Tales From Middle Earth: The Harad Road

Aragorn awoke with a ravenous hunger and a deep burning shame. He studiously avoided the eyes of his friends even as they provided him with food and drink. The pangs he suffered lessened as he ate and he began to feel strong once more. Elegost had gone to scout the road ahead, while Legolas was gathering their weapons and provisions. Aragorn watched him from beneath his lashes as he moved about. "Do you despise me?" he asked finally.

Legolas stopped in surprise. "No mellon nin, I do not."

"What about Elegost?" Aragorn asked again.

Smiling this time Legolas said, "He does not either."

Seeing the smile made Aragorn feel much better.

ooooooooooo

"All has been quiet. I think it is safe to cross." said Elegost when Legolas and Aragorn joined him.

It was agreed that Legolas would cross first followed by Aragorn. Elegost would cross last. Legolas ran lightly across the bridge which stretched about one hundred feet across. On the other side he immediately strung his bow then turning signalled for Aragorn to begin.

Aragorn stepped onto the bridge easily enough and holding onto the rope rail edged forward. He had gone about a third of the way when a sudden unmanning fear took hold of him. He froze, staring down at the swiftly running water as it raced towards the sea. The churning water seemed to call to him, its roar an awful voice chanting his name. He closed his eyes to block out the sight but the gushing sound made his stomach heave. He grasped tightly onto the rope his breathing erratic. The bridge shook and for one awful moment he thought he had fallen. Hands grabbed hold of him and he cried out, his eyes flying open. It was Elegost.

"I shall fall," cried Aragorn.

"I will not let you fall," Elegost replied seeing the fear in his eyes. He took hold of Aragorn's hands and tried to pry them loose.

"No!" Aragorn shouted his fear growing as he tried to pull away without letting go.

But Elegost was strong and in the short struggle that ensued was the victor. He took a step backward forcing Aragorn to step forward. Again Aragorn began to struggle his knees turning to jelly as fear rode him.

"Look at me Aragorn," Elegost commanded his voice stern and strong.

With red rimmed eyes Aragorn did as he was bid. Elegost's steady blue eyes held his wavering gaze.

"I shall not let you fall." Elegost repeated firmly. "Keep your eyes on me, do not look down."

Aragorn said nothing but his tear filled eyes locked onto Elegost's and slowly, with Elegost taking one step backward and he one step forward they made their way across the bridge.

Legolas worriedly watched them come. With his eyes he questioned Elegost when they drew near, but the latter shook his head. They would speak later. "Let us be away from this place." said the ranger.

Deep into the woods they moved, alert for any foe. Aragorn held onto Elegost like a man adrift at sea. He walked woodenly paying no attention to his surroundings so that he stumbled often making their progress slow. At last Legolas who was in the lead called a stop at a glade that descended into a slight hollow. He set about making a fire for it was cold while Elegost soothed Aragorn as one would a child.

Much later as the fire crackled and the forest grew quiet, Elegost told Legolas of Aragorn unreasonable fear of the water. "He was convinced he would fall to his death."

Breaking a small branch with a vicious movement of his wrists, Legolas threw the pieces into the fire.

"This thing saps his will, his courage, his very soul." he exclaimed. "Would that I had wings to speed him to the Lady."

"I agree my friend, we needs must travel faster. But no horse nor ship can be had this far from the city."

Legolas sighed in frustration.

"Do not give up hope, the rangers of Ithilien roam these woods. We can get word to the Lord of this land and thus the Lady of the Gold Woods. If we cannot get there in time mayhap help can come to us."

With that Legolas had to be satisfied.

Days passed and they travelled without incident. That evening they supped on the meat of deer and cold water from a hidden spring. Aragorn ate heartily seeming to have forgotten his previous fear. Legolas studied him in the flickering light of the fire. His face seemed pale and more youthful than it should be. In the spring of the last year, Aragorn he had at last sprouted hair along his jaw, a beard he called it. It was no more than a light dusting of stubble really but Aragorn had been proud. As Legolas peered at him he realised that Aragorn's face was as hairless as his own.

In disbelief he rose and crossed over to where his friend sat. He knelt and ran his fingertips along the ranger's jaw line. It was clean and smooth. Legolas' hands stilled. He cupped Aragorn's face and looked deeply into his eyes. Aragorn's clear, blue grey eyes were wide and guileless. They were not the eyes of his friend. Legolas brushed aside the unruly tendrils of hair that always fell onto his brow. Aragorn's once noble face seemed characterless and wrong somehow, like that of an untried stripling.

In a rush of emotion Legolas crushed him to his chest, Aragorn was no more. Aragorn's arms encircled the elf's waist and the ranger relaxed against him.

At the fire's edge Elegost looked at them. He had not known Aragorn for very long, but the young dunedain chieftain had proven himself a courageous and selfless leader. It would hurt him deeply if Aragorn could not be restored. Legolas was the first elf he had ever encountered in his short life; he found him more human than he thought possible. He could feel the elf's grief like a palpable force. He vowed then and there that he would do all in his power to rectify this wrong.

As Aragorn lay against Legolas the elf's intense blue eyes filled his mind. His golden hair, burnt to molten silver in the firelight covered him like a liquid wall. Legolas' long hands burned his skin as they held him so tightly. He felt safe and protected in the elf's embrace. As he closed his eyes and gave into the feeling pain flared in his belly but he ignored it.

The next day dawned gloomy and cold and soon rain began to fall, steadily turning the earth underfoot to mud. Blinded by the rain and soaked to the skin they walked in single file trusting their path to Elegost's knowledge of the terrain. It would have indeed been a miserable day for the three had they not stumbled across the path of the rangers of Ithilien.

Elegost was well known to the green clad rangers, but they were surprised and more than a little curious to find him in the company of an elf. Great respect did they pay to the woodland elf and soon the three travellers were dry and fed in a secret underground cavern that lay in the midst of the forest. Elegost was soon in conference with the captain of the patrol leaving Legolas and Aragorn to wait. If Legolas was uncomfortable being underground he did not show it. But Aragorn fidgeted and squirmed under the rangers' curious scrutiny. It was only when Legolas put a comforting hand on his shoulder that he quietened down considerably.

"The captain has sent word to his Lord. Though it will be some time before it reaches the Lady." Elegost said to Legolas on his return.

"Then we must journey on," Legolas replied.

"He grants us safe passage north along the Road with two of his men. We will be met at the crossroads. He begs that we wait thereafter at Henneth Annun."

"I know not of this place." Legolas returned frowning.

"It is a hidden place known only to these rangers and is not offered lightly. It is their place of great safety."

Legolas looked over to where the captain stood in conference with three of his men.

"Then I thank the captain for such an offer and accept it."

Elegost nodded. "We leave at first light."

That night Elegost and Legolas slept deeply for the first time in weeks, but Aragorn could not. He hated the clean scent of the place and the irritating gurgle of the stream that meandered through it. Most of all he hated the silent green glad rangers with their shining eyes and stern faces. He wished they had never come across them. He began to sob quietly as the night wore on. Pain flared inside him but he had long grown accustomed to its feel. He reached out and found a thick lock of Legolas' golden hair. Wrapping it in his fist he began to dream of other things.