Slave to Hope

by FMHB

AU After Isuldur defeats Sauron a war begins between the human and elven races leading to the enslavement of the human race. Now there is one human slave boy called Estel who is the last great hope for middle earth. More Summary inside...

3. Chapter Two: Slave Prince

For Summary, Disclaimer, and Rating see Prologue.

Author's Note: I'm sorry I'm late with my post. My goal was to have it up last Friday, but we all see how that went. I also wanted to apologize for the giant flashback I stuck in the story. I don't know how I ended up with such a long flash back, but it just kinda happened. It does have a Gilranean, Arathorn, and Aragorn view point so if you don't like Gilranean and Arathorn you may not enjoy it as much as the rest of the story. I thought it gave a little more background information giving my slightly altered version of how Aragorn's parents were killed. I tried to make it touching and sought to add some emotional appeal so I hope you do enjoy it anyway.

Slave to Hope

Chapter Two: Slave Prince

What's wrong with the world, mama

People livin' like they ain't got no mamas

I think the whole world addicted to the drama

Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism

But we still got terrorists here livin'

In the USA, the big CIA

The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Badness is what you demonstrate

And that's exactly how anger works and operates

N, you gotta have love just to set it straight

Take control of your mind and meditate

Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

Estel exited the prince's room casting a quick suspicious glance at the king's bedchambers, feeling immensely relieved to find the door firmly closed and none about. Estel allowed himself a breath of ease as he made his way towards the kitchen for a much-needed lunch.

The boy allowed himself a small blush as his stomach growled in anticipation, of the promised meal, and Estel couldn't help, but smile as he imagined all the delicious treats awaiting him. Though at this point anything sounded good to the famished young boy.

Nana worked in the kitchen so perhaps he could convince her to sneak him one of the king's desert pastries. Estel's mouth watered as his senses were overwhelmed with the imaginary flavor of strawberry tart warm and comforting as it slowly melted into his mouth tingling his taste buds.

But Wait, Nana!

Oh no! What had he been thinking? Or not thinking?

Estel amended worriedly. He had been locked up for two days now after his last little escape attempt and now his Nana must be worried sick about him.

Estel's imaginary tart turned to ash in his mouth, as he felt overcome with guilt. Since he'd been freed this morning he hadn't even thought of her. He'd been so sore and so busy just trying to catch up on his chores that he had forgotten completely about her. He should have went to her first thing this morning, assured her he was all right.

The rational part of the young boy's mind tried to reason that detouring from his duties would most certainly have left him irreversibly behind in his chores and yet he still couldn't shake the heart wrenching guilt he felt for leaving his Nana worried for so long. Even if it would have undoubtedly resulted in further punishment had he fell behind in his duties in order to reassure her of his well being. Firithgalad always did jump at the opportunity to find him slacking.

Which he had Estel reminded himself as he shuddered at his recent encounter with Firithgalad in the prince's bedchambers.

Estel could still envision the unspoken threat in Firithgalad's eyes as he had been forced to apologize. The elf guard would not let such an act go unpunished of that Estel was sure. The boy glanced frantically around suddenly expecting the irate elf to appear at any moment to exact his revenge called by the child's thoughts alone.

Estel felt his heart pounding erratically in his chest seemingly trying to break free of some invisible restraints so it could hide itself from Firithgalad's wraith.

But where would it hide from an elf anyway? Estel thought smugly. Especially if it continued to beat so loudly.

No doubt the whole household could hear Estel's internal struggle. The human slave boy took a few deep breaths trying to still his heart lest he bring down the whole household of superior hearing elves down upon him.

Estel forcibly pushed thoughts of the Firithgalad to the back of his mind refusing to acknowledge the dark elf guard's existence for the moment. There was nothing he could do about it now and worrying would certainly not improve the situation. He would face Firithgalad when the time came, but now he needed to regain his much-depleted energy as well as to find his nana and assure her that he was well. How he was going to hide the bloody pants leg was beyond him though. She always did overreact to little things like that. But that was just another thing he would deal with when he got to it.

First things first. Find nana to assure her of Estel's continued ability to breathe. Second eat until his stomach burst.

Estel's stomach took that opportunity to growl loudly in protest against foregoing the much-needed meal even if it was for good reason. And yet even as Estel tried to once more fantasize about all the delicious treats waiting in the kitchen he suddenly didn't seem to have an appetite regardless of his stomach thought so. What did it know anyway? Estel reasoned. "It had a one track mind."

No matter how hard Estel tried to distract himself with the dry humor he unwittingly clung to in times of despair he just couldn't seem to shake the feeling he was walking towards his last meal?

Estel shuddered as a sense of dread washed over him.

Stop it he chided himself angrily. Don't think like that. Everything would be fine. He just needed to avoid Firithgalad for a few days. The elf guard would forget about the whole incident soon enough...after all Estel was just a lowly slave, beyond thought or notice.

And yet with all Estel's reassurances he knew with a certainty that he was fooling himself if he didn't believe the vengeful elf would not retaliate.

But what's the worst he could do to me?

Estel tried to persuade his panicking mind. No more naïve words have ever been spoken.

"Estel. Where have you been?"

A voice called out jarring Estel from his own dark thoughts.

The boy looked up to catch site of a middle-aged woman walking briskly towards him carrying a tray of tea and cookies. The woman had her hair tied loosely in a bun yet a few amber tresses had fallen lose of the hair tie and taken residence upon her face lying annoyingly in her eyes. Seeming to know the women's hands were full and could do nothing to remove the infuriating hairs. The woman was not overly attractive, but in her youth it was obvious that she had once borne a grace and beauty highly revered by human standards if not elven. She had aged too quickly living a life of hardship and hard work ripening a youthful face until it was creased with lines of sadness and worry.

She wore a pale gray smock similar to Estel's own worn through attire. It was truly most unbecoming on her leaving much to be desired. While most ladies of the age were adorn in gowns of pure silk she wore nothing more then a pile of rags. Degraded down in such way that she was not even considered a true woman in an age of chivalry when women were revered and honored as precious heirlooms to be cherished and protected. While she was seen as nothing more than a worthless unengendered slave to be ignored unless a male's pleasure drives should get the best of him one night. Though it did not happen often for Elves often cherished love relationships as rare and valuable experiences not to be tarnished by sharing ones bed with a slave, worst yet a human slave.

"Nana." Estel replied as he recognized the approaching figure relieved it was not Firithgalad as he feared and quite pleased as he was quite sure his stomach also was that he would no longer have to hunt down his much beloved caregiver.

The boy ran the rest of the way to meet the woman hugging her tightly like she was his very lifeline. Rosaline a bit surprised at the child's bizarre reaction quickly lifted up the tray she carried lest the clumsy boy knock it over in his race to reach her.

Only moments before she had been quite upset with the boy. He'd worried her to death when he hadn't come back to the slave quarters. When was it two nights ago...three?

And then Firithgalad came into the kitchens this morning demanding to know where they boy was.... What was she to think?

The elf guard frightened her. His eyes always held a malicious light as though he enjoyed the suffering of others. He looked at her with those cold unmerciful eyes like she was a speck of dirt to kick under the rug. He didn't see her as a living being, but a tool or a toy to be played with and it disturbed her greatly. He was a cruel elf and she had always went out of her way to avoid him whenever possible.

But Estel, poor Estel.

She'd warned him to stay away from Firithgalad, but the boy was stubborn, just like his father. He wouldn't let anyone tell him what to do even his own family. He refused to back down, refused to submit. And of how it seemed to irk the elf guard. She'd seen that look of hate in the Firithgalad's eyes as he irrationally punished the boy at every opportunity. He couldn't stand a slave to be so defiant so...unbroken. And so the elf guard took every opportunity to rectify the situation.

Rosaline admired Estel's courage, his unwavering hope his tireless faith in goodness. But she feared for him. Slaves didn't seem to survive long with that kind of attitude. Very few slaves were ever killed...the elves were too compassionate for that... or at least they liked to believe they were. However often the uncontrollable slaves tended to disappear...

That's no doubt what would have happened to young Estel's father all those years ago. Rosaline speculated sadly. Firithgalad hated him perhaps even more than the boy.

Arathorn, Estel's father, had also been a kind compassionate man. He treated the slaves with the utmost respect and protected them all. He'd taken them all under his wing, including herself, on many occasions taking the punishment meant for another slave with his defiant behavior. His eyes burned with the same passion the same love for life she often saw in young Estel's eyes.

It was a look most slaves lost very quickly as the days trudged on.

Hope became a fleeting dream from a world long ago...

But it never left Arathorn or his offspring. They both seemed to possess some unlimited well of hope and happiness that kept them from falling into despair that most slaves were so prone to.

Slaves to their own hope perhaps.

Rosaline smiled fondly at the boy as he still continued to hug her tightly after so many minutes. No she could not stay angry with him. No matter how many times the child seemed to get himself into some scrape or another.

If nothing else she owed it to the boy's long deceased parents and she loved the child. Loved him like he was her own son or rather the son she had never had.

"Estel my child." She whispered gently as the boy buried his face deep into her clothes holding her tightly as though he intended to stand so forever if he could.

"I'm so sorry nana." Estel murmured into her blouse. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

Rosaline smiled gently. The boy was always so selfless always beating himself up over the suffering of others.

"Where have you been my child. I've been so worried. I thought.... I thought I'd lost you." She choked out, tears glistening in her eyes. She'd thought him perhaps dead, disappeared like so many others.

"I...I tried to runaway again." Estel replied refusing to meet her gaze bowing his head in disgrace as he loosened his hold stepping back a pace. "I was put in...in the dark room again."

"Oh Estel." Rosaline sighed in disappointment as she wrapped him in her hands as best she could offering comfort to the obviously distraught boy.

"Why must you provoke them so. You know Firithgalad jumps at the opportunity to have you in trouble. You must be more careful. They are elves young one. They can see and hear things with skills far surpassing us mortals. You cannot possible hope to escape them. You must learn to be content and stop resisting them so."

"I cannot." Estel replied looking up his eyes burning with defiance. They had this conversation many times and it always seemed to end up this way. Estel refusing to accept his life as a slave and Rosaline trying to protect the boy she loved though he would not see reason.

"I cannot live this way...I feel like a bird trapped in a cage. The walls close in on me stealing away the very air from my lungs." Estel argued as he started pacing back and forth like a caged Wolf. "Don't you see Nana? I will die here. I cannot live behind these walls chained like a dog and treated as less."

"Please Estel It is folly to continue the futile escape attempts. Someday they will get tired of your antics and they will leave more permanent scars or perhaps you will just disappear like all the others." Is it worth your life for some hopeless dream?" Rosaline pleaded desperately begging the boy to see logic.

"Better to die than to never live." Estel shot back. "And it's not just a hopeless dream. You have given up hope haven't you? I can see it in your eyes. They're cold now, lifeless. You have forgotten about freedom. You have forgotten what my parents died for."

"I have not forgotten." Rosaline weakly defended. No not forgotten...forfeited. She thought to herself knowing how very true the boy was. She had given up, but that didn't mean she was giving in. "I cannot forgot." She ranted hating to be reminded of that fateful day when Estel's parents left this world for another. "For it burns in my mind as I see those still cold bodies. I loved them more than you can know. And I cannot bear to see if happen again. I can't bear to see you join them so soon, so young. I can't lose you too." She choked out brokenly as she fought back more tears. "Have you forgotten what they sacrificed to keep you safe. They would not want you to lose your life in a foolhardy escape attempt. Please if you won't do it for me then do it for them."

"Please Nana do not ask something of me I cannot give. Hope is all I have now. If I lose that I'll lose myself." Estel whispered hanging his head ashamed of the pain he caused his Nana powerless to ease her worries for to do so would mean his death. He could not live without hope of this he was sure. He was irrevocably bound to it like a heart to the chest. If either should be parted both would inevitably die.

Nana smiled sadly as she looked into those tormented cloudy gray eyes. No matter how much she wanted it she knew it was a losing battle she fought. And one she could not win lest she lose it all in the end.

So she did the only thing she could do. She kissed him on the cheek and let her misgivings go offering him unconditional love and support as she always had and always would. She only prayed it would be enough.

"If you've been in the dark room the past three days then what is this about Firithgalad looking for you this morning?" Rosaline asked half- teasing and half-concerned.

Estel's face immediately fell at the mention of the elf guards name and started to fidget under his nana's intense stare.

"I...I wasn't in the dark room today. Rovan let me all to do my chores." Estel replied lamely.

"Yes...and" Rosaline bid he continue while her heart jumped into her throat. Whenever Estel tried to sidetalk something it indubitably meant he had done something to get himself into trouble again. The boy had been in enough trouble over the years that the signs were quite clear.

"And I went to the prince's room to...to rekindle his fire. But he was already awake. He started talking to me and....and I lost track of time. Firithgalad finally found me in the prince's room because I...I" Estel started to tremble as he replayed recent events in his head. "I forgot to start the king's fire this morning. But the prince wouldn't let him punish me he even made him apologize for calling me names. And now...now he's mad at me. I just know it nana. I didn't mean to get him in trouble nana honest." Estel quickly recounted his breath coming out heavily his cheeks red from exertion as he finished.

Rosaline just stared at the child silently taking in all he had narrated and she couldn't help but get a sense of unease. Firithgalad would not be pleased with this turn of events...no not at all. She felt panic overtake her. What if the elf guard came looking for Estel...sought vengeance on the poor boy. She feared young Estel could very well be in for more than just a whipping should Firithgalad gets his hands on the boy. She had to hide young Estel for a while until Firithgalad calmed down a bit lest he do something rash.

Just as Rosaline had come up with a course of action she thought might work a wave of absolute terror ran up her spine. Like out of some cruel nightmare Firithgalad came walking down the hallway eyes blazing with an insane fire.

With trembling suddenly weak fingers Rosaline dropped the tray she carried sending tea and china clattering to the ground. A look of horror washed over the woman's face, but young Estel didn't notice as hot tea scalded his arm causing him to hiss in pain. Estel hastily crouched on the floor collecting up the broken china and carelessly threw it back upon the fallen tray.

The clumsy young boy had broken enough things in his lifetime to know the serious punishment one could expect from getting caught.

The young slave boy did not fear so much for himself he had lived through many beatings in his lifetime and would live through one more if need be. But he couldn't bear to see the woman who had almost become a mother to him cruelly whipped and silently prayed he could clean up this mess before discovery. Estel tried to ignore his throbbing arm as best he could intent upon this one task for failure would cost more than he could endure.

After a few seconds reality seemed to finally catch up with the frantic boy's mind halting him at his task. A premonition of fear washed over him, an instinct previously pushed dormant to the back of his mind in the thick of the crisis. But now that he had taken a moment to calm himself the instinct was given free reign. Danger approached.

Estel could barely make out the light pattering sound as it came confidently closer. And then the footsteps stopped a shadow falling over the kneeling human boy.

A muscular arm shot out faster than the mortal eye could see grasping painful around Estel's burnt arm. The boy let out a heavy breath as he was reminded of his painful injury in the most unpleasant way.

"Get up slave." A scathing voice seethed out behind him while the muscular arm yanked him roughly up.

Estel twisted to face his detainer, his wrist still held in a vice-like grip, already knowing with gruesome certainty whom he would find.

