Chapter Thirteen

"I haven't spoken to Legolas since that night. Many times I despise myself for choosing Arwen over him. It's not as though I had to choose either, I could have loved both. But, on feeling the love that Arwen had for me- I just forgot Legolas's friendship. I had never been loved in that way, and it was as if I could think of nothing else."

The human sighed and Merry looked upon him, loathing himself for feeling hatred for such a kind man.

Aragorn was not at all what he had thought him to be. All that he had felt and seen was a man that was hurting deeply from betrayal and confusion. Definitely not an evil, or wicked, mortal, foolish perhaps- but even he could be a fool at times.

"I am sorry." he felt a lump form in his throat as he spoke the words. He could hardly believe he was saying it. He saw Sam nod wearily and Frodo seemed to visibly relax, not to mention Pippin, who slumped at the voice.

Blanching, Strider looked up, his pale eyes wavering. "Excuse me?" he turned his right ear towards Merry, a almost imperceptible smile coming to his lips. "I thought you said-"

Sighing, the hobbit swallowed. "I did." he grimaced. "I am sorry for bringing you more pain, Longshanks. I never meant to harm a friend; I just wanted to help my cousin. I wanted to protect him."

Sitting silently, Strider did not answer. He did not move, nod, nothing. He just sat, contemplative as he smiled.

As he spoke again, his voice was quiet, and serious. "Friend?" he questioned, throwing a twig into the fire. "I haven't been called that in a long while-"

Sam stood up quickly, dragging the attention from Merry, he nodded towards the ranger with a stern voice. "Well, you gotta take good care of yourself, we can't lose you. What'll happen to mister Frodo if you get up and leave us? We'll be dead for sure."

"Aye to that. Think how far we'd be lost had Merry been out guide?" Pippin laughed as his cousin turned red.

The fire sparkled as the five companions laughed and Frodo tried his hardest to enjoy the new found friendship that encircled the company. The pain, not to mention the icy chill, was spreading down his arm and side and making it very difficult to concentrate on anything.

Even the fire's heat could not stave off this feeling, shades of grey began to seep into his line of vision and the color drained to a cold mirage of swirling darkness.

He breathed deeply, trying to bring himself back, and it did work, if only momentarily.

He saw a mass of shaped above him, blurry, but dark and uninviting. If only he could have seen that it was Merry leaning over him, touching his forehead and speaking softly.

"Strider," the voice was a bit garbled as Frodo felt the blackness envelop him. "Hurry, something's wrong!" the pair of green eyes that glittered in the firelight caught the older hobbit as his mind slipped from the world, and he was caught in a web of murky dreams.

Easing the hefty pack that sat upon his weary and hurting back, Aragorn knelt and cupped his hands in the cool, gushing water. His hopes for a good drink quenching the burn as the freezing liquid seeped between his warm fingers.

The warmth, he knew, was not all from over-exertion.

Slowly, he pulled his coat away to reveal the cut to his side. It was not large or deep, but it was now a fiery red and felt as hot as the Harad sun. He did not see any of this, but as he touched the wound gently, he could sense the deep trouble he was in.

He hissed as he splashed a bit of water on it and tried to bandage the infected cut with some of his less potent herbs. He knew that he had better herbs, of course he did. It was practically required of him to carry more useful healing aids. But Frodo needed those, more than then he did. Aragorn would not let himself rest until the hobbit was safe, that much was certain.

He heard quiet steps behind him as the others made their way into the small clearing. He could hear from their breathing and shuffling footsteps that it was time to take one of the quick breaks he had promised.

"Sam, let Bill drink, I'll help Frodo down."

The gardener nodded wearily, not questioning anything the ranger said. He was far too tired, and besides, Bill looked in dire need of some cold, clear water.

Frodo blinked as Strider carefully helped him down from the pony. He felt that he was too weak to do much more, and Aragorn understood easily. He carefully helped the oldest hobbit sit on the soft grass and knelt down to see to Frodo.

When the Baggins pulled away, Estel whispered in a kind but gentle tone: "Please, Frodo." he sighed. "I promise it will be quick- I just need to apply more athelas and some pain-reducing herbs."

Reluctantly, Frodo nodded, sucking in a deep and shuddering breath as Aragorn pulled away the tattered rags to feel the icy cold skin. "Ai." the man whispered as he felt down the side of the hobbit's arm gently. "You're so cold, lad."

Laughing softly, Frodo breathed deeply. "I'm not a lad anymore, Strider." he looked up grimly as the ranger chuckled.

"Well, you are much more of a lad than I am, Master Baggins."

"You can just call me Frodo…" Aragorn was about to protest when the Baggins shook his head and grabbed the man's hand. "We are friends, and besides, only Sam calls me names like that."

