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At Hope's Edge by Cairistiona	378 Review(s)
Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 12/31/2025
Aragorn swung his legs over the side of the bed and positioned his arm carefully in the sling Elrond had insisted he use until his arm fully healed. Halbarad and I make a matched set, he thought ruefully. lol very cute <3 He shoved the blanket away from him and, eyeing a small book on the shelf by the fireplace that he wanted to read, slowly eased himself to his feet. He felt shaky, and for a brief moment his eyesight dimmed but only in the way that it does when one has been squatting at length and then stands too quickly. A few blinks and his sight returned. He smiled grimly. He was ready. His goal: the book, then the chair by the fireplace. He was tired of reading in bed. He was tired of eating in bed, of sleeping in bed. He was tired of being in bed. It was time for a change of scenery. Hmm let’s see if this works I think it actually might Hes so cute going OKAY I HAVE A GOAL I WILL REACH THE BOOK AND THE CHAIR >:) He took a deep breath and then a step, and then in short order several more. Not a twinge from his ankle; it had finally healed, as well it should, with all this bedrest. Yayyy He was feeling ridiculously pleased with his progress Loll see hes so cute when the room suddenly took a slanting dive to the left and then a swoop back to the right. Ooooh yes yes good He thrust his good hand out and grabbed at the back of the chair and braced himself as he waited for things to settle back in place. Little lights popped at the edge of his sight. Valar, do not let me faint! After a long, scary moment where he felt hot, then cold, then hot again, and icy sweat broke out on his brow, things did indeed settle down. Eeeee yes I love the temperature flashes coming with the near faint Moving more slowly this time, he eased himself around the chair until he could grasp the fireplace mantel. That accomplished, he crept sideways, feeling far too much like a toddling infant pulling himself along a cot, until he was within arm’s length of the shelf. He snatched the book from the shelf, and promptly dropped it and with his clumsy grab for it succeeded only in knocking to the floor the eagle feather, the rock and everything else on the shelf. Yessss good job XD <33 I love the clumsiness Uttering a wordless growl, he slowly bent down and retrieved the book, then, without bothering to straighten back up or pick up the rest, he fumbled for the chair and pulled himself into it, gasping and trembling and cursing his weakness. SKAJDJ LOVE gasping and trembling Leaving everything else on the floor, good You should not attempt to bother with it Anyways…he…sort of? Succeeded? He was still sitting, eyes shut, head spinning, the book closed on his lap, when a knock came. He took one last deep breath and mopped his sweaty forehead against his sleeve. He fumbled to get the book open one-handed. “Come,” he said. YESS GOOD A KNOCK SOMEONE WILL SEE HIS FOOLISHNESS also yes the still sitting there eyes shut, book sitting there but rather ignored while his head still spins <3 I have the feeling I’ve done something like this before lol? Like the yay I got the thing but it’s abandoned while I wait to stop feeling like I’m going to throw up or something Trying to mop his sweaty forehead Oh yeah and he did that all one-armed really, no wonder he was so clumsy Elrond entered. “Estel! What are you doing out of bed?” HI ELROND <333 “I thought I might read for a bit.” He turned a page, acting as nonchalant as he could considering he could not seem to focus his eyes on the words. He prayed Elrond did not see how his hands trembled. Lolllll how I love this. And how it seems he’s been reading fine but…after a trip across the room, his eyes won’t focus on the words. And his hands trembling yessss my favorite Mm yes turn a page pretend you had just finished that one Elrond’s eyes trailed across the room to the now empty shelf, taking in the items on the floor and then to the book in Aragorn’s lap. “The book is upside down.” SKASJFKFKSKSKDKDJDJS CACKLING LEGIT CACKLING so perfect Also I love him seeing all the things obviously knocked to the floor. And then just ending with. Aragorn hurriedly tried to right the book but it slid from his grasp. Skajdjf as if righting it will help his case Yesss it falling instead Elrond bent and retrieved it, placing it on the night stand. Aww picking it up for him <3 And then putting it where he can reach it FROM THE BED loll “Your impatience has gotten the better of you. You have only been fully awake for two days, and you are not yet ready for any sort of rambling, even if only across the room. Let me help you back to bed, young one.” ASKDJFJD “young one” <33333 makes me happy Also TWO DAYS? My boy. That is. Not long at all. “I am tired of staying in bed,” Aragorn grumbled, immediately cringing as he realized how petulant that sounded. “Forgive me, Adar. I did not mean to complain. I am just frustrated at how slowly my strength is coming back. A long convalescence is simply not something to which I am well accustomed.” Aww <33 immediately being like sorry for grumblingggg Yes and never do you let yourself even if you need it “Rare indeed is it for you to be in such shape, and for that I am very thankful,” Elrond said as he helped Aragorn stand. “But this has been no ordinary wound, and no ordinary illness. It will take time.” Indeed <333 And <3 helping him stand and supporting him back to bed Aragorn lowered himself to the bed and suffered to let Elrond lift his legs and swing them to the bed. “How long?” Yesss Elrond lifting his legs and things I love very much “As I’ve told you, as long as it takes.” At Aragorn’s glare, he added, as he pulled the blankets over him, “You keep asking but I honestly cannot tell you, Estel. It will depend on so many things, not least of which is that you do not push yourself too soon. It has only been two days.” “Point taken.” Yess hes like I’m sorry but I’m really not trying to be cryptic. I just do not know. Aw tucking him back in <3 “If you rest and eat well, I would say you might expect to be on your feet in another day or so.” “That does not sound too bad.” <33 yay Elrond smiled. “On your feet. But not on your horse heading for the Wilds, nor probably even into the hallway. Your stamina, as legendary as it is, has been utterly drained, Estel. It will take many weeks to regain what you have lost.” Yayyyy still only as far as the fireplace. Yessss as legendary as it is (I love that it is, it should be, it is impressive indeed) has been utterly drained YES THANK YOU <3 it has indeed Aragorn shut his eyes. “Weeks. You are as gloomy about my prospects as Halbarad. Ada, I do not have weeks. My people will need me well before then. They need me now.” Ada <3 Shutting his eyes in despair “The best thing you can do for your people is rest,” Elrond said rather archly. “Do not fret. They have at whiles in the past gotten along just fine without you; they will again now.” Yessss rather archly lol VERY TRUE it is the best thing he can do “So now you tell me I am not needed,” Aragorn grumbled, refusing to be comforted. “I think you know better than that.” “Yes,” Aragorn sighed. “I hate being helpless.” <33 aww poor boy I love Elrond’s pointed answer, of you know what I was and was not saying. We both know you are refusing to be comforted. <3 “It is never an easy thing, no. Here, let me see your arm.” He watched in silence as Elrond changed the bandage and put on a smaller one. “There. I think that will be more comfortable. Can you move your arm?” Never easy indeed <3 thank you Yay changing bandage Aragorn eased it out of the sling and slowly lifted the arm as high as he could before pain and tightness stopped it. “It is improving. You will be lifting a bow again before too very long,” Elrond said, well satisfied. He helped Aragorn slip his arm back into the protective sling, then reached forward and brushed the back of his hand along Aragorn’s forehead and cheek. “You seem a bit feverish this morning, though. How do you feel?” Yayy lifting a bow before long <333 And that he can lift it at all is good OH YEAH THAT MENTION OF HALBARAD THAT THEY WERE WORRIED HE WOULD LOSE HIS ARM ENTIRELY LIKE yay little fever? Aragorn shrugged. “I suppose I feel as good as can be expected. I feel–” He stopped, unable to sort out just how he felt. Tired, yes. Weaker than he ever remembered being in his life. Still a bit achy. Impatient to be better. But something else seemed wrong, beyond what he would say was the normal outcome of such illness. It was as though there still lingered a sort of malaise from the Black Breath, not quite a shadow but a dimming of his spirit that he could not really explain. Still, he had to try. “I feel... I feel like a lamp that is out of oil except for that which is still in the wick. I feel like any moment the spark within me will fade away. I feel... tired.” He only hoped that Elrond understood what he meant, because he was not sure himself. Mmmm very very well said, I think. A very good effort, and I so appreciate your trying <3 and so does Elrond. Saying all that before saying tired with an emphasis, helps to explain the soul-tiredness hes trying to explain, rather than misleading to a body-tiredness that, though also there, is less pressed and already assumed Elrond frowned, then laid his hand on Aragorn’s forehead and closed his eyes. He took several deep breaths and after a moment Aragorn’s own eyes drooped and in the quiet darkness, he sensed Elrond’s comforting presence within his fëa. After a long interval, Elrond pulled his hand away and Aragorn opened his eyes and sighed. “What did you see?” Aww I really love Elrond going into his fëa <3 and that he can read these deep things And the way it’s a comforting thing as well “Nothing of the Black Breath, thankfully,” Elrond assured him. He seemed to be weighing his words. “But I did sense something. I confess that though I do not know exactly what it is, I have my suspicions. So I want you to sort it out for me, and for yourself. Gandalf told me a bit of the conversation you and he had, the night you collapsed. He sensed in you a great weariness, one beyond illness or injury.” Hmmm yes, also that is so Elrond to be like “I don’t know…okay well I have a guess and it’s probably a darn good one but first you try to figure through it” Aragorn picked at the covers. “He sensed aright,” he said quietly. <:(( the quiet sadness there Elrond covered his hand with his own. “I would that you would tell me about it.” Asksjd stilling his hand IS IT FINALLY TIME FOR THEM TO TALK? <:( AS PROMISED? <33 Aragorn glanced sharply at him. He did not know if he could bring himself to talk to his father. Anything he said would surely lead around to that which Elrond had commanded they never speak. He frowned and looked away, toward the window. But still, maybe he should at least try. He owed Elrond that much. “I do not know where to start.” Hmm <:(( Thank you for trying “I have always considered the beginning to be the best place to start a tale.” :) thanks Good answer “The beginning... I do not know when that was,” Aragorn said faintly. “I do not know when my hope left me.” Askdjdj aww “faintly” The almost like, hunched-in weak pain in the words “Estel,” Elrond breathed. “Has it come to that?” SKAJDJ TEARS Elrond’s surprise and sorrow at this admittance that I’d grown used to reminded me how painful and big it is No one actually knows about that part, at least not the depth “I do not know. I sometimes think it has; other times, I find my way again.” He rubbed his face with an impatient gesture. “I only know that when I look around me, at my people, at their suffering... I see the children dying...” He shook his head hard, trying to drive back tears that refused to be gainsaid. “Ada, my soul seems to die within me,” he choked. “I see my people dwindle year by year, and they look to me... they look to me as though I will save them and I do not know if I can.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I do not know.” AKSJDJD tears that refused to be gainsaid “I see the children dying…” <:( these torn words Ada, my soul seems to die within me AKSJDFJSKDK Elrond gazed at him with eyes full of compassion. “Such has been the despair of every chieftain, Estel. I listened once as your father poured out his heartbreak to me in just such a fashion. You are so like him, Estel. Your heart is great and filled with compassion for your people, and that is both your strength and your weakness, just as it was Arathorn’s. Just as it was Arador’s and all those chieftains who have watched the descendants of Númenor fade to numbers seeming too few to survive. But they have survived, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, grandson of Arador. They have survived and will survive... and with you, they will at last regain all that has been lost.” <3333 awwww he is like his fatherrrr And listening to Arathorn’s worries on this, and the other chieftains before <3 and they will at last REGAIN all that has been lost <:) “How I want that, Ada. I only wish I could be so certain.” “Be certain of that, and of the strength of your people. They have endured. They will endure.” <:)) thank you Be certain of that Ooooh good point too, it is not only Aragorn’s strength. It is the strength of his people as well he doubts and must not. They are strong. They endure. “So many decisions I have made have gone ill,” Aragorn whispered. “How can my people survive when I do not seem able to find a course that does not lead always to disaster?” “I heard the report from Bilfen Broadbow on what happened at Bracken’s Ferry, and Gandalf told me what happened after that and also at Windydale. Disaster was laid at your feet through no fault of your own, Estel. You did not take a course that led to the tragedies there.” YES YES EXACTLY “But I failed to find a course that would have led my people through safely, and that is unforgivable.” “Failing to find what does not exist is nothing for which you need seek forgiveness. Neither I, nor Gandalf, nor the wisest of the wise could have done anything different had we been in your shoes.” YES THANK YOU EXACTLY he failed only to find WHAT DID NOT EXIST and he keeps agonizing over it, when no one could have done so He paused. “This despair is not like you, Estel, and indeed it is not you.” <:(( ooh Aragorn frowned, longing to understand. Asksjdjdj awwww HE LONGS TO UNDERSTAND “I speak again of the Black Breath. It has many ill effects, one of which is a feeling of utter despair. It seems to last longer in those who may have already been walking through dark times, and in those who have had a prolonged exposure to a wraith, and from the sound of it, you suffered both circumstances. You had become careworn, and then you were forced to contend with the wraith far longer than any lesser man would have and survived.” YES THANK YOU did Halbarad tell him the tale?? And he had become careworn indeed. Also I keep forgetting—he was seriously ill quite recently before all this. He never had fully recovered his strength. “But you said that I no longer suffer...” “True. I said that, but I meant it in this way: the Black Breath is no longer upon you. It can do no further harm. You were not pierced by a Morgul blade; you are not destined to become a wraith. All those things are good and for them we thank Ilúvatar Himself for delivering you. But you were nearly lost to the shadow – you fought it admirably but the second exposure to it, combined with the weakness from your arm wound, proved to be your undoing. The harm that was done...” He stopped and looked away, staring as though into some distant land, or at memories that brought no joy. “The Nazgûl are skilled at violating one’s thoughts. You may think you have your mind utterly closed to them, but the smallest weakness, the smallest chink, and they pry into your mind, wrenching it open to pour their unspeakable poison into your soul. It is a terrible thing to endure, and a trauma from which one does not quickly nor easily recover. Most never do.” He paused, and tears pooled in his eyes. “It is very much the same as when a woman is violated.” Oh Oh wow Oh that is intense “Ada,” Aragorn whispered. He knew now where Elrond’s gaze traveled, and the reason for his tears, and perhaps even for the earlier sadness in his eyes: Celèbrian, his wife, attacked by orcs and who finally sailed to the Undying Lands, unable to bear up to the sorrow over what had been done to her. He sat up and put his right hand on Elrond’s shoulder and looked earnestly into his eyes. “No, Ada. Be at peace, for it is not as bad as that. I assure you.” Aksdjjfjskddk that is what happened? I did not know. I don’t have. Words. No wonder tears pool in his eyes <:(( oh my gosh And Aragorn trying to reassure him it is not his worst nightmare returning skadgjfd Elrond nodded and grasped Aragorn’s arm. He bent his head and was very still, and several minutes passed before he finally raised his head again. “I am glad, Estel. I would not want that–” <:(((( grasping his arm “Shhh. Speak no more of it.” “Now who is comforting whom?” Elrond said with a shaky smile. “I love you, my son. I always have. I hope you know that.” <:) <333 these twoooo I love themmm Aragorn nodded. “I allowed myself to forget it, and for that I ask your forgiveness.” Aksjdjfks I love his vulnerable honesty here <:( <3 “You need not.” He studied Aragorn for a long time, then said, “This one thing I know, Aragorn, son of Arathorn: though you have had a hard and cruel road to travel, you have stood up to your trials as no one else could have. Whatever you might whisper to yourself in the secret watches of the night, know that you are no failure. The blood of Elendil remains strong and pure within you, fear not.” Skajdjd <333 he’s like there is nothing to forgive. YES HE HAS TRULY <3 “in the secret watches of the night” agh just like Eowynnn, and oh my gosh exactly the thing he was fearing that he does not have the blood left within himmmm <33 thank you dear Elrond Aragorn took a sharp, shuddering breath as Elrond’s words seem to rip through to his very soul, cutting through to the very heart of his fear. He hung his head, fighting against the grief rising within him, but his emotions betrayed him. A ragged cry ripped itself from his throat, a deep, groaning noise that shamed him and frightened him with its intensity. He tried to turn away from Elrond, to wrest control over himself before all was lost, but Elrond stopped him. He put a hand against Aragorn’s cheek and whispered, “Nai tyeldar sí nyérelyar. Coluvan nyérelyar. Sorrow no more, my son. Sorrow no more. Let me hold your tears and your sorrows, if only for a little while. Coluvan nyérelyar.” AKSJDJFKSKDKDKKSKSKDJD THE WAY THIS CUTS HIM, RIPS INTO HIS HEART SO COMPLETELY EACH WORD IN HERE THE SHARP SHUDDERING BREATH HANGING HIS HEAD THE RAGGED CRY, A DEEP GROAN HE IS ASHAMED OF—SO WELL DESCRIBING THE SHARPNESS AND INTENSITY OF THE PAIN AND GRIEF AND HOW ELROND’S WORDS HAVE HIT FRIGHTENING HIM WITH ITS INTENSITY but Elrond will not let him turn away, this time. Oh those beautiful words. <:( I want to say that to my children someday. Those beautiful words of love. Thank you for giving us both the original and translation. Is that Quenya? Elrond’s gentle words, the same soothing words from Aragorn’s childhood, were his undoing. The grief that he had kept bottled up for so many long weeks now seemed to pour out of him uncontrollably, and it shamed him to be so weak but he could no more stop the flood of tears than he could have stopped the flow of the Bruinen. Terrible sobs tore through him with such strength that he felt he would fly apart if Elrond’s strong arms did not hold him. As Elrond crushed him to his chest, he reached his own arms around him and clung to him and wept for Mallor, for the people of Bracken’s Ferry and Windydale... each man, each woman... Each child. Oh. My. Gosh. This is BEAUTIFUL. Everything I neededddd The words from his childhood <3 Hmm do not be ashamed. To cry is not to be weak. Oh finally he cries. He sobs. As he kept promising himself long ago that he was locking the grief away to be cried over later, finally the tears have reminded him, and they have come. That he would fly apart if Elrond’s strong arms did not hold him <:(( AS ELROND CRUSHED HIM TO HIS CHEST <333 such a strong, completely secure embrace,,, and Aragorn hugs him back <3 He gave his grief free rein and it flew through him like the violent storms that assail the coasts of Gondor and somewhere in the wildness of it, in the tumult of pain and grief, something tight and cold and hard loosened and warmed and softened, and the tears finally slowed until the storm blew itself out and left only exhausted, empty silence. Skajdjfjsjd <333 yesssss this storm needed to fall before it could warm and soften and now it cannnn He started to pull away, but Elrond tightened his hold. “Not yet,” he murmured, and so Aragorn stayed where he was, and somewhere in the barren place that was his soul, peace stole its way back. He sighed and when Elrond felt him relax, only then did he ease him back onto his pillow and release him. Aksjdfjjdkddk thank you Elrond, for tightening your hold and saying not yet. Not letting Aragorn go yet just when the tears were over. And somewhere in the barren place that was his soul…peace stole its way back askdjfjd his soul was still barren but now peace has found him. And Elrond taking his relaxing as a sign that he is ready now. Ease him back down <33 Okay I was thinking, like how Elrond calls him “young one”, and I was like I want a father who is so much older than I that I will always be a young one, a child, who will always hold me in his arms so securely and lovingly…and then I realized. I have God. Thanks for helping me remember this :) Aragorn rolled over onto his back and wiped at his cheeks with the back of his hand. “I am sorry. I did not mean to lose control like that.” “Sorrow cannot stay forever locked away. Weeping must come when the heart is broken.” He took Aragorn’s hand and touched the wetness there. “Men or Elves, it matters not. Tears must be shed, or all that is good in a man will wither like a flower in drought.” Aksjfksksdk so beautifully put <333 Elrond-wise words indeed, it sounds JUST like him and I want to remember them <:( Weeping must come when the heart is broken <:( and Aragorn’s has been broken many times over “Tears must be shes or all that is good in a man will wither like a flower in a drought”, many (at least, many book characters and só I assume many real lives too) would do well to remember this <3 Aragorn thought on that, and after a moment, he said, “My heart truly has been broken, more times than I can count, in these last years. I know I am no Elf, but sometimes the pain of what I have seen seems so great that I wish I might sail away to the Undying Lands and be healed, somehow. But I know I cannot, that I must live through each and every moment, no matter how they tear at my soul.” He stared blindly at the ceiling. “And sometimes that brings the worst despair of all.” That. Is. I feel it. Longing to sail into the West to be healed but knowing you cannot. And sometimes that is the worst despair of all. SKADJKFVG hugs hugs hugs for him. And. How I feel life tearing at my soul. STARING BLINDLY AT THE CEILING the pain that is still there <:( <33 Elrond gave no reply for a moment, but ran a light hand across Aragorn’s hair. Hand across his hair <333 A wistful smile played about his lips. “I remember when you were about three, or perhaps four. You fell out of a tree... one of the many times you fell out of a tree because you thought at that time you were actually a Silvan Elf we were holding captive.” AKSKDKDKDKD XDD  Aragorn frowned. He could not imagine where Elrond was going with this. “I thought what?” “It was shortly after you saw a contingent from Mirkwood for the first time. They so impressed you that you swore you were a prince of the Woodland realm, and we were holding you for ransom. If I remember, the ransom amounted to forty-eleven peppermint sticks.” He let out a soft laugh, remembering. “You could not count very well at that age. I imagine forty-eleven seemed an outrageously high number.” SKAJDJFK MY DEAR ARAGORN XDD CACKLING THIS IS THE CUTEST THING forty-eleven oh my goodness <33 staggering number indeed Aragorn could not help but smile. He truly loved candy as a child. He still did, though he rarely had a chance to so indulge himself. Askfj I want to give that boy some candy <:( and here I am with constant access to like, basically all the candy I want. He rolled over onto his side and propped his head up on his hand, much in the way he did as a child when Ada told him bedtime stories. To his wry amusement, he was finding he still enjoyed a bedside story. “And did anyone pay said ransom?” Aksjdjd of course he is enjoying it. Rolling into the same position is so precious <33 “You still owe King Thranduil’s seneschal for the two sticks of peppermint you forced him to pay after we negotiated a more reasonable amount, since none of us were quite sure how much ‘forty-eleven’ amounted to. Erestor, being Erestor, argued it was fifty-one, but Glorfindel and the twins insisted it had to be four-thousand and eleven. Needless to say, you sided with Glorfindel and your brothers.” AKSJDKFKS okay I can’t decide if they did that as an excuse to argue more candy for Estel or as a way to ensure he doesn’t get even fifty-one because it’s so impossibly higher Aww that sensechal <33 and of course he paid them not to the elves holding him ransom but to the captive lost prince XD “I don’t remember that at all.” “Oh, that was just one of many wild scenarios your imagination conjured. It went on for about three months, you insisting you were King Thranduil’s long-lost son and I the evil warlord of some realm whose name you made up and I could never pronounce. Too many z’s and x’s and some sort of odd spitting sound in the middle of all of them.” Aragorn chuckled, wishing he could remember that. a tragedy. I wish he could remember too <3 this is so cute. Akskd HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE NAME z’s and x’s and some odd spitting sound, I love picturing dear Elrond trying to pronounce this and dark-haired little 3 or 4 year old Estel going no, evil warlord! It is “___” Also of course he is the evil warlord :’) poor guy who is actually giving him a greater gift and refuge than he could imagine at the moment. But such is often the plight of a parent. Also. He just wants to be Legolas’s long-lost brother :)) “In fact, it went on for so long that I was truly afraid that you might have some sort of serious problem in the mind. XD <33 he’s like is this okay??? You see, you were the youngest of all the heirs I fostered over the ages, and I was unfamiliar with the ways of very young edain, for although I have had many children of Men underfoot, they always had both their parents to care for them. I was never quite as involved in their lives as I was... and still am... with yours. Awww <33 and I am grateful But your mother assured me it was common for children to go through, as she called it, seasons. She assured me that as your imagination latched onto some new thing, it would pass as winter gives way to spring, and that indeed happened. You decided one day at breakfast that you were not a Wood Elf after all, but a Hobbit. You even strapped rabbit fur to the tops your feet and, though it was the dead of winter, refused to wear shoes. You called yourself Trotter, if I remember correctly. And you tried to convince me to let you drink ale instead of milk.” Skajdjfjs XD hes a hobbit now <333 “I did not.” “Ask your brothers.” XD I DID NOT Aragorn would definitely not ask his brothers anything of the sort. If they remembered, best not to remind them of the follies of his childhood. XDD he won’t “But to get back to the days when you were the captive lost Princeling of Mirkwood... you fell from a tree and came crying to me with a skinned knee. I washed it, and kissed it – for at that age, you still suffered me to treat you in such an unmanly way.” He still suffered it <:(( Elrond kissing and washing his knee <33 I love how hes like evil overlord of the realm holding me captive! Oh wait I skinned my knee—Ada!! <:) He paused, his wistful smile turning sad. “The small hurts of that little boy were easily healed, but these wounds you now carry on your soul... they will take more than a father’s kiss to heal them, and more even than such Elven medicine as I can provide. Time and your strength alone will bring your healing to you. And your healing will come, Estel. Have no fear otherwise.” Akskdks <33 this sweet reassurance but also warning that Elrond cannot provide all the healing this time, nor can it come without time and the strength that is still now lost to him Aragorn picked at the coverlet, running a bit of fringe over and over through his fingers. After several minutes, he spoke. “I... I was afraid I would not be welcome here.” <:((( indeed Elrond shifted, and his words, when they came, were quiet. “Do you remember when last you left here, three months ago? Regrettably, our parting was not warm.” <:( he knows Aragorn nodded. He had asked after Arwen, as he often did, wanting only to know how she fared. Usually such inquiries were returned with warm assurances of her well-being. Though they had carefully avoided speaking of his betrothal for all these years, they could speak still of Arwen herself, and thus Aragorn stayed always carefully within the bounds of what he knew Elrond would allow in asking after her. But for reasons he still could not fathom, his cautious inquiry that day had angered Elrond. Though no words passed between