Chapter Six

Aragorn frowned as he walked down the stairs tiredly, the hobbits in tow- Sam and Merry walking especially sluggish. He knew that they did not wish to follow the stranger, especially after he had fallen carelessly asleep the night before.

He did not blame them. Strider was rather annoyed at himself for giving into unconsciousness.

True he had not slept for days- and true that the awful wraith scream had overwhelmed him, but still!

"What road will we be taking?"

The question caught him a little off guard, especially since it was from the youngest one, Pippin.

"Road?" Strider murmured to himself and he heard one of the older, not Frodo of course, snort indignantly. "Well, I suppose that we will take the only road I know by heart-" the man smiled smugly and added, almost wistfully. "Since I would be most unreliable, otherwise."

He could just mentally see the faces that the two unsure ones were throwing at him, but he chose not comment. He kept his face forward and his working senses on the stairs before him.

After he had paid Barliman and thanked the innkeeper greatly for his services, not to mention eavesdropped on some comments of caution to the four hobbits, ones which Frodo quietly accepted, they were off; walking down the road through the town of Bree.

The ponies had all run, as well as the rest of the animals when the wraiths had arrived, so Strider stuck to the best thing he knew.

He went to one particular hobbit he was confident had a, or at least he had owned the poor thing last time he had visited Bree, pony or horse of sort. And this animal was all out of sorts.

So small, Strider hated to make it carry too much, for fear of killing it, and so undernourished that he wished too transfer some great elven strength to the beast.

All this information came from the townsfolk, and for that reason he did not have to look stupid feeling over the obviously emaciated beast.

They went on to traveling in the wild, which Aragorn claimed was the best road. Frodo often cautioned him about certain things. This annoyed the ranger immensely because he knew this path; and he instantly regretted letting the hobbit know his secret.

After the entire days travel, which earned much grunting and groaning from the majority of the group, Strider declared that they would rest for a few hours then continue their journey at night.

Most asked why at night if none of them could see. Frodo hushed them all and explained that Strider, being a ranger, could see perfectly in the dark.

On hearing this peace of information, Aragorn snorted. 'I wish.'

Now, sitting quietly around the fire, the hobbits devoured their meal; Bill, the emaciated pony, stood next to Sam and the young hobbit fed it some of his bread.

"Why not a story, Master Strider?" piped Pippin, "You must have some fascinating stories from trekking all over Middle-Earth."

Merry looked up, smiling, but then dropped his gaze and kicked the dirt. Frodo, did not miss this gesture and cocked his head, then turned back to look at the ranger. "Yes, Strider- you must know one?"

"One?" the man tipped his head back so his hood slid down a bit more, it revealed only more of his stubble-chin and broad grin. "Well," he smiled. "There is one I know- though you'll have to bear with me, it's been quite a long time since I told any such tales."

A roar of hobbit shouts ushered him on and he chuckled while waving his hands. "All right, then." he stroked his chin and brightened a moment later, leering forward a bit to create the mood.

Waving his fingers before him to silence the halflings, mainly Pippin, he began.

"A long time ago, when Arda was still young there lived a man…"

Frodo looked back to his companions, he saw Sam pulling Bill along quietly- the gardener looked far too tired to notice him missing for a moment.

Merry and Pippin walked beside one another, there motions easily showing that they, also, were in need of a good long sleep.

Smiling he jogged up to Aragorn who was quickly, and easily making his way past twigs and branches just a few yards ahead.

"Strider?" he was rewarded with a short nod, the human obviously noticed that the hobbit was coming.

"Frodo?" Strider retorted with a smirk.

The middle-aged hobbit laughed and watched with interest as the human touched each tree with a hesitant hand, whispering to each in the fair, elven, and tongue as he passed by.

"Why do you do that?" the hobbit asked as he hurried to catch up better with the older man. "Why do you talk to them- they are just trees."

"Just trees?!" Aragorn clucked his tongue in warning and patted the next one with care. "I would have thought you learned better in The Old Forest. Or at least long ago in the teaching of your Uncle."

"You knew-"

"I know all the steps you took Master Baggins- and don't underestimate me, please. I may be blind- but that does not mean I am a fool."

The hobbit was taken aback and he shifted uncomfortably next to the ranger. He was about to speak his apologies, but Aragorn spoke first.

"I am asking their forgiveness- I often rip off a tiny piece of bark to help me on my next journey. That way I can feel the bark each tree is missing and know that I am going in the right direction." he shook his hood off, the air inside beginning to smell musky from not bathing.

A bit surprised to finally see his guide completely- Frodo turned his eyes upward and gazed long and hard at the ranger.

