Chapter 1

Remember

A lone figure entered the realm of Rivendell. Passing quietly through the trees he reached the outside borders and gave his weary stallion a nudge in the ribs, walking the horse to the side of the Last Homely House. When he reached the stables he stiffly dismounted and led his horse to his stall.

He had been gone too long - far too long. He knew that to the elves he had been gone what seemed like only days, but for him it was months learning the ropes of a ranger and discovering the minds of men. He desperately missed the family he had left here. The letters they had sent back and forth had done his heart good, but in the last few weeks he yearned for more than their familiar handwriting.

He quickly removed all the equipment from Tole, his stallion, and brushed the horse's sweaty body. Tole was a tall, well-bred elven horse of Lord Elrond's stables, one of the finest they had. The ranger had known the horse all the animal's life, and even trained the stallion himself. Tole followed the man everywhere, and he had never trusted a horse more. With an understanding heart he brushed the horse dry, fed him, and covered the stallion's dark copper coat with a thick blanket. When all was done, he bid his friend good night, and walked slowly out of the stall.

He had hardly made it ten feet out of the stables when someone grabbed him from behind.

Weariness left his limbs as he struggled to relieve the firm arm lock he was in, but whoever was holding him was far stronger than he, and had the element of surprise on his side. He tried to loosen the grip about his neck and arm, but it was of no use. Desperation of survival raged within him; he elbowed his attacker hard in the ribs, and listened to the satisfying grunt of surprised pain. The arm around his neck loosened. He twisted around and tried to trap the figure, of whom he immediately noticed had long dark hair, and was as tall as himself.

The unknown being threw himself at the man, clasping him tight about his middle and knocking him to the ground. It turned into a full-out wrestling match - both of them working to trap the other. Grunts, yells, and curses rent the air until the ranger was finally trapped underneath his attacker. He tried to move, but the one above him pinned him tightly to the ground.

The man was breathing hard, trying to free his hands, but it wasn't any use. He couldn't move. Chest heaving, he looked up into the dark form above him, who was steadily growing brighter, allowing a strange but dearly familiar elven glow pierce the darkness that wrapped around them.

"E-El-Elrohir?" the man squinted up at the familiar face of his brother, watching the twin grin slyly at him, laughing softly.

"Very good, Estel. For a moment there I feared you had forgotten me completely!" Elrohir got up, allowing his little brother to breathe, and helped the man stand. "You almost had me there." Aragorn straightened his overcoat and brushed his long hair from his face, glaring at the twin with a small smile on his face.

"Elrohir, what are you trying to do, give me a heart attack right in front of Ada's front door? And no, I didn't get you once! You-"

"No, that elbow jab in my ribs did you good. I wasn't expecting that. You've learned something while you were away." Elrohir smiled playfully at him.

"Elrohir..." Aragorn smiled back and gave the twin a firm hug. "I've missed you so."

"You mean you missed all the good tackles like that one?"

Aragorn snorted away a laugh. "Always. No one's as good a wrestler as you, my brother."

"...I missed you too." Elrohir wrapped his arms tightly about the man, refusing to let him go. Time had crawled for the twin while Aragorn was away, and it was good to have him home.

Realization suddenly struck Aragorn of how much he had longed for his family while traveling with only Tole as his companion. As much as he loved his horse, it wasn't nearly the same as having one of his brothers, his father, or his best friend to talk to. When he finally let go and looked at his brother again, he could see only Elrohir's smile surpassing his strange elven glow.

"Come with me." Elrohir steered the man away from the stables and toward the now not-too-distant shape of Rivendell, the large estate widening in front of them. "We've been waiting for you. Only you, Estel, can make an elf pay closer attention to the passage of time. Never have my days dragged so when you left!"

Aragorn smiled at him as they walked through the long grass. "Well, if you'll still have me, I hope to stay a good long while now."

"You know you can always come here...back to us."

Aragorn stopped and faced the twin. "I would never pick anywhere else." 'It's the only home I know.'

Elrohir placed one hand on the man's shoulder, smiled, and pushed him slightly to get him moving again. "I know." They walked in silence for a few moments, and then entered the house.

For the second time in ten minutes, Aragorn was again bowled down by another familiar twin.

"Elladan!"

"Estel, where have you been? Time crawls so!" Elladan heaved the man to his feet and gathered him in his arms, laughing as Aragorn regained his breath.

"So I've heard. I can't imagine how Ada survives with you both without me..."

Elladan cuffed him lightly on the ear, smiling broadly, but before he had a chance to respond another deep voice entered the conversation.