them, Elrond’s terse reply that she was well, in Lothlórien, held such tension that Aragorn could only assume that he had somehow roused his father’s fury. He thanked Elrond as humbly and as quickly as he knew how, then hurried out of the study, shaken and hurt. And as he made his leave of the house itself, he had paused at the door, thinking himself out of earshot. He remembered standing in the double doors, looking toward the sky, thinking how Elrond could never understand how much his spirit was torn asunder at the two conflicting loves in his heart. Love for Arwen, love for Elrond... and whatever choice he made would leave all their hearts broken. He had not been able to keep the pain inside, and he had spoken the words to the listening sky, in a nearly soundless whisper. “I have chosen Arwen, but it feels almost as though, because of love, I have had to choose to tear off my left arm instead of my right.” But Elrond could not have heard him. Aragorn had left Rivendell without a backward glance, knowing in his heart that unless circumstances were dire, he would not return, not if it caused Elrond such pain. And if return he must, he knew it would not be to any sort of welcome embrace. Akakdkfkskakdkfksksks “he knew” And we see he did not know, but, his being so sure of that hurts. This asking going inexplicably awry and his broken whisper he could not keep in <:(( and not returning because he didn’t want to cause Elrond more painnn “I would not wish for you to tear off either of your arms, Estel.” <:(( AWW THANK YOUUUU Aragorn jerked his head up. Elrond knew, and it explained so much. It explained why Elrond had welcomed him with open arms and not with coldness. But still... how had he heard? Elven hearing was sharper than men’s, but he had barely made a sound. “You did not... you could not have heard that ...” “I can hear the softest whisper of your heart, my son. You should know that by now.” SKASJDKDK <3333 Aragorn shut his eyes. Elrond had heard, and understood, and in his selfish ignorance, he had deemed his father uncaring. It was unconscionable. I seem able only to cause suffering to those I love... Father... Halbarad... even the people over whom I am Chieftain. <:((( it is only pain to them because you bring also love to them He collapsed back onto the pillows and laid his forearm across his eyes, wishing suddenly for the oblivion... the escape... of sleep. He was just so very weary of himself, and he was growing ever more certain that everyone else was tiring of his constant blundering as well. “I am sorry, Adar. I foolishly misjudged you.” <:(( WEARY OF HIMSELF he just He’s like how could anyone live with me. I can’t live with myself. “No, you did not misjudge me. I heard your words but did nothing, when what I should have done was rush to your side and give you reassurance. <:(( wishing he had done this <33 thank you I had been in a foul mood that day, worrying over some no doubt foolish trifle that now I cannot even recall, and I took it out on you. And when you finally returned, and collapsed as you did... my fear was that you would die before I had a chance to make things right between us. Ilúvatar has granted me mercy in this, however, and so now I must ask you to forgive me.” Awwwwwww he makes mistakes too. And what a horrible fear and a great mercy, thank you <3333 “We seem to be doing nothing but exchanging pleas for forgiveness,” Aragorn said with a rueful smile. “Because we seem to have done much to hurt one another. Or at least I have done much to cause you sorrow.” “No, Ada. I think, were anyone keeping score, perhaps we would fall just about even.” “Then shall we simply move forward from here?” Awwwww yay <33 they are so similar and I love them Aragorn smiled, and a weight seemed to lift from his soul. “I think that is an excellent idea.” It was not a perfect solution, by any means. His betrothal to Arwen still stood between them, and this dancing around the issue was far from a satisfying resolution, but for now, knowing that he had not lost his father’s love entirely because of that was more than enough to reassure him that somehow, someday, things might work out. And knowing that things were as right as they could be between Elrond and himself gave him that much more strength... and hope... to carry on. Aksjdkdkskdkfksk more hope!!!! Within Aragorn!! <3 an excellent idea The comfort that he has not lost his fathers love entirely <:( It was enough. Elrond’s smile was like the sun coming out. “Ah, that is good to see.” SAKDJFJ “What is good to see?” “The light in your eyes. It is back, and it makes my heart glad to see it again.” SKAJDJFKAKSKDKSK <333 it does indeed make a father’s heart shine to see his son’s eyes shine once more Aragorn hitched himself up against his pillows. “There may be a light in my eyes, but there is precious little in my stomach. Are meals provided with the convalescence, or is starvation part of the treatment?” XD oh him Elrond laughed and rumpled Aragorn’s hair and laughed again as he stood. “I will arrange to have breakfast brought to you.” <333 rumpling his hairrre “Thank you,” Aragorn said as he smoothed his hair back down, or tried to. From the feel of it, he was sure it looked as unkempt as a packrat’s nest. Elrond reached the door, and Aragorn suddenly cried out, “Ada, wait!” Elrond’s spun around in alarm at Aragorn’s frantic tone. “What is it, Estel?” Aksdj this feels like vibes of that first time when he panicked for Elrond to leave and tend Halbarad “Can you please hand me that book?” Elrond scooped the book off the night stand and tossed it onto Aragorn’s stomach. “Helpless Dúnadan!” he snorted in very un-lordly fashion, then left. XD sure ELROND SNORTING <3 Aragorn smiled as Elrond’s chuckles faded down the hallway, then opened the book to the first page. “The leaves were long, the grass was green...” (1) Awwwwwww Chuckling down the hallway Wait which poem is this?? Beren and Luthien? It’s been long but now I don’t know if I’m ready for it to enddddd but here we go. I will be brave and start the epilogue. <33

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 12/29/2025
Such sleep he had. And such dreams! Dreams of Arwen, of riding Bronadui across windswept plains, of eating at banquets and dancing and singing and laughing. It seemed that after so many nights of nightmares, his mind was desperate to fill his sleep with all that was pleasant and good. But fever still plagued him, and nightmares crept in and he fought battles that went ill and watched loved ones die because he could not reach them in time and through it all he felt hope’s flame falter and weaken. He cried out at such times, and invariably felt a calming hand on his brow and then the good dreams would return until fever drove them out once more. AND SUCH DREAMS <33 Aksjdjfk this warms me so much. The complete consistent responsiveness of the calming hand on his brow <33 and the nightmares are not all banished for he still has a fever, and hope’s flame faltering suggesting how it has begun to grow tentatively strong within him again <3 and crying out still but each time he is comforted and brought relief ajsjdjfjd He woke up at intervals, long enough to drink from cups held to his lips, some filled with broth, others water, and still others with a bitter brew of medicine. Sometimes he was aware enough to recognize the face that belonged to the hand holding the cup; other times it seemed all were strangers to him, and it was at those times that the nightmares rushed in and he was convinced all hope was lost. Yesssss I love thisssss them all taking care of him, holding cups to his lips, sometimes it needing to be bitter still, sometimes not recognizing them for fever, sometimes hope still seeming lost as the nightmares rush in askdjjf The power recognizing a face that loves you can hold But as time seeming unmeasured passed, the nightmares faded and the good dreams strengthened and more and more he knew faces and voices around him. And then finally came the day when he opened his eyes to a clear world, with sunshine falling warm on his face and dancing on the wall through the billowing curtains and a sense that he had emerged at last from a dark place to which he would never return. He blinked a few times and tried to lift his head, but he was too weak. So he rolled his head on the pillow and saw Elrond sitting in a chair beside his bed, reading a book. AWWWWW YAYYY <333 And Elrond reading close by <3 Also thank you for him being too weak to lift his head yet. His fever may have broken but he does not need to be back to strength yet, nor would that be reasonable. As if he felt Aragorn’s gaze, Elrond lifted his head and smiled. "So you have decided not to sleep away the rest of your life after all." Awwwwwwwwww <33 this cute greeting "How long?" he rasped, feeling like he had been here before, had gone through this already, and then realizing he had, with Halbarad, on a farm along the plains overlooking the Hoarwell. It was getting tiresome, this. Akdjd love that last sentence. Tiresome, this. "Today is the fifth day." Ah wow. That feels just about right. Aragorn’s eyes widened as he silently took in that information. He looked around the room and saw the evidence of Elrond’s care... no, his battle, for Elrond’s face held the fatigue of a soldier who had fought long and hard but knew the joy of victory. AKSJDJFJD BEAUTIFUL <3 Fatigue but knew the joy of victory aaaaa Indeed, the cluttered nightstand looked like a field after battle: a pitcher of water, and a bowl and cup. A pile of fresh bandages. Several jars and bottles of medicine. He smelled athelas and wintergreen and a mix of other spicy and medicinal odors, not all of which were pleasant. He had the thought to hitch himself up in the bed but managed only a weak shift of his right arm that barely moved the sheets covering him. Aww lol thank you again <3 just barely shifts Left arm doesnt move at all lol Yay pile of fresh bandages Elrond moved to his side. "How do you feel, my child?" "Tired," he whispered. He did not understand how he could spend five days sleeping and wake up feeling like he could sleep for five weeks more. WHAT A MOOD although I have not experienced it nearly this strong, my fever broke yesterday (fourth day), and it had never gotten all that high but I was still like…does that mean I have to get up and do things now? All I want to do still is sleep. I’m still so tired. "You are weakened not only from both fever and the Black Breath, but also from plain and simple exhaustion. You pushed yourself too far this time, Estel. You nearly died." Aksjdjdk not “you nearly pushed yourself too far”, but “you pushed yourself too far this time”. Nearly died is always too far. Thank you for saying that <3 "I did?" "A festering wound and the Black Breath make a formidable partnership. The presence of either could have certainly killed you, and both of them combined...." He left the thought unspoken. "The Valar must be exhausted from watching over you." Aksjfjf a formidable partnership Either could have indeed "I am sorry, Ada." "My words are not a reprimand, Estel," Elrond assured him. "Only a small joke, and one poorly placed, for you are still in a fragile state. <33 I love you Elrond No, do not argue!" Elrond added as he saw the frown building on Aragorn’s brow. "You have managed to come back from the road upon which there is usually no returning, and that is no small feat of strength. But still, you have a long way yet to travel before you can call yourself healed." Yesss thank you Do not argue "How long?" "As long as it takes." Aragorn pulled a face. His father may be a Peredhel but when it came to answering questions, the Elven side of him usually took over to give answers that were no answers at all. LOL yep and I love him Elrond looked at the bandage wrapped around Aragorn’s left arm, pulling its edge back just enough for a peek. "It is better now, but the infection in your arm found a strong hold before any of us realized you were wounded. You insisted I take care of Halbarad, and in my haste to care for him, I foolishly ascribed the fever and pain I saw in your eyes–even the shadow I sensed in your soul–to nothing more than exhaustion and simple sorrow. Mmmmm so he indeed did not see so deeply as Aragorn feared So I hurried off when I should have seen to it that you received care yourself. But you hid your pain so well from all of us – from me, from Erestor and Gandalf – that we did not realize how ill you truly were. OH MY GOSH yes he did and that is a great feat indeed. They could tell he was near collapse but he managed to keep from them just how exceedingly deep his wounds and darkness ran. Enough that they were all shocked And for that," he said with a deep inward breath, "I do not know how you will ever forgive me." Tears suddenly shimmered in his eyes. "My son came home at last and I nearly let him die." ANSJDJFKDKD My son came home at last... SKAJSJFJFJAJSKDJD OH HOW THOSE WORD AND THE SHIMMERING TEARS WARM MY HEART he has been longing, longing for his son to come home <:(((( The pain in Elrond’s face and voice and words aghhhhhhh it’s beautiful even though I don’t want him to be in pain The words cast a warm glow in Aragorn’s heart, <3333 but it was overshadowed by dismay. He could not allow his father to take any blame in this fiasco. "No, Ada. Do not blame yourself." He licked his lips. Speaking at length was proving very difficult. "My fault... for hiding it." "You think you are the only one skilled in self recrimination," Elrond said with a sad smile. "You no doubt learned it from me." Then he waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "But that is not for you to worry about, either way. What matters now is getting you well." Awww <333 oh boy these two At least Elrond is very aware of its presence in them both And thank you for not scolding Aragorn for hiding it so much as regretting not noticing and also letting him know how dangerous it was in hopes he will learn to be more open in the future Also yesssss his struggle to speak, licking his lips, "How... what happened? Did I fall?" Yep! "You apparently collapsed in the hallway outside your bedroom. Yesssss Collapse Gandalf heard you, and summoned – nay, not summoned but in truth shouted for me loudly enough that I would have heard him had I already been in Valinor." YESSS HE BELLOWED :)) They were all so worried about him <33 and rightly so He reached over and moved a stray lock of Aragorn’s hair out of his face. "You should purge the word ‘fine’ from your vocabulary. I never want to hear it coming from your mouth again." YES PLEASE you may say “I am well” or “I am not well”. Because you are probably one of those two things. Not Fine Also brushing back a bit of hair <3 Aragorn smiled faintly, but other concerns weighed on him. "How is Halbarad?" "He is well. Back on his feet, as a matter of fact, though I ordered him to rest. But I cannot keep him from your side; when I am not here, he insists that he must be, telling me that while he may not be able to fight off orcs, he can surely manage to sit quietly and watch over his chieftain. He is a rare friend, your Halbarad." Awwww yes of course <333 they take turns now How I love him. What a rare and wonderful friend indeed <:) "The best," Aragorn murmured. So why did I dream over and over that he was a traitor? "Estel? Something troubles you." He waited a moment, drawing strength. "I dreamt of him... betraying me. How I could be so unfair... to dream of him like that?" Skajd thank you Elrond for asking Drawing strength "Fever affects the mind in strange ways, and so does the Black Breath. It twists our thoughts, turns good to evil and evil to good. The nightmare realm you were trapped in... I have never seen such in all my experience. Usually it is far darker, more murky, less vivid, less... terrifying. I would give anything to have prevented you from experiencing what you did." He paused, his gaze troubled, but then he gave Aragorn a reassuring smile. AKSJDJFKS <333 <:( he would have given anything Has never seen any nightmare realm of the black breath so terrifying It is usually darker but less vivid…and so less terrifying. Not so detailed and horrific and hopeless. And as a father, he would have given anything to keep that experience from him <:( "But rest assured, dreaming such does not mean somewhere deep down you harbor mistrust toward Halbarad. I think, perhaps, so twisted by the Black Breath that your thoughts were, he somehow became a symbol of evil corrupting even the best, most pure things in your life." They made sense, Elrond’s words. Aragorn let out a long breath. "I hated that more than anything else, I think." <33 that does make sense. Thank you for your wisdom, Elrond. Elrond said nothing, but merely took Aragorn’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Awww thank you "My men... Glorfindel... my brothers?" "I have not heard any news." "I hope–" Aragorn started, but there was no point in finishing the thought. Whatever had happened after he left was nearly a week past, and worrying now served no purpose. That the wraith did not follow Aragorn and Halbarad across the river must mean that Glorfindel and the others were successful in some measure in their pursuit. But not knowing worried him greatly. Mmm yess all very fair. Good job recognizing the purposelessness of the worry, though. And the likely success. "If it helps, I do not sense that Glorfindel or your brothers are in any danger." Aragorn nodded. It was not the complete reassurance he sought, but neither could he dismiss the comfort Elrond’s words offered. "Would you like some broth?" <33 Aragorn shook his head. "Too tired." And he was. He could barely keep his eyes open. Awww Hes like I can literally only say the two words "Ada?" "Yes?" "Tell him... tell Halb’rad..." His words slurred and he tried again. "Tell him... thank you." He felt Elrond squeeze his shoulder, then he drifted back to sleep. sleep, Estel <3 The shoulder squeeze <3 Awww hes like please tell himmm "Aragorn," a voice whispered softly, urgently. Someone gently shook his shoulder. He took a deep breath and let it out. He was floating on a warm cloud, safer and happier than he had been in months and he did not want to leave that cozy place. He burrowed deeper into his pillow. Awwww HE’S SAFER AND HAPPIER THAN HE’S BEEN IN MONTHS But the voice would give him no peace. "Aragorn!" "Go away." hehe A chuckle, then another shake of his shoulder. "Come now, Strider, open your eyes." AWWW I knew it was Halbarad <33 Since it seemed whatever intruder trying to haul him from his comfortable cloud was not going to give up, he slowly opened his eyes. Halbarad stood over him, pale and wan and with his right arm in a sling, but grinning like a cat that had just finished off the cream. Aragorn could not help grinning back. LOLLLL OF COURSE HE’S GRINNING LIKE THAT THE LITTLE IMP <3 "Halbarad!" Awwwwww HES SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM TOO "Lord Elrond told me you had finally wakened. He also told me to leave you be, but I have never been any good at following orders." LOLL <33 He looked him over, even lifting the sheet to check out the rest of him. "You look fairly awful, but I suppose I’ve seen you in worse shape. How do you fare?" "I have been in worse shape." Halbarad snorted. "Ever do you avoid a direct answer when it comes to how you feel. Tell me straight, Strider." Lollll yes thank you Also lol even lifting the sheet Aragorn sighed. "Very well. I ache all over. My left arm still feels like a Balrog is whipping it. And I’m tired. Very, very tired. But otherwise, more or less recovering well, according to Elrond." Ouch A Balrog is whipping it Very ouch Great job telling him straight <3 "Hmm." "I am on the mend, truly." "Hmm." Aragorn shot him a look of exasperation. He was far too tired for all this. "How about you?" He nodded toward the sling and frowned. LOL hes like stop your hmming "This? Oh, your father has me using it to ease the strain on my shoulder and back muscles. Have to admit that he is right. My back gets very sore if I try to go long without it. You have no idea how heavy an arm can be." Thinking of how heavy his eyelids felt at the moment, Aragorn figured he had some idea, but he merely nodded. He longed to say more but he was already losing the battle against sleep. He wondered when he might be able to keep his eyes open for longer than a few minutes at a stretch. lol <33 hes like if eyelids can be this heavy, imagine an arm "Yes, I am definitely on the mend, thanks to your father’s skill, and thanks–" Halbarad stopped and suddenly looked so stricken that all of Aragorn’s sleepiness momentary fled. "Halbarad?" Aww I love them <3 He chewed his lip for a moment, struggling for control, then finally said, "You nearly sacrificed your life for mine, riding through the night, sick and wounded yourself. It is no small thing, and I have no words sufficient to thank you." Aksjdjdjdkdkdkd struggling for control Reminded of what Aragorn did <:( Sleepiness again swept over Aragorn in a warm wave, but he forced himself to keep his eyes open. "It was truly no sacrifice." Uh-huh "Aragorn, you nearly died!" Yep! "But I did not. I am still here." "Only by the mercy of the Valar." He paced away from the bed and stood by the window for a few minutes, and when he turned, his eyes were shining with unshed tears. "Do not ever do this to me again, Aragorn. Promise me." Skjdjfjdjdjd <333 <:( "You do not want me to save your life?" "No... I do not want you to lie to me. Say that all is well when you know it is not. I cannot..." He stopped, struggling for control, then continued. "When I woke up, after Elrond had removed the arrow, and Erestor told me what had happened, that you had collapsed, that you might lose your arm and that you were nearly overcome by the Black Breath..." Anger brought color to Halbarad’s cheeks. "The same Black Breath you kept telling me you had defeated and that I, putting aside every instinct that screamed otherwise, accepted as truth!" He shook his head and whispered, "Do not ever do that to me again." AKSJDKDKS the whisper I forgot he did that. And that Halbarad sort of listened. And wow he even sort of accepted it as truth, if only because of Aragorn’s forcefulness Aragorn looked long into Halbarad’s eyes. He saw in his companion’s burning gaze a demand for trust. For the honesty that Aragorn knew was fully Halbarad’s due. Aragorn again cringed at the unfairness of his nightmares, of them casting this stalwart companion into the role of traitor. He looked at Halbarad and the naked emotion in his face and knew he could give him but one answer. Aragorn struggled to prop himself on one elbow, wishing beyond measure he could go to Halbarad and put a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you, I will not do that again. Ever." Aksjdjdkskdkfk <33333 a demand for trust HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO TRUST ARAGORN <3 on not just other things but his own health. The naked emotion. Aragorn propping himself up to give a grave and sincere answer <333 the only one he can give Aksjdjddk wishing beyond measure simply to put a hand on his shoulder "Do I have your oath?" "You do." <33333 awwww it is so simple and so deeply meant Halbarad shut his eyes and breathed in deeply. He nodded. "Thank you," he said, and returned to Aragorn’s side. He helped him lay back down, then settled himself in the chair beside the bed. "Do you need anything?" Awwwwwww THE RELIEF <33 and helping him lay back downnn "My strength back." Halbarad chuckled. "Only time will do that." lol yess "Will you stay long?" "Another week, perhaps. I think I should get back to Windydale as soon as possible. And seeing how you’ll be flat out until at least Mettarë..." "No. That is too long," Aragorn murmured. My people need me sooner, much sooner... Hmm Aragorn I hear your old thoughts I know they have not and will not change. But we need to get some self-preserving thoughts in there. "Hmm. You should see yourself in a mirror, Strider." "That bad?" YES GREAT RESPONSE enough flat-out skepticism to stop even Aragorn And Aragorn’s like okay fair argument probably "Let me simply say that the color of your skin should not match the grey of your eyes." Aragorn shut his eyes. "I certainly feel grey." Lolll oh dear I should see this I forgot he would be grey Halbarad made a sympathetic noise, then a quiet fell between them, comfortable and easy. Aragorn felt himself dozing but some part of him still heard the little noises Halbarad made as he shifted in the chair or let out a soft sigh. The sounds comforted him more than he ever would have thought. Awwwwww That comfortable place nearly asleep but made so much more comforting in hearing Halbarad alive <333 He opened his eyes. "Halbarad?" "Yes?" He held out his hand, and Halbarad took it. Aragorn looked at him for a long moment, wanting to say so many things, but in the end he finally simply gave his hand a squeeze. Awwwwwww <333 Hes like Just take my hand please Halbarad smiled, understanding plain in his eyes. But he only said, "Sleep now, my friend," as he pulled the blanket higher and tucked Aragorn’s hand under it. He laid a hand on Aragorn’s forehead, and Aragorn closed his eyes and let himself drift toward sleep, but not before hearing Halbarad’s whispered benediction, "Sleep, my liege. I will watch over you, as I always have." AKSJDJDKSKDKD GONNA CRY the understanding Tucking him in, tucking his hand under as well Putting a hand on his forehead <333 HIS WHISPERED BENEDICTION <333 my liege this time being entirely sincere, I think. “I will watch over you, as I always have” AKSJDJDKDKDK <3333 indeed I needed these beautiful words

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/29/2025
