AUTHOR'S NOTE Another chapter! Sorry it's taken so long…real life has been hectic, to say the least. And now it's finally time to bring on the slash! Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER Don't own anyone.

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Obi-Wan waited for Aragorn in Rivendell's entry courtyard. He adjusted the packs laid across the back of a beautiful creature that Aragorn had called a horse. It nickered and pushed its hose gently in Obi-Wan's shoulder. He smiled and stroked its long head.

"It seems you have made a new friend."

Obi-Wan turned to see Legolas standing behind him. He nodded. "It seems I have."

Legolas patted the horse's neck. "Elven horses are good judges of character," he remarked. "And this horse in particular was reared by Glorfindel. He seems especially perceptive."

"Glorfindel raises horses?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Not usually," Legolas said. "But this horse's sire is Asfaloth, Glorfindel's prize horse. He refused to let anyone train him but himself."

Obi-Wan looked into the animal's gentle brown eyes. "What is his name?"

"Norolin. It means fast rider." There was a hidden worry in the Elf prince's voice. "He will carry you safely to Lórien."

Frowning, Obi-Wan said, "You worry for our safety."

"I do not doubt that Aragorn can lead you both to the Wood. But it is a long and dangerous path and Aragorn is one of my closest friends."

The Jedi unconsciously reached for the hilt of his lightsaber hidden under his outer robes. "Do not worry. I have been trained in many forms of defense."

Legolas clasped Obi-Wan's shoulder and Obi-Wan returned the gesture. "Have a safe journey."

"Thank you."

Aragorn joined them then. "Namen lîn thurin o coth lîn, mellon nîn," Legolas said.

They too clasped shoulders. "Hannon le," Aragorn said.

Aragorn led his horse through the arch and onto the path that led away from Rivendell. Obi-Wan and Norolin followed. As they turned left to begin their journey, Obi-Wan heard "We'll miss you, Hyarion!" wafting from Elrond's house.

Beside him, Aragorn smirked. "My brothers have not had this much fun with a guest for a long time. You must have done something to impress them."
Obi-Wan laughed. "They found me sprawled out under a bush. I doubt that's very impressive." His expression turned serious. "They saved my life by bringing me to Rivendell."

"We are all very glad that they did," Aragorn said.

They passed the small, nearly hidden path that led to the wreckage of Obi-Wan's ship. He snuck a quick glance into the trees, hoping that Artoo would be okay in his absence. During the previous night, he had gone to see the droid and tell him of his journey. The comm unit was still not functional, but Artoo was working tirelessly to fix it. With any luck, they would be able to contact Anakin or Bail Organa when Obi-Wan returned from Lórien.

"You are quiet," Aragorn remarked.

"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan said. "I am just thinking of how difficult it is going to be to return home."

"Have faith in Lady Galadriel," Aragorn said. "She is powerful. If anyone can help you to return to your home, she can."

Obi-Wan sighed. He certainly hoped so.

They walked in silence. Finally, Obi-Wan asked, "What was it that Legolas said to you as we left?"

"He was wishing us safe passage," Aragorn said.

"In his native tongue?"

"In Elvish, yes."

Suddenly feeling a strange emotion almost akin to shyness, Obi-Wan asked slowly, "Are you fluent in Elvish?"

Aragorn smiled. "Yes. It comes from being raised by Elves your whole life." Again they were quiet, but the silence was an awkward one.

Finally, Obi-Wan asked, "Would you teach me some?"

"Of course!" Aragorn grinned. "Would you like to learn Sindarin or Quenya?"

"There are two kinds of Elvish?"

Aragorn nodded. "But don't worry. We've got a long journey ahead of us. There is ample time to learn both."

They had long left Rivendell's borders behind. The trees were beginning to thin and the ground grew rockier. Obi-Wan was nervous about the horses' footing, but Norolin and Aragorn's horse seemed to be handling the terrain okay.

"Do the two sound very different?" Obi-Wan asked.

