A/N1: At least one of the bad guys if not both of them will be introduced in the next chapter.

A/N2: Thoughts are in italics.

A/N3: Producing a pain reflex by rubbing a knuckle down the breastbone is a technique used by paramedics and other healthcare professionals to determine the depth or existence of different grades of unconsciousness and is also used to try and bring a person back to consciousness.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will,
and study of revenge, immortal hate, and courage never to submit or yield.
-o-Milton, Paradise Lost-o-

Chapter 12

The Quarry

By the time Halgar had gotten to the gate, one of the guards with lead chain in hand, was waiting to let him out. By the time he knelt next to an unconscious Aragorn, a cruel slave collar had already been placed around the young Ranger's neck with a lead chain attached to it as well. The guard holding Aragorn's chain started to walk away, dragging the unconscious man by his neck but Halgar, desperate that the Ranger should suffer no more hurt at their hands, grabbed the chain and jerked the guard toward him. When the guard turned and glared at Halgar for his actions, the human knelt before the man, touching his forehead to the ground.

"I beg your forgiveness for my inexcusable actions Master Guard."

The Guard looked at Halgar.

"Why do you prevent me from carrying out Chieftain Tarag's commands?"

Halgar touched his forehead to the ground one more time before answering the man.

"I do not try to prevent you from carrying them out Master Guard, I only wish to assist you by preventing the Chieftain's most valuable property from being damaged further. This man is not conscious and if he is drug around by the neck, surely he would die or be damaged beyond repair and if this happened, Chieftain Tarag would lose a potential source of future revenue which would not please him and he would wonder why you caused his death. Also, it was the Chieftain's express wishes that I be allowed to save this man and as I also wish to carry out the Chieftain's wishes I felt compelled to carry out my Master's wishes by stopping you from dragging him away. Please forgive me."

The guard shifted from one foot to another and cast furtive glances in the direction of the Chieftain's tent. Then he seemed to make up his mind and loosened the tension he had maintained on the chain during the entire exchange.

"Very well, slave. You get him on his feet. I don't care if he walks or if you have to carry him but I will tell you this. I will not stop until we reach our destination so if he falls, I will drag him."

After gently patting the injured man's face with no results, Halgar rubbed the knuckle of his right hand down Aragorn's breast bone trying to stimulate a pain reflex. It worked for the man moaned softly and tried to push Halgar's hand away.

"Come Strider, we must go to a new place where I can care for you better. I do need for you to help me as much as you are able. You are too large for me to carry but if you lean on me, I will help you walk. Now please help me."

Aragorn moaned and mumbled something but even though he did not understand what the man said, Halgar got the impression that the injured Ranger would do what he could. Working quickly, Halgar put one of Aragorn's arms around his shoulders and got him to his feet after which the guard turned and with prisoners in tow began the short journey to the slave quarters across the road from the quarry where the two would eventually be working.

The Pit Boss, as the human was called, opened the gate at the guard's bidding. He looked at the collars on the two new slaves then spoke to the guards.

"So, Chieftain Tarag has two new ones, does he?"

The Pit Boss looked at Aragorn and grabbing the injured man's face turned it this way and that, inspecting the job done on him by the guards. He chuckled.

"So, you've already had to teach this slave a lesson, did you? Is he going to be a problem for me?"

The other two guards laughed.

"We caught him trying to steal one of the Chieftain's new slaves, the friend of this one."

He poked Halgar, none to gently, with the back end of the whip he was carrying.

"Anyway, Chieftain Tarag said these two are to go to the infirmary hut and the healer is to have anything he needs to save the Chieftain's property. Give him the usual day and if he cannot get the slave on his feet and able to work, put him down."

Halgar looked at the guard when it was revealed that a death sentence awaited Aragorn if he was not ready to work in a day. He would have to work hard to get the man feeling a little bit better, for with the injuries the man had incurred, realistically it would take much more time to bring him back to health. Yes, it would be a challenge, but he would do his best.

