"Shyra!" a voice called after me, a voice that I recognized.
I pulled Weasel to a halt and turned in my saddle. Aragorn was galloping after me on a horse down the path out of the Elven kingdom. A horse that was much better sized for him.
Seeing how large it was made me feel sorry for poor Weasel having to carry this man for miles on end.
Aragorn pulled up beside us and swung down from the saddle.
"You would leave without saying farewell?"
"I did, just you weren't there and the Elves wanted to kick me out as fast as possible," I replied with a smile.
"Is there a reason?"
"Oh yes, but it has nothing to do with me personally, more of my grandfather who has been dead for decades. Long story, but whatever, I don't really fancy those Lothlorien Elves anyway so I'm happy to get away from them."
The heir nodded as a response and opened his mouth to say something before closing it again.
I gave him a few seconds to gather his words but nothing came.
"Well, I have enjoyed your company Aragorn son of Arathorn, I hope we meet again." I urged Weasel onward with my heels.
"W-wait! I have to know who you are!"
"No, you don't," I snorted, "you already know my name, what I'm like. What more is there to know?"
"You are a Dúnedain!" he called after me, making me pull Weasel to a stop, "but I have never seen you before and yet you knew who I am. Tell me, as your king, how you know me. I deserve it.
I sighed and turned Weasel around to face him.
"Let's get one thing straight here, you're not a king. Not yet. Far from it. Therefore, I don't have to listen to a word you say. Get that in your head boy."
He crossed his arms, "I'm the chieftain of the-"
"Nice try, but I'm not technically a ranger. I work alone and my family was exiled from the rangers."
"And yet, you are still a Dúnedain."
I stopped, if I could see I would be glaring down at him. My father always reminded me of our bloodlines.
"Why did I save you?" I growled.
"You tell me."
"...you're a real bastard Aragorn."
"Am I now?"
"Aye. A spoiled bastard who has everything he could ever want! Friends, loved ones, a mother, a peaceful childhood in an Elven kingdom. Hell, you might even get the affections of that Elf princess! The only thing you're missing is a father figure. Hell, you probably have that too!"
He didn't say anything. I waited in my saddle slouched with my arms crossed. Waiting for his response.
"Are you going to say something?"
"How do you know who I am?"
"It's like you said, I'm a Dúnedain. I know who you are."
"The ones in the North do," he corrected, "I have never seen you though and I am their Chief."
He was backing me into a corner now. Memories came back to me. The last time I had a clear vision. A family.
In my mind, I saw my father being run through by an Orc.
"My past is my secret and my secret alone."
Aragorn grew silent and felt the disappointment rising from his core. I wanted to move Weasel forward but something held me in place. Not allowing me to move.
He was right, he deserved to know how I knew of him.
"What do you remember of your father?" I asked, keeping my head turned to the path I was about to embark on.
"My father? Well...nothing, but I have heard others speak of him." I nodded.
"Your father was...a stoick man. Persistent. He used to scare my brother and me when we were little. He was quiet and showed little emotion but sometimes he would smile. My father and he used to argue quite often, for my family was banished from the Dúnedain over a century ago. Arathorn tried to include us, however, despite our heritage," I chuckled, remembering my father's dry insults towards the younger man, "He tried to tame all three of us."
I turned my head down to Aragorn.
"Your mother can tell you the rest. She was there the day I lost my eyes...she will tell it better than me…" I muttered sorrowfully, Aragorn finally seemed to pick up on how much pain it caused me to remember that day.
"Thank you," he finally said, "for everything."
I hesitated for a moment, not quite sure what to say.
"Aye, well, just don't do anything like that again lad. That was a pain."
"Right, I will try not to bother you again. However-"
"This your last question."
Aragorn breathed out a chuckle, "would you like to do some work for the Dúnedain?"
"I'm not a ranger."
"Yes, you are. You protect these lands and you're a Dúnedain. You're as much of a ranger as I am."
I smiled before ruffing up his hair, much to his annoyance.
"I'll think about it."
