Chapter Three

Aragorn hardly had time to gain his thoughts as he heard Frodo's unsteady breaths.

Each step the hobbit took meant a possible discovery of the ring and Strider knew that he had to do something or everyone would know!

Feeling a deep throb come from his leg was partly a blessing, because finally, that gave him an idea.

Sucking in a breath and willing himself to let all loose, he grunted and swinging his left leg far, he let the aching area hit hard on the corner wall.

A hoarse outcry from the corner drew most of the onlookers attention if not all as the, usually oh so quiet, ranger let out the loudest and most pain felt howl any of them had ever heard.

Aragorn could feel a multitude of eyes upon him as he let the bay loose. He could sense everyone's confusion as he grabbed for the tortured limb and touched it.

He felt hot tears drip down his hooded face and he was thankful that no one could see them.

"What?" he could hear a few ask.

Most of the stupider humans and hobbits forgot totally about the halfling who had disappeared from all sight and was now crawling silently to the corner area where the ranger sat nursing his hurting appendage.

The room turned back to its normal appearance as Frodo slipped the ring from his finger. He looked up at the panting human and his eyebrows lowered.

"Why?" he asked quietly as he turned to look at the now occupied customers in the Prancing Pony.

"Because-" his face was turned back as Strider breathed the smoky air into his lungs. "I see no reason why both of us should be found out; your mission is more important than mine."

Not listening to the reference to the ring but rather bothered by curiosity the hobbit spoke again. "And what might your mission be?"

"That is not important now. What matters most is the thing that you carry. I would like to have a private word with your later- after I can travel more freely up the stairs."

The dark haired halfling quivered a bit at the prospect of letting this man into his room to talk with him.

But something about this man felt genuine to him, even though his appearance was nothing short of ghastly.

He nodded quietly. "Alright then, I will talk with you later. Right now, I must go find my friends."

"Be on your guard, Frodo," the ranger whispered quietly. He heard the hobbit spin back when the name was uttered, but then, without another word, the halfling left.

Aragorn smiled grimly and massaged his throbbing leg as he listened to the other halflings greet their friend back at their small table.

Quietly, the three hobbits entered the small room; and though it may have been small to a man or elf, to them it was far larger than anything they could have wished for.

The beds and dressers as well as the tables, chairs, and small fireplace were easily accessible for the small beings.

Frodo breathed out a sigh of contentment as he closed the door, but as he turned his eyes came to rest on something hidden in the dark corner.

He watched as the being respired aloud and he noted the outline of a hooded cloak. He could now simply see the tips of the man's weatherworn boots in the minimal firelight.

Frodo gasped and grappled for his small sword, but the human rose slowly and put up a hand as a sort of sign.

"I mean you no harm," the cloaked figure rasped and the hobbit stilled his movements a little. But he still let his hand rest upon the sword hilt and he gazed upon the ranger with fear.

Sam and Pippin were at his side, staring at the man with frightened eyes.

"Who are you?!" Pippin questioned frantically, stepping in front of his cousin and glaring daggers at the taller being.

"I promise, please. Mr. Underhill agreed to converse with me later. I only came for thus purpose."

Sam leapt forward, unsheathed his own small sword, and pointed it at the stranger's stomach, for he could not reach up to his heart.

"Yes, well, maybe! But I ain't gonna let you touch my master!"

Frodo, sighing, pushed away Pippin and Sam with one brush, then stepped with his back to the stranger and his face to his friends.

"I did. So you two leave him alone and just let us talk a bi-"

A movement behind him cause Frodo to turn his head. He was surprised to see that the man had once again taken his seat but this time he was pressed hard against the wall, his hood shadowing his features still.

"What?" the hobbit questioned.

The ranger sighed and sucked in another breath, his ears perked hearing and his mind tuned to the goings on outside the door. "Someone approaches," he hissed and pressed himself further into the back wall.

Sure enough, a moment or two passed and a heavy set of feet was pounding down the hall. Not long after a strong hand rapped against the wood door.

"Mr. Underhill?" A voice queried through the solid door.

Sam balked, but with a quick nod from Frodo walked quietly to the door and opened it.

A large man burst through, his apron was still upon his heavy frame, but his gentle eyes easily showed he meant no harm to the small beings.

He wiped his hands busily and bent down a little to easier see the faces of the halflings before him.

"I came to wish you all a goodnight and-" he thought a moment and you could tell he was thinking hard by the way his amber eyes seemed to stare up inside his head. With a jump, he lifted a finger and reached into his apron pocket. "I almost forgot- Gandalf wanted me to give this to ye'. He said that it should go to a hobbit with your description that answers to the name of 'Mr. Underhill'- or" he lowered his loud voice. "Frodo."

