The War of Light and Shadow
By Freddie23
OIOIOIOI
Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.
A/N: Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews! So many! Love it.
Manwatheil, to answer your question: this story is (massively) AU but it takes place when Aragorn is a younger man so technically before Tolkien's Lord of the Rings takes place (because Aragorn is eighty-something in the books). Things have been moved about though – so people who shouldn't be alive when Aragorn was a boy are (you'll see what I mean in later chapters). I thought a little flexibility with timelines was necessary to complete this story! Hope that clears things up for you.
OIOIOIOIOIOI
Chapter 19 – Home of the Free and the Just
PREVIOUSLY…
Slowly, they made their way along the front of the house towards the side, where Legolas recalled there being another, smaller entrance.
Whilst Aragorn's continued amazement kept his gaze focused firmly on the vast house as they walked around it, Legolas kept his eyes firmly averted. He didn't want to see any more than he absolutely had to. Too much pain permeated the air around the house; there was no point in adding to his own discomfort unnecessarily.
"Look at that," Aragorn sharply said, nudging Legolas' elbow to gain his attention.
When Legolas looked up, following Aragorn's line of sight, he saw a dim orange light shining from behind a grimy window. Feeling his breath catch in his throat, the Elf squinted up at the soft glow. Firelight, perhaps, or a lamp or candle; he wasn't sure which. But the only thing that really mattered was what this meant: life. There was life in Rivendell after all.
OIOI
With his aching heart striking his chest with, perhaps dangerous, renewed excitement, Legolas told Aragorn, "There is another door a little way down. Let's go."
Aragorn followed close behind his Elven guardian as Legolas moved with renewed confidence towards their destination. Whilst Legolas seemed cheered, if not a little cautiously, by the prospect of there being other living people within the Last Homely House, it troubled Aragorn deeply. And it was not merely the thought that those people might well be unfriendly, which was more than likely if past experience was to be taken into consideration, but the very possibility that he would get to meet other people – perhaps even others like Legolas, Elves, was worrying. The only other good people he'd ever met were the Rangers he and his father had travelled with and that had been many years ago. Everyone else since his meeting Legolas had been intent on causing them pain or destroying them entirely. He'd had no experience in interacting with 'non-demented', normal people and the possibility that they were like his awkward, uncommunicative mentor made Aragorn even less comfortable. He loved Legolas like a brother and respected him greatly but the Elf had never been the easiest person to talk to, to be around and Aragorn had no idea whether his surviving kin would be any more forthcoming.
As they walked slowly and with some care around the dark House of Elrond, Aragorn looked around himself, taking a moment to digest his second experience of an Elven kingdom. It seemed far smaller than Lothlorien, a lot less grand than the other realm they had visited. It lacked the immediate sense of grandeur he had felt when Legolas had shown him Caras Galadhon.
Mist rose around the foundations and gardens surrounding the House, whipping around the wooden structure, giving the whole place a rather oddly mystical feel. Even so, Aragorn could make out unusual stone statues surrounding the House itself, ghostly images of weeping women, eerie stone Men looking upward to the heavens. Although shrouded in mist and marginally eroded over time exposed to the elements, Aragorn found them enchantingly beautiful to look at. He wondered if maybe they held special significance beyond simply being splendid to look at.
Despite the beauty though, the statues also looked so terribly sad. Monuments to what once was in this wondrous land.
Legolas paid no attention to his surroundings. In fact, he purposefully ignored looking at anything but the bare path ahead him.
"Right here," Legolas said in a whisper, stopping to point towards a rotten wooden door.
Keeping his voice quiet to match his mentor's, Aragorn complained, "It looks just as bad as the other one."
In the dark, Legolas smiled at him and stepped to the door, laying his hand on the rusted handle. It took only one hard yank to pull the door open, although the warped wood protested at being moved after so many years closed tight against the world.
"Oh," Aragorn muttered to himself as he stepped closer to Legolas. "Why couldn't we have done that around the front?"
