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Lexilooper · 25 December 2025 · Chapter 17: Balrogs Are Quieter

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 · 24 December 2025 · Chapter 17: Balrogs Are Quieter

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 · 19 December 2025 · Chapter 16: Go Forth and Fight

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 · 19 December 2025 · Chapter 15: To Windydale

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)

Lexilooper · 19 December 2025 · Chapter 14: Ill News

By the following morning, the worst of the storm had eased, although the argument had continued and finally Halbarad left Aragorn no choice but to thunder at him to cease his protests lest he lock him in the stable under charge of insubordination. Halbarad had turned white, but he pressed his lips together and said no more, except to bow slightly with a very stiff, "Yes, my lord," as he left the cabin. The silence with which he carefully shut the door behind him bespoke his anger more loudly than any ear-splitting slam could possibly have. Sjajdjfj I love Aragorn threatening insubordination *because* his men love him But also It is because Halbarad loves him And he is *really* trying to keep him from bringing about his own death Aksjdj Halbarad’s white face, okay usually I don’t like conflict but this time? I do?? Maybe because it’s over Aragorn’s health. White face in anger, not fear, I think. Well, not fear of Aragorn. Fear of his health, certainly. Akskdkk the extreme stiffness and visible lidded fury “my lord”,,,, and OH MY GOSH the extremely careful door close, Halbarad would do that instead of slamming it. It’s like. That type of parent who gets quieter the more mad they get. Anyways I love this which is surprising because it’s a fight between friends I think you have built up the love and trust *so well*, and the fight is *because* of that love, that I can enjoy it :) Aragorn saw the angry set of the man’s shoulders and didn’t try to stifle his irritation. "Say in words what the stiffness of your neck speaks in silence." Yesssss What a great way to say that :) Denlad turned, spinning on the balls of his feet as he remained kneeling by the fireplace. "You were too hard on Halbarad," he said without preamble. He rose to his full height to stand nearly eye-to-eye with Aragorn. "You know that every word of his mouth and action of his hands is done with the sole motive of keeping the one he loves as a brother safe from all harm." Askdjfjjfjdjdjf thank you Denlad “The one he loves as a brother” <333 Denlad’s eyes flashed. "Would you not have his protection, then? Our protection? Would you rather we had left you to the tender mercies of the Nazgûl and let Middle-earth suffer whatever fate it may without the Hope of Men?" Skajdjdjd "Do not do me the disservice of putting words in my mouth," Aragorn said very softly, aware that the rein on his temper was fraying and fraying quickly. YESSSSS “Very softly” Again I love when that shows the extreme restraint a person is exercising over their very extreme emotions. Angst and also self-awareness "I am grateful beyond words for what he did. For what you did. But that does not change the fact that I am healing and well able to resume my duty. And it is neither his place... nor yours... to question that." "No, it is not," Denlad agreed, his anger melting into concern as he placed both hands on Aragorn’s shoulders. "Nonetheless, I will never relinquish the stirring of my own heart, and it tells me this: you are far from healed, Aragorn. Hold whatever anger against us that you may, chafe however much you will against our care for you, but know that we–Halbarad and I, and Galadh and Eledh as well–will not let you destroy yourself." He held Aragorn’s gaze for a long moment, then nodded as though satisfied with what he saw, and left. Aksjdjfkdk DENLAD <3333 Putting his hands on his shoulders Listening to his heart YESS “chafe however much you will against our care for you” okay this is my favorite thing especially when it’s acknowledged out loud instead of becoming a silent conflict that tears them apart, it gets to just internally tear the person (Aragorn) and they all see and struggle together to help him and for him to balance allowing help with his need for independence and to keep doing his duty Satisfied <3 Aragorn took a deep breath. Denlad had never spoken in that way to him before. It was as if the younger Ranger had suddenly grown in stature and confidence, he now the teacher and Aragorn the student. Aksjdjdkdjd <333 he grow It left him feeling shaken. <333 And confound it, Denlad was right. Not that Aragorn felt he could concede to Denlad’s wishes any more than he could to Halbarad’s. He simply could not abandon his duty to his people. He would deal with the wraith, and then go to Rivendell and hope for the best. That is after all what I do best, isn’t it, he thought sourly. Hope. Skajdjfjdj <:( He wished he could kick something. Okay fair Denlad veered to the left, toward the small house where Aragorn, by craning his neck, could see Neala waiting on the porch. Denlad greeted Neala with a smile and an ease that astounded Aragorn. <3333 awwww But any thoughts of Denlad’s potential change of fortune faded as Halbarad continued toward the main house. Aragorn moved back to the fireplace, suddenly swamped by regret at his anger, and studied the flames as he heard Halbarad just outside the door, stamping the snow from his boots. The door opened. Aragorn glanced over, trying to judge from Halbarad’s expression whether his fury still simmered or if perhaps his storm, like the blizzard, had blown over. But Halbarad’s emotions were too carefully veiled. Aragorn turned his gaze back to the fireplace. He chewed his lip, unsure how to undo the mess his loss of temper had unleashed. Hmmmm Good job wanting to though, Aragorn. Looking back on cooled temper and wanting to make amends is a very good skill that requires humility "Denlad seems to be a bit taken by Neala," he finally said, just to break the heavy silence. "And she is by him, no doubt about that. And Randir has