The infirmary hut was no more than a 15 foot by 15 foot building with a filthy mattress on a filthy floor, a door and a haphazardly boarded up window. Moonlight from the yard shone through cracks in the walls as well as the window and Halgar was glad that it was not winter, for it would have been virtually impossible to keep out the cold and snow and to keep himself and Aragorn warm. Once inside the door of the infirmary hut, the guards removed the lead chain and after bidding farewell to the Pit Boss, left. The other man stood in the doorway watching as Halgar lowered the injured man to the mattress. After Aragorn was settled as much as he could be at the moment, Halgar turned to the man standing in the doorway.

"I do not wish to trouble you sir, but the Chieftain said that I was to receive whatever supplies that I needed to save this man."

"What do you think this place is, the Palace?"

Halgar touched his forehead to the floor at the feet of the Pit Boss.

"I mean no offense sir, but if I could have clean water and cloth for bandages, the herbs I carry will suffice. I rely on your kindness sir."

The Pit Boss looked at the human on his knees before him. Seldom did he get new slaves that were so amenable and it was a refreshing change from having to beat compliance into a new slave.

"I will be back in a few moments. You have the kind of attitude that will keep you alive in this place, slave. If you by chance manage to save this other one, see if you can persuade him to adopt the same attitude - he might live longer."

Then the man turned and walked away.

After the Pit Boss had departed, Halgar did what he could to make Aragorn more comfortable on the small mattress - the only comfort available in the small room. After a cursory examination, he could tell that the beating that the young Ranger took, although painful in itself, was not life threatening - it was the two blows to the head that were of concern. There was a large swelling on his forehead where his head had been hit by the guard's knee and there was a large, soft swelling above his left temple where the club had hit him and knocked him away from the fence. At the very least, the blow to the temple had given the man a severe concussion if it had not fractured his skull.

Finding a blanket in the corner of the hut, Halgar looked at it distastefully a moment before he finally shook it out as much as he could then laid it over the unconscious man. The Pit Boss appeared at this time with a bucket of water and bandages as well as two relatively clean blankets and after they had been delivered, Halgar bowed deeply to the man before turning back to his patient.

It did not take Halgar a great deal of time to bathe the grime and blood off the man and soon every visible wound as well as the ribs were bound, poulticed and bandaged. He sat back then, and carefully studied Aragorn and talked to him, for even though he was unconscious, Halgar was sure that the sound of a friendly voice would be soothing.

"So, you are the last of your line, the heir of the great King himself." He said in the barest whisper of a voice.

He pulled the blankets up a little higher on Aragorn's shoulders.

"I wouldn't feel too bad about getting the stuffing beat out of you or even that you got caught. As I was telling your friend Legolas…"

At the mention of the elf's name, Aragorn began to move as if searching for his friend but quieted down when Halgar brushed his cheek with the back of his fingers.

"…as I was telling Legolas, Isildur disguised himself just as you did, he snuck into an enemy populated area just like you did and stole a seed pod of Nimloth, the white tree and a great treasure of Númenor just as you tried to steal Legolas, whom you consider to be a great treasure of your heart. Isildur almost got caught, you did get caught and both of you were almost beat to death. What is it with your line and gallant acts anyway?"

Aragorn tried to push the blankets away from him and with a chuckle, Halgar replaced them then continued talking.

"You have a nobility in you that is plain to see for anyone who chooses to look. You will survive this ordeal, Strider, Ranger of the North.

As he continued to watch the injured man throughout the night, he considered once again, the line of Kings and thought it sad that such a great race of people had declined to the point where the few that were left seemed doomed to wander Middle Earth unrecognized and unthanked for what they did in secret for those in need, even until the last of them finally died off. There was a nobility in the race that would never be lost and even when the last of their kind left the circles of this world there would still be those that remembered the great Sea Kings of Westernesse.

Aragorn stirred in his sleep and when Halgar laid the backs of his fingers on his forehead and found the beginnings of fever he tried to get him to drink some water but the Ranger kept turning his head away and mumbling to himself. The only word Halgar could understand was Legolas and he knew the injured man was calling for his friend and again, he marveled at the bond the two seemed to share, each calling to the other when they were injured and delirious. If he had any say in the matter, he vowed he would see that the two were united once again.

