Chapter Eight

"Please, Strider?"

The human stood up and began to pace, frustration and fear stirring him, annoyance making his breath come out in short gasps as the possibilities flashed through his bright mind.

"Why!" he snarled, not meaning to be rude, but near panic at the possibility of being discovered by the entire group of hobbits.

Frodo looked behind him to Pippin where the youngest hobbit was sitting alone by the fire, Sam and Merry laying beside him; they were asleep.

"Someone else needs to know!" the hobbit countered, seeking the ranger's eyes and raising his own voice.

"You know; is that not enough? Please, Frodo?"

"Why are you so afraid to share your secret?" the Baggins asked him, stepping straight into his path and attempting to stare him down; as usual, it had no effect on the human.

"Problems like mine can ruin friendships, it can break bonds, it can even destroy an entire way of life… one wrong thought and the broken pieces of that person can be a large jumble of debris not worthy of repair…"

"Strider, Pippin will tell no one, I promise."

"How can you- he almost gave you away, Frodo! He could have gotten you killed and it taken." He stressed the words and knelt down so that he could be one on one with the hobbit.

He sighed, and smiled, trying to lighten the mood and the rabid pounding in his heart. He had not meant to be so hostile, but he hated being the villain. Hated being in the dark- and even if he dared not admit the truth: the thing he loathed most was himself.

The weakness that was hidden from every eye but his own, the pain that lingered in every step he took, the heartbreak that dreaded to take his very life. And every time he went back home, it was only another reminder of the friendship lost, the romance almost broken, the revulsion.

Straightening his back and willing the thoughts from his mind, he bowed his head and took Frodo's hands, trying to collect the oldest hobbit's full attention as well as making a focus point for himself.

"I am sorry," he whispered. "I meant nothing-" he breathed out slowly. "If you believe, my lord, that it would better this company's chance to exploit my secret…" Aragorn gulped down the bile and clenched Frodo's hands tighter, trying to keep himself respectful. "Then do what you will. It is not my job to frighten or confuse- merely to lead you safely to Imladris. And by the strength left in my blood and the knowledge that I still claim, I will hold true."

Smiling sadly, the hobbit looked upon his guide. He hated to rip the man this far- to stretch him. But he knew that it had to be done, not for their health or happiness, but for Strider's.

"I want you to tell him." This made the ranger blanch all the further and for a moment, Frodo truly feared that Strider might fall from consciousness. He began to shake and his damp locks swayed in the wind.

"No." As Frodo pulled away, the ranger grasped his fingers tight again and squeezed them so forcefully that the hobbit feared that his entire arm may fall off.

He looked to the human's face and sighed.

"No, Frodo. Please- if I must share my problems, then you should tell it, not I."

Aragorn was near panic now; anyone watching could have seen it. He tried to calm his madly beating chest, his quick breathing. Strider gulped and rose from Frodo, shaking his head slowly. "No, I will not. You can tell him, but I can not."

"I want to help you-"

The man gaped. "By trying to frighten me to death!"

"No," the hobbit groaned and glowered at the human. "I know you think yourself less than worthy of joy, peace, and perfection. But I tell you the truth, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, you are the bravest and most kingly man I have met in all my days, and being related to Bilbo Baggins- I have met many."

Beneath his hands, which had earlier grasped Aragorn's chin, he could feel deep shudders running straight through from human to hobbit. But as Strider's face rose, Frodo noticed the silver trails down his worn cheeks.

"I am nothing." He shivered and Frodo clutched a little tighter, careful not to hurt the human, but also wanting him to feel him. "You can not understand… my friends have left me, my father is disappointed in me, my true family is dead- I am supposed to be some sort of king- but how can I be? I am not what they think me to be. They do not expect a blind man, a weak, sightless, hopeless fool to do great wonders!"

"Hush."

Aragorn bent himself, his frame rocking back and forth as he tried to cope. It had been so long since he felt the love that had once filled his life- but after Legolas abandoned all reason to reply to his letter, all the hope, love, joy, and contentment had vanished leaving only a black void.

Grasping the human's dirty, bedraggled locks and the back of his head so the hobbit could look into his pale, sightless gaze- Frodo smiled warmly and chuckled.

"If all men had your courage and strength, Strider, this burden I bear would have long ago been rid of." A hint of a smile passed Aragorn's mouth and Frodo persisted, laughing steadily now. "Truly, had I not happened upon you, we would be dead. Those wraiths in Bree would have chopped us to pieces. But because of your great wisdom, not to mention your bravery and elf-like senses, the world has hope." He sighed and wiped the silver streaks away from Strider's cheeks. "Do not be so unforgiving when thinking yourself."

For a mere second, all reality passed and Aragorn heard memories seem to beckon him. They called quietly and for a split second, he could hear an entire history playing in his mind.