been following him everywhere like a lost puppy." "I am happy for him. A man should have a wife, a family." <333 aw yessss Okay now face him, Aragorn He stepped on a cinder that flew popping and hissing onto the hearth, then took a deep breath. "I would not have locked you in the stables." <333 Halbarad grunted and Aragorn heard a chair creak. He turned. Halbarad was seated at the table, polishing an apple on his tunic and regarding Aragorn with that same hooded expression. "You would not have been able to." Anger flared anew, but Aragorn fought it down. Halbarad was right. As feeble as Aragorn’s strength was, there was no way on Arda he could have wrestled Halbarad into submission, and he knew from the set of Halbarad’s jaw that it would have taken a fight to lock him away anywhere. So he nodded and remained silent. Skajdjdj I love them His frustration with his continual weakness, and Halbarad continually taking opportunities to remind him anyways, makes me happy “Yes. My hair. What color is it?" "Black, of course." "No, look closely." "Very well. Black with a little bit of grey." "A lot of grey," Halbarad corrected. "Put there mostly by you and your stubborn ways." It was an old accusation, and overused. "It is not I who put the grey in your head, but time, and you know it." Lollll <33 Aragorn’s like you need to stop using that one "What I know is that every time you get yourself hurt, it becomes a battle on the scale of the Dagorlad to get you to take care of yourself afterward." "And your exaggerations are on the same scale." Lolllll yeah I think they’re both right there "‘Much’, he says," Halbarad snorted. "So tell me how being Númenórean makes you invincible." "You know it doesn’t." He regretted the testiness in his voice, but he was growing weary of this line of conversation. <33 Aragorn testy because of exhausted and hurt and “I can’t argue that” "Are we not your chosen men?" Halbarad suddenly asked. "What?" Mmm hes got a point Aragorn sensed defeat just around the corner. "Yes," he sighed. Skajdj yes "Then why do you fight us when all we are trying to do is our sworn duty? Why do you fight me?" Mmmm YES the fighting against others who are just fighting for his wellbeing Frustration made Aragorn sound almost petulant. "And why do you not realize that I am well?" "Because all the evidence screams otherwise!" YES "You cannot win this argument, Halbarad." "I know, I know. I will not win because you are the Chieftain and I am not." He studied Aragorn so long that Aragorn felt like squirming. "You and I have been friends for a long time." Askdjfjdk Aragorn finally gets a squirming look of his own Also great point about the only reason Halbarad will not win "And we still are, I trust." Halbarad stood and took a great bite out of his apple. "I suppose," he mumbled. "And I suppose I must continue to be your friend, for surely no one else is softheaded enough to put up with you. We will leave, as you order, but if I see even a hint that you are faltering, I will not hesitate to tie you across Bronadui’s saddle and haul you to Rivendell." Yesss (I somehow doubt he will actually do this but yk) Aragorn sketched as close to a bow as he could while seated. "As you wish." Okay that was so well written I can’t. Love love love. "And you can get that little self-satisfied smirk off your–" Halbarad started but was interrupted when the door suddenly opened. LOL so Aragorn’s smirking now Galadh stuck his head in long enough to announce, "Riders approach–the Sons of Elrond and, though I can’t say for certain, it looks like Lord Glorfindel." OOOOOOH also, I forgot the point about them riding to Rivendell to let them know about the Nazgûl and get help. Perhaps Elrond guessed from the report of Bilfen and Kenevir whom I love? Aragorn shot Halbarad a quick look. It was not unusual for his brothers to ride out from Rivendell and join the Rangers–in fact, he had been expecting them, given the rumors flying throughout Eriador–but it was a bit unusual for Elladan and Elrohir to have the exalted company of Lord Glorfindel with them. "I hope this is not ill tidings," Aragorn said. Hmmm Yes “the exalted company” I love because it’s honestly very accurate Also—it wouldnt be that surprising if it is him. Because we know in FotR Elrond sends Glorfindel for help with the Nazgûl. Although that is all 9 of them Also—was it the Witch-king who fought Aragorn, or just a random Nazgûl? Perhaps we shall find out "Maybe it’s Prince Legolas–from a distance, with that golden hair of his, he might be mistaken for Glorfindel," Halbarad said. LEGOLAS MENTION I love that cause whether or not it’s him it’s like, obviously he’s involved and they all know him :)) Also I love the calling him prince Okay I’m so excited for Aragorn to see his brothers <3 He would have no reason to be here in Arnor. But I suppose the only way we’ll know is to go look." Aragorn rose and, even with taking the time to snatch up his sword and belt, beat Halbarad to the door by a half step, which left him with an absurd feeling of triumph. LOL I love him. He needed a tiny win to feel a little less feeble He stopped on the porch beside Eledh and Galadh and strapped on his sword, then raised his hand to shield his eyes from glaring sunlight that was just starting to break through the clouds. "No, it is Glorfindel, on Asfaloth. I can hear the bells." <333 there we go "How does he get away with putting bells on his horse?" Halbarad mused. "I would think that would attract every orc within a hundred leagues." Lollll only Halbarad would ask this Aragorn smiled. "If you were as mighty a warrior as Glorfindel, who killed a Balrog, who died and was reborn, and who drove out the Witch-king from Arnor, you could put bells on your horse and sound trumpets everywhere you went and still the orcs would run far, far from you." "Excellent point." LOL yes <333 I forgot he drove out the Witch-king as well Aragorn nodded, his worry edging up another notch. Even from a distance he could see their horses were lathered from long and hard riding. Oh yeah I forgot he has far-seeing Dunadan eyes Aragorn hurried forward, trying