The hobbit smiled a little and nodded.

"I also," his voice grew a bit louder and rose to full height again, " wanted to warn ya of the ranger, he's called Strider by most and-"

Just then, the door slammed with a heavy thud and the hooded ranger wobbled out clutching his ears a bit. "Eru, Barliman! I know you are not as quick as some, but you could at least give people of good hearing a bit of peace!"

The innkeeper glare hard at the ranger and snarled. "What on earth are you doing here you wandering dog?!"

Aragorn clenched his teeth and shook his head to rid it of the terrible splitting ache that had taken hold. But as he assumed it would, the pain only got worse and he groaned as he took a weak, shuffling walk forward.

"I am serious, my ears are pounding." The man cringed and beneath the hood, Frodo could see his lips wince.

"Please," he whispered, not understanding, but being sympathetic to the ranger. "I will take the letter, sir." He reached out slowly and the kindly innkeeper gave him the small parcel. "Now, thank you for your protection, I am grateful. But let us has some time alone- I will call should I have a need." He smiled and bowed his head, the dark curls slipped forward.

With a steely glower towards the other man, Barliman pursed his lip.

"No use using glares on me, innkeeper," the ranger growled as he heard the man step outside.

The door shut and everyone in the room was quiet for a few more moments.

Aragorn, taking this silence as a thought that Frodo was reading the letter hobbled over to his chair in the corner and sat down while pulling his pipe from his old ranger clothes.

He smiled wearily as he stuffed the pipe and lit it quietly.

"What is your name?"

The human out of reflex looked up, but then seeing only blackness still, turned his eyes back down to his pipe.

"Which one do you want?" Strider grinned and sucked in a puff of smoke.

"You true name, your birth name?" the hobbit responded with a befuddle glance.

The ranger chuckled but then, his face became serious. "I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. Heir of Isildur," he retorted nonchalantly and blew a puff of gray smoke from his mouth.

The hobbit tried to catch the ranger's glinting eyes, but he could not.

"Will you not show your whole self?" the hobbit asked as he took a brave step forward.

"Not until you have decided-"

"Decided what?!"

"I would like to be your guide, and see you safely to Rivendell-"

"Are you mad?! No! I am to keep Mr. Underhill safe and I ain't gonna let no ranger lead us into some oily trap where we can't get out! I swear sir! He's gonna chase us into some land where-"

At these words, a mad grin broke over the strange man's face and his sightless eyes shut mirthlessly beneath his hood. He began to chuckle and soon after it was a loud chortle that was breaching the fire lit room.

The three on-looking halflings stared at each other than turned back to look at the ranger.

"Why do you laugh, ranger?" the youngest hobbit of the three asked.

"Have you not read the entire letter?" he asked through breaths.

Frodo shook his head and turned his eyes to look back at the last bit of writing. Sam and Pippin watched as his face became an unsure frown.

The dark haired hobbit turned his stark, blue gaze up to face that of the sitting, hooded man.

"Is this true," Frodo asked quietly holding the letter up and starring deeply into the hooded face.

"As true as I sit before you."

The dark haired hobbit bit his lip and walked forward slowly, staring at the ranger the entire time. "How are you to lead us if you-"

"I know these woods- I know them better than most men. Trust me. I can lead you through swamps and highlands. Forests and mountains, anywhere- I can bring you-"

The stout hobbit leapt forward and glared hard at the cloaked man. "I doubt you'll bring us anywhere safe. Probably gonna lead us to some desolate land where none live and there's no body to 'elp us, I reckon!"

"You should not speak on things you clearly have no right mind in," Aragorn chided, standing to his feet slowly so he could tower above the young hobbit.

The youngest hobbit gave Frodo an inquiring look and shook his head softly.

"Sam-" the hobbit whispered stepping in front of his friend. "Please, let him. I swear, he is the one Gandalf wanted to lead us."

The gardener looked heart-broken. "You don't believe me?" He took a step back and glanced quickly at the human in the corner. "You believe a man?! One that we hardly know and is rumored 'round here to be a slinky ol' villain!"

Stepping forward, Aragorn grasped into his sheath and touched his sword hilt. "Don't make me scare your wits, lad," he threatened darkly.

The hobbit pushed himself up to his full height and puffed out his chest. "I'd like to see you try, Longshanks!"

The human grinned at the name but then in a flash pulled the blade from his sheath and pointed it to where he heard Samwise's breathing.