"I should have known." A knowing smile echoed the words that were spoken. Another elf had walked up silently behind the trio, his eagerness for the young man's return no less than that of his twin sons.

Aragorn turned his head to his approaching father, smiling again. "Ada!"

Elrond grasped his youngest firmly on the shoulders and looked at his son with a critical eye. Aragorn was nearly twenty-five now, and his face had hardened to the firm features of a young man. He was fit and well, though quite obviously tired, but his eyes still held a bright sparkle that was all his own, that held the innocence of his younger years.

"It is good to see you again, Estel," Elrond said joyfully, pulling the man into a quick, firm hug. He and his sons had learned to respect the time they still had with the man, for none of them were sure just how long the ranger would stay at home, nor how long he would be gone if called for again.

"I have missed you all so," Aragorn murmured softly into the folds of his father's soft robe, nearly giving in to the fog that muddled his brain. When he pulled away, Elrond could see weary lines creasing the edges of the young man's eyes. Nodding in understanding, he turned to the twins.

"Could you two please take Estel to his room before he falls over?" Aragorn shut his eyes and snorted at the good-natured jest. Both the twins attached themselves to either of Aragorn's sides and began to lead him down the hall. "We'll need to talk more in the morning."

"Ok, Ada," Aragorn called over his shoulder quietly. "Thank you."

"Good night, my son."

The twins both began talking to the man as soon as they rounded the first corner, but Aragorn was barely tethered enough to his world to walk, let alone listen. As soon as they reached his room, he quickly collapsed into bed without even changing into his sleeping clothes.

"Estel?"

"...Mmm?" someone was talking to him, but the weary part of his body was taking over. Whoever it was better hurry before they lost him.

"Estel, we heard that there have been several people gone missing, carried off by slave-traders very close to here. Did you ever hear anything about it?"

"Yes... a little bit…. While I was near the borders of the Misty Mountains south of here, I heard of a small band of men... although some think they are elves... that may have a connection to the disappearances of the 10 or so people that have gone missing... but I was on my way home, and didn't stick around to find out more."

"Elves? They think they are elves?"

"... Mm-humm... because they never seem to tire... and their garb is most unlike a common man's or thief's... and they have a unique talent with horses... but that doesn't always mean anything, right?"

Silence. "Right. Well, good night, Estel. We'll talk again in the morning."

"Good night." Aragorn fully gave in to sleep, and the twins quietly left his room. Outside the man's door, a worried conversation took place.

"What if it is him? Could he still really come back?"

"No, El, it's just a rumor. But the talent with horses...We'll have to wait for now and find out what happens."

"But he might know about Aragorn! He could-"

"No, he won't. It's not going to happen again. We'll keep an eye out. And we'll have to ask Aragorn about it again in the morning. He may know more."

"All right. Come on; let's get back to Ada…."

§§§

He dropped on all fours, almost eagle-spread as he crouched on the ground, peering silently through the branches of the leafy bush in front of him. He hadn't made a sound, that he was sure. Smiling grimly, he pushed through the branches, coming closer to his prey.

This job had never been easy. Getting past elves, even if he was one himself, was careful and dangerous work. He had spent the last several hours traveling through the surrounding forests of Rivendell, avoiding every elven warrior he could sense.

By the Valar, why did it always have to be so difficult! Learning to not even breathe wrong had been long and tedious training, but he knew how to avoid full-alert elves and he was doing it now. His upper lip twitched as he slunk through the trees, crawling away from four warriors hidden in low in the leafy branches of the sturdy oaks. He normally would have preferred to slay them all so he would not have to worry about them catching him on his way back out, but his master had told him to not shed any blood. Rather, he was to use his skills to disarm and knock out anyone that tried to interfere with his quest. Besides, the first half of the journey was nearly complete, for he was now closing in on the inner walls.

When he reached the edge of the forest and closed in on the stables, he stopped and looked up at the sky. Though the inky blackness was dotted with stars and the moon nearly full, the light was overcast with a thick blanket of clouds. Good. This made it less likely for him to be seen as he crossed the fields between the stables and the estate. Keeping low to the ground, he kept all senses trained onto every move he made and the move of every elf within his long-range proximity.

He was almost there...

Aragorn's eyes flew open. Something had woken him. He rolled his worn body over until he was facing his window, and the dark open sky beyond it. Thunder rumbled and rolled; it would storm soon. The glass creaked softly - the window was open. Normally the open window would have caused him no concern at all, for he was quite warm, and the breeze comforting. But something was sliding an icy finger down his spine, and though he hated to admit it, right now, he did not want that window open.