to hide his limp, and took the reins from his oldest brother. Elladan slid from his horse, shoving back his snowy hood as he gave Aragorn a brief embrace. "Mae govannen, my brother," Aww okay I forgot what that means but I’ll look it up once I get off this plane Aragorn said, then repeated the greeting and embrace with Elrohir. He ignored the sudden sharp look of concern that Elrohir gave him and turned to Glorfindel. lol you wish you could hide your limp and everything else :) thank you for looking concerned, Elrohir <333 "I fear what small good news we have will not serve to alleviate the sorrow we bring, Estel," said Elladan as he stepped forward. "What has happened? Has Arwen–" LOL I love how he first worries about Arwen <3 "Arwen is well, as is our father," Elrohir hurriedly supplied. "In fact, Lord Elrond is expecting Mithrandir’s arrival any time now, for the old wizard apparently has some sort of news that he hopes will be to the benefit of us all, but like a wizard, his message was half riddle and impossible from which to glean anything in the way of actual facts. Adar wants you home, Estel. As soon as possible." <:(( <333 THANK YOU ADAR ELROND WANTS HIS SON HOME <3 Also MITHRANDIR :) Like a wizard lollll yes that is so Gandalf In one thing you have not changed, my friend. You still speak in riddles. Aragorn glanced at Halbarad. It was impossible to ignore the triumphant gleam in the man’s eyes. You are getting your wish, my stubborn friend. It seems we must go to Rivendell whether I like it or not. He said to Elrohir, "It may be some days before we can set out, but we will come. What other news from Rivendell?" Lolllll <3333 My stubborn friend Halbarad’s like HA He found our strength greater than he anticipated," Halbarad growled. HA :) Elrohir sharpened his study of Aragorn. "You have already fought with him?" HAHA :)) okay this is a cool moment Halbarad’s like MY GUY IS COOL (plus like, he himself who chased it away) And Elrohir’s like YOU FOUGHT HIM Aragorn merely nodded. He felt the ever-rising concern in Elrohir’s thoughts, but he closed his mind to his not-so-subtle probing, earning himself a glare. Lolllll <33 Yes I want Elrohir to learn but he will later and I also love the Aragorn being able to close his mind, and the glare Also I love the elf-power mind-reading?? <3 That Aragorn is apparently in on at least in relation to his brothers But the last thing he needed was for Elladan and Elrohir to unleash a suffocating flood of brotherly concern over him. They would both no doubt torment the truth from him later, but now he needed to know all the news the three had to share. “Torment the truth from him later” lol <333 Yay Hoarwell, that we encountered the Nazgûl and truly saw our foe for the first time. We killed some twenty of his orcs, then drove off what remained, including the wraith, “Drive off the wraith” AN UNDERSTATEMENT OF WHAT HAPPENED INDEED HUGE STORY HOLES “It is no easy thing to drive off a Nazgûl, Estel," Elladan remarked. "Few come away unscathed." YESS Elladan knows about the story holes "Suffice for now to assure you we did just that and lived to tell the tale. Now what further news have you, for I fear you know more than you have told." Suffice for now Hes like Okay I can’t deny that but I need news first Glorfindel’s eyes held all the bleakness of Caradhras. "Windydale was attacked, three days back. We would have ridden here sooner but for the storm." Aragorn closed his eyes. Three days ago. While he lay under the Black Breath, his people were dying, with no one to succor them. NOOOOOO <:(((( Okay this is rather heartbreaking Ha. “Rather”, I say. It is very. Glorfindel’s eyes bleak LIKE CARADHRAS “With no one to succor them” akssjjdjdj "Aragorn?" Elrohir asked sharply. Skajdjdj hes worried about Aragorn’s mental pain <3 "What happened at Windydale?" Aragorn asked softly. “Softly” <:(( "They partially burned the town, although the people there gave strong defense and turned them away before they could utterly destroy it," Elrohir said. "So there were survivors?" Halbarad asked. "Roughly half the town. Mostly women and children. They survived by fleeing into the hills. Many of the men perished in the fight, though not all. And there are many wounded–men, women and children." Aragorn’s hand ached and he realized he was gripping the hilt of his sword as though he expected the wraith to spring from the earth beneath his feet. He forced himself to relax his fingers. "The Nazgûl was there as well?" Mmmm yes trauma or wanting to avenge the people Or both "Aye," Elladan said. "Aside from those with grievous but nonetheless ordinary wounds, Elrohir and I spent many hours treating those who had fallen under the Black Breath. We helped all we could before we had to leave, to find you." Again, he gave Aragorn a piercing look, which Aragorn ignored. Yessss he knows lol of course he ignored it “Lord Elrond is sending out warriors?" Aragorn asked. Elladan nodded. "He is considering it. He awaits word from outlying patrols, and from us. From you." Yesss you know someone is great indeed when Lord Elrond awaits their counsel "Elrohir speaks hopefully of its being gone, but I fear the wraith still lingers around Windydale," Glorfindel added. "I will try to speak with Gwaihir the Windlord, to see if he has any news. Assurance from him that there is no larger force of orcs anywhere near would be most welcome." Yesss and you know someone is cool indeed when they are on speaking terms with Gwaihir the Windlord Mostly from the Misty Mountains," Glorfindel said. "They heed the Nazgûl’s call. But without his leadership, they likely will retreat back into their caves as the weather deepens toward winter. That is my hope, at any rate. But what I would know, however," he said, as he raked Aragorn from head to toe with a gaze that made Aragorn feel that every secret he tried to keep had been laid bare, "is what exactly he may have discovered in his encounter with you." HA YES I love mind-and-soul-piercing gazes “Raked Aragorn head to toe with a gaze” love love love “He did not discover who I am." Glorfindel nodded, satisfied, but