It was the same, in many ways. Utter loneliness. Utter despair. Drowning in frigid waters. Skajdjdjd He sank under dark, churning waters that had never been touched by life, that had never known the song of Ulmo or danced with the air of Manwë. AHHHHH ALL THESE THINGS OF LIFE AND JOY COMPLETELY ABSENT AND DARKNESS IN THEIR WAKE He sank, and then he fought to the surface, then sank again, and wondered why he should bother. He knew what awaited him. Knew that as soon as he crawled ashore, Halbarad would be there, chains in hand. He knew that everyone he knew and loved would condemn him for his failure and chain him and leave him in the merciless hands of Sauron. Far better to simply let himself drown. Had that not after all been what he wanted as he sat along the Bruinen? Akskddkdjdkdkdkdkdkdjdj Relieving the exact nightmares, knowing how they will go, WHY SHOULD HE FIGHT He went limp, feeling the weight of the water push him ever downward. There could be no hope of rescue this time. He was too deep in the realm of shadow, too far into that nether region where evil sundered the gift of death from mortal life and trapped its victims for all eternity. aksskkddkdk nooo please no okay “where evil sundered the gift of death from mortal life” that is cruel indeed, especially to one so tortured as he is But in the end he discovered it simply was not in him to give up. It was wrong. It went against every pulse that still coursed through his veins. It might be hopeless, but he had to keep on. He would never surrender his will to the enemy. Never. GOOD JOB THAT’S MY ARAGORN <333 It is so deeply ingrained in his character He will never give up, never give in, not while he has an ounce of life or strength And so he kicked, feebly, then with more strength and his head broke the surface and he gasped and choked but he could breathe. And if he could breathe, he could fight. I’m so proud <:( He looked around him and almost wished he had not. Gone was the endless black sea of the last time he was lost. Instead, he found himself in a river twisting through a corruption of all that he knew of Arda. Trees, misshapen and horrid, crowded the banks of the river. Their branches stretched down into the water, reaching for him as he floated past, as he fruitlessly looked for a break along the bank where he could crawl out. He dove under and felt their branches snag on his clothing and he twisted and fought them off and kicked harder as he pulled with his arms, and somehow stayed just ahead of their grasping clutches. Skajdjfjfkdkd that does indeed sound horrid. His nightmare is somehow made even more evil, twisted rather than simply desolate Finally the river turned a bend and the forest fell behind him. He was tossed about against rocks and pulled under in eddies and whirlpools and the battering seemed to go on endlessly but eventually he was able to lunge for a low bank and pull himself out of the water. He knelt, dripping and exhausted, and looked around him. It seemed he was in a valley, a sere place filled with rock and dead grasses and pockmarked with vents in the ground that spewed out sulphurous fumes. Black stone walls rose sheer and forbidding all around the valley’s perimeter, save for this one spot where the river cut through them. He pulled himself to his feet and stood swaying, wondering if he should continue into the valley or simply collapse here by the river and accept whatever fate awaited. HE MADE IT OUT OF THE RIVER although I’m not sure that’ll help much but like This sounds much like the black land, or the lands just outside it… He looked to the far horizon. Blackness there ate at what little light the sky held, and a red glow suffused the land below, reflecting dully on the roiling underbelly of clouds that seethed as though they were furious with the sky and the ground and all things between. It was there, he knew, that Sauron dwelt, and it was there that he would be dragged, chained and helpless. Mmm so just outside AND HELPLESS his least favorite feeling Also “dragged”, yes, is a very painful humiliating and helpless thing Furious with all things Panic started to rise in him but he fought it back. He looked around the valley again, trying to find a hiding place, but there was none. There were only a few scattered trees, stunted and bare. Even if he had the strength, there was nowhere to go. He staggered toward one of the shriveled trees and slumped to his knees beneath it, wondering if, like its cousins in that foul wood behind him, it would snatch him up and crush him in its branches. He eyed it warily, but it remained motionless. Aksjdkdkd can’t trust even the trees <:( The panic Falling to his knees There was little sound here. No birds twittering. No insects buzzing. He glanced upward and saw a break in the clouds, and a star dimly shining, but the clouds moved over it and even its small comfort was lost to him. THE STAR IMMEDIATELY LOST Unlike Sam’s star, it abandons him far too quickly He searched the sky all around and caught a glimpse of a bird, high and far off. An eagle, but it did not see him. Its attention seemed focused on the jagged peaks far away, and not on this dead valley. Askdkfksk any thing that could give him hope is paying him no attention And that was truly what it was: a dead place. Here he would die and here Sauron would seal the doom of Middle-earth. Noooooo I am sorry, Adar. Please forgive me. SKAJDJF <:((( For a moment, an instant only, a feeling came over him... or was it merely a dream within this dark dream? The drear valley around him faded and he was aware, somehow, of being in another place entirely: a calm place, a place filled with peace where gentle hands touched him, held him. He heard his own voice crying out that Sauron knew who he was... and then another voice, a musical voice that had filled his childhood with words of encouragement and love... "No, Estel. You have not failed me, my son. You have not failed." AKSKDKFKDKDKDKD IM GONNA CRY my favorite words A calm place Filled with peace Gentle hands Touched him (he is worthy of being touched gently) HELD HIM <:((((( <333 And hearing his own voice, and Elrond’s loving musical encouraging response <33 listen to him The way it seems less a moment of wakening and more a moment of deeper dream :( But then the vision faded and he saw only the scorched, empty valley and he was alone. He knelt in the silence, too weak to go on, and waited. Alskddkjdkdkd waited because he can do nothing else. Nothing but keep himself upright on his knees. He heard a step beside him. With an effort, he raised his head. Halbarad stared at him, his hands filled with chains. Mmmm noooooo "No," Aragorn growled, staggering to his feet. "I will not let you take me." HE FIGHTS HE GROWLS has he really fought this part before? Halbarad said nothing, but reached out and grabbed Aragorn’s left arm. his LEFT arm eep Aragorn yanked his arm back and for a moment freed himself but then Halbarad swung the chains at him and they slammed into his upper arm. Pain exploded in a thousand blinding flares of light and he crumpled to the ground. Eeeeeeeeeee :( But even in the midst of the pain, he sensed a movement behind Halbarad, a flash of purest light emerging from a cleft in the rock wall. He saw it and for an instant hope bloomed in his chest, OOOH but then Halbarad again swung the chains. Pain dimmed his vision and the sight of... whatever that had been... was lost to him. Aragorn felt the cold touch of a manacle around his right wrist and then his left and he knew he had lost. AAAAAAAAAA cold strong manacles on his wrists <3 the moment of hope is lost, he cannot even remember it hardly Aragorn’s eyes were shut. He knew what was happening; he had no need to see it. It was his nightmare come to life or death or whatever passed for existence in this plane. He felt a tug at his waist; Halbarad was taking Narsil from him. He heard the broken blade clatter to the ground and cursed the weakness that doomed him to be the failure, the one to bring to an end the line of Isildur, the line of Kings. He had thought perhaps... maybe... he might have had the strength after all... but no. Mmm yes…that is…definitely…what is happening I wonder how many of these things actually are going on in real life and what’s just pure nightmare. Like the clatter and tug. And how much else he’s saying out loud. Did they hear his growl to Halbarad? What passed for his own strength was utterly spent. The fight was over, and he had lost, and thus sealed the doom of all. “What passed for his own strength” askjdk a good description And wow, it is finally gone He fought long, he scraped his deepest reserves again and again. And finally he has utterly spent all. <3 <:( Halbarad took him by the arm and started to lift him, then unaccountably let him fall back. Aragorn’s head hit the ground with a blow sharp enough to send lights shooting through his closed eyes. He groaned and rolled over on his side, away from Halbarad, away from the valley. He knew not what was happening but he did not care. He huddled against the base of the tree and tasted the bitterness of his failure. Skajdjfjsk utterly bitter strengthless hopelessness Huddling in his black despair Weakly groaning and rolling away onto his side, he has no other strength or will left to even consider attempting to withhold a groan or fight his body’s attempts to face away from the danger or anything else And the renewed apathy of “he knew not what was happening but he did not care” He heard Halbarad’s feet shuffle. Heard a sudden intake of breath. Then, incredibly, he heard another voice, a voice strong and confident. "Be gone, servant of darkness! Leave him be!" <333 SKAJD THANK YOU But Aragorn did not stir himself to look. It sounded almost like Elrond, but Elrond surely could not have delved so far into this evil place. No, it was only his mind playing cruel tricks on him. Better to stay where he was, his eyes shut tight against the terrible sight of his friend turning on him. Nooooo no no no He knows only he cannot bear the sight and cannot imagine relief He heard footsteps coming toward him. "Estel!" Hmm footsteps in real life?? Elrond’s voice again. How could that be? He wanted to ignore it, to shoo it away as just another trick of his mind, but something compelled him to look. He started to roll over, but the chains were too heavy, and somewhere along the line Halbarad had managed to manacle his ankles as well. He lifted his arms, then listlessly let them fall. It is not Ada... it is nothing more than a dream... a failing hope... Skajdfjjd the chains too heavy "Tolo enni, Estel," Elrond cried. Come to you? Come to me <33 a command from Elrond <:( But how... how can I trust you? Still, the imploring tone cut straight through to his soul and could not be denied. He turned his head and opened his eyes. BUT HOW CAN I TRUST YOU <:( but cut straight to his soul and could not be denied <333 For the longest moment, what he saw simply did not register in his mind. It was Elrond. Shimmering with light and more radiant and powerful than Aragorn had ever seen him, but unmistakably his Adar. But it made no sense for Elrond to be here. AKSJFKDKSKD <33 those words that vision "Estel!" Each time he says his name <3 He blinked. As unlikely as it seemed, Elrond knelt on the ground a scant arm’s length away, looking at him with a mixture of love and fear and joy and fatigue such as he had never seen on his father’s face. Of Halbarad there was no sign. "Adar?" he whispered. Akskdkdkdkdkdk that beautiful tender mixture <:( <3 "Yes, Estel. It is your adar. I’m here. I have come to take you home." He held out his arms, reaching for Aragorn. SOB SOB SOB SOB HOLDING OUT HIS ARMS TO TAKE ARAGORN HOME who has not been able yet to truly come home yet, even after arriving in Rivendell Also. Elrond like, rather than just pulling Aragorn out of the dream, coming in himself to appear in Aragorn’s own world and rescue him, is so beautiful to me? <:( also that’s what the footsteps wereee he is actually here "Home? " Aragorn whispered. Home! How he longed to take his father’s hands, to let him draw him into his arms and take him away from this vile place, but how could he know this was really Elrond? How could he know that this was not another apparition designed to make him reveal his true name? He shut his eyes and re-opened them, trying to sort out the confused muddle of his thoughts. He finally stiffened his resolve and shook his head. "No... it is a trick. I will not... not tell you... who I am. You cannot make me..." Skajdjfkkskd he still manages to fight with his words I am proud, but now is not actually when it is needed "Estel," Elrond implored. "Listen to my voice! It truly is me. You must trust me!" Yes. Yes. Please trust <:( He shut his eyes. "No!" he moaned. "It is a trick... I will not listen!" He curled into a ball, burying his head in his arms. Perhaps if he refused to look, refused to even speak, the vision would go away. Aksjdkdkdkd literally moaning, curling up, and burying his head in his arms Absolute misery There was silence for a time, then, quietly, "Estel, a few moments ago you woke from this, briefly. You looked at me and told me that Sauron knew who you were." Oooh so even if Aragorn was not seeing, he opened his eyes and stared at Elrond. I love that Also “moments ago” that probably feels to Aragorn an eternity Aragorn shuddered, but did not look up. "There is more, Estel, things that I would know but Sauron and his minions would not. If you search your mind you will know to them to be true and know that I am true. Halbarad was injured. You brought him to Rivendell. You waited all day beneath the old willow tree, worrying over him, as I worked to remove the shards of the arrow from near his spine and lung. And you were so concerned for his well-being that you ignored your own wound, the splinter wound on your left arm. It has become inflamed, and is giving you fever." Yes yes listen Aragorn Aragorn opened his eyes. But he did not look at Elrond. He stared instead at the ground in front of him, weighing Elrond’s words and wondering; if this were not Elrond, how then could he know these things? He did not feel Elrond’s presence in his mind, so it could not be that Elrond knew these things that way. And neither did he feel any other darker presence, and that gave him the tiniest bit of hope. Aksjdjdkdjjd and the tiniest bit is the hugest start in this moment and place where all hope for him has absolutely fled "I followed the eagle, and then the star. You saw them both, from a distance. They are your tokens, my son, and they drew me to you." OH OH OH THAT’S WHAT THOSE WERE THAT’S HOW HE CAME TO BE HERE <33 Hope flickered brighter, but Aragorn still could not bring himself to look up. Aksjdkfkdkd But it flickered brighter For once, it is growing "Just now I saw Halbarad," Elrond continued, "or the being that was pretending to be Halbarad, swing the chains and hit you. But the chains did not wound you; you were already wounded when you came to Rivendell." Yessssss Thank you so much that Elrond was able to see these visions of Aragorn’s, directly see his delirious pain "At Bracken’s Ferry," Aragorn whispered. He finally looked at Elrond. "How do you know? I have not told you anything..." HE LOOKED "No, but I can see the wound on your arm, and no chain did such damage. Splintered wood, still embedded and festering. Erestor has cleaned it, though, and that was the pain you thought came from those chains," Elrond said with a gentle smile. "Come, my son, let me take you home and then you can tell me everything." THE SMILE OH HOW I WANT HIM TO TELL HIM EVERYTHING OH HOW THAT OFFER COMFORTS ME <:(( Splinters still there, for all his efforts Halbarad could not get them all. Getting them out is going to prove further pain for him unless they use anesthesia. Also, simply cleaning the wound being pain enough to send his imagined self blinded and collapsing to the ground again <3 He stared at Elrond, then looked around at the deadness surrounding him. If this was a trick, could it be any worse than staying here in this wretched place? He looked again at Elrond, then dared to stretch out a trembling hand. "Ada, is it really you?" Askdjfkskks REACHING FOR HIM Elrond reached forward and as soon as he touched Aragorn’s fingers, Aragorn knew. "Ada!" he cried and threw himself into his father’s arms. Elrond folded him into his embrace, and as he did so, the chains fell and a sweet wind laden with the aroma of athelas swept away the toxic fumes. AKSJDJDJSKD SOBS SOBS SOBS Aragorn knew CRYING OUT “Ada!” <:( Elrond folded him into his embrace <33 And that is when everything can fall away And he can smell the Athelas at last <3 The valley seemed to melt around him. He shut his eyes and buried his face against Elrond’s neck.... aksjdjdjdkdkdk awwwwww He is his place of safety and security <33333 ...and when he next opened his eyes, he saw the familiar walls of his room, and Erestor’s drawn face, and Gandalf’s smile of relief. And he saw Elrond. Saw him and heard him and felt his arms holding him, keeping him safe. "Ada," he croaked. Awwwwwwwwwww AND FELT HIS ARMS HOLDING HIM, KEEPING HIM SAFE "Give him water!" Elrond cried, and Erestor hurried forward with a cup. He handed it to Elrond and then helped support Aragorn’s head. Elrond’s hand was shaking as he guided the cup to Aragorn’s mouth. Some of the water slopped onto his chest, but he greedily drank down the rest until Elrond pulled the cup away. "Slow down, Estel," he laughed. AKSJDJF HE LAUGHED <33 Also the immediate give him water!! And Elrond giving it to him himself, ELROND’S OWN HAND SHAKING <3 from fear or relief or exhaustion or all three I do not know, and Erestor helping hold up his hand so he can laugh, as I love, Erestor lowered Aragorn’s head back to the pillow and Elrond released him, and for a long moment, Aragorn simply looked at Elrond, savoring the sight of him and the sight of his room and wondering how in the world he was suddenly back here, safe and in his home. Akakdkdkdk so surreal after that desolate place "Welcome back," Elrond finally said softly, and laid a tender kiss on Aragorn’s forehead, just as he had done so many times to him when he was a small child. TEARS as I thought, he may not be a small child any longer but he still needs and has his father’s tender care <333 He found his voice if not coherent words. "What... how did..." "Shhh. Save your questions, my son," Elrond said. "You were in a far country, and an evil one, but now you are back home and you will recover." <333 he will Still confused, Aragorn shifted uneasily on the bed, wincing as the movement jostled his arm. "Your arm is deeply infected," Elrond said. "It will trouble you for some time, I fear, but it will heal." <3 yay both things I wanted to hear. “It will heal” and “it will take awhile”. Also, still being rather childlikely confused <3 Aragorn nodded and closed his eyes. He was so tired, and still in so much pain. Yesss But there was a spaciousness, a weightlessness, within him that had not been there in a long, long time. Yesssssss Gone was any trace of a dark shadow, and as he dared turn his thoughts toward the Nazgûl, he felt only memory, like so many of his other memories of horrific events and bitter tragedies and hard-won and hard-lost battles. Wrenching and sorrow-filled and still so fresh that it almost brought physical pain, but still... it was merely a memory. Nothing more. AKSJDJDJDKD still wrenching but the darkness is gone. It is GONE. As it has never yet been. Still a powerfully painful memory, but not shadowed. He sighed softly and looked again at Elrond. His father was watching him with a curious expression – a wistfulness, but with a depth of sorrow that only immortal elves could know. Mmm yes for death is indeed a gift <:( "Adar?" he said softly, asking with his eyes questions he had no strength to speak. <3 eye communication And luckily hes asking Elrond Elrond blinked, then a ghost of a smile lit his face. He laid a hand against Aragorn’s cheek and the sorrow fled from his eyes. "Worry not," he said. "I am not troubled. Not any more." <:(( Estel will be healed Aragorn frowned, not accepting the words. He knew what had put the sorrow in Elrond’s eyes – his betrothal to Arwen, his failure as a leader... so many, many things, but mostly his love for Arwen. But he dared not speak of it, so he simply whispered, brokenly, "I am sorry, Adar." Aksdkkdkskdkd “brokenly” Also…it makes so much more sense to me than it used to. Elrond is not angry at Aragorn. He is immeasurably grieved at the prospect of being literally forever separated from his daughter. <:( Elrond’s eyes filled with concern. "Shh. You have nothing to be sorry for, my son. Cease your worries, Estel, for there is truly no need." He pulled the blanket up closer to Aragorn’s chin and smoothed it over his arms. "Now get some sleep. There will be time for talk later." <33 concern for his broken apology awwww he wants him simply to rest Yes they will talk long <3 Aragorn nodded. His eyes drifted closed, but before slumber took him into its gentle embrace, he murmured, "Thank you, Ada." He felt another gentle kiss on his forehead, and then he slipped at last into the healing warmth of true sleep. HE CAN SLEEP AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS Also another forehead kiss <:( <3 and thanks this time instead of an apology This was indeed Deliverance <333

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/27/2025
“‘Fine,’ he says!" Gandalf glared at him from under those massive grey eyebrows of his, which were drawing toward each other like two warships bent on destroying each other. "Aragorn, did Lord Elrond not teach you that it is exceedingly unwise to prevaricate to a wizard?" GANDALFFFFFFF lol like two warships :) Yessss exceedingly unwise "Gandalf, truly... there is nothing you can do for me." "Do? That tells me that there must indeed be something you need, from me or from someone." His gaze softened. "Come. Tell me, old friend." Yesss well spotted Aragorn’s shoulders slumped. Maybe.... Yes. He would tell him. Carrying the burden of hopelessness was too tiring, maintaining a facade that all was well too exhausting. Please. Please do <3 Still, his words were faltering and slow. "Somehow... I feel I have lost the path. Or perhaps the path that I once saw so clearly in my youth is no longer open to me. I feel as though I stand at hope’s edge, and any step from here will only lead me farther away from all that I once thought possible." He looked far into an empty distance. "I-I feel like my destiny is so far out of reach that it is nothing more than the hopeless dream of a... of a fool." Skajdjfjsksk trying to explain but still struggling "Is that what your heart tells you?" Gandalf asked gently. Great question <3 Long minutes passed as he searched for an answer in the dancing flames. He finally turned to Gandalf. "My heart sees only shadow." VERY ACCURATE ANSWER I didn’t know what he’d say but that sounds so right To his surprise, Gandalf smiled, gently and a touch sadly. "And you think that yours is the only heart blinded in these dark days?" "But I am to be the king! I cannot afford to be so blind!" Aragorn said angrily, turning from Gandalf’s infuriating calm to pace the distance to the window. He stared out but saw nothing of moonlit beauty of Rivendell. His voice fell to a whisper. "What good is it to Middle-earth if the heir to the throne of Gondor is so easily defeated?" Hmmm <:(( "Defeated? I think you use too strong a word. The inability to see the path before one’s feet does not always amount to defeat, else we would all fail before we left our doors, whether we be merchants or farmers, wizards or, yes, even kings. We are all feeling our way through an impenetrable fog, Aragorn, moving forward only one uncertain step at a time. But moving forward nonetheless. " Aragorn heard robes rustle, then a hand gently squeezed his shoulder. "Tell me, Aragorn, my friend. It is not like you to have such despair in your eyes. What is it that so haunts your dreams that you cry out in the night?" SKASKGDSFHJ okay has he been here for multiple days now or does Gandalf just know that Anyways his perception makes me happy <3 And he just Sounds like Gandalf Aragorn folded his arms around his chest and tried to hide his shiver with a shrug. "I have no dreams of late. Only nightmares." Skajdjfks Nightmares Not even counting them as dreams THE SHIVER "We all have nightmares, but I must say I have never known you to suffer unduly from them, no matter how bleak the night." Mmmmm yessssssss <333 Aragorn gave no answer. That after all this time, the effects of the Black Breath would still be plaguing him only brought a wave of shame that he should be so weak. To speak it aloud... no, he could not bring himself to do it. To have admitted his despair had been hard enough. BUT ARAGORN YOU NEVER REALLY GOT THE PROPER CARE Gandalf sat down on the bed and leaned his ever-present staff beside him. He folded his hands over his knee and studied Aragorn so intently that Aragorn felt as though he were being judged before Ilúvatar himself. Yesss <33 STUDY HIM Also yay hes on a bed now I wonder what got him there "Gandalf," he protested, but fell silent at Gandalf’s raised hand. HEHE I love those sorts of cut-off protests "You mentioned fighting off orcs. But what of the Nazgûl? Did you encounter him directly?" After a long moment, Aragorn gave Gandalf a terse nod. Yesss Okay I love these probing questions and Aragorn’s pauses and this terse nod. Hes so reluctant but they need to know. Gandalf’s eyebrows shot upward. "Ah," he said, as if coming to full understanding. "And how long ago did you fight him?" YESSS SHOT UP full understanding indeed <3 he is asking the right questions "Almost two weeks, then again, briefly, just yesterday." Thank you for also mentioning yesterday because like. Maybe there was no hand to hand combat but he certainly had to fight off the darkness. And I honestly wouldn’t trust Aragorn to count that in to Gandalf when he’s being so reserved, so I’m glad he did Also Yayy it’s still the same day, I hoped it was. At the same time, it barely feels like that was only yesterday. "And in this first encounter... how close were you yourself to him, Aragorn?" Yesss still the right questions very good At Aragorn’s continued silence, Gandalf’s fierce scowl returned. "Aragorn, you must tell me everything. Do not leave out even one detail." YESSS THANK YOU THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART fierce scowl <3 at his silence, because HE NEEDS ARAGORN TO TELL HIM, SO HE CAN HELP, I love that sort of scowl So Aragorn told the entire sad tale, trying to skim over his own defeat by merely saying, "I fought with him, and he fled after Halbarad threatened him with fire. We contended with him again at Windydale, only I did not get quite so near, nor for very long – a matter of minutes only. Glorfindel finally drove him out of the area, as far as we were able to ascertain. Then Halbarad was shot, and I brought him here, for it was only the skill of Lord Elrond that could save him." ARAGORN YOU ARE LEAVING OUT SO SO MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DETAILS YOU…IDIOT I SAY THIS WITH ALL LOVE BUT "Aragorn," Gandalf said, a warning flashing in his eyes. "Do not try to fool a wizard! Is that truly all that happened? Are you trying to tell me that you did not feel the effects of being so near a Nazgûl not once but twice?" THANK YOU BE ANGRY UNTIL HE STOPS TRYING TO FOOL YOU "Yes... I mean, no. I did, but I am fine. I..." Aragorn started, but then the lie locked in his throat. Yess good The blackness that seemed more and more to take all his energy to keep at bay surged once more. He forced it back, bleak in the knowledge that the next time it would return stronger than before, like an ever rising tide, and the way he felt at the moment, it would be highly unlikely that he could fight it off again. Aksjfjfkskdk Also good :) I would like him to pass out or SOMETHING to give others the opportunity to actually do something for him "It... I feel it... him... I don’t know what it is, if it’s simply the memory that still plagues me, or something... something worse. A blackness... like a cold shadow that the sun cannot penetrate... still lingers in my mind. And there is a chill in my bones that no fire seems able to thaw." Yesssssss The barely masked horror in the “I feel it…him…” it feels reminiscent of Frodo THANK YOU FOR SAYING ALL THESE WORDS <3 a blackness lingers. A chill in my bones YES ITS STILL THERE these are very strong words, good job Aragorn Gandalf leaned his head back to squint at Aragorn down the considerable length of his nose. "It is unusual, I must say, after all this time. Most men would long have died by now," he mused, seeming to be talking to himself more than Aragorn. He blinked, then fixed Aragorn with a bright gaze. "But your Númenórean blood gives you greater strength than lesser men, and you do know a bit about healing, and there is the fact that your line has a special touch with the athelas. Although I’ve not heard of a healer healing himself of this, I suppose to a certain degree, you managed. Yes, I do believe that’s all this is. Well then." He stood up, shaking himself and arranging his long grey cloak. Okay “that’s all this is” feels rather dismissive of the depth of his suffering to me but I don’t think it’s actually meant to be. It’s just. He doesn’t know about the sword and arm and all those things "That’s all what is? Surely you are not leaving without explaining yourself?" Aragorn asked, his voice a bit sharper than he intended, but his head was starting to throb harder than ever, and he had little patience for the wizard’s enigmatic ways. Lol too exhausted for his riddles <3 "Of course not, my dear boy," Gandalf said, a kind smile on his face as he put both hands on Aragorn’s shoulders. He studied Aragorn’s eyes and then shook his head sadly. "Ever do you think you can carry burdens too big for you." THANK YOUUUU and he DOES NOT NEED TO CARRY THEM ALONE NO ONE BUT HIMSELF EXPECTS HIM TO Aragorn shook off Gandalf’s hands. He had to change the subject–this was getting them nowhere. …uh-huh. Sure. Perhaps, only because he is being so RESISTANT to give away any information He angrily stepped away and started pacing before the fireplace. "It is not so great a burden. SURE I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR MY SARCASM Also wait WAS he sitting on the bed or was that only Gandalf?? I would not be surprised if he’s been standing this whole time I lived, and I will get better in time. You said it yourself; the healer can heal himself, and I have. THAT IS NOT WHAT HE SAID the words were “I’ve not heard of a healer healing himself of this” Or am still doing so, however you want to say it." He made an impatient gesture and went on, "What really concerns me is what to do about the fact that a wraith lingers yet in my lands, terrorizing and murdering my people for reasons I am apparently too much the dullard to figure out, save that it is evil and, like its foul master, full of hate for all men." <:( he just cares about his people WHICH I LOVE ABOUT HIM I don’t love, however, that he tries to use it to avoid and get angry over any care for himself Also…this is strong language also "Trust me, Aragorn, you are neither a dullard nor a fool. THANK YOU I do not like Aragorn calling himself that None of us have figured out the wiles of the enemy or he would have been defeated ages ago. But, since you seem so eager to avoid the topic of your own well being, let us for a moment speculate together and maybe we will come up with something that assures us that neither of us are as thickheaded as we might fear," Gandalf said with a mischievous wink. <333 I love him He sees exactly what he’s doing but will use it to his own purposes Any other time, the twinkle in Gandalf’s eye would have lightened his mood, but Aragorn merely scowled, not missing a step in his restless measuring of the distance across the room and back. His legs were feeling shaky but he used his anger to goad them to keep moving. A pulse started to beat deep within the wound on his arm, so he again surreptitiously grasped his left elbow. "I would be glad of your insight, for mine has been of precious little use." Lolll hes so grumpy poor guy. Also SIT DOWN or collapse. Actually, do that. That sounds great. Hmm surreptitiously Again this typical to Aragorn feeling in dark moments like he only makes bad choices Also, lucky for him he has a tunic that is not ripped, and no one has seen the bandage like his brothers immediately could with the ripped one. I mean not lucky for his health but he’s probably happy "Right, then. Let us consider. He may be searching for the One Ring. That is, after all, their sole purpose in whatever it is that passes for their lives," Gandalf mused. "Saruman claims it washed down the Anduin to the sea, and may it be so. But if the servants of the Ring... of Sauron... are stirring, then I fear that Saruman may be wrong in his assertion that the Ring is no more. It may have awakened and is calling to its servants, and this one is searching for it." Gandalf paused and looked pointedly at him. Yesss indeed Aragorn slowed but did not stop his troubled prowling. "Go on. I am listening." lol troubled prowling <3 "Like talking to the pendulum on Bilbo’s clock," Gandalf huffed, but continued. LOL <3 "Not quite. I think there could be another reason the wraith is astir in your lands." Aragorn stopped. "And that is?" Yesss "Foremost always in Sauron’s thought is his desire for the One Ring. How he wants it, for it is part of him and he of it. They are bound to one another. But second to that desire is this: he seeks the Heir of Isildur. He seeks to utterly destroy both him and his line, because it is only through him – through