All that night, Halgar faithfully sat at Aragorn's side, bathing his face, soothing his fretfulness and just talking to him. When Aragorn would cry out in his sleep, there was only one person he would call to and Halgar knew that even though unconscious, the man felt terrible about not being able to free Legolas. It was shortly before dawn that Aragorn's fever broke and Halgar took the now tepid water and bathed the sweat off of him then again pulled the two blankets up to his shoulders. When the Ranger first opened his eyes and looked at him, frowning, Halgar tried to reassure him that all was well.

"Where is Legolas? Is he not here with us?" The words were weak.

Halgar knew he couldn't lie to the man for there was something in the almost silver eyes that seemed to see inside his soul.

"I'm sorry, Strider. They wouldn't let him come with us. He will be fine though, I'm sure."

Aragorn did not answer the man and just closed his eyes. Halgar knew he wasn't asleep, but he just let him be.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Shortly after the sun started coming in the window, the Pit Boss unlocked and opened the door. Aragorn and Halgar both opened their eyes and looked at the man.

"Well, I see that he survived the night. Is he ready to go to work?" The Pit Boss looked at Halgar who immediately went to his knees in front of the man.

"Master, I would beg for one more day. His fever just recently broke and he is not strong enough to stand up much less work a full day in the hot sun. Please Master - allow me 24 hours."

The Pit Boss looked from Aragorn to Halgar.

"Who is he that you should care? Why did you beg for his life as you now beg more time to care for him?"

Halgar just smiled.

"I have always had a talent for recognizing the true value of something. That is all, Master."

After thinking for a moment and looking out the door while snapping his whip against his leg, the Pit Boss turned back to Halgar.

"All right. This goes against my better judgement, but I'll give you another 24 hours. If his owner says anything about it, however, I will have to comply with his wishes."

He pushed Halgar onto his back, put a booted foot on his chest then bending over so he could make eye contact, he made sure that the man knew exactly what was going to happen.

"Know this for a certainty, if I walk in here tomorrow and he isn't ready to work - I will put him down. That is the way of it here - if you don't work - you don't live."

He turned away.

"I'll send someone in with your daily ration of food and water. It's all you'll get so don't eat it all at once." Then, chuckling to himself, the man walked out of the hut and slammed the door behind him.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Aragorn slept off and on over the next 24 hours, restlessly turning this way then that, calling out for Legolas again and again. Halgar faithfully sat by him, trying to soothe him when his dreams turned into nightmares that he couldn't seem to escape then bathing the sweat off of his face from the fever that didn't quite want to let the injured man go. Finally, towards dawn when Aragorn seemed to have slipped into a more restful state of sleep, Halgar let himself doze, never leaving Aragorn's side and never totally withdrawing his entire attention so that if he did wake, Halgar would instantly know it and would come awake himself.

It was when the first rays of the sun reached between the gaps between the boards covering what used to be a window that the Pit Boss suddenly threw open the door then chuckled when both humans quickly came awake and jumped at the sound of his entrance.

"Time to go to work boys and girls. Well, slave, how is your patient? Is he ready to go to work or am I going to have to put him down? It doesn't matter one way or the other to me. Now what's it going to be?"

Halgar bowed in front of the Pit Boss.

"He's ready to work master. He's ready to work like I told you he would be."

After bowing respectfully, Halgar quickly put an arm under Aragorn's and helped him to his feet.

"We will be right out boss."

"See that you are because if I have to come back in here another time, I will put you both down - it don't matter to me one way or the other."

After the man had turned and left the room Halgar turned the young ranger's face with his hand and after he made sure that Aragorn's attention was on him, he spoke.

"Strider, listen to me. I don't have a lot of time so you need to listen closely."

When Aragorn nodded his head, he continued.

"The conditions outside will probably be horrible and hot and because you are not yet well, the Pit Boss may treat you horribly. But you must keep working for if you do not then you will be killed - that horrid man already said as much. I will help whenever I can but you have to try your hardest. Do you understand me?"

