Epilogue: Sufficiently dead
A few decades later
Maybe he should not have left the road, after all. It had been a long and tiring day, finding his way through the forest, the ground covered in mud from the past days rain that had continued as a soft drizzle during most of this day, from early morning on. Still he had deemed it a smart idea to not travel on the open road towards Imladris, although it was paved and easy to navigate. But these were dark times, and a lonesome ranger on foot would be an easy target. Wandering into an Orc infested forest, however, had certainly not been a bright idea.
He knew the pathways and roads like the back of his hand, of course. Roaming this forest in his childhood, alone or with his brothers, days spent hidden underneath the low branches of the trees - although it was dark now he would find his way out. If he'd ever make it to the other side alive, that was, and the three Orcs facing him seemed determined to prevent that. And they weren't the first ones he had met that day. Larger then usual Orcs, dressed in light travel gear, obviously scouting for a larger troup that probably lay hidden somewhere in the woodwork - the signs were not favorable for him. Sighing he gripped his sword tighter and blocked another blow from a crooked blade. For a swift second he thought he heard a strange whistling sound in the trees above him, a movement in the woodwork, but he quickly directed his senses back to the fight at hand. He was far off the well-worn pathways, and even though he was already inside the borders of Imladris chances that any guard or patrol would happen upon him were small. Ducking from a blow directed at his head, now coming from the other side, he hit his direct enemy in the lower leg region and again wished that Orcs weren't so good in making armour. The black metal, covered in spikes was ugly, but working well against his blows. Jumping back onto his feet again he raised his sword to place a well-directed hit against the unprotected neck of the Orc to his left when the soft whistling sound could be heard yet again from the tree directly behind and above him. He almost felt the soft sound rather then heard it, a change of air, and suddenly the biggest Orc in front of him sported a well placed arrow in his throat, dropped his blade and fell to the ground. In a matter of seconds his companions followed his lead, and he was left alone on the small clearing they had been fighting in.
Exhaling a breath he did not remember holding in he lowered his sword and, after a glance over his shoulder revealed nothing about the origin of the arrows, bent over the dead Orc. Long and elegantly carved, the fletching made with feathers in deep burgundy with golden tips, and shot off with such fOrce that the second Orc had almost lost his head at the impact - it was obvious whose arrows these were, even if there had been other creatures in all of Arda that would hide inside a rain drenched tree to shoot arrows at Orcs. But only elfs could be vain enough to care about the feathers on their arrows. Deep burgundy with golden tips! Really. He straightend himself again and examined the trees.
Another rustle in the trees directly above his head, and then the soft sound of someone lightly landing on the ground. He turned around to face a grey hooded figure, soaking wet just like himself, carrying a long bow in one hand. A swift movement of the hand took down the hood, and revealed a mass of golden hair, just as wet as the cloak, and a smiling face. "I see I managed to find you at just the right time. Valar, what made you leave the road? There are no less then three patrols out in this weather to find you, and here you are, trodding through the most Orc-infested woods I've seen in the past month."
Returning the smile Aragorn stepped closer to his former mentor. "You came at the right time, and I thank you for that. But how was I supposed to know that these woods are now littered with Orcs? They used to be safe, safer then the road. But three patrols! I do not remember announcing my arrival." Glorfindel smiled broader, and in elven greeting put a hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him. "Mithrandir betrayed you. We've been expecting you for the past days, but of course did not think that you would travel on foot. The roads have not been save for a while now, and you know your overprotective father." Aragorn repeated the gesture, and to his suprise felt cold mithril underneath the heavy cloak. "Rangers are wont to travel on foot, as you are well aware of. And I see that you anticipated unfriendly encounters, or are you in the habit of riding out fully armoured these days?" The remark managed to draw a soft laugh from the elf. "As I said - your father is getting overprotective. And we might have had a few most unfortunate warg attacks in the last weeks. But this is talk for a later time, preferably one when I am no longer wearing too much wet armour and you have had the hot bath you seem in dire need of. Let us no longer linger here. There was an Orc scout troup setting up camp just north of us, and I do not know if there are more yet to come." Aragorn dropped his hand and nodded. "How many