Chapter IV: A Dream

"Where are you taking me?" He asked again. A rope bound about his wrists was leading Dolenbor, the other end was being held by one of his captors, the shortest one. His captors had woken him at dawn and rarely said anything except a brief word here and there on their journey. He asked the question every morning they set off, though sometimes they continued all night and all the next day until Dolenbor thought his feet would fall off. By this time, he was not expecting an answer.

"To decide your fate," was Halbarad's answer.

"I never wanted to do this you know," Dolenbor stumbled over a rock. "In fact I didn't even want to be a soldier. My father, he wanted me to be a soldier. It was always his dream to serve Gondor's army but he has a bum leg and couldn't."

"Quiet," said Sparrow and he tugged on the rope.

"What do you want to do?" asked Halbarad.

"Excuse me?" said Dolenbor not thinking he had heard right. The tallest one, who seemed to be the leader, had spoken the least. Never a full sentence and never directed at him.

"I asked you what you wanted to do."

"I always wanted to open a flower shop."

"So why don't you?"

"Being in Gondor's army, I don't exactly have the time for it."

"What about when you are old enough to retire?"

"I had not thought about that, but then I'll be too old to enjoy it."

"I think not. You are never too old to achieve your dreams," said Halbarad and then he said no more until they came to a shallow part of a river with a steep bank on one side. He led the way as they waded across. His heart lightened and became weighed down all at once as soon as he stepped foot on the opposite shore. He had only been here once before and already memories were rushing back to him of that time which seemed so long ago now. Like a dream, it now seemed, but he knew in his heart that the reasons for his visit had been anything but a dream. He still shuddered at the thought of almost losing not only himself but his cousin as well. He had healed their hurts as much as they could, but he was no healer. The place they had been making to was so far off it was quicker to go back and make for Rivendell, though it meant going back over the mountains and they had little to no food. But they made it, he had almost lost his chieftain once in Moria, he was not going to lose him again. He never forgot the look on Master Elrond's face when he saw his son hanging limply against Halbarad who was barely conscious himself. Nor did he forget the frenzies of the elf lord as he quickly mixed an antidote for the beastly stuff Aragorn had been forced to drink.

But he had lost him again. As they recovered, Gandalf came and Aragorn met him for the first time. Aragorn spent much of the rest of their time in Rivendell alone with the wizard. Halbarad wondered what they talked about but Aragorn would not tell him, and when the next year came, he was gone and so was Gandalf without a word. Their leader had just come back into the lives of his people and was gone again. Not even Elrond seemed to know where he had gone to. An unsettling quiet also seemed to have descended upon Elrond. When Aragorn and he were in the same room, after the danger had passed, there was an air of unspoken tension between them, which puzzled Halbarad, for he knew how close they were. What could have happened that would cause such love to be strained? They often looked at each other with a strange detachment. It seemed as if Aragorn wished to say something but could not. Elrond looked at him sadly back at him and when he thought none were looking, like he wanted to hold him in his arms and tell him everything would be all right. At least they still cared for one another. It pained Halbarad to see his cousin out of sorts with the only father he knew. His own father had tried to kill not only himself but Aragorn as well. He often wondered if Aragorn left because of this unknown strife. He asked Aragorn once what it was, but all he got was silence. Halbarad sorely missed Aragorn. His people were beginning to fall apart. Tensions ran high, people were losing hope, and all the while, the darkness seemed to deepen, ever threatening to swallow them up and be forgotten forever. They already were a legend, the only thing to remain was to be forgotten and it seemed many people had already forgotten.

It was very early in the morning and the grey light was just coming up when they reached the bottom of the valley and came to the steps of the entrance to the House. No one was about that they could see or hear. Halbarad lifted his hand to knock on the double doors when one was unlocked and pulled back. The silver haired elf clad in purple robes was surprised to find four humans on the doorstep if the house of Elrond so early in the morning. "Oh, it's you," he frowned at Halbarad not sounding happy in the slightest, yet he swept his eyes over the ranger and said, "At least you are not half dead this time around."