Firithgalad towered menacingly over the boy his eyes filled with a murderous rage Estel shuddered as he locked eye contact with those cold deadly orbs and started to pull away. But the elf's grip would not yield only tightening further pulling him closer to the enraged elf.

"You've caused trouble for the last time." Firithgalad sneered.

Estel couldn't help but flinch away at the elf hate filled words.

"Pl...please master." Nana pleased as her maternal instincts to protect the young boy overcame her own fear. "It was not the child's fault. I...I dropped the tray. He was only He...helping me cl...clean it up. I should be the one punished m.... my lord." Nana bowed submissively.

"It is not of this mater I speak, human." Firithgalad glowered angrily at her interference. "This useless troublemaker," Firithgalad shook the frightened boy roughly to emphasize whom he spoke of, "was caught in the prince's room this morning shirking his duties."

"N...no." Estel protested feebly his eyes wide with distress. "I...it didn't happen like that." Estel's eyes turned towards his nana pleaded with her to believe him. He wouldn't lie to her...he's never lie.

Firithgalad grabbed Estel around the neck not enough to cut off the boy's air, but enough to forcibly yank the boy's head in his direction

"Hold your tongue slave before you lose it." Firithgalad threatened. "You made a fatal mistake when you embarrassed me in front of the prince. I think it's time we took a little trip outside...to the forest." Nana gasped in horror. In her forty years as a slave every so often Firithgalad would take a slave, normally the most defiant ones, out into the woods where the slaves were never seen from again.

None knew what became of the slaves, but it was easy to imagine for Firithgalad always took a full quiver of arrows even though he never traveled far from the palace. Some of the stable slaves even claimed to have seen blood upon his dagger upon returning from these impromptu little trips.

"Please no. Have mercy. He is just a child. I beg you do not harm him." Nana cried out frantically.

"Step aside slave. The boy's fate is no longer your concern." Firithgalad growled testily as he pushed past her dragging Estel harshly behind him.

"No...please. You can't." Rosaline begged grabbing Firithgalad's arm trying to stop his foreword motion forgetting for the moment she was a slave and not just a frantic guardian protecting her young.

Firithgalad jeered darkly at the woman's audacity before backhanding her sharply across the face.

Rosaline reeled back from the blow tripping over the forgotten tea tray. As she fell her head banged against a small hallway table causing a domino effect ending with the glass vase upon said table to come crashing down upon the prone woman unconscious upon her head's impact with the table.

Estel watched in silent horror as his dear nana crumbled to the group blood pulling around her head staining the carpet in a river of red.

"Nana" Estel cried out pulling frantically against Firithgalad's iron tight grip trying to reach the collapsed slave woman.

"Let me go." Estel struggled. "She's hurt. She needs help."

Firithgalad forcibly wrenched the boy back pinning him tightly against the elf guard's chest. Estel continued to struggle desperately still intent upon getting to his nana by any means possible. Firithgalad maintaining a firm grasp on the child with ease, leaned down until his mouth lay with in ear level to the boy.

"Stop your struggling slave or perhaps I will finish what I started with your "nana". And no one will even care that she's dead because she's just a worthless human slave. Just like you."

"No...no please." Estel whimpered his eyes stinging with silent tears, shaking his head despairingly while his nails bit into his palms drawing tiny droplets of blood from his fisted little hands. The boy immediately stopped struggling and turned wide frightened eyes on the elf guard.

"Please don't hurt her Firithgalad. I...I'll be good. I won't cause trouble." Estel supplicated.

"Come along than and keep your mouth shut. Step out of line just once and I promise you she won't live to see tomorrow boy. Perhaps I'll punish the rest of your little slave friends too. You know what I'm capable of human so don't push me. I'd be only too happy to have a little fun with your slave family tonight."

Estel's shoulders stooped in defeat his eyes dropping in a rare act of submission.

"I'll do whatever you want. Just please don't hurt them." Estel whispered melancholianly. Firithgalad allowed himself a smile of triumphant as he steered the boy down the hallway, savoring the human's despair as he led him out the palace doors. They encountered few passerbies as the pair walked along and ever fewer who even paid them a mind. Most people made it a point to avoid Firithgalad on general principal be it human or elf.

Estel didn't even notice where they were going or what was happening as he kept his eyes firmly planted on the ground allowing himself to be submissively drug along.

As they reached the palace gates Estel looked up curiously at the heavy doors blocking their path.

Where were they going? Hadn't Firithgalad mentioned something about the forest?

Estel felt a flutter of worry flutter through his heart somehow knowing that behind these doors only lay heartache for him.

Estel felt an overwhelming urge to struggle out of Firithgalad's grip and run as hard and fast as he was able, but even if Estel could get free he knew he could not. His mind turned to his nana and the other slaves he had come to know as his family. He couldn't let them suffer for him. He must go with the elf guard for their sake. But Estel couldn't help but wonder if he would ever see them again.

So caught up in his own thoughts Estel didn't even hear Firithgalad command the gates to open.

Estel cast one quick final glance at the palace and all he had ever known before the gates slammed resoundingly behind Firithgalad and himself. He suddenly felt more alone that had ever felt before. Firithgalad jerked the slave boy forward pulling him from his morose thoughts and led the child deeper into the forest.

Estel looked around anxiously. Suddenly he was afraid of every dark corner, every rustling tree, every buzzing insect. The boy felt that at any moment a band of orcs would materialize from out of the dark recesses of the forest.

"Where are we going? Where are you taking me?" Estel asked fretfully as Firithgalad let him deeper and deeper in the darkening forest.

"You'll find out soon enough...keep moving." Firithgalad demanded as he pushed the boy roughly foreword.

The young human lost him footing with the extra momentum and tumbled precariously over some roughly grown tree roots.

Estel let out a startled yelp as he fell to the ground his wrist making a painful cracking sound that seemed to echo eerily around the forest.

Estel grabbed his now obviously broken wrist holding it protectively to his chest fighting back burning tears as he tried to control the overwhelming pain that left him feeling dizzy and nauseous.

Firithgalad swiftly grabbed the scruff of Estel's shirt brutally pulling the boy up unconcerned about the child's injury.

"You humans are so fragile. How your weak race ever survived so long is beyond me. Get going I don't have all day to listen to your crying." Firithgalad thrust the boy coldly foreword once more nearly sending the young boy to the forest floor again.

After regaining his footing Estel continued onward at Firithgalad's prodding still clutching his wrist guardingly trying to overcome gut wrenching pain associated with it.

Finally when Estel thought he could go no further Firithgalad stopped in a small clearing shoving Estel down beside a tree.

The boy dragged himself as far away from Firithgalad as he could leaning his back against the tree for support. Estel knew better than to try and escape. Firithgalad was far faster than him and unquestionably more familiar with the woods seeing as Estel had only been in this forest once before...

Estel looked around the small clearing wondering why it looked so familiar. He shook his head furiously trying to reason that he couldn't possibly know the place. It was just that all forest looked the same.

Firithgalad was busy pulling different items from his nap sack when he offered the boy a cursory glance.

"Do you know this place boy? I can see it in your eyes. It feels familiar, doesn't it? As well is should. This is where your parent's bodies were found. Your mother was tied to that very tree her throat slit, eyes open wide with fear. Yep those orcs really roughed her up. And your father. Do you remember him? Always causing trouble just like you. Tried to band the slaves together. Always thought he was too good for slavery...always talking back, acting so high and mighty. I probably would have killed him myself if the orcs hadn't got to him first. I would have loved to make him scream watched the defiance in his eyes die away. But I guess you'll have to do won't you?" Firithgalad smiled as the boy trembled slightly at the admonition. "You should have seen him when we found. Well I guess you did seeing as you were there and all." Firithgalad laughed at his own joke. "He put up quite a fight, but he still went down. Just like all you humans do eventually one way or another. Looked like he was trying to protect that pretty little wife of his when he went too. Shame it was too late by then. They shot him right in the eye. Probably died crying out for his wide and his little edain son.

Firithgalad continued talking, but Estel was no longer listening. It became nothing more than an annoying buzz in the background of his own thoughts as long repressed memories came back with striking clarity...

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send us some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love

The love, the love
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

"Aragorn...Aragorn my son, awaken." A dark haired woman gently shook a sleeping child.

A small face turned towards the voice with bleary eyes sleep still firmly grasping the small form crouched on a small palate set in the corner of the room.

"Mama." The young child mumbled out as he rubbed furiously at his eyes. He blinked his eyes a few times before turning to look at his mother who was busily walking around the room shoving different objects in a small bag.

Sensing the boy's eyes upon her the woman turned from her frantic task and smiled gently at the tassel headed boy.

"It is time to wake my sweet child. We have much to do today." She whispered melodiously.

"But mama it is too early." The young human whined softly. "The dawn has not yet risen. We're not suppose to get up until the sun does...the elfs says so. And you always says to listen to the elfs mama." The boy tried to reason.

"Shh..." The woman chided softly as she approached the small boy. The mother brushed her hands through the child's dark brown curls affectionately. "We must be quiet my love. We do not want to wake the others." The woman whispered as she nodded at the other slaves curled up on the own spaces of floor. A few tossed at the disturbance, but quickly settled once more into slumber.

Aragorn looked curiously at the sleeping mounds and cast his eyes down guiltily.

"I'm sorry mama. I didn't mean to be so loud. The elfs just said we weren't supposed to be up so early. I don't want them to get mad. They get mad sometimes when you don't do what they say." The boy absently rubbed his thigh where a large angry bruise resided from learning this particular lesson the hard way.

Gilranean, the boy's mother's, smile wavered slightly as she saw her son clutching his side. She could not protect him from the elves wraith and it frightened her more than she could bear. She could not always keep up with him and watch him, as she would like. Gilranean grew weary of seeing new wounds and scars inflicted upon her young son's flesh forever marring it's beauty while she was helpless to defend him from the harsh realities of life and slavery.

But it would be different Gilranean promised herself firmly. Soon she would never be helpless again.

"Mother why are you crying." Aragorn asked worriedly.

Gilranean whipped quickly at the tears twinkling in her eyes, smiling reassuringly at her perceptive young son.

"Because I am happy young one. Today is a very special day."

"Why mama?"

"It is a surprise." She teased as the young boy's eyes light up in excitement any last vestige of sleep long gone now. Child-like enthusiasm sent the child jumping from his pallet no longer able to remain still anymore.

"What is it mama, what is the surprise? Why is today special?" The boy bombarded her with questions.

All Gilranean's worries and fears eased from her heart as she saw the rambunctious ball of energy she called a son smile brightly at her.

It made the mother all the more certain this was the right thing to do.

There was always something about her innocent young child that seemed to lift her spirits and give her hope even in the darkest of hours. And she wandered how she had ever survived in this empty existence without him.

With his father, Arathorn, of course. Her mind helpfully supplied.

Gilranean envisioned the man she had come to call husband in her mind with his proud shoulders and his compassionate silver eyes. The only man she had ever loved and ever would, except for Aragorn of course.

And she thought of how alike her husband and son were. They had the same unruly dark hair, the same silver eyes that could penetrate a soul leaving the one they penetrated feel suddenly more full rather than violated, and they both had that same unwavering sense of hope that covered them like a shield of light. On the days of their most excited...most happy she could almost swear she saw little sparks of energy radiating off their skin sometimes, especially her little Aragorn. And they both made everything so much better...finding happiness when it seemed there was no hope left.

And that is why she trusted Arathorn's plan implicitly. She would follow him anyway.

"Come Aragorn." Gilranean returned her attentions to her young enthusiastic son, holding her hand out for him to take. "We need to get you dressed if you want to find out the big surprise."

Aragorn accepted him mother's hand allowing her to slip a fresh shirt and pants over his scrawny frame. Gilranean averted her eyes away from the various bruises and scars that adorned her son's soft flesh focusing on the task at hand. He would never be harmed again she reminded herself confidently. Things were going to be better soon...very soon.

Gilranean brushed a stray curl from her child's eyes admiring what a handsome boy he had become and the handsome man she envisioned he would be someday.

A light touch on Gilranean's shoulder caused her body to tense in concern. She had heard no one approach and that could mean only one thing...

Gilranean turned slowly around standing protectively in front of her son, prepared for the worst.

A sigh escaped the mother's lips. It was not an elf, but her dear friend Rosaline.

"Nana." Aragorn smiled happily running past his mother so he could attach Rosaline's knees into a tight hug of welcome. "Mama says today is special. There is a surprise. Do you know what it is nana?"

Rosaline forced a smile to her lips as she bent down so was eye level with the small child.

"Why yes little one I do. Today is going to be a very special day indeed. Will you give you mother and I a moment alone so I can tell her something about the "surprise."

"Ah, but nana." Aragorn protested. "I wanna know what he surprise is. Can't you at least give me a hint?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it? But I do have another little surprise under my pillow for a good little boy to have. Do you know any good little boy's I can give it to." Rosaline asked playfully.

"Oh...me! Me!" Aragorn jumped excitedly. "I'm a good boy, aren't I mama. I helped mama with all the housework yesterday and I didn't cry once. Did I mama?"

"Yes Aragorn you are a very good boy." Gilranean laughed at the boy's puppy dog eyes pleading with his mother to agree.

"What is it nana. Can I have it, please?" Aragorn turned his puppy-dog eyes on Rosaline knowing how effective the look seemed to be. The eyes one could not say no to, unless one sought to break their own heart in the process.

"Let us just say little one that I happen to be in possession of one of those chocolate chip peanut butter cookies the king is so fond of and a certain little boy if I am not mistake...And it's all for you."

Aragorn's eyes widened with renewed excitement. Treats were a rare pleasure. It must indeed be a special day.

"Thank you nana. You're the best." Aragorn smiled hugging her tightly. The boy ran to his mother not to let her be forgotten and gave her a quick hug as well.

"You're the best too mama." Aragorn whispered in her ear before, running as quietly as possible mind you, to get his treat.

"He is a good boy." Gilranean whispered as she watched her beloved son stealthily walking to Rosaline's bed pallet without disturbing the sleeping slaves.

"Aye he is. That he is." Rosaline replied her gaze affectionately following the boy before turning serious eyes back to Gilranean. "And that is why you can't go through with this ridiculous scheme of yours. Think about it, if you get caught, what they might do to the boy."

"And what might they do if we stay." Gilranean shot back stubbornly. "Have you not seen the scars, the bruises on his skin. And for what? Being a little boy."

"This is fool hardy Gilranean. You can't possibly hope to escape. The chances of success are small and the risks too high." Rosaline continued refusing to be deterred.

"Do you not see the risks are to high if we stay as well. I worry for Aragorn. He can not help it, but he always seems to find himself in some mischief or other. And I cannot protect him." Tears of helplessness glistened in Gilranean's eyes as she spoke. "I can not protect my own child. But I fear for Arathorn even more. Some of the elves have come to fear him and what he might do...might become. They think he intends to unite the slaves and lead a revolt against them. They send him on the most dangerous orc hunts no doubt hoping those foul beasts will end their problem for them." Gilranean scoffed bitterly from too many worried nights worrying if her husband should ever return.

"How do you know all this?" Rosaline asked puzzled at this new revelation.

