Hello all! Here is chapter 7. It's a bit angst-y! I hope you like it! Thanks for all the reviews throughout the chapters!
Jo! If you do find out what Aragorn's name means do tell me! Thanks!
Chapter 7 – Never be afraid
Late Fall 2933 TA
Arathorn sat in council with the captains of the various tribes. Orcs numbers were growing again in Eriador and earlier in the year he had asked the Thanes to send special reconnaissance companies to scour their traditional lands for Orcs and any tidings ill or otherwise. Most of the patrols were in and the Captains of each First Watch had come to Fornost to report and discuss what information had been gleaned during the missions, only his own company had yet to report back. Arathorn decided, as all the Captains had convened it was time to start the council and his patrol, which was overdue by about a week, could impart such information as they had when they arrived.
Erithain said, "The news is not good, my lord. My patrol reported an increase of Orc presence in my father's lands. We have never had a report of such increase."
"It is true, my lord," confirmed Vardil, son to one of the Eastern thanes, "Orcs are steadily increasing within our borders."
Arathorn sat in his chair at the head of the long table, elbow on the armrest and his hand rubbing his left temple, where a throbbing vein hailed the beginning of a headache as he listened to report after report confirm his worst fears. The Shadow was growing. It had steadily encroached for centuries, a slow progress of evil. But now it was beginning to pick up momentum. He looked at the sons of Elrond, here as their father's representatives to this council. The dark haired Elves looked pensive. In fact, Elladan had a worried look on his face that slightly unnerved the Chieftain. "What say you, Elladan? Has you father any insights on this matter?"
The dark-haired Elf looked him and something in his star-eyed gaze gave Arathorn pause. It was not only that the shadow was encroaching; it was something different, something personal. The Elf gently shifted his eyes looking at the assembled captains, "My father sees that powers are shifting further still. Happenings are not quite clear to him, but he fears a change is coming. For us all." The Elf ended the statement quietly and somberly, but the effect was the same as if he had shouted the words. A time of trial was in coming, when it would break nobody at that table knew, but come it would.
Aragorn sighed, "My thanks to you all, we shall reconvene tomorrow morning to discuss matters further." The Captains of the various tribes left. Some in pairs, some alone; all were somber. Arathorn had not moved from his chair since dismissing them. He stared at the small brass centerpiece in the middle of the table, not really seeing it, when he realised that someone was still in the room and standing right next to him. He looked quickly to his side, "Elladan! I thought you had left alongside your brother."
The starlit blue eyes looked back at him impassively, Elladan seemed to be memorising Arathorn's face so intently did he stare at his friend. Arathorn having been fostered at Imladris had grow used to Elves and their mercurial ways, but he had rarely seen the older of the twins look so somber. "Arathorn, there were things that I did not tell the Council. Things that my father meant only for you to hear. We must speak privately."
"At once, my friend. Let us walk."
Walking alongside the small stream that ran by the outer houses of the settlement they waited until they could be sure that they were out of earshot. Elladan began. "My father has received word from the Lady Galadriel that servants of our enemy are starting to search the Anduin near the Gladden fields." Arathorn stayed his friend with a hand and looked at him, at once wary of this bit of news. The Avari Elf looked at him in silent acknowledgement and continued his story, "It is feared by the Lady that he knows of Isildur's end and that he seeks for its recovery." Arathorn knew what "it" was. He had known all his life, having this knowledge passed down from his father, but it was never mentioned unless absolutely necessary and never outside lest unfriendly ears should happen to overhear. "And," the Elf continued meaningfully, "It strongly rumoured that he now seeks if any heirs of Isildur survive."
At that moment Arathorn felt a cold chill down his spine. "Aragorn," he whispered holding the gaze of the Elf. The very thought of that foul evil touching, even thinking about his beautiful boy made Arathorn physically sick. A wave of fierce protectiveness rolled through him. "What must I do?"
"Father thinks that it would be a good idea for Aragorn to come and live at Imladris and start his fostering earlier than is traditional. With these rumours, about the most protected place for him to be is Imladris. He will be safe there," Elladan concluded.
Arathorn nodded. It was sound thinking and if there was anyone that outside his own family that could be trusted with the care of his precious son, it was Elrond. "How soon?"
Sad blue eyes turned to him, "Within the month. He wishes to take no chances."
"But he is only two! Far too young to separated from his mother and father." The awful truth hit Arathorn full force. He was losing his family. Gilraen would have leave Fornost with Aragorn. He shut his eyes to ward off the awful pain of reality. All due to the shadow. He felt anger the likes of which he had never known since his beloved Gwenrith was murdered shuttered through him. With the utmost of effort he calmed himself. He winced with inner pain as he said, "So be it." A single tear fell from his eye.
Elladan, knowing there was nothing else that he could do for his friend simply said, "I am so sorry. To have been the bearer of this terrible reality and for the sacrifices you are about to make." Arathorn was silent. He turned around and walked back to the settlement to explain what must happen to his beloved Gilraen.
~*~*~*~*~
Arathorn reached the hall and entered. The scene in front of him nearly broke his heart. He had come to take it for granted and now that it was about to be ripped away from him it came into sharp focus.
The smell of a stew was cooking on the kitchen hearth. Gilraen sat as ever at her loom weaving some dark green fabric. Little Aragorn sat near, her playing with the small toy animals that Arathorn had carved for him last Winter Solstice. Unsurprisingly it was the carved running horse with the tail fluttering behind that was Aragorn's favourite and was currently being made to gallop across the floor at full speed. Aragorn chose that moment to look up from his horse's imagined romp through the meadows and shouted, "Papa!" Arathorn was almost bowled at the force of the little dark whirlwind that was his son.
Picking up the little bundle of energy, Arathorn hugged his son tight and said, "Aragorn, my beautiful boy! I love you so much."
Aragorn pulled away from his father just a bit, saying, "love you, Papa!" His little face clouded with concern, "You crying? Why?"
"Yes, we'd both like to know why?" Gilraen appeared at Arathorn's side, concern darkening her hazel eyes.
Arathorn looked at her silently and Gilraen disentangled Aragorn from his father's arms and set him down, "My little love, Mama and Papa have to talk. Helgir, would you like to take Aragorn to visit his colt?" She asked the warrior that had accompanied Arathorn.
"Yes, My lady!" responded the guardsman, "Come little master!"
Aragorn looked a little doubtful and looked up at his father who said, "Go on, my little man! I'll be all right." With a last look backward, Aragorn put his hand in the warrior's and they both walked to the stables.
With their child safely out of earshot Gilraen looked at Arathorn, "Now do you mind telling what this is all about?"
Arathorn simply stared at her.
"Arathorn, stop that! You are frightened me."
After drawing a very long breath of air, "Elladan needed to deliver a few verbal messages today after the Council had been dismissed. First he said he bore a message from Elrond saying that Our Enemy was now searching the Anduin near the Gladden fields." This elicited the same reaction from Gilraen as it had from Arathorn upon hearing. "Second," he paused, eyes wide with emotion, "there are rumours that he is now seeking for Isildur's heir."
A short gasp escaped Gilraen's lips and her face went sheet white. Wide, fearful eyes looked to the door their son had just left by and then turned back to her husband, "Aragorn," she whispered.
"Elrond thinks that it is best that Aragorn be taken to Imladris earlier than we had planned."
Suddenly anger flared within Gilraen's heart, "I do not care what Elrond thinks! He is our child and he needs his mother and father!"
"He will be safe there." Arathorn's quiet statement of fact settled in Gilraen's mind amid her swirling emotions of anger, denial, resentment and finally understanding. The understanding was always there. It was just quietly waiting for Gilraen to accept it.
Hazel eyes full of painful acknowledgment, Gilraen said in a strong voice despite her rapidly beating heart, "He must go to Imladris then, soon as possible." Her voice caught on her next sentence, "And I must go with him." After pronouncing the words, a shadow of pain fell upon her heart. She looked up her beloved and saw the pain she felt in her heart reflected in his eyes.
"Yes." That one little word that ripped apart his world. His heart rebelling again the cold reason of his mind would allow no more than that as he hugged his beloved to his chest smoothing her honey-brown hair as he felt her sobs shake her body. He did not even realise there were tears falling down his own face.
They held each other for a while, when Gilraen pulled away, impatiently wiping her tears, "We must be strong, for Aragorn's sake."