Elrohir frowned and stepped over to grip Aragorn’s arm. "From the first moment, I sensed a shadow upon you, an echo only but evidence still of evil’s touch, but hoped I was wrong. What happened?" YESSS not his left arm, I hope 😅 When Aragorn hesitated, Halbarad stepped forward. "Aragorn was nearly killed by the Nazgûl. That is why we lingered here instead of heading to Windydale," he growled. "But he would never tell you that. No, he would rather stand swaying on his feet, imagining he were fooling you into thinking all was well." SKAJDJFJ THANK YOU HALBARAD I AM INDEBTED straight to the point “Aragorn was nearly killed by the Nazgûl” <3 “Swaying on his feet” yesss "Halbarad, hold your tongue," Aragorn hissed. Elladan snickered, but Elrohir merely intensified his already painful grip on Aragorn’s upper arm. "Is this true?" Hehe Aragorn’s like YOU DARE and Elladan’s like lol he does and Elrohir’s like CONCERN CONCERN CONCERN He glared at Elrohir. "If you would release your death grip on my arm, I might be able to unclench my jaw long enough to explain." Elrohir let go. "Speak, then." Lollllll Hes like okay now you have no excuse "I fought with him, yes, although Halbarad was the one that ultimately drove him off. I am a bit worse for wear, perhaps, but nothing from which I will not recover." HA "‘A bit worse for wear’, you say! You came within an eyelash of dying," Halbarad said bluntly, Yessss trust him to be blunt <333 then turned toward Elrohir. "While the rest of us were engaged with the orcs, your brother here fought long against the Nazgûl, until his blade shattered and he could no longer stand on his feet. And even then, he fought with a branch and for all I know his bare hands before he finally fell to a blow to his chest from the flat of the Nazgûl’s blade and the Black Breath finally overcame him. None of us would have lasted so long." Assorted nods from the other Rangers affirmed his words. Aragorn stood silent, fighting back the urge to clap a hand over Halbarad’s mouth. Halbarad continued, "We managed to use fire to scare the wraith off–" YES YES YES lolllll Silent and trying not to just stick a hand over Halbarad’s mouth Anyways whump is always so much better when the ones who love them most know or are told all the details, thank you <3 “No," Aragorn finally interrupted, unable to hold his tongue any longer. "You used the fire, Halbarad. You were the one that drove off the Nazgûl. So if you feel you must put me on a pedestal like some sort of ridiculous hero, dispense with the false modesty and put yourself up there right alongside me." Yess good point youre both very cool Also I love that Halbarad downplaying his part is the one thing that Aragorn has to protest <3 "Hush, Strider, I’m the one telling this tale," Halbarad muttered into his ear. The men did not hear his words, but the sharp-eared Elves did, and despite the grim nature of the tale, Glorfindel and Elladan eyed Aragorn with undisguised amusement. Aragorn started to protest, but then decided silence was the only safe option. He clamped his lips together and stared down at his boots. Better to stare at the snowy mud than endure their mocking gazes. LOLLLL oh he hates this <333 SKAJDJ Glorfindel and Elladan both amused brothers, I love Glorfindel himself being like hehe Although also, fair, I feel like people of greater power either have a greater like noble grim serious vibe or “I’m not that worried I’ve killed a Balrog anyways we can laugh” so Like, Tom Bombadil sort of valid flippancy And some of Tolkien’s best characters have a great measure of both <3 Halbarad continued. "As I was saying, we were able to scoop up Aragorn and ride to safety. Aragorn was halfway to Mandos’ Hall, but the Valar had mercy and we managed to bring him back with athelas." He put a hand on Aragorn’s shoulder, continuing more softly, all hints of teasing gone. "But he has suffered greatly and has yet to fully recover. It is my contention that he needs the care of Lord Elrond. It is his contention, however, to stubbornly ignore my advice and charge off to Windydale to save the town. Now that we know the town is beyond our help, maybe he will actually acquiesce to common sense." <3333 thank you Halbarad The serious gentle concern "Halbarad exaggerates. Greatly. I am well on the way to recovering. And from the sound of it, Windydale needs our help more than ever, in caring for the wounded and rebuilding what we can." Hmmm good point except the “exaggerates. Greatly.” "What of your arm?" Elladan said, pointing at the bandage visible through the tear in Aragorn’s sleeve that he had yet to repair. "Merely splinter wounds, from Bracken’s Ferry. They are healing." "Why do you limp?" Elrohir demanded. "I turned my ankle, nothing more." To demonstrate, he lifted his right leg and put all his weight on his left ankle. It twinged mightily but he gritted his teeth and hoped the pain did not show. Yesss demanding explanations for the things he has not successfully hidden Hmm yeah I doubt you hid it all Elrohir did not look overly convinced at his act. "I feel the Black Breath is still upon you, in some fashion." Yesss thank you <3 "All you feel is the aftereffects. I am on the mend, and have no need of additional care from you, or from Elladan, or Lord Elrond, or anyone else." Aragorn took a deep breath to control the anger rising in him. "My health is not a hindrance. What is important now is to ride to Windydale to offer what comfort we can. Lord Elrond can wait another day for my arrival." He glared at his brother, at Glorfindel. At Halbarad. Daring them to protest his next words. "We will ride on the morn." Mmm He is powerful indeed Also “the after effects” and “on the mend”…yeah I am worried the mending will last only so long. There is a deeper shadow that will not dispel, and you know it. He felt little satisfaction at their silent nods. Windydale had been taken. He had been too late. He had failed his people. Again. <:( SKAJDJFJDJDJ he’s so saddddd and guilttttt Aragorn please please think for once instead of the people you have helped and saved. Of what would have happened without you.