"You forget I am fluent in elvish. I hear the guards talk. They take bets on if he'll return or not. And one of these days he won't." Gilranean had a distant look as though envisioning such a future. "They were not meant to be caged. Either of them...Arathorn or Aragorn. Their spirits can not live behind bars or upon chains. Their hearts will simply not allow it."

Rosaline laid a comforting arm around Gilranean's shoulders offering compassion and understanding with her simple touch. "Nor will yours." She whispered tenderly.

"Nor will mine..." Gilranean echoed brokenly.

"Then you must go." Rosaline replied trying to sound brave, but her voice cracked betraying her heart.

"Thank you for understanding. You have ever been my dearest friend." Gilranean smiled sincerely.

"Just don't forget about us lowly slaves when you become the great queen of Gondor." Rosaline teased lightly.

"Never." Gilranean replied with all seriousness refusing to leave it as the jest for which is was intended. "I could never forget about you. And I promise you someday this reign of tyranny will be over." Gilranean embraced her friend one last time and whispered something in her ear. "I promise you with my last breath will I work towards a free world for us all."

"I know." Rosaline smiled sadly hope and tears glowing in her eyes. "So long as hope lies in the hearts of the royal family I shall have faith." The woman vowed.

"We are not quite the royal family yet." Gilranean smiled. "Not until we reach Gondor."

"Ah but you are." Rosaline smiled. "You are our royal family. The royal family of the slaves. I know it's not a title so prestigious as Queen of Gondor, but I'm afraid it is the only title we have to give my lady. But know anyone of us would be willing to give our lives for you and your family. You have given us all so much and lifted out spirits when we have given into despair. I don't know what we shall do without you."

Gilranean could not keep the tears from slipping down her faces any longer and cared not for once to wipe them away. "I have never been more honored by a title in my life and am proud to be considered in such high regard. I never dare imagine I would find such loyalty or such friendship and I know I shall never find such devotion again for our friendships has been forged by the fruits of our labors and the hardships on our hearts. And that is why I know you will all continue on without us. You will band together as you always have and you will look to one another now, you now among others. You and your husband Kalen. You will remind them of hope and guide them all the best you can. I have faith in you as I always have.

"I do not think I have the strength Gilranean. I've never been as brave as you nor as wise. I fear I am not up to the task you ask of me."

"You have more strength than you know my friend. Rosaline you must merely find it in here where it has always been waiting to be released." Gilranean replied touching Rosaline's heart.

Rosaline merely bowed her head silently accepting the silent request and her queen's command to lead a broken people.

Gilranean turned from her friend for the moment scanning the room for Aragorn. It was rare for the boy to be so quiet and often indicated the child had gotten himself into some trouble or another.

Smiling in relief as she found the child contently munching his cookie in the corner Gilranean allowed herself a moment of peace just watching the innocence of a child in all its simple contentment. Oh how she wished she could feel that way again. When the worries of the world were of no importance and life was precious in the small joys one witnessed. Each day was a new and glorious adventure filled with unspoken promise of discovery. And oh how quickly it faded in this place. Aragorn was still so young yet, scarcely five, and yet even he bore his own fears and worries, his eyes slightly clouded from unspeakable sadness. And she knew those clouds would never completely fade from his eyes. They would always linger as a reminder of his dark past till the ends of his days.

Rosaline followed her friend's gaze after a moment and also felt a sense of peace wash over her at the boy's absolute contentment with his simple treasure holding it as though it were more precious than gold. She stifled a laugh as she took in the boy's dirty face covered in cookie crumbs. It seemed dirt was forever attracted to the boy like a bee to honey.

"And what is so funny?" Gilranean asked as she turned a curious look upon her friend's amusement. "Well my lady, It seems the prince of the slaves has already gotten himself messy again after all your careful ministrations this morning." Rosaline snickered.

"Alas." Gilranean sighed in mock distress. "I fear it is a losing battle. The dirt is just too powerful. My faithful rag cannot overcome its mighty clinging abilities. A clean son shall be forever deprived of me."

The two friends stood side by side laughing like the friends they were savoring this last moment together.

And then with the first rays of sunlight leaking into the room Gilranean knew she could wait no longer. They must leave now or all would be for not.

Gilranean turned quickly stubbornly refusing the passage of any more tears. The last image her friend saw of her would not be that of a weeping maiden, but a strong and powerful queen. A queen of Gondor and a queen of the slaves.

"Come Aragorn it is time for us to go. Come kiss your nana farewell sweet child." Gilranean called softly.

The young boy immediately looked up at his mother's call and obediently followed her command.

"Aren't you coming to see the surprise too nana?" Aragorn asked in confusion.

"I'm afraid not my little one." Rosaline smiled sadly. "Now come give your nana a quick hug before you're late and miss out." Rosaline tried to tease lightly.

Aragorn ran into her open arms allowing himself to be scooped up into a tight embrace which he enthusiastically returned.

"Don't cry nana." Aragorn whispered in her ear. "Even though you can't go with us I'll make sure to sneak some of the surprise back for you to have." The boy smiled a mischief glint in his eyes as though he was planning to do something very sneaky.

The boy's heartfelt gesture only caused Rosaline greater distress as her tears burst forth like water from a dam and she forced herself to release the boy lest she soak him in her sadness.

"I would like that very much young one. I shall look foreword to your return." Rosaline smiled weakly not wishing to cause the boy unnecessary grief.

Gilranean hefted her small satchel over her shoulder and held out her hand for Aragorn's small one to accompany, to which the boy eagerly complied.

"Now Aragorn my love you must be very quiet. We do not wish to attract any undue attention so stay close and be well behaved my son."

"Yes mama." Aragorn readily agreed.

As Gilranean and Aragorn made to leave Gilranean instinctively turned back one last time grabbing tightly for Rosaline's wrist.

"Promise me one thing my friend." Gilranean pleaded.

"Anything my lady." Rosaline answered a bit taken aback by the naked self- conscious woman before her, a side of Gilranean she had never seen before and prayed never to see again. For Gilranean's eyes were filled with a silent desperation clawing away at the hopeful light of the woman's eyes.

"If...if anything should happen to...to Arathorn and me.... Please...if you can...look after Aragorn. He will need someone to love him and keep him safe if the worst should happen."

"You need not even ask." Rosaline silently replied more than willing to honor such a request though it left her feeling sick and queasy for what such a fulfilled entreaty would mean and so she silently prayed to the Valar that she would never be called to fulfil such a request.

And with that Gilranean and Aragorn were gone and the room felt suddenly very dark and cold. Rosaline wrapped her arms tightly around herself ignoring the bittersweet tears that fell unchallenged down her face waiting for she knew not how long staring out the doorway

Waiting...hoping...praying

For their return and knowing it would never be so.

It just ain't the same, always unchanged

New days are strange, is the world insane?

If love and peace is so strong

Why are there pieces of love that don't belong

Nations droppin' bombs

Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones

With the ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

Gilranean walked confidently down the palace corridor trying to simulate the countenance of one who knew exactly where they were going and by all appearances suppose to be out walking the halls this early in the morning.

Aragorn on the other hand had taken his mother's words to heart uttering not a single word as he followed obediently behind.

Much to Gilranean's amusement, Aragorn had decided to entertain himself while they walked along by pretending to be a ranger.

The young boy strode down the corridor in a somewhat crouched position giving the impression he was crawling through some unseen undergrowth. As he traveled along he cast suspicious glances around the "forest" keeping a wary eye out for potential threats. He had his invisible sword readily in hand should any orcs or other evil creatures appear out of the forests dense foliage or from Gilranean's perspective from out of one of the many bedchambers that lined the hallway.

Whenever the pair came upon an elf guard Aragorn immediately jumped behind his mother, his invisible sword posed in a defensive position should the "orc" choose to attack.

Based on the child's concurrent behavior Gilranean reached the conclusion that in Aragorn's game she had inherited the role as the moving tree or something of the sort from which the "young ranger" could hide behind while he spied upon his enemies. Just what I've always wanted to be She thought dryly.

Fortunately, of the few elves the mother and child passed, none questioned why the two were wandering the halls so early, falling easily into Gilranean's ruse, for which she was more than grateful.

She already had an excuse prepared should anyone take a sudden interest in why she was up so early. Gilranean would claim that her son and her had been assigned kitchen duty to help prepare breakfast. After all she was headed towards the kitchen, but who knew how long that explanation would hold up to further scrutiny.

She was not part of the regular kitchen staff and if she had truly been assigned kitchen duty for the day than why had she not gotten up with the rest of the kitchen slaves? To which of course she had no suitable answer.

But she wouldn't let herself worry about such things now. She'd deal with that problem when and if it should arise.

She was counting on the elves own arrogance to be used against them to carry out this plan. They were so confidant no slave could possible pose a true threat that they allowed themselves to be somewhat lax in their supervision of the slaves.

After all they were just humans...

Humans made far too much noise in the elves opinion and thus were easy to track and easier still to observe. Before they would get five inches out the palace doors a whole contingent of guards would be down upon them and so slaves were paid little mind as they walked unsupervised down the corridors.

And in most instances the elves were right. Humans did not have nearly the same amount of stealth as that of their captors. And with their keen senses an elf could spot trouble a mile a way or several miles for that matter. And so escape was an unheard of feat. No slave dared try for even though the consequences of capture was not punishment by death they were certainly severe enough to discourage such actions.

But Gilranean and Arathorn intended to do the impossible.

Escape!

And right out in front of the elves noses too. They would never suspect, wouldn't dare. And it would be that one mistake that would be their undoing and Gilranean's success.

Finally breathing out in a sigh of relief as the kitchen came into sight Gilranean allowed her fear to slowly dissipate. The chances of discovery were steadily decreasing the closer she got to the kitchen doors. Nearly there. She could even smell the fresh baked bread wafting on the air now. And now the heat from the kitchen prickled at her skin. So close. Almost...

"There... You slave, stop right there."

Gilranean's heart skyrocket at the commanding voice. Quickly composing her face and steadying her heart rate as best she could Gilranean quickly reached for her son, still lost in his fantasy world, and pulled him behind her as she turned around to address the voice.

"Yes my lord." She curtsied bending her head submissively avoiding the elves searching gaze.

"What are you doing out in this hallways so early. You're not part of the kitchen staff." The elf guard demanded as he continued to scrutinize her.

He had to figure that out first thing Gilranean thought in exasperation. Just my luck

Returning the elves gaze evenly Gilranean set herself to explain. They were so close. She couldn't back down now, not after how far they had come.

"No my lord. I am not part of the kitchen staff. I was assigned temporary kitchen duty this morning. It seems one of the slaves has taken sick."

"By whom." The elf asked bluntly still suspicious.

"Master Rovan, my lord." Gilranean replied smoothly.

The elf merely grunted in response casting a distrustful eye to the boy who was peaking from behind his mother before the elf guard headed back down the hallway.

Gilranean gasped in relief. That was close...too close for her liking. Casting a quick glance down the hallway and satisfied that no one else would stop them Gilranean entered the kitchen pushing Aragorn in ahead of her.

"My lady, you made it." A woman ran up and grasped her arm in greeting.

"Thanks to you Miricil. If you hadn't left the door to the slave chambers unlocked I don't know how we would have gotten out. Do not worry. I locked it back before we left. None shall know of your aid." Gilranean promised squeezing Miricil's hand in return greeting.

"Nay, do not thank me. You and Arathorn have helped my family and I on more than one occasion. We are forever in your debt." Miricil replied humbly, gratitude evident in her eyes.

"Aye If it wasn't for Arathorn our eldest Terenthil would have been killed by one of those Valar forsaken orcs by now when he's forced out on one of those patrols of theirs." A robust man chimed in, who in all appearances seemed to be Miricil's husband. For the man placed his arm affectionately over the young woman's shoulders before turning to face Gilranean again.

"Regardless, thank you both for all you have done. You have taken great risk upon yourselves to aid us."

"A risk we gladly take my lady." Miricil spoke bravely. "There are some things more important than our own lives." Talather, Miricil's husband, said proudly glancing meaningfully at Gilranean and her son, hiding behind his mother still thoroughly immersed in his game. "You are a precious little one. How old is he now?" Talather asked smiling friendly to the young boy who readily returned the smile with one of his own.

Aragorn his game now forgotten stepped in front of his mother, chest held out high as he pointed proudly to himself.

"I'm five years old now. Nearly a man mama says. Soon I'm going to be a ranger just like my daddy." Aragorn smiled proudly making it readily apparent how he felt about the rangers and his father unparticular.

"Indeed you will my lad." Talather nodded in approval. "You have all the making of a fine ranger indeed."

Aragorn blushed at the praise shuffling his feet nervously.

"And you're the best cook in the whole wide world." Aragorn grinned pleased at finding such a wonderful compliment.

Talather heaved his chest out proudly and beamed at the unexpected compliment, sending Miricil into a tittering fit of laughter telling her husband he was positively glowing.

Talather smiled ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck subconsciously in his embarrassment, which only seemed to make Miricil laugh louder.

"I'm sorry to interrupt." Gilranean smiled at the couple's playful banter. It reminded her so much of Arathorn and her. Oh how she missed him. "But how exactly do you plan to get Aragorn and me into the cart unnoticed?" Gilranean asked the question that had been gnawing at her for sometime.

"Ah now that's the trick isn't it." Talather winked mysteriously. "Let's just say we have a little "distraction" planned."

"Oh Talather your impossible." Miricil sighed rolling her eyes in recognition. "Thinks himself a wizard he does with his half answers. Our eldest Lathonon left the storeroom open this morning. I suspect it shall attract quite a few wolves and the such. I think that'll keep the guards busy for a bit...long enough I suspect to get you both safely stowed away. And than the rest is up to you I'm afraid."

"You're doing more than enough." Gilranean was quick to argue. "Without you we never would have gotten this far and I shall never forget you, either of you. Thank you my friends...We are forever in your debt."

Miricil and Talather smiled weakly back at the gracious words at a loss of how to respond.

But to the relief of both of them, they didn't have to.

"Guards...Guards. Hurry come quickly. Wolves have broken into the food stores." A young woman's voice pitched out in a hysterical panic, from outside the kitchen doors.

Aragorn jumped at the shrill noise and quickly hid himself behind his mother.

Neither Talather nor Miricil seemed too concerned about the panicked cry for help and both actually smiled at the pronouncement.

"That's our daughter Isaline." Miricil explained. "That was the signal we've been waiting for. Come we must go quickly."

Talather promptly scooped up young Aragorn and lead the way out a backdoor in the kitchen normally guarded, but now thankfully empty for the elf guards were a bit preoccupied at the moment.

Gilranean quickly followed behind with Miricil bringing up the rear as the party of four set a brisk pace towards a large wagon lying right outside the kitchen doors.

"We already loaded the wagon up early this morning and Lathonon went ahead and had the horses bridled up beforehand so the elves could leave us soon as they got up. Mostly just some salted meats, jams, fruits, and the lot. A little silk and cloth too I suspect. There shouldn't be more than two maybe three elves at the most. Going to take all these goods to Dale, for trading, they got a small fishing community down that way. The elves don't normally look too much at the goods before they set off. Just a quick glance to make sure it's all there. If you stay well hidden I don't think you'll have any problems." Talather rapidly explained.