"Yes, of course." Arathorn said, but all he was thinking at that point was how very empty he was feeling and how bereft without her in his arms any longer.
~*~*~*~*~
Striding towards the hall early the next morning, Erithain could not help but wonder at this early summons from Arathorn. The Council was due to meet later on and Arathorn had not mentioned anything at supper the night before. In fact now that he thought about it, Arathorn had not eaten much, but he had indeed put away a fair amount of mead last night. The Watch Commander of Dirhael's tribe mulled that over in his head. Arathorn enjoyed a drink as much as anyone but was not generally one to drink himself into a stupor. Erithain shook his head. He would find out what has caused this early morning summons shortly.
Erithain smiled at the guard standing attention on the hall door, "Good morning, Helgir."
"Good morning, my lord."
"How are my brother-in-law's spirits this morning?" Erithain asked with a knowing smile.
The guardsman looked at him, "Not well, my lord."
Erithain looked at the guardsman, seeing the concern in the man's eyes, "Indeed." An inexplicable sense of dread flared within him for he sensed that Helgir spoke not of an innocent hangover but of something else entirely. He smiled reassuringly though at the guardsman and stepped across the threshold.
Entering the small room off to the side that Arathorn used for private audiences, Erithain was somewhat surprised to see both sons of Elrond also seated in two of the chairs that ringed the small hearth in the middle of the room. "Elladan, Elrohir, good morning!" he said, greeting them good-naturedly.
"Mae Govannen, Erithain," Elladan returned, a somber look in his star-filled eyes. This gave Erithain pause. No teasing, no banter as was Elladan's usual wont.
He turned to where Arathorn sat and was surprised by what he beheld. Arathorn looked to have aged ten years since last night. Immediate worry flared in his heart. "Brother, what is wrong?" He dropped one knee, hand on one of Arathorn's armrests. "May I be of any service to you?" he said, searching the gray eyes of the man who had won his loyalty and respect with kindness and compassion.
Arathorn smiled gently, knowing that he had made the right choice, "Rise, my brother and sit down. We have much to discuss."
Erithain took his seat next to Arathorn and across the hearth fire from Elrohir.
Looking as if he was deciding how to begin, Arathorn at length spoke, "You ask to be of service. There is something that you can do for me." Erithain looked up at his brother-in-law expectantly. Arathorn continued, "What I am about to tell you must never leave this room. Never speak of it."
Earnest blue eyes stared back at him, "You have my word."
Arathorn cleared his throat and began to relate the tale as was told by Elladan last night.
Wide-eyed astonishment greeting him at the end of his tale, "But Aragorn is so young to be taken away from all that he knows!" Erithain exclaimed.
"Yes, he is. But in Imladris he will be safe. He will not lack for love and care." Elrohir said quietly.
Erithain looked across the fire to the Elf that he had to come to think of as a friend, "Of that I am sure. But you will have him and we will not. That saddens my heart." The Elf looked upon his friend compassionately for there were no words that he could offer to assuage the pain of what must be. Erithain pulled away from his sorrowful thoughts to ask the pertinent question, "Aside from my love for the boy why do you tell only me this? What do you ask of me?" He looked at his brother-in-law.
"After consultation with Elladan and Elrohir, I ask that in the event that should anything happen to me and Aragorn not yet old enough to take the oath of Chieftain, that you stand in his stead until he should come of age." Arathorn leveled his gray-eyed stare at his young brother-in-law.
Stunned, Erithain sat pondering what was being asked of him. "Me, brother? Surely there are others more worthy, others of your own tribe. Older, wiser men than me."
Arathorn inwardly smiled knowing this would be his brother-in-law's reaction, "There are many good men, that is true, but none that I would trust above you, my brother, with such a charge. You are family and you have a good heart. My son's legacy could not be held in trust by a better person." He finished, solemnly looking at the conflicting emotions running across the young man's face.
Erithain looked away from his brother-in-law steady gaze and stared into the hearth fire, watching the flames flicker and tried desperately to sort through this onslaught of information. Grief. Pain. Confusion. He was not ambitious, one day he would lead his tribe but that was something that fell to him through tragic necessity, and not through design or desire. One thing was clear though Arathorn willing to entrust him with a task that he obviously did not think beyond him. He did wish to be service to this man, his brother. Decision made, Erithain lifted his gaze to meet his Chieftain's eyes. He straightened his shoulders as he said, "I hope that there will never be a need, but I do accept. He stood and he drew his sword placing the point down. With both hands on the tang he returned to one knee at his Chieftain's chair, his head bowed, "I swear to hold the office the Chieftaincy in trust for Aragorn, son of Arathorn at the bidding of my Chieftain."
Erithain looked up as he heard Arathorn say, "I accept your fealty and oath, Erithain, son of Dirhael." The formal of words of the Chieftain concluded, the young man looked into the tear-filled eyes of a father saying, "Thank you."
~*~*~*~*~
Accepting that these were extraordinary and dangerous times, the council of captains accepted the appointment of Erithain as regent for any possible minority of Aragorn with a minimum of objections. The council then disbanded the next day as was planned to inform their tribes of new developments.
Plans for the departure of mother and son were laid. Elladan and Elrohir were to stay in Fornost and help escort Gilraen and Aragorn to Imladris. Also it was decided that it was a good idea for Aragorn to get to know the sons of Elrond, so when they arrived in Imladris Aragorn should be familiar with somebody other than his mother. It would help him to feel more comfortable in his new home. Nobody deluded themselves that it would be an easy transition. They knew that it could not be. Aragorn adored his father and would not understand why the separation was necessary. They could only hope to make it less painful for the child. He would have his mother there and that was a lot. The only point that was debated constantly over the month of preparation was how much to tell Aragorn. Gilraen wanted to explain to the child why they were going away, in as much as she could. Arathorn thought it would needlessly upset the child. Better to say good bye at journey's end rather than its beginning, he said. There was no easy answer.
~*~*~*~*~
Aragorn stood on a hay bale next to his colt, Gilgilath, named for the star shaped spot on his nose, rubbing him with a bit of hay imitating the motions that he saw his beloved uncle using. Erithain looked at the little boy trying to help curry the colt and tousled his dark curly mop of hair, blinking away tears before the sharp little boy could pick up on his distress. Aragorn could sense that the adults in his life were sad about something and it still had to be decided how much to tell the child. Erithain cleared his throat before saying, "That's right, my lad. The straw helps to clean and relax a horse after a morning's walk." Aragorn beamed upon being praised by his uncle, "Ar'gon helps 'lath. My horse."
"And a fine horse it is, too." Erithain looked at the stable door and saw as planned earlier, Elladan and Elrohir. It was decided that Aragorn should get to know the twins in a place he loved being so that he would hopefully relate them to warm and happy feelings.
Dropping the straw in his hand to gather up little Aragorn, Erithain waited until Elladan and Elrohir crossed the short distance to the stall where they and the colt stood. "Aragorn, I want you to meet two very special people. This is Elladan."
Bowing low, and then speaking in his most gentle and musical voice, Elladan said, "Mae Govannen, little one. I am pleased we finally meet."
" 'Dan!" Aragorn said. The dark-haired Elf smiled and nodded.
"And this is his twin brother, Elrohir."
Elrohir, not to be outdone by his brother, bowed in similar fashion, "Mae Govannen, Aragorn. We are honoured to finally meet the little star that Arathorn and Erithain have talked endlessly about."
" 'Roh!" Elrohir nodded, lifting an eyebrow at the quickness of the child.
Erithain bent the child's head to look into the young gray eyes, "They are very special friends to your Papa and myself."
Aragorn looked at the two and his eyes grew wide in looking at them. He looked back and forth at them, fascinated. He reached out a hand and grabbed one of Elrohir's dark plaits, holding it up completely captivated. "Dark hair, long like 'Lath." He looked so pleased with his comparison that the Erithain and the two Elves burst out laughing. Aragorn beamed and clapped his hands in delight having made them laugh. Elrohir reached out to hold the child who, much to Erithain's relief, went willingly. He held Aragorn, bouncing him gently, "Well yes! When you put it that way I guess we do!"
Erithain offered, "Considering his love of horses, that is a huge compliment."
Elrohir chuckled, "I'm flattered, little one."
