A/N: I regret to inform you that I will be going back on my word, I cannot update for the next few days. I was unexpectedly called out of town and will not be able to update until late Sunday afternoon. I am sorry for the disruption but it just couldn't be helped.

Chapter Four: Challenges

A few years had passed and Aragorn had grown into a strong young man who governed the people wisely whenever his father was away. Such was the case now, so the man was making his way through the village, checking on various people and settling small squabbles. Suddenly, the call went up that the patrol was returning and Aragorn hastily made his way to the west gate where he expected to meet his father. However, the young man found things differently than he had expected because instead of seeing his father sitting on his horse he saw him draped over his horse. "Father!"

Despite Aragorn's intention to reach his father's side he was waylaid by Keldil, Arathorn's second. "He is not dead but he is severely wounded, slashed across the belly by an orc semitar. Where are the sons of Elrond?"

Aragorn shook his head to clear his thoughts, "They are not here, they left a few days ago saying something about having to get home to their father - something about their mother."

Keldil nodded quickly, "Yes, that time is fast approaching." He looked over at another ranger, "Lead Arathorn's horse to the healing house and send a messenger to Rivendell asking for aid as soon as may be." He then turned to Aragorn, "Come we will do what we can and pray the elves arrive in time to save your father's life."

Aragorn pulled away from Keldil, "Why should we depend on the elves? They are never around when we need them! I will take care of father, the rangers are more useful guarding our home than running messages." The young man did not spare his father's second another look but instead took off at a run for the healing house. Aragorn watched as the village healer stripped his father of his shirt revealing a deep ugly gash across his stomach. The man was contrasted between wanting to help and wanting to throw up his breakfast – he had never seen so much blood, especially not coming from his own father! The young man shut his eyes for a moment to gain control of his emotions before going in and taking the cloth from the healer to clean the wound.

When the last knot was tied the healer looked up, "Well that is all we can do for him young sir, now we wait. Why do you not get some sleep?"

Aragorn stubbornly moved a chair close to the bed, "No, I will stay with him." At a look from the healer he added, "No matter how long it takes, I will be the first one he sees when he wakes up."

Aragorn's wherewithal was challenged, however, as it was nearly a day and a half later when the chieftain began to regain consciousness. The younger man was just adding a log to the fire when he heard a moan and quickly moved toward the bed, "Easy, father – wake up slowly." The young man gripped his father's hand tightly as he watched him slowly return to consciousness.

Finally Arathorn broke through the barrier and opened his eyes, "Aragorn?"

The young man rushed to get a cup of water and returned, "Yes father, it is I but you must not talk." The young man put the cup to his father's lips, "Drink father and then rest for your wound is deep and will take much recovery."

Arathorn gratefully accepted the drink then searched the room with his eyes, "Elladan, Elrohir?"

Aragorn's mouth hardened, "They are not here. Dolach and I treated you."

Arathorn looked up at his son and found the young man gazing at the wall with an angry expression. The chieftain reached up and gently stroked his son's cheek with his hand, "Thank you my child, I am proud of the healer and warrior you have become but please do not think badly of the twins. They have their own home to deal with and a father who is still grieving the loss of their mother."

Aragorn put his fingers over his father's lips, "Sh, father. I know you think well of the elves you have often said so, but right now I am more interested in you and your health. Sleep father and get better."

The younger man smiled as his father fell into a healing sleep. It felt good to see the man aware although Aragorn was slightly irritated that his father wanted to know where the twins were – as if they were the only ones who could heal. The man narrowed his eyes, he would just have to prove how valuable he was to his father, much more valuable than any elf could ever be. The man found that despite his promises he just could not understand what his father saw in the elves, to him they were outsiders who appeared occasionally to take the credit for some noble deed. He took another look at his sleeping father and vowed to himself that he would never seek the aid of an elf as long as he lived.

TBC

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