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There is never a better measure of what a person is than what he does when he is absolutely free to choose.
· William M. Bulger ·

Chapter 28

Time To Go

The tunnel system beneath the city of Hoth was silent; its dark, dank passages rendering an aura of patient and restrained attentiveness as it listened to the life that went on over its head. Though the air was breathable and the temperature not uncomfortable, still, no being who chose to walk through the tunnels would also choose to linger there for the tunnels were not the most welcoming of places. It had been said, and apparently not without justification, that the saddened spirits who had come to Hoth and had never left - had never left - even after their souls and mortal bodies had been parted for eternity.

The sound of quiet footsteps interrupted the natural silence and soon the flickering of torches could be seen dancing on the walls as the beings carrying those torches quietly made their way through the winding passages. Subdued voices could be heard as the humans talked to each other, quietly sharing the information they had gathered from their meeting with the other Captains of the rebellion.

"These people have long yearned for their freedom, Strider, and all they needed to bring their wishes to life - to inspire their hearts to action - was a leader, one who would be willing to lead them and guide them - one who could inspire hope where there was none before."

Aragorn looked at the big man walking on his left.

"But you are a leader, Lothur, and more capable than most. Why is it that you do not lead them?"

Lothur smiled sadly.

"I was a soldier, Strider - nothing more - not a leader but a destroyer."

Halgar frowned before he laid a hand on Lothur's shoulder.

"Why have you not left Hoth then, Lothur, especially if the place holds only bitter memories for you? Why do you stay when there are none capable of standing between you and the fresh air of your freedom?"

Lothur was silent for some moments before he finally sighed then answered.

"Those who serve Ostara are called upon to do things that run contrary to the nature of good men. However, not all those who serve our High Chieftain were, or are, loyal to her and these few who exist within her own ranks, do what they can to ease the burden of the slaves. Once, long ago, I tried to do more than I should have for the slaves and was caught and sent to the quarry. Now I stay to help others not only because they need the help but also because I have experienced both worlds, as both soldier and slave, and know the horrors that are inflicted upon them every day they draw breath and as they suffer the lashes of their cruel masters. I do what I can to undo what that cold-hearted bitch up in the Palace has done to these people."

Aragorn, Halgar and Lothur walked in silence for a time and both Aragorn and Halgar, new to the system of underground passageways, looked around them at the tunnels that snaked this way and that and branched off at odd degrees and angles. Not all the tunnels were natural and it was sweat and blood as well as the hands of many slaves that had carved many of the tunnels over the millennia. It was easy for the two to see where a person, unfamiliar to the tunnels could easily get lost.

Halgar looked around him uneasily.

"Has anybody ever gotten lost in here and died?"

"Halgar!"

"Seriously, Strider - I think it would be easy to do."

Lothur laughed at the wide-eyed innocent look on the man's face.

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The three had walked in silence for a time when Aragorn suddenly stopped and after peering at a nearby doorway and the wall beside it, pointed as he turned to Lothur.

"What does this mark mean?"

Halgar walked up to the wall, running his fingers lightly over the faint marking on the wall that he had just noticed.

"What is that?" Halgar was puzzled and tried looking at the mark from different angles and distances.

Lothur nodded his head in approval.

"I was wondering when the two of you were going to notice the markings."

He brushed his hand lightly over the pictogram, carefully removing the accumulation of dust.

"The mark is always a crude drawing of a tree and when you see it at the entrance of a tunnel means that the tunnel leads to an exit. Three branches on the tree means it exits outside of the city but only two means that it exits within and is therefore inherently dangerous, for those who use that exit are always in danger of exposure upon their exit."

They sat on their heels, resting before they finished their journey, each of them drinking deeply of the cool water from the flask they carried, then after some moments of silence, rose to their feet and once more continued onward. Fifteen minutes later, Lothur looked through the crack in the door that led to the lean-to shelter and when he saw nobody in the compound, pushed aside the barrier then walked outside. Aragorn suddenly froze and let his chin drop to his chest in frustration.

"I left my water flask at the last place we rested." He waved his companions on. "You two go on ahead. I will go retrieve my flask then meet you inside."

Nodding, Lothur, followed by Halgar, turned and walked inside their barracks.

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Aragorn ran and so it didn't take him long before he had reached where he and the others had sat on their heels and rested. Quickly looking around the area and seeing his flask sitting propped up against the tunnel wall, he grabbed it then ran for the exit. He had just replaced the door of the lean-to and turned when something heavy came in contact with his head causing him to drop to his knees on the ground where he remained still, waiting for the ringing in his ears to stop and for his vision to clear.