"An elf!" exclaimed Dolenbor. For the third time since he started his mission, he had laid eyes on something he deemed only legend, though he knew they once existed.

The elf opened the other door, "A pet?" he jeered at seeing one of the humans bound.

"A spy," answered Halbarad. "I see you are just as gloomy as ever Celebfán."

"And you are just as smelly."

"Celebfán, where are your manners? Show some hospitality to our guests," another elf gently chided. He was clad in deep burgundy robes with a circlet of silver set upon his head. Lordly he looked and indeed he was Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell.

"My apologies, hir nin. I was just thinking of them tracking mud over the floors after just cleaning it."

"Then I suppose you shall just have to clean it again."

Dolenbor had little time to wonder at the elves before he was led to a small room with a high window too small for a human to fit through, though perhaps an elf might be able to. He was released from his bonds and left in the room alone, a guard stood outside the door. It was perhaps the queerest and yet nicest place he could think to hold a prisoner. He thought it looked more like a small bedroom than a prison cell and it was, for Rivendell had no prison cells. However, one could not leave or enter Imladris without it being known. He sat down on the bed that was against the wall and put his head in his hand wondering what was to become of him. He stood up when the door opened. A young female elf with dark hair entered carrying a tray of warm bread and fruit, along with a bowl of sweet smelling porridge and a cup of fresh spring water. She looked to be about the same age as his own daughter, who was now passed, but it was hard to tell with the ageless elves.

"Will you be wanting to wash when you have broken your fast?" she asked. He nodded and she left the room to fetch something for him to wear and a towel or two. Meanwhile, Halbarad and the master of the house were engaged in deep conversation in a place where they could talk without worrying about being overheard. His companions had been given leave to get some food and rest and to bathe.

"Have you heard any word from Aragorn?" asked Halbarad tentatively after long discussion about the events in Bree, though they had not yet discussed what to do about Dolenbor. Elrond shook his head.

"I have not heard anything either from Gandalf. Aragorn is a grown man and can do as he wishes as I told you in the letter I sent you," was Elrond's answer with a hint of frost that was not lost on Halbarad who scowled and plucked up the courage to ask him the questions that were gnawing at him, even if it meant being impertinent and possibly arousing the elf lord's anger.

"Do you know why he left?"

"I have suspicions, but I will not know until I see him again."

"Will you not care to share them with me?" asked Halbarad. He was growing impatient with this guessing game.

Elrond turned his back to him and said, "They are merely suspicions and have nothing to do with you, he will return when he is ready."

"They have everything to do with me!" he shouted and banged his fist on Elrond's desk. "He's not only my cousin but he's my chieftain! I have a right to know why he has abandoned us. Something has happened between you two that has changed the both of you, though you pretend like nothing happened."

Elrond leaned over the desk till his face was inches from Halbarad's and he saw pain and sorrow in Elrond's eyes. "That is not something for you to hear," he said softly, "and that is not the reason I suspect, though it may be in part." He walked to the door that opened onto a small veranda and gazed out. The door to his study opened and shut and he knew Halbarad had left. "I miss him too," he whispered and then he wept.

Halbarad left without leave, but he cared not. He was thinking of going himself to Gondor, asking Aragorn exactly what in Arda was going on, and why he was in Gondor, if that was indeed where he was, when he saw Gilraen walking down the hall towards him. She gave a start, but calmly collected herself when she realized who it was.

"I thought for a moment…" she trailed off. Halbarad's ire died as he hugged his father's cousin.

"I know, but I have reason to believe he is alive and in Gondor."

"Thank goodness," she pressed her face into his chest.