"Shhhh…" A voice inside his mind, from the deepest point of his memory, it spoke. "It's alrigh-t, I've g-got you, Es-ssstel, and I won't l-let go."

The voice was familiar and he felt a pang run through his heart. He knew the voice; it was the voice of the only one who had ever tried to be his friend.

"Legolas…" he whispered, tears of hurt sliding down and dripping to the dirt floor of the plain.

The words continued to come, except, they all came from different parts of his life, and different people.

"I am sorry for not telling you sooner, I just- I just wanted to be treated like Elladan or Elrohir, as if I was normal."

"Do you not understand? You ARE too young, Estel, you are but a baby chick to her, she does not love you. She only loves you as a brother! She pities your blindness, Aragorn."

"Strider? What did you say?" Frodo shook the human a little, worried. "What's wrong?"

He was surprised when Aragorn gasped and turned his head away, seeming to be looking for someone, or something.

A thin sweat had gathered upon him and he was now slick to the touch; Frodo pulled away a moment and wiped his hands off.

Looking into the frantic eyes, the hobbit sighed. "Strider, why do you worry so about such things?"

The memories still fresh in his mind and his brain foggy with emotion, he breathed out slowly and took a moment, choosing his answer in silence and thinking it out.

"But what if he trusts me no longer? What then? You, Frodo, can not change the minds of your friends- they must decided what plagues their thoughts."

The hobbit rolled his eyes and laughed loudly. "Oh, Strider! You think that he would not trust you now, after you have already lead us through so many perils?"

Aragorn breathed deeply and nodded, the corners of his lips tilting upward. "So this is your way to help me, master halfling?"

Shrugging, the hobbit smiled. "Oh, maybe."

Another voice this time, one of wisdom and power spoke. 'You must give people the chance to decide, Aragorn. From the moment Legolas left your life, you have decided whether men would welcome you or not. Now,' a pause and the man waited with anticipation, 'you must live your life in their hands, for only then will you learn your place among this fight.'

Aragorn was left, baffled. Frodo still stood before him and he knelt, still confused.

His mind reeled- 'fight?' he nearly laughed out loud at the thought.

He was an amazing swordsman, no doubt, but he had never fought in a battle before…

The human's attention was drawn back to the hobbit before him, he sat still a moment, scuffling with all the thoughts that were running loose. He brought a hand through his hair, willing himself to do what the voice had said.

And though he wanted to, another part of him cowered at the thought.

'One step at a time, Aragorn. Just one step at a time.'

Without another word, Strider rose to his feet and swept his hood up over his face. "Watch the others. I wish to only speak with one hobbit and for the others to hear- well, I know things would go ill."

Frodo nodded thickly, even though he was still startled by the abrupt change in the man. "You have my word."

The darkness enveloped Aragorn like a cloak, and before the hobbit could say another word, the ranger was gone.

TBC

Thanks to my beta, Elerrina:) Couldn't have done it without you!

Now, onto the replies:)

Azla- We will have a nice little Legolas talk in some chapter, probably a little later in the story. :) However, Estel does mention Legolas a few times during the story. Thanks!

marbienl- LOL! Ya, I actually had someone tell me that he shouldn't be as tired as he is. I laughed. (No offense to the person.) Ya, well, maybe that will change…

Amy Johnson- Thank you! I must say it is an honor to be asked to write a story. And I will continue to push my mind to think of something; I however, cannot promise that I will write a Hidalgo/LotR crossover. It is just not my sort of thing. But I will try; I am just saying I cannot promise you anything. J But I will say that I agree about the Will Turner/Legolas thing. I do like Aragorn more than Legolas, but I love them both and especially when stories feature both of them together as friends. Thank you for your interest, and as I said before, I will rack my brain of plausible ways to make it work. God bless!

Fred- Well, I think you will find out in this chapter. J

Teha- LOL! That's what I said when I saw them all. Well kind of, I was asking 'are you sure these are all mine!' I say you should get one soon then. J Before chapter ten at least.

Nessa Ar-Feiniel- That will come all to soon. smiles

Catmint- You mean it's not cruel and wicked? Did you hear that guys! calls frantically Did you hear what she said? everyone ignores sigh Well, at least you think so. J Thanks!

Linchi-Yes, well, I wish sometimes I would act a little less human. grins Thanks! And they will very soon! In about two or three chapters, I believe.

Lovethosehobbits- Thanks! WOW! How on earth did you become so addicted to my wimpy little story? LOL! Just kiddin'. J Awww, shucks! blushes God bless!

Iwishchan- Yes, well. We wouldn't have much of a story if they all trusted him… thinks Well, I guess we would. shrugs I think it just makes it a bit more interesting.

Well, I tried to get to all of you, so forgive me if I did not say anything to ya. J I have been trying to post this chapter for three days now- I think I finally may!

smiles Hope you all enjoyed!

God bless!