Wearily he pushed his blankets aside and slid off his bed. He stood in front of his window moments later, fumbling with the latch. When it was bolted shut, he closed the curtains and silently padded away. Curling up under his blankets, he turned his back to the window. He was in Rivendell, the refuge he had long sought for months. His family was here, his heart was here. Within these walls he found hope and peace.

Then why did he feel as though he should not be here?

Unknown fears made him brace himself. Tired as he was, he could no longer close his eyes. Creeping unease did not fail made him shudder with uncertainty. Something was wrong. He didn't know what, but something was definitely wrong. It was if he was being watched, spied on. There was no comfort now in thinking about his family. Were they lying awake too, unable to shake the feelings of the unknown?

Irritated at these unhesitant feelings, he began to wonder if he were regaining old childhood fears of unknown noises. Trying to be confident that this was the answer, he forced his eyes shut and sighed.

Then suddenly he again felt a distinct cool breeze at his back. He twisted around quickly, only to discover that the window was open again, the curtains flowing softly in the wind.

So close; so close he could feel the warmth of firelight beyond the walls. He quickly stopped and froze as one guard suddenly stood from his own spot and began wandering the grounds, searching for the answer to a question only his senses could ask. The unknown elf groaned inside as the warrior got closer, holding his sword loosely in both hands, his bright eyes piercing the dark night. He would have preferred to remain unnoticed until this job was done.

'Just a little closer...' the hunter thought, watching the warrior from behind the tree he had taken cover behind. Noiselessly his hand lighted on the knife at his side, but then remembered his master's stiff warning. Annoyed, he let go of the hilt and instead let his hands fall to his sides, loose and ready to attack.

'Come on... take two more steps and find yourself out cold, or turn around and go back... make your choice!'

The warrior took another careful step toward his hiding spot.

'One more... go or stay...it matters not to me...as long as you're out of my way...'

The warrior hesitated, then again inched forward. Yet at mid-stride, a sharp whistle sounded somewhere to the left of him, a warning of danger from another warrior. But it was too late.

The hunter struck with the speed of a snake, grasping the elf about the throat with one hand and twisting the blade the warrior held with the other. The elf cried out in alarm before the hunter could stop him, and he quickly cut the warrior off by throwing the warrior over his shoulder and slamming him down to the hard ground. One fist made swift contact with a tender spot next to the warrior's jaw before the elf could react, and watched the bright eyes grow glazed. He had been stunned, if only for a few minutes.

The hunter let out a soft curse. There was no way that others could not have heard that cry; he was going to get caught if he remained there. Leaving the stunned warrior where he lay, the hunter vanished into the darkness of the trees just before a handful of Rivendell warriors came to discover the source of the noise. In no time at all they had found the body of their stunned comrade.

Barely half a minute had gone by before the forest was alive with warning calls. Rivendell knew she had an unwanted hunter running loose in her grounds, and it took only minutes for the guard outside the walls to know it and ready itself.

The hunter inwardly growled at himself for being so careless. How could he have made such a foolish mistake? He waited for the coast to clear, and then ran silently to the shadow of the estate, wandering the Homely House's exterior outline. Freezing far too often than he would have liked for assembling elves to search and pry around the sidewalls, it took him long to find a way to get in.

Then suddenly glancing up as he stood next to a tall tree, he noticed a large window near the trunk of the tree under which he sat, the glass open slightly and moving in the gentle wind.

No wait... this wind was not gentle any longer. Though the night was warm, the heaviness in the air was growing. The weather was picking up; it was going to rain soon. Thunder rolled over the distant mountains. He was going to have to move faster.

"Elladan!"

The elf jerked out of his sound sleep when Elrohir suddenly burst into his room, pulling a thick tunic on over a white undershirt. All thoughts of sleep were forgotten he jumped up, but was cut off from speech as Elrohir spoke first.

"Elladan, the warriors had discovered a strange intruder that is resisting both sight and capture. He's already stunned one warrior and there could be more. We've got to get out there to help search." Elrohir watched his twin carefully as Elladan registered this all in seconds and like his brother quickly pulled on a tunic and his cloak, picking up his weapons from a sidewall. Elrohir already had his cloak, though it was draped over his arm and his weapons in one hand. Setting them down for a moment he too clasped his cloak in place and followed Elladan out of his room.

The two brothers walked side by side down the hallway, discussing the situation. "Does Ada know?" Elladan asked quickly.

"Yes, he's the one who told me. He's already outside. I came to get you as fast as I could, for Ada had no more time."

"Come on," Elladan gestured his twin to the opposite end of the hallway, of which was suddenly lit up with a flash of lightning. "Let's go get Estel. We'll need the help."

