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Chapter 17: Vision

Legolas was surprised when they were placed in the same cell, it would have made more sense to keep them apart.

His thoughts were quickly put aside when he realized that Aragorn was probably going to have many questions for him, he awaited the moment with dread. When they sat there for nearly an hour without a word being spoken, it was Legolas not Aragorn who asked the first question. "Have you nothing to say Estel?" His voice bordered desperate.

Aragorn had been lost in his own thoughts when Legolas had spoken. He sat staring at the gravelled ground underneath his feet and thought a long time about how he was to respond to that question. When he lifted his head so that his eyes could meet Legolas's, what he saw was fear, and what he felt was disappointment. A part of him knew that Legolas would know. "What would you have me say that you have not already asked of yourself, not already berated yourself for?" He asked Legolas's softly.

Legolas had seen the flicker of disappointment in Aragorn's eyes. "I know that I should have come sooner."

"But you were afraid... are afraid." Aragorn corrected himself. "...because you still hold the same fear in your heart, do you not?

"She would have seen it. She would have seen it, and felt it and turned me away."

Aragorn shook his head. "She is afraid too. You are both as stubborn as ever, in a time and place where it does not belong." He chuckled to ease both of their discomforts. "It is a game you play, she runs away and you brood, I suppose for those who have immortality at their fingertips, it is not such a cumbersome game to play."

Legolas raised his eyebrows, "I brood?"

"In all seriousness, how is she?"

Legolas rested his head against the stone wall behind him and closed his eyes. "She is...sleeping." He opened his eyes. "She is blocking most of her emotions from me." He frowned at that and closed his eyes again to concentrate.

"And your child?"

Legolas shook his head. "Nothing."

His tone of voice lowered. "Is it true then? That you do not want your own child?"

Legolas's eyes opened and became wide as he sat up straight. "Has Aurel said that to you of me?"

Aragorn shook his head. "No. She would never say such a thing. I ask of my own curiosity. There are two times that I know of that you have willingly stayed away from your mate, once was to save yourself, and the second to save her. When you speak of her, you speak of her alone, never of your child. When you sent for news of her in Gondor, you never asked of him."

"I never wanted to write the words."

"Why?"

He thought very carefully on how to answer, but the pain was clearly etched on his face as he spoke them. "I do not ask after our child because I do not care. And even I hurt at saying those harsh words, never mind imagining what they may sound like to another's ears."

"You... do not care?" Aragorn repeated, hoping he had heard differently.

"No I do not."

"How is that possible?"

"It's quite simple. I do not allow myself to care."

"I do not believe you."

"No, none save Aurel would. Hence why she had left me. She knew our child would seek me, and she feared the rejection I would send."

"This is not like you. Why wish for a child then?"

"Because I love her, because I believed I could overcome..." His words broke and his shoulders slumped. "Valar, I was useless even before the wretched shadow of the Easterlings was a threat!"

Aragorn leaned in. "There is no more time for brooding. Your child will soon come, whether you care for him or not. Aurel will need all your strength."

Fear shone in Legolas's eyes.

"What is it you fear, what is it that will not allow you to care for your own child?"

Legolas's memories of his father's cries as his mother was dying came to mind.

"I will tell you." said a voice creeping from the shadows.

Aragorn stood and Legolas remained seated, not surprised that Lachnen had been there listening. "Come out from the shadows." Aragorn's voice commanded.

"Well met Aragorn-King." said Lachnen stepping from the shadows.

It only took Aragorn a small moment to see that he was not human, to see the similarities to Legolas. "You are no Easterling in appearance, and you are no Elf in manners. What are you?"

Lachnen laughed. "My name is Lachnen."

He clutched at the iron bars that separated them."Lachnen. Where is my sister?" asked Aragorn.

"If you refer to Aurel, she is being kept safe. Do not worry." He said in a soothed tone.

"I must be allowed to see to her."

"A matter which has already been discussed and refused."

"Certainly you know what state she is in. She will need someone to care for her."

"She has a carer."

"She will need me."

"And yet in front of me I have an imprisoned king." mocked Lachnen.

"I was raised in the Last homely house, I am skilled in the ways of healing, she will need what she would have been provided with had you not invaded her home."

Lachnen looked over to Legolas who sat there patiently, as if he were alone. "Her husband says nothing of these matters."

"He knows not of these matters. How many husbands would?" said Aragorn trying to get Lachnen's attention.

"He would." emphasized Lachnen. "All too clever a ploy."

"If you wish her to live as much I think you do, you will let me go to her. Or am I mistaken in thinking the reason you keep her alive is so that Legolas will do your bidding?"

Lachnen smiled slowly, keeping his eyes on Legolas as he spoke to Aragorn. "It is quite a bit more complicated than that I am afraid."

Aragorn held on to the bars that separated him from Lachnen. "I must ask again that you permit me to see to her."

Lachnen said no more.

Legolas kept unstirred, staring ahead, ignoring their conversation.

