(-)Chapter 6(-)

The three came back only five minutes later, carrying between them three fish. The majority of which had been caught by Elen.

The majority in this case being all of them.

The three other elves were still asleep, Menel still trying to awaken though he was much closer than before.

Elrond glanced up and sighed, looking away and shaking his head.

Sardyn was wet from the chest down. Aragorn was soaked and had somehow lost his tunic though the elf didn't want to know what had caused that to happen. Elen, however, was perfectly fine, and in fact had a rather smug look on her face that he could have sworn said 'I told you so'. Though to what, once again, he didn't want to know.

Aragorn paused and left the other two, making his way toward his father, "Ada?" he muttered quietly.

"Aye Estel?"

"I'm going after the one that did this to them. They're going to tell us everything once the others wake up. I'm going to stay the rest of the day and we're leaving tonight."

Elrond sighed sadly, "'T is as I thought then. You do not wish Legolas and your brother's to know do you?"

Aragorn bowed his head slightly, "No."

"I will not say anything..."

"But I can't expect you to lie if they ask, I know. Hannon lle ada."

The elf smiled slightly, "Just... try not to get yourself nearly killed this time."

Aragorn smiled slightly, "Well I always try..."

"That does not offer any hope Estel."

Aragorn just grinned at the wording of the sentence.

Elrond sighed and shook his head, "Please try harder this time Aragorn."

The human immediately became serious at the name and nodded, "Of course ada," he frowned worriedly, "you are more worried than usual."

The elf sighed and turned his worried gaze to his youngest, "Promise me you will not do anything dangerous Aragorn."

"Ada... I can't-"

"I am serious."

Aragorn stared at him in confusion before it finally dawned on him, "Ada? What did you see?"

The elf turned his gaze back to the rising sun, that had just made it's way over the horizon, "Naught but death."

The human was startled upon realising that the elf's voice shook ever so slightly, he inched closer and leant against the elf, "Ada? I'll try not to kill myself," his words were spoken in a child-like voice.

Elrond smiled slightly but it quickly fell, "Estel... wait for a while, don't leave right away. The least you can do is take your brothers with you."

Aragorn smiled over at him sadly, "'Hope cannot live without faith,' those were your words, I'll never forget them, after you found me in the woods when I was twelve. I think it applies now more than ever ada."

The elf turned his eyes towards the man leaning against him.

Aragorn knew in that moment he'd never forget the look he was given, he'd never seen his father look so worried, so sad. It broke his heart to know it was his fault.

The elven lord stared at him a moment, "When did you become so wise all of a sudden?" there was a small, shaky smile.

Aragorn smiled slightly, "Never ada, I just have a good memory," he muttered softly, before pulling back to stare at him, "remember, though, visions do not always tell the truth ada. They may show what you fear, maybe what they show is a possibility but there is always a way to change what will happen. It is not set in stone ada."

The elf shook his head slightly, turning again and staring at the sun that was making it's way to the tops of the trees, unaware of the tears he shed.

Aragorn winced and put one arm across the elf's back and silently reached over and gently wiped the tears off his face.

Elrond pulled back slightly in shock and turned to watch the man.

Aragorn returned to the position he had taken up before, sitting with his legs stretched in front of him, hanging down the side of the large boulder they were sitting on, with his ankles crossed and his arms crossed lightly as well. He watched the elf carefully with a small smile.

Elrond suddenly realised it was late fall and no doubt very cold and the human was sitting in the early morning with no shirt. He winced guiltily and quickly pulled off the cloak he'd been wearing and draped it over his shoulders then pulled the man into a tight hug.

The man relaxed into his father's embrace and smiled, then pulled back, "I'll be fine ada. If it makes you feel better I'll wait though."

Elrond stared at him a moment, half tempted to jump on the opportunity but just shook his head, "No, you need not wait. I have great faith in you Estel," he smiled at him, "I am proud of you. I know you'll be okay."

Aragorn smiled, "Hannon lle. Now, let us both change as I fear my wet clothes have soaked yours as well."