"It is less conspicuous here."
"There is no one around to see us," Aragorn pointed out, glancing left then right in confirmation that they were indeed alone.
Ignoring him, Legolas continued on with his explanation. "Besides, the front doors of the House would have been shut tight during the attacks on Rivendell. Side doors would be used to allow people to escape the House during the siege; they're less noticeable and thus less firmly barricaded."
"Alright," Aragorn sighed, wishing now that he hadn't said anything in the first place to irk his guardian.
Legolas peered through the doorway but the thick darkness within prevented him from seeing much at all inside. Leaning back out, he swung his bag off one shoulder, opened it and slowly pulled out his knives.
"We're going in armed?" Aragorn asked in confusion, lowering his voice further now that he knew that Legolas was worried. Considering the Elf had declared this to be a place of safety and seemed to trust those who dwelt within, Aragorn found it odd that he would think it necessary to be armed when they entered the so called haven.
"Better safe than sorry," Legolas reasoned with a shrug.
Aragorn decided that, although his guardian's reasoning was still strange, this seemed like a wise adage and so drew out his own weapons.
"Are you ready?"
"Of course," the man smiled at Legolas, cheered by Legolas' newly confident air.
Nevertheless, caution was still appropriate so he followed the Elf over the threshold into the mysterious House of Elrond. The hall they entered was too dark to make out much of anything but Aragorn felt the difference right away.
Beneath his feet was perfectly polished stone, the finest quality, he imagined, his footsteps echoed loudly around, suggesting the room they had entered was absolutely huge. The air remained cold but it seemed perfectly dry inside, not plagued by leaks or damp in spite of the cracked facia apparent from the outside. Perhaps the building was not quite as dilapidated as appearances initially suggested. Perhaps it was being maintained by whoever lived here now. But that still didn't mean that the two visitors would necessarily be made welcome. People in possession of an intact grand home like this would surely not wish to share it with outsiders.
"Door," Legolas hissed at the distracted young man.
Snapping from his musings, Aragorn turned back and quietly shut the door behind him.
Together, they moved slowly across the room, Aragorn sticking close to Legolas, who thankfully seemed to be able to navigate himself perfectly well in the thick darkness. And, whilst the man's footfalls sounded loud in the silence of the big room, Legolas' were near silent. However, Aragorn could tell that the Elf was highly alert to every other sound around him.
"Through here," Legolas whispered, leading Aragorn through an open door into a long hallway. "I think we should go this way."
"Toward the light? Is that wise?"
"One way or another, we have to find the people who are residing here. Heading towards the light is the most sensible place to go."
"I suppose," the man said with a sigh, moving after his mentor. "But don't you think a more roundabout route would be a better idea?"
"No."
Conversation ended, Legolas started walking again in their – or his – chosen direction and Aragorn had no choice but to shrug and follow behind him.
They passed multiple rooms with open doors as they walked warily along the lengthy hall but no other light source came from any of them. It seemed that this one flickering light towards which they were headed was the only one in all of Imladris - a sad statement to be made considering that once thousands of Elves would have been bustling around these hallways and around the town below. It did at least make it easy to find the source of the light in the darkness though.
The orange candlelight shone through one particular door, left open only a crack. Gripping their weapons tightly and tensing in preparation for a fight, Legolas used his foot to push the door open cautiously, and then stepped inside, immediately looking around the room. It appeared to be vacant, although it remained neatly furnished and cleaned; someone had been here recently. They searched it just to be certain that no surprises lurked inside. Whilst Aragorn searched – unnecessarily – inside cupboards, Legolas went to the window, towards the light: a single candle burning against a black back-drop.
As he reached out a long finger to touch the pale, flickering flame of the candle, an odd sensation pricked at him and even though nothing disturbed his other senses, he adjusted his knife, ready to strike.
"Please don't touch that."