He starred at the man's face and was startled to find that Strider looked much younger than he had said. He did not look near one hundred- his dark curls were tangled and his face was pale. And though his skin was weathered- his dark stubble covered most.

"You look younger than you let on-" he whispered quietly, trying to penetrate some of the confusion and get to know that human better.

Aragorn chuckled a bit and opened his eyes. He did not care whether he walked with them closed or open for it made no difference- neither brought any light to his world and neither made his confidence soar.

"Well, I would not know- would I?"

Frodo gulped and nodded. He hated talking to someone who seemed to always be angry about his own problems, and though he understood, he could not grasp why the human was so bitter.

'I suppose,' he thought to himself. 'That is would be difficult to comprehend his pain- but,' the helplessness inside made him want to shout. What kept this man so cynical?

Before he could come to terms with his thoughts, they spoke out, in a low voice that he could barely hear. "Why?"

"Why- what?" the man spoke quietly, knowing the hobbits ears to be good ones.

"How come you are so angry with yourself, I mean… it is not as though you could help your- er- um… disability?"

The human laughed and his smiled sent Frodo in another realm of pure confusion. He scratched off another piece of bark and stopped to rub the trunk.

Watching, the hobbit watched as one tree limb shook a bit revealing an apple. He wondered silently at how strange the apple trees were and then felt a shock run up his spine as he realized that Strider had just made the tree do that.

"How-??"

Chuckling again, the human couldn't help but let his own rough face fall forward. "Good Eru, can you not say anything else?! Are all the words you hobbits know 'Why?' 'When?' 'Where?' and 'How?'?!"

"I just-" Frodo shook away the different emotions and walked straight in front of Aragorn; the men, using his intensified hearing, stopped immediately to pierce the ring bearer with his pale, glinting gaze.

"Yes?" Aragorn whispered, almost threateningly. The question hung on the mist, a feeling struck through Frodo and he swallowed harshly.

"I just wanted to know? I wanted to try and help you."

"You can't help me, Frodo." the ranger sidestepped and continued on, his pale eyes stretching farther and farther ahead of him and his gate beginning to quicken.

The hobbit felt guilt pang in his heart and he sighed wearily. Looking up, his blue eyes locked onto the human's form and with a wistful breath he looked to the sky.

"And why not?"

TBC

So, I hope that chapter was not too confusing.

I am sorry to say that I did not use my beta this time either. I just wanted to hurry and get this out since I was already so late anyway. 

Replies to reviews

Thanks, Kirsten! Aye to that!!!! Go Mr. President! Anyway, I am sorry to say that there will not be much, if any, of Legolas in this story. We will hear about him later, but he will probably not appear in person. If he does, it will be in the very last chapter!!! Sorry this was so late!

LOL!!! No fears, MSL!!! I am sorry this is so late! I have been sick lately and been extremely busy so, ya. sigh And I really don't know how long this will be. I am guessing around fifteen chapters or more. Thanks!!! Glad you like it!!

Ya, there will be three or four fics in all that tie into this one Au idea. I am glad it sounds nifty, koriaena

Ya, this one was only about five pages long, so I hope that is an ok amount of pages. I know it was not really soon, but I hope you will forgive me.  God bless!!!

Ya, I agree whole-heartedly, fred! I have a friend who can scream just like a Ring wraith, and he does it in a crowd of people. It's makes me want to slap him sometimes!  Glad you liked the chapter!!!

WOW, Amanweithel! Gapes My head is going to blow to the size of a cow. You gave me so many compliments! I am truly honored!!!! Ya, I just had to incorporate that into my story. The fact that when one sense fails another makes up for it has always amazed me! I guess it's another part of God's great creation. 

Thanks, marbienl!!! Ya, well right now I am sick, so shrug I am little annoyed. But other wise, all's good. Ya, I was thinking about the "Pippin Apple" scene too… I might have to add that now.  God bless!! I am sorry this took so long!!!

Thanks, Catmint

Glad you liked it, MusicDreamer

It's truly ok, Aranna Undomiel!!! I do that all the time!!! Ya, it is a cute mental picture!!!

Sorry for taking so long, sielge!!!! I truly did not mean to, I swear!

Awww, thanks, Linchi!!!!!  Sorry this did take a while!

I might have, I am not sure. Shrugs It's been to long to remember. Anyway, I did not mean to pick on you, EverKitsune. I am sorry. I hope I can make it up to you with this next chapter!!! God bless!!!

Thanks all you guys, and I am terribly sorry this took so long!!!! I did not mean for it to, honestly.

I just wanted to ask for prayer too, I am sick and it is starting to get very annoying and icky. God bless you guys!!!!!!! You all are very wonderful blessings in my life!!!