you, Aragorn, son of Arathorn – that his defeat will be assured." Yesssssss he fears you, Aragorn "But the secret... he surely does not know I am the one he seeks." He hunched his shoulders, rubbing his arm. It felt like someone was jabbing it with a hot poker. Hehe yes Also OUCH um Jabbing with a hot poker This is getting bad "Sauron’s spies are everywhere, their methods devious and cunning. Who is to say that Sauron has not heard rumor that a son yet lives, a son that is hiding among the Dúnedain remnant? A son that has taken his rightful seat as Chieftain?" Hmmm good point Aragorn felt as though someone had punched him in the gut. "He is destroying the settlements in order to draw me out." That could explain why he doubled back to attack Windydale a second time... I was there... I drew him there... NOPE NOPE DO NOT HEAP MORE GUILT UPON YOURSELF "I am not sure, of course, but it is something we cannot dismiss." Aragorn stared at Gandalf without seeing him. Instead he saw burning buildings and the tormented faces of the dead. "Ever have I sought to protect my people," he said, his voice sounding thin and somehow distant, even to his own ears. "But now it seems as though my very existence has hastened their destruction." Nooooooo no no stop Gandalf shook his head. "No, Aragorn. Do not look at it so. Your service to your people has not been undermined. You have led them better than any other chieftain before you, and none in the long line of Isildur’s heirs have given themselves so selflessly to such a seemingly hopeless task as you have. You have not brought them destruction, but hope, and hope ever will be embodied in who you are and what you will become." Awwwwww THANK YOU SEE he is better even than each of his ancestors and prior chieftains. He is a great and kind and powerful and selfless chieftain. AND BRINGING THEM HOPE <3 Hope does little to serve the people when the enemy uses it against them," Aragorn said, bitterness riding hard on his heart. "If he knows who I am, then I give no succor to my people but am a threat to their very survival." He gathered his coat and his sword, then bent to pick up his boots. "I must leave. We will put forth the word that the Chieftain has died, the line truly ended, and maybe thereby give my people time while I go forth to Mordor." ARAGORN NO STOP DO NOT DO THIS THAT IS EXTREMELY HASTY AND FOOLISH also Buddy what do you think your half-alive hopeless self will accomplish alone at Mordor? "Aragorn, I am certain that Sauron does not know–" "It is as the visions... the nightmares... showed, only it will not be by the hand of my friends that I find myself at Sauron’s feet, nor chained and helpless, but by the strength of my sword and Sauron will be the one–" Noooooo not the nightmares Not the even worse all-my-fault twists on it Stop "Aragorn!" Gandalf’s voice sliced through the room like lightning. YES is this gonna be a BILBO BAGGINS! moment THANK YOU GANDALF Aragorn froze, a boot dropping from his hand. He barely kept himself from cowering in fear at the sight of one of the Istari in full-blown wrath. He started to open his mouth to speak, but shut it with a snap as Gandalf seemed to loom larger than the room itself. HA YES one of the only people, I think, who could make Aragorn cower in fear, and he sure needs that shock right now "You will do no such thing! The time is not yet full, and you would only destroy yourself and with that, all of Middle-earth!" YESSSS Then Gandalf’s rage passed as quickly as it erupted. He seemed to shrink, to become again a harmless-appearing old man with friendly eyes who spoke as a patient teacher to a stubborn pupil. Yess just like with Bilbo <33 he does not mean to gain some kind of like fear over him, just enough momentarily to knock some sense into him "I have no idea what you mean with this prattle of visions and being thrown to the enemy, but trust me in this: the enemy does not know you exist, else this region would be swarming with every evil weapon and soldier Sauron has at his disposal. That there has been just the one Nazgûl with a small force of orcs, as terrible as that is, tells me that your identity is mere rumor, as it always has been. Nothing more. Thank youuuuuu Aragorn jumping so quickly to these conclusions before Gandalf can refute them lol And, goodness, my boy, none of us will bind you over into Sauron’s hand." I LOVE THIS SENTENCE first hes like I have no idea what you mean by that but, and then he comes back and is like, “goodness, my boy” (love those words <3) we all love and are so loyal to you!! Aragorn put his sword down, and suddenly weariness replaced panic and he felt very foolish. As if he could hope to take on Sauron! "I know," he sighed. "It is just a recurring theme in my nightmares, nothing more. As to the other, I spoke rashly. I know I cannot take on Sauron, not now and not alone, much as my anger would drive me to try." He laid the coat back across the chair and then stood for a moment, chewing his lip before he finally spoke again. "So you truly think he has not discovered who I am?" Yessss THANK YOU for recovering your reason And seeing now how absurd the moment was "He cannot possibly have, else you would not be standing before me, even in so bedraggled a condition that you seem barely able to stand. Aragorn, you look like the brush of a butterfly’s wing would knock you down." THANK YOU MY DEAR GANDALF Aragorn pulled a face. "I am fine." He resumed pacing in front of the fireplace, albeit more slowly than before. YEAH SURE "Again, you try to fool a wizard at your peril. And I do wish you would sit down and stop pacing," Gandalf said sharply. He added under his breath, "Is it any wonder you call yourself Strider?" Yessss this sharpness, like when it came from Halbarad, is making me happy. “At your peril” THATS THE TRUTH he’s like, this is your danger you’re putting yourself into by trying to fool me??? Also, trying to fold a wizard? Really? "I don’t call myself that. Usually." Aragorn stopped his prowling but refused to sit down. "The question is, then, what can I do to stop the wraith returning?" Mmm usually lol And yeah, thats mostly others’ nickname. But this is rather a funny accurate application Also I just realized, if Aragorn manages to hide exactly what happened and how close to death he was until Halbarad wakes up…well, wait till Halbarad wakes up "Nothing." "Nothing?" Anger rose again. "How can you say–" Aragorn my friend you have a very short temper tonight <3 "You do not stop him. No, not by yourself nor with your Rangers, nor even with Glorfindel, although he has bought us time with his strength. No, you have a large role to play on the grand stage of Middle-earth’s doom, you and your Rangers, but before this is over and Sauron is defeated, you will have help from an entire array of folk, both expected and unexpected." Yessssss truth truth Aragorn frowned. "What ‘folk’?" HEHE shire-folk :) Among others "All in time, my dear friend, all in time," Gandalf replied cryptically. "But we must first deal with the matter at hand, for you can only play your part if you are healthy and strong. This broken-down shell of a man standing before me is not capable of dispatching a mosquito, let alone a Nazgûl. You must heal, and then we will talk of strategy, and of the plans I have for you." Thank youuuuu broken-down shell of a man, although I’m sure Aragorn does not appreciate that description, I like Gandalf using strong descriptions to show how greatly Aragorn is failing at hiding his physical state Also yay the plans I have for you <3 (sounding rather like Jesus there :)) "What plans?" Aragorn asked warily. He was far too tired for the wizard’s riddles. lol "Future plans, nothing imminent," Gandalf waved him off. "I am still searching and watching and traveling, trying to find answers that are slow in coming, but coming nonetheless. But they needn’t concern you yet. Heheee hes like oh don’t worry atm In the coming months, perhaps. But for now... you need the care of your father. You have not told him of the Nazgûl, have you?" YES THANK YOU I AM SAYING THAT A LOT BUT I SAY IT SINCERELY HE NEEDS THE CARE OF HIS FATHER <333 I need him to have the care of his father Aragorn glanced away. He rubbed his temples, which were pounding with an intensity that threatened to rob him of his sight. "Not yet. He has had his hands full with Halbarad. My own troubles can wait until morning. The dark of night is not the time I would have preferred to speak of it. To anyone," he added pointedly. Mmmm But the dark of night is exactly when it’s strongest and you need the most support "Then you should learn to keep your mouth shut while you sleep. I’m surprised your howls were not heard in the Shire." LOL okay this all makes sense now. Aragorn went to bed and had nightmares and screamed himself awake (<:() and Gandalf heard Also “your howls”, like as much as his says this almost teasingly (which I like) there’s also. Aragorn does not howl, ever, if he can help it. That makes it sound like. So intense and loud. And PAINED Aragorn felt his cheeks burn but he could not really say anything in his own defense. He had woken himself up, after all. And over the past week, Halbarad and the men certainly had let him know in no uncertain terms that their sleep had also suffered because of his nightmares. Loll they’re sympathetic but also they will let him know he’s disrupting their sleep. Poor guy is extremely aware and feels bad He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am sure I was not heard in the Shire," he muttered. Aww this rather petulant but also embarrassed and pained mutter <3 Gandalf again put his hands on Aragorn’s shoulders, his eyes compassionate. "I should not tease, for I know how distressing this is. You have suffered much but rest assured, Aragorn, this affliction is near its end. Elrond knows how to treat the Black Breath and rid your mind fully of this menace, fear not. Shall I find him now?" Skajdjfjs yes he can fully rid his mind of this great menace <3 "No. He worked long and hard today; there is no need to disturb him." "If you are sure?" Aragorn nodded, wincing a little as the motion sent a wave of pain rocking through his head. "I just need to sleep." lol sure Also is he like, severely dehydrated? I feel like he’s been taking random gulps of water here and there but that’s it "I do not know whether to trust your judgment in this, but seeing as it appears you have gotten yourself this far, I will agree. And you are right in that Elrond worked long and hard on Halbarad and needs rest before dealing with you. Very well. Get some rest of your own, in the meantime. And have you any athelas?" A great point and conclusion <3 Aragorn’s judgement may or may not be trustworthy on this but he will not die between now and then and Elrond can better heal him and give him his full love and care if he is rested “before dealing with you” lol "I can find some, yes." "Good, good. Use the athelas... I think perhaps in the rush of fighting off wraiths and hauling wounded friends to Imladris that you have neglected yourself too much." Mm good idea YEP I didn’t think of him using Athelas again but I’m sure that would help him last longer Aragorn ducked his head but did not argue. Gandalf was right, as always. <3 indeed "Feel no shame, my dear boy. ‘tis one of your strengths, that you look to the welfare of others before you take care of your own. It will serve you well as King. But it can also be a great weakness when you neglect yourself to the point where you are near collapse." Mmm yesss often our greatest strengths undermine us in certain situations Gandalf patted his arm. "There. I will stop my lecturing and let you rest. Then I will see you in the morning and take you straightaway to your father." Yayyyyy take him to his father <33 "What, no breakfast?" Gandalf stared for a moment, then laughed. "You must not be too near death, if you can still make a joke." LOL says the guy to whom food tastes like nothing (Also if I have not already said this, starving but no appetite and having to force down food if they eat at all is a great trope and I’m glad you used it) "Who was joking?" Aragorn smiled, then opened the door. He leaned his arm on it as Gandalf walked out. "Gandalf, wait." Gandalf stopped in the hallway and turned. "Thank you. For listening." <333 thank you for appreciating him. There is still reason under the hopelessness-induced crabbiness "All in a day’s work." He glanced toward the darkened window. "Or night’s, as it were. Good night, old friend." :)) night’s Old friend <333 "Good night, Gandalf." Aragorn shut the door and leaned back against it. He shut his eyes for a moment as again he kneaded his temples. Maybe before hunting down athelas, he should go down to the kitchen and get another cup of willowbark tea. Then he could stop by Elrond’s study... he always kept a supply of athelas and other medicines there. Aragorn opened his eyes and looked once more at his room, and at the bed. OOH IS HE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE ATHELAS I would like that muchly. As much as he needs some, him still being as depressed and hurt as possible when Elrond tends him also scratches my whump itch so And good idea to get some tea, I’m impressed you’re actually planning to do extra things to take care of yourself Also you’re doing such a good job of prolonging his pain. Thank you >:) I was not expecting it to last this long (besides the hints of the chapter titles) Somehow now it all looked very inviting. It would be good to come back to it and finally sleep. HE ACTUALLY WANTS SLEEP AND REST like, he can actually accept it Smiling, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, but stopped short as a knife of pain suddenly stabbed through his skull. He gasped as he grabbed his head with one hand and slapped a hand against the wall to steady himself with the other. OOOH that is indeed a knife of pain, to make him gasp and stagger AND JUST WHEN HE HAD A GENUINE SMILE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG He stood that way for a long time, praying for the pain to ease but it did not, and shadows gathered in a filmy haze before his eyes. He took another step but his knee buckled and he slid down the wall, knocking into a potted fern on an iron stand. He tried to grab it but pain from his head and his arm made him clumsy, and he only succeeded in knocking it completely over. It crashed to the floor with the clamor of shattered pottery and clanging metal and he landed on top of it, its wrought iron edge digging excruciatingly into his wounded arm. Aragorn cried out and then felt more than saw a door open and footsteps rapidly approaching. YESSSS YES YES COLLAPSE COLLAPSE I WAS HOPING HE WOULD COLLAPSE BEFORE HE RECEIVED CARE he lasted impressively long And “excruciatingly” is right, and a good strong word, I CANNOT IMAGINE, an iron edge (I assume with like curls and stuff too?) digging into a wounded and infected arm that was already poker-hot stabbing him earlier with no provocation, like Anyways I loveeee this it was very good. The waiting for pain to ease but it does not, and then instead of a quick collapse the whole struggle of knee buckling, sliding down the wall, clumsily unable to right the pot and instead falling on it, is so great "My dear boy!" Gandalf’s alarmed voice in his ear. "My dear boy. Let me help you." YAYYY AWW My dear boy <3 “Let me help you” aksjdjdk Strong arms slipped beneath Aragorn’s and he felt himself being pulled to his feet. "Gandalf..." "Shh, do not try to speak." Yess like when the Black Breath first came over him, and his friends kept telling him “don’t try to walk” Aragorn tried to walk but his legs seemed incapable of supporting him. He sagged dizzily against Gandalf and started to fall again. He felt an arm sweep behind his knees and he knew he was being carried and hated it. BUT I LOVE IT SO Gandalf is indeed strong. And I love that we have proof with him having effortlessly carried Faramir. Anyways Gandalf carrying Aragorn!! Makes me happy!! "I am a fool of a wizard for believing you! Yesssss fool of a wizard hehe Even I believed his judgement may possibly have been okay! Until I realized he was going to try to walk around the house It is as I feared. Worse even; you are burning up with fever. We cannot wait for morning. Elrond!" Gandalf bellowed and then hurried into Aragorn’s room. Yessss GANDALF BELLOWING makes me happy Also: thank you Gandalf for sleeping close to his room Mm yes I suppose he had not felt the fever He laid Aragorn on his bed and Aragorn grabbed at the coverlet, hoping against hope that he might ride out the crazy spinning of a world gone wildly out of control. Skajdjfdj I love how even though he senses the things going on, when we turn to his own mind hes just worried about THIS CRAZY SPINNING and we go oh whoa oh dear he is clutching at his coverlet to make wild world stop, he is not well indeed He felt a hand on his forehead. "Yes, you are indeed ill beyond the remnants of Black Breath, young man," Gandalf said testily. "And no doubt have been all evening and yet all you could tell me is ‘fine’. Stubbornness, your name is Estel Elrondion!" OH MY GOSH SO SO SO TRUE THE MOST STUBBORNEST PERSON HE IS His footsteps moved away and again Aragorn heard a bellow. "Elrond!" Aragorn tried to sit up. "No, no. Lay down. Be still." Indeed <33 But he had to get up. Had to keep moving. "No... have to move... the shadow..." skajdjdjdjdj this again Delirium "Shhh. Easy, my child." Against the footsteps faded and again a bellowing shout into the hall. "Elrond, cease your slumber and come immediately!" Oh my gosh this is making me GRIN All of it And Gandalf bellowing three times And PARTICULARLY “Elrond, cease your slumber and come immediately!” YES I LOVE Aragorn looked toward the doorway, but the room seemed dim, full of shadow and flame. He groaned. It was getting hard to breathe. He dropped his head back to his pillow with a low cry. Fire-wreathed darkness enveloped him, and then it felt as though he fell into black waters. They closed over his head and he knew no more. SKAJDJFJD the groan GETTING HARD TO BREATHE the low cry ahhhhhhh filled with weak pain (As in, not the pain but him that is weak) FIRE-WREATHED DARKNESS only Sauron and his servants could achieve that ASKDJDJD THE DROWNING DARK WATERS ARE BACKKKKK and before he was struggling to keep above the surface, even on death’s door, but now they have finally closed above his head…what does that say???

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 12/27/2025
It was as Aragorn feared. Rest utterly eluded him. <:( He could not bring himself to go upstairs to his room. He only went inside as far as the kitchens, eating a meal standing by the door, as though he were some frightened stray dog ready to bolt at the slightest crosswise look. Skajsjdj this <:( the fact that he himself is describing himself as acting like a frightened stray dog ready to bolt…he’s hurting emotionally so much Also like. Not even sitting down to eat. When hes about to fall over He barely tasted the food and a moment after swallowing the last bite could not remember what it was he ate. And he grimaced but swallowed a cup of willowbark tea, hating the taste but knowing it would help both his headache and his growing fever. As he finished, he had to politely shake off an offer of a bath, and then refuse another of a chair, and a third of a change of clothing. By the time he disentangled himself from the last cloying offer of assistance from the well-meaning staff, he felt ready to explode. <:( BUDDY TAKE A BATH CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES PLEASE you can’t avoid comfort forever, you know The offers feeling “cloying”, he just can’t right now <:( He hurried outside where he prowled through the gardens around the Last Homely House, trying to find solace in the flowers and trees that flourished there even this late in the autumn. He sat down on a bench, but restlessly moved on after just a few minutes. He sat on a rock beside a small stream, but its incessant gurgling only jangled his already taut nerves. His mind seemed to buzz with the intensity of his worries. Thought circled thought and fear swirled around fear and peace was something that he may have known in the distant past but was far out of reach this day. Skkajdj I love the use of “this day”, especially when used by Aragorn, always. Because like, yknow, the movie speech. And also it just sounds like him <3 He paced and shoved his hands through his hair and tore off leaves from the bushes and shredded them in his nervous fingers. He scowled at the heat of the sun and shivered at the shade and as the minutes ticked into hours and the morning waxed and then waned into afternoon with no news, his anxiety over Halbarad grew to unbearable proportions. Finally, when the sun’s shadow told him it was well past mid-afternoon, he could endure it no longer. He turned on his heel and headed for the House of Healing. AKSJDJD HIS EXTREME ANXIETY SHREDDING RANDOM LEAVES it’s so real, you can FEEL it Yayyyy go go He entered the quiet sanctuary nearly on tiptoe, afraid of what he might find. A familiar Elf carrying a bowl of water turned toward him as he hovered uncertainly in the doorway. "Estel! I wondered how long it would be before you came to haunt the doorstep. You lasted longer than I would have thought. I trust you found some rest," Uhhhh Erestor said with a smile, and Aragorn said nothing to disabuse him of the notion. Erestor lowered the bowl to a counter and embraced Aragorn. "How very good it is to see my favorite pupil again!" He released him and picked the bowl back up and dumped the water down a drain. He worked the pump handle to refill it. "You will have to forgive my tardiness in coming to greet you. I have been a bit preoccupied." AWW picturing him following Erestor around when he was young to learn everything he could about healing <33 Aragorn bowed respectfully. "Please, do not apologize. I hope you are well?" "As ever. But I would assume inquiring after my health is not the reason you are here." Thanks <3 "No," Aragorn admitted, "although I am glad to see you. But please, can you tell me... what of Halbarad? It seems to be taking so very long." "Again, please accept my apologies, for I should have come to you sooner with news or at the very least sent someone to you. We become so involved in the matter at hand, we sometimes forget that loved ones are waiting and worrying. So," he said, clasping his hands and falling into the old role of teacher. "You know, of course, that it appeared the arrow was very close to Halbarad’s spine." Skajd that’s so cute. Hes like I know he’s your friend but also. Teaching opportunity "I cannot say," Erestor said, not without sympathy. He took a moment to thank a young Elf who came for the bowl of fresh water, Aw see I love how they’re all so good and make sure to be kind to and appreciate everyone <3 then continued, "But Lord Elrond is not concerned. He is merely being very, very cautious, moving slowly and carefully so as to do no further damage and to make sure he gets every last bit of arrowhead, lest infection set in later, or the shards work their way into spine or lung. But the arrow was not poisoned, thank the Valar, and Halbarad is hardy; his Númenórean blood is serving him well, as yours so often has you. Yay <333 His heart is maintaining its sure and steady rhythm and his breathing is strong despite the medicine that keeps him asleep." He paused and looked thoughtful. Aragorn stifled a groan; Erestor the Endless Elocutionist, as he used to silently grumble under his breath as a bored child, was about to regale him with far too many facts about surgical procedures and the risks thereof. LOLLLLLL The Elf could lecture for hours on end when such a mood fell on him, and sure enough, Erestor leaned a hip against the counter, pressed a finger thoughtfully against his chin, and continued on as though he had all the time in the world. "Sometimes the medicine will put a patient too far into sleep, as you may know, if one does not get the dosage just right. Weight, muscle, all these things must be taken into account. Halbarad has not an ounce of fat on him, and that makes it easier, for it is the heavy men, the ones too fond of sitting before a tankard of ale and a plate piled high, that give Elrond the most trouble. Those patients tend to move so deeply and quickly into the realm of slumber that they actually quit breathing, and then of course all sorts of terrible complications ensue from the lack of air. The brain starts to die, you see. And if air is not restored, if breath does not return, the damage can be so severe that there is no recovering. I knew of one unfortunate man who–" Aragorn wondered if his eyes looked as wild as he felt. He lifted his hand, ready to take Erestor by the collar and shake him and only just managed to thrust his hand through his own hair instead. OKAY I LOVE THIS hes like YOU ARE NOT HELPING MY WORRIES LISTING THE THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG even if they’re not applicable to Halbarad. “Wild”, when Aragorn’s eyes are wild there’s some strong emotion there Thrusting his hand through his hair, trying to control himself, not managing to hide really any of his feelings Erestor saw the movement and actually blushed. LOL "Ah, I apologize again. The urge to teach, you know," he smiled, but as Aragorn’s frown deepened, he hurried on, "Lord Elrond will be some hours yet before he can come to you himself, perhaps not even until late evening, for even after he finally removes the arrow, he will stay with Halbarad until he awakens, to keep him still and to ensure that he still has use of his arms and legs." Aragorn felt the blood drain from his face. "What do you mean, he still has use? Did the arrow indeed hit his spine? Is there still great risk? Has he lost the feeling in his legs?" THE WAY HE INSTANTLY PANICS <3 "Steady!" Erestor cried and put a bracing hand on Aragorn’s arm. "I said no such thing. I said ‘to ensure that he still has use’, as in, ‘retaining his normal abilities’." He raised an austere eyebrow and it was Aragorn’s turn to blush. He looked down at the floor and resisted the urge to hunch his shoulders and squirm like the school boy he had been those many years ago. Akskfkdkdk so cute <333 "I am sorry. I just thought... I was afraid that..." "Calm yourself, my child. All will be well." Erestor tugged him toward the door. "Come. Lord Elrond can do without me for a few moments, and you need to wait where it is quiet and you can find rest and distraction, for you are quite beside yourself. Fortunately, I know just the place." “My child” <333 and this time, since Erestor is not his father, calling him “my child” instead of just “child” is so sweet and perfect Aragorn let Erestor lead him away from the House of Healing. "Will you come and tell me any news?" "Of course. But I must be able to find you and I do not fancy having to trek over all Imladris to do so. So I will take you to a spot where a certain small child of Men used to play and fight imaginary armies and, as he grew older, while away the hours with his nose stuck in a book." AKSJDJ AWWWWWW adorable And indeed, he led him to one of Aragorn’s favorite childhood haunts: a giant willow tree growing near the Bruinen. Under the embrace of its vast weeping branches, Aragorn had fought armies of orcs from a hidden fortress and battled Smaug alongside an imaginary Bilbo and company of dwarves. He had watched baby birds hatch in their nests in its branches, and once he found a small lizard that let him feed it by hand. And in the secret bower beneath its fronds, he found escape from the sometimes merciless aggravations of twin brothers who never seemed to tire of tormenting and teasing their younger brother when they were not out on patrol. After a particularly trying day that had left him in tears, Elrond had come to his rescue, declaring the willow as Estel’s own, and forbidding Elrohir and Elladan entrance into Estel’s leafy domain upon pain of, if not death, then severe application of kitchen duties. THIS IS THE SWEETEST THING EVER detailing the things small Aragorn did there <33 OKAY WAIT was Aragorn still living here when Bilbo passed through??? I never thought of that but probably??? I love that so much baby him is like I wanna be like Bilbo and the dwarves and fight Smaug! That is so accurate to a child’s play. Seeing others around them they think are cool and going “I’m gonna play that I’m them, or on adventures with them” by name And then, they arent a perfect family. Also that the twins who are probably as old as a lot of the other elves around here? Perhaps? Going “ah he is our brother” while everyone else, being so much older than him, goes “ah he is our child” <3 it’s cute, even if it does mean they torment him ALSO ELROND BEST DAD EVER AWARD LIVING UP TO HIS REPUTATION OF KINDNESS AND WISDOM <333 “Declaring the willow as Estel’s own” skajdjfjjs <3333 <:))) coming to his rescue, and giving him a space for his own, his favorite space, and not only like, saying “you can take refuge there”, but “this is yours now” <:(( and a tree, a weeping willow, no less. And like. Elves and their trees. So it means a lot to give him a tree of his own. “Estel’s leafy domain” <33 Severe application of kitchen duties LOL <3 How I love this paragraph Lost in memory, Aragorn stepped into the verdant space, thick moss springy beneath his feet. Someone had added a cushioned chaise and a table, whereas Aragorn had only ever had a stump for a seat and a rock for a table. Not that he had needed more. As a boy, he had never been overly interested in reclining sedately when there were dragons to slay. Loll naturally He ran his hand over the table. "I remember this place well, although this is new." "I added a few creature comforts after you left. A rock might have done for a small child but my bones prefer a little cushioning. I come here often," he added. <33 hes like it’s Estel’s placeeee and he picked a good one Aragorn took a deep breath. The air was cool, but comfortable, redolent with the sweet aroma that was found only in Rivendell. He never could decide what created the fragrance. It smelled of heather and honeysuckle, athelas and fresh rain... and something exotically spicy that he could never place. He always thought of it as the scent of all that was good on Arda. It was the scent of home. AKSJDJD that sounds like the most wonderful scent ESPECIALLY if it literally is your home <3 Oooh athelas smell "It is a good place to wait. Thank you." "Do not think I did not notice how you failed to go into the house save for a meal," Erestor said quietly. "Perhaps the Ranger, like the child he once was, still seems most comfortable out of doors?" Thank youuuu Erestor Mm the blood of the Rangers runs deep in his veins Aragorn shrugged ruefully but said nothing. He was not sure himself why he felt unable to go inside his old home. Perhaps the comforts therein were too sumptuous, too luxurious to indulge in when Halbarad lay suffering and perhaps dying. Or perhaps he did not want to feel caged. Skajdjfjdj ooh both make much sense. Perhaps both? Erestor gave him a small, sad smile. "It is hard, I know. Even the most blind Elf can see that you are troubled and careworn and exhausted. Speak and unburden yourself if you wish, but if not, find what solace you can here." He smiled a bit wistfully, looking up into the willow fronds. "‘...they came at length to Nan-tathren, the Land of Willows, and there they rested a while, and were healed of their hurts and weariness...’"