Dinner was very quiet that night, obviously. Nobody really wanted to say anything. Aragorn knew they were all afraid for him. Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir were all thinking about the stakes of the battle they thought was about to take place. Legolas was probably fine-tuning his plan. Aragorn was thinking about… everything.

Yes, there was nothing for Aragorn to tell his family. Right now, the only conversation starters he could think of involved death, Nazgul, and capture. That was not anything he needed to bring up to his foster family. They were worried enough as it was.

But Aragorn was soaking in everything, trying to remember every feature of the table. His food was delicious today. He had never really noticed how fresh the vegetables where, even in winter. Then the bread was fresh out of the oven. He helped himself to a second slice but felt strange under the eyes of his foster father. Elrond had not touched his food.

Aragorn looked into Elrond's eyes, trying to firmly commit the elf lord's face to memory. There was something in the older elf's eyes that Aragorn could not quite identify. It wasn't quite fear. It wasn't quite worry. The eyes were not quite deep in thought. They were not quite love. Maybe it was a mix of all the above?

Elladan was busy digging into his food. Aragorn looked at the elf he considered his older brother. Elladan was helping himself to thirds and even fourths. Aragorn grimaced, but couldn't help smiling a little of the thought. Elladan always ate when he was worried. Aragorn remembered one time when he had gotten sick. His brother was unaccustomed to sickness and nearly got sick himself from eating too much. That was a fun night for their poor father.

Aragorn's eyes turned to Elrohir. The other twin was playing with his food, eating occasionally. The young human could tell Elrond had noticed, but assumed that the elf was in no mood to reprimand his son for now. Usually in a situation like this, Elrond would tell Elrohir to eat more. But now… now was different. Everybody was worried. Aragorn felt upset for worrying everyone, but especially Elrohir. He had a harder time with stress than Elladan did which always made Aragorn guilty.

The twins soon left the table, followed by Elrond. Only Legolas and Aragorn remained.

"Eat up, young human. You will need your strength tonight," said Legolas.

Aragorn nodded and took another bite of his carrots. "It's just that… I feel bad that we're not going to tell anybody…. They should know…."

"They will," Legolas assured the young man. "You will write a note to them about what you are doing and where you are going."

"Where am I going?" asked Aragorn.

Legolas shrugged. "I'm not going to tell you the plan yet. After you write your note."

"Why?"

"We need to make sure he," Legolas said, motioning toward the river, "knows it's genuine. We're going to tell Lord Elrond in the note to make sure he gets it."

Aragorn nodded. "How will that work out?"

Legolas shrugged again. "That will be your father's decision."

Aragorn took another slice of bread and stood up.

"Where are you going?" asked the blonde elf.

"With my father and brothers. I won't be seeing them for… who knows how long." With that, Aragorn walked down the hallway and into Elrond's study to find the three raven-haired elves looking down on something. Three heads popped up when the door opened.

"Estel," said Elrohir.

Aragorn nodded and walked in.

"Battle plans?" he said shortly.

Elrond nodded. "Estel… when he crosses the river…"

"Won't there be a flood?" asked Elladan.

"Yes," said Elrond, "but that won't stop all of them and right now, the Witch-king is very determined. Estel, he will get across. When he does, I want you to remain in here with the door shut.

In the study? "But Lord Elrond…."

"It is the safest place for you, Estel," said Elrohir.

"But there's no way out!" cried Aragorn. He panicked until he remembered that he would not be here for a battle. If it even took place. Then he remembered the plan and panicked more.

"But there's only one way in," Aragorn continued. He needed to keep up the ruse for a few more hours.

"Precisely," said Elrond. "That way there is only one way for anybody to come in so nobody can sneak up behind you."

Aragorn closed his eyes. He needed to lie, but he could not. Not to his family. Not to the family he would only see for a few more hours. "What about you?" he asked.

Elladan grabbed his shoulder and Elrond pointed to a place on the roof. "Here. All of the archers will be here. We can pick off anybody who comes too close for a long time."

"What will be done about him?" whispered Aragorn.

"When he comes in sight, we will ignite our arrows and shoot at him. With any luck, that will drive him back considerably."

"Why can't I stay up with you? It sounds like I'd be safer there." And I could fight, thought Aragorn, but didn't say this out loud. He knew that there was no way he could say that convincingly.

"No, Aragorn," the man looked up when Elrond used his real name. "We don't know what they have with them."

"There could be catapults as far as we know," mumbled Elrohir.

Aragorn looked at the three in shock and sorrow. There might not be a battle, but if there was… if there were catapults….

The man threw aside all dignity and let tears flow freely. He felt Elrond's embrace and each of the twins' hands on his shoulders.

"But I might now see any of you again," he managed to say through the tears. That was the truth.

"I know, Estel. But you will be alright, and that is all that matters. You should go to bed now. You will need strength and a clear head tomorrow. It will be alright, my son," said Elrond, releasing Aragorn.

Aragorn looked up at the three to see tears in all of their eyes. He hugged each, one by one before he went towards the door.

"Aragorn?" said Elrohir. "It will be alright."

Aragorn looked at his brother and tried to nod before closing the door.

"Good-bye," he whispered.

*Hey guys! Sorry for anyone who has been waiting for months for this… I'll just go ahead and put the rest on now  *