"You tell me," Aragorn said. "This is Sindarin. Aman nalye ne si."

"Aman nalye ne si," Obi-Wan repeated.

Aragorn continued. "And this is Quenya. Anar sila orësse lin."

"Anar sila orësse lin." Obi-Wan was quiet for a minute, getting a feel for the strange words. Then he asked, "What you just said, does it mean the same thing?"

Aragorn shook his head. "No, but they're similar."

When he said nothing more, Obi-Wan asked, "Are you going to tell me what they mean?"

Smugly, Aragorn shook his head. "We will study the two languages until you can translate each. Would you like to start now?"

"Of course!"

The man had to grin at Obi-Wan's eagerness. "The two most important phrases are mae govannen and namaarie."

"Mae govannen," Obi-Wan repeated.

Aragorn nodded. "That is Sindarin for welcome. Namaarie is Quenya for farewell, but only for a long farewell. It is used in parting before long journeys."

"Namaarie."

"Very good. Another important phrase is hannon le – thank you."

Obi-Wan repeated each phrase as Aragorn told them to him. By the time they stopped as the sun was sinking toward the horizon, they had gone over most common greetings and polite responses.

The sun disappeared behind the trees and the air temperature immediately dropped. Obi-Wan drew his cloak around him. He knew that they did not have personal heaters in the packs on the horses. How in the worlds did the people of Arda live without the most basic of technology?

His disbelief grew when he saw Aragorn return from a wooded path and drop a pile of small sticks on the ground. He pulled out a bundle of matches and struck one. Within moments, a small fire crackled in the middle of their campsite.

"How did you get fire from such a simple thing?" Obi-Wan asked. "It's just a stick."

Aragorn frowned. "As much as I enjoy your company, Hyarion, you often say strange things." He saw Obi-Wan flush and quickly added, "I apologize. It just seems strange to me that you are so unaware of the simplest things."

"My home is very different from yours," Obi-Wan said.

"You have said as much on several occasions," Aragorn said. "But only now am I starting to understand how vastly different it must be."

Obi-Wan muttered, "You have no idea."

They sat in silence, Obi-Wan staring deep into the fire and Aragorn intently studying him. He knew that the visitor was harboring a secret so big that even Lord Elrond did not know it. Gandalf had told him as much before they had left for Lórien. If only he could get Obi-Wan to tell him what was going on.

As the sky faded into black and the stars began to shine, Obi-Wan looked up. "Elrond told me of Calima and Galad and Mornië," he said. "Can you point them out to me?"

"Of course." Aragorn got up and sat beside Obi-Wan on the other side of the fire. "Calima," he said, pointing, "is that one just beginning to rise over the Misty Mountains."

It was faint, but it was pulsing, as Obi-Wan knew it always did. There was no question that it was Coruscant.

"And the twin stars?" Obi-Wan asked.

"They are right above us," Aragorn replied.

Obi-Wan saw the bright stars, side by side. One had a purplish hue. He grinned. "The Tatoo system."

Aragorn frowned. "What?"

"Nothing," Obi-Wan said quickly. "What about the Mariner's star?"

"It is just about Calima," Aragorn said.

Obi-Wan squinted at the sky. "I do not see it."

Aragorn leaned closer, trying to get close to Obi-Wan's sight line, and pointed at the sky. "There," he said.

It was there, but it was unlike any star Obi-Wan had ever seen before. Was it possible that the Elves' legends were true?

Suddenly he could feel the warmth of Aragorn's skin next to his. He turned his eyes toward the man beside him. Blue-gray eyes locked with green ones. Then their lips quickly followed and all thoughts of Elvish legend were gone.

…

Elvish (Sindarin) translations

Namen lîn thurin o coth lîn, mellon nîn

May your way be hidden from your enemies, my friend

Hannon le

Thank you

…

The two phrases that Aragorn says to Obi-Wan will remain a mystery until Obi-Wan himself finds out what they mean. …evil grin…