Aragorn was not listening though, for he had just discovered Elrohir's ears. He reached out a tentative little hand to touch one, running his fingers along the pointed shape of it. At the same time the other hand's thumb was chewed between his teeth. The enthralled look on his face greatly amused Elladan and Elrohir, the latter holding his head very still so that the little boy could explore unhindered. Aragorn looked at Erithain and reached out to touch his uncle's rounded ears. And then he felt his own. He looked confused. Elrohir took pity on the confused child. "You are right, little one. Our ears are different, because my brother and I are Elves, not Men like your uncle and your papa." Mesmerised by the musical voice Aragorn looked again into the Elf's blue eyes and saw the stars residing there. "Stars!" he said, wonder in his voice. He looked at Elladan and saw that stars resided there, too. He smiled and touched Elrohir's ear again and laughed. He paused and seemed to make a decision and he reached down to grab Elladan's hand to pull it toward Gilgilath, " 'Dan pet 'lath!"
Elladan allowed himself to be pulled by the small hand, "Hannon le, little one. I think I will. He is a beautiful colt," said the Elf, stroking the dark mane.
Erithain hid a smile as best he could, "I think he likes you! He does not allow just anyone to touch Gilgilath."
Over the next month the stables became the place where Elladan and Elrohir would play with the little boy accompanied either by Erithain or Arathorn. Aragorn became used to the idea that Elladan and Elrohir were Elves and that meant that they were different from him or Papa or Uncle Erithain, but he still liked them anyway.
~*~*~*~*~
The journey to Imladris would take roughly three weeks. In the end it was decided that Aragorn should be told something of what happening. Arathorn and Gilraen sat on little Aragorn's bed. Arathorn tried to think how to explain to a two-year about evil. It was a conversation that churned the inside of his stomach and one he wished he never had to have with his beautiful boy. But he knew the realities of the situation and it could not be helped. Gilraen was right. The boy needed to know something.
"Papa sad?" came the little voice that interrupted his thoughts and brought him back to the here and now.
"Yes, my beautiful boy. Papa is sad."
"Why? Ar'gon been good," said the confused little voice.
Arathorn snatched him under the covers caught him in a big hug. "It is nothing you did, my little love." He said hoarsely, looking at Gilraen, at a loss for words. Gilraen stroked her son's curly dark hair, "Papa's right it was nothing you did."
Aragorn pulled back a little and said "O. K. Papa sad though."
"Oh, my beautiful boy, There are things in this world of which you do not understand." Arathorn sighed deeply, caressing the boy's cheek. "But I will try to explain some things to you. There are some bad men in this world who want to have everything their own way. They do not want to share and be nice to other people."
"Why?" Aragorn looked confused.
"I do not know why, my little love. It is just the way they are." Arathorn hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Gilraen placed a gentle hand on his arm and taking strength from that, Arathorn continued. "These bad men, they do not like us and would harm us if they could." Aragorn's eyes grew wide and frightened at this idea, Arathorn tightened his hug to calm and reassure the child, "But we will not let them. I would never let anything or anybody harm you, my beautiful boy! This is why you and your mother are going to leave this place. You are going to live in a beautiful place full of rivers and woods meadows where you can learn to ride Gilgilath and be safe. You will like it there."
"You come, too, Papa!" he looked hopefully at Arathorn.
"No, my little love. I must stay here and guard against the bad men."
Aragorn's lower lip started to tremble, "No! You come, too! Papa!" he started tugging at his nightshirt.
"I would if I could, my little love." Arathorn smoothed back his son's hair and kissed the child's forehead. "But I must stay to make sure the bad men never hurt you. A man must sometimes fight to protect what he loves. And I will come and visit you as often as I can."
Lower lip still trembling a little, Aragorn obviously did not think that was good enough but he only said, "Ar'gon miss Papa." Tears to started slip down his little face as he hugged Arathorn's neck.
His father's arms closed in around his son, "My beautiful boy! I shall miss you, too. More than you will ever know."
He looked at Gilraen and mouthed 'Thank you' for insisting on this moment with his son. Gilraen smiled through her own tears, glad to see father and son embracing.
~*~*~*~*~
It was decided that the First watch of Arathorn's tribe would ride as the escort along with Elladan and Elrohir and that Erithain, given his new position as Regent should stay behind in Fornost. Aragorn's toys were packed and Gilgilath was to be tethered to Ayre, Gilraen's horse. If anything was to happen along the trip four of the guard were to ride as fast as possible away from any such trouble.
Aragorn was very unhappy. He had just found out that his beloved uncle Erithain would not be coming with them to the beautiful place whose name he could not pronounce. He stood in the middle of the settlement crying "No! won't go! Want 'Thain go!" It was too much. He had been good, but he just did not understand why everybody was leaving him. His papa, his uncle. It was too much.
His tears tore at Gilraen's heart. He was just too young to understand what was happening to him. Gilraen picked him up and tried to comfort him but he flailed his arms and would have none of it.
"Aragorn!" the child stopped flailing and looked at his papa who had a stern look on his face. "You will cease this behaviour immediately!" Aragorn saw his papa's face soften as he came closer. Gilraen smoothed back her son's hair and kissed his forehead, bouncing him up and down in an effort to soothe him.
Arathorn reached for him and Aragorn climbed from one parent to another. Quickly Aragorn nestled his head in his father neck, snuffling. "Want 'Thain go," the little boy said again but this time in a plaintive little voice.
"I know you do, my little love. But he must stay here and help me protect you from the bad men."
Aragorn scrubbed his eyes with two little fists, "Hate bad men!" he whimpered. And he did. They were causing his papa and his uncle to go away.
Arathorn hugged his precious son and said under his breath, "So do I, my beautiful boy, so do I," as they walked back towards the hall.
After reaching the hall, Erithain, who had also been sought for, found them. Aragorn looked up from his father's shoulder and shouted, "Thain!" Just behind him were Elladan and Elrohir. Aragorn saw them and shouted, " 'Roh! 'Dan!" he struggled to get down from his father's arms and was quickly surrounded by his uncle and the twin Elves.
"What's this I hear! Tears for me?" Erithain smiled, hiding the pain those tears were causing him from his beloved nephew. He and the Elves knelt around the sad little boy. Erithain wiped the tears from Aragorn's eyes, "I have to stay, if I don't stay, then your papa will all alone, won't he. And you do not want your papa to be lonely, do you?"
Aragorn paused as the idea dawned on him, "Papa be sad?" His lower lip started to tremble just slightly. He had not thought of that. He looked up at his father who was looking back at him. Then he said somewhat reluctantly, "Thain stay, Papa not sad."
Encircling his nephew in a big hug, Erithain said, "That's my little lad." Erithain looked at Arathorn as he was hugging the boy and saw his Chieftain mouth, "Thank you."
Disaster was diverted and preparation for the departure the next day continue.
Aragorn stayed seated on the grass near the hall with his Uncle and the two bright Elves.
Elrohir looked at the child and stroked his curly dark hair as he sat on his uncle's lap and smoothed away a tear track from the small boy's soft cheek, "Shall I tell you a story about Imladris," he said, his voice gently musical. Aragorn gazed at the dark Elf with hair like his beloved Gilgilath and nodded. "Well, It is in a beautiful lush ravine. Rivers and small green meadows will be perfect you to explore…
There Aragorn spent the rest of the afternoon in the company of his beloved uncle and the two bright and beautiful Elves hearing stories of Rivendell and its people.
~*~*~*~*~
The escort left early in the morning. Arathorn, Elladan and Elrohir to took the lead and the rest of the First Watch encircled Gilraen and little Aragorn sitting upon Ayre with Gilgilath tethered behind. Gilraen looked back at the settlement of Fornost where she had spent some very happy years and wondered if she would ever see it again. Her eyes teared up slightly as she hugged her son closer to her. Just at that moment Arathorn looked back and smiled gently. Gilraen smiled back and threw her shoulders back. She would face whatever was due to come her way, she owed it to herself, her family and her people.
The journey would take them first south as they headed along the road to towards Chetwood which met up with the Old East Road. They set up camp and tried to keep the atmosphere as light as possible for little Aragorn, but they kept an ever vigilant eye out for Orcs and other foul creatures who were roaming more freely about Eriador, much to Arathorn's despair.
They passed by marshes and on the times it was deemed safe for Aragorn to ride with his father, Arathorn would point out things of interest and tell him about the history of their people. They past Amon Sul and Arathorn spoke to his son about how it used to be a watchtower and held a great seeing stone that their forbearers used to contact each other. Aragorn looked with wide-eye wonder at the ruins.