Lexilooper · 17 December 2025 · Chapter 13: Repercussions

mm is Aragorn still freezing to death in his bones? Eledh laughed and then settled himself in a chair. Aragorn tucked some coins in a crack between the mantel and the wall, where hopefully they would go unnoticed until long after they were gone, then limped to the set of shelves Neala used as a larder and found a loaf of bread and a ham. He handed the bread to Eledh and cut off a thick slice of ham. "Neala’s generosity seems to have no bounds. She told us to help ourselves, but I worry that she doesn’t really understand how much food five hungry men can eat." aww he's so good and are you sure? She herself served you far too much food earlier, on purpose, so. Anyways I love her. Aragorn smiled grimly. "Halbarad better, if he knows his place." loll "Oh, he knows his place–hovering over you like a very stubborn and ugly mother hen. Denlad nearly had to put him in a headlock to get him to take some rest those two days when you were lost to this world. I can foresee a very loud argument ensuing when you tell him we are leaving so soon." LOLL <3 stubborn and ugly mother hen And perhaps that was the wisest course. But his last departure from his childhood home had been.... He frowned as he searched for the right word. It had not been contentious, exactly, but he had felt keenly an unspoken anger coursing through his father. Elrond had not spoken openly about anything, but always there lay between them Aragorn’s love for Arwen, and their betrothal, and it did not seem to Aragorn to be a leap in logic to assume that somehow the betrothal had been the cause of Elrond’s silent fury. Truth was, Elrond had looked so dark and forbidding that Aragorn feared he might not be welcomed back with open arms ever again. aww this makes me sad <:(( I'm sure that last part is not true but even so. I want him to be welcomed with open arms always :( Eledh eyed Aragorn, seeming to read his thoughts. "If you need me to, I’ll do the beating. I doubt you’re strong enough to take on Halbarad just yet." loll <3 "Hopefully it will not come to that." "You don’t know how worried Halbarad is about you." LOL <333 The door flew open and Denlad entered with a rush of cold air. He slammed the door shut and shivered. "The snow is starting to fall already. Come on, Elf Maid. Our turn to watch. Think of it–we can hurl snowballs at the wraith!" LOLLL "I’d like to hurl something at you," Eledh muttered but he shoved the last bites of his ham into his mouth, strapped on his sword and gathered his coat. He slung his quiver and his bow over his shoulder and then tossed a salute toward Aragorn as he headed out the door. Denlad shot Aragorn a grin and followed. the salute XD <3 A few minutes later the door blew open again and Aragorn gave up trying to stay warm by the fire and instead snatched a blanket off the cot and wrapped it around his shoulders. Galadh and Halbarad trooped in, stamping snow from their boots and brushing white flakes from their hair. <3 shameless in his "okay I'm freezing and y'all are making it colder I need a blanket", anyways <3 "Eledh’s by the stables. Denlad’s on the north side of the small house. They’ve both got ropes to guide them back here." He shot a questioning look at Aragorn. "What went on between those two today? You should have heard Eledh’s laugh when I sent Denlad to the north side of the house. Denlad will be staring straight into the teeth of the wind, and it’s not like Eledh to laugh at another’s misery." "Do you really want to know?" Halbarad considered for a moment. "No. No, you’re right. It’s best not to know." LOL XD <3 you can tell they're used to this cold (obviously) the ropes prepared for a blizzard and all. Makes me think of Little House the long winter "Denlad will be glad to hear that. I think he has his heart set on taming it." "If anyone can, it’s Denlad," Halbarad said. He shook off his coat and draped it over a chair, setting it close to the fire beside Aragorn. "He has an uncanny way with animals, that boy." <333 Aragorn smiled. "‘That boy’ has passed thirty-eight summers, Halbarad." "A puppy," Halbarad snorted. "He still has much to learn. As do you, upstart," he added with a pointed look at Galadh, who was smiling. XDD "Better an upstart than ancient. We’ll be kitting you out with a cane and a blanket for your knees before too long." Galadh reddened as he glanced at Aragorn, who was now seated with a blanket across his knees that he hastily pulled off. "I am sorry, sir." SKAGKF "Upstart," Aragorn growled, cuffing Galadh on the back of the head. He limped to the fireplace and tossed in yet another log. He hid his smile as Galadh found a sudden pressing need to sweep up fallen snow from the floor near the door. SAKDHFJKH XDD Aragorn hiding his smile makes me the happiest Halbarad stood up and put his coat back on. "I think, since it looks as though we’ll be holed up for at least a day, that I’ll bring some things from the stable in that we can work on repairing. Keep us from lunging at each others’ throats from all this enforced togetherness." lol you'd think they weren't used to being together He left in a swirling gust of snowy wind and Galadh continued to avoid Aragorn by furiously sweeping up the additional snow. LOLLLL Aragorn chuckled softly and sat back in his chair. He did not, however, drape the blanket across his knees. He stared into the fire, feeling the heat on his face and hands. He was grateful for the sensation, but how he wished the warmth could touch the cold that still lurked in the center of his being. He frowned and switched his gaze to his hands. <:( yessss lurk lurk lurk "Aragorn," Galadh said tentatively. "I apologize. Truly, I never meant for that crack to be aimed at you." aww he's so sweet "Your jest did not trouble me." Aragorn forced a rueful smile. "But I do feel a bit old, of late." Galadh pulled the chair around and straddled it backwards, folding his arms across the back of it and resting his chin on his forearm. He regarded Aragorn, his dark eyes grave. "I do not think age has anything to do with how you feel. A man of younger years than even Mallor would be feeling sore and a bit old, had he gone through such a thing." <3333 thank you, Galadh Galadh nodded, his burst of loquaciousness apparently over. OH YEAH GALADH IS LIKE. TALKING. Have we even seen him talking before this chapter I haven't kept track of late also thank you for teaching me new words here and there :) By the time he started on the bread, the door swung open. He expected it to be Galadh with Eledh and Denlad, but when he heard a soft clinking noise, he glanced up and saw it was Halbarad. He looked