A murky darkness surrounded him. He could not breathe. Something heavy was bearing down on his lungs. As he tried to take a mouthful of air, water rushed in. He was drowning. Red light flickered above the surface of the water. He struggled to free himself from the timbers that were holding him under. His lungs ached for some air, if he could just- Suddenly he was above the water looking down into it. Ships were burning around him as he caught his breath and then lost it. He saw his chieftain pinned under some wreckage and reaching out to him. Halbarad plunged into the water and began swimming down towards Aragorn. He stretched his arm out to Aragorn but the more he tried to save him, the further and further away he got. Aragorn looked at him sadly and stopped struggling to free himself. He had given up. Halbarad cried out to him. He saw his mother and siblings being slaughtered by orcs. His kin slaughtered. They did not even fight back, the despair in their faces haunted him, the screams of the villagers of Bree were taken over by the horrors the Dúnedain had once protected them from. The Shire became a desolate place full of evil things. An evil king robed in black sat upon the throne of Gondor and enslaved the people. A twisted, vile creature bearing the sign of the Eye. A mere puppet with Sauron pulling the strings. Sauron was risen to power and had taken a new form. He bred orcs by the hundreds and many other vile things.

Halbarad shot up covered in a cold sweat and shuddered. He had had the same dream several nights ago, only this time it was worse. He got out of the bed, his night clothes stuck to him. Not even bothering to put on a robe, he left his room and slipped down the hall to the room where Dolenbor was being held. "I need to speak with the prisoner alone," he spoke to the guard who unlocked the door and waited down the hall at a respectful distance. "Wake up," he shook Dolenbor.

Dolenbor sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, "Have you decided what to do with me?" he asked blearily.

"Shut up and listen!" whispered Halbarad, keeping his mouth close to the Gondorian's ear. "I need you to do something for me for I cannot go myself. You are going to go back to Gondor and find Thorongil. You are to give him this letter, understand? Say what you will to your master, but make sure that letter gets to its intended."

"Thank you for your mercy."

"Think of it as an opportunity to redeem yourself."

"If it's alright with you, I'll return once I deliver this letter. My family is dead, there is nothing to keep me in Gondor and I know Denethor will be displeased with my failure. There's no telling what he may do to me."

"Do as you will. Just get that letter to my cousin at once." Once Dolenbor was dressed, the two darted out the door and down the hall towards the nearest exit. "Halt!" the guard pursuing them cried. The humans made it to the door and had gone out it. The elf swore and was about to call for help, when a gentle voice came from behind him.

"Let them be, Tathar."

"Hir nin, they prisoner is escaping and Halbarad is helping him!"

Lord Elrond went to the door and closed it gently. "I know. It is for the best."

Once Dolenbor was safely on his way back to Gondor, Halbarad returned to Imladris. Once over the borders, he saw that Tathar was waiting for him. He never saw this elf in such a sour mood before. "Careful, ere you turn me into cheese," he said trying to elicit a smile from him. Tathar merely held out Halbarad's cloak and boots. In his haste, he had forgotten to put on shoes. "Lord Elrond wants to see you."

The door of Elrond's study stood open, but no one was there. He found him sitting beside Aragorn's bed, a lone candle sat on the little table next to him. "There are things in this world that can turn your life upside down. What happened between us, we have already discussed with each other. Though not altogether resolved as you can see, and it may never be, but we are working through it. As to his leaving, you would have to ask Aragorn that or Gandalf, wherever he may be, but do not expect a straight answer from him if you find him. Several years ago, I heard Ecthelion was looking for men of worth to enter his service. That was shortly after Aragorn disappeared. I believe he left to help at Gandalf's bidding to lend aid to Ecthelion and perhaps to clear his head. What happened between us shall stay between us, unless he wishes to discuss it with you, but you are not to pressure him." Halbarad nodded and he apologized for losing his temper. "Not completely unwarranted I'll admit. I have not been forthcoming of late for reasons of my own I hope you understand."

"About Dolenbor-"

"He will do whatever you set him about to do, I am sure."

"I had a dream. This is the second time I have had it. There may be nothing to it, but I want to make sure it doesn't."

"And yet one often meets the fate he wishes to avoid by trying to prevent it."

*I am of course referencing not only "Lost Hope" but "Darkness of Moria" as well as Aragorn falling in love with Arwen, which undoubtedly caused some tension between Aragorn and Elrond. There have been many cameos in this story by some of my OC's from "Lost Hope".

Hypothetical Question:(your answeres will help determine next chapter) If Aragorn were to take the throne while under guise of Thorongil or a few years later (say shortly after the death of Ecthelion)..Would Denethor step aside OR would hestand against him?