One night near the Trollshaws past the Last Bridge, Arathorn sat an uneasy watch. Nothing of dangerous note had happened since they had left Fornost. This of course was a blessing, but Arathorn was uneasy all the same. His sixth sense honed over many years of battle, was letting its presence be felt. He scanned the surrounding area trying to see as far as he could in the scant moonlight. He looked to his side and seeing Elladan, silently beckoned him over. "My friend, what do your Elf eyes see," he whispered.
The dark-haired Elf scanned the surrounding area. "Orcs! I'd say a pack of forty. They are a distance away but they are traveling in this direction."
Arathorn looked intently at his Elven friend, "Do you think we can outrun them? Break camp and move."
The Elf shook his head, "I think it is too late for that! They do not know we are here, but we are too many of us to hide."
"We must set a defensive formation and protect my wife and my son at all cost. Take the horses into the Trollshaw and hide them. We will retrieve them after the Orcs are either dispatched or fled. Move quickly now and give the orders around. I must see to my wife and son."
Gilraen was up already and was dressing little Aragorn. Arathorn looked at her in amazement, "How did you know, my lady."
Gilraen smiled ruefully, "Call it a mother's sense! What draws near?"
Arathorn mouthed the word "Orcs" so that a sleepy Aragorn would not realise what danger was coming their way.
Gilraen's eyes grew wide in apprehension, Arathorn reached out a hand to caress her cheek, "Do not worry, my love. Nothing will through to harm you, I swear it. Come, we must go further back into this little outcropping of rocks."
Nestled with the rocks Aragorn, now alert and dressed, noticed the concerned tone in his papa's voice, "What wrong, papa?"
Arathorn looked at his precious son and his heart almost broke with concern and fear for him, "My beautiful boy! I will protect you both, no harm will come to you!"
Young gray eyes grew wide, "Bad men come?" His lower lip trembled.
Arathorn's eyes filled with tears of anger and sadness to see his son so frightened. He kneeled on one knee in front of his young son and put a hand on his shoulder, "My beautiful boy! It is time now to be brave for your mama. I will protect you both. I love you, always remember that." With that he hugged his son and kissed him hard on the cheek.
Arathorn stood and looked at Gilraen and unceremoniously handed her a long dagger and a bow with arrows. "I would be remiss if I did not give you these. And there will Rangers forming a loose perimeter around the rock cropping. Although it will not be strong as I would like as we are lacking in the numbers needed to form a more effective shield. I curse myself for not bringing more men" Gilraen silently accepted the weapons, looking into his stern gray eyes, even in the midst of danger and a battle looming she could still see that gentleness that had first attracted her to him.
"Do not berate yourself. You cannot see every eventuality." She saw his love for her in reside in his eyes as he stooped to kiss her fervently before leaving to see to the camp's defences.
She looked at the dagger and the strung bow he had given her. All Dunedain women were trained to shoot. They were not meant to fight, but it was thought among that Dunedain that they should at least know how to shoot should the need arise. She had never killed any thing before, but looking down at the fear and anxiety in her little boy's eyes she knew that if it became a choice between his safety and another's life, she would take that life and feel little remorse doing it. Nobody was going to harm her son. She strapped on the vambrace and slung the quiver over her back. She kneeled to her little son, "Aragorn, my son. You will not be harmed, we all love you far too much to allow that to happen. But listen to me, if any "bad men" do come, you stay behind me at all times. Do you understand me?"
The little boy's eyes were wide with fear but he nodded his head, "Behind mama."
"That's right, my little man," she whispered as she hugged him and planted a hard kiss on his forehead as she smoothed back his hair." She thought Pray to the Valar there will not be a need!
~*~*~*~*~
The Ranger party did not have long to wait before battle was joined. The First Watch fired off a volley to bring down the charging first line and took out many of them. They managed to fired off a second wave, but had to resort to hand to hand combat immediately thereafter.
Arathorn spared as many a glance at the rocky outcropping as he could during the battle. He saw Elladan and Elrohir work their way over toward the outcropping dispatching Orcs as they went. An Orc came flying at him and he swiftly swung his sword in an upward arc disemboweling the foul creature. Then he saw a sight that harrowed his soul. A stray Orc had gained the rocky outcropping and was starting to climb.
He ran though the midst of battle, decapitating an Orc that stood in his way. He screamed, "Elladan!" and pointed at the Orc. The Elven bow sang as Elladan let fly an arrow that impaled the Orc just as it reached halfway up the formation. Arathorn's attention returned to the next Orc to be slain. The battle raged on when he thought he heard a child scream. He looked to the outcropping and saw Gilraen fired off an arrow that killed an Orc just feet from their son. In that split second of distraction, he felt an arrow pierce his chest and he fell to his knees.
Elladan had looked in the direction of the scream as well and seeing the child safe he looked back to Arathorn and saw the Orc arrow pierce his chest, "NO!!!!!!!!" He screamed as he noticed that the Orcs were fleeing and that the Rangers were chasing the stragglers. He ran to where Arathorn had fallen and saw the arrow was close to his heart and he would not live long. "Be easy, my friend! It is not bad."
Arathorn looked up at him, saying weakly, "You are many thing, my Elven friend, but a good liar is not one of them. I see it in your eyes."
Elladan blinked back the pain that threatened to engulf him, looked up and saw his brother, "Bring Gilraen, he will not last." Elrohir's stricken face nodded and he ran to the rocky outcropping.
Gilraen saw that the Orcs were retreating. After killing two Orcs who had been within feet of her precious son, her nerves were stretched to the breaking point. She looked down at her hand noticed that they were still shaking. Looking at Aragorn, she saw he was sheet white and very frightened. She gathered him up into her shaking arms and tried to comfort the child as she searched for Arathorn.
Elrohir came up on her blind side and his gentle yet insistent, "My lady," startled her already frayed nerves and she jumped. "I pray you pardon for startling you but you must come now."
Fear flashed through her. "What is Arathorn?" she asked with her heart in her throat.
"You must come." The dark Elf was insistent.
She swallowed and blinked trying to focus on what the Elf was saying, but it was hard for the ringing in her ears was getting louder. She saw the Elf beckoned her forward and she followed holding tightly to the precious bundle of her son.
She found herself on the middle of the Orc strewn battlefield and Elrohir gently lifted her son out of her arms and gently pushed her forward. She was on her knees and she realised before her was her beloved. The sight of him snapped her out of her trance-like state. "Arathorn, my love," she sobbed.
Arathorn looked at her and gulped and whispered, "My love, I am sorry I was not able to protect you. I have failed."
It tore at Gilraen's heart that Arathorn's last thoughts should be of failure, "No! You saved me!" she said in an amazingly strong voice, a strength she most certainly did not feel. "When you walked into my life I was floundering in sorrow and regret. You brought me out of it, my love. You gave me life. I love you!" The tears were spilling down her face.
A cry of "Papa!" rent the air of the now eerily quiet battlefield. Aragorn had squirmed around in Elrohir's arms and had seen his papa lying on the ground. "Papa!" Aragorn broke free of the Elf's arms and ran towards his father lying on the ground. He was at his side, and said, "Papa, Ar'gon good, brave like Papa."
Arathorn struggled for breath, "My beautiful boy. I know you were. Make me proud, my little love. Remember I will always love you," he whispered faintly.
Aragorn had only at that moment noticed the arrow shaft and dirty rough fletchings that were sticking up from his father's chest. All assembled would never have let him see his father in this state but he had been too fast for all them in his panic to see his father. He was fixated on it and his lower lip started to tremble. Arathorn saw that and as sternly as he could muster said, "Aragorn," the boy's wide sorrowful eyes shifted from the shaft to his father's face. Arathorn looked gently into his son's eyes, "My son, never be afraid of death, for I will be waiting for you on the other side." After expending this last reserve of energy, Arathorn slipped from the world.
~*~*~*~*~
Author's note: Actually in Tolkien's timeline in the Appendices in ROTK reports are not made about Sauron searching the Gladden Fields until 2939 six years after Arathorn's death, but I needed a spur to get Arathorn to send Aragorn and Gilraen to Rivendell urgently so I adjusted the timeline just a bit. Hope nobody minds. Also and while it isn't strictly reported in the LOTR who's to say what Galadriel and did and did not see in her mirror. J ;) I beg the reader's indulgence I thought about it these AU elements did not seem to stretch the bounds of reason too harshly!