at what Halbarad held in his hands and froze. Chains. His chest suddenly felt tight as the room seemed to darken. No. This is not my nightmare. He merely has brought in some broken chains to fix. This is not my nightmare. SKADHSFKG YES YES *ANGST* thank you for making him face his nightmare for a second I thought he was just seeing things "Aragorn?" Halbarad asked. "Are you well?" Aragorn blinked and tried to still his pounding heart. "I," he started, but his mouth had gone bone dry. He coughed, tried to banish this illogical fear that shook his limbs and stole his breath. "I’m fine. You just startled me." skshadjfhag stole his breath Halbarad came closer, the chains still in his hands. Aragorn could not stop himself from taking a step backwards. His hand closed tighter around the knife. He could not take his eyes off the chains. ooooh tightening on knife "Aragorn? Are you sure? You look ill..." Halbarad’s voice seemed to come from a long way off, muffled by the sound of Aragorn’s own pulse raging in his ears. "Halbarad, I..." He took another deep breath and sternly told himself to get hold of himself. But those chains... he could almost feel their cold embrace pinning him. Trapping him like an animal. Like a sacrifice. like an animal. Like a SACRIFICE skadhfjhsgkhsjghsjk <:(( ANGST Halbarad grasped his arm with his free hand and something inside Aragorn snapped. "No!" He jerked his arm free from Halbarad’s grip and some small voice of sanity screamed at him to not use the knife do not use the knife so he dropped it but at the same time shoved Halbarad away from him, hard. Halbarad let out a startled cry and dropped the chains as he scrambled to keep his balance. He staggered into a chair, knocking it over, then went down on top of it with a loud grunt when his feet tangled in the rungs. SKJADUHA the one voice of reason telling him DROP THE KNIFE so all he can do is push Halbarad away <333 and Halbarad's surprise because he has no ideaa what this is At the sound of the chains hitting the floor, reason suddenly returned to Aragorn’s mind. He stood blinking, unsure what had just happened. "Halbarad, I... I’m sorry." Halbarad disentangled himself from the chair and accepted Aragorn’s hand as he hauled him upright. "I’m sure I have no idea what that was all about," he said, eyeing Aragorn warily. "But I expect you’ll tell me. What did you think I was going to do?" skaudhg <3 yess make sure he tells you Aragorn shakily sank onto the chair Halbarad just righted. His foot inadvertently kicked the chains piled on the floor and he couldn’t help flinching. THE FLINCH <3 "It’s these chains, isn’t it?" Halbarad said. He started to pick them up, thought better of it, and shoved them away with his foot. He squatted down in front of Aragorn and looked up into his face. "Tell me what terror struck you when you saw me carrying those chains. For it was terror I saw in your eyes, no doubt about it, and terror lingers yet." YES YES thank you again for seeing the terror <33 and doing things again to help him feel safe. Kicking away the chains. Squatting down. Aragorn rubbed his face. Several long minutes passed before he finally spoke. "It is a nightmare. One that I keep having over and over, ever since fighting the Nazgûl. It started during those two days I was under the spell of the shadow, of the Black Breath. Before you found the athelas. I was floating in a black sea, and then when I crawled ashore, I saw you coming. I-I thought you were there to help." He scrubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands, then stared bleakly at the fire. How he hated putting the horrible memories into words, admitting his weakness, his inability to overcome such a stupid trifle as nightmares. But he owed Halbarad an explanation. He finished with a rush. "But you had chains, and you bound me and carried me into Mordor and handed me over to Sauron." AKSJDUHF you write his telling SO EXTREMELY WELL the halting "how do I explain that you have been betraying me terribly in my worst recurring nightmares?" and going through the end bit super fast to get it over with. Halbarad’s eyes widened. For a moment he seemed unable to speak, but he finally found his voice. "Aragorn, surely you know I would never do such a thing." "Of course I do," he snapped, then moaned. "I am sorry. But something has... there is a dark..." He ground to a halt, digging his hands into his hair as if he could force clarity and calm into his scattered wits by pressing against his scalp. He let out a frustrated, inarticulate growl. "I can’t explain it, but it’s as though something black... some malevolent and fearful thing... still lingers in my mind. I think I have it bested but when I least expect it, it suddenly rises up and consumes me." He turned stricken eyes to Halbarad’s, his voice dropping to a strident whisper. "I do not know how to fight it." SKAJDHFSGKJ <:((((( his frustrated growling, snapping and apologizing, voice his deepest concerns Halbarad chewed his lip. "Aragorn, now more than ever you must realize that we have to get you to Rivendell, to your father. He will know how to help you." Aragorn immediately shook his head. "He will not want–" "No, Aragorn. He will welcome you back, as he always does." "But he was so angry–" Halbarad stilled him with an upraised hand. "Aragorn, you are his son. In every way but by blood. He has never turned you away, nor will he now. Not when you need help, no matter how angry he may be with you on other matters. I know that you must realize that." Halbarad paused and then placed a hand on Aragorn’s shoulder. "I fear that the Nazgûl’s evil has somehow blinded you to the fact that he loves you." SASKGHKH thank you, thank you for discussing this openly and sharing this fear. Of course Halbarad would know. I am glad he's not keeping it to himself. Whether or not it influences his decision to return now or later. It is comforting. Aragorn squeezed his eyes shut when they suddenly burned with unexpected tears. "I am not blinded. I know that he loves me," he whispered. He took a shaky breath and swiped a hand across his eyes. "But our path cannot turn to Rivendell yet. I cannot leave our people undefended." skadhf something hit there <3 Galadh, Eledh and Denlad chose that moment to pile through the doorway. As they shook off coats and laughed at the snow dusting their beards and eyebrows and lashes, they only gradually noticed the tension that seemed to vibrate the very air between Aragorn and Halbarad. Denlad nudged other two. "Quiet, fools, " he hissed. The three of them fell silent. LOL I love when Denlad's like ah yes I am the adult Halbarad raised an eyebrow. "Of that