were there?" Sighing Glorindel placed his bow back on his back. "About twenty-five" He shook is wet hair and threw a disfavouring glance towards the sky. "How many are there now?" A short glance at the half-empty quiver on the elfs back prooved that it couldn't be many any more. "None." Aragorn nodded and secured his sword back into its sheath. That would explain the rustle in the forest he had heard a few hours earlier. "Have you been to Mirkwood lately?" It seemed hardly befitting for an Imladris elf to assassinate Orcs from the trees, a tactic well cultivated by the Mirkwood elves living with the constant thread of plundering hoards and other unfriendly creatures infesting their forest. "No, but it seemed the appropriate approach. After all, twenty-five against one would hardly turn into a battle the 'one' could win easily." Aragorn could not do other but agree. Even an accomplished warrior like Glorfindel had to know his limitations. Putting oneself into useless danger was reckless, and, plainly stupid. It seemed that Glorfindel could read his thoughts. "After all I ventured into this forest to see if I could not find you in it, not to find my way back to the Halls of Mandos. I have no intentions to return there prematurely." For a second Aragorn pondered that answer, but before he could say anything he heard a rustle in the woodwork behind Glorfindel, and before he could open his mouth large black Orc broke through the wet leaves onto the clearing they stood on. He was furious, growling and grunting in orcish language, his blade raised, aimed at Glorfindels head. But the elf reacted quickly, and instead of cutting though flesh the blade only met the resistance of another sword. The Orc grunted once more, visibly annoyed that his supposedly easy target would suddenly provide resistance, but before any of the two opponents could move into a duell a sturdy arrow cut through the air and found its way into the Orcs' head. Without a sound the creature toppled backwards, dead before it hit the ground.
Glancing down at the Orc Glorfindel nodded, and with the air of being unimpressed secured his blade into its sheath again. "Well aimed. You prove the exception from the rule that rangers do not fight with bows and arrows." Aragorn lowered his bow. "They can be useful at times." Looking down at the Orc he saw the remains of another arrow stuck in the darkened armour. "I thought there were none left." Glorfindel followed his glance and shrugged. "That is what I thought." Forbidding himself a smile Aragorn nodded gravely. "Let me pass a very important piece of knowledge onto you that I onced learned, long ago. It was very helpful for me and saved my life plenty of times until today." He took a step closer, carefully composing his face into a mask of earnestness. Glorfindel tilted his head in bewilderment. "Yes?" Aragorn straightened his shoulders. "Never claim yourself to be victorious without making sure that your enemy is indeed sufficiently dead." Glorfindel listend and nodded somberly. "You, my friend, had a very wise mentor indeed." Aragorn nodded and padded Glorfindel on the shoulder. "Wise, yes, but you know how these elves are - they cannot keep a straight face for long. They would rather be merry and sing all the time. And the arrows they use these days!"
Enjoying the visible strength Glorfindel needed to keep himself from laughing he stepped back again and continued. "But then I would rather be merry myself, or at least dry and warm. Let us go, and if the bathhouse is still even half as comfortable as I remember it to be, we shall be merry very soon again." Now finally succumbing ot his laughter Glorfindel nodded and pulled up his hood. Together they left the clearing and made their way through the dark and wet woods, carefully avoiding the overgrown creeks and muddy puddles. But although they remained silent through their trek Glorfindel found it difficult not to laugh at the lesson he had just learned from his former charge.
Even as they reached the horses waiting for them at the edge of the forest the smile did not leave his eyes, and as they reached the gates of the hidden valley Aragorn could feel the same smile slowly rising in his chest. Dismounting at the lower courtyard and leaving their horses with the stable guard he felt the relaxing sensation of being safe again. Glorfindel noticed, and softly touched him on the shoulder. "Welcome home, Estel." In reply he only nodded and looked around, taking in the soft lights from the fireplaces, the elegant curved rooftops and soft green hills, the scents and sounds, and the rushing steps of familiar and friendly faces making haste to greet him. Darkness might prevail on the roads and in the forests, and the rain was still falling heavily on their cloaks, but soon they would be warm and dry, and listen to songs and tales. Indeed, he was home. Although he really needed to talk to Glorfindel about these arrows. Tomorrow.
(c) Fayet - 3/2/2013
A/N: Thanks for the Reviews and the "Favorite"-Clicks! I appreciate every feedback I get. I think I might have found a new fondness of Glorfindel and Aragorn, and currently plot another multiple-chapter thing.. maybe. Time will tell!