Without conscious thought the hunter jumped up lightly and soundlessly onto the tree trunk that he had crouched behind and climbed up faster than a squirrel. But just after he reached halfway, a shadow overcast a small part of the window and the glass slid shut.

Undaunted, he waited until the shadow had passed on before again picking up his upward climb. Reaching the top, he sat on a strong branch just outside the window and pulled out his knife.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the cloudy sky grew darker. The wind was picking up, and the hunter worked faster to pick the lock, then quietly eased the window open and jumped from the tree branch to the inside of the room, hiding himself well in the... bedroom? Yes, it was a large bedroom. He melted into the shadows as someone bolted upright at the feel of wind from the now re-opened window, turning around swiftly to look out into the dark sky. A flash of lightning lit up the whole room, and it was all the hunter needed to discover that he had by some twist of fate entered the right room. His master's detail in the description of whom he was supposed to recover was far too vivid, and there he was – the only human in Rivendell pushing blankets aside and walking over to the window to again shut it, turning his back on his own window and again walking back to his bed.

His search complete, he pulled a length of rope off his belt. The hunter could hear running in distant halls, and sometimes he could catch a word or two of urgent conversation with his true elven hearing, but he was not going to get caught now that he was so close. Footsteps were ringing far down the hallway outside the human's door. He could suffer no mistakes.

Cold sweat broke out on Aragorn's forehead. He willed himself to calm down, for he could find nothing out of the ordinary, other than his window. But everything inside him was screaming to get out of there! His hands were clenched into fists as he again lay back down. He could hear the thunder outside, and all of these little things that were happening to him were sending his brain into a paranoia overdrive.

He rolled on his side, facing the wall away from his window and clenched his eyes closed tightly, encouraging his heart to slow by breathing deeply. But even as he tried, it only seemed to get worse. The silence was so loud, he ears were ringing.

Then he heard a creak. He had hesitated too long.

He jumped up, but his attacker was already on top of him. His hands were wrenched to the side and gripped tight with one strong hand, while the other clamped over his mouth to keep him from shouting out. With the element of surprise on his side, Aragorn's attacker had the ranger under his control in seconds.

Chest heaving, Aragorn looked up wide-eyed at the face of his intruder, but in moments his hands were quickly released and he was punched hard across his temple. Dizzy blackness claimed his vision for several moments, and by the time he came to, he had been effectively bound and gagged. The unknown being lifted him as though he were only a small child and easily shouldered his weight, obviously desperate to get out of the room. Just before the hunter disappeared with the ranger through the large window, he pulled from one pocket a piece of paper and left it on the ruffled pillow at the head of the bed. And then he was gone, taking the human with him. It was not a moment too soon.

Small patters were heard against the windowpane seconds later. It was beginning to rain quite hard.

The twins burst into the room, but they were greeted with an unmade bed and lightning revealing the empty interior, making the dark room glow. Rain slated down the walls outside in sheets. Though it looked innocent enough, that possibly Estel had already gotten up and was outside helping to look for the intruder, but somehow they knew it was not so. Neither of their eyes took long in discovering an open window, or a scrap piece of paper on the pillow. Curiously, Elladan picked it up and began reading. Moments later and only through the first two lines, he let out such a curse it made Elrohir flinch. Both the twins began reading together, their hearts dropping in fear as they read through the short but angry lines on an age-old memory, and a new threat.

Remember me? I shall assume not, for it has been long since you both last saw my face, scarred by an incident that claimed what I knew as the scant remainder of my security and my family. I've come to repay you for what you both did to destroy me. The man I took should become a useful prisoner, and when I torture him, break him and send him back to you, then perhaps you will see what torment I went through all my life. And since for reasons unknown to me that you value his life, you will be lucky indeed if you find him alive. I plan to return again to claim what is mine. You will not stop me from taking her again.

Remember me now?

The twins wasted no time in searching the room once they had finished the letter, Elrohir taking it for safekeeping. Though the room was for the most part unharmed, the latch on the window had been broken, apparently with a knife. That served all the needed proof.

The two brothers stared at each other; quiet, yet fierce understanding passing through them. Then turning as one, they ran out of the room, angry taunts nipping at their heels, knowing that if they didn't leave soon, it might be too late.

Someone had broken into Rivendell, and whomever it was well trained in the art of stealth. They might have been able to find the strange hunter, but the rain and lightning covered any tracks. The young man and his attacker disappeared into the wind and rain.

Aragorn . . .

Arwen . . .

What had they done? What could they do? But if not, if they did not try... what would happen to them all?