know that my plot wasn't as pointless as I thought it would be when I started out. I hope you check back and read and hopefully review more of my story.