(1) <:((( even the most blind elf can see that Oooh a beautiful quote "‘But their sorrow could not be healed,’" Aragorn murmured, finishing the quote about the remnant of Gondolin. He shrugged. "Forgive me. My mood is dark this day." SKAJDJ TEARS <:( also mood, the ending with the dark part of the quote because that’s how I’m feeling but then apologizing for being dark Again “this day” <3 Erestor patted his shoulder in a paternal gesture. "I will send someone with food and drink. You look as though you need it." He lifted an eyebrow and then added delicately, "And a bowl of water, towel and comb, I should think." lol thank you <3 Delicately hehe "Thank you, Erestor. Again, I am sorry I am such poor company." "There is nothing to forgive, my child. Rest, and recoup your strength. I would like to see the light of Elendil shine once more in your eyes." <:( SKAJDJ the light is not there. All is darkness. So even Erestor sees that there is no light within me. Little wonder, really. It seemed for weeks now that his spirit was as a lamp that was fast running out of oil, and now, after Windydale and the hard ride, there seemed only the most feeble flicker to ward off the encroaching darkness. But that was not something of which he could comfortably speak to his old teacher. He looked toward the Last Homely House, barely visible through a gap between branches. "Tell me, Erestor," he said, searching for some other subject, something to divert his mind from dark paths if only for a little while longer, "did Bilfen Broadbow arrive?" Skajjdjfjaksjfkskaksj all Aragorn’s feelings on this, and a reminder that the darkness is really receded only enough for him to be walking and talking. And that’s. Pretty much it. Bilfen! IF ONLY FOR A LITTLE LONGER a last distraction, only putting off the inevitable dark paths of his mind. That is kind of the worst kind of suffering. No light. No hope. Only dark, weary, pained thoughts that will not go elsewhere "Oh yes. He and his dour companion both. Kenevir, that was his name. Master Bilfen has been through much sadness, has he not? I think of Rivendell destroyed as Bracken’s Ferry was and my fëa grows cold within me. But he seems to possess remarkable resiliency, as all Men seem to. It is something I greatly envy about the Race of Men," Erestor said almost wistfully. Mmm whoa An elf envying the resiliency of men I love that. It makes me feel…more capable of being resilient, I guess. Aragorn was taken a bit aback at the thought of an Elf as wise and seemingly content with his life as Erestor feeling any dissatisfaction with his lot. He said nothing, though, and Erestor continued, "Right now he is in the eastern reaches of Rivendell, hunting mushrooms or some such thing. He said he would be back in two days, maybe three, so he is not here to greet you. But he has been busy in the kitchens, watching the cooks and learning new recipes to prepare in, as he puts it, ‘the Hunter’s Horn Reforged’. It seems he was quite taken with the murals of Elendil and Isildur battling Sauron and said he wanted to honor the Shards of Narsil, and Isildur for his bravery, and for producing such a fine descendent in, as he put it, ‘that crazy Ranger, Strider.’ While I was a bit surprised he knew your true identity, though I suppose many in the North do know who you are, I must say, it touched me deeply for him to do such a thing for your house, and for you." AKSJDJFK AWW <3 touches me as well “That crazy Ranger, Strider” loll <333 Aragorn felt his cheeks color at the secondhand news of such praise. "Bilfen has a good heart." Aww he does "Just so, just so." Erestor looked at the sun and clasped his hands. "Well, I must be returning to the House of Healing. You are sure you will be well here?" "Yes, it will do perfectly. Rivendell’s own Nan-tathren," he smiled. He paused, then put a hand on Erestor’s shoulder, "Thank you, Erestor. It has been good to speak with you." <333 yess "Then I take it Erestor the Endless Elocutionist did not bore you over much?" SKAJDJFJ Aragorn felt his face flame. "How did you know–" Erestor merely smiled without answering, then bowed and left. SKAJDJFJKSDKDJ JUST SMILES AND BOWS I love him Also this is so cute because like. I love how self-aware he is, actually self-aware and others-aware, and he does not take offense at the label or get embarrassed and try to not do any lecturing, he just. Is humored and maintains awareness Aragorn rubbed his face, trying to wipe away his embarrassment. How does Erestor know everything that happens in this realm, from whether or not I entered the house to knowing the thoughts that I try to keep hidden? Great question <3 he sees much Hidden thoughts ... he wondered if the extent of the emptiness within him escaped Erestor’s notice. Probably not. Skadjjf “the extent of the emptiness” suggests how infinite it is In the silence that fell with the Elf’s departure, Aragorn felt the shadow swell again. Aksjdkdkskssss alone IMMEDIATELY the shadow swells. Even in Imladris. He shivered, then wrapped his arms around his chest. He looked up at the leafy canopy and the limbs where he had sprawled as an ungainly teenager, his nose indeed buried in a book most of the time. He had been so young, and life so full of promise. <:((( NOO THE ACHE OF A LOST HOPE AND BRIGHTNESS IN LIFE HE FEARS WILL NEVER RETURN He touched the furrowed bark of the tree, and for a dizzying moment, Rivendell vanished and he was bracing himself against the rough bole of another tree, one shrouded in golden splendor in a field to the west, the body of a young Dúnadan at his feet, his eyes accusing him as he lay broken and dead among the corpses of dozens of orcs. Aragorn groaned and shut his eyes, and when he opened them again the grisly scene had faded. Strength left his legs and he dropped to his knees. He wiped the back of his hand across his brow and took several deep breaths, trying to slow the heavy pounding of his heart. No no no nooooo GROANED that is a noise of deepest distress. And not the “accusing” eyes, which are only accusing to his perception. DROPPING TO HIS KNEES and “the HEAVY pounding of his heart” feels like almost a suggestion that it is deliberately tormenting him <:( Where had that vision come from? He shook his head, trying to clear it but the movement merely made it feel as though his brain were rocking from one side of his skull to the other. He held himself perfectly still and the pounding finally eased. Elrond was right... he was indeed ill. Something beyond fatigue was causing this fever. Maybe he had picked up a chill riding through the cool night air. Or maybe his arm was so infected it was poisoning him. Not that it really mattered. He kneaded his temples, wondering at his lack of concern over either possibility. Mmmm rocking that’s not fun NOT THAT IT REALLY MATTERED HMM the seeming juxtaposition of numbness and apathy with still a very loud grief and sorrow and pain is so. Real. Anyways his uncaring. Hurts. He found that the truth was that he simply did not care. <:(( Finally, out of nothing more than a vague sense of duty as a healer, he roused himself to lift his left arm. <:( the vague duty Bless that sense of duty but…experiencing it yourself is kinda annoying when you kinda just want to…not care in peace? There was a sharp sting as the muscle flexed. He peeled back his shirt. The bandage was stained with dried blood but there was evidence of fresh bleeding and some yellowish pus. He laid his hand over it and felt heat even through the layers of bandage. He sighed and pulled his shirt back up. So it was infected, probably much worse than before. "You said you would keep an eye on it, Halbarad," he whispered, and his throat ached. <:((( SAKDJFJJFKS TEARSSSS this grief that his friend did not take care of him as he promised because he almost died himselfffffff Unintentional broken promise that was maybe unavoidable but hurts so much. Because of what it means happened to Halbarad. And there’s sometimes (not sure if it’s in this case) an anger that comes with it as well, misplaced but there, against the person (Halbarad) for getting hurt. Or just, a general anger, that it happened. Because the pain is so strong that some of it is funneled into anger, to try and feel less pain. Anyways I was not expecting this whisper and it Got To Me He shook himself. Maudlin thoughts never accomplished anything. He lowered himself completely to the ground and drew his knees up to his chin. Wrapping his arms around them, he watched the river. With nothing left to distract him, he could sense the shadow hovering at the edges of his mind, there and gone in glimpses, like seeing a snake sliding through tall grass. Would he ever be rid of its haunting presence? Freedom from its constant bedevilment seemed as beyond reach as the throne of Gondor. As impossible as gaining Arwen’s hand in marriage. And hope.... He picked up a rock and threw it forcefully into the water. SKAJFJDJSJ THE DEPRESSION IS SO SO SO HEAVY wrapping his arms around his knees like a child <3 <:( Freedom from its constant bedevilment This is why you’re here, Aragorn. Okay not why exactly but why you needed to come here eventually. Elrond can help with this. The feeling like the darkness will never ever truly leave though, is also very real and heartbreaking. Cannot imagine that it could really leave while experiencing it. Hope was nothing more than a word bereft of any promise. SKAJDJFJSKSKD THIS SENTENCE BROKE ME Interruption to say: when you used the word redolent earlier I looked it up and quite liked it and wrote it down to remember. Well it is now the next day and I am reading the letter by Tolkien in the intro to the Silmarillion, which I got for Christmas, and he used the word redolent also and so that made me happy XD it is officially a Tolkienesque word, which like, when you used it it already felt like a word he would use so. Anyways it also made me happy to get another reminder of the word and example of using it Also I just realized from a Sindarin book my little siblings got from the library that I’ve been pronouncing Eledh and those names wrong lol He stared, unblinking, unmoving, and the river flowed ever onward. Its swirling eddies seemed to beckon to him, to call to him to dive into its embrace. How easy it would be! He could just walk slowly in... the water first coming to his ankles... then swirling around his knees... then his hips and then his chest and then lifting him as the current carried him away from this hopeless darkness... down to the sea and to the unknown lands beyond where he would find rest at last... OH OH <:((( oh how dark a place he is in. I think Aragorn is not easily driven to suicidal thoughts, this is very extreme. Aksjdj I want him to have more hugs No! I cannot. I will not. <33 The depth of his despair shook him. But how could he not despair? The road before him was so clouded that he could not see beyond today. Nay, not even beyond the next hour. He could not tell if a cliff awaited his next step, or a snare to entrap him, or if the way would suddenly open to a broad and sunny lane. He grimaced. Small chance of that. Mmmm see he is shaken and surprised by his mind turning to this He threw another rock in the river. Tried to deafen his ears to its seductive call, to fight back that cursed shadow with strength that was waning moment by moment. Skajdjdjd strength waning each moment You are Estel. Hope. You must not give in. The words rang false, like a chord struck on a harp that had never been tuned. SKAJDJFJDKSK that is such a beautiful devastating sentence. Also just “the word rang false” LIKE he hears no truth whatsoever in the claim that he is hope He took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Sent another rock to pierce the treacherous waters. Why do they so tempt me? Long have I known my destiny, and long have I known the road would be long and difficult, but ever have I felt the joy of it. Skajsjfjdj yes see he knows his destiny AND THE JOY OF IT, as much as it is ever a burden. He has still carried the joy that will be part of the difficult road and responsibility Middle-earth looked to him for their hope. He saw it every day in the eyes of Halbarad, of Denlad and Eledh and all his men, and in the faces of the villagers and farmers and traders and all those scattered remnants of Númenor that he led. He had seen it in Gondor, where he had served under their Steward as Captain Thorongil and listened as men wondered with wistful voices how it might be if a king ever did reclaim the throne. He had seen it in Rohan, when a young soldier had sighed and told him that if Gondor only had a king, Rohan would be immeasurably safer from Sauron. And in the eyes of the men of Gondor and the man of Rohan, he saw the same expression: hope daring to war with disbelief, faith in what was likely a myth nonetheless lighting their eyes, if only for a moment. Skajdjfksksj Oh how I love the hope the expected return of the king gives them No, he could no more take that hope from them than he could snatch food from the mouth of a starving child. Skajd and we know he would never do that <:( So why this doubt? This despair? This... this weakness. ITS CALLED THE BLACK BREATH DO NOT TRY TO PRETEND IT HAS PASSED Did he not have the pure blood of Númenor flowing in his veins? How often had he been told by Elrond that he was the best of all that had gone before. Why then did he now falter, suddenly seeking escape when none other of his ancestors had suffered such failings. Would he be the lesser son of greater ancestors? Why could he not follow the example of his own mother, who kept no hope of her own, but gave of it freely through her son? The memory of her self-sacrifice flayed him, derided him for being so impotent that he seemed unable to find his way out of this dark tunnel in which he found himself. Gilraen never would find herself in such straits, nor would Arathorn had he lived. They had found their hope, and given it away without fear or hesitation. They had lived up to the legacy of Elendil their ancestor, who had given all in the battle against Sauron. Now so must he. So must he. AKSJDJDKSKLSDK flayed him, derided him for being so impotent…NO you are nothing if not potent Again. Do not forget the Black Breath. The repeated “so must he” <:( He squeezed his eyes shut. "But how?" he whispered. "How do I find the hope that I once had, that I might give it to others?" Skajdjfjsjsjdj <:((( Willow fronds swayed in the breeze but gave no answer. There was no answer in the waters, nor in the sky nor the mountains nor the sea. In all of Arda, there was none who could give him what he needed most, and he feared he no longer had the strength to find it for himself. It was as though the pure blood of Númenor had faltered in him, somehow. Diluted perhaps by time itself into something unrecognizable and something without strength or purity. He shuddered. Has it come to be that the last descendent of forgotten kings is the weakest? My own lack, my own inabilities... have they doomed the Men of the West to extinction, and Middle-earth to ruin? NOPE okay I really love whatever it is (I forgot) that says the image of Elendil is most closely reflected, out of all his descendants, in Aragorn. Elendil is so so cool and so is Aragorn and I LOVE them being compared <3 He longed for someone to tell him no, that it was not so, that his blood had not failed, but he knew not who could so reassure him. He dropped his head to his knees and choked back silent tears of despair. SKAJDJJFJSKD silent tears Choked back Perhaps this seems my answer to everything but…I think Elrond can reassure you

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 12/26/2025
Two hours had passed to the steady rhythm of hooves and musical bells. Aragorn tightened his hands on the reins. No, it had been more like three hours. Time had slurred into a meaningless passage of night-shadowed steps down an endless road of misery. Aragorn’s back ached with a ferocity he had never before experienced as Halbarad’s weight leaned against him. And the rope! Halbarad’s every move, no matter how small, made it saw into Aragorn’s chest with breath-stealing agony. Not for the first time he cursed his stupidity in failing to see that the rope had not cut across the bruise on his chest when Glorfindel tied it in place. But there was nothing he could do about it now but grit his teeth and endure. Oh well there’s my answer XD YES THE AGONY “and the rope!” “With a ferocity he had never before experienced” yessss But at least Halbarad still lived. He lived, and that was no small comfort. Yessssss <33 a great comfort indeed Halbarad shifted behind him, awake again, or at least partially. Aragorn shifted his death grip on the reins to place his left hand over Halbarad’s where it gripped his belt. Halbarad had not let go of him since they left, not even when he drifted into unconsciousness. It was as if some primal instinct kept his hand locked in place. Aragorn glanced over his shoulder. Yessss I love <3 hold on to Aragorn Halbarad stilled, and, if the deep breathing Aragorn felt against his back was any indication, almost seemed to be peacefully sleeping, his cheek pressed against Aragorn’s shoulder. Aragorn knew better than to believe it was mere sleep, but the pulse in his wrist was strong and at least Halbarad seemed not to be in any sort of agony. Good <333 And from the way he moved his hands and occasionally shifted his legs, Aragorn knew the arrow must not have slipped any closer to his spine. The bindings were working, and Asfaloth’s gait was as smooth as Glorfindel promised: despite his steady gallop, Aragorn could almost imagine that they were barely moving, so little did Asfaloth jar them. The horse somehow was able to evade rough patches and avoid holes and all the while keep up a mile-eating gait that was neither too fast nor too slow. Asfaloth seemed to possess such miraculous wizardry that Aragorn found himself sending endless thoughts of thanks to Ilúvatar, Glorfindel, Elbereth and every other person, Maia, Vala and Elven horse trainer he could think of who might have had a hand in creating this wonderful creature. YESSSSS THANK YOU ASFALOTH AND ALL WHO HELPED CREATE HIM <33 After this, it would be hard to return the horse to Glorfindel, he thought wryly. lol fairrr With slow careful movements, he reached up and tried to ease the rope to a new position. Halbarad sighed and murmured, and he immediately stopped. What, really, did it matter if he was uncomfortable? If a little discomfort on his part ensured Halbarad’s survival, Aragorn would endure far worse. “A little discomfort” LOL what an understatement But Fair about being willing to endure far worse for Halbarad’s survival Valar, help him live! Pleaseeeee <333 Time crept forward. Aragorn stared dully at the dark hills around them, trying to ignore the myriad aches in his body, in his legs and back and arms. The wind in his face carried the scent of heather and moss and fallen leaves and he wondered how much farther they had to go. He had hunted these lands, once or twice as a youth tagging along with Elladan and Elrohir. And he had dwelt here for a time, after learning his true name; long, joyless days trying to bury the pain of losing what had felt all chance at marrying Arwen. AKSJDJD NO IT WAS NOT <:( That’s so sadddddd Learned his true name, the fact that it resulted in such a great loneliness and struggle is so sad He had roamed lost through these rugged hills and thickets for months, seeking for peace to come and settle the storm in his soul. But peace ever eluded him, and at last he turned westward, to join the people of his blood and take his rightful place among them. In all the years since, he had managed to avoid like plague this cheerless land and the dark memories it held. <:(((( And now you’re here And now here he was again, lost not in a fog of heartache but lost all the same. <3 <:( He tried to see a landmark that might clue him in as to their whereabouts, but the darkness and his fatigue conspired to leave him utterly lost. It was not a feeling to which he was accustomed, but he found he was too exhausted to be alarmed. He shifted slightly, trying to ease a cramp in his lower back, but that set off the pain in his chest, and in the last hour or so he had noticed the throbbing around the wound in his left arm had deepened. He reached up and gently massaged the area around it, to no noticeable relief. Aksjdj feeling so unfamiliarly lost And to tired to freak out And all his painsssss acting up More unmeasured time passed and his arm continued to throb with each heartbeat. He tucked it against his body and supported it as best as he could with his right, thankful that Asfaloth seemed not to really need him to keep an active hand on the reins. He really should have somehow contrived to grab some medicines from his pack before they left, but it had been impossible. He felt shivery, as if bugs were crawling all over his skin. Fever setting in, he supposed. Yesssss I have a very small fever right now, I fully support Aragorn suffering even more He shut his eyes. How he longed for the moment when he could succumb to sleep, to rest without fear of nightmares and the dark shadows that even now pressed against the edges of his mind. Oh to lose himself in sleep’s warm oblivion, to dream sweet dreams of Arwen! How long had it been since he had enjoyed pure rest? Too long... far too long... aksjdjdjdjdjd WITHOUT FEAR OF NIGHTMARES <:((( hes exhausteddddddd and needs warm oblivion He felt himself sag and jerked his head back up, heart pounding at the near calamity. He must not fall asleep! He dared not risk tumbling from the saddle and pulling Halbarad with him. EEP good point To fall at such speed would be the death of them both. And although Glorfindel had tried to assure him that Asfaloth would not let them fall, Aragorn could not take the chance that even so great a horse as Asfaloth might not be quick enough to counter Aragorn’s own clumsiness. He rubbed his face with his hand and shook his head to clear away the fog. He felt Halbarad’s wrist. A pulse, steady but growing more faint. His own heart lurched. Time was chipping away at Halbarad’s strength. Skajdjfjdj nooooooooo "Hang on, Halbarad," Aragorn rasped, the wind catching at his words and whipping them away into the night. "Please, you must hang on." <:(((( RASPED BEGGING He looked at the sky, at the stars. Looked for Eärendil but could not find him. He frowned. Gil-Estel, the star of his ancestor, should be there, guiding him with the light of the Silmaril and giving him hope. But it was not. He looked everywhere but did not see it and suddenly tears of despair and pain blurred even the thin light of the stars he could see. He dropped his head. "Elbereth, help me," he whispered. His thoughts strayed to his beloved. "Arwen, how I need you right now." AKSJDJDJDJDJD <3333 Thinking of Arwen Needing her comfort ALSO immediate tears when he can’t find his ancestor <3 He raised his eyes again, but it was hopeless. This torment would never end. He would go riding for eternity, never reaching Rivendell, forever chased by shadows of evil, lost in the half light before dawn... He blinked. The half light before dawn. He stared at the horizon, trying to see past the silhouettes of the trees... HA YES DAWNNNN The silhouettes of the trees! Of course he could not find Eärendil! He had finished his nightly voyage, hours ago, and now it was it was dawn. okay wait does Earendil not rise in the morning just before dawn? "Halbarad!" he cried. "It is dawn! We must surely be close!" Halbarad was silent but his arm tightened ever so slightly against Aragorn’s waist. He had heard. AWWWW that silent slight slight tightening was everything <3 New life surged in Aragorn, driving away the despair like so much mist before a strong wind. Even the pain suddenly seemed tolerable. He paid close attention to the trail, trying to determine where they actually were in relationship to Rivendell. As they passed a white rock, and then after a ways another, joy rose in his heart. The trail markers! He now knew exactly where they were, and they were close. Very close. The secret valley of Imladris lay just ahead, and the first sentry should spot them any moment– AWWW "Halt! Who approaches the realm of Imladris?" called a grim voice. YAY <3 Asfaloth stopped at a gentle pull on the reins. He shook his head and pranced as though he had not just raced nearly a hundred miles through the night. This horse <333 how I love him Aragorn longed to lay his head alongside the horse’s proud neck, in exhausted thanks, but he could not pull Halbarad into so painful a position, so he settled for patting Asfaloth’s neck. Aww i love all of this I wanna see but also…he could not pull Halbarad into such a painful position <3 "You have done it, my valiant friend!" he whispered, fighting to keep a giddy smile off his face, to keep from laughing aloud like a lunatic. But despite his best efforts to sound calm, joy filled his voice as he called out, "I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Chieftain of the Dúnedain, here to see my father!" AWWWWWW the son has returned <3 Also i love how he names his father and also still calls Elrond his father <33 AND JOY FILLING HIS VOICE you would never know how he’s PHYSICALLY feeling right now A movement in the shadows caught his eye and then a tall, dark-haired Elf stepped up to Aragorn. Aragorn recognized the Elf but did not know him well. Dûrion was his name, if he recalled. "Welcome, Lord Aragorn! Such singing shall there be in the Hall of Fire at your return!" Dûrion cried with a merry laugh, all sternness gone. "Forgive me for not recognizing you. I did not know what to make of two dark-haired men astride Lord Glorfindel’s horse, and caution seemed necessary over welcome, given recent events. I trust Lord Glorfindel is well?" AWWW his joyful merry welcome <33 also he clearly does not realize yet why Aragorn’s here <3 Also like. I love how much everyone loves him! You can see it so well here in the way Dûrion and Aragorn don’t know each other well but Dûrion is so merry to see them "Thank you, Dûrion, and yes, Glorfindel is indeed well, or was when I saw him last evening. I am indebted to him beyond what I can repay for the loan of Asfaloth. But I must hurry, for my companion is wounded and in dire need of Lord Elrond’s care." Dûrion stepped closer and let out a small gasp when he saw the arrow. "My pardon, Lord Aragorn. I did not realize! Go, and ride swiftly! I will sound the news so that they will be ready for you." YES thank you <3 Sound the news <33 "Thank you, my friend," he said softly, then touched his heels to Asfaloth’s sides. Even as they moved out, silver trumpets sounded through the trees and beyond the hills. As the liquid notes echoed through the air, Aragorn’s heart lightened and tears formed again, but this time they were tears of relief. AKAKDDKDKDKDK TEARS OF RELIEF FINALLY This man so desperately needed some relief. And like. This is a POWERFUL feeling of relief it made Aragorn CRY Asfaloth took them surely and steadily down the treacherous path that hugged the tall stone-sided cliffs, and then across the bridge over the Bruinen. Aragorn could not stop a quick intake of breath at the sight of the Last Homely House. Awwwww Home. He was home. Whatever awaited upon his meeting with the father, nothing ever took away the warmth that bloomed in his heart whenever he rounded the last bend and the great house of Elrond spread before him, standing watch over the valley even as Aragorn felt it stood watch over his own life. HOW I LOVE THIS <3 his feelings always at rounding that last bend…standing watch over his own life Sanctuary, shelter, peace... such were the offerings of Imladris, and his soul always seemed to settle within him when he arrived. Awwwwwwwwww okay Rivendell is SUCH a beautiful place because of EXACTLY this. These are my very very favorite places (although of course I haven’t been to one quite so wonderful as the Last Homely House), offering