The Road to Self-Discovery
Disclaimer: sigh i hate doing this. ok...no, i don't own LotR...there, i did it! sobs
OMG, the apocalypse is coming! i updated!
orligurl88: thanks! reviewers like you have a way with words that make me blush as red as a tomato! you're so sweet, and i hope you like this chapter, for i'm dedicating it to you!
Ok everyone, this chapter is dedicated to orligurl88 for her unending support and reviews!
Aragorn breathed in deeply. The air smelled of pine trees and dew, making the human smile. This was where he belonged: out in the wild, alone with his thoughts and the animals. After stretching, he threw off his blanket and stuffed his feet into his boots. Standing, Estel walked over to the fireplace. Placing some new branches in the circle, he took out his flint and struck it. He had a fire in seconds.
Sitting by the blaze, he stuck out his hands, struggling to keep them warm. The cheery flames chased away the early morning chill, relaxing him. Reaching for his pack, Aragorn took out a piece of lembas and some fruit. Moving closer to the fire, he began eating.
Sparks danced along the logs, mesmerizing him. Twirling, leaping, running, swirling. Ribbons of red, orange, yellow, and blue came to his eyes through a light haze of smoke.
The simple beauty surprised Estel. He had never thought of fire as pretty before, only as something that could be used to help or hurt. Tearing his eyes away from the enchanting sight, he finished his breakfast and packed up camp, making the grove look like it had when he had first seen it. With that done, he put out the fire, and, mounting up, he was off.
Trotting along at a leisurely pace, the Ranger took time to admire the scenery. The leaves of the trees on either side of the path sparkled with dew as did the grass beneath his gelding's hooves. The sky, what he could see of it between the leaves above his head, was a beautiful robin's egg blue. Several white, puffy clouds dotted it here and there.
The serene environment gave the human time to sort through his muddled thoughts. Lately, he had been confused. It had seemed as though he had forgotten who he was. His adoptive family had always been loving and supportive, though they never got anything in return, but how could Estel feel whole without ever having known his father? Or ever having been close to the woman who brought him into this world? Every child he knew, elven or mortal, had a mother and father. Someone whom with they could share their hopes and dreams, tears and fears. 'Could Elrond be someone I could share my thoughts with?' Estel wondered, thinking of the elf he called Ada. Could a Noldor understand the complexities of a human boy's mind?
As Legolas cantered out of the gates leading to the palace, it seemed as though a huge weight had been lifted off the elf's shoulders. The pressure of being surrounded by the court all the time had been wearing on his nerves for the past month, for Legolas had never been held in the palace for so long. Usually, he could go into the courtyards, or take his mare Mirwen out for a ride, but for the past four weeks, he'd needed a chaperone overseeing all he did and being so confound had not given him the proper "alone-time" he was accustomed to and one in his position needed. This, combined with all the stress, and taken it's toll on the once healthy prince. His face, which in the past had been full and beautiful, was haggard and white, the only color being the dark bags under his dull blue eyes. Once strong and lean, his clothes now hung off him, making them look two sizes too big. Legolas' strength had waned so much that he had to stop and rest after just climbing a flight of stairs. In simple terms, he was a wreck. But that did not stop him from getting as far away from his home as possible. Taking a deep breath and savoring his freedom, he set off on the trail headed for Imladris.
Estel slowed his gelding as he came to the edge of a great forest. He had been traveling now for almost a day and a half, and was far from Rivendell. So then, what was this place? 'Ah yes…' he thought, 'this is Mirkwood. But dare I go in? The elves are said to harbor hostile natures toward humans and the spiders are rumored to be monstrous!' Snorting at his thoughts, Aragorn walked his horse forward. 'The elves must have had run-in's with the wrong sort of humans! I'll show them that some of us are decent. And the spiders certainly can't be that big!'
He would regret thinking that later.
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After several hours, Aragorn was uneasy. Normal sounds you would expect to hear in a forest: birds chirping, squirrel fights, innocent things like that, he didn't hear. Other noises, like animals scurrying along in the underbrush, now seemed spooky, almost threatening. And to make matters worse, the sun was setting, making it hard to see the trail. Deciding to call it quits for the day, knowing everything would look better in the morning, he stopped and set up camp off the side of the trail. After tying up and taking care of his horse, the Ranger gathered wood and struck a fire. As the flames lit up his campsite, he smiled. Things looked better already.
Setting down, he grabbed his pack and pulled it to him, opening the top flap. Finding only lembas and fruit, he sighed. This was getting old. But as Estel looked up and saw the isil rising in the now starry sky, he realized it was too late to go hunting. So for now, the dry elvish way bread would have to do. Groaning, he grabbed a piece of bread and two apples, giving one to his gelding and keeping one for himself before laying down on his bed roll, gazing up at the stars through the thick canopy. Still slightly uneasy at the lack of noise, his senses were on high alert for any sounds. And it was most likely because of his heightened awareness that he heard the inhumanly soft sound behind him. Tensing, he reached for his sword slowly, and grasped the hilt. Pulling the blade to him, Estel steeled himself, then sat up and pivoted suddenly on his rear, his sword held out in front of him. There was nothing there. Aragorn's eyes swept back and forth in front of him rapidly, now alarmed by the absence of sound entirely. There was nothing to follow up what the elven-raised Ranger's sensitive hearing had picked up before. After a few more moments, he uneasily let his sword fall to his side. Turning slowly back to his fire, he cast one last glance over his shoulder for good measure. Still unable to detect anything out of the ordinary, Estel let himself relax slightly, and he turned fully back around, making sure to keep his eyes away from the blaze, so as not to ruin his night vision. Getting back to his dinner, the human was caught totally unawares by what happened next.
A hand caught his hair and jerked his head backwards. The rough, sudden movement caused the lembas and his sword to be thrown out of his hands, leaving him defenseless as a knife was placed against his exposed throat. Hair brushed against his face and a low, threatening voice filled his ears.
"What are you doing in Greenwood, filthy adan?
A/N: blech. i hate high school! Have to get up early and leaves me drained, as you can tell since it took me this long just to put up a chapter! ah well, will try better next time. 'til then!