Gilranean squeezed Talather's shoulder and grasped Miricil's hand in her other. She offered the two a heartfelt smile of thanks and farewell.

Talather merely give her a quick nod, not one for displays of affection before loaded Aragorn onto the cart and helped hoist Gilranean in after.

Gilranean took her young son back into the dark reaches of the wagon covering her child with a few blankets after reminding him to be very still and very quiet a bit longer.

After ensuring her son was well concealed Gilranean also covered herself in blankets and lay as still as possible sending the Valar a silent prayer to ensure their escape.

Talather and Miricil silently watched holding hands as the mother and son camouflaged themselves for the journey outside of the palace gates.

After ensuring the two were well hidden the couple hurriedly left less their deception be discovered each offering their own prayers to the Valar that mother and son would have a safe journey...

Aragorn started feeling fidgety as boredom began to invade his carefree existence. It was hot and stuffy under the blankets and he longed to yank off the uncomfortable cloths and go run in the warm sun. Or even go helping in the kitchens. It was hot and stuffy in there too, but at least Miricil snuck him treats every once in a while.

This surprise was turning out to be nearly as exciting as he had imagined. But Aragorn dared not leave the confines of his hiding place. His daddy told him to always do what mama told him and he wanted his father to be proud of him. So the young boy much to his displeasure remained hidden trying to find ways to occupy his mind with little success.

The impatience of youth Gilranean thought amusedly as she felt little Aragorn squirming about beside her.

"Shh...my love you must be still." Gilranean whispered quietly to her son.

"I'm sorry mama." Aragorn whispered back immediately stilling like the well- behaved boy he was.

Gilranean felt the boy still and allowed herself a sad wry face. She knew how bored the youthful ball of energy must be and yet he was never one to whine or complain. Perhaps it came from living a life for want, but the mother knew it ran much more deeply than that.

She had a truly sweet child.

He had a complete sense of selflessness about him that caused the boy to puts the needs of others before his own. And at such a young age. He was so like his father in that respect. So willing to sacrifice till it hurt and even beyond.

And she loved him for it...both of them.

"My sweet child why do you not rest. I know you must surely still be tired. Do not worry I will wake you when it is time. Do not fear for I shall be near."

"Yes mama." Aragorn whispered after a brief pause adding. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now rest your eyes young one and let peaceful dreams find you."

Aragorn found after his mother's suggestion that he did feel a bit sleepy. His eyelids started to feel heavy and the warmth now started to feel most welcoming. The young boy snuggled deeply into the blankets rubbing his cheeks against the soft fabric as his eyes closed and he entered a sweet release...

Gilranean smiled as she heard her sons gently breathing as he fell into a deep sleep. He always could sleep wherever he fell, just like his father in that respect too. She mused.

A few moments later she made out the sounds of elvish, like music on the air. Such a beautiful language.

Gilranean listened closely to what the two elves said to see if her and Aragorn's disappearance had been discovered or if something else might be amiss.

Gilranean was assuaged of her fears when the two elves walked away. The two stowaways still unnoticed.

The two elves had not spoken of anything to cause concern merely joking about a few wolves getting into the food stores and making quite a mess of the place.

Gilranean hoped Miricil and her family would not get in trouble for the incident, but she knew there was nothing she could do about it either way. Only hope for the best. Fortunately hoping she was good at...living with the two most trouble attracting people on middle earth made one good at such things.

As the wagon finally set off creating a dull hum as the wheels rubbed against the ground and a gentle rocking at the cart swayed too and fro on its axis Gilranean permitted herself a moments reprieve allowing the tension to dissipate from her body. However she still remained alert stubbornly refusing to fall into the pleasant escape of sleep that tempted her so insistently.

But oh how tired she was, physically and emotionally. Gilranean had not seen her husband for over a month, for he was out on patrol, for another extended period. And she always got so little sleep when he was away always thinking about him and if he stilled lived, expecting to awake and find his dead body drug back to the palace for an unmourned burial with a nameless tombstone.

She had not slept last night either, so worried about the escape that rest simply would not come. She'd lain on her pallet replaying the escape plan over and over in her head to insure everything was set. They could afford no mistakes. She was certain another chance might never come and at least not for many months.

And Arathorn would be dead by then...

The elves were already suspicious of her husband and would take an escape attempt as the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. He would just disappear one night never to be seen again. She couldn't let that happen for she would follow soon after leaving her child an orphan in a cruel and lonely world. This plan had to succeed for all their sakes or hope would truly be lost.

As Gilranean felt her eyes slowly drooping from too many sleepless nights the cart jerked to a stop thankful bringing her back to full alertness.

She suspected why they were stopped, but was hesitant to peak out the back of the wagon and confirm her suspicions for fear she would be easily spotted by the keen elven eyes. No it was too dangerous to be out in the moment for any period of time till they had passed out of the palace gates. So Gilranean contended herself with staying right where she was perking her ears up to try and hear what might be going on outside.

Her mortal ears could only make out muffled elvish too undistinguishable to understand and left her tensed and anxious with uncertainty.

After a few unbearable moments of waiting a loud creaking noise startled the air, slightly shaking the cart.

As the wagon set off once more Gilranean waited in a few impatient moments of anticipation before affording herself a quick peek from beneath the covers. To her satisfaction and relief she was pleased to find they were nearly passed outside the gates.

She watched as the gates slowly and meticulously closed behind the retreating wagon, silenced with a tight bang as they were locked back in place. It gave the whole affair such a sense of finality. Gilranean suspected she would never see the gates of Mirkwood again...

Gilranean continued to look upon the gates until they disappeared into the distance and yet she felt no loss no remorse except for the people she left behind.

It had been her home for all of her life and she could find no tears to shed at its loss and no homesickness to feel at their departure, only reminding her how homeless she had truly been, for her entire existence. She had never known a place of comfort and happiness and felt the loss sorely. She could only hope that Gondor would someday fill this empty place.

The wagon continued on for an hour or so longer never stopping its repetitive forward motion. Gilranean was contemplating how she and Aragorn would escape without the two elves noticing, but was loath to admit she could think of no formidable escape plan.

She'd though to sneak out when the elves rested the horses for a bit, but realized that elves and elven horses were both high endurance creatures and may very well not rest till reaching Dale or at the very least leaving the Mirkwood forests. That would leave Gilranean and her son days or even weeks off course. They were meant to meet with Arathorn today and should they fail to show he would no doubt return to the palace in search of them.

The noble woman considered perhaps jumping from the moving buggy, but was loath to do so unless it became their last option. She feared such a jump would be too much for her young son and cause him unnecessary injury. She would not see him hurt if she could help it.

All the noise of jumping from the cart would most likely attract the elves attention anyway. It was only by the blessings of the Valar mother and child had gone undetected thus far, and Gilranean had no intention of pushing her luck.

As Gilranean had finally contended herself to waiting out the elves the cart jerked to a stop for a second time immediately putting the woman at ill ease. Why were they stopping? Had the elves heard her?

She waited restlessly to see what would happen her breath caught painfully in her throat as the silence became deafening. Not even the creatures of the forest were calling out, no doubt the reason why the elves had chosen to stop so abruptly. At least that meant the elves had not stopped on her account. If that was actually reassuring or not was still debatable.

Gilranean tensed hovering protectively over her sleeping child as she thought of all the reasons why the forest would go so still each thought worse than the last.

Wolves...Wargs...Orcs...

And then when she thought she could stand the wait no longer lest her heart burst from anxiety a small scuffling sound was heard followed by a barely perceptible thumping noise. Mere seconds later a second thump followed and Gilranean went rigid with fear. They were no longer alone. Something was out there...

Footsteps...coming closer...walking towards the back of the cart.

Gilranean felt the breath squeezed from her lungs as her heart started pounding haphazardly on her chest.

She had to protect her child. No matter what happened he must be kept safe at all cost. The mother swiftly made sure the boy will still well hidden, but knew upon closer inspection the child would easily be uncovered. She would simply have to keep them, whoever they were, from getting too close than, wouldn't she?

Gilranean looked around the back of the cart frantically looking for a weapon. Anything to hold this unknown enemy at bay. She felt despair rip at her heart when she could find something that would make a formidable weapon...blankets... apples... meat...

The mother squared her shoulders. If need be she would fight them with her bare hands before she let them near her child.

A figure stepped in front of the wagon opening blocking out the shallow morning rays, throwing a shadow over the cart's contents.

"An elf!" Gilranean exclaimed in part relief, part dread. At least they had survived whatever creatures had sought to waylay the wagon, but it did not disaffirm her resolve. She still felt like a trapped animal. She couldn't be captured. Escape had cost too much already and she would die before she let herself or her offspring be taken again.

Gilranean glared back at the creature blocking out her sunlight refusing to flinch away from its intense gaze. She waited for it to make the first move prepared to fight and die for freedom.

"Gilranean...is that you." A voice rasped out on the air.

The woman blinked her eyes rapidly a few times as she tried to process the voice. It sounded so familiar... "Arathorn." She cried out as realization dawned. "Is it you?"

The shadow creature nodded its head and before it could utter another word a blurry motion pounced upon him nearly knocking the weather worn man off his feet."

"Arathorn I've missed you so much." Gilranean replied falling into the strong arms of her husband kissing him over and over again as she remembered the warm contour of his lips locked upon her own.

"I...Can...Tell." Arathorn choked out between air stealing kisses. "You're as beautiful as the last time I saw you." Arathorn smiled as he took in his wife's sweaty dirt streaked face.

Gilranean smacked him playfully on the ear before joining his laughter. "You try sitting under a pile of blankets in a cart for two hours in this kind of heat." She defended a mock pout falling upon her face making her look much younger than she had in a long time. "And look at you. Did you roll around in the mud before you decided to stop by? How did you even know we were on this cart anyway?"

Arathorn laughed heartily at his wife's jab. Still so fiery. That's why he'd fallen in love with her so many years ago. She had such spirit...such passion. "I've been watching the palace gates all morning. When I saw the cart leave I followed...guess I had a moment of intuition." Arathorn shrugged his shoulders.

"You did, did you?" Gilranean eyed him suspiciously.

"Alright, Alright. You've caught me." Arathorn laughed again holding his hands up placatingly. "I have a few spies in the palace. They slipped me the information last night. I figured you might have a bit of trouble getting past those two elves so I decided to offer my humble assistance my lady." Arathorn smiled as he gave a grand flourish of a bow.

A concerned look passed over Gilranean's face as she looked to the front of the cart where two bound and gagged elves lay in a heap upon the dirt road. "Are...are they dead? What did you do to them?"

"Do not worry. They have not been harmed. Elves have pressure points on their necks. Didn't even know what hit them. They're merely unconscious. In a few hours they'll wake up with a head ache...nothing more." Arathorn promised reassuringly.

Gilranean sighed in relief. Just because the elves had enslaved her people did not mean she wished their lives in vengeance. She would not see the suffering of others if she could prevent it. Gilranean knew that there were good elves and bad elves just as there were good men and bad men. She knew that you could not judge a living being by their race, but rather by the content of their character and Gilranean had tried to instill this value in her young son, so he would grow to respect all creatures. The prejudices of this world had to end before middle earth could ever heal.

Gilranean hugged Arathorn tightly sagging a bit in his arms as weariness overcame her. Arathorn easily feeling the change in his wife leant her a bit more support eyeing her with worried eyes.

"Are you well Gilranean. Have you been injured?"

"Aye I am well my love. Just a bit tired. I have not slept well of late."

Arathorn turned away from her piercing gaze his head hung in shame as though he had read something incriminating in her eyes. "I am sorry." He whispered hoarsely. "I did not wish to cause you pain. Forgive me."

Gilranean gently lifted her husband's chin forcing him to meet her eyes. His own silver orbs glistened with unshed tears as he located her own.

"There is nothing to forgive." She breathed lovingly willing him to believe her. "You could not control what has happened. But things will be better now. We are together and we are finally free. Our son will finally know what it means to be happy." Gilranean smiled.

"Son? Where is Aragorn?" Arathorn asked glancing frantically about for his child. "I have not seen him. Is he well?"

"Aye. Sleeping like a babe." Gilranean grinned cheerfully. "Would you like to see him?"

At a nod from Arathorn, Gilranean took his hand in her own and lead him to the further reaches of the wagon towards their precious bundle.

The noble woman knelt by a bundle of blankets, Arathorn followed her example kneeling beside her. She gently pulled off the blankets revealing a small boy curled up precariously among a pile of cloths. Gilranean gazed fondly at her sleeping son breathing slow and deeply in serene rest. He looked so peaceful...so young...so innocent lost in his own dreams.

Arathorn watched breathlessly as his beloved son was revealed. The man reached out a suddenly shaky hand to brush some of his child's stray curls from his closed eyes.

"He's grown so much since last I laid eyes upon him." Arathorn uttered entranced by his precious offspring.

"Aye, and he looks more and more like you everyday." Gilranean smiled wrapping herself in Arathorn's arms.

Arathorn merely smiled and laid his head upon his wife's shoulder as he watched the amazing spark of life that was his son.

The couple sat that way for sometime sharing in some much-needed companionship immersed in a mutual love for their child.

It was because of him, this precious bundle of hope, that they had never given into despair. When slavery weighed heavily on their hearts young Aragorn would lighten their burden with his abundant love and his free spirit. He reminded them why they must go on. Why they not lose themselves. He showed them how to dream again...

Aragorn slowly began to stir from his restful sleep. Perhaps because he sensed someone observing him while he slumbered. Or perchance the unfamiliar stillness when he had grown so accustomed to the rocking of the cart lured him back to reality. Either way he began to awaken much refreshed as though he could feel the burden of slavery no more upon his fragile shoulders replaced by an uplifting sense of freedom.

The boy stretched his arms above his head before rubbing at bleary sleep laden eyes, seemingly more reluctant than the rest of his body to rejoin the land of the living.

Blinking a few times the child looked up and grinned at his mother as though he had been expecting her to be there when he awoke.

"Are we there yet mama?" Aragorn asked excitedly feeling his unquenchable energy rising full force as sleep slowly tapered off.

"Almost my love...almost." Gilranean smiled as she kissed him on the forehead.

The young boy giggled at his mother's attentions as he sat up, too energetic to stay still any longer. The child curiously began to scan the cart now that his mother seemed less insistent about staying still and nearly immediately locked eyes with his father.

Arathorn eyed the child somewhat apprehensively. The boy had not seen him in over a month's time and hardly much before that. What if the child didn't recognize him? Or perhaps his son felt abandoned and would reject his fatherly affections now. Arathorn suddenly felt very...ackward. He, a seasoned warrior, a ranger, and a future king of men could not bear to face his son...bear to face the possibility of rejection from one who held such a large piece of his soul.

"Daddy." Aragorn beamed happily a look of pleased surprise on his face at seeing his long gone hero and father.

The boy scooted into Arathorn's lap immediately easing the father's fears as the child welcomed his once more back into his life without question. Arathorn held his son in a warm embrace silently thanking the Valar for giving his child such an understanding heart.

"Did you catch all the bad orcs daddy, so you can come home now?" Aragorn asked expectantly as he turned wide admiring eyes upon his father, waiting with a patience and attentiveness uncommon for a child of his age.