Jo! If you do find out what Aragorn's name means do tell me! Thanks!
Chapter 7 – Never be afraid
Late Fall 2933 TA
Arathorn sat in council with the captains of the various tribes. Orcs numbers were growing again in Eriador and earlier in the year he had asked the Thanes to send special reconnaissance companies to scour their traditional lands for Orcs and any tidings ill or otherwise. Most of the patrols were in and the Captains of each First Watch had come to Fornost to report and discuss what information had been gleaned during the missions, only his own company had yet to report back. Arathorn decided, as all the Captains had convened it was time to start the council and his patrol, which was overdue by about a week, could impart such information as they had when they arrived.
Erithain said, "The news is not good, my lord. My patrol reported an increase of Orc presence in my father's lands. We have never had a report of such increase."
"It is true, my lord," confirmed Vardil, son to one of the Eastern thanes, "Orcs are steadily increasing within our borders."
Arathorn sat in his chair at the head of the long table, elbow on the armrest and his hand rubbing his left temple, where a throbbing vein hailed the beginning of a headache as he listened to report after report confirm his worst fears. The Shadow was growing. It had steadily encroached for centuries, a slow progress of evil. But now it was beginning to pick up momentum. He looked at the sons of Elrond, here as their father's representatives to this council. The dark haired Elves looked pensive. In fact, Elladan had a worried look on his face that slightly unnerved the Chieftain. "What say you, Elladan? Has you father any insights on this matter?"
The dark-haired Elf looked him and something in his star-eyed gaze gave Arathorn pause. It was not only that the shadow was encroaching; it was something different, something personal. The Elf gently shifted his eyes looking at the assembled captains, "My father sees that powers are shifting further still. Happenings are not quite clear to him, but he fears a change is coming. For us all." The Elf ended the statement quietly and somberly, but the effect was the same as if he had shouted the words. A time of trial was in coming, when it would break nobody at that table knew, but come it would.
Aragorn sighed, "My thanks to you all, we shall reconvene tomorrow morning to discuss matters further." The Captains of the various tribes left. Some in pairs, some alone; all were somber. Arathorn had not moved from his chair since dismissing them. He stared at the small brass centerpiece in the middle of the table, not really seeing it, when he realised that someone was still in the room and standing right next to him. He looked quickly to his side, "Elladan! I thought you had left alongside your brother."
The starlit blue eyes looked back at him impassively, Elladan seemed to be memorising Arathorn's face so intently did he stare at his friend. Arathorn having been fostered at Imladris had grow used to Elves and their mercurial ways, but he had rarely seen the older of the twins look so somber. "Arathorn, there were things that I did not tell the Council. Things that my father meant only for you to hear. We must speak privately."
"At once, my friend. Let us walk."
Walking alongside the small stream that ran by the outer houses of the settlement they waited until they could be sure that they were out of earshot. Elladan began. "My father has received word from the Lady Galadriel that servants of our enemy are starting to search the Anduin near the Gladden fields." Arathorn stayed his friend with a hand and looked at him, at once wary of this bit of news. The Avari Elf looked at him in silent acknowledgement and continued his story, "It is feared by the Lady that he knows of Isildur's end and that he seeks for its recovery." Arathorn knew what "it" was. He had known all his life, having this knowledge passed down from his father, but it was never mentioned unless absolutely necessary and never outside lest unfriendly ears should happen to overhear. "And," the Elf continued meaningfully, "It strongly rumoured that he now seeks if any heirs of Isildur survive."
At that moment Arathorn felt a cold chill down his spine. "Aragorn," he whispered holding the gaze of the Elf. The very thought of that foul evil touching, even thinking about his beautiful boy made Arathorn physically sick. A wave of fierce protectiveness rolled through him. "What must I do?"
"Father thinks that it would be a good idea for Aragorn to come and live at Imladris and start his fostering earlier than is traditional. With these rumours, about the most protected place for him to be is Imladris. He will be safe there," Elladan concluded.
Arathorn nodded. It was sound thinking and if there was anyone that outside his own family that could be trusted with the care of his precious son, it was Elrond. "How soon?"
Sad blue eyes turned to him, "Within the month. He wishes to take no chances."
"But he is only two! Far too young to separated from his mother and father." The awful truth hit Arathorn full force. He was losing his family. Gilraen would have leave Fornost with Aragorn. He shut his eyes to ward off the awful pain of reality. All due to the shadow. He felt anger the likes of which he had never known since his beloved Gwenrith was murdered shuttered through him. With the utmost of effort he calmed himself. He winced with inner pain as he said, "So be it." A single tear fell from his eye.
Elladan, knowing there was nothing else that he could do for his friend simply said, "I am so sorry. To have been the bearer of this terrible reality and for the sacrifices you are about to make." Arathorn was silent. He turned around and walked back to the settlement to explain what must happen to his beloved Gilraen.
~*~*~*~*~
Arathorn reached the hall and entered. The scene in front of him nearly broke his heart. He had come to take it for granted and now that it was about to be ripped away from him it came into sharp focus.
The smell of a stew was cooking on the kitchen hearth. Gilraen sat as ever at her loom weaving some dark green fabric. Little Aragorn sat near, her playing with the small toy animals that Arathorn had carved for him last Winter Solstice. Unsurprisingly it was the carved running horse with the tail fluttering behind that was Aragorn's favourite and was currently being made to gallop across the floor at full speed. Aragorn chose that moment to look up from his horse's imagined romp through the meadows and shouted, "Papa!" Arathorn was almost bowled at the force of the little dark whirlwind that was his son.
Picking up the little bundle of energy, Arathorn hugged his son tight and said, "Aragorn, my beautiful boy! I love you so much."
Aragorn pulled away from his father just a bit, saying, "love you, Papa!" His little face clouded with concern, "You crying? Why?"
"Yes, we'd both like to know why?" Gilraen appeared at Arathorn's side, concern darkening her hazel eyes.
Arathorn looked at her silently and Gilraen disentangled Aragorn from his father's arms and set him down, "My little love, Mama and Papa have to talk. Helgir, would you like to take Aragorn to visit his colt?" She asked the warrior that had accompanied Arathorn.
"Yes, My lady!" responded the guardsman, "Come little master!"
Aragorn looked a little doubtful and looked up at his father who said, "Go on, my little man! I'll be all right." With a last look backward, Aragorn put his hand in the warrior's and they both walked to the stables.
With their child safely out of earshot Gilraen looked at Arathorn, "Now do you mind telling what this is all about?"
Arathorn simply stared at her.
"Arathorn, stop that! You are frightened me."
After drawing a very long breath of air, "Elladan needed to deliver a few verbal messages today after the Council had been dismissed. First he said he bore a message from Elrond saying that Our Enemy was now searching the Anduin near the Gladden fields." This elicited the same reaction from Gilraen as it had from Arathorn upon hearing. "Second," he paused, eyes wide with emotion, "there are rumours that he is now seeking for Isildur's heir."
A short gasp escaped Gilraen's lips and her face went sheet white. Wide, fearful eyes looked to the door their son had just left by and then turned back to her husband, "Aragorn," she whispered.
"Elrond thinks that it is best that Aragorn be taken to Imladris earlier than we had planned."
Suddenly anger flared within Gilraen's heart, "I do not care what Elrond thinks! He is our child and he needs his mother and father!"
"He will be safe there." Arathorn's quiet statement of fact settled in Gilraen's mind amid her swirling emotions of anger, denial, resentment and finally understanding. The understanding was always there. It was just quietly waiting for Gilraen to accept it.
Hazel eyes full of painful acknowledgment, Gilraen said in a strong voice despite her rapidly beating heart, "He must go to Imladris then, soon as possible." Her voice caught on her next sentence, "And I must go with him." After pronouncing the words, a shadow of pain fell upon her heart. She looked up her beloved and saw the pain she felt in her heart reflected in his eyes.
"Yes." That one little word that ripped apart his world. His heart rebelling again the cold reason of his mind would allow no more than that as he hugged his beloved to his chest smoothing her honey-brown hair as he felt her sobs shake her body. He did not even realise there were tears falling down his own face.
They held each other for a while, when Gilraen pulled away, impatiently wiping her tears, "We must be strong, for Aragorn's sake."
"Yes, of course." Arathorn said, but all he was thinking at that point was how very empty he was feeling and how bereft without her in his arms any longer.