Legolas whirled sharply towards the sound of the voice, that achingly familiar voice seemingly so loud against the general backdrop of silence. The tall, lithe figure was shrouded in shadow but Legolas did not need visual confirmation to identify the person who now stood in the doorway.
From the corner of his eye, Legolas saw his young human charge go to rush at the shadowy figure defensively, his sword raised ready for the attack.
"Aragorn, no!" Legolas commanded firmly, stopping the understandably stunned man abruptly in his tracks.
Looking from his guardian then towards the dark figure and back, Aragorn, confused as to why Legolas would not want to defend himself against the unknown, asked, "Why not?" keeping a wary eye on the dark figure, who'd not moved so much as an inch in the face of potential attack.
For a long moment, Legolas stared with dark intensity at the doorway and the person stood in it. When he did answer, it was quietly, softly. "Because he's a friend. He means us no harm."
Shuffling warily closer to Legolas, sword still held high ready for an attack even if his guardian refused to be, the young man ground out, "How do you know?"
This time, Legolas did not offer an answer to his nervous ward, just continued to watch the strange person stood in the doorway with a steady gaze. And the enigmatic figure stared steadily back through the soft light of the candle, dark eyes unblinking as he looked upon the intruders.
Aragorn stood bewildered as the two beings stared for a long time at each other, neither speaking or even moving. He did not understand. Much to his surprise though, it was the stranger and not Legolas who at last took control and broke the tense silence.
Not at all threatened in the face of Aragorn's still raised weapon, the tall being stepped towards them, closer to the light emitting from the small candle on the window sill.
"Welcome."
In response, Legolas just nodded shortly once. Aragorn was quite surprised to see that under the close scrutiny of the strange, grey eyes of the heavily accented stranger, Legolas shrank into himself, became passive, almost nervous. Aragorn wasn't used to seeing his mentor thus and felt disconcerted by it. But all the same he took Legolas' example and remained silent and unmoving in the face of the stranger.
Instead, the man took the opportunity to openly examine the seemingly sole occupant of the great house. He stood taller than Legolas and certainly felt far more imposing, which in Aragorn's eyes was quite a feat. Dark, raven hair hanging down over his shoulders shimmered in the soft orange glow of the candlelight. Grey eyes glittered with no hint of anger or menace as they gazed unflinchingly at the man and Elf intruding upon his home.
Despite getting no response, the stranger continued on.
"I am the warden of this house. Do you need shelter?"
The question was asked genuinely but Legolas merely swallowed thickly, unable to form a response through the thick lump in his throat. Aragorn looked up at his mentor but Legolas ignored his questioning gaze. He seemed frozen to the spot, paralysed by the encounter.
Deciding that this stranger's patience could soon begin to run thin at their continued lack of answers, Aragorn said, "Uh, yes, please."
The tall, lithe creature nodded sincerely, gracefully moving his hands to clasp them in front of him as he asked, "Do you two have names?" When Aragorn hesitated, uncertain as to whether he should disclose their true names to this stranger without really knowing yet whether he was friend or foe, the elegant being spread his hands before him in surrender and reassured, "I would understand if you do not wish to confide them."
Aragorn felt oddly comforted by the words as the being spoke. The voice was kindly, heavily accented but by no means unpleasant to listen to, indeed it was far more mellow than even Legolas'. So, he answered the question truthfully, "I am Aragorn and this is…"
"Hello, Erestor."
Aragorn startled as Legolas addressed the being personally. And the stranger – although apparently not a stranger to Legolas, who had obviously addressed him by name – also cocked his head in surprise at hearing his name being spoken.
"Do I know you, friend?" the being, Erestor according to Legolas, asked after taking a moment to recover himself.
Suddenly, Legolas switched to a tongue that Aragorn had never heard before, although the sound of it was magnificently beautiful to his ears despite his lack of understanding. "You don't remember me, after all my years of visiting here?"
It didn't seem possible in Aragorn's eyes for the dark being to look any more stunned and yet somehow he managed it when he heard the language, which he obviously also spoke, spill from Legolas' lips.