I have no doubt. But for now, I suggest you sit down before you fall down. I’ll get the food." A ghost of a smile flitted across Aragorn’s face, then he bowed his head in acceptance of the temporary truce and retreated to the table. awww XD I love when Aragorn accepts things like that. He's like okay fair you can tease me about falling over. It's true. Eledh, having watched the quiet exchange, sat down across from Aragorn and gave him a wry look. "So," he said, "how loudly did the ugly mother hen squawk?" LOLLLLLLL SKAHF XD Aragorn suddenly laughed. He looked at Halbarad, who looked back at him with no little amount of confusion on his face. "Loudly, Eledh. I am surprised you did not hear it over the noise of the wind." SAKHHGSJKH Halbarad's confusion XD Aragorn's ready response Denlad scooped up the chains. "Where did these come from?" Aragorn tensed, but Halbarad immediately moved between the table and Denlad so Aragorn’s view was blocked. "Toss them back out on the porch. I was going to fix them, but," he added with a quick but pointed glance over his shoulder at Aragorn, "they’re not worth saving." askdhsf <333 thank you As Denlad walked out of the house, Aragorn met Halbarad’s gaze and nodded his thanks. But from the grim look he received in return, Aragorn knew the fight was far from over. <333 I would not expect anything less

Lexilooper · 17 December 2025 · Chapter 12: Time

Aragorn walked slowly back across to the main house, stomach comfortably full, even if he had not been able to eat as much as he normally did, and certainly nowhere near as much as Denlad and Eledh had packed away in their brief visit to Neala’s repast before they returned to work. Aragorn still felt a general malaise, the sort of feeling one gets when the horrible part of an illness is past but the body still needs to find its equilibrium and strength. His ankle throbbed, but it bore his weight and he would just have to put up with the nuisance of it until it healed. Just like he would have to put up with the ache that still arced across his chest, and the darkness that kept trying to creep back into his mind. And the chills that still rippled up and down his skin like dozens of tiny Mirkwood spiders. And the twinges from the splinter wounds on his left arm, whose healing had not been encouraged in the least by his battle with the Nazgûl. and and and and. This is. You do still need healing. <3 When was the last time I did not have some sort of wound, or ache, or broken bone or sprained limb? He realized he couldn’t remember. <:( He looked toward the horses. Randir was nowhere in sight, but Bronadui was standing by the railing, looking at him with an eager expression that meant he was ready to be ridden or be given some sort of treat. Aragorn smiled and dug out the apple Neala had pressed into his hands. "Give that horse of yours a treat, Lord Aragorn," she had said, and now he walked to Bronadui, slicing the apple with his dagger. He held out a piece. "Someone evidently thinks I don’t spoil you enough," he said. SJAKFH how I love her <3 Bronadui huffed and then his sensitive lips found the apple and in seconds, it was gone. Aragorn fed him the rest, smiling with pleasure as he scratched around Bronadui’s ears. Bronadui crunched the last of it, then, looking for more, nudged Aragorn’s chest, right on the bruised area. "Ahhh, don’t do that," Aragorn wheezed as the bruise flared to uncomfortable life. Stars danced before his eyes and he grabbed the railing and stood for a long moment, hardly breathing, afraid the darkness would come swooping down on him. But this time, for whatever reason, he felt nothing beyond the ordinary but no less excruciating protest of muscles that had been bruised nearly beyond their capacity. When the pain finally relinquished its grip and he could breathe again, he opened his eyes. Bronadui’s liquid gaze seemed to apologize. "Fear not. I am not angry. How could you know?" Aragorn rubbed the horse’s soft nose and bent his forehead to touch Bronadui’s. yesssssss :))) glad the darkness didn't come though <3 A loud yelp and then an enraged shout from the roof of the stable caught his attention and he watched with mingled amusement and alarm as Eledh, legs akimbo and arms grasping ineffectually at handfuls of thatching, slid down the roof and off the low eave to land on his backside in a pile of hay. Denlad’s head appeared at the ridge line, his expression ludicrously innocent as he nonchalantly picked up something from the thatching. From this distance, it was hard to say, but Aragorn could have sworn it looked like a very large, and hopefully dead, spider. He chuckled. "It seems Denlad’s over his latest fit of melancholy and up to his usual tricks," he said to Bronadui. "Halbarad will be happy." SKASHGSJKH XDDDD <33 With a final pat on Bronadui’s neck, Aragorn pushed away from the fence and hobbled back to the house where he sat on the bench and picked up the broken harness Halbarad had found in the stable and left for him with orders that, if he survived the foolhardy trip to Neala’s quarters, he could spend the afternoon quietly repairing. Aragorn shook his head with amusement. To say Halbarad had been displeased with him walking about so much and so soon would be like saying Forochel was a bit chilly in winter. Halbarad had all but threatened to sit on Aragorn to keep him abed, a solution that would not have had any sort of good outcome for either of them. Too bad Halbarad is not around to see that I survived my outing. But he was on watch, along with Galadh, so Aragorn had no opportunity to gloat. AWWWW LOL the foolhardy trip Setting aside the awl and the leather straps, he let himself into the dim cabin and with a groaning sigh, stretched out on the cot. He closed his eyes, but, contrarily, sleep did not immediately come. Instead, his thoughts trailed toward Rivendell, and his father. Much as he did not wish to return to Rivendell, and the always precarious walk on the tightrope that was his relationship with Lord Elrond, a nagging worry pestered him that only at the hands of his father could he be truly healed. Elrond was familiar with the Black Breath, after all, and Aragorn had heard stories of how Elrond had healed those who had fallen under the wraith’s spell. He bit his lip as a cold tendril of fear wormed through his mind. He had also heard stories of those who had been touched by a Morgul blade who had not received such healing... and who ever after walked in the nether world between the living and the dead, having become wraiths themselves. yesssss <3 He shifted uneasily. He felt... exposed. Alone and naked and terribly vulnerable, as if he were