~*~*~*~*~
Striding towards the hall early the next morning, Erithain could not help but wonder at this early summons from Arathorn. The Council was due to meet later on and Arathorn had not mentioned anything at supper the night before. In fact now that he thought about it, Arathorn had not eaten much, but he had indeed put away a fair amount of mead last night. The Watch Commander of Dirhael's tribe mulled that over in his head. Arathorn enjoyed a drink as much as anyone but was not generally one to drink himself into a stupor. Erithain shook his head. He would find out what has caused this early morning summons shortly.
Erithain smiled at the guard standing attention on the hall door, "Good morning, Helgir."
"Good morning, my lord."
"How are my brother-in-law's spirits this morning?" Erithain asked with a knowing smile.
The guardsman looked at him, "Not well, my lord."
Erithain looked at the guardsman, seeing the concern in the man's eyes, "Indeed." An inexplicable sense of dread flared within him for he sensed that Helgir spoke not of an innocent hangover but of something else entirely. He smiled reassuringly though at the guardsman and stepped across the threshold.
Entering the small room off to the side that Arathorn used for private audiences, Erithain was somewhat surprised to see both sons of Elrond also seated in two of the chairs that ringed the small hearth in the middle of the room. "Elladan, Elrohir, good morning!" he said, greeting them good-naturedly.
"Mae Govannen, Erithain," Elladan returned, a somber look in his star-filled eyes. This gave Erithain pause. No teasing, no banter as was Elladan's usual wont.
He turned to where Arathorn sat and was surprised by what he beheld. Arathorn looked to have aged ten years since last night. Immediate worry flared in his heart. "Brother, what is wrong?" He dropped one knee, hand on one of Arathorn's armrests. "May I be of any service to you?" he said, searching the gray eyes of the man who had won his loyalty and respect with kindness and compassion.
Arathorn smiled gently, knowing that he had made the right choice, "Rise, my brother and sit down. We have much to discuss."
Erithain took his seat next to Arathorn and across the hearth fire from Elrohir.
Looking as if he was deciding how to begin, Arathorn at length spoke, "You ask to be of service. There is something that you can do for me." Erithain looked up at his brother-in-law expectantly. Arathorn continued, "What I am about to tell you must never leave this room. Never speak of it."
Earnest blue eyes stared back at him, "You have my word."
Arathorn cleared his throat and began to relate the tale as was told by Elladan last night.
Wide-eyed astonishment greeting him at the end of his tale, "But Aragorn is so young to be taken away from all that he knows!" Erithain exclaimed.
"Yes, he is. But in Imladris he will be safe. He will not lack for love and care." Elrohir said quietly.
Erithain looked across the fire to the Elf that he had to come to think of as a friend, "Of that I am sure. But you will have him and we will not. That saddens my heart." The Elf looked upon his friend compassionately for there were no words that he could offer to assuage the pain of what must be. Erithain pulled away from his sorrowful thoughts to ask the pertinent question, "Aside from my love for the boy why do you tell only me this? What do you ask of me?" He looked at his brother-in-law.
"After consultation with Elladan and Elrohir, I ask that in the event that should anything happen to me and Aragorn not yet old enough to take the oath of Chieftain, that you stand in his stead until he should come of age." Arathorn leveled his gray-eyed stare at his young brother-in-law.
Stunned, Erithain sat pondering what was being asked of him. "Me, brother? Surely there are others more worthy, others of your own tribe. Older, wiser men than me."
Arathorn inwardly smiled knowing this would be his brother-in-law's reaction, "There are many good men, that is true, but none that I would trust above you, my brother, with such a charge. You are family and you have a good heart. My son's legacy could not be held in trust by a better person." He finished, solemnly looking at the conflicting emotions running across the young man's face.
Erithain looked away from his brother-in-law steady gaze and stared into the hearth fire, watching the flames flicker and tried desperately to sort through this onslaught of information. Grief. Pain. Confusion. He was not ambitious, one day he would lead his tribe but that was something that fell to him through tragic necessity, and not through design or desire. One thing was clear though Arathorn willing to entrust him with a task that he obviously did not think beyond him. He did wish to be service to this man, his brother. Decision made, Erithain lifted his gaze to meet his Chieftain's eyes. He straightened his shoulders as he said, "I hope that there will never be a need, but I do accept. He stood and he drew his sword placing the point down. With both hands on the tang he returned to one knee at his Chieftain's chair, his head bowed, "I swear to hold the office the Chieftaincy in trust for Aragorn, son of Arathorn at the bidding of my Chieftain."
Erithain looked up as he heard Arathorn say, "I accept your fealty and oath, Erithain, son of Dirhael." The formal of words of the Chieftain concluded, the young man looked into the tear-filled eyes of a father saying, "Thank you."
~*~*~*~*~
Accepting that these were extraordinary and dangerous times, the council of captains accepted the appointment of Erithain as regent for any possible minority of Aragorn with a minimum of objections. The council then disbanded the next day as was planned to inform their tribes of new developments.
Plans for the departure of mother and son were laid. Elladan and Elrohir were to stay in Fornost and help escort Gilraen and Aragorn to Imladris. Also it was decided that it was a good idea for Aragorn to get to know the sons of Elrond, so when they arrived in Imladris Aragorn should be familiar with somebody other than his mother. It would help him to feel more comfortable in his new home. Nobody deluded themselves that it would be an easy transition. They knew that it could not be. Aragorn adored his father and would not understand why the separation was necessary. They could only hope to make it less painful for the child. He would have his mother there and that was a lot. The only point that was debated constantly over the month of preparation was how much to tell Aragorn. Gilraen wanted to explain to the child why they were going away, in as much as she could. Arathorn thought it would needlessly upset the child. Better to say good bye at journey's end rather than its beginning, he said. There was no easy answer.
~*~*~*~*~
Aragorn stood on a hay bale next to his colt, Gilgilath, named for the star shaped spot on his nose, rubbing him with a bit of hay imitating the motions that he saw his beloved uncle using. Erithain looked at the little boy trying to help curry the colt and tousled his dark curly mop of hair, blinking away tears before the sharp little boy could pick up on his distress. Aragorn could sense that the adults in his life were sad about something and it still had to be decided how much to tell the child. Erithain cleared his throat before saying, "That's right, my lad. The straw helps to clean and relax a horse after a morning's walk." Aragorn beamed upon being praised by his uncle, "Ar'gon helps 'lath. My horse."
"And a fine horse it is, too." Erithain looked at the stable door and saw as planned earlier, Elladan and Elrohir. It was decided that Aragorn should get to know the twins in a place he loved being so that he would hopefully relate them to warm and happy feelings.
Dropping the straw in his hand to gather up little Aragorn, Erithain waited until Elladan and Elrohir crossed the short distance to the stall where they and the colt stood. "Aragorn, I want you to meet two very special people. This is Elladan."
Bowing low, and then speaking in his most gentle and musical voice, Elladan said, "Mae Govannen, little one. I am pleased we finally meet."
" 'Dan!" Aragorn said. The dark-haired Elf smiled and nodded.
"And this is his twin brother, Elrohir."
Elrohir, not to be outdone by his brother, bowed in similar fashion, "Mae Govannen, Aragorn. We are honoured to finally meet the little star that Arathorn and Erithain have talked endlessly about."
" 'Roh!" Elrohir nodded, lifting an eyebrow at the quickness of the child.
Erithain bent the child's head to look into the young gray eyes, "They are very special friends to your Papa and myself."
Aragorn looked at the two and his eyes grew wide in looking at them. He looked back and forth at them, fascinated. He reached out a hand and grabbed one of Elrohir's dark plaits, holding it up completely captivated. "Dark hair, long like 'Lath." He looked so pleased with his comparison that the Erithain and the two Elves burst out laughing. Aragorn beamed and clapped his hands in delight having made them laugh. Elrohir reached out to hold the child who, much to Erithain's relief, went willingly. He held Aragorn, bouncing him gently, "Well yes! When you put it that way I guess we do!"
Erithain offered, "Considering his love of horses, that is a huge compliment."
Elrohir chuckled, "I'm flattered, little one."