The elf chuckled slightly, "You say you fear but secretly you enjoy it."

"Oh yes, you've uncovered my secret ada, how did you ever manage it! And after I've hidden my love of making friends and family suffer for so long," he exclaimed dramatically, though quietly at the same time.

Elrond stood, drawing his son with him and they quickly went back to get their spare clothes.

The elf shook his head in amusement, "You had hidden it so well."

"All my hard work destroyed in a matter of minutes," the man sighed heavily, then shrugged, "ah well, the twins don't know and that's the main thing."

Elrond simply laughed.

Gandalf smiled from where he lay, supposedly asleep, though having heard the entire conversation between father and son.

Elen and Sardyn glanced up when the two returned from where they sat facing each other, a deck of cards between them.

Sardyn laughed quietly, "She is annoyingly fast."

Elen smirked, "You are going to have to teach me more of these games."

Aragorn snickered, "Mayhap you should try her at something slower Sar."

"Such as?"

Aragorn frowned, "I know not, slow card games bore me, I had guessed you would know some."

The elf rolled his eyes, "I see."

"You must admit that was rather sad Sar," Legolas muttered from where he lay on his stomach, "first time she plays and she beats you."

Elladan grinned, blinking as he sat, "Poor Sar... really mustn't be good at it."

Elrohir just blinked, "Ai... what time is it?"

Aragorn glanced up, "A little after nine," he smiled.

Menel suddenly shot up, blinking, his gaze shooting around the clearing as he scrambled to his feet.

Elen smiled, "Worry not brother, we are safe," she said distractedly, before throwing a card out just before the elf managed to get his down.

Sardyn sighed, "I've never been that good at card games but this is pathetic."

"So glad you've noticed Sar!" Aragon laughed.

Menel blinked a few times before narrowing his eyes at the beings surrounding him. Shifting his weigh slowly on the soft ground, he continued to eye them all.

Aragorn shot him a slight smile, "We're sorry we couldn't get the collar off, but at least we've nulled the effects."

He sighed slightly and carefully sat next to his sister on the blanket that had been set out since the grass was wet.

They all sat in a circle, minus Elrond and Gandalf, and played some of the games they knew, teaching each other new ones and enjoying themselves. Contentedly knowing that they would be staying here for the day.

A couple hours of the card games brought boredom down upon them and they all sat silent.

Elrond shook his head after a few moments of silence, "Can you not think of any games that test more than your mouths?"

Elrohir blinked, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Elladan whacked his brother palyfully upside the head, "He means we're loud."

Legolas laughed, "And that we were."

Silence reigned in the clearing for a few moments longer. The quiet sounds of the birds seeming to become suddenly very loud.

"Until I am measured I am not known, yet how you miss me when I have flown," Sardyn muttered when the silence became simply to boring.

Aragorn blinked at him, "Excuse me?"

"It's a riddle."

They all lapsed into silence.

Elrond sighed and shook his head, he knew for a fact his sons would never give in. It is why they rarely played the riddle game.

Gandalf smiled and leaned back, watching the younger beings in front of him try to figure out the riddle.

Legolas glanced up suddenly, "Time?"

Sardyn nodded, smiling.

The prince frowned for a moment before speaking again, "Ah, I have many feathers to help me fly. I have a body and head, but I'm not alive. It is your strength which determines how far I go. You can hold me in your hand, but I'm never thrown."

The twins glanced at each other and frowned.

Elladan shrugged, "A dead bird?"

"Very funny Elladan," Legolas rolled his eyes.

Aragorn frowned, sitting slumped forward as he picked a rock out of the soft ground and flung it at the tree his brother was leaning against with a smirk.

Elladan ducked out of reflex, "Ai! Estel!"

Aragorn blinked suddenly, "An arrow."

A/N

Elven Kitten: Hey all :) I hope you'll all excuse this pathetic attempt at a chapter :P lol am hoping they'll get better lol Namarie:)