And yet he responded in an identical tongue. "Forgive me. I'm afraid you will need to remind me."
Legolas smiled softly and took a step towards the being. Still baffled and clueless as to the meaning of the unusual words being spoken around him, Aragorn remained where he was, simply letting this strange scene play out.
However, this time, Aragorn's mentor responded in the Common Tongue. "It is I, Erestor. Legolas."
For a long moment, Erestor stared at them in astonishment, his eyes roving over Legolas curiously, weighing up whether or not to believe the claim of his identity.
"Legolas?" Now, the kindly voice was sharper, distrustful.
"Yes."
The tension in the room grew almost unbearable as the two Elves stared each other down and Aragorn uselessly shifted on his feet simply for something to do. All of this was horribly confusing. Obviously, Legolas knew this person, although as of yet he could not tell whether they were friends or old enemies.
After a long moment, the taller of the two took another step forward, coming fully into the soft sphere of candlelight with a soft smile now on his lips. He laid a delicate hand on his chest then extended the gesture towards Legolas and his human companion.
"Welcome, Legolas," Erestor offered. "And welcome also Aragorn."
Now, Legolas relaxed completely and a smile appeared on his own face and he echoed Erestor's movement – perhaps a greeting of some kind, Aragorn thought.
"Please, come," Erestor said, stepping back towards the door and indicating that they should follow.
Aragorn was not going to simply follow the Elf without Legolas' say so and he looked up to his mentor for guidance. Unfazed by the nervousness in the air, Legolas just nodded to his charge. So Aragorn walked after the tall, dark Elf, comforted by Legolas' hand on his shoulder. His mentor could easily sense Aragorn's unease and sought to alleviate his worries.
They walked steadily along the dark corridors, Legolas and Aragorn following as Erestor led them in comfortable silence. There would be time for questions later. And Legolas had plenty in mind.
Eventually, they came to a small hall - wood-panelled, windows all boarded-up, but lit by copious candlelight. It appeared that this was the room where Erestor resided, as there was a mattress, made up neatly with clean bedding, and various other home comforts in the room. With a fire burning in the hearth, the place looked positively homely.
As Legolas and Aragorn stood uncertainly in the doorway, taking in the sight of the unusual room, Erestor went to a table near where his bedding had been placed.
Reaching for a silver pitcher placed on the table, Erestor said, "You must be hungry and thirsty." He poured fresh, clear water into two goblets then carried them to his guests, who took them without protest. "Please come inside," Erestor invited, moving into the cosy room again.
This time, Legolas moved with him and, of course, Aragorn did the same, trusting Legolas' decision even if he didn't entirely trust Erestor just yet.
As he slowly moved around the room, Legolas asked, "You live here?"
"Yes," Erestor smiled benignly, his hands once more neatly clasped in front of him.
"Alone?" Legolas' eyes flickered over to the other Elf.
"I am alone now, yes."
Despite his heart sinking at this news, Legolas nodded sincerely. "People pass through Imladris often?"
"Very occasionally now, I fear."
"And the candle?"
Erestor gave a short laugh and lowered his eyes in near embarrassment. "A foolish hope that it may serve as a beacon to the lost and hopeless," he explained softly. "I had thought that perhaps it no longer served a purpose." A soft smile made his eyes sparkle as he looked back up to Legolas. "Although if it guided you home, friend, then I consider it a resounding success after all."
Legolas returned the smile, meeting soft grey eyes for the first time. The relative peace that had now settled between them was interrupted when, at Legolas' side, Aragorn conspicuously cleared his throat, having not yet been introduced properly to the dark Elf and feeling rather left out.
Realising that the two Elves had unknowingly slipped back into their native tongue once more and the man had absolutely no chance of understanding it, Legolas turned to him and smiled apologetically. "Forgive me."
This alerted Erestor's attention to Legolas' companion and his grey gaze shifted down to the boy.
In the Common Tongue, he asked, "He is a Human child?"