Arathorn tousled the boy's curly looks affectionately as he laughed warmly at the innocently asked question. "I'm afraid my son it's not nearly so easy as that, though I wish it were. There is far too many orcs in the world to defeat them all in the span of a month. No I fear it will take us many more years before such will be the case."

"Oh..." Aragorn sighed dispiritedly. His face visibly fell at the pronouncement, his shoulders slumped in disappointment, and his eyes were downcast as he tried to bravely fight off tears. "Will you be leaving soon daddy. I have missed you so..." The young boy spoke forlornly refusing to cry and show weakness before his father.

"Nay young one." Arathorn replied triumphantly, pleased to once be able to bring good news to his son instead of continuous heartbreak as he was forced to leave his child time after time. He would never again have to see the tragically concealed sadness in his boy's eyes each time he would depart, called away to patrol some spot of forest or another. Forever torn away from his family perhaps each time to look upon them for the last.

But now they were free...

Arathorn hefted his son securely into the crook of his arm and grabbed Gilranean's wrist delicately in his hand leading them both out into the sunlight.

After standing a moment locked together as a family once more staring into the warm touch of the sun Arathorn turned once more to look upon his only offspring, his heir apparent should the time come.

Arathorn smiled contently as he watched young Aragorn staring up into the sky. His eyes were closed tightly against the bright rays of the sun, but his face drank hungrily at the powerful orb of light.

He feels it... Arathorn smiled broadly a knowing look in his eyes.

The boy had felt his first true taste of freedom. The feel of the sun on your face when you realize no one owns you, but yourself. Now that the child had tasted a glimpse of liberty's mighty power he would never again be content with a life of complacency... as Arathorn himself could never be.

Having lived many years of his life as a ranger, Arathorn had resided under the stars traveling with the blowing winds. He could never find peace after his capture and subsequent enslavement. Freedom pulled too strongly at his wild spirit and no elf, man, or dwarf could tame it.

And it would be the same way for his son now. Never a slave in spirit, but always a slave to his own hope...hope always that freedom could be had even in the days of his darkest despair.

Arathorn knew that such bondage would be a comfort and a curse, to his young son, in years to come. In Aragorn's darkest hour such unwavering hope would give his son power unimaginable in it's fury, but the darkness would ever single the boy out intent upon claming such a prize and smiting its light.

Arathorn could fathom not what the future held for his young son, but he "felt," by a gift of insight bestowed upon him by his forefathers and the Valar, that Aragorn would suffer much hardship before his life was through. The father also realized his son would be a powerful leader of men someday, and yet it offered him little consolation.

But now was not the time to think of such things.

They were all together again and that was what mattered most, not what the future held...at least not yet.

Arathorn looked down at his son again, surprised and pleased to see Aragorn with his eyes open looking at his father with ill concealed curiosity.

I wander how long he has been observing me thus. Probably thinks his father has gone mad. Arathorn thought in amusement.

"Now to answer your question about when I'll be leaving again." Arathorn addressed his son deciding it was time to explain.

"I will be leaving today, for Gondor, the white city, and I have no intention of returning to Mirkwood, at least not for many years." Arathorn replied enjoying his slight deception as he immersed himself in drawing out the wonderful news as long as possible. It was so rare he ever had anything good to share with his son that he intended to savor this moment as long as possible.

"Years..." Aragorn whispered in distress as his face paled at the thought. His father meant to leave him. Aragorn felt tears burning his eyes and wanted nothing more than to weep and beg his father not to go.

"And you are coming with me." Arathorn replied a bit more gently as he saw his son near tears. He had not conceived to upset the child and now felt guilty that he had done just that. "I would never leave you...I will never leave you always remember that my son." The boy's father smiled hugging his son tightly.

"Now come we must make with haste. We have dallied too long already and the elves will have surely noticed your disappearance by now as well as my own." Arathorn charged subject quickly noticing the position of the sun. They had wasted too much time...much needed time perhaps, but it left them dangerously behind in their escape plans. The elves were excellent trackers and could easily be upon them in a matter of hours if they did not leave this place quickly.

Arathorn handed Aragorn over to his mother and headed towards the two horses responsible for pulling the wagon.

"We can't take the cart with us. It will leave too much of a trail for the elves to follow. But we can at least take the horses to make better time." Arathorn accounted to Gilranean in way of explanation as he began unhooking the steeds.

As Aragorn was working on unfastening the second horse they both began to visibly perk up and started to look anxiously into the woods before them.

Arathorn attempted to sooth the two obviously distraught horses by petting them gently on the nose, but the creatures only became more agitated and started stamping their hooves repeatedly in irritation.

Aragorn chanced a glance at the two bound and gagged elves he had thoughtfully laid out on the side of the road. The two elves were quickly returning to consciousness looking in the same direction as the horses, eyeing the forest with wide-eyed concern cocking their heads to the side as though listening to something.

The two elven warriors were oblivious to Arathorn's observations and began tugging at their bonds trying to undue the tight knots with little success, while they cast wary glances at the woods as though expecting something to appear at any moment.

Arathorn put a cautious hand upon his sword hilt as he listened intently to the surrounding forest, trying to pick up the source of the elves and horses constraint. After a few moments Arathorn made out the inklings of movement still quite some distance away, but moving towards their location at a hasty pace...and thus an immediate threat.

At that moment the horses reared in agitation kicking off Arathorn's hold allowing the two horses to bolt into the forest and back towards their home in Mirkwood.

Arathorn sighed in resignation. There went the horses

The trained ranger lowered himself to the ground and placed his ear to the forest floor. This was a hearing technique he had learned during his training and it was surprisingly effective at determining the number and distance of one's prey be it animal or enemy.

Arathorn felt queasy at the pit of his stomach as he deciphered the vibrations of the ground and determined a party of fifty or more, less then thirty minutes away and gaining...

Worse yet if Arathorn was interpreting the signs correctly he would wager this particular group also happened to be a pack or orcs. For the steps were too loud and powerful to be that of elf or man, or even dwarfs for that matter and no other creature typically traveled in such large parties.

The ranger rose abruptly. He had to get his family to safety, but first he had to see to the two-elven prisoner's safety. He would not leave them to die. No one deserved to be left for orcs...an elf most of all.

"Gilranean." Arathorn called out to his wife. "You must go quickly. Orcs are coming this way. Get Aragorn to safety in the woods. I will follow when I can."

Gilranean silently nodded asking no questions and offering no protests. She trusted Arathorn implicitly and would do all he asked of her.

The mother hefted her son further up into her arms and headed off without delay into the deeper reaches of the forest not looking back only foreword.

Her family was quickly becoming stuck between a rock and a hard place. Between the elves that would enslave them and the orcs that would kill them...and Gilranean was starting to feel the pressure.

So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone

So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong

In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'

in Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

Arathorn headed hurriedly over to the struggling elves and leaned down in front of the first elf blocking out the light of the sun and casting the
elf in shadows.

The elf stopped its movement and locked eyes with the human, waiting patiently to see what the man wanted.

Arathorn seeing he had the elf's attention steadily crouched before the elf and pulled his dagger from its tucked place in his belt.

The elf visibly stiffened as it caught site of the ranger's knife before returning his stony gaze back to the human, staring back defiantly.

If the human intended to kill him than he would die honorably, with his head held high and his back straight. He would not show this filthy edain any weakness, just like a true Mirkwood warrior.

"You need not be so high and mighty master elf. I have not come over here with the intention of slitting your throat." Arathorn replied good- naturedly as he began to cut through the elf's bindings.

The elf continued to glare darkly at the human, but appeared to relax slightly at the man's reassurance, patiently holding his bound wrists out in front of him while the ranger sawed away at the ropes.

With a final snap the ropes parted and the elf began gently rubbing his wrists to restart circulation back into his hands before he set to remove the gag for his mouth.

"What's your name?" Arathorn asked, casually leaning against a tree some safe distance away.

"What is it your business slave?" The elf sneered back. "When King Thranduil hears what you have done...attacking two of his soldiers you will be executed."

"Than perhaps I should leave you both for the orcs to play with so the king never finds out." Arathorn shot back, fear for his family making him irritable. He had no intention of leaving the elves here if they wished it or not, but he wanted to give them something to think about.

"I am not afraid of you human." The elf answered fiercely.

"As I do not wish you to be." Arathorn replied peacefully wishing to end this foolish war of the wills. "I am merely a man trying to protect his family. You would have acted exactly the same as I if our roles had been reversed."

The elf remained speechless as a thoughtful look came over his eyes. He pictured his beautiful wife, Gwelwen (air), his daughter Gwaloth (blossoms), and his son, Celeiralmir (brilliant flame). The boy was hardly 1200 summers old, scarcely more than a child in the eye of the elves.

The elven warrior merely nodded silently accepting the truth of the man's statement without verbally supporting it. If it were his family he would do anything to protect them including knocking dwarf, man, or even elf unconscious to do it. But just because he agreed didn't mean he was going to condone the man's actions. After all he was an edain...and a slave.

Arathorn acknowledged the elf's answer and walked back towards the elven warrior, handing the elf his dagger hilt first.

"I trust you won't use this against me master elf. After all we do have more pressing matters at the moment. We can sit here and argue all day, but those orcs will be upon us in less then fifteen minutes if my calculations are correct and I've no particular desire to wait here for them to find us. As I would think you would feel the same considering the orcs characteristic unfondness of your kind."

Arathorn not waiting for a reply from the elf turned on his heels towards the wagon calling behind him, "Finish undoing your bonds and those of your friend and I shall retrieve your weapons."

The elf quickly sawed through the rope tying his ankles together then set upon his companions tied hands and feet as well. With a speed born of the elves, the two warriors were free and standing before Arathorn appeared from behind the wagon bearing two bows, two quivers, and an assortment of daggers.

The elves cast several glances into the forest as their keen senses warned them some evil approached. The trees screamed from them to run making the elves feel anxious and dare Arathorn say...fidgety? Or at least as fidgety as an elf could possibly get for the two elves were rolling back and forth on the heels of their shoes as they waited impatiently for their weapons returned.

It was said that a Mirkwood elf felt naked without their bows, which at the moment sounded completely true in the ranger's opinion, based on the elves uncomfortable stance.

As Arathorn handed the elves both back their weapons he could almost swear they were actually "hugging" their bows for a second before the strung them over their shoulders. He had a feeling the elves would both deny it if he brought it up so he wisely held his tongue on the issue.

As the ranger finished handing the first elf he had previously spoken with back his last dagger the elf warrior with lightning speed grabbed the man's wrist tightly.

Arathorn looked up calmly into the elf's eyes waiting expectantly for the elf to say something.

"My name is Celeirgil (brilliant star) and this is Laeranar (summer sun) the elf responded indicating the other elf who gave a slight nod as he watched the human distrustfully through slitted eyes.

Arathorn nodded in return. "Aye, I am Arathorn son of Arador."

"Now that the introductions are out of the way I would suggest you both make with haste back to the palace and inform the king of the orcs imminent attack." Arathorn continued.

Celeirgil looked at Arathorn indignantly like the idea was sheer folly, while Laeranar puffed out his chest looking insulted at the very prospect.

"We are Mirkwood warriors and we have no intention of running back to the palace like cowards." Laeranar replied testily.

"And how do you...a human...plan on fending off a horde of orcs all on your own?" Celeirgil inquired in a humoring tone of voice like the simple suggestion was absolutely preposterous.

"You know as well as I do master elf that there are over fifty orcs on their way here as we speak. Even two skilled elven warriors such as yourselves are no match for those odds." Arathorn insisted.

"All the more reason we shall remain and fight. If we are no match for them then you will be hardly more than a breath of wind." Celeirgil pointed out.

"Than that is all the more reason why you must leave." Arathorn fiercely protested. "If we should all fall than no one will be able to warn Mirkwood. They will be nearly defenseless and many needless lives will be lost."

"Than we all shall go." Laeranar stubbornly insisted.

"I cannot." The ranger negated turning pleading eyes on Celeirgil thinking him the elf that would perhaps sympathize more. "Please, I must find my family. They are vulnerable out there all alone. I cannot abandon them. If our roles were reversed..."

"I would do the same thing." Celeirgil interrupted a light of understanding shining in his eyes. "Go then. Find your family."

Arathorn nodded in gratitude before turning around and headed in the direction his family had traveled.

"I hope we meet again Arathorn son of Arador. I should much like to learn more about you human." Celeirgil whispered under his breath as he followed Laeranar into the trees.

Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother

A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover

The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug

If you never know truth then you never know love

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the love, y'all
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

Gilranean looked around the forest uncertainly. All the trees looked the same to the untrained eye. She felt fear eating at her composure. Which way to go? Or perhaps it would be best to stay her and wait for Arathorn to catch up.

But what if he didn't ever come? She shuddered at the thought refusing to acknowledge any possibility to the statement. The noble woman forced herself to refrain from trembling lest she frighten her young charge.

Thankfully Aragorn had remained silent thus far, seeming to understand the seriousness of the situation.

Gilranean can not insure her husband would return so the mother had to look to the safety of her child foremost. Aragorn must be protected at all costs, Gilranean concluded, he was the last hope for the world of men and perhaps all of middle earth if the prophecies were true. Thus whatever her decision she had to decide what would be the best way to accomplish this.

Gilranean allowed herself a few moments of deliberation and reasoned it would not be safe to remain here on the off chance any orcs happened to arrive before Arathorn, which Gilranean resolutely refused to consider, for the consequences of such an outcome would most likely mean her husband was dead by a cruel orc blade.

So she must move foreword...

But which way?

To the let were orcs....to the right lay the palace.

Straight it is than...

Gilranean set foreword confidently, for at least she had formed some plan of action. It may not have been much to go on...but it was enough to go on and that was all that mattered for now.

"Mama, daddy will be fine won't he?" Aragorn whispered meekly unsure if it was all right to speak, but fearful for his father's safety.

Gilranean looked down at her son and tried to offer him a reassuring smile though it ended rather weakly. "Yes my love, he will be well. There is nothing to fear. Your father is just fighting more of those nasty orcs he has told you about. He sent us into the woods so we wouldn't get in his way."

Aragorn nodded thoughtfully clinging tighter to his mother as though he sensing some sense of foreboding...

"Mama I don't want to go any further. It feels...scary." Aragorn murmured, trying to voice his concerns. Something felt eerie and dark about these woods and Aragorn had no wish to go foreword farther into the forests evil embrace. "Please mama don't make us go in there." Aragorn pleaded desperately.

It tore at Gilranean's heart to see her son trembling in her arms and she was tempted to do as he bid. Just turn around and run as far from this place as she could. But where else was there to go? This was the only way to safety and as much as it worried her she had no choice. If this was the only way to see her son to safety then so be it...

"I am sorry my love, but this is the way we must travel. I know it is dark and perhaps a bit scary, but I will be here to keep you safe. There is nothing to be afraid of." Gilranean soothed.

"That's where you're wrong human." A gruff voice called out from the dark depths of the forest before them.

Gilranean clutched her son protectively as her senses screamed that some malfeasance was afoot.

Slowly huge bulky shapes began to emerge from the confines of the woods.

Gilranean gasped, "orcs..." She unconsciously took a step back as the grotesque beasts were made visible by the faint rays of light that filtered through the trees.