Aragorn remained silent yet managed to nod his head and when he did, Halgar could tell by the way he flinched that he probably had the mother of all headaches. If he had a chance, he would try and slip him an analgesic later. With a gentle nudge to get him started, Halgar got Aragorn started walking out the door then quickly followed him.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

The two men followed the Pit Boss over to another very large and particularly ugly looking human who was watching as the slaves started gathering together to start their day's work.

"What the hell stinks around here?" The Pit Boss yelled loudly.

The slave Foreman spun around and held out his hand in greeting.

"You old hound, you. What have you got for me? A couple of newbies, eh?" The Foreman looked closely at their collars. "From the looks of it these two belong to Tarag!"

He grabbed Aragorn roughly by the face and turned his head this way and that as he looked at the handiwork of Tarag's men. He raised an eyebrow as he turned back to the Pit Boss.

"I see Tarag's muscle had a little fun with this one. He can hardly stand up. Are you sure he's ready to work today?"

He turned to the Pit Boss with a frown on his face. In turn, the other man shrugged his shoulders.

"His healer said he was ready so he must be ready. If he gives you any problems though just give him a little tease with the Cat and I'm sure he will apply himself to his work with a little more diligence. If not," the man shrugged his shoulders, "just put him down like we usually do to those who can't pull their load."

The Foreman laughed as he snapped the "Cat" a couple of times and watched as the slaves lining up in front of him jumped and looked with well-deserved dread at the whip in his hands. Many backs had been "teased" by the Cat and many slaves would bear its scars for the rest of their relatively short lives. And this fact made the sadistic Foreman a very happy man.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

A day in the life of a slave working in the quarry was neither easy nor fulfilling - as far as jobs go. They worked every day - rain, snow or sun - from dawn until dusk. They hauled rocks. Nothing fancy or gratifying about it.

From dawn until dusk they walked into the mine in a line, picked up as many rocks as they were able then walked outside with them where they would put them in a wagon which was then hauled to the other quarry site. At the second quarry, the rocks were shaped into forms that would one-day build houses, terraces and rock gardens for those people wealthy enough to be able to afford such luxuries.

The slaves were fed a thin gruel in the morning with a weak cup of tea, a meat flavored soup with one or two vegetables in it plus a piece of bread in the afternoon and then another bowl of gruel and cup of tea in the evening after the work was done for the day. A scant dipper full of water was offered every two hours but in the summer when the hours were long and the temperatures were hot, the small amount of water they were given was just barely enough to keep them alive.

It was not uncommon to see slaves pass out from the heat or from exhaustion and it was not uncommon to see the unconscious slave be drug away, never to return or be seen again. The life of a quarry slave was a hard life as well as a sad life, and the first day that Aragorn and Halgar worked in the quarry was a particularly difficult one - especially for Aragorn. When asked later about his first day, he would think hard then tell whoever had asked that he honestly didn't remember much of it except for the heat, falling down, and the "Cat." He woke in a daze, spent the day in a daze and other than that there wasn't much more to tell.

Whenever Aragorn would stumble and fall, Halgar would immediately be there by his side, trying to help him to his feet before the boss would see him on his knees and walk over, uncurling the "Cat" as he walked. Sometimes Halgar wouldn't get to Aragorn in time and even though he didn't cry out as the cruel whip cut his back, he still cringed and Halgar could tell the day was wearing him down emotionally as well as physically.

At one point during one of their water breaks, Halgar saw the Foreman talking to Tarag's Guards who were looking their way and laughing. Halgar just kept the usual angelic, I-don't-notice-nuthin'-boss expression on his face and Aragorn didn't pay attention to them because he was too exhausted and hurting regardless of the analgesic Halgar had given him earlier.

It was on one of his trips into the quarry to get another load of rocks that Halgar noticed that Aragorn was missing. His heart skipped a beat with apprehension as he quickly walked back out of the mine to look for the man and when he saw the Foreman talking to him while Tarag's guards stood by the fence laughing, he thought he was going to be ill.

When the Foreman walked away Aragorn just stood with his head hanging until Halgar finally took him by the arm and walked him into the quarry. Turning his friend toward him he looked into his eyes and saw the haunted and tragic look as if the man had just found out that his whole world had come crashing down around his shoulders.