"Not a child," Aragorn protested defensively, trying to make himself appear taller before the two Elves. It was all for nothing though as Legolas smiled at him and affectionately ruffled his hair, very much in the manner of an adult to a wayward child. "Get off."
"Aragorn is my ward," Legolas explained to the other Elf, laying his hand against Aragorn's back.
"Your ward?" Erestor repeated the words in surprise.
"Yes."
"You surprise me." The Legolas that Erestor had known previously, the Legolas who had grown up under the smothering cloak of his father's dislike of any other culture besides that of his own, would never have deigned to travel with a human companion at his side. Frowning, Erestor let his eyes roam over Legolas once again. "You have changed a great deal."
"Many things have changed of late," Legolas told him softly. Then, glancing almost forlornly to Aragorn, he added, "However could they not?"
"Indeed." Once more, a thoughtful silence descended between the pair and Aragorn felt like rolling his eyes in frustration. How on earth, he wondered, did the Elves ever get anything done if they spent so many silent minutes weighing each other up? "Well, I'm sure you are both in great need of rest. I shall get you something to eat whilst you get cleaned up – if you wish that is. There is a bathroom just through there," he pointed towards a door on the far side of the room. "I'll be back in a moment."
With that, Erestor left them alone.
Finally alone with his guardian, Aragorn laid his still full goblet down on the table and asked Legolas, "You know him?"
"Yes, he was the Major Domo in this house."
"What is a Major Domo?"
"Like a head housekeeper and advisor."
"Oh. He's a little strange."
Legolas chuckled gently to himself and agreed, "Yes, to you, perhaps."
"Are all Elves like that?"
"Like what?"
"Aloof," Aragorn said the word pointedly, which made his guardian laugh again.
"Well, you've met two now; what do you think?" Now Aragorn just smiled at him, deciding that it was best not to irritate Legolas right then, especially seeing as his mood had improved considerably since meeting the other Elf. "Alright then. Go and wash up."
More seriously now, Aragorn whispered, "Are you sure he can be trusted?"
"I am sure."
"As long as you trust him, it's good enough for me," Aragorn decided with a shrug, going towards the bathroom.
Leaving the door open a crack so he could get easy access to his guardian should he need to, Aragorn removed his jacket then stripped off his filthy clothing, looking around for the bowl of water that he had expected as had been available to him in Lothlorien.
Finding no water with which to wash, Aragorn poked his head around the door and called, "Legolas? There is no water."
The Elf joined him in the bathroom, stepping over his discarded clothes and looked around in the same manner as the man had. Then he looked to the bathtub, finding it actually clean compared to the layers of dust in the washbasin. He went to the tub and turned the tap. Water at first dribbled and then gushed freely from the faucet, making Aragorn startle. Never in his life had he seen water pour forth from metal on command. He jumped once again when a rumbling sound resounded all around them.
"What is that?" the young man demanded of his mentor and tutor.
"Relax. It's just the hot water moving through the pipes."
Tentatively, Aragorn placed his fingers under the flow of warm water coming from the tap then asked in wonder as he pulled back, "How is that possible?"
Legolas turned the water off then patted Aragorn on the back. "I'll explain later. Climb in and wash yourself up."
Warm water was by no means a novelty to Aragorn. Whenever possible, they would build a fire and boil water over it in which to wash, but that was a long process that it seemed Legolas preferred to avoid if he at all could. But water that flowed clear and freely, heated almost instantly, to Aragorn was little short of a miracle. He could not understand how it was possible. Perhaps, he mused as he climbed into the tub of warm water, Elven realms really were magical and Legolas had been holding out on him all this time.
Being entirely submerged in the blissfully warm, clean water was not an experience he had ever had before and he found it to be wonderfully pleasant. The warmth made his fingers and toes tingle as it melted away the chill. Sinking further down into the tub, Aragorn released a sigh and closed his eyes.
Perhaps, he conceded, coming to Rivendell was not such a bad idea after all.
To Be Continued…