"What do we have here." The head orc, Gronok, asked with sinister glee as he partook of this unexpected prey.

"It looks to me like two lost humans Gronok." An orc named Harsof answered from behind the frightened mother and child.

Gilranean cast a quick glance over her shoulder her breath catching painfully in her throat.

They were surrounded...

About six orcs in front of them and perhaps five? behind slowly circling the defenseless pair.

Aragorn stared openly at the creatures, his eyes wide with fright.

He was not quite sure what these bizarre monsters were, but from some of the stories his father had told him on those rare visits he could easily guess and it disturbed him greatly.

"Look the young one shakes. He won't last long, but those innocent screams will be like music to my ears." Gronok laughed maliciously a hungry twinkle in his eyes.

"No...no." Gilranean shook her head frantically as she clung even more tightly to her son trying to cover him from sight with her own body. "You will not touch him."

"We'll see about that pretty one." Gronok grinned darkly showing a set of rotting death. "Why are you out here in the middle of the woods all by yourselves little humans. Where are your elf masters? Perhaps they would like to come and play as well."

A few of the orcs began to stare around the forest as though expecting an elf to show itself at any moment, and began to look agitated when this was not the case.

"Where are you elves? Come out in play. Do you want your little pets to have all the fun?" Harsof shouted at the trees.

The orcs waited expectantly looking around with impatience as they fingered their weapons in anticipation.

"Ah they're not coming." Gronok huffed in frustration. "Them elves probably already ran back home. Don't care what happens to these two it would seem. Take em.'" Gronok replied waving his hand to indicate the quivering mother and child.

The orcs slowly started to close in around Gilranean and Aragorn, sneering and laughing at the pair's obvious distress.

Gilranean stared at the approaching demons with a look of horrified disgust on her face, her eyes dancing with a fiery protectiveness .

Aragorn buried his face in his mother's blouse unwilling to look at the frightening monsters slowly coming closer. He felt his mother's fear, only increasing his own, for his mother was never afraid, not even of Firithgalad.

When an orc got too close Gilranean kicked it away catching the unsuspected orc off guard as the force of her blow sent his back a few steps causing more irritation than damage.

The offended orc glared darkly and started to advance again this time a bit more cautious.

"She's a fiery one." Gronok laughed heartily as the woman kicked and smacked the orcs back with a ferocity that only a mother protecting her young could display. It was rather a gratifying sight for the orc captain as he watched the defenseless woman continue to resist though she knew of its futility.

Gronok pushed through the group of encroaching orcs deciding it was time to end this. They were here for other reasons as it was and this was only an extra bonus. The master would not be pleased if he found out they had stopped to play with the two humans when they should have been locating the heir. The master didn't look well on disobedience and Gronok had the scars to prove it.

The orc captain grabbed roughly for the child in the distraught mother's hands causing the child to cry out while the mother scathingly grabbed for the child refusing to release him into the orc's hold. Gronok slapped the woman harshly with the back of his hand drawing blood to her lip and causing her to loosen her hold on the boy.

Gronok effectively took the squirming child away before the human mother could gain her bearings again, smiling... pleased with his success.

"Mama...no mama." The boy shrieked out frantically reaching his hands out desperately for his mother.

Gilranean whipped her head back around as the disorientation of the blow began to wear off and she suddenly realized her arms were empty.

"Aragorn..." She screamed all composure lost as the woman frantically reached her own arms out towards her child.

The surrounding orcs grabbed a hold of the mother roughly binding her wrists with coarse rope while she struggled and fumed angrily. "Let me go...give me back my son." She pleaded.

Gronok turned back to the woman with a look of mild interest distorting his face. "What did you call him?" The orc demanded.

Gilranean glared irately at the orc. "Who?"

Gronok gave a brief nod to Harsof. The second in command slapped the women stingingly across the face.

"Mama..." Aragorn screamed at his mother's rough treatment squirming to get out of Gronok's iron tight grasp.

The orc captain slapped the boy painfully, identical to the hit his mother had previously incurred. The orc lowered his head till he was level with the boy's ear. "Stop your squirming brat or I'll give you something to cry about."

Aragorn flinched away at the orcs harsh words and warm breath brushing against his ear.

"Let me go. I want my mama." Aragorn insisted refusing to do what the scary monster wanted.

"Behave." Gronok growled in frustration at the boy's stubborn attitude. "Or I'll let Harsof have some more fun with her." Gronok threatened indicating the boy's mother. Aragorn whimpered softly at the orc's cruel words, but stopped his struggling as he cast fearful eyes to his mother.

The orc captain looked back at the distraught woman again. "Now tell me who the boy is. What did you call him? Don't lie to me or I'll slit his throat." Gronok replied menacingly as he pulled a long orc blade from his belt. The orc captain maliciously set the cold metal blade against the boy's exposed throat pressing ever so slight till a red line appeared causing the boy to whimper slightly at the pressure.

Gilranean's eyes widened in panic. "His...his name is Estel. It is his only name." The mother answered afraid of what they would do to her son should they learn his lineage.

Gronok growled in impatience as he shook the boy roughly sending the blade deeper into the boy's neck. "Don't lie to me. That is his elf name. What is the boy's true name? Tell me now or both of you will die. I will waste no more time on your impertinence." Gronok placed more pressure upon the sword prepared to simply slit the boy's throat and be done with this foolishness. They had no more time to waste only some bizarre pining of curiosity held his hand thus far.

"No...stop." Gilranean pleaded in defeat. "Not Aragorn...don't hurt him. His name is Aragorn. Please he is just a child...leave him be."

"Aragorn..." Gronok replied letting the word's roll off his tongue in disgust. Why did that name make him feel so uneasy and fill him with such a sense of loathing?

The orc leader jerked the boy's head up staring into his cloudy gray eyes.... No not gray...silver!" Gronok gasped. Only the line of Numenor bore such eyes...more specifically the descendents of Isildur.

As the orc captain stared back into those defiant silver orbs he couldn't help, but shudder at the power that lay beyond their depths. This one would cause problems if he were permitted to live. The master would be pleased with such a prize. Perhaps almost as much as if they caught the other one...the one they had been set here to find in the first place.

These two would make excellent bait. The heirs of Isildur had always been weak hearted creatures their compassion their greatest downfall. The heir would come for these two...like they always did and then he would be theirs.

Both of them would

And while they were waiting the orcs could amuse themselves with the women. She was of no importance. The master had no need of her.

"Who is the boy's father?" Gronok commanded the women wishing to confirm his suspicions. It would not do to be wrong. The master did not take failure well.

Gilranean squirmed uncomfortably. She couldn't tell them. The orc already suspected too much. She could tell them no more...could not betray Arathorn or her son.

Gilranean pressed her lips tightly shut glaring back at the orc captain defiantly refusing to utter another word. They would not kill her son...not while they suspected... And she no longer cared what they did to her. She would keep her peace and protect her family till her death.

Gronok seemed to know she would tell him no more and removed the blade from Aragorn's throat in sad reluctance as though he would like nothing more than to make good on his threat and slit the boy's throat once and for all.

"Bring them." Gronok growled shoving the boy into the hands of another orc standing nearby before he turned back into the dark recesses of the forests. "The human will tell us every thing soon enough and they have someone looking for them. Don't you?" Gronok asked knowingly as he looked over his shoulder at the woman being forcefully led foreword still kept apart from her son.

Gilranean locked hate-filled eyes on the orc captain keeping her lips wedged tightly together.

Gronok laughed at the woman's stubbornness, "Just as I thought." He grinned coldly as he headed deeper into the dark...

The orcs camp was not far and so the small party even hindered by a woman and small child got there quickly and with little difficulty.

Harsof oversaw a few orcs tying Gilranean securely to a tree and had the boy thrown down beside her.

Gronok and several of the orcs approached surrounding the pair their knives and whips gleefully displayed as the orcs laughed and jeered at mother and child.

The orc captain approached the bound woman lifting her head painfully up so she was forced to look into his cold empty eyes.

"You will tell us everything we want to know before we are through." The orc assured her. "But I hope not too soon. I'd hate to have to kill you before we've even started." Gronok laughed vindictively.

"No..." Aragorn protested angrily. He wouldn't let these demons hurt his mother even if they did frighten him.

The boy pulled himself to his feet ramming into the orc captain with all his might knocking the orc back a pace or two forcing the beast to let go of his mother.

Gronok whipped around glaring darkly at the boy. How he wished to smother that defiant spark in the human's eyes...To make it scream for mercy broken at his feet. But no the master would want it...undamaged.

At least marginally so Gronok grinned as he slapped the boy across the face sending the child tumbling to the ground now sporting a blood nose.

"Someone hold that boy. We don't want him interrupting our little...interrogation." Gronok yelled as he grabbed a whip from another orc.

Aragorn fought and bit and kicked with a passion, but was easily subdued by Harsof.

The orcs began to take turns whipping and beating his mother while Harsof forced the young boy to watch the orcs torment and mutilate his mother while Gronok's second and command whispered cruel words in his ears, promising young Aragorn much worse when they arrived in Mordor.

His mother's screams burned in the young boy's ears and he felt nauseous as he watched his mother's blood dripping down once porcelain skin to pool on the ground.

Aragorn cried openly screaming at the orcs to stop...begging Harsof to make them stop which only seemed to amuse the orc who grinned maliciously at the boy's pleading face.

"Enough!" Gronok snarled in frustration, for Gilranean had said nothing, after what seemed to young Aragorn like an eternity. "We will get nothing more from this one. She is as good as dead now anyway. We need to set up surveillance for when the human comes looking for these two. We need to be ready."

"What should we do with this one?" Harsof asked indicating the boy. Aragorn no longer fought against Harsof's grip now laying crumpled on the ground openly weeping as he whispered over and over under his breath, "mama..."

"Just throw him over there with the other one. He's too scared to try anything now." Gronok ordered turning away to set up a perimeter guard.

Harsof took Gronok's orders quite literally and indeed threw the boy up against the tree his mother was attached to before walking off without a second glance.

Aragorn after a few moments wiped at his stray tears and looked fearfully up at his mother. She wasn't moving. Was she dead?

The young boy rose cautiously to his feet and looked closely at his mother afraid to touch her, but unwilling to leave her either. Finally gaining his courage Aragorn lifted himself on tip-e-toe and laid his hand precariously upon his mother's shoulder, one of the few areas unrent by lacerations. "Mama..." Aragorn whispered hesitantly shaking her slightly. "Are you okay mama?"

Upon not getting any response the boy began to shake her more fiercely as panic began to take hold. "Mama wake up. I'm scared mama. Please wake up."

Gilranean felt herself floating in a black void. She was not yet dead, but near it now. She could feel her life ending and wished nothing more than to embrace the call of the Valar and accept her fate.

But then she heard a voice call out from the darkness...It sounded so familiar...

Aragorn!

It was her precious Aragorn. He was begging her to wake up. But she knew she would never wake up again. She no longer had the strength. She silently began to weep as she thought of her poor frightened child. He would not understand and he was so alone.

"Why do you cry Gilranean?" A curious voice asked from behind her. "It is a day of rejoicing, the day of your rebirth, so why do you weep? The Valar calls you home, why do you not heed their call?"

Gilranean turned in surprise and looked upon the most ethereal being she had ever seen. It seemed a man stood before her, but he was swathed in a powerful glow that forced Gilranean to shield her eyes.

The noble woman bowed in awe of the being before her.

"Mandos..." She whispered with reverence.

"Aye, my child. It is I. Tell me why do you weep when I call for you?"

"My lord, It is my child...Aragorn. We were captured by orcs and now he will be all alone. I cannot leave him. I cannot leave him to suffer alone. Please Mandos I beg you....help him." Gilranean pleaded. "I will give you anything you ask. Please just spare my child."

Mandos laid his hand compassionately upon Gilranean's shoulder and wiped her tears away with a gentle smile.

"I ask nothing of you lady Gilranean. You have protected hope and raised him well. You have done more than the Valar could ask for and you shall be revered in my halls for ages to come."

"Do not fear for the boy. I have foreseen he will survive this encounter...but his future is yet unclear." Mandos replied getting a distant look in his eyes as though looking into the future before he returned to Gilranean.

"But the Valar will grant you the gift, to say goodbye. I know it is painful for a child to lose their parents and so we shall bless you a few moments to offer him comfort if you wish it. The experience will be painful so the decision is entirely yours. None will hold it against you if you wish to pass instead...Aragorn is stronger than he knows and he though he will bear scars of your passing he will find happiness again."

"No Mandos. I must go to him...please. Any pain is not too great to ease my son's pain if perhaps only a little. I beg you let us part with love not pain." Gilranean requested.

"Very well your request is granted. Awake and bid your son farewell lady Gilranean." Mandos touched her hand and suddenly Gilranean felt a surge of energy flow through her body as she fell away. Suddenly she was overcome with wracking waves of pain and could scarcely remember why she had returned until she heard her son crying and felt his warm tears upon her broken skin.

"Aragorn..." Gilranean whispered scarcely able to form the words upon her dry cracked lips. "My son...do not cry for me."

Aragorn looked up with a start. His eyes were red from overflowing tears still glinting in his pain filled eyes.

"Mama..." He breathed hopefully. "Are you well. I thought...I thought you were gone." The young boy whispered wiping away the wetness on his face as he offered his mother a weak, but brave smile. All would be well so long as his mother still breathed.

"My precious son."

How I wish I could touch him Gilranean thought with longing, but the ropes made it impossible. She could only watch him from afar.

"I must...must leave you now sweet child." Gilranean replied sadly pained that even with saying goodbye she would inevitably cause her child pain.

"No...No mama." Aragorn shook his head in denial. "You can't go mama. I need you. Please don't leave me. I am frightened." Tears started to glisten once more in the trembling boy's eyes as his innocence slowly died away with the light in his mother's eyes.

"Please... do not weep for me... my child. We will be together again... someday. And I...I shall wait for your. Gilranean whispered offering her son a sincere but sad smile. She did not have much time left and she had so much left to say.

"No...you can't go yet mama. Please....daddy will be here soon. He will save us both." Aragorn begged.

"Aragorn...you must lis...listen to me." Gilranean choked out, as the words became more and more difficult to say. A line of blood trickled down her cheek, but she paid it no mind for she could not wipe it away. "You must not...tell anyone your true name...it must be kept...kept a secret...as well as your ma...mark...until the time is right."

"How will I know when the time is right mama? I do not understand." Aragorn asked in confusion.

"Do not worry... you will know... w...when the time is right." Gilranean gasped out her breath getting ragged as she forced air into her lungs.

"I...I love you Aragorn. Always re...remember your father and I will always be with you there...there in your hea...heart if you should ever need us you...you need only look inside and we will be there."

Gilranean looked upon her son once last time and for a brief moment, instead of her young frighten son, before her stood a tall hansom man smiling back at her with merriment in his silver eyes, a crown of gold sparkled upon his head, and a bright glow encompassed his form making him look majestic and powerful. And Gilranean knew the Valar had bestowed one final gift upon her...allowing her to glimpse the man her child would one day become...and the great king he would one day be...

And then the vision was gone and her son returned looking at her with clouded eyes looking troubled and so hopelessly lost.