"People of your own kind do, do they not?"

Shrugging as best he could, the dark haired hobbit looked away with a wry smile. "No, they just call me Frodo, or Mad Baggins. Some of the younger ones call me Mister Baggins, but only out of respect."

"I am sorry to hear that." Aragorn smiled. "You seem a fine 'young' hobbit to me. Nothing eccentric about you, mellon nin." he grinned a little more at the last words and felt that Frodo was smiling too, even not if physically.

"Strider?"

"Yes, Sam?" He covered Frodo's shoulder once more and turned a bit to where Sam was tying Bill's lead rope to a nearby birch.

"How long till we make it to Rivendell?" Sam sank down on the grass and began to play with the dead leaves that had fallen to the ground.

Estel paused, 'How far are we?' he mused. They had made it past Amon Sul… and they were now just a few spans away from one of the bridges on the path to Rivendell. They all had names, he was sure, but he never really memorized the names.

"Close." was his best answer so he stuck with it.

"Are we lost?" Pippin's voice was so quiet that, had his hearing not been extra-ordinary, he might not have heard it. The youngest hobbit was quivering a bit and seemed frightened.

'Not that I blame him.' Estel mused as he shook his head. "No, I just can not specify how much longer it will take."

Merry looked up from the bread he was nibbling and nodded in agreement, though all the hobbits noticed that his motions were hesitant and his cheeks became a little more red as he spoke.

"Aye, Strider is right. Who knows the weather that will hit us or if the riders are following?"

The man smiled. "Thank you, Merry." He decided not to tell them that he knew the answers to both these questions, at least, very limited answers.

Another hobbit voice broke out. "What about a fire, can Mister Frodo not have anymore warmth; he's shaking mighty hard, sir."

Attempting a smile, the oldest of the four hobbits shook his head and answered for Aragorn, knowing that the ranger hated to be the bearer of bad news and ill fortune. "No, Sam. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, but a fire is out of the question."

"But it might keep the wraiths away?" Merry interjected, swallowing the last of his piece of bread. "I mean, Strider's pretty good with them torches…"

Chuckling and rubbing the back of his neck Aragorn laughed. "I'm not sure if I'd have the fight in me, Master Brandybuck. Besides, they know me and my speed. They know my best attacks- it's unlikely I would come out unscathed." he looked up, wishing for once he could see into Merry's eyes. "Thank you all the same."

"Still was quite a show."

Pippin, who had huddled beside Frodo, was now sharing a wool blanket with his wounded cousin. The young hobbit nodded in confirmation. "It was."

The small camp went silent and Aragorn felt how chilly the icy wind was. It felt nice on his burning skin, but at the same time made him shiver rapidly and at once he longed desperately for the Last Homely House.

Maybe soon he would be home, maybe soon.

TBC

Hey guys! I know, long time no see- and I am really sorry about that. I have been waiting for my beta to email me chapter 13, but she hasn't and I am assuming that with the summer already, nearly, halfway gone that she has gone on some vacation.

I'm hoping that's all it is. Maybe you guys could pray that she's ok, what with the London bombings and all.

Anyway, I am going to only reply to questions considering that many people have been submitting to cough stupid cough, cough wishes… smiles sweetly I know, I am a rascal…

Anyway- I'm just going to be good as I possibly can and reply at the bottom here.

First, I want to thank you all for your lovely reviews! They make my day all the brighter! And I wanted to also share that I am in the process of writing my first books- well, ones that I actually mean to finish. LOL! You don't want to know their names- seriously, you would question my sanity…

Anyway, so pray for me on that cause I don't know how I'm going to do!

Sorry, guys! I know you want to see Legolas- but truth is he won't be coming for a while… At least, not if the story stays true to what's in my head. 

And I know you guys have been waiting an awful long time for the moment Estel actually shares his problems and stuff with the hobbits. Exciting, isn't it! LOL! I hope it is up to what you hoped? I didn't really include a whole lot in since it would be a repeat of information- but I hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Awww, I feel so special! hugs Catmint I know, I said I wasn't going to be personal, but Gosh! I just have to give you a virtual hug! That review just made me all warm inside! Thanks!

coughs Anyway-

Many of you seem to have forgotten how Estel was blinded, because some asked me bluntly and others asked for the story… shrugs Maybe I'll put it back in the story somewhere… Just hold your horses… 

Ok, sorry if I missed anything. If I seemed grouchy, I just really don't like the unpersonal thing… It's got me all up in a tizzy! Anyway- I love you all and wish I could respond personally. Maybe I could find a way to email you guys! shrugs I don't know! Arg!

Just out of curiosity- anybody else watch "Macgyver"?

Blessings!