security shelter and peace to the souls of all who are in need, and I want to have a home like that someday The sun that brightened the sky beyond the hills would not reach this deep valley for another hour yet, but lights shone warmly in several windows and through the wide open doors. A tall figure paced there, his shadow moving back and forth in agitated crossings. "Lord Elrond," Aragorn murmured, though they were still too far away to call out. His heart thumped oddly at the sight of his father. The house’s welcome he already felt, but what manner welcome would he receive from his father? Ajsjdjfjdkdkdksssssss Also I presume the agitation is because Halbarad is in danger and also he’s been waiting anxiously for Aragorn for some time now…even if he doesn’t know Aragorn’s hurt too. Or maybe he does guess that I don’t know. Anyways I love love agitated pacing dad!Elrond Halbarad stirred. "Rivendell?" he rasped. "We are almost there." "He ... he will be glad to see you," Halbarad whispered. "Is my fear so obvious?" AWWWW even half-conscious Halbarad so well Perceives him, and how I love that about him <3 Aragorn needs to be Perceived by someone Halbarad’s words were barely audible, but even so, there was no mistaking the mocking humor in his voice. "Unless you always ride... with a back stiff as a...a board." XDDD how I love himmmm MOCKING HUMOR XD be nice to my guy lolll Pulling a face that Halbarad could not see, Aragorn tried to relax, without much success. lol <33 They clattered up into the courtyard at last and two Elves ran forward with a litter held between them. "Lord Aragorn! Let us see to Halbarad." Eager hands reached up to catch Halbarad as Aragorn loosened the knots in the ropes that held him. There were no words to describe the sense of relief that washed over him as Halbarad slipped into their strong arms. <3333 oh my gosh the Security. Someone else is here. Someone competent and strong and Safe (and not injured themselves) will take care of Halbarad <33 Then Elrond was standing at his knee. He looked down at his father’s face. "Father," he said, his voice hoarse with fatigue and emotion. "It is good to see you, my son," Elrond said warmly. He reached up and clasped Aragorn’s hand. "I have missed you." AKSJDJFKDKDKDKD the warmth. The warmth. How it warms my soul. <333 CLASPING HIS HAND Halbarad was right, as usual. Elrond missed him. Elrond is glad to see him. Aragorn tried to smile, but he was so exhausted and his feelings in such a muddle he felt almost numb. "It has been too long," he managed, then slid stiffly down from Asfaloth, trying his best to hide the fact that his feet hitting the ground sent a spike of pain through the top of his head. Skakdjdj Numb yesss great whump Painn you will not be able to hide it long There was time for only the briefest embrace, a matter of clasping both hands, before he turned to Halbarad, who had been placed on his side on the litter. Aragorn knelt down and grasped Halbarad’s hand. "How do you fare, my friend?" <:((( that he can’t take time to embrace his father properly BUT I expect he will late and I love him kneeling to speak to Halbarad before he is taken away "I have had ... better nights," he sighed, then closed his eyes. He pulled his hand away and fumbled in his cloak, then pressed something into Aragorn’s hands. Aragorn looked down and saw it was the mithril necklace Halbarad had bought from a traveling peddler when they were in Bree. Valar, how long ago did that seem! "Give it to Miriel for me, if..." nooooo no no Okay I forgot about buying that gift for Miriel. It HAS been long. "Give it to her yourself," Aragorn said, and tried to tuck it back into Halbarad’s pocket, but Halbarad pushed his hand away. "Then hang onto it for me. Don’t want to... to lose it." "That I can do." Aragorn brushed a hand against Halbarad’s hair. "Rest, my friend," he murmured, then nodded to the Elves that had positioned themselves at either end of the litter. They lifted him, and Aragorn rose stiffly and stepped back. <333 yessss he can hang on to it so Halbarad doesnt lose it Also his turn to brush back Halbarad’s hair <3 But Halbarad opened his eyes again and called out. "Wait." The Elves halted and Aragorn hurried over and bent close. "What is it?" Halbarad smiled faintly and moved his head toward Lord Elrond. "I told you so," he whispered, and winked. SKAJDJD XD love him THE WINK Aragorn stared at him for a moment, then let out a disbelieving laugh. He stood and nodded to the Elves and they again moved out. Aragorn’s smile faded as Halbarad winced. "Valar be with you," Aragorn whispered. He watched as they hurried off to the House of Healing, wondering if perhaps they had just exchanged their last words. NOOO no <:((( No. Halbarad is strong. He will live. He has to. Yes yes yes As the door slammed behind them, Aragorn flinched at the finality of the sound. Like the closing of a tomb.... Skajdjd nope nope I am so grateful to know how this story ends He cut short the morbid thought, looking instead at the chain in his hand. He remembered how long it had taken Halbarad to finally decide to buy it, for the price had been steep, even for such a slender strand, and Halbarad had been sure the peddler was a thief for demanding such a high price. They had left the peddler’s cart and then gone back, and when Halbarad tried again to leave without making the purchase, Aragorn could stand it no more and told him crossly to buy the thing and be done with it; he was getting hungry. And with a relieved grin, Halbarad had pulled out the money and paid for it, and they went to the Prancing Pony to sup. Akskdfk sometimes you just need someone to tell you you can do it That grin did not leave his face the rest of the night, and he kept pulling the necklace out to show everyone and talk of how lovely it would look around Miriel’s neck, how it needed no gem because she was the jewel, AWWWW that is so cute and finally Aragorn could stand no more of the lovesick prattle. He had moved to a booth by himself, where his thoughts strayed toward Arwen and the seeming hopelessness of ever gaining her, and he gave himself over completely to abject self pity. Halbarad seemed not to notice and that only soured Aragorn’s mood still more. He rubbed the necklace absently with one finger. What he would give to be back in that inn right now. He started at a touch on his shoulder. Awwww OKAY how he thought he was so depressed and hopeless then because he was missing Arwen so bad and no one Saw but now he would give anything for a normal night with an unharmed Halbarad "It is a lovely thing," Elrond said, but then he closed Aragorn’s hand around it. "Keep it for him, but find rest for yourself now." He slowly took in Aragorn from head to toe. "It takes no healer to see that you have suffered a long and hard journey. I will tend Halbarad. Go to your room and sleep." <333 find rest for yourself now TAKING ARAGORN IN FROM HEAD TO TOE thank youuuuu Awww yes it is extremely obvious "Father, I ..." But he couldn’t finish. There were so many things to say, so much to tell. The words eluded him. <:(( Elrond pulled him into a fierce embrace. "Say nothing, child," he whispered against Aragorn’s hair. "You need say nothing. Just be, Estel. Here you are safe and can lay down your burdens, if only for a little while." SKAKSJDJDKSKSK <:(((( <3333 oh oh oh this is exactly what I needed. Fierce embrace. Calling him “child”. (And for some reason this time “child” is better than “my child” I think? Like “my child” feels more like “oh you’ll always be my baby no matter how grown you are” but “child” just sounds like…you’re safe here, and you’re not in charge, and you don’t need to know or do everything here or to even be so strong Aragorn put his arms around his father, hesitantly at first, but then something within him seemed to break and he clung to him. He buried his head against Elrond’s shoulder, breathing in the comforting familiarity of him. Tears threatened but he blinked them away and then pulled back. "Thank you," he whispered. <:((( let yourself cry, dear THE HESITANCY AND THEN BREAKING AND CLINGING again EVERYTHING I need BURYING HIS HEAD AGAINST ELROND’S SHOULDERRRR Elrond smiled sadly, cupping Aragorn’s face in his hands. He looked so deeply into his eyes that Aragorn felt as though his father could see into his very soul. Then he ruefully admitted to himself that Elrond most likely could see that far. Concern wreathed Elrond’s brow as he said, "It is as I felt it. There is a shadow on your fëa." <333 He also Perceives him <:( THANK YOUUU yesssss a shadow on his soul. Thank you for not pretending Elrond wouldnt see that. Also yay Quenya word <3 (yes I had to look that up, no I do not know Quenya, sadly) Also yesss confirming that he does in fact see that far CONCERN WREATHED ELROND’S BROW <333 For a moment, Aragorn was sorely tempted to blurt out everything, to let go and allow Elrond to care for him like he did when he was a small boy in need of patching up after a hard fall. <:((( pleaseeee I know Halbarad needs him but please can he after? It is not only small boys who need care after a hard fall (Also picturing tiny Aragorn and Elrond taking care of him is so cute) But those days were long over, and Halbarad needed Elrond far more. He shook his head and, though he did not feel like it, smiled. "I am fine. Just tired. It has been a long journey and a hard one. Worry not, for Halbarad needs you, and you must not be distracted by needless concerns over me." Mmmm really now Elrond searched his eyes for a moment more. "Needless my concerns are not, but we will talk long of this, as soon as I am able. In the meantime, find sustenance and rest, for I feel fever upon you–I will have some willowbark tea sent to you." SKAKDJ THANK YOU <3 needless my concerns are not. You can’t fool Elrond, especially not on this. And you can’t convince him to pretend to be fooled. ALSO THANK YOU “we will talk long of this as soon as I am able” <333 thank youuuu for agreeing that they will talk of it (and long!!) after he cares for Halbarad "Adar, let me help–" "No, my son. You are too full of care and grief, and I fear ill besides. What you need is rest. I will have Erestor with me. Do not worry." <33 yes, Aragorn is not now in the condition to help As if he could stop worrying. But he nodded and, tucking the necklace safely away in a pocket, patted Asfaloth’s neck. "I will care for Asfaloth, then," he said. He knew that Asfaloth normally suffered no one to touch him but Glorfindel, but he hoped the horse would tolerate his hand on the brush. "I will await word." <3 <:( he’s so thoughtful. Also yay that Asfaloth who normally tolerates no one else will be (I assume) okay with Aragorn <3 Elrond touched Aragorn’s arm one more time, then turned to go. Aragorn felt a moment of unaccountable panic as he watched Elrond walk away. "Adar!" Elrond stopped. "Yes?" "I.... Nothing. Never mind," Aragorn said. He could not explain even to himself why, after all these years of dreading to see him, he now could hardly bear for his father to leave his sight. He finished lamely, "May the Valar guide your hands." SKAJDJF the exclamation mark The panic watching him leave HE NEEDS HIS DAD but he can’t stay with him, not yet <:( AGAIN THE PANIC AND IT ACTUALLY BEING TO SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLABLE THAT HE CALLS HIM BACK BEFORE REALIZING WHAT HE’S DOING but he has nothing to say, not now, with Elrond urgently needed. But obviously Aragorn would not call out (also, calling him Adar <3 or Ada is always my favorite) if his mind was not troubled, and Elrond knows that and I think will address it later <3 But also, “May the Valar guide your hands” indeed <33 Elrond smiled, then hurried away. Aragorn’s shoulders sagged as he pressed his forehead against Asfaloth’s. "Thank you, Asfaloth. You have earned your rest, but I fear I will not rest for a long, long time." Askdkfkfk noooo please at least try?

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 12/25/2025
Also. When Glorfindel ties them around the chest is that putting pressure on Aragorn’s bruise?? It’s been enough days that I can’t remember how many days have passed in the story, but I think just a day or so ago Aragorn was still faltering when the woman pushed him in the chest? Or does the rope not have that effect either because it is elvish or because it is not human contact?

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 12/24/2025
Glorfindel stood before the Nazgûl, arms raised, in one hand his great sword and in the other a fiery torch. With his legs braced and his head thrown back, flames reflecting on his golden hair, it almost seemed as though he were alight with the power of the Maiar. SKAJDJFFKDK HE LOOKS SO COOLLLLLL ALMOST ALIGHT WITH THE POWER OF THE MAIAR "By the Valar," Halbarad breathed. Aragorn could say nothing, for fear seemed to have frozen his tongue to the roof of his mouth. He felt his knees weaken, and he was only vaguely aware that Halbarad had slipped his arm around him. skajddj yesss tongue frozen Slip your arm around him, Halbarad <3 don’t let him fall "Aragorn?" Halbarad said, taking a step backward and pulling Aragorn with him. Aragorn shook his head, trying to brace his legs as he fought off the filmy darkness that threatened to drop like a veil across his sight. Another staggering step backward, and finally he felt his mind clear. "Stop," he croaked. "This is far enough." "Are you sure?" He nodded. <33 I love Halbarad helping but then trusting him on this He pulled away from Halbarad and switched Elladan’s sword to his left hand so he could dry the cold sweat from his right hand. Taking a firm grip once again on his sword, he watched Glorfindel face the wraith. He felt Halbarad’s hand again on his arm, gripping it so tightly that Aragorn winced. He glanced at Halbarad and knew from his cousin’s transfixed, terrified gaze that he likely was holding to Aragorn more for his own comfort than to help Aragorn. His cousin <333 Lolll aww yes the wraith’s terror affects all, including the most courageous of men, including those who aren’t wounded. Halbarad is terrified too :). Glorfindel took a step forward, then another, and as he circled the wraith, his face came into view and Aragorn saw wrath burning in the Elf lord’s eyes. Glorfindel then started to chant and as his voice raised, Aragorn recognized the ancient hymn. SKAJSDJDKDKDKDKD WRATH OF GLORFINDEL ELVEN-WRATH OF A MOST POWERFUL WARRIOR I love love this and them seeing it "O Elbereth Star-kindler from heaven gazing afar to thee I cry now beneath the shadow of death! O look towards me, Everwhite!"(1) this was Sam, right? When I read that in the book and looked up the translation ASKSJD the feelssssss I love The Nazgûl responded to the holy words with a ranting litany of fell words in the Dark Tongue, then swung his black sword downward. Sparks flew as Glorfindel raised his blade to meet it. Glorfindel then jumped back and circled, and the wraith circled as well. To Aragorn’s wide-staring eyes, it seemed almost as though Glorfindel was leading the wraith in some otherworldly dance. As Glorfindel continued to circle, the wraith feinted and jabbed, but the wraith’s blade never came near him. Finally, Aragorn could again see Glorfindel’s face, and he heard Halbarad’s shaky chuckle. SKAJSJD COOL TERRIFYING BUT COOL "Bless me if that Elf is not enjoying this," Halbarad said. Indeed, Glorfindel had a slight smile on his face, a look that seemed to say that he had done this before and was somehow both slightly amused and mildly annoyed to have to do it again. LOL OF COURSE HE IS <333 bless me He kept circling until again his back was to Aragorn, and then suddenly, as though weary of playing games, he thrust the flame toward the Nazgûl. It let out a shriek that drove through Aragorn’s skull with all the pain of a orc pike. He bit back a scream and grabbed his ears, falling away from Halbarad’s grasp to land hard on his knees. The sound went on and on and Aragorn thought he would shatter from its intensity but finally it cut off and when he dared open his eyes, Glorfindel stood alone, his sword lowered and the flaming brand guttering on the ground before him. The wraith was nowhere in sight. Aragorn pulled his hands from his ears and looked around him as a man emerging from a horrendous nightmare. Skajdjfj and he’s been having some pretty awful nightmares recently "It has fled," Halbarad said wonderingly. He reached down and pulled Aragorn to his feet. Aragorn could not help but see the way Halbarad’s hands shook, but Halbarad’s voice was firm. "I can feel it. It is gone. Glorfindel vanquished it." Yessss Yay both shaky hands But firm voice <3 this mix of him also being affected (Aragorn doesn’t feel uniquely weak) but still able to be a secure and comforting presence Now that the overwhelming terror was fading, all Aragorn felt at that moment was his skull vibrating from those horrendous screeches. He pulled at his ears, opening his mouth to make them pop, trying anything to rid himself of the feeling that his ears were stuffed with wool. "He nearly deafened me." Skajd I hate that feeling XD Halbarad nodded as he tugged on his own earlobe. "Yes, that was certainly some howl he let loose." Aragorn gave up on his ears and looked around at the dark street. "He does seem to have fled," he said cautiously, but he still felt... something. A menace still hovered, faint like a whiff of far away smoke or the sour smell of rain-soaked ash from some great blaze now extinguished. Hmmmmm Yeah I have no idea if that’s just the Black Breath lingering on him, or his perception of any nearby evil being heightened because of the Black Breath. Either way I’m happy. Or maybe there’s a secret third option I’m happy with that too. "What is wrong?" Halbarad asked when he noticed Aragorn still held his sword at the ready. Yesss I kinda love how their swords can show their level of feeling secure/threatened/uneasy. Still holding sword at the ready=something must be wrong still "I–" he started, then stopped. "I do not know, other than to say that I do not think the Nazgûl is completely gone." "You still feel it?" Aragorn rubbed his chest, which still ached like a broken bone in winter. But was it simply an old ache or indication that the Nazgûl still lingered? It was impossible to tell. Weariness dragged at his limbs and he longed to find rest, but dare not hope for that, not yet. "I do not think we should let down our guard." Mmmm okay “like a broken bone in winter” I haven’t experienced that but I imagine that’s pretty darn painful XD something I would call more than an ache "Glorfindel might argue," Halbarad said, and indeed, Glorfindel walked toward them with the nonchalant air of one who has merely shooed away a stray dog. LOLLLLLLL I love him he makes me cackle But as he drew near, his eyes still glinted with such a deadly light that Aragorn had the sudden unlikely urge to fall back to his knees and cower out of the way. But Glorfindel smiled, putting his fist on his chest and bowing deeply. "My apologies for the noise," he said. Halbarad threw back his head and laughed, a great ringing sound of relief mingled with joy, and Aragorn, despite his unease, found himself able to manage a grim smile. "We will try to overlook it," he said. LOLLL <33333 I love how his eyes are like, cower-inducing even to Aragorn but he’s actually a cinnamon roll to anyone but his enemies, and he just grins and pretends to be sincere as he jokes and Halbarad CACKLES with me Glorfindel straightened and now, with nothing more dangerous than the joy of the Eldar shining in his blue eyes, said, "I do think Balrogs are quieter, on the whole." XDDD the joy of the Elder <3333 shining in his eyes This makes me happy. You just. Gotta feel safe with Glorfindel around. Halbarad chuckled, but Aragorn looked past Glorfindel, trying to probe the shadows. "I do not feel the threat is completely gone. There may still be orcs about, although thankfully none were near while you fought the Nazgûl. We need to find my brothers and the rest of my men. Lord Glorfindel, I do not propose to wrest command from you after so freely granting it, but I would like for you and several others to follow the Nazgûl, to verify that he is indeed leaving these realms." "Of course," Glorfindel nodded, all humor gone. He melted into the night as only the Noldor seemed able, and Aragorn followed him, Halbarad on his heels. <3333 Glorfindel immediately trusting and listening to him They had gone a mere thirty paces when Halbarad let out a cry even as a whooshing noise split the heavy night air. Part of Aragorn’s mind recognized the sound and categorized it as an orc arrow even as he ducked for the deeper shadows. Another hiss cut through the night and he heard a grunt behind him, then something slammed into Aragorn’s back and he was borne violently to the ground. All the air in his lungs abruptly vanished. Stunned, he lay silent and still, trying to decide if he had just been felled by an arrow. As sense returned, he realized he was unharmed, but a heavy weight had his legs pinned. He pushed himself up and twisted, looking behind him. "No," he choked. "No, no, no." OH NO OH NO NOT HALBARAD it’s okay I know he lives I know he livesss BUT ARAGORN DOESNT Halbarad lay across his legs, an arrow sticking in obscene defiance from his upper back. Aragorn wrenched his legs out from under his friend and scrambled on hands and knees to Halbarad’s side. "Halbarad!" he cried, heedless of the danger of drawing more orc arrows. He felt the side of Halbarad’s neck and felt weak as the thrum of life pulsed against his fingers. "Hang on, my friend. Hang on. This is not your time." Valar help us, this is not... cannot be... your time! SKAJSJFJ “in obscene defiance” Halbarad’s time to lay near death Trying to stay low, he scooted around behind Halbarad’s head and slid his hands under Halbarad’s arms, tugging him deeper into the shadows. He was barely aware of Glorfindel flashing past, a grim shadow in the night. He heard the sickening squelch of blade cutting flesh and the dull thump of a body hitting the ground and prayed it was the orc that tasted death and not Glorfindel. <333 thanks Glorfindel "Halbarad, can you hear me?" he said softly as he gently rolled Halbarad onto his side. He ran shaking hands over the front of Halbarad’s body. The arrow had not passed entirely through him, a small blessing but welcome. "Halbarad!" <3333 yay Halbarad let out a soft groan. A tremor shook him. "I hope you killed it, Strider," he ground out from between clenched teeth. "It will shoot no more arrows from the darkness," Glorfindel said grimly as he dropped to a crouch beside them. He brought with him a torch. "The orcs seem finally to be gone, so I deemed it safe to risk a light. How is he?" SKAJDJ thank you Glorfindel <3 Their fiery shadow whooshing past to end whoever dare harm his friends "‘He’ is right here, Glorfindel," Halbarad growled, "And he feels like a firedrake is chewing on his back." LOL HALBARAD YOU SPEAK <3 "Ever the cranky one when he is under the weather, is he not, Estel?" Awwww LOLL “Under the weather” XD what a way to put it Aragorn did not answer, for fear seemed to have a choke hold on his voice. Halbarad’s hair had fallen across his face. Aragorn pushed it back, frowning. Even in the warm glow of the torch’s light, the grey pallor of Halbarad’s skin alarmed him. Halbarad groaned suddenly as he shook with a spasm of pain, and it seemed to Aragorn that he could feel Halbarad’s pain in his own body. Skajdjfj feel it <33 He swallowed hard, suddenly afraid he might be sick. He took a deep breath, fighting for the calm control of a healer, trying to push past the shock of this sudden devastating change in their fortunes. Forget that it is Halbarad. Forget that it is your sworn brother, your kinsman. Your friend. Concentrate only on the injury. A semblance of calm came over him finally and he felt gently around the arrow shaft. "The arrow seems perilously close to his spine." Aww you’re doing great youre doing great "You two seem to forget I am right here," Halbarad gasped, his voice weakening. "Quit talking about me and talk to me." "My apologies, my old friend," Aragorn murmured. "Can you move your legs and arms?" Awww I love him <33 He grunted in pain, but was able to move all four limbs. Still, Aragorn’s anxiety was hardly eased. A wrong move and it looked to him as though the arrow could shift and cut through his spine. It may have even punctured Halbarad’s lung. Aragorn had no way of knowing, and if it had passed through a lung... well, that indeed was beyond his skill. Eep eep eep Aragorn turned to Glorfindel. "The arrow does not seem to have affected his spine," he whispered. "But I fear it is so close. Too close. I cannot try to remove it – I have not the skill, nor is there anyone between here and Imladris who does, even my brothers. But do we dare move him? Which is the greater risk?" Glorfindel gave no answer, and the worry that haunted his eyes did Aragorn’s state of mind little good. Aksjdjfkdk he does not knowwww He turned back to Halbarad, noticing he was starting to shiver. He quickly pulled off his coat and laid it over him, careful to avoid the arrow. He looked again at the wicked shaft, wondering if the point was poisoned, wondering what to do, wondering how on Arda he could find the courage he needed to deal with this when fear for Halbarad so consumed him he could barely think straight. He sat back on his haunches and laid a hand on Halbarad’s forehead. Whether it was the coat that warmed him or Aragorn’s touch, the shivering lessened. "Easy, my friend. We will solve this," he said, wishing he knew how. Awww HES SO TERRIFIED AND NOW ITS FOR HIS FRIEND Halbarad shivering less perhaps at his touch <333 and Aragorn laying his coat over him Perhaps. It would test his knowledge to its limit, and test the skills of his hands to their utmost, but he might be able.... aksjdj could he He swallowed. He would need steady hands... two steady hands. He flexed his left hand, and then slowly raised his arm, holding his hand out. After only a moment, the arm trembled and pain started shooting down its length. His hand involuntarily twitched. It was no good. NOOOO his own injuries preventing him, cursing his unsteady hands that until now have only been a nuisance and are now a danger, Fighting tears, he dropped his arm. Glorfindel looked at him questioningly, but he merely shook his head. It would be far too great a risk. He took a deep, steady breath. Since he dare not remove the arrow himself, there was only one option. He shut his eyes, praying it was the right decision. "We must get him..." He stopped and corrected himself and looked at Halbarad, whose pain-filled eyes looked back at his with such unshakeable trust that an empty hollow yawned in Aragorn’s gut. He did not know that he could live up to that trust. "I am sorry. We must get you to Rivendell, somehow. I think only Lord Elrond has the skills you need. We will find a wagon–" Aksjdjfkskdk remembering to look at and address Halbarad, who is still awake <333 AND FILLED WITH TRUST because of course he trusts Aragorn with his life <3 "No," Glorfindel immediately said. "A wagon would be too slow and jostle him too much. And you would be forced to go all the way to the Last Bridge to cross. That would add days to your travel." Mmm yes "But what other choice have we? He cannot ride– " Glorfindel raised his hand to silence Aragorn. "Hear me out. Even cutting across the river here, using the ferry, and into the Wilds by the hidden trails, any ordinary horse would take two days, but Asfaloth is Elven-trained and nearly as strong as the Meara. He can take you there by dawn, even riding double, as long as you yourself have the strength to bear Halbarad." YES ASFALOTH and Aragorn and Halbarad riding together on him <3 Aragorn could not say for certain that he had such endurance, but he set his jaw. "I will find the strength." AKSJDJFKDK finally returning to Rivendell. For Halbarad, this stubborn man. (Referring to Aragorn—they’re both stubborn though) And okay it is indeed going to test his endurance to the very edge, and HE WILL NOT HAVE HALBARAD’S STRENGTH TO SUPPORT HIM <:((( <3 Glorfindel nodded. "Asfaloth knows the way, and he knows you. And even at speed, he will know to set his gait so that Halbarad will not be jarred, and we will bind the arrow so that it cannot move. All I need do is tell Asfaloth to bear you and Halbarad swiftly and safely to your father’s house." Without waiting for an answer, he let out a low, quavering whistle, calling to his mount. Aragorn looked at Halbarad. "Do you think you can do this thing?" "I have... little choice," Halbarad whispered. He shut his eyes, then added, "I trust you. You will get me to Rivendell." <333 whether he can, he must. He is brave. Aksjdjd I love them all Aragorn blinked away a sudden burning in his eyes and turned to Glorfindel. "Thank you, my friend. It is a gift beyond price. I will leave things here under your charge." Aragorn could not hold back a bitter smile. "Perhaps I would be wiser to leave the Dúnedain under your leadership than ever take it back upon myself. You have done far better than I." "I will do as you ask, but believe me when I tell you I will be more than relieved to turn things back over to your charge. You are a fine chieftain, Estel." He reached out and touched Aragorn’s shoulder. "Do not lose sight of your worth." AWWWWWW TELL HIM, GLORFINDEL Do not lose sight of your worth <3333 <:(((( HES DOING A FINE (as in, wonderful) JOB GLORFINDEL CONFIRMED It is a heavy burden even for him, and he knows Aragorn handles it with such grace Aragorn could not speak for a moment, then he cleared his throat even as he busied himself tearing long strips from Halbarad’s tunic in