(-)Chapter 5(-)
Aragorn shifted uneasily as he entered the clearing behind his brothers, his eyes quickly sweeping over his father, making sure he was alright. The elf seemed completely normal, with the exception of the tiredness in his eyes. He then turned his eyes to the two ex-dragons as he walked into the sun, stepping out of the shadow with a frown, he noticed immediately the only difference in the two. The red glow was gone. They stones seemed to be just that, stones, the red colour itself seemed to have faded as well.
Legolas knelt next to one, his eyes having picked up the same thing easily and checked him over. He glanced back over at the two older beings in complete confusion.
"What happened?" he blinked.
Gandalf smiled slightly, "A person can do many things young one, when he sets his mind to it."
Legolas smiled slightly, "Then I imagine a wizard can do more."
"Perhaps, perhaps not," the wizard shrugged indifferently.
Elrond smiled and stood, "They will awaken... as themselves. Unfortunetly we cannot get the collars off right now."
Aragorn smiled nervously, "I had not expected more than this ada. Thank you, I realize this couldn't have been an easy task," he muttered uneasily, glancing up at the elf.
He suddenly felt greatly inferior to the elf he called his father as he stared up at him.
Whether Elrond noticed this or not he would never know but the elf suddenly dropped to his knees and simply hugged the man.
Aragorn blinked in confusion, "Ada?"
Elrond smiled fondly and ruffled his hair, "Thank you ion-nin."
Aragorn's confusion grew and he glanced over at Gandalf when the elf gave him no answers. The wizard was no more forthcoming.
Legolas chuckled slightly and whistled sharply.
The six horses appeared out of no where a few minutes later and they quickly pulled the supplies off them. The bedrolls were rolled out on the long grass that served as a nice cushion between them and the ground. Elen and Menel were set next to each other and Aragorn lay at their heads, wanting to be near if they woke during the night.
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Aragorn jumped awake, shooting up into a sitting position and glancing about wildly, wondering what had woken him.
"Estel?"
"'Ro?"
"Aye," the elf appeared at his side, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I don't know why I woke," he muttered with a frown.
"Elen moved," the younger twin laughed quietly.
Aragorn smiled, "Ah, that'll do it," he sighed and fell back against the rolled up cloak.
"You are sure you're fine?" Elrohir questioned quietly.
Aragorn smiled, "Perfectly," he muttered as he stared at the stars, his gaze quickly picking out the ones he recognized.
Elrohir smiled slightly and flopped back next to his brother on his own bedroll, the cool night air blowing his hair into his face so he had to push it back as he fell. He glanced over at the human after a moment, turning his eyes away from the cloudless sky.
"Estel."
The human glanced over at the elf and blinked, "Aye?"
"I... never mind," he shook his head with a slight smile.
Aragorn rolled his eyes, "'Ro, you never start to say something unless you really want to say it. Now do so before I fall asleep again," he joked tiredly.
"'T is only that you have been gone much too long Estel. We worry about you greatly and I fear you're about to leave again."
Aragorn glanced over at the elf in surprise, "Elrohir? I don't intend to go anywhere for a while gwador," he smiled slightly. /brother/
Elrohir sighed, "I know you'll be going to find the one who did this to them," he motioned to the two dragons-that-currently-aren't-dragons.
Aragorn stared at the two a moment before glancing back to his brother, "If I had any idea I'll admit I probably would. But 'Ro, if you're worried about me you need not be. I am fine, and I can stay for as long as you can stand me," he smiled.
Elrohir smiled fondly at him, "Listen to me Estel, I'm not going to hold you back, I know full well that you simply need to go. All I ask is that you come home more often than you do. You're my brother Estel, I love you, and miss you terribly."
Aragorn stared at him a moment before sitting up and pulling the elf up off the ground into a tight hug, "Ai 'Ro, I've missed you too, I love you as well brother," he grinned and pulled back, "terribly unfortunate for you."
The elf sighed dramatically, "Oh woe is me," he fell backwards with a slight laugh, he paused then as he glanced to the sky, "ah, 't is 'Dan's watch," he rolled over and plugged the elf's nose until he woke with a gasp, attempting to squirm out of the bedroll and ending up tangling himself in it.