He heard all three gasp, but then stop short as they looked upon the broken blade.

"What?" Sam questioned as he took a step closer to Narsil and looked at it unbelievingly.

"Narsil, the blade that was made to cut the ring from Sauron's hand. I carry it with me. Like I said, Sam. If I wanted to kill you I could- All I would have needed was too reach back into my boot and grab a knife. My sword, the one that is actually useful, is in my room."

The stout hobbit stared a moment longer and frowned. He could hardly think of this as a reason to trust the ranger.

"Please," the man begged. "I was given this task. Let me finish it- please Frodo. I promise as long as I am able, I will keep you safe as is possible these dark days. You have my sword and it shall be used against your foes."

Turning to look at his younger cousin, Frodo saw Pippin nod softly and smile reassuringly.

"If he was able to get in our room, I believe he could have easily killed us and took 'it' without another question to his-er, what was your name again?"

Strider laughed a loud and sheathed the useless sword before he bent down gingerly and smiled under his hood. "Estel, Strider, Aragorn, Hope; but please- don't use that out in the open. It's a bit girlish."

"Strider will do," the dark haired hobbit nodded as he watched the ranger rise to his feet slowly with the help of a log that had rolled away from the fireplace hearth earlier.

Stopping for a moment in a contemplating manner, the man smiled and let himself slide back into his comfortable chair.

"I do believe your cousin is back."

TBC

Ok, now! Thanks to all of you who have stuck through on reviewing and kept on it!!! Thank soooo much!!! J And thanks especially to you people who are giving me bits of info to do with this story! Your information is greatly appreciated!!!!

Now! Onto the replies!!!!!

Thanks soooo much for all the information, larner! I am glad you find this story good! And thanks for telling me all that. It helps to know about this subject!

Yes, marbienl, his headaches have not left him. He is still basically the same man that we left him as. J Well that to, noise does not help at all. But a lot of the time he just gets them from nothing, which is quite a bother for the ranger. Oh, really. I mean, I have not read a story where he was permanently maimed, but I did read another that was somewhat close. Sort of, well, not really. Never mind! Anyway, I am glad. Yes it is supposed to have that lighthearted touch. J Glad you like it so much! Well, he (my friend) was lifting one of those leg exerciser things. And the muscles inside completely tore, that's how. J Short review? LOL!!!!! Hugs

THANK YOU, MusicDreamer!!!! You just solved a major problem!!!! Yes, I had to put it in. J Thanks for reviewing!!!!

WOW! A HUG THANKS TO YOU, catmint!!!!!! Your review makes me feel SOOO good!!!! I really hate to write uncannon (or whatever it's called.) AU's. Until I wrote "The Blind Can Not See What the Mute Can Not Say" I hated to write AU's at all! But now, as long as it goes, somewhat, with the story line. J Thanks! Your sweet nature and wonderful comments are reassuring to an aspiring authoress!!!

Yes, MSL. I am planning to rewrite, not all, but some of the scenes of The Lord of the Rings . Somewhere Aragorn has some difficult decisions and all that. Like maybe the Fall of Gandalf and stuff like that. And no, Legolas's voice will be just the same as it is in the last chapter of "The Blind Can Not See What the Mute Can Not Say". Smooth and flawless. I think with 60-somethin' years to work on it, his voice should be, basically, back to normal. LOL! I like your new word! "Aragorny". Very unique, and interesting. J Thanks for reviewing!!!

LOL, fred! You reviewed twice! It's not fair, I wish the people who are members could do that! Oh well! Really? You are? That's quite a reassurance that you think this story is correct. I hope it stays that way. If you feel anything is not right, you can go ahead and tell me. I do not know if I would be able to change it- but I will know so that when I start any others what you have said and have knowledge of these things. J I am sorry I did not update sooner!!! I really would have if I could, but everything is getting very busy. Thank you! Glad you liked the cane. J Thanks again!!!!! God bless!!!

We'll see, Azla. J We'll see.

LOL, Linchi!!! Too true, mellon nin! Too true!

I am going to try, Arrina. Scratch that! I AM GOING too. J Thanks!!!

No problem, Everkitsune. I hope you know that I can not always reply to you, per say. But I will try as best I can. J

Ok, guys! I really have to head out! I got go to bed so I can get to my school in the morning. But I will update soon as possible! Thanks and don't forget to review!!!!!

God bless you all this week!!!!!!

Go Bush! (Yes, I am a Bush/Cheney supporter, incase you guys did not know. J)