A hand grabbed his hair and pulled him to his feet. The barracks guard was glaring at him from a mere foot away.

"Now are you going to tell me what you are doing out here?"

The guard grew even more angry when Aragorn didn't answer him.

"When you are asked a question, slave, you are expected to give a truthful answer. Now what are you doing out here all by yourself?"

Aragorn continued to stare back at the guard defiantly. Shoving the ranger away from him, the sadistic guard once more swung his club and this time, when it came in contact with the dazed man's chest, it drove the air from his lungs and knocked him backwards and into the side of the lean-to. When he finally landed on the ground, he was breathless and his chest was on fire.

The guard then lost his temper and started to brutally kick the downed man anywhere he could - head, ribs, hips, stomach or arms. Finally, after it seemed his rage was at last spent, he took a step backwards and looked at the unconscious and bloody man laying face first on the ground at his feet. Starting to feel guilty for having gone too far with his punishment, he looked around him to see if anyone had witnessed what he had done and saw nobody in the immediate vicinity. He knew he had surpassed, by far, the expected and necessary punishment, and also knew that somehow he would have to clean this mess up himself - he truly felt that there was only one option left.

He nodded his head - he would say that he had caught the slave trying to escape and had to stop him - again he nodded, satisfied with his own plan. Setting his feet apart for balance, he grabbed the handle of the club with both hands and started to raise it over his head one last time, then after taking a deep breath, he began his downward swing. There was the sound like a mellon shattering and the guard's eyes opened wide.

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After Rahan and the twins had groomed the mare until her coat shone with new life, he led her to where the other horses were tethered then smiled. From the nickering that the horses were all doing back and forth, he guessed that Lady Hiril was probably telling all of them all about her latest adventure. Shaking his head, the Captain made his way back to the fire and knelt beside it then took two cups and proceeded to prepare the pain medicine and antibiotic tea for Elladan and Elrohir.

At first, the two looked like they wanted to refuse the medicine but after mere moments, took the cups and drank the tea without further complaint. Somehow, the two had gotten the impression that the big 6'6" Captain wasn't too intimidated by their pouting and identical glaring looks.

Rahan chuckled to himself as he walked back to the fire. He would rather face Sauron, while naked, unarmed and in the middle of a winter blizzard, than face one petite she-elf if she found out that he had not made the twins take their medicine. He rinsed the cups out then once more sat down beside the fire.

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The Palace was still quiet and true to the orders he had been given, the guard had not bothered the two occupants of the last cell in the cell block. Anayah continued to hold her friend and for the moment, as he tried to get his bearings, Legolas took comfort from that act. Finally, with tear-filled eyes, he looked up at her and gently touched the side of her face with the tips of his fingers.

"I want to go home - I don't like it here."

Anayah leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"You have endured much, my friend, but I must ask you to be patient for at least another day - two at the most - for it will take me that long to get you out of here safely. Do you think you can hold on for that long?"

When the Prince looked away from her and she saw a tear streak its way down his cheek, she did the only thing she could think of - she brought up the subject of Aragorn.

"Estel was told that you were dead, Legolas. It was a cruel joke played on him by the compound as well as the quarry guards and when the twins told him differently …"

"The twins are here as well?"

She smiled as she brushed some hair out of his eyes that had fallen there when he had turned his head to look at her.

"Yes, those two rascals are here and in fact, Elrohir saved my life using an exploding firework he had been saving for a prank. Anyway, Estel was fading from his grief but when he found out that you were alive, that knowledge gave him new hope and the strength to go on. Can you do the same for him - find a measure of strength just for him? I could not bear it if I were to lose you both."

As Anayah continued to look into his eyes, she saw the spark that was his spirit slowly coming back to him, even though he was still physically as well as emotionally weak. The thought of being reunited with the brother of his heart would give him an added measure of strength - he would continue - she knew this and was glad. She sighed and brushed his cheek with the back of her fingers.

"Legolas, dawn is fast approaching so I must leave you for a time. I do want you to know however, that the next time you see me, I will have come to take you home."

Legolas nodded and even though he was afraid of being alone, he knew that he had to let things progress in their own way and in their own time. Anayah rose from the bed and after kissing him lightly on the cheek, drew the hood of her cloak up over her head then quietly left the cell.

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Leaving through one of the doors in the kitchen, Anayah made it all the way to where Semoro was waiting for her with their horses before her knees finally almost gave out on her. Though he caught her and wasn't too obvious in his concern - which she was grateful for - the Guard knew right away what she had done for as she had been walking toward him, he had noticed that her glow had been substantially reduced. However, he felt that the present was not the right time to talk to her about what had happened and so, helping her mount her horse and after he leaped into the saddle of his own horse, the two of them began their ride back to their camp.