Aragorn laughed softly, "Calm down Elladan," he smirked and fell back to the ground as the elf froze, "I'm sure 'Ro wasn't trying to kill you."
"Well you can never be sure," the older of the twins muttered, covering his embarrassment with a sigh before yawning slightly and standing, walking off the tiredness and frowned slightly, "what are you doing up Estel?"
"Elen moved," Elrohir nodded seriously before snickering slightly.
Aragorn rolled his eyes good-naturedly and yawned, "I'm going back to sleep," he muttered, turning away from the two with a light laugh.
Elrohir smiled and lay back as well, falling asleep almost immediately.
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Aragorn shot awake again a couple hours later, it was still dark, but it wouldn't be in ten minutes. He glanced over and smiled brightly as he noticed Elen stirring again. He pushed himself up silently, not wanting to alert the one on watch and reached out carefully to place one hand on her shoulder. He glanced up and smiled when he found his father watching him. He pulled himelf out of the bedroll and moved to sit at her side.
"Elen?" he whispered quietly, wincing slightly when she groaned.
Her eyes flew open suddenly and she shot up, on her feet in the blink of an eye she immediately backed away from him.
The man jumped up in his surprise and raised his hands, "Calm Elen! 'T is Estel mellon-nin."
She froze, "Estel?"
He nodded, smiling, "Come, before you wake the other's."
She sighed and slumped slightly, moving forward slowly and falling back to the ground with a sigh, "I'm sorry," she murmered.
Aragorn cocked his head to the side and sat in front of her, "Whatever for?"
She glanced up at him, that alone being odd for her, and sighed again, "For... attacking you."
Aragorn smiled brightly, "Do not apologize," he laughed, "it was an interesting experience."
She frowned at him slightly.
The man rolled his eyes good-naturedly, "It was none of your doing Elen, we know."
She glanced up warily, "You are sure?"
"Yes. And what information you can give us would be greatly helpful."
She sighed, "I will tell you all you wish to know when everyone is up. I'll guess they wish to know as well and I do not wish to repeat this more times than necessary."
"I understand completely," he smiled, before glancing over at her brother, "he'll awaken soon. Until then you may wish to get some rest."
She shook her head, "Nay, I am not tired."
He shrugged, "Alright," he smiled, "do as you wish, I might as well start breakfast so we can get out of here early."
Sardyn sighed and turned onto his side, facing away from the man, "You realise some people are still trying to sleep?" he was obviously not awake and had not realised that Elen was awake.
She frowned at him in confusion.
Aragorn just smirked and went silent, wandering about he picked up a random stone from the ground.
After a few moments Sardyn turned over again, looking much more awake, "What are you doing?"
Aragorn hid the rock behind his back, he didn't intend to use it for anything other than to look guilty, "You asked me to be quiet," he grinned wickedly.
"Not that quiet."
Aragorn shrugged and dropped the rock.
The elf shuddered slightly, "What did you intend to do with that?"
"Nothing," he smiled, "I'm going fishing, to get some breakfast."
The elf sat up then, "Fish?" he asked warily.
"No, I'm fishing for rabbits Sar."
The silver-haired elf glared at him.
Elen smiled from where she stood.
Aragorn turned to her suddenly, "Would you like to accompany me?" he grinned, "We can plot together."
Sardyn sighed and stood, "I'm coming with you, I do not wish for any fish falling from the sky onto my head."
The ranger smirked, "Come now Sar! You know fish can't fly."
Elrond shook his head from where he sat, "Are you three going to stand there and attempt to wake everyone up or are you going fishing?"
Aragorn laughed quietly, "Sorry ada, we're going."
The elf frowned suddenly, "Estel?"
"Yes ada?"
"It's still cold, no more swimming after dark, you're lucky you didn't catch a cold last time."
A/N
Elven Kitten: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Thank you sielge, flamesothemo0n, Elentariel (X2), Aranna Undomiel, IwishChan, Nessa Ar-Feiniel, and MicroChips (X3) for your reviews, they were very much appreciated :)