"I love you too mama." Aragorn cried unable to ease his breaking heart as he watched his mother fading away.

"Thank you." Gilranean breathed out as she closed her eyes and left her mortal existence with a last shuddering breath.

"No........" Aragorn screamed as he felt his mother go limp. "Come back mama...please come back." Aragorn wept pleading, demanding, begging, his mother to return to no avail.

Finally emotionally spent Aragorn knelt at his mother's feet in a puddle of her blood and wept.

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder

As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder

Most of us only care about money makin'

Selfishness got us followin' our own direction

Wrong information always shown by the media

Negative images is the main criteria

Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria

Kids want to act like what they see in the cinema
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

Arathorn followed Gilranean's trail with little trouble and estimated he would catch up with his wife and child within the hour if the Valar were willing. His greatest fear was that the orcs would overwhelm him before he could reach his family and get them to safety.

The ranger touched the hilt of his sword reassuringly. If worse came to worse he would engage the orcs in combat and hopefully buy his family a bit more time to escape. He could only pray it would be enough if it should come to that.

Arathorn continued to follow Gilranean's footsteps deeper into the forest casting a wary eye at his surroundings. The deeper he journeyed the more uneasy he became. Tension crackled in the air and the whole forest seemed strained as though waiting for some devastation to occur at any moment and throw this peaceful world into utter chaos.

Some evil was about. Some evil that his family was walking straight into...

Arathorn could feel his options running short. There were orcs behind him coming ever foreword and now some dark forces ahead of him. He and his family were becoming ensnared in a trap that he feared none of them would escape before this day was through. But he would not give up hope. Only when one began to despair was the battle truly lost.

So Arathorn continued headstrong through the encroaching forest ignoring the warning signals tingling his senses to near distraction. Aragorn and Gilranean could very well be in danger and he would endure some discomfort if that was what it took to keep them safe.

Arathorn glanced down at his wife's trail to ensure he was still traveling in the correct direction when he halted alarmingly in his tracks.

It was no longer a single set of tracks before his observant eyes. But rather several sets of footsteps...and not human. Or elven for that matter.

"No it can't be..." Arathorn whispered with large frightened eyes as he ran his hand carelessly over one of the large footsteps that stood beside the set of footsteps he had become accustomed to following. "Orcs..." Arathorn muttered out in frustration. "They were surrounded...and then taken. But why?" Arathorn talked in jumbled thoughts as he surveyed the ground trying to determine what had occurred.

His wife and child had been suddenly surrounded by orcs. Gilranean's prints became scuffled indicating she had put up a fight...but Arathorn knew he would expect no less from her. She would never sit idly be and allow herself to be taken especially with their son in danger.

Arathorn followed the prints as they took off again going even farther into the woods. He kept his eyes focused on Gilranean's prints trying to ignore the large orc prints surrounding her own. He would make those foul beasts pay if they had hurt his family...the orcs would all taste the steel of his blade before he was through with them. A fierce protective anger burned in the ranger's eyes fueling his body so he felt stronger and more endurant.

But why are Gilranean's prints so light now? Arathorn thought in slight concern. Why wasn't she carrying Aragorn? Where was his son? The ranger felt the pinnings of panic setting to steal away his firm resolve.

What had become of his child?

Suddenly disturbing images flashed through the ranger's mind. He was in a clearing...no a camp site....an orc campsite if the pile of animal and orc bones tossed to in the center of the camp was any indication.

There were orcs ambling about the area none could see the ranger as he viewed the scene with a detached standpoint and so the human was unhindered as he walked freely throughout the campsite.

His eyes led him to the edge of the camp to a large tree. Someone was tied to it... or something. Arathorn couldn't make out quite what the bloodied heap was, but he felt a wave of sympathy for the poor creature.

As Arathorn got closer he gasped as he tried to breathe through suddenly paralyzed lungs...Gilranean.

"NO!" He screamed in a tormented rage as he saw his wife's broken and blooded form. He couldn't tell is she still breathed, but he just seemed to know undeniably that she was dead.

The demons had killed her...cruelly beating her to death. And he would have their blood for it. Arathorn pulled his sword from his sheath and turned with a blood lust to take out every one of the foul beasts. They would pay dearly for what they had done.

Arathorn was immediately stopped in his tracks as he heard a cry wrack the clearing seeming to linger in the air like a sorrowful note of grief. The cry was followed soon after by a scream and Arathorn turned back towards his bound wife.

She lived! Was the first thought that entered Arathorn's mind, but as his eyes fell upon his wife again his hope's cruelly crushed.

She did not move...nor breathe.

It was not her screams that rent the air.

Arathorn looked frantically around at where the scream originated and then there... a figure on the ground at his wife's feet....his son.

Aragorn lay in a crumpled heap lying in a pool of his mother's own blood and not seeming to care. And there was an orc towering over the cowering child carrying a bloody whip in his hand. The orc brought the whip down on the boy's prone back eliciting another heart wrenching scream from the defenseless child. Tell me where your father is boy...where is the heir of Isildur? The orc demanded as he continued to beat the unresponsive child...lost in his own grief and shock.

Arathorn felt his ire rising and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to wretch this cruel orcs head off his body. The ranger stepped angrily foreword blood lust dancing in his eyes and then the image evaporated and he again stood back where he had started.

The human blinked a few times shaking his head to shake off the lingering disorientation the vision had caused. Arathorn was certainly gifted with foresight, but it had always been in the form of intuition...instincts, never a vision. Only a powerful foreshadowing could have led to such an epiphany.

Arathorn set off quickly after his family. He had no more time to spare. His family suffered because of him...those beasts were after him. He would make them pay dearly for the evil they had inflicted on his loved ones. And he would save them in time. Arathorn promised himself firmly. He would not fail. The Valar had given him this vision for a reason...he was meant to rescue his wife and child before the orcs could take their precious lives...even if Arathorn had to die to achieve this end. He would do so gladly and without remorse. As long as Gilranean and Aragorn were safe that was all that mattered now.

Arathorn easily evaded several orc sentries...after all orcs weren't the most highly intelligent creatures much to the ranger's benefit. He figured he was probably getting close to the orc's camp as the number of orc sentries steadily increased.

The human's deductions were proved to as a shout rang out across the forest..

"No." Arathorn whispered mournfully. "I'm too late." The vision had been proved true. He had failed.

Arathorn ran at a breakneck speed towards the ear-bleeding cry of his son finally reaching the outskirts of the orc encampment.

Arathorn quickly scanned the camp praying to the Valar and all that was good that his family still lived. That the vision had not yet come to pass and he could still save them.

The ranger located the all too familiar tree and its bound occupant. It didn't seem real as Arathorn slowly snuck closer and made out the form of his beloved wife bound, broken, and bleeding. Her head hung loosely upon her chest and he knew with deadly certainty his wife was truly gone.

Bitter tears sprang to Arathorn's eyes. He had failed her. He was supposed to protect her. He'd promised to keep her safe when they'd made their vows of union and she'd trusted him. And now he'd broken his promise. Now she was gone. Arathorn felt so hopelessly lost as he bowed his head in shame no longer carrying who saw his mournful tears. All was lost now what did it matter if the orcs spotted him. He deserved death for failing his wife and child...child. Wait Aragorn. Where was Aragorn? In the vision he still lived. Could he still be saved?

Arathorn looked up frantically searching the campsite. There he was his son was crumpled upon the ground seemingly dead if it were not for the tears that periodically dropped from the child's closed lids.

The child unexpectedly spasmed a scream retched from his lips in combination with the rough lap of leather across skin.

Arathorn stared coldly at that all too familiar scene before him. An orc had come up behind his grieving child and smacked the boy with his whip.

"Where is your father...where is the heir of Isildur?" The orc sneered preparing to bring the whip down again at the child's unresponsiveness.

"I'm right here." Arathorn growled angrily as he charged into the camp burning with an uncontrollably impassioned rage. He began hacking at the throng of orcs with a furious skill and speed born over the fierce protection he felt for his son. If it was the last thing he did he would save Aragorn no matter the cost. He would not fail the boy as he had Gilranean.

Young Aragorn came out of his shocked daze as he saw his father come into the camp sword blazing.

Aragorn watched with a detached sense of astonishment as his father slashed and cut through the throng of orcs in what seemed like a perfectly choreographed dance. There was a fire...a power about his father that the young boy had never seen before and it entranced him as he watched the deadly dance play out before him.

But the graceful dance was abruptly cut off as an arrow flashed through the air. Arathorn hearing the deadly projectile turned his head around eyes locking briefly on his son's wide frightened eyes before the arrow entered his eye killing him instantly and sending his body crumpling to the forest floor.

"Daddy...No" Aragorn's cries echoed in Arathorn's ears as he met the blackness and knew no more... Arathorn opened his eyes with a tense hesitance surprised when bring sunlight did not shine insistently upon his eyes. He blinked his eyes a few times before making out the image of a woman leaning over him.

"Gilranean..." He whispered in shocked surprise. "You live." Arathorn replied in awe as he ran his hand gently down her cheek. She looked even more beautiful...more ethereal than he had ever seen her. The ranger could almost swear she even had a faint glow about her.

Gilranean laid her hands upon his own reaching one as it rubbed over her cheek and smiled compassionately down at her husband. "Nay...I do not live...at least not like you think."

"What do you mean?" Arathorn asked confusion crinkling his forehead. He took a hasty glance around and realized they were surrounded by darkness. It was not an evil foreboding darkness, but surprisingly peaceful and reassuring in some strange way. "Where are we? What has happened?" Arathorn begin to throw out questions as his curiosity got the better of him.

"Shh..." Gilranean smiled as she put her finger against her husband's wandering lips, silencing him instantly.

As she helped Arathorn to his feet she began to explain all that had happened. "We are of middle earth no more my love. Our time there is through. We are to journey to the hall of Mandos."

"What...no." Arathorn replied a look of panic on his face. "We can't be dead. Valar no. I have failed you." Arathorn hung his head and fought off more tears. He had failed his wife and also his son. There was no one left to protect the boy and now he would soon join them. At least he hoped it was soon. He did not want his son to suffer needlessly by the hands of those merciless orcs.

Gilranean squeezed her husband's hand in compassion as she let her husband weep unsure how to ease his hurting heart...for hers hurt deeply for her son as well.

A glowing light in Arathorn's peripheral vision sent his head snapping up as he looked to the source of this strange glow.

A man stood before him surrounded by a mighty light, looking at his with a sad smile and wise age-old eyes.

"Mandos..." Arathorn whispered in awe bowing his head in reverence at the Valar before him.

"Why do you cry Arathorn? You have not failed." Mandos replied looking curiously back for an answer and yet seeming to have known the answer all along.

"But I have failed." Arathorn replied hanging his head in shame. "My wife is dead because I could not protect her and now my son will join us. The world of men will be forever broken and there will be no king for Isildur's line is broken. All hope for middle earth is lost. Please forgive me." Arathorn bowed in subjection.

"Rise Arathorn." Mandos replied with authority and yet a gentleness behind his powerful tone.

Arathorn immediately did as he was bid, but still hung his head in shame holding his wife's hand freely accepting the love and comfort she shared with her singular touch.

"Look at me Arathorn...son of Arador." Mandos insisted.

The ranger lifted his eyes and did as he was bade. Waiting for the Valar's condemnation and punishment with trepidation. He had failed the Valar and all of middle earth. He would be forbidden in the halls of Mandos and cast out. He only prayed the Valar would spare his wife and permit her entrance.

"I have no intention of keeping you from my halls." Mandos smiled reading the human's thoughts. "You have earned your rightful place among your forefathers. I tell you Arathorn you did not fail. It was not yours nor Gilranean's destiny to reunite middle earth against the dark forces of Sauron."

"Then who shall... Mandos?" Arathorn asked.

"Can you think of no other Lord Arathorn?"

"Aragorn..." The ranger whispered. "But how. He will be killed. I did not save him."

"Perhaps...perhaps not." Mandos replied mysteriously. "You held the orcs at bay long enough to buy the elves enough time to rescue the boy. Aragorn will be rescued and the line of Isildur will live on." "But what good will it do if he is to be captured and enslaved by the elves once more. He can not fulfil his destiny as a slave." Arathorn insisted.

"It is necessary...to keep him safe. It shall not always be thus."

"Will...will our son ever find happiness?" Gilranean asked hesitantly. "Or is he doomed to live a life of heartbreak and tragedy?"

"He will suffer much hardship...more than most. For the darkness will forever haunt his steps. But I have foreseen great joy for him as well. He will have many friends who will go to Mordor and back with him if he asks of it, and one day perhaps find love..." Mandos answered not elaborating any further than that. "Now come it is time to return to my halls and join your forefathers."

Mandos turned around and begin walking towards a glowing light that eventually engulfed him...Arathorn and Gilranean walked hand in hand following after the Valar. And as the light encompassed Arathorn's and Gilranean's forms they suddenly felt more happiness than they had ever imagined...

Aragorn watched in horror as the arrow took his father's life and sent him crashing to the ground.

An orc kicked his father's prone form over and stared a few minutes at the body before looking up angrily.

"Who killed him? Whose arrow is this?" The orc captain demanded. "The master will not be pleased that we have damaged his prize."

A few orcs pushed a quivering orc foreword who was holding a bow and arrow.

"I...I am sorry. I was aiming...aiming for his shoulder, but he...he moved." The orc cowered in fright before his angry captain.

The orc captain grabbed the sniveling orc underling by the neck forcing his dagger into the orcs chest and up into his heart killing the foul beast before throwing him into the throng of watching orcs.

Immediately after the dead orc hit the ground his companions pounced on him pulling at flesh and bone eating to their heart's content upon their fallen comrade.

"Finish the traitor quickly and drop camp." Gronok growled sourly. "We will take the other one to this master...perhaps the young one will appease him." The orc captain sneered maliciously at the weeping child savoring the boy's pain and grief.

When Aragorn was sure the orcs were too busy to pay him much mind he scooted over to his father's prone body. The boy leaned over his father's disposed body shaking him hesitantly.

"Daddy...wake up daddy. Please don't leave me too. Don't leave me alone. Mama said you'd always be here." Aragorn wept at his father's refusal to respond.

Aragorn curled up by his father's side and silently cried a river of tears as he realized both his parents were gone. He felt so terribly empty and quietly prayed to the Valar to take his life as well so he didn't have to be alone anymore...

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity

Whatever happened to the fairness in equality

Instead in spreading love we're spreading animosity

Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down

There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under

Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

Estel was shaking. No wait someone was shaking him. The boy shook his head trying to clear it as he turned to see what had pulled him from his memories.

Firithgalad was bending over him shaking his roughly by the scruff of his neck sending waves of pain running down his spine.

"You listen to me boy." Firithgalad hissed roughly. "I'd advice you to pay attention boy. You'll live longer."

"I should just kill you, but where would the fun in that be." The elf guard laughed coldly as he watched the boy's eyes widen in fear at the implied statement.

"That's why I thought we could play a little game...you like games don't you?" Firithgalad rubbed his hand slowly down the boy's cheek wiping away the wet salty tears the boy silently wept. The elf guard crouched over the boy a moment longer savoring the boy's fear, feeling the child's rapid heartbeat fluttering in his chest like a trapped bird flapping against the bars of it's cage.