Aragorn was not listening though, for he had just discovered Elrohir's ears. He reached out a tentative little hand to touch one, running his fingers along the pointed shape of it. At the same time the other hand's thumb was chewed between his teeth. The enthralled look on his face greatly amused Elladan and Elrohir, the latter holding his head very still so that the little boy could explore unhindered. Aragorn looked at Erithain and reached out to touch his uncle's rounded ears. And then he felt his own. He looked confused. Elrohir took pity on the confused child. "You are right, little one. Our ears are different, because my brother and I are Elves, not Men like your uncle and your papa." Mesmerised by the musical voice Aragorn looked again into the Elf's blue eyes and saw the stars residing there. "Stars!" he said, wonder in his voice. He looked at Elladan and saw that stars resided there, too. He smiled and touched Elrohir's ear again and laughed. He paused and seemed to make a decision and he reached down to grab Elladan's hand to pull it toward Gilgilath, " 'Dan pet 'lath!"
Elladan allowed himself to be pulled by the small hand, "Hannon le, little one. I think I will. He is a beautiful colt," said the Elf, stroking the dark mane.
Erithain hid a smile as best he could, "I think he likes you! He does not allow just anyone to touch Gilgilath."
Over the next month the stables became the place where Elladan and Elrohir would play with the little boy accompanied either by Erithain or Arathorn. Aragorn became used to the idea that Elladan and Elrohir were Elves and that meant that they were different from him or Papa or Uncle Erithain, but he still liked them anyway.
~*~*~*~*~
The journey to Imladris would take roughly three weeks. In the end it was decided that Aragorn should be told something of what happening. Arathorn and Gilraen sat on little Aragorn's bed. Arathorn tried to think how to explain to a two-year about evil. It was a conversation that churned the inside of his stomach and one he wished he never had to have with his beautiful boy. But he knew the realities of the situation and it could not be helped. Gilraen was right. The boy needed to know something.
"Papa sad?" came the little voice that interrupted his thoughts and brought him back to the here and now.
"Yes, my beautiful boy. Papa is sad."
"Why? Ar'gon been good," said the confused little voice.
Arathorn snatched him under the covers caught him in a big hug. "It is nothing you did, my little love." He said hoarsely, looking at Gilraen, at a loss for words. Gilraen stroked her son's curly dark hair, "Papa's right it was nothing you did."
Aragorn pulled back a little and said "O. K. Papa sad though."
"Oh, my beautiful boy, There are things in this world of which you do not understand." Arathorn sighed deeply, caressing the boy's cheek. "But I will try to explain some things to you. There are some bad men in this world who want to have everything their own way. They do not want to share and be nice to other people."
"Why?" Aragorn looked confused.
"I do not know why, my little love. It is just the way they are." Arathorn hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Gilraen placed a gentle hand on his arm and taking strength from that, Arathorn continued. "These bad men, they do not like us and would harm us if they could." Aragorn's eyes grew wide and frightened at this idea, Arathorn tightened his hug to calm and reassure the child, "But we will not let them. I would never let anything or anybody harm you, my beautiful boy! This is why you and your mother are going to leave this place. You are going to live in a beautiful place full of rivers and woods meadows where you can learn to ride Gilgilath and be safe. You will like it there."
"You come, too, Papa!" he looked hopefully at Arathorn.
"No, my little love. I must stay here and guard against the bad men."
Aragorn's lower lip started to tremble, "No! You come, too! Papa!" he started tugging at his nightshirt.
"I would if I could, my little love." Arathorn smoothed back his son's hair and kissed the child's forehead. "But I must stay to make sure the bad men never hurt you. A man must sometimes fight to protect what he loves. And I will come and visit you as often as I can."
Lower lip still trembling a little, Aragorn obviously did not think that was good enough but he only said, "Ar'gon miss Papa." Tears to started slip down his little face as he hugged Arathorn's neck.
His father's arms closed in around his son, "My beautiful boy! I shall miss you, too. More than you will ever know."
He looked at Gilraen and mouthed 'Thank you' for insisting on this moment with his son. Gilraen smiled through her own tears, glad to see father and son embracing.
~*~*~*~*~
It was decided that the First watch of Arathorn's tribe would ride as the escort along with Elladan and Elrohir and that Erithain, given his new position as Regent should stay behind in Fornost. Aragorn's toys were packed and Gilgilath was to be tethered to Ayre, Gilraen's horse. If anything was to happen along the trip four of the guard were to ride as fast as possible away from any such trouble.
Aragorn was very unhappy. He had just found out that his beloved uncle Erithain would not be coming with them to the beautiful place whose name he could not pronounce. He stood in the middle of the settlement crying "No! won't go! Want 'Thain go!" It was too much. He had been good, but he just did not understand why everybody was leaving him. His papa, his uncle. It was too much.
His tears tore at Gilraen's heart. He was just too young to understand what was happening to him. Gilraen picked him up and tried to comfort him but he flailed his arms and would have none of it.
"Aragorn!" the child stopped flailing and looked at his papa who had a stern look on his face. "You will cease this behaviour immediately!" Aragorn saw his papa's face soften as he came closer. Gilraen smoothed back her son's hair and kissed his forehead, bouncing him up and down in an effort to soothe him.
Arathorn reached for him and Aragorn climbed from one parent to another. Quickly Aragorn nestled his head in his father neck, snuffling. "Want 'Thain go," the little boy said again but this time in a plaintive little voice.
"I know you do, my little love. But he must stay here and help me protect you from the bad men."
Aragorn scrubbed his eyes with two little fists, "Hate bad men!" he whimpered. And he did. They were causing his papa and his uncle to go away.
Arathorn hugged his precious son and said under his breath, "So do I, my beautiful boy, so do I," as they walked back towards the hall.
After reaching the hall, Erithain, who had also been sought for, found them. Aragorn looked up from his father's shoulder and shouted, "Thain!" Just behind him were Elladan and Elrohir. Aragorn saw them and shouted, " 'Roh! 'Dan!" he struggled to get down from his father's arms and was quickly surrounded by his uncle and the twin Elves.
"What's this I hear! Tears for me?" Erithain smiled, hiding the pain those tears were causing him from his beloved nephew. He and the Elves knelt around the sad little boy. Erithain wiped the tears from Aragorn's eyes, "I have to stay, if I don't stay, then your papa will all alone, won't he. And you do not want your papa to be lonely, do you?"
Aragorn paused as the idea dawned on him, "Papa be sad?" His lower lip started to tremble just slightly. He had not thought of that. He looked up at his father who was looking back at him. Then he said somewhat reluctantly, "Thain stay, Papa not sad."
Encircling his nephew in a big hug, Erithain said, "That's my little lad." Erithain looked at Arathorn as he was hugging the boy and saw his Chieftain mouth, "Thank you."
Disaster was diverted and preparation for the departure the next day continue.
Aragorn stayed seated on the grass near the hall with his Uncle and the two bright Elves.
Elrohir looked at the child and stroked his curly dark hair as he sat on his uncle's lap and smoothed away a tear track from the small boy's soft cheek, "Shall I tell you a story about Imladris," he said, his voice gently musical. Aragorn gazed at the dark Elf with hair like his beloved Gilgilath and nodded. "Well, It is in a beautiful lush ravine. Rivers and small green meadows will be perfect you to explore…
There Aragorn spent the rest of the afternoon in the company of his beloved uncle and the two bright and beautiful Elves hearing stories of Rivendell and its people.
~*~*~*~*~
The escort left early in the morning. Arathorn, Elladan and Elrohir to took the lead and the rest of the First Watch encircled Gilraen and little Aragorn sitting upon Ayre with Gilgilath tethered behind. Gilraen looked back at the settlement of Fornost where she had spent some very happy years and wondered if she would ever see it again. Her eyes teared up slightly as she hugged her son closer to her. Just at that moment Arathorn looked back and smiled gently. Gilraen smiled back and threw her shoulders back. She would face whatever was due to come her way, she owed it to herself, her family and her people.
The journey would take them first south as they headed along the road to towards Chetwood which met up with the Old East Road. They set up camp and tried to keep the atmosphere as light as possible for little Aragorn, but they kept an ever vigilant eye out for Orcs and other foul creatures who were roaming more freely about Eriador, much to Arathorn's despair.
They passed by marshes and on the times it was deemed safe for Aragorn to ride with his father, Arathorn would point out things of interest and tell him about the history of their people. They past Amon Sul and Arathorn spoke to his son about how it used to be a watchtower and held a great seeing stone that their forbearers used to contact each other. Aragorn looked with wide-eye wonder at the ruins.