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The barracks guard stared ahead of him with a surprised look on his face but after the second impact, he dropped the club then quickly followed it to the ground. If the truth were to be known, the sadistic human was probably already dead before the second time the large rock Halgar was holding in his hand had hit him in the back of the head.

Halgar stood frozen in place still holding the bloody rock in his hand and trembling. Then Lothur appeared at his side and after gently taking the large rock from the man and tossing it aside, he sat him down and wiped the splattered blood off his face. After making sure that he had suffered no injury, the big man then turned to Aragorn.

Feeling for a pulse under the man's jaw line, Lothur sighed with relief when he found it. The young Ranger's condition was not good and he would need immediate care, but at least the Valar had been looking after him and had saved him from a needless death. He put a hand on his own forehead as he thought, then looking around him, he realized what had to be done and whether Strider would approve of it or not. Rising to his feet he paused in front of Halgar and after kneeling in front of him, put a hand on the side of his face.

"Are you going to be ok?" When Halgar nodded, he continued. "I have to go talk to the barracks Captain for a few moments then I will return. Until I come back, I want you to watch Strider. Can you do this?"

Halgar nodded silently.

Lothur once more rose to his feet and hurried inside the barracks and after just a few moments, he returned with Halgar's pack, water flasks, blankets and cloaks. Then, after picking Aragorn up and making sure Halgar was following him, the three walked through the concealed door of the lean-to and disappeared into the darkness of the tunnels.

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Rahan and Súrion were sitting beside the fire, quietly talking when they heard the sound of approaching horses. Both Guards were instantly alert, and turned to face the approaching riders, hands on the hilt of their swords, prepared to draw their weapons in an instant although both relaxed when they saw that it was only Anayah and Semoro returning from the Palace. Rahan frowned when he saw the dark circles under Anayah's eyes for she appeared to be almost asleep in the saddle. He was almost sure of it when he saw Elias step sideways to keep his rider from falling to the ground.

When he looked at his brother, Semoro only gave a slight shake of his head, indicating that questions and explanations would best be left for later. The Captain was standing close enough to Elias so that if Anayah did fall, he would be close enough to catch her.

Anayah was just about to step out of the stirrups when the sound of a galloping horse caught everyone's attention including the twins who had both gotten quickly to their feet, their swords in their hands and ready to meet whoever was approaching. It was Saeros, the Guard who had been keeping watch from the orchard across across the road from the barracks where Aragorn and his friends were being held captive. When the elf arrived, Rahan laid a calming hand on his mare's headstall as she almost reared in her haste to stop in front of the elves. Anayah was instantly by her shoulder looking up at Saeros.

"What is it, Saeros?"

"I got the signal that your brother needed help and when I went to the rendezvous point, the Captain of Estel's barracks met me with some disturbing news. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but earlier this night, he was almost beat to death by one of the barracks guards and although he is alive, his condition is grave. The one called Lothur said it was time to get him out of there whether he wants to go or not. We are to meet a guide on the outskirts of Hoth who will take us to the place where the three will be exiting the tunnels. It is my recommendation that we leave as quickly as possible."

Anayah laid a hand on the elf's knee.

"Thank you Saeros. If you wish, you may stay here in camp and rest while we go to extract my brother and his two friends."

Saeros just shook his head and smiled.

"My Lady, we are a team and as such we stay together and go to whatever end - as a team."

Anayah touched her forehead then turned and almost walked face first into Elias who was standing directly behind her and who was just as ready as everybody else to go do what had to be done. Shaking her head in amusement at his eagerness, she took the knee the stallion offered her then leapt lightly into the saddle. After touching gloves, the elves turned and galloped in the direction of Hoth - for they had a brother to save.

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Lothur, who was carrying the unconscious Ranger, and Halgar had traveled some distance down the tunnels when Lothur finally called for a rest. Still having not said a word since they had entered the tunnel, Lothur was afraid that the man would collapse before the reached the tunnel's exit. He need not have worried for the moment he laid Aragorn's body on the ground, Halgar was instantly beside his friend, doing what he could to make him more comfortable until his injuries could be tended properly. Suddenly he paused and for a moment closed his eyes. Lothur was just about to ask what the problem was when Halgar leaped to his feet and staggered a few feet in the direction they had just come from and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the ground.