"We're going on a little hunt. Or I should say I'm going on a little hunt. You on the other hand are going to be the prey. Just to make things interesting we'll play with real arrows and everything. Doesn't that sound like fun?" Firithgalad laughed coldly as Estel flinched away pressing himself further back against his tree support trying to get as far away from the insane elf an possible.

"And since you're so keen on escaping this is your big chance." Firithgalad continued undeterred by the boy silently shaking his head from side to side, in complete shock over the pronouncement. "The rules are simply. You get away from me, you're free. No one to stop you. But if I catch you...well lets just say you don't want me to." Firithgalad cackled darkly as he pulled out his hunting dagger, yanked the frightened boy's head up painfully, and ran his knife smoothly acrossed the boy's neck, drawing a thin red line to emphasize the consequences of capture.

The elf guard resheathed his knife in a smooth motion before pushing the boy roughly away sending the child crashing to the ground throwing his weight upon his broken wrist as the boy tried to catch his fall. Estel hissed in pain turning over on his back clutching the throbbing appendage as a wave of dizziness swept over him leaving him feeling nauseous and weak.

"You have one hour and then I come looking for you. Run fast little edain, run very fast." Firithgalad sneered down coldly at the boy before turning away and jumping into the nearest tree vanishing easily into the tree's camouflage.

Estel feeling the dizzy spelling slowly starting to dissipate began to slowly pull himself up using the tree behind him for support. Finally regaining his feet Estel leaned heavily against the standing timber struggling to even out his haggard breathing.

An arrow whizzed through the air moments later, buzzing past Estel's ear, grazing it ever so slightly, before settling snuggly into the tree beside him.

"Didn't I tell you to run boy. Your time's running out." Firithgalad called from somewhere in the dense foliage of the treetops. Estel slowly backed away from the clearing, looking around the forest, but could not find the source of the voice.

The boy continued slowly backing away from the clearing moving deeper and deeper into the forest...

As the clearing disappeared from sight Estel allowed himself a quick gasp of relief before he examined his location. He realized with a growing sense of dread that he was completely lost. He had no idea where he was or where to go...where to run. These woods were a mystery too him and he felt rising panic disrupting his normal heart rate.

The sound of a snapping twig behind him drew Estel's attention. He could see nothing through the thick canopy of nature as he strained his eyes to find the source of the noise. Was it just as animal...or was it...was it Firithgalad?

Estel began to back cautiously away from the sound his body tensed with uncertainty and fear.

As another crackling sound erupted through the forest Estel turned around and began running furiously further into the darkening forest...

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send us some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love
(Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love?)

A rumbling over head shook the earth followed by a down pouring of rain, as though the Valar themselves were crying.

In scarcely minutes the boy was soaked through and shivering from the chill of the coming night, but he continued running certain that stopping would mean his death.

The ground quickly became muddy causing the young boy to fall several times on the slippery earth, but each time he fleetly picked his bleeding broken body up from the forest floor and set off running once more as fast as his legs could carry him.

Before long the boy was marred with numerous scratches and bruises from the undergrowth rubbing against his unprotected skin. His clothing easily caught on the foliage and now lay on his body in tatters, scantly rags now. He tired quickly as his already waning energy was thoroughly depleted till only pure adrenaline alone kept him going.

"I'm coming for you human." An eerily familiar voice called out from the treetops.

Estel swerved around looking frantically among the trees knowing with deadly certainty to whom the voice belonged.

His stomach dropped as he realized he'd been found.

Firithgalad was up there somewhere watching, waiting, playing with him. Despair overran the young boy's heart as he recognized he could not escape. There was no way in his already weakened state he could outrun on elf.

Barely realizing what was happening before it did, an arrow hit Estel in the shoulder sending him crashing to the forest floor.

The pain in the boy's arm sent waves of dizziness washing over him, muddling his mind. And yet Estel found a strange sense of calm only a warrior's spirit possessed. He would not sit here and wait to be slaughtered like an animal.

Putting the pain to the back of his mind. Estel pulled himself up on wavering feet and continued running on with speed born of desperation. He heard a soft plunking sound behind him, of something jumping from the trees and impacting with the ground.

Estel chanced a glance back and made out Firithgalad's swift from following stealthily behind him. The elf was catching up on the wounded boy with graceful ease, a cold confident smile clearly readable upon the warrior's face as he advanced on his prey. Glancing behind him had cost Estel dearly as the mud-slicked ground left him on unsteady footing. The child jerked his whole body around trying to stop the slide, momentarily distracted from his pursuer as he sought furiously to regain his balance.

Thus he was completely caught off guard as a second arrow came slamming into his thigh a few inches above the knee. The force of impact finally overbalanced the wobbling boy so he again fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.

Estel could hear fast approaching steps coming towards him past the ringing in his ears. Normally the steps of an elf were imperceptible, but Firithgalad was purposefully weighing his steps so the boy could hear how close the elf guard was upon him, playing upon the boy's despair and fear.

Estel raised his head that was suddenly feeling very heavy and forced tired eyes opened to look upon his advancing purser.

Firithgalad seeing the child's eyes upon him widened his malicious smile as he slowly unsheathed his dagger. He directed it so it glinted off the fading light making the knife easily recognizable to the boy's eyes.

"It looks like the games up boy. You filthy edain could never match up to the power of an elf. All so weak, so pathetic. And oh how I can't wait to hear you scream when I skin you... alive."

"No...please don't." Estel wept in tears of utter frustration, helplessness, and pain as he dragged himself across the ground leaving a trail of red in his wake before he pushed up against the back of an immovable tree. He leaned heavily against it breathing in labored gasps, his small movement seeming to take the last of his strength.

But Estel kept his gaze level with the advancing elf. Fear shone clearly in the young boy's eyes, but he refused to give Firithgalad the satisfaction of robbing him of his spirit. His parents had always told him to look a problem in the face. Never give up, never back down even in the darkest hour for that was the greatest defeat... when you failed yourself.

"Human's are such strange creatures. One second you're pleading for your pathetic lives and the next you stare back with those defiant eyes. Refuse to admit defeat, admit your weak even to the last."

Firithgalad kneeled by the wounded child running his hunting knife casually down the boy's cheek eliciting a small whimper of fear.

"Please...please don't do this. I'll be good. I won't try to escape again. Please...don't hurt me." Estel sobbed as his hands searched along the forest floor in a frenzied state for some kind of weapon anything to defend himself.

He may not have been the happiest child, but he did not wish to die and certainly not in the way Firithgalad had planned.

"Call me master. Show me you've learned your place and maybe...just maybe I'll be merciful and end your life quickly. I'll simply slit your throat nice, quick, and painless and leave your body for the orcs to find." Firithgalad whispered coldly in the boy's ear causing the child to flinch away.

Estel looked defiantly back at the laughing elf refusing to give into the elf lord's demands. He would rather die than call Firithgalad...master. The elf intended to take his life anyway so if he was destined to die than at least he would not give Firithgalad this single satisfaction.

Estel kept his weary eyes locked on Firithgalad's blade, tremors of fright wracking the poor child's frame as he waited for the slash that would end his life...

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send us some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love

The love, the love

Reviews: I want to first just give a general thanks to everyone who has reviewed my story. I know that reviewing isn't always the most entertaining part of reading a story. I've been a fanfic reader for a few years now and
I know that after you read a story sometime you just don't feel up to reviewing so I appreciate all the willing reader's who have offered their advice and suggestions. I'm not going to become a better reader if I don't know what I've done wrong with a story and what I'm doing write and that is why your feedback is invaluable. You make me a better writer and hopeful in
the process making it more enjoyable for you as well. So thanks and I
appreciate all your comments.

Blue4Dogs: Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. I was very touched that you didn't think I sounded like a beginning writer. Your comment was the first one I received and it immediately inspired me and I started to work on the next chapter right after I read it. As for the "Neigh" "Nay" incident I wish I could just say I'm from Sweden or elvish is my first language and that's how we spell it to prevent myself from too much embarrassment, but unfortunately English is my first and only language. The funny thing is when I wrote that word I was sitting there trying to search my memory banks for how you spell nay and it just didn't process and I ended up with our friendly horse greeting instead. I promise to fix that when I do my editing and I apologize for the error. I hope it at least perhaps brought a bit of amusement when you read it and started wandering why the cast kept talking like horses or something...lol. I also tried to put the correct form of "nay" into this chapter so that's a fun word find you can entertain yourself if you happen to every be so unbelievably bored you can't find anything...and I do mean anything better to do. Lol So thanks again and keep spotting any weird words you happen to find in my story.

KisstheRainGirl12498: I absolutely loved your reviews for both chapters. When you told me your cried I was getting a little teary eyed myself. I love to get such emotional responses because I know I've really reached the reader if I can make you feel the story. I think you might like the flashback in this chapter because it does have some emotional tension. I promise there will be no slash ever in this story so that's nothing to worry about. I do apologize to anyone who might like slash, but I'm keep this baby slash free. And I know you wanted Elrond in the story. I changed my mind and decided not to put him in....just kidding. I swear it was a joke don't flame it. I'm sorry I didn't put him in this chapter, but that darn flash back took up so much space I figured I would post what I have and introduce him in the next chapter. I swear he's one of the main characters in chapter three also. "Elrond" is the first word in chapter three also. So that's something to look foreword to with anticipation =)

Gleogidd: Thank you for your review. I do agree with you that Estel did seem a bit too trusting. I was a bit concerned about their meeting because I felt like I did make Estel seem a little quick to befriend Legolas considering all the abuse he's suffered from elves. I also thought the reverse was true. I wanted Legolas to be a bit more standoffish at first. I immediately made him seem curious about the human when I think it would work better if he wasn't quite so immediately drawn to Estel, but a bit more distant. When I work on editing I will probably touch this scene up a bit and try to define my characters a little better. I loved this comment because I thought you really gave me a deep analysis. You evaluated my characters and have given me some great input. Thank you so much.

Gal: I hope the anticipation for the next chapter wasn't too much. I'm sorry it took so long to post, but I hope it was worth it =)

Nerfenherder: I'm worried about Estel too. But I'm also worried about my mental health. I keep coming up with all these ways to get poor Estel in some form of trouble or another. By the time you finish reading this story your going to wonder how it is humanly possible for Estel to get into trouble in just about every single chapter from crazed elves, to orcs, to himself, etc. It's only gonna get wilder and by the end the question on every one's mind will be how can Estel still be alive after all he's been through.

Eph: I loved it when you said "Eh gads!" I was just cracking up. I was so tempted to have someone in the story say that just because it was so funny. Who knows maybe by the end I'll throw that in somewhere just because it is so an expressive and highly amusing phrase. Thank you for your review and I look foreword to reading more of your input.

Kassio: Your right it definitely wasn't a good move to provoke Firithgalad that way. What was that crazy elf prince thinking? I would think it would be obvious that he would just be getting poor Estel in more trouble...but than again isn't that the point...lol. It wouldn't be any fun if Estel didn't have his very own evil villain chasing him around. And now at least Estel is justified every time he accuses Legolas of getting him into trouble...right? Lol. But don't worry Legolas isn't down and out for the count. I was going to drop him pretty quickly, but then I changed my mind so Legolas will be making regular appearances throughout the story and play a role in helping save the day. Maybe that is...I wouldn't want to give too much away. Wink. Wink.

Grumpy: Oh no it might be too late for Legolas to save the day after reading this chapter. Let's hope someone gets there in time. I'll give you a hint...Gimli is not coming to save the day.

Nina: I'm really glad you liked the background information. I know it's not necessarily the most interesting part of a story, but I think it really sets a mood. I wasn't sure how far off canon and move-verse I was going so I figured I'd give my own interpretation of the events so everyone is on the same page. I added some more background information in this chapter in the form of a flashback and I hope you also found it beneficial. Thank you so much for your review and I look foreword to getting your opinion on this chapter also.

Tung: Thank you. I was aiming to create a story that was a bit different. I didn't want to get caught up in plot loops where I ended up basically telling the same story as somewhere else. I thought this was something that hadn't been too in-depthly before and I thought it would be an interesting new perspective on how everything could have changed...

Sielge: Thank you for your response. I'm sorry it took a bit of time to get

up this chapter, but it is a fifty page chapter so I think I deserve a little more than a week to get it up. I hope you find it as entertaining and look foreword to hearing your thoughts.

Cookie: It was actually just a surprising coincidence that "Okay" was never in the story. I tried to keep my dialogue as contextual as I could and I'm pleased that I did achieve this to some extent. I tried to be especially careful with my dialogue in this previous chapter cause I suddenly felt I had something to live up to now. I would just die if I ended up accidentally sticking okay in there. I almost did in one spot, but fortunately caught it in time. I hope to make this story an okay-free environment, but please forgive me if I fail in my task. I'd be grateful if you point out any modern wording I might accidentally use. Thank you for your review and I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations.

SilverToeKee: I really did think my story was a bit unique and I'm pleased you also thought it was a bit different than the average story. I noticed there was a lot of Legolas slavery type stories. He's always such a perfect slave candidate because he's so innocent looking, but so very defiant. It makes for an interesting scenario. But I felt it was a bit more realistic for the elves to be victorious over the human race. Elves not only have thousands of years of experience on the human race, but they have superior senses and superior maneuverability that makes them ideal fighters. They can easily out last, out run, and out maneuver a human in most cases. And they also have stealth on their side. If the elves had the mentality of the Haradim I think it would logistically be realistic that they would have potentially conquered the human race centuries ago. Fortunately elves are considered a bit more of a peaceful race and don't seek land or riches as much as most races which has kept them in the book verse from taking over middle earth. But I figured that it could easily be conceivable that the king of Mirkwood who is always renown for his bad temper and dislike or humans would begrudge Isildur for not destroying the one ring and lash out. But then I also felt the need to show that not all the creatures of a race would condone that kind of behavior. A lot of writers have talked about the bad relations between Mirkwood and Rivendell because of how they ultimately felt about humans and I thought this was an excellent way to explain why the two kingdoms don't particularly get along well. I haven't figured out how to put it in yet, but my intention is to go so far and imply that Elrond is running an "underground" railroad system to free human slaves from Mirkwood control. That is why Rivendell is known as a place of refuge and also why Rivendell is on such good terms with the rangers who also work to free slaves. So that's how I wanted to spin that all kinda. Thanks again for your insights.

MidnightWolf3: My goal was to make this story very tight. It makes it very time consuming and the chapters are very long, but I think and hope it makes for a better story. I've noticed so writers really seem to jump around in their stories and often leave out scenes that would make the story more enjoyable and I didn't want to fall into that kind of hole. I want to be highly descriptive to really get the reader interested and make sure the story has a good flow to it. I hope I am achieving this goal and continue to do so in the future while still keeping the story interesting and not dull and stagnant which is my biggest concern.

Vanessa: Thanks. I will try my best to post as quickly as I can. Please don't give up on me if I'm a bit slow. I put a lot of time and effort into my writing and I hope it shows and makes the long waits worth it.

Lindahoyland: Thanks Linda. It means a lot to be added to an alert list. It makes me feel special =) I hope you continue to like my story and keep me on your alert list for the whole thing waiting in anticipation for each chapter. =) lol. Thank you for your comments and I hope to keep up the good work.