order to bind the arrow more tightly against any movement. "I will not. Tell my brothers what has happened. They may want to follow, and that will be up to your discretion, but I dare not wait for them. Bronadui is not the horse Asfaloth is, but he will live up to his name and bear you as far as you ask him. Take as many of my men as you see fit and see to it that the Nazgûl is truly gone. " ARAGORN CRY he is touched <333 "As you wish, Lord Aragorn." Aragorn smiled fleetingly. Not "Estel" this time, but "Lord Aragorn." The Elf lord was anything but subtle. He was sure Glorfindel meant it as an encouragement, but any thought of his chieftaincy simply wearied him. AKSJDJ <333 I love how deliberate he is. And calling him Aragorn <3 Asfaloth clattered up to them, a pale shape in the night, flowing with the soft music of the bells on his headstall. Glorfindel leaped to his feet to whisper into his ear. The magnificent horse nodded his head as though in agreement and pawed the ground once. He then turned his great liquid eyes toward Aragorn and nudged his shoulder gently. <333 THANKS ASFALOTH "It will be as you say, Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Glorfindel said. Aragorn kept himself from wincing at the Elf lord’s continued heavy-handed measures of encouragement. "Asfaloth is ready for you, as you can see. Let us get you and Halbarad aboard and on your way. Give Asfaloth his head and fear neither badger holes nor orcs nor wraiths. He will bear you to Lord Elrond without fail." Awwwww I know hes wincing but I appreciate it Aragorn nodded, his hands suddenly sweating. He had never actually ridden Asfaloth, and expert horseman though he was, the idea of riding an unfamiliar steed under such dire circumstances gave him a flutter in his belly. But there was nothing for it; it had to be done. He started to reach for Halbarad, but Glorfindel stayed his hand. "Wait," he said, and knelt beside Halbarad. He bent low over him, and Aragorn could see his hand moving to Halbarad’s back. He murmured something too low for Aragorn to hear, but immediately it seemed as though Halbarad’s labored breathing eased. Glorfindel pulled a small bottle from a hidden pocket and held it to Halbarad’s lips. That at least Aragorn recognized: miruvor, an Elven drink that gives strength to wearied limbs and refreshing to tired spirits. He realized he could do with some himself, and as if Glorfindel read his mind – a highly likely event, he thought wryly – Glorfindel straightened and held the bottle toward him. "Take a small sip." Akskdjfkdk thank you Glorfindel <333 this is exactly what they needed right now Aragorn did, and the colorless and tasteless liquid warmed him and some of his weariness dropped away. "Thank you," he said and handed the flask back. "Halbarad, you will have to ride behind me. Can you hold on, do you think?" Awww <333 Halbarad responded by trying to raise his arm, but he gasped and the arm dropped. "I-I don’t think I can." Skajdj whump This must truly be hurting him terribly. If anyone could rival Aragorn’s pain tolerance it’s Halbarad "Then we will put you behind Aragorn and tie you to him and you will lean on his strength," Glorfindel said. AND YOU WILL LEAN ON HIS STRENGTH <333 The strength Aragorn doesn’t know if he has BUT HE MUST Halbarad unexpectedly laughed. "What amuses you, my friend?" Glorfindel asked, exchanging a puzzled look with Aragorn. Halbarad kept his gaze on Aragorn. "I was... was supposed to tie you across a horse to... to take you to Rivendell." LOLL SO HE WAS <:( <3 "So you were," Aragorn said, but he could not bring himself to smile. He was barely able to speak. <:((( "I have no idea what you two are talking about, but best you be going," Glorfindel said, then muttered under his breath, "The minds of Men are as murky as the Bruinen after a hard rain." SKAJDJ I love him XD Halbarad laughed again, but his smile turned to a grimace as they knelt and eased him to a sitting position. Aragorn kept his hand on the back of Halbarad’s neck, trying to keep any movement from jostling the arrow. But despite his care, Halbarad turned even more pale. "Can you make it?" Aragorn asked. "Did you feel the arrow move?" Eeeppppp Despite his care <3 "No, it seems to be holding steady." Halbarad took several breaths. "Give me a moment." They waited and when he finally nodded, eased him to his feet. "Steady, Halbarad," Aragorn murmured. He left Glorfindel to support Halbarad alone and sprang into the saddle. As he pulled himself up, he felt a sudden tearing pain in the wound on his left arm, but he ignored it as he settled himself and reached for Halbarad. oop YES YES hehe SKAJDJ I didn’t really think about getting Halbarad onto Asfaloth With Asfaloth standing as steady as the Argonath, Glorfindel guided Halbarad to the horse and between Aragorn’s pulling hand and the Elf lord’s lifting arms, Halbarad slung himself behind Aragorn. Aragorn felt him sag against him, heard Halbarad’s gasping breath and felt his rapidly beating heart even through his vest and tunic. "Halbarad? Is the arrow–" Halbarad’s answer was barely above a breath. "It has not... not moved. You bound it well." <333 he is a good healer STEADY AS THE ARGONATH <3 He clung to Aragorn’s waist, resting his head against Aragorn’s back, but his grip seemed perilously weak. Aragorn reached down to grasp Halbarad’s arm, wishing he had the Elven skill of imparting strength through thought. "Hang on, Halbarad," he murmured, knowing the words were nothing but platitudes. Still, Halbarad’s arm seemed to strengthen as it tightened slightly around his waist. <333 I wish he did too I loveeeeee Halbarad hanging on to and resting his head against Aragorn’s back for support and strength. And still his words are strengthening to Halbarad <3 "Thank you," Halbarad breathed. "Do not die on me and that will be all the thanks I need." A movement of Halbarad’s head told Aragorn that his friend had nodded. Amazingly, he almost fancied he could feel Halbarad smiling against his back. Perhaps I took too big a swallow of the miruvor. Awwwwww yes Glorfindel fished out a coil of grey elven rope and shook it loose. "Lift your arms, Aragorn." Aragorn complied, wincing at another sharp twinge in the splinter wounds on his upper left arm. Yesssss he’s having trouble raising his arms as well Glorfindel swiftly tied a length around Halbarad’s and Aragorn’s waists, then again around their chests, binding them securely to one another while avoiding placing the rope anywhere near the arrow. Halbarad remained silent throughout, although Aragorn could feel him trembling. Glorfindel tied a sure knot, then laid one hand on Aragorn’s knee and another on Halbarad’s. "May the Valar give you swift passage, Estel Elrondion, and lend strength and grace to you, Halbarad Dúnadan. I will see you both at Rivendell and we will sing songs in the Hall of Fire and remember not the fear of this night but the victory." Skajdjfjdkdkdjk what a beautiful blessing. Also the thing them securely together, twice, feeling like a symbol of their trust <3 and I expect they will need another to untie them in the end With that benediction, he slapped Asfolath’s haunch. "Ride as swiftly and smoothly as the wind, Asfaloth!" Again, the blessing of Glorfindel upon them, and placing his hands upon their knees <333 also ESTEL ELRONDION again “son of Elrond” being in his name makes me happyyyyyy And okay perhaps Glorfindel could make this journey instead but I like very much it being Aragorn. He knows Halbarad better, probably could not have lifted them onto the horse, and also probably did not have the strength to stay behind and continue leading the people and protect them if the wraith had not wholly fled

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 12/19/2025
You most certainly will not!" Halbarad roared. I like the sound of that :) They were alone in the small inn. Upon hearing the dread news, Aragorn and Glorfindel had conferred and it was decided that Glorfindel would be the one to organize and lead the defense. Loathe as Aragorn was to admit any sort of weakness, he knew it only made sense for Glorfindel to lead the men in battle instead of an exhausted, battered Chieftain, and one who had already managed to lose a man in battle, botch a rescue attempt, and nearly succumb to the Black Breath at that. Hardly fit qualifications compared to a mighty Elf lord who had slain a Balrog and driven the Witch-king from Angmar. As far as Aragorn knew, there was little that Glorfindel feared, and still less that he could not defeat. When a few of the less understanding townspeople grumbled about being led by a "pointy-eared elf instead of our Chieftain," Aragorn had quickly and decisively quelled the dissent by pointing out the lunacy of foregoing the leadership of one nearly as mighty as a Maia. Glorfindel had listened to the debate in silence, his arms folded and the faintest of smiles tilting the corners of his mouth. When at last he was grudgingly accepted as the leader, he had given Aragorn a surreptitious wink and a whispered promise not to completely usurp his chieftaincy. "I promise to give it back to you in one piece," he murmured as he offered his hand. Sjajdjdj how I love him Lol they have no idea who he is. I know they love Aragorn but. Imagine grumbling at Glorfindel leading if you knew what hes done. ALSO OKAY JUST WATCHING WITH THE FAINTEST SMILE WINKING AT ARAGORN I love him I also love how non-elves have decided “ah let’s insult their pointy ears whenever we want to make a point about how they’re elves” like. Whats wrong with their ears? Does pointy ears mean dumb? Certainly not lol "I will hold you to that," Aragorn said, clasping Glorfindel’s arm. Glorfindel gave Aragorn’s arm a squeeze that nearly crushed it, then left with the patrol to set up the defense. <333 XD yep trust him to nearly crush Aragorn’s arm Aragorn rubbed his arm even as he now dealt with Halbarad. "I most certainly will go forth and fight," he told Halbarad calmly. good job being calm lol "I will borrow one of Elladan’s. I have used his blade often enough." He sat down on a rudely made stool and tugged his left boot off and felt his swollen ankle. It was better for his short bit of sleep, but standing on it for all those hours in the healer’s quarters had done it no good. But if he wrapped it tightly, he supposed it would hold up. If not ... well, there was little use in speculating, just as there was little use in speculating how well his wounded left arm would hold up. He stretched his hand toward the table, waggling his fingers. Halbarad glared at him but snatched up the length of cloth laying there and handed it to him. "You dare not get close to the Nazgûl, Aragorn. Such an encounter when you are still suffering from–" Yess wrap that ankle Lol wiggles his fingers Hands it to him "I am no longer suffering from the Black Breath, Halbarad. At least no more than after one has a cold and all that remains is a bit of a sniffle." "A sniffle! That you would compare...." He seemed to lose all power of speech for a moment, but he quickly regained it and the fire in his eye, if possible, grew hotter. "If you no longer suffer the Black Breath, then I have three heads and six arms! Aragorn, do not force me to do battle with you." LOL YES THANK YOU HALBARAD That Aragorn has the audacity to pretend he believes that lie Yesss losing the power of speech XD "Of course I won’t," Aragorn assured him in the most reasonable voice he could muster considering how thin his patience was wearing. "We are here to battle the Nazgûl, not each other. Battling me would be counterproductive... and highly painful." YEAH, FOR YOU as thin as his patience is wearing he’s having too much fun pretending to be reasonable in my opinion He finished wrapping his ankle and stamped into his boot. Better. He looked up at Halbarad and a sudden reckless joy surged within him, a feeling he had not felt in weeks, or perhaps months. Whatever the outcome, this thing would end here and now and he could not hold back a feral grin. "Come, my friend, stop your mollycoddling and gnashing of teeth. Now is the time to battle our enemy!" AWWW HES SO EXCITED FOR IT TO FINALLY BE OVER THAT HE ACTUALLY FEELS A WILD MOMENT OF JOY POOR GUY <333 "I will not leave your side," Halbarad growled into Aragorn’s ear as they stood in the shadows of a small cottage to the rear of the men guarding the gate. Elladan’s extra sword hung at his belt, but Aragorn’s pride chafed as he gripped Eledh’s spare bow. An archer. He had been assigned to the shadows, to rain down arrows upon the orcs. Glorfindel knows I am far from the best archer even when I have two good arms. That and keeping Halbarad hovering over me like a nursemaid is jeopardizing the success of this battle in order to keep me ‘safe’... But he immediately chided himself. Arrogant fool. Had he not, after all, agreed to let Glorfindel lead this thing? If Glorfindel felt Aragorn would serve him better by using a bow than by wielding a sword, and felt Halbarad would be better used watching his back, so be it. The battle would likely not hinge on any single sword stroke of his own, and Valar knew the scant success he had in his last encounter with the Nazgûl. Still, it galled and there was aught he could do about the feeling save try to ignore it. Ooh yes that WOULD chafe. As much as he knows his own condition is far from ideal, it still feels like a great demotion. But yes let Glorfindel lead <3 Then he smiled slowly. Of course, I will eventually run out of arrows.... UM I DO NOT LIKE THAT SMILE OH I FEEL LIKE HALBARAD (Only I do like that smile also) He loosened Elladan’s sword in its scabbard. Halbarad nudged him to get his attention. "And if I fall, it will be on your head because I will have been too distracted protecting your stubborn hide to watch after my own." "You will not fall," Aragorn murmured. He strained to see Halbarad’s face, but the night was too dark. Still, he could almost feel Halbarad’s displeasure beating against the back of his neck. "Halbarad, we have been through much together. It will not end here." "Promise me, at the very least, that you will not go after the Nazgûl. Leave him for Glorfindel as we have planned." <333 friends togetherrr Aragorn tested the tightness of the bowstring before answering. The bow felt right enough in his hand, even though it had been made for Eledh. The greater question was whether his injured arm held enough strength for him to wield it properly. He frowned into the darkness. A borrowed blade, a borrowed bow. He longed for the comfort and familiarity of his own sword. But it lies shattered ten leagues to the north, so stop this foolish pining after what cannot be! He hefted the bow. "I promise only this: I will not seek out the Nazgûl unless I have no choice." okay fair enough (Of course I am hoping he ends up with no choice) "Just stay hidden," Halbarad persisted, as if he feared that at the first orc through the gate Aragorn would leap screaming from his post in some berserk fit of singlehanded vengeance. "We do not want the enemy to find out who you are. It would seem the wiser strategy to keep you entirely out of his sight." LOL okay that is a rather ridiculous description and entertaining idea because of the ludicrousness “He does not know who I am." "Yet," Halbarad muttered. Yes fair :) Aragorn smiled grimly. He supposed he could not blame Halbarad for his gloomy spirit. Optimism was a commodity in short supply of late. He wiped his sweating hand against his leggings and hitched the quiver to a more handy position. He drew an arrow and swiftly notched it, satisfied that although he lacked the speed with which Eledh handled his bow, he would make a fair accounting of himself when all was said and done. "I will not launch myself willy nilly at the Nazgûl, Halbarad. My post is here, and here I shall stay unless all seems lost." Lol yesss go Aragorn And yes no Willy nillying "No, if all seems lost, you will hie thyself far from here, and I shall be right behind you, guarding your back and pushing you to safety." Um He will not But you can pretend "The only one to hie himself anywhere will be that wraith, when he sees Glorfindel." “Hie thyself” is so funny to me I love it Same vibes as yeet, honestly Halbarad made a snorting noise, but if he started to reply, it was lost on Aragorn, for he suddenly felt an immense dread press upon him. "Halbarad," he gasped. "I feel it. He is here." GASPS awww immediately turns to Halbarad for support <3 and gasping Aragorn was unprepared for the fear that rose in him. For a long moment, he felt he could neither move nor speak nor even breathe as the familiar sickening blackness tried to take him. No. I will not let this defeat me. Not again. Never again. Ooooh yes which is impressive that even after all his experience hes not prepared for this level of fear but ALSO it totally makes sense that it’s worse. The Black Breath lingers in him, and the call of the Nazgûl will make it arise with fury He took a deep breath and raised his bow, notching an arrow to the string. An orc horn blew, shattering the stillness of the night, and then dark shadows poured through the gate–low, squat ugly shapes that let out keening cries and shrieks that grated on the ears. It seemed like hundreds swarmed through before he heard Glorfindel’s cry. "Fire!" Goooo Aragornnnnnn never again Aragorn felt his arm draw back the arrow, felt the tension in the bow and the soreness in his left arm but the arm was steady and then he felt the slight sting as his fingers released the arrow. He heard the swish of it leaving the bow and saw a hunched shadow fall and then he felt his hand reach back and find another arrow and notch it and pull it back and release it and another shadow fell and somehow it seemed it was not he who controlled his arms but someone else, some other sane and calm man who was not ready to scream in fear and who was not trembling of knee and short of breath and consumed with terror. Why is the fear so much stronger this time than the last? Is it the Nazgûl, or am I truly weaker than I thought? Mm perhaps both? GO GO GO you’re doing it still!! Some well-trained survival but is in control Vaguely he was aware of other archers loosing their arrows, that more orcs fell than could be accounted to his arrows, but as terror wrapped itself around his very bones, it was all he could do to simply draw, pull, release... draw, pull, release.... And then his hand met an empty quiver. around his very bonessss Oh dear I forgot about this part I think to stay still now would verily break him. He must fight. He dropped the bow and his left arm pained him but his right hand fell to the sword at his waist, and he drew it and something about the touch of that solid hilt under his hand steadied him. He looked at the moonlight glinting cold and savage along the steel’s length and the battle song surged and in its flood some of the terror was washed away. He lunged forward to engage the nearest enemy, but a hand fell hard upon his shoulder, and he was jerked back. Halbarad pushed him hard against the cottage wall, holding him there with an iron-hard arm across his chest. He winced both from the pressure on his bruised chest and from the rough stones gouging into his back. "Halbarad, let me go!" he growled, trying without success to push Halbarad away. "No! My orders come straight from Lord Glorfindel: I am not to let you out of my sight nor into the midst of the fight. And by the Valar, I aim to do just that!" Yesssss yes yes all of thissss :)))) THE BATTLE SONG IN HIS BLOOD and leaping to fight and Halbarad wrenching him back and pushing on his chest, his bruised chest, because Glorfindel said, Aragorn struggled again and managed to free himself from Halbarad’s arm. "The battle will come to us whether we like it or not. Far better to make an attack of our own choosing, in the open, instead of remaining trapped back in this corner!" Okay IMPRESSIVE that he freed himself Mm fair and true probably He spun away from Halbarad’s flailing arm and heard his friend utter a curse, but then he screamed out, "Elendil!" and drove his sword through the back of an orc and all thought of Halbarad and Glorfindel faded beneath the siren call of battle. “The siren calp of battle” oooh AGAIN THAT HE GOT AWAY IS IMPRESSIVE never ever ever underestimate Aragorn He heard a grunt, then the sound of a falling body and for a moment he froze. Halbarad... He leapt to his feet and spun around, heedless of any pain in his bad ankle as he ran to the dark shape lying on the ground. He reached down.... "Thank the Valar," he whispered. It was an orc, felled by his own kind. Ooooh that would be a terrifying moment Aragorn gave it no more consideration as he turned his head this way and that, trying to locate Halbarad. He saw Eledh, still launching arrows from what must surely be an inexhaustible supply. Lolllll Galadh and Denlad fought with their backs to one another, protecting each other as one after another of the enemy fell to their blades. AWWW The persistent echo of Halbarad’s voice... I will not leave your side!... refused to be ignored. "Halbarad!" Aragorn shouted, and then had to fend off an orc who answered the call instead. Aragorn grunted and slashed and the orc finally fell and then Aragorn ran stumbling down the street, where a knot of orcs was being decimated easily by a group of townsfolk armed with cudgels. They did not appear to need his help, so he kept on, trying to look everywhere at once. Halbarad, where are you? He finally spotted his brothers, both of whom seemed to be handily dispatching a pair of orcs. Aragorn was starting to feel decidedly unneeded. Which would make Halbarad happy, if he could but find him. Awwwww he wantsta find himmm Halbarad is going to be absolutely furious But yes the unneededness will make him happy He rounded a corner, then another. Windydale seemed a rat’s warren of twisting alleys and streets. He finally staggered to a halt in a darkened alley between the crumbled remains of an ancient barn and a shop of some sort. He wished he dared call out Halbarad’s name, but he had already proven that calling out only brought attention his way from the wrong quarter. And the way his head was starting to swim, he had no desire to take on a group of orcs singlehandedly. He bent over, bracing his hands on his knees. Oooooh swimmy headdd Valar, but his stamina was not what it should be. Yep yep yep yep truth He took in several deep breaths, fighting to calm his wildly beating heart and find some way to block the cursed terror of the Nazgûl that surged against his spirit in ever-strengthening waves. Glorfindel, I hope you drive that wretched beast away, and soon, or I will have to find a hole somewhere to crawl into and hide... Yesss his racing heart againnnn He shook himself in disgust. He would not flee. "Valar speed your fight, Glorfindel," Yayy <3 master the fear he murmured and shoved himself upright and started jogging down the street again, stumbling a bit over the broken and uneven paving stones. His ankle twinged in warning, but he dared not stop. Another corner, another pause to check that the way was clear of orcs but there was still no sign of his comrade. Halbarad, please ... show yourself! okay Halbarad has got to be absolutely panicking He ran again, more slowly, barely managing a limping shuffle as he carefully crossed the yawning mouths of two more dark alleyways. He rounded the edge of the apothecary shop and even as he caught a glimpse of a tall, robed figure, wreathed in shadows, the Nazgûl’s black miasma consumed him as if he had dashed straight into the billowing smoke from a fire. He staggered backward, blinded, his mind inundated by such a cloud of hopeless desolation that surely all that was light and good had in that moment ceased to exist. He fell to one knee, his sword clattering to the stones as pain knifed into his chest. SKAJDJFJ INUNDATED BY HOPELESS DESPARATION picturing Aragorn slow collapse bit by bit <3 A very small voice screamed at him to pick up his sword... pick up the sword!... but he could only kneel as the nightmare that had been confined to the boundaries of sleep surged into his waking thoughts. He fell heavily onto his side as all his strength drained utterly away. "Valar, no ..." he whispered, trying without success to hold to the vestiges of coherent thought, but the black voice pressed on his mind and again he was lost in that forsaken sea where he was alone and no one could reach him. Not Halbarad. Not Denlad or Elrond or his brothers or Arwen... YES SLOW COLLAPSE CONTINUES WAKING NIGHTMARES There was only himself. No one else. "No," he groaned, and suddenly anger surged hot within him. "No!" It will not end this way! YESSSS GO ARAGORN Summoning strength from some deep well that he did not realize was within him, he grasped his sword and put his hand to the building beside him and hauled himself to his feet. His sword scraped against the rocky ground with the ugly sound of its edge chipping, but he paid it no mind. He simply leaned against the wall, trying to draw in air that seemed unable to get past the agony in his chest. Vaguely within that pain he felt another in his left arm. With another wrenching groan, he staggered back the way he came and the pain eased enough to let him draw a breath as he stopped and leaned against a giant tree that grew close to a cottage. YESSSS wrenching groans Grabbing sword struggling to feet That is a deep well indeed <33 for Aragorn scrapes the bottom of his regular and extra strength reserves often And “but he paid it no mind”, good, I don’t think Elladan will mind either, at all. A chipped sword is nothing compared to your life As he stood trying to organize his muddled thoughts, he heard footsteps pounding toward him. He swept his blade upward and nearly skewered Halbarad as he ran up to him. Halbarad blocked Aragorn’s blade easily with his own. "Easy, Aragorn! Mind where you swing that," he cried, then broke into a laugh. "I know it feels as though Morgoth himself has descended on us, but truly we are about to win, my friend. Glorfindel is just round that corner yonder, and he has the Nazgûl retreating even as we speak." HALBARAD <333 HE IS LAUGHING <3 relief When Aragorn failed to reply and simply let his sword arm fall limply to his side, Halbarad’s mirth faded. "Aragorn! Are you wounded?" Aragorn shook his head, still clutching his chest. "It... it is nothing. Just the old bruise. Somehow... proximity to the wraith is making it ache." Ache. More like burning with icy fire straight from Forochel. He swallowed hard and forced his hand from his chest, struggling to project a facade that all was well when he knew it was far from that. "Where were you?" Skajdjf oh yes he did not see this time Not that there was a fight, really. But one within. Also. “Somehow”?? “SOMEHOW”???? Are you surprised?? Aragorn still could not seem to catch his breath. He leaned his head against the tree and shut his eyes. His free hand strayed back to his chest. "You say Glorfindel is defeating the wraith?" "Aye," Halbarad answered. He pried Aragorn’s hand away and with one swift movement jerked Aragorn’s tunic up. He ran his hands across Aragorn’s chest and ribs. Aragorn shoved his hand away. "Stop. The pain is... is manageable." As the fear will be, soon. He dredged up a smile. "We seem to have succeeded this time." yes, uh, “more manageable when you don’t touch it”, I think you meant to say Dredging up a smile once again <:( As if he could put it away when such terrible dread still coursed through his veins. Still, the menace was weakening, if only slightly. He took a deep breath and some of the fire in his chest cooled. Relief made his hands and voice shake. "Halbarad, I am sorry." "For what?" Another steadying breath, and his voice strengthened. "For preventing you from performing your sworn duties. I am a man used to giving orders but it seems I have trouble following them. Forgive me. I should never have fought you off and run into the battle. It was the act of a foolish child, not a seasoned warrior, and I have no excuse to offer." Halbarad waited a moment. "Is that all?" "Yes." "So be it, then, I forgive you," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Now mind we still our tongues lest our idle chatter draw the last remnants of orcs down on our heads." <33333 thanks Halbarad “And feeble it just may be, from the looks of you. But your stubbornness knows no such weakness, I fear. So come, and at least walk behind me. How’s your arm? YESS that’s so true. It does not. "Hurting. But there is strength in it yet." "And your ankle?" Thanks for asking about the things <3 Aragorn merely grunted. That it was holding up was about the only thing he could say about it. "That bad, eh?" "Fear not, it will hold. Now move." Mm wow yeah that is bad And Halbarad knows, thankfully It would seem that all was well, but for the pain in his chest that would not ease and the fear that trailed cold fingers along his spine, both of which told him that Glorfindel had not yet succeeded in overcoming the wraith. In the near distance, Aragorn heard the clang of swords. Without thinking, he quickened his pace and started to move past Halbarad. Okay “it would seem” is scaring me Also I kind of love that Aragorn has like a whumpy extra-attuned tell of this hehe "Aragorn." He slowed down, giving Halbarad a rueful smile that he could not see in the darkness. "Perhaps you should put rein and bridle on me." "Do not tempt me." Skajdjdj <333 I love Aragorn being the one to suggest this Hes like Sorry I know I’m unmanageable They carefully rounded a corner and Aragorn nearly bumped into Halbarad when he suddenly stopped. He followed Halbarad’s speechless gaze. They had found Glorfindel. oh? Oh???? What is happening????? HALBARAD’S SPEECHLESS GAZE like!!!!