One night near the Trollshaws past the Last Bridge, Arathorn sat an uneasy watch. Nothing of dangerous note had happened since they had left Fornost. This of course was a blessing, but Arathorn was uneasy all the same. His sixth sense honed over many years of battle, was letting its presence be felt. He scanned the surrounding area trying to see as far as he could in the scant moonlight. He looked to his side and seeing Elladan, silently beckoned him over. "My friend, what do your Elf eyes see," he whispered.
The dark-haired Elf scanned the surrounding area. "Orcs! I'd say a pack of forty. They are a distance away but they are traveling in this direction."
Arathorn looked intently at his Elven friend, "Do you think we can outrun them? Break camp and move."
The Elf shook his head, "I think it is too late for that! They do not know we are here, but we are too many of us to hide."
"We must set a defensive formation and protect my wife and my son at all cost. Take the horses into the Trollshaw and hide them. We will retrieve them after the Orcs are either dispatched or fled. Move quickly now and give the orders around. I must see to my wife and son."
Gilraen was up already and was dressing little Aragorn. Arathorn looked at her in amazement, "How did you know, my lady."
Gilraen smiled ruefully, "Call it a mother's sense! What draws near?"
Arathorn mouthed the word "Orcs" so that a sleepy Aragorn would not realise what danger was coming their way.
Gilraen's eyes grew wide in apprehension, Arathorn reached out a hand to caress her cheek, "Do not worry, my love. Nothing will through to harm you, I swear it. Come, we must go further back into this little outcropping of rocks."
Nestled with the rocks Aragorn, now alert and dressed, noticed the concerned tone in his papa's voice, "What wrong, papa?"
Arathorn looked at his precious son and his heart almost broke with concern and fear for him, "My beautiful boy! I will protect you both, no harm will come to you!"
Young gray eyes grew wide, "Bad men come?" His lower lip trembled.
Arathorn's eyes filled with tears of anger and sadness to see his son so frightened. He kneeled on one knee in front of his young son and put a hand on his shoulder, "My beautiful boy! It is time now to be brave for your mama. I will protect you both. I love you, always remember that." With that he hugged his son and kissed him hard on the cheek.
Arathorn stood and looked at Gilraen and unceremoniously handed her a long dagger and a bow with arrows. "I would be remiss if I did not give you these. And there will Rangers forming a loose perimeter around the rock cropping. Although it will not be strong as I would like as we are lacking in the numbers needed to form a more effective shield. I curse myself for not bringing more men" Gilraen silently accepted the weapons, looking into his stern gray eyes, even in the midst of danger and a battle looming she could still see that gentleness that had first attracted her to him.
"Do not berate yourself. You cannot see every eventuality." She saw his love for her in reside in his eyes as he stooped to kiss her fervently before leaving to see to the camp's defences.
She looked at the dagger and the strung bow he had given her. All Dunedain women were trained to shoot. They were not meant to fight, but it was thought among that Dunedain that they should at least know how to shoot should the need arise. She had never killed any thing before, but looking down at the fear and anxiety in her little boy's eyes she knew that if it became a choice between his safety and another's life, she would take that life and feel little remorse doing it. Nobody was going to harm her son. She strapped on the vambrace and slung the quiver over her back. She kneeled to her little son, "Aragorn, my son. You will not be harmed, we all love you far too much to allow that to happen. But listen to me, if any "bad men" do come, you stay behind me at all times. Do you understand me?"
The little boy's eyes were wide with fear but he nodded his head, "Behind mama."
"That's right, my little man," she whispered as she hugged him and planted a hard kiss on his forehead as she smoothed back his hair." She thought Pray to the Valar there will not be a need!
~*~*~*~*~
The Ranger party did not have long to wait before battle was joined. The First Watch fired off a volley to bring down the charging first line and took out many of them. They managed to fired off a second wave, but had to resort to hand to hand combat immediately thereafter.
Arathorn spared as many a glance at the rocky outcropping as he could during the battle. He saw Elladan and Elrohir work their way over toward the outcropping dispatching Orcs as they went. An Orc came flying at him and he swiftly swung his sword in an upward arc disemboweling the foul creature. Then he saw a sight that harrowed his soul. A stray Orc had gained the rocky outcropping and was starting to climb.
He ran though the midst of battle, decapitating an Orc that stood in his way. He screamed, "Elladan!" and pointed at the Orc. The Elven bow sang as Elladan let fly an arrow that impaled the Orc just as it reached halfway up the formation. Arathorn's attention returned to the next Orc to be slain. The battle raged on when he thought he heard a child scream. He looked to the outcropping and saw Gilraen fired off an arrow that killed an Orc just feet from their son. In that split second of distraction, he felt an arrow pierce his chest and he fell to his knees.
Elladan had looked in the direction of the scream as well and seeing the child safe he looked back to Arathorn and saw the Orc arrow pierce his chest, "NO!!!!!!!!" He screamed as he noticed that the Orcs were fleeing and that the Rangers were chasing the stragglers. He ran to where Arathorn had fallen and saw the arrow was close to his heart and he would not live long. "Be easy, my friend! It is not bad."
Arathorn looked up at him, saying weakly, "You are many thing, my Elven friend, but a good liar is not one of them. I see it in your eyes."
Elladan blinked back the pain that threatened to engulf him, looked up and saw his brother, "Bring Gilraen, he will not last." Elrohir's stricken face nodded and he ran to the rocky outcropping.
Gilraen saw that the Orcs were retreating. After killing two Orcs who had been within feet of her precious son, her nerves were stretched to the breaking point. She looked down at her hand noticed that they were still shaking. Looking at Aragorn, she saw he was sheet white and very frightened. She gathered him up into her shaking arms and tried to comfort the child as she searched for Arathorn.
Elrohir came up on her blind side and his gentle yet insistent, "My lady," startled her already frayed nerves and she jumped. "I pray you pardon for startling you but you must come now."
Fear flashed through her. "What is Arathorn?" she asked with her heart in her throat.
"You must come." The dark Elf was insistent.
She swallowed and blinked trying to focus on what the Elf was saying, but it was hard for the ringing in her ears was getting louder. She saw the Elf beckoned her forward and she followed holding tightly to the precious bundle of her son.
She found herself on the middle of the Orc strewn battlefield and Elrohir gently lifted her son out of her arms and gently pushed her forward. She was on her knees and she realised before her was her beloved. The sight of him snapped her out of her trance-like state. "Arathorn, my love," she sobbed.
Arathorn looked at her and gulped and whispered, "My love, I am sorry I was not able to protect you. I have failed."
It tore at Gilraen's heart that Arathorn's last thoughts should be of failure, "No! You saved me!" she said in an amazingly strong voice, a strength she most certainly did not feel. "When you walked into my life I was floundering in sorrow and regret. You brought me out of it, my love. You gave me life. I love you!" The tears were spilling down her face.
A cry of "Papa!" rent the air of the now eerily quiet battlefield. Aragorn had squirmed around in Elrohir's arms and had seen his papa lying on the ground. "Papa!" Aragorn broke free of the Elf's arms and ran towards his father lying on the ground. He was at his side, and said, "Papa, Ar'gon good, brave like Papa."
Arathorn struggled for breath, "My beautiful boy. I know you were. Make me proud, my little love. Remember I will always love you," he whispered faintly.
Aragorn had only at that moment noticed the arrow shaft and dirty rough fletchings that were sticking up from his father's chest. All assembled would never have let him see his father in this state but he had been too fast for all them in his panic to see his father. He was fixated on it and his lower lip started to tremble. Arathorn saw that and as sternly as he could muster said, "Aragorn," the boy's wide sorrowful eyes shifted from the shaft to his father's face. Arathorn looked gently into his son's eyes, "My son, never be afraid of death, for I will be waiting for you on the other side." After expending this last reserve of energy, Arathorn slipped from the world.
~*~*~*~*~
Author's note: Actually in Tolkien's timeline in the Appendices in ROTK reports are not made about Sauron searching the Gladden Fields until 2939 six years after Arathorn's death, but I needed a spur to get Arathorn to send Aragorn and Gilraen to Rivendell urgently so I adjusted the timeline just a bit. Hope nobody minds. Also and while it isn't strictly reported in the LOTR who's to say what Galadriel and did and did not see in her mirror. J ;) I beg the reader's indulgence I thought about it these AU elements did not seem to stretch the bounds of reason too harshly!