"Strider, what is it? What did they say to you?"

Aragorn said three words but in those three words was all the grief of a broken heart.

"Legolas is dead."

Aragorn then turned and walked down the narrow path to where the rock mining was taking place. It was Halgar who was stunned speechless and for a few moments he tried to take in what the Heart-brother of the Prince of Mirkwood had just told him. His natural instinct was to ask how and why and when … but out of respect for the man's grief he did not. Halgar knew that the only way he could help Aragorn was just to be there for him.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

That night as they each sat on their little mattresses in the slaves' barracks, Aragorn sat looking out the window into the darkened night silent and sad. He refused the food and water that Halgar tried to give him and wouldn't even let him change his bandages. As he sat watching the man a quiet voice spoke at his shoulder.

"I didn't know a human could fade."

Halgar turned and looked at the speaker.

"I am curious how you would know of such a thing sir. And may I know your name? Mine is Halgar and my friend's name is Strider."

He was a big man, standing a good 6'5", with dark brown hair, dark eyes and a ready smile. Halgar instantly liked him, not because he was large and so could be a powerful ally in the quarry life but because he sensed an innate kindness in the big man, a kindness that he was sure was not shown to just anybody.

"You can call me Lothur." The big man said while smiling. "About a year ago we got an elf here in the quarry. We became close and he taught me many things about the race called Eldar. Unfortunately, life proved to be too much for him. He got to where he would rarely speak and finally quit eating and drinking. One day, he just didn't wake up."

He nodded to where Aragorn was sitting, oblivious to everything around him, lost in his memories.

"If he is truly your friend, then don't let him go too far away."

After a final smile, Lothur stood then walked back to his own mattress and after covering himself with his own thin blanket, closed his eyes and went to sleep. Halgar watched Aragorn for a while longer then rose and walked over to where he was sitting and sat down.

The two sat in silence for a bit then Halgar adjusted his position so that when he did speak, only Aragorn would be able to hear what he said.

"So the future King of Men is just going to give up without a fight?"

Aragorn's head snapped around and he looked at Halgar's face with tear-filled eyes. Halgar gave him a small smile before he spoke again.

"Yes, I know who you are Aragorn, son of Arathorn and I have a little story to tell you so just sit back and relax."

Halgar got himself a bit more comfortable then continued.

"Are you familiar with the Elendilmir, also known as the Star of Elendil?"

Even though Aragorn remained silent, Halgar continued.

"At the time of his death, it was said that Isildur was wearing the Elendilmir. But what if …"

Halgar told Aragorn the whole story as it had been handed down from one Legend Keeper to another for the last 3,000 years and continued the story through the capture of himself and Legolas.

"So you see, Strider, the Elendilmir is here, in Hoth, a symbol of your birthright as King of Arnor and last worn by Isildur himself. We must get it back for it has a purpose that doesn't include Hoth."

When he had finally finished the story, he looked at Aragorn and thought he saw a spark somewhere within the dying embers of the man's spirit.

"Halgar, do you have any of that soup left?"

TBC

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Deana: This is definitely going to be a story about courage and endurance. Our heroes live during a time when there were no such things as paramedics, safe-neighborhoods and the 911 emergency numbers to call. If they get hurt they just can't call 911 and get the police or paramedics to come and help them - they are on their own. But believe me … there is a reason why everything is happening the way it is. Thanks for the review … hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Alison H( ): I think it can be a little heartbreaking, especially in Halgar's case to know how very much Legolas needed him yet duty forced him to choose a different path. It broke Halgar's heart to do what he did - to walk away. Life in Middle Earth is harsh sometimes and especially so in this story. Don't worry though - help will soon be on the way. And thank you so much for your kind words about my writing style - it means a lot to know that it is enjoyable to read. As far as the story goes … there will be plots within plots within plots - there is a reason for everything. Thanks for your very kind words and the wonderful review.

escape5: Thank you for reading and reviewing the second story in my Black Rider Chronicles which is called Possession. I am glad you are enjoying it. There is a little bit of everything in that story so even though it is pretty long, I hope you enjoy every bit of it.