Aragorn turned to him. "Legolas! How is it that you sit there and do nothing!"

He gave out a sad laugh. "I do nothing so that Aurel will not be harmed. Look at me Estel and say again that I truly have done nothing. Aurel may be skilled in hiding her emotions from me, but I am less controlled in that regard, no matter how hard I try." said Legolas flatly while continuing to look straight ahead.

"Legolas knows better." said Lachnen interrupting their discussion.

Legolas felt his hands tighten into fists as he looked towards Lachnen with dark icy eyes. "I may know better, but I am not your dog. If you have nothing useful to say or do, be gone." said Legolas with anger beginning to return to him.

Lachnen smiled.

Legolas pinched the top of his nose and closed his eyes. His breathing became deeper. He began to mutter something in Quenyan, which Aragorn found hard to understand. When he opened his eyes again they were lighter.

"What is this about? Why have you brought war here?" asked Aragorn to Lachnen.

"That is also complicated."

Aragorn's normally calm demeanour left him. "I do not understand!"

"No one asked you to come here, and involve yourself where you did not belong. You are owed no explanations. I came only to meet the great Elessar, and you have not disappointed, unlike your friend sitting beside you. If seeing your sister will put you at ease, I shall allow it, but it will not be now, it will be when I decide, so calm yourself, and sit back down." said Lachnen as he disappeared back into the shadows.

Aragorn felt defeated as he focused his view beyond the bars of their cell, he wanted to be out of the cell, he wanted to see Aurel. When he turned to look at his companion he was even more infuriated than before. Legolas was smiling.

"What is the matter with you?" asked Aragorn sitting back down.

"Aurel is dreaming, her feelings are very refreshing." replied Legolas.

"Who is he Legolas?" asked Aragorn of Lachnen.

"I was sure Eomer-King would have explained when he sent word."

Aragorn waited to hear more from Legolas, and when nothing came he crossed his arms. "Your unhurried demeanour is frustrating. I feel as if I should show you my hand."

Legolas gave a carefree laugh and opened his eyes to look at Aragorn. "Always a true friend indeed!" He continued to laugh a few moments more. "You will have to excuse my unhurried demeanour but I have rarely felt this refreshed, partly because I have been parted from her for so long, partly because she has not slept in many days. Allow me some peace old friend, I am weary."

Aragorn felt a calmness come over him as he gave a soft smile in understanding but still felt just as frustrated. "Peace for now." He replied.

Just as Legolas leaned back to enjoy the feelings he was receiving from Aurel, he jumped onto his feet and clutched the cell bars. "For Valar's sake! They have woken her up!"

Aragorn stood to join him. "What for?"

"I do not know, she has blocked any more thoughts." He tried to slow his breathing, but the feeling she had left him with made him feel as if he was short on air.

"Legolas?" asked Aragorn as he placed his hand on Legolas's shoulder.

He put his head against the bars, feeling the calm through his friend's touch. "I do not recognize myself or my reactions any longer Estel. I am on the very edge of losing control."

"Your are parted from those you love and your kingdom is under attack. I do not know what I myself would be like if I was in your position."

Legolas shook his head. "You would be strong, for I have seen you in my place and marvelled at it."

Aragorn said nothing in return.

Many hours later loud footsteps could be heard as four guards walked towards their cells and unlocked the cell door. Two of them grabbed Aragorn, while the other two grabbed Legolas leading them in different directions. They gave each other one brief glance and that would be the last the two friends would see each other for a long while.

It was a very faint light that covered the stone palace walls. Aragorn observed the intricate Elvish patterns on the walls. He had not been to Eryn Lasgalen for many years and he wondered why he had never observed anything in detail, then he remembered he had never stayed long enough to have made such observations.

He did not ask where he was being taken, or why, he merely went where he was lead.

There was an eerie silence that disturbed him and they stopped in front of two large wooden doors, and knocked on them before entering. The doors opened to reveal a chamber, the lighting inside was better than out in the hallways, and he observed it was because the moon shone through a large window at the outer edge of the chamber. The guards left him, and locked the door behind him. He looked around to find Lachnen sitting in a chair near the window.

"Welcome Aragorn." He said.

Aragorn looked at him closely believing he was seeing Thranduil King before him. He shook his head and looked at Lachnen once more. This time he saw the eyes of an Easterling. "You speak my name as if we were well aquainted."

Lachnen snapped his fingers another door opened that Aragorn was unaware was even there, it was very carefully hidden. Two guards entered, along with a very tired looking Aurel, who at first did not notice that Aragorn was in the room, as she focused on Lachnen.

"I brought you a friend." said Lachnen to Aurel as he pointed at Aragorn.

Aurel turned her head. When her eyes focused on him, she did not believe what she was seeing. She thought that perhaps she was still dreaming. She only stood there and frowned.

"Is he not a friend?" asked Lachnen wondering why she did not respond.