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 12/19/2025
If the sorrow that pressed down on them at Bracken’s Ferry was a matter of silence and the empty stares of the dead, the tragedy of Windydale battered them with weeping and the shattered gazes of the living. AKSJDJFKSK this time they can hear the tragedy <:( A large bloodstain covered one of the fallen panels. Aragorn wondered whose blood it was. A knot formed in his gut, one that tightened with each step of his horse until the pain of it thrust into him like a dagger. <:(((( I wonder too He took a deep breath. There was no smell of dead things this time. The dead had been cleared away, no doubt properly buried by now, and the survivors, singly and in small clusters, stood in silence, watching the Rangers as they progressed through the desolate landscape that had once been a small but lively river town. A place that had once been called home by so many, but to call it that now seemed preposterously ill-spoken. How could it ever be a home again, after this? Aragorn forced himself to meet the eyes of the people, eyes that still reflected horrors that should never have been witnessed, eyes that asked the inevitable question. Why did you not come? BECAUSE YOU WERE DYING, BUDDY <3 <:(( forcing himself to meet their eyessss How could it ever be a home again? He pulled up outside the apothecary, an establishment he had patronized occasionally to refill his healing supplies. He wondered if the old herbmaster had survived. It bothered him that he could not recall the man’s name. Skajdjfj this He cares He dismounted as the rest of the patrol pulled up alongside. Elladan leaned down without dismounting and spoke quietly. "By your leave, I will take Eledh and ride further ahead," he said. "There may be signs that I missed in our hurry to find you. Look not for us for some hours, perhaps not until evening, for I wish to do a thorough reconnaissance of the lands surrounding this village." I love how they, thousands of years old, are totally willing to defer to Aragorn’s lead. How I love them. <3 Aragorn nodded absently, for his attention was caught by a woman, young and with a child no more than three or four clinging to her skirts. Her hands clutched a blanket, squeezing it in a spasmodic rhythm of grief. Her eyes were dry but burned as with a fever. "My baby," she whispered as she impaled him with that cauterizing gaze. "It killed my baby." Words had never seemed so inadequate, but he said softly, "I am sorry, my lady." Oh My Goodness The grief “Impaled him with that cauterizing gaze” augh it’s so visceral “What is your sorrow compared to mine! Why did you not come?" she choked, then suddenly threw herself at him, beating his chest with her fists as she broke into sobs. "Why did you not come?" He felt the blood drain from his face as each blow hit unerringly on the worst parts of the bruise across his chest. The sickening blackness rose again in his mind, but he set his jaw against it. He caught at her arms, giving his men a wordless glance to stay back. She struggled, her arms surprisingly strong, but he managed to lower them and pull her instead into his embrace. Then, as suddenly as she had attacked, she fell limp and sobbing against him. For a long moment, he simply held her, feeling her shuddering cries, letting her grief flog him. I tarried too long... coddled myself when people... children... were dying. He deserved every bit of pain she dealt him. NOPE you did not “coddle” yourself. Do not dare to believe those words. “Letting her grief flog him” aksjdfjjd Blood draining from his face The “sickening blackness” After a long moment, he turned to his men. "Galadh, Halbarad... go around the town," he said quietly. "See who might still need assistance, see what remains of the buildings... anything that we can do to help them, offer it freely. Denlad, Elrohir, I would have you come with me to help tend the wounded. I am sure what healer they may have is quite overwhelmed and needs our help." “Offer it freely” <333 "Before you ask it, I will tell you: no, I am not fine. Nor am I likely to be fine any time soon, not until I drive that wretched monster from my lands." He heard a chuckle and glanced up in surprise to see it was Glorfindel who laughed. But the amused set to his mouth did not reach his eyes. "I did not expect anything less from you, Estel Elrondion. You are indeed your fathers’ son, after all. Both of them," he added. BOTH OF THEM <33333 Estel Elrondion <333 Thank you for NOT telling them you’re fine. Although it pains me some that you only seem able to say this when it is another’s pain that haunts you. Aragorn wished he could believe him. But what, really, could five men and three Elves do against such power? The blackness in him surged again, swelling into a wave of hopelessness that threatened to utterly engulf him. He shut his eyes and leaned his forehead against his saddle, fighting back weariness. The leather was still warm from where his leg had pressed against it during their hard three hours of riding. He concentrated on the smell of the it and the sweat-darkened stain of it and the buttery softness of it that years of riding had wrought and wished he might never lift his head again. AKSJDJ and wished he might never lift his head again The way the Black Breath is stealing away all remnants of hope he had Trying to find comfort in the smell and feel of the familiar saddle Estel... Elrohir. His brother’s mind gently within his own. Concerned, as always. <333 As he should be "Worry not, Elrohir," he said aloud, "despite what I said. I am simply tired." UH-HUH OH SURE RIGHT OKAY FINE BE THAT WAY He straightened up and looked grimly at the town, at the people who had left their despairing huddles and moved away, as though the presence of their Chieftain failed to be of the smallest interest to them. No. Look at your Chieftain. See his grief for you. See how he hurts. please. And why should it be, when my arrival comes far too late? He looked at Glorfindel. "I would not presume to order you to do anything, but I would like you to go round with Halbarad and Galadh for now, and, if you agree, to meet with Elladan and Eledh when they return. We will decide our next course based on their report. I will be with the wounded." "You do not presume upon me, Aragorn. When I am here, in your lands, with your people, I follow your orders," Glorfindel said, his eyes shining warmly at him. "I will of course do whatever you need me to." He nodded to Elrohir, then turned and trotted down the street to catch up with Galadh. <333 it is after all, Aragorn’s stewardship “Eyes shining warmly at him” <333 Aragorn pulled the blanket up around the wounded man’s shoulders and straightened, wincing at the twinge in his lower back. He rubbed the back of a bloodstained hand across his forehead, trying without discernable success to massage away what felt like an iron band squeezing his skull. "He will sleep now," he rasped. He could not remember when he last took a drink of water. The man’s wife nodded her thanks, and Aragorn staggered over to a laver and plunged both hands into the tepid water. He stared vacantly at the swirling brown stains as the blood washed from his hands. Skajdjfj THE RASP PLEASE hear how he suffers for you This wife is grateful and I’m grateful for that <3 The staggering, iron band, deadness inside as he watches the bloodied water Please, Aragorn. Allow that blood to wash from your hands figuratively as well. You may carry the grief, please don’t carry the guilt. How many hours had it been since he walked into this shadowed place of pain and suffering? At least six? He squinted at the grimy window. The sun had nearly set, so more likely closer to seven. Normally he would barely feel the first hint of fatigue after such a time, but even he had to admit he was far from normal, far from fit. Yessss Okay his stamina is so impressive And makes this exhaustion such a greater contrast The hard ride and the backbreaking work of lifting broken bodies to reapply bandages or ease them into more comfortable positions had taken their toll. The town’s healer had died in the attack, and despite the care Elladan and Elrohir had initially provided, much was left to be done to help the wounded. Aragorn was right in that the people tending the wounded were overwhelmed and in dire need of help. So the three of them had labored far beyond their endurance. Or at least beyond his endurance. Elrohir seemed as tireless as ever, and even Denlad seemed to be holding up well. But Aragorn’s hands trembled, his left arm ached and his ankle throbbed. His head felt as though a company of dwarves were mining mithril within his skull. But as hard as it was physically, his spirit flagged far more. He felt beaten. Bruised of heart and broken in his soul, and in his darker moments, he really had no idea how or where or when he might find any sort of solace for his wounded spirit. SKAJDJFJDJDKKDD oh the angst I know you are scared to go to Imladris, but I think you will truly find solace their. Do not underestimate Elrond’s skill, as you well should know. Also thank heavens Frodo was not this stubborn and was trying to go to Rivendell anyways XD maybe Aragorn would have deserved it though (Although I do understand and am grateful for his dedication to first helping these people who have no other hope or help) Trembling hands Hehehe mining mithril BRUISED IN HEART AND BROKEN IN HIS SOUL WOUNDED SPIRIT skajdjf you describe the darkest moments of depression very well. And Aragorn is experiencing a RELENTLESS depression borne of a great Evil. No wonder. He winced. Darker moments. As if of late there were any moments of light and hope. My life has become nothing more than a constant stream of dark moments, one flowing indiscernibly into the next like the foul waters of Mordor. Ajsjd and you do not see why you need to go to Rivendell? Okay I think he knows he needs to, he just also needs to convince others that it can be put off A patient groaned and he saw Denlad bend quickly to lay a cloth across the man’s brow. So many brows had they wiped. Too many. Just as they had held too many hands, many of which were far too small, as they helplessly watched one after another slide into death’s unrelenting embrace. Denlad even now was bent over one of the children, singing a soft lullaby to try to calm the little one’s heart-wrenching cries. Denlad glanced up at that moment, his face pale, his eyes murky with sorrow and fatigue. He shook his head slightly. Aksjdkdknskdjnskskdkskksj Denlad singing a lullaby I love love love how much heart they have and how like, versatile they are. They are warriors, but certainly not “I fight with sword I big and strong and no feelings fight is all I do”, like. They have so much compassion. And healing hands. And hands that comfort when they cannot heal. All of the people still dying <:((( Aragorn blinked several times, telling himself his eyes burned from fatigue. The one time I wish that were so <:( He dumped the dirty water into a bucket provided for that purpose and refilled the basin with fresh water from a stoneware pitcher. Another plunge of his hands into the water and this time the water remained clear. He clenched his fists, hunching his shoulders as he bowed his head. SKAJDJ hunching his shoulders and bowing his head says so much He could still feel a tiny hand in his as, an hour earlier, another child’s life had slipped away. And suddenly he was in an altogether different place, one smelling of soot and ash and death and resounding with the crashing groans of a burned-out building collapsing around him as it stole yet another small life out of his hands. PTSD PTSD :( That is so. Devastating. I cannot imagine. His hands and the laver and the wooden tabled blurred and he quickly splashed his face with water, but it did not wash away the sorrow. Skajdjdjsjdjdksjsjsj ARAGORN TEARS Nothing would ever do that. And somewhere, buried beneath the crushing sorrow, a spark smoldered. Anger started to fester and burn. "You will pay, Sauron," he whispered. "Somehow, I will make you pay..." yesssss Almost any kind of spark is better than the despair And how do you propose to do that, when you cannot manage to warn one small town less than ten leagues away that they are about to be attacked? No stop He balled up the towel in his hands. Tried to banish the mocking voice of his doubts, but again the darkness overshadowed his mind, turning it toward despair, cutting off any ray of hope with its stygian hand... “Stygian” SKAJDJ what a good word The mocking. And this time it is not the annoying but half-pleasant teasing of his brothers. A voice from the open doorway ripped him from his troubled thoughts. "Aragorn?" Halbarad. Aragorn turned away and scrubbed his face with the towel, knowing even as he did so he would be unable to hide anything from Halbarad. "Here." <333 thank you. I am forever grateful for Aragorn’s inability to conceal things from Halbarad. Halbarad made his way through the maze of beds. He took in Aragorn’s reddened eyes, but only said quietly, "I hate the smell of these places. Blood and vomit and worse. ‘Tis the smell of fear." Thank you <33 for seeing but not mentioning Aragorn folded the towel, laying it neatly beside the basin. Halbarad picked up a cup and filled it with water. He handed it to Aragorn. "Drink." Aragorn took it but did not take a drink. He stared down at it as if he had never before seen a cup of water. Ajsjdjsj <:( okay first handing him the water without a question of whether he needs it. He knows he does. Then Aragorn’s response, the way his body is resisting him taking a drink "Will any of these make it?" Halbarad asked. Aragorn blinked and looked up. He took a drink, finally. The water felt obscenely comforting. It nearly gagged him, but he choked it down and with it some of the guilt. Aksjdjdkskdkdkd Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he surveyed the room. "Some will. Others," he shrugged. "They are now in the hands of the Valar. I have done all I know to do." They stood for a wordless moment, each of them watching as Denlad moved to another bed and knelt, softly speaking to a man who had lost his arm to an orc’s scimitar. He held the man’s remaining hand and said something that brought a smile to the man’s face. AKSDKDKSK BLESS HIM BLESS THIS SWEET BOY “Our mighty warrior hides a healer’s heart behind that sword of his," Halbarad said. <333 he does Then he sighed when Aragorn said nothing. "As do you, my friend, but you have given more of yourself than you can afford, I fear. You are dead on your feet. Come and eat, then rest. Denlad and Elrohir will keep things well in hand for a time. And the rest are hard at work helping the many families whose homes were damaged. We can spare you while you find a bit of a respite." Aksjd thank you. Also I hope my keyboard smashes still mean something at this point XD I don’t have words there are many feels must keyboard. Halbarad’s first line here especially <33 reminding Aragorn that he sees his great warrior and healer’s heart. But. He fears. He has given much of himself, too much, perhaps. It was a sign of his exhaustion that he did not argue as Halbarad grasped his arm and led him into the evening twilight. His steps faltered, however, when he was confronted by a knot of scowling men, one of which, a dark-haired man who was nearly as tall as Aragorn but about fifty pounds heavier, stepped forward. "We would speak to you, Lord Aragorn." Akskdkfksk DON’T INTERRUPT WHEN ARAGORN IS ACTUALLY ACQUIESCING Also I read this paragraph as: so no way would Aragorn take him in a fight right now. Please defend him if needed, Halbarad. An air of ill-defined tension hung heavily on the small crowd, enough so that Halbarad’s hand went to his sword. Aragorn stayed his movement with a touch to Halbarad’s elbow. "Of course," he told the man. He wondered how long he would last should the huge man decide to take out his rage on his Chieftain. Not long, he decided, and wondered tiredly if perhaps being beaten into oblivion would not be such a bad thing. lol Poor exhausted hurting guy <:(((( Bold of you to assume Halbarad would let him, though "My name is Belendur," the man started, then waved a hand vaguely at the assemblage behind him. "We, that is, all of us here, want to apologize for our behavior as you and your men arrived. We were sore of heart and angry but you should not have borne the brunt of our rage. It is to our shame that we took out on you what should be saved for the one truly deserving of it." He ducked his head and stepped back. OH MY GOSH I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT THANK YOU BELENDUR <33333 This was much-needed for Aragorn. So much. Aragorn was speechless for a long moment, then he fumbled to find words. "You have not offended me, nor any of my men. Far from it–it is we who must ask you for forgiveness, if such can ever be granted, for our lateness is inexcusable." The man looked up, shaking his head. "‘Twas a fell thing to have happened, but it is not for any of us to go about placing blame on any save Sauron himself. You have only to tell us what we might do, for we will follow you, as we have always followed our Chieftain." <3<3<3 YES YES YES thank youuuuuuu The blame is not Aragorn’s, nor Halbarad’s, nor Glorfindel’s or the townspeople or anyone else’s. The blame is Sauron’s alone. He choose to attack. He may bear the guilt of the dead. Perhaps there might still remain a bright moment ... <333 SKAKDKF THIS IS EVEN A BRIGHT MOMENT FOR HIM Aragorn sized up each of the men, seeing nothing in their eyes but forgiveness. One or two of the men nodded as their gazes met. Aragorn looked again at their spokesman. "The greatest thing you can do is to rebuild Windydale. As for the other... your faith in me, in light of what has happened, is...." Aragorn’s throat seemed to close up entirely. He had to look away to the shadowed hills far beyond the ruined town, to try to find some sort of composure in their timeless solitude. Moonlight shone on the mists gathering in the folds of the valleys, and its beauty calmed him. "Thank you," he finally managed, not trusting himself to say more, nor daring to meet anyone’s eyes for fear it would be his undoing. Skajdjfj Elvish boy, finding solace in the moonlight <33 ALSO HE FOUND A TEENY BIT OF SOLACE or at least, calm <3 Halbarad put a hand on his elbow. "If you will excuse us, the Chieftain is sore of spirit and tired of body and would rest." Yesssss <333 how we need Halbarad The men parted, but one, a short man with thinning grey hair but a luxuriously full white beard, held up a hand. "I would have you stay with me, Lord Aragorn. You and all your men are welcome to find respite in my inn, which, thanks to the Valar, remains standing." <333 thank you Aragorn nodded, grateful. "That would be most welcome. You will be paid in full." "No, sir! I would never dream to so levy my Chieftain or his men, especially after the long hours you labored to save so many of our wounded. I was in there, not long before you came. I saw the fevers, the wounds that needed cleaning but had not because there were too many fallen and not enough able-bodied men and women to help. Many more would have died had it not been for the healing in your hands. And the rest of your men, laboring so tirelessly to repair homes and make them livable. No, offering you shelter for the night is the least I am able to do. It is all set up and waiting for you. So you will stay, at my behest." Mmmm yes yes yesssss Thank you for also directing him to focus on the good he and his men are doing Aragorn dredged up a tired smile. "Then we accept, and no coin shall pass between us to cast a shadow on your generosity." thank you, Aragorn. There are many times where a willingness to accept generosity is important. Especially here. It would indeed cast a shadow to attempt to save these people and then refuse any offering of love or care returned. The little man fumbled with the door latch and disappeared inside. They followed him in and found themselves in a surprisingly spacious room, with a fire snapping and crackling on the hearth. Cots had been set up, enough for all of them, and while it made the room crowded, there was room enough after all. The man even had food and drink spread on a table. Aragorn lowered himself to one of the cots with a tired sigh. It felt good to be off his feet. "Thank you. This will do very nicely." <3333 aksjdjd and he prepared for them as well. This was no spontaneous offer. Small crowded but warm and friendly with room for all is such a beautiful vibe The old man smiled widely and bowed. "I will leave you to your rest. Please, call on me should you have any need. I have a room in the back." He gave them both one more bow of his head, then left them to fend for themselves. "Shall I get you a plate?" Halbarad asked. Aragorn nodded, but even as Halbarad walked toward the table, weariness pressed on Aragorn with an urgency he could no longer ignore. He stretched out on the cot and within moments was fast asleep. Aksjdjdjdk First letting Halbarad bring him a plate And then immediately sleeping <3 showing just how soul-deep his exhaustion goes. And he’ll need food even more when he wakes up yay He was dreaming. Standing in a doorway, looking on row upon row of hurting people, crying for him, reaching for him. He looked into their burning eyes and tried to speak comfort but no words came. He tried to reach out to touch them but he could not lift his hands. Then a child at the very end cried out his name, over and over, each strident call throbbing with her pain and fear and he tried to run to her but his feet would not move and he looked down and it was the sea, that black sea, rising to engulf him and all those wounded, hurting people, and if he did not move it would take even the child but he could not move... he could not... Aksjdjkfkdkd oh yes the nightmares sleep brings Even worse Even worse Imagining a small child just repeating “Aragorn” <:((( THE NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE CURSED TO WATCH He gasped and opened his eyes, the dream shattering but leaving in its wake cobwebbed fragments of guilt and hopelessness and defeat. He rubbed a hand over his face. He sat up, pushing away the blanket that Halbarad must have draped over him. He was unsure how long he had slept. The room was dark, but for the light of the fire. He was alone, a plate with bread, fruit and a bit of cheese sitting on a table beside him. The thought of food sickened him, but he reached for the tankard. He sniffed. Tea. Trust Halbarad not to let him drink ale on an empty stomach. Windydale certainly did not need a drunken Chieftain on top of all their other ills. He took a long draught. It was tepid but good and strong. He picked up the piece of cheese and gave it a desultory nibble, for he knew he must eat something, even if it tasted of ash. He chewed and washed it down with tea, then forced himself to eat the rest of the food. He wondered where Halbarad was. <333 yesssss forcing himself to eat (perfectly good, technically) food that’s repulsive to his wrecked body And lol yeah of course he wouldn’t give him ale now :) He hurried out onto the stone stoop. Halbarad had been sitting on the step, eating his own meal, and he scrambled to his feet. "Looks like Elladan and Eledh are returning." Hi Halbarad <3 Aragorn glanced at the sky, gauging the time from the stars. He had slept for perhaps three hours, maybe four. It had not been enough but it would have to do. "Were you able to find some rest, Halbard?" Mm I wish I could do that Not that I need to but Nooo yeah I forgot there’s no sleeping for a solid night this night, probably Halbarad shrugged. "I was not overly tired." Liar :) They fell silent as Elladan and Eledh thundered toward them at a speed that would no doubt break their necks if their mounts were not so sure footed. He watched, worried, as they reined in, Eledh’s horse rearing at the sudden stop. Halbarad hurried forward and grabbed the bit and helped Eledh control his excited mount. "I pray I am wrong, but you do not appear to bear good news," he said. "Why in these dark days would you think we bring aught but bad news?" Eledh retorted, then nodded at Elladan. Loll "We need not ride out after the Nazgûl," Elladan said, his lips tightening into a grim slash. "Even now, the wraith and his fell company march again toward Windydale. "We have perhaps an hour, no more, and they will be upon us." WHOA WHOA WHOA time for more angst (as if this chapter had none lol)

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