Note: Usually I would indicate mind speak in italics. However as this story will contain mind speak during flashback I will indicate it in bold.

Athrana (Wandering Shadow)

Chapter 5- Aragorn

TA2957

Estel rode away from Rivendell, alone for the first time. No not Estel he corrected. He was not Estel anymore. Elrond had finally told him who he six years ago. He was Aragorn son of Arathorn, chief of the Dunedain and heir to the throne of Gondor. The only trouble was he didn't want to be Aragorn. He wanted to be Estel again. He wanted to live a quiet and peaceful life in Rivendell with the occasional trip into the wilds with his foster brothers to hunt orcs. That was how it had been for as long as he could remember.

Now though he was off into the world of men. He was going to travel amongst them as Thorongil. He intended to travel to Gondor and to Rohan, but first he was going to meet up with the Dunedain again, this time without the twins. He had learned something about them when he had learned his true name. Why they were so determined that he should fulfil his destiny.

TA2951

Estel sat by the river watching the river flow past. Everything was going to be different now. His thoughts were interrupted by two laughing voices. "Would you look at that Roh? There is a mortal growing on the banks of the river." Estel looked up into the branches of the tree he was leaning against. "Indeed Dan. Maybe he sits there because he cannot climb." With that they jumped down to join him. "I can climb just as well as you can Elrohir. I just choose not to." Elrohir laughed with his mortal kin. "I'm sure you can Estel, you are a wonder of the mortal world" The man's face fell. "Ah. I see" Elladan said leaning back against the bark. "Ada finally told you then." Elrohir produced a bottle of wine. "We thought he might do that today"

The twins sat watching the water and listening to Estel's worries as they drank their wine. "When I told Ada I didn't want to be king he said I had to. He said that you had given up a lot to get me here safely. What did he mean" He was greeted by nothing but silence. He looked between the two faces. "What happened the day I came here?" Elladan shook his head. "We don't want to talk about it Estel." But he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Has it got something to do with why Erestor hates me" Elrohir choked on his wine. "Erestor doesn't hate you" Estel shrugged. "He doesn't like me" The twins were silent for a few moments, and Estel knew they were discussing it.

"Erestor likes you Estel, it's just difficult for him." Estel sat up straighter. "Why? What happened? And what does it have to do with me becoming King of Gondor?"

"Estel, you don't want to hear this. And we don't want to tell you so please don't"

"What happened?"

"Erestor's sister died trying to get you here"

"What?"

"She was with us when we went to get you and your mother"

"She kept the orcs back while we got you to safety"

"And Gondor?"

"If you don't become who you are supposed to Estel, then her death won't mean anything."

Estel sat for a long time after they had gone. There was more to it he knew, but they didn't want to talk about it. They had retreated back to the house eventually making him promise not to ask Erestor about it. Now he sat just staring at the water. He would ask his father about it later. He would hear the full story but until then he was going to just sit here and watch the water.

Estel looked up when he heard singing from the other side of the water. There stood the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. The Evenstar.

Aragorn smiled at the memory of Arwen. She had become his main reason for becoming the man he was. Not his father's expectations, or his brother's, but the promise of Arwen as his wife.

Aragorn slowed as he neared the place he was to meet Halbarad and the rest of the rangers. As he dismounted however he noticed something through the trees. There was a body lying, or at least part of a body, and a lot of blood. As he got closer Aragorn realised, that it was not the blood of a mortal as he had feared but thick dark Orc blood. The thing he had seen from a distance was part of an arm. All around were spread pieces of what he assumed must have been an orc horde. "The shadow has been here" Aragorn spun around to face Halbarad as he inspected the ground. "The shadow?" His friend laughed. "All these years and you have never heard of the shadow." Aragorn scoffed. "You mean those tales the men tell while they sit around the camp fire." Halbarad nodded. "They are more than stories my friend. There is something in these woods. Something that hunts the orc with the ferocity of one of their own. It is always worse closer to the Elven Valley. I do not know why" Aragorn stopped. He had heard something about it before.

TA2951

Estel stood outside of his father's office. He was still giddy from his meeting with Arwen, but he had questions that needed answers. "Enter" Estel walked into the office and sat down across from Elrond. "Ah, Aragorn. What can I do for you" The elf put hid paperwork down and gave the mortal his full attention. "Ada, I asked Elladan and Elrohir about the day I came here like you told me to, but I think they left something out." Elrond raised an eyebrow. "Oh, what makes you say that?" Estel fidgeted on his chair feeling like a child. "They told me about Erestor's sister, that she was killed, but..." Elrond stopped him. "Her name was Athriel." He stood up and walked to the window. "And she wasn't just Erestor's sister. He raised her." Estel joined him looking out at the valley. "She was only four when she came here and your brothers were five." Now Estel began to understand.

"My lord" They turned to see Glorfindel at the door a patrol report in his hand. "Glorfindel, what is it?" Glorfindel walked in handing Elrond the report. Estel continued looking out of the window trying not to eavesdrop

"There have been more bodies found near the border"

"The same as before?"

"Yes orcs, though we can't tell how many. There were so many pieces..."

"Have them cleaned up"

"But Elrond, what do you think is doing it."

"Just have them cleaned up"

Aragorn had always thought that Elrond had known exactly what was causing it. He looked a little closer at the marks on the ground. "Do you see this Halbarad?" he asked. The other ranger nodded. "It looks like footprints, although they are very faint. Unusual in this ground" Aragorn nodded. "That's because they are elven footprints" Halbarad laughed. "Don't be ridiculous Aragorn. An elf wouldn't do this. You know that. Even the Peredhil Twins in their rage would not cause this much damage. These bodies have been ripped apart."

Up in the tree-tops Athrana watched the rangers inspect her handiwork. She would have to be more careful from now on. She had kept herself hidden for too long to be exposed now.