Aragorn walked over to her, noticing that one of her arms was in a sling and took hold of her other hand, then put his other hand to her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

The roughness of his touch reminded her that she was not dreaming. Her eyes left their dream like state and she wrapped her good arm around Aragorn, pressing them together as much as she possibly could. She took his musky smell in to fortify her resolve that she was indeed awake. "Estel." She cooed.

Happy that she was alive and relatively unharmed he smiled and gave a small chuckle. Ignoring that they were not alone in the chamber. "Sister-mother. My heart is happy to see you."

"And mine yours, dear Estel."

Aragorn gently pulled himself away from her and touched the arm in the sling. "What happened?"

"It's broken. A few weeks and it will be fine."

He took his hands and turned her face from side to side, checking for abnormalities, he looked her over entirely, then he kissed the top of her head, and embraced her once again. "I feared for your life. Arwen is worried." He held her protectively, not wanting to let her go.

"I am surprised it is you that stands before me and not her, or Elrohir or Elladan." She jested.

"They would have been here, but you will have to put up with it being just myself."

"You do not understand how good it does me to see you."

Aragorn and Aurel broke their embrace and Lachnen took the opportunity to speak. "And how do you find your sister Aragorn King? To your satisfaction?"

"She has a broken arm, she is weary; that is not to my satisfaction." replied Aragorn.

"Estel. Let us not speak of such things." said Aurel. "Why are you here?"

Before her could answer her question, Lachnen did. "He came here to see with his own eyes that you are alive, and to tend to you should you need it."

"Tend to me?" asked Aurel confused.

"Where are your healers?" asked Aragorn.

"I have not seen them for many days. Why?"

"They should be with you at all times."

"I am fine. I do not need-"

"No Aurel, at least one should be with you at all times."

Lachnen stood from the chair to observe them in more detail, interested in the conversation they were having.

"I do not understand." replied Aurel as she looked into Aragorn's worried eyes.

He took hold of her good hand and gave it a light squeeze, his eyes betraying the silence of his lips.

Aurel took a step back. "What has Arwen seen?" Her face paled as she repeated herself. "What has Arwen seen?"

"Death."

"Of whom? Of me? Of Legolas, of our child? Of whom?" pleaded Aurel.

"You know better than anyone that her visions are only moments of what could be."

"That does not answer my question."

"That is because it cannot be answered."

"But you came because you believed it to me or my child?"

"I came to bring you back to Gondor."

The moment the name Gondor escaped Aragorn's lips Lachnen jumped at Aurel and pulled her towards him, she gasped in surprise at the sudden move as he called at the guards. "Take him."

Aragorn's calm and pacified demeanour left him. "You will not approach her in such a violent manner!" The guards grabbed hold of his arms to restrain him from coming near, but he had no intention of fighting them.

Lachnen paid no attention to Aragorn as he pulled Aurel away through the secret door.

"Hear my words Easterling! If anything should happen to her you will feel the wrath of Gondor! That is something I can promise you aside from you death!" The last thing he heard was the door slam shut as the guards escorted him from the chamber.

He pushed her into Ene. "I am actually starting to question the reason why we are keeping her alive."

"What happened?" asked Ene as she looked at Aurel.

"Aragorn is what happened. Something about a vision of death? Is that what he said to you?" asked a visibly annoyed Lachnen.

Aurel frowned.

"Your sister Arwen would be interesting to meet. Do all your siblings have special skills?"

Aurel eyes turned to steel. "I have more than enough skill with a blade to keep you entertained, perhaps I can show you sometime."

Ene laughed. "Arwen is nothing more than a fortune-teller, less than actually since her marriage to Aragorn. Nothing you should be worried about." She looked at Aurel again and smiled. "You were skilled with a blade though, it was always a beautiful thing for me to watch."

"You never truly saw me wield the blade."

"You forget I was not always under your care, and I did."

"I would like to rest now." said Aurel.

"There is no time for that, I want you to tell me everything about Aragorn." said Lachnen.

"If there is anything you should know, you speak with him." She replied curtly. "I want to rest."

"I will ask you nicely only once."

"You never asked in the first place, and you shall not hear a word from me. Go on break my other arm, or my legs, break my neck, I can tell that is what you wish, but you will not. I know my value, so do your own bidding. I tire of you."

"Be careful Aurel." replied Lachnen.

"Did I not make myself absolutely clear before?" asked Aurel.

Lachnen became so angered he raised his hand to strike her, but not before a large tremor shook the room they were in and knocked them all to the ground. The dust was settling all around them as a guard ran in.

"The palace is under attack my lord!"

Lachnen stood and shook the dust off of him.

"Naneth?" asked Ene as she looked to Aurel.

Aurel lay on the ground not moving.

Ene noticed blood on her hands, something had struck Aurel on her head and the blood was pouring forth. "Naneth!" She tried to wake her, but Aurel just lay there, and both Lachnen and Ene felt a dark hour upon them.