When he finally turned back to where Lothur was kneeling beside Aragorn, he blushed red with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry about such a public display of nerves, Lothur. It's just that I have killed nothing before except for an Uruk Hai once and whatever was needed for dinner. I'm afraid that killing one of my own kind is a bit unnerving."

Lothur nodded in understanding then handed Halgar the water flask. The man poured a small amount of water in the cupped palm of his hand and after getting it into his mouth, rinsed then spit. Turning back to his friends he knelt and once more began to take care of Aragorn and when he felt Lothur's eyes on him he looked up and smiled.

"Yes?"

Lothur cleared his throat before he spoke.

"I underestimated you, my friend, and for that I apologize, for I thought your spirit to be too gentle to allow you to do what a warrior ought to although I see now that I was wrong. You are not only a warrior but a good friend, for only a friend would forego what his own nature told him to do just to go to a friend's aid - young Strider will long remember what you did for him."

Halgar smiled at him.

"Then help me get my friend back to his family."

With a nod, Lothur once more picked Aragorn up and together they continued on towards the exit.

TBC

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Karone Evertree: Another caffeine addict - so am I - and yes, you can get caffeine withdrawal headaches but after you take a "bite of the dog that bit you" the headache usually goes away. I have always had a tendency to get "squirrelly" the more tired I get and so seeing the Alien from the movie when I thought of the twins is actually pretty normal especially for how tired I was. Uhm … need a shield for the drool from the alien? How about a bib … poor alien creature.

Yeppers … Anayah is a tenacious type of friend. She will go to whatever ends are necessary to help or protect her family and friends and not just because it is her job but because that is what her heart tells her to do.

About Manwë's beard … we can talk to our friends for an hour and sometimes it is the one off-the-wall statement we make that they will remember first. But, at least Legolas has decided to stay.

Thank you for your review and also thanks for reading Possession.

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CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Thank you for your support. You would think that as old as I am and as long as I have been writing that something like that wouldn't bother me. It didn't hurt my feelings but I did feel anger and I guess that was because I once raised three unruly children that would have made her look like a saint - no wonder I have a little temper on me! No writer can go through their professional life without offending someone along the way. Flamers usually don't bother me - usually. But on that particular day I had an attitude from Mordor - and so I went ballistic. Now what would bother me is if Stephen King, Dean Koontz or someone like that flamed me - then I would probably cry. 8-(

Yeppers, Fanfic was down almost 2 days. At least I got my story posted before it crashed!

Thanks for the review - I always love hearing from you!

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nanahalfelven: I think I really laughed hard when Brego was smooching Aragorn because if you look close at Aragorn's face you can see smoochy-goobers. The horse probably snorted on him before he smooched. Poor Hiril … she was by herself for that whole time because she was doing what her rider told her to do. But eventually she said that enough was enough so she found the twins and asked them to help her.

Thanks for the review!

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Orontelmi: You're welcome. I have always been a believer in sharing what I learn with others - especially about Tolkien! Some people don't have time to do as much reading as I do because they have school, family, jobs or just don't want to, so if I can help by sharing either insights or facts then that is a good thing and makes me happy. I have all but about 3 or 4 of Tolkien's books then I found a huge hard back book on Sindarin which I'll have to pawn all my grandchildren before I have enough money to get it so I pretty much have a handle on Tolkien's world - and learn new things every day.

No, the Prince did not die, although it was close. What will happen in the future? Let's just say … he's not out of the Palace yet.

Thanks for the review!

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kukumalu: Pardon me for sounding like an idiot but when you say "university" do you mean the equivalent of Graduate School? Are you going to be studying for your Masters Degree? In what subject? I do wish you well.

I am glad that you like Halgar. He certainly proves the old saying that dynamite comes in small packages. He is not a terribly large man compared to some of my other characters, but what he has going on in his head and in his heart, more than makes up for his lack of size.

The Thurin Tirith Guards, by nature of what they do, are required to pass minimum requirements for size - 6'2" being the shortest they can be. The largest of my Guards is the Captain who is 6'6" and weighs 450 lbs. - not an elf you would want to get mad at you. Much is required of them after they take an oath to serve and protect a "Charge," to this end, they are highly trained. They are not invincible but because of their size, stamina and training, are capable of things most other elves are not, and that is why a lot of people are surprised at how, like you said, "agile and stealthy" they can be.

Poor Hiril … she just went to somebody she knew for help. But can you imagine waking up and the first thing you see about three inches away from your eyes are the nostrils of a horse? I would have squealed as well.

I am glad that you are still enjoying the story - thank you so much for the review.