somehow trapped on a wind-swept ledge, with no one to throw down a rope and help him climb back to safety. One misstep... hmm <:( Time will heal this. That’s all I need. Time. uh-huh. Sure. Despite concern over whatever may be wrong with Denlad, Aragorn had to smile. Put a pretty woman within a league of Denlad and his normal dry wit melted away into shy, painful stammering. He had spent his entire time eating with his eyes on his plate and his cheeks flaming. loll aww Aragorn felt his eyebrows rise. As fractured as Denlad’s words were, it was the closest thing to a full sentence Aragorn had ever heard him say to a woman. His curiosity could be denied no longer. He got up and walked slowly and softly to the doorway. He peeked out and saw that Neala had a wet cloth pressed against the back of Denlad’s head. Her other hand supported his forehead, and Aragorn had to suppress a wild desire to laugh at the tension that held Denlad rigidly upright, tension that Aragorn was sure had little to do with pain from a bump on the head. Denlad’s knuckles were white where his hands gripped the edge of the bench. Aragorn didn’t think he chuckled out loud, but he must have made some sound, because they both suddenly turned to look at him. Aragorn had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing at the barely concealed panic in Denlad’s eyes. LOLLLL pure panic, this time in a "good" way :))) Neala sighed. "Did I do something to anger him?" Aragorn laughed. "No, Neala, you did nothing wrong. I suppose he has simply never had the opportunity to learn much about the ways of well-bred women." Aragorn stopped, not feeling it was his place to explain Denlad’s problematic upbringing. Being the son of a fallen woman, and having no father nor any knowledge of who the man was, did not exactly lend itself to Denlad learning the finer points of dealing with women of quality. To Aragorn’s knowledge, a pretty woman was the only thing that could send Denlad into full-blown retreat. Neala’s wistful voice interrupted his reverie. "A man such as that, and no woman waiting for him?" Aragorn tilted his head to look at her. There was no mistaking the faint blush on her cheeks. He slowly smiled. "Perhaps he has never found the right one." Her cheeks turned rosy, and she suddenly became very interested in the cloth she held. She finally muttered something about needing to check on the evening meal and hurried off. ASKDHGSDFJ AHHH AHHHHHH alright I ship them It was Randir, walking around the stable. The boy stopped when he saw Denlad, who had climbed atop the roof, and started to walk away, but Denlad saw him. He called out something too low for Aragorn to make out and immediately climbed back down the ladder. Randir waited, eyes downcast and hands bashfully shoved into his pockets. Denlad reached the ground and knelt beside him, talking softly, and finally elicited a small grin from the boy. Seeing Denlad so took Aragorn back to another time, where he had knelt in just such a fashion to talk to another shy boy. aksjdhsjkshjkshfjk so he's gonna be a good father to him too <333 shipping continues She had disappeared shortly after that, and he did not see her again for many years, until a chance patrol in the North Downs brought them to a shambles of a farm, and he saw that it was hers and that she now had a strapping young son of perhaps nine summers, a golden-haired boy who looked so wistfully at the small band of Rangers, who must have seemed to have appeared by a wizard’s magic on his front step, that Aragorn’s heart was pierced. The mother may have chosen poorly, but through her, the son had the blood of Númenor in his veins, and his path lay untrammeled before him. A nudge in the right direction, from the right person, might be enough to keep him from falling prey to the same sort of tragic mistakes that had claimed the dignity of his mother. And since Aragorn knew just a little about what it was like to have to overcome an ancestor’s error, he figured he might be just the one to do the nudging. skasdhfdjhsdfjkh thank you Aragorn <333 "And who is this mighty warrior?" he had asked the young man, who promptly blushed to his hairline and ran into the cabin. AWWWW <33 No amount of coaxing had convinced the lad to emerge, so Aragorn and his men had ridden off, but Aragorn never forgot the desperate longing in the boy’s eyes, nor the steadfast cut to the young man’s chin. So he made it a point each year to swing by the farm, to drop off a deer or a brace of pheasants, but mostly to watch the boy as he grew over the years. He was pleased with what he saw: as the tall boy grew into a strapping young man nearly as tall as Aragorn, the condition of the farm slowly improved, the cabin in better repair, the horses and cows in finer fettle. Denlad’s mother even seemed to soften, to mellow from the hard-faced woman who could only glare at Aragorn to a mother who instead watched her own son with a quiet pride. ASKDHFFSDJGHSJKDSFHJHFD changing even her <333 what a beautiful quiet tiny but huge influence Then at last came the year he and his company had arrived to find a fresh mound of dirt in a clearing beside the house, and a tearful young man sitting bereft against a tree. When Denlad stood, angrily wiping his eyes, embarrassed at being caught in his grief, Aragorn asked what they could do to help. At Denlad’s vehement denial of any need, he then asked another question. "Is the mighty warrior ready?" And this time the young man did not run away. OH OH MY GOSH I I CHOKED TEARSSSS what a beautiful follow-up question <333 Now Aragorn watched, a curious lump coming to his throat, as Denlad pulled a small knife and sheath from his pocket–one Aragorn had given him when Denlad was roughly Randir’s age–and handed it to Randir. Randir’s face lit up with a huge smile and he ran off. Denlad watched him go, a thoughtful look on his face, then he moved to the fence to stare moodily at the recalcitrant horse that had bested him. Denlad had won over Randir, and Aragorn had no doubt that given time, he would win over that horse. "And perhaps with time, Neala could win over you," Aragorn said softly. Then he cleared his throat and picked up the bridle. He started to work on it, but a passing cloud dimmed the sunlight, and its shadow left a chill in the air. Aragorn glanced at the sky. Sullen clouds seemed suddenly to race across the heavens, as if rushing toward warmer, more southerly climes before winter’s bite fell upon them. He looked again at the men, then turned his eyes to the south, toward Windydale. "It seems that time is all any of us need. But I fear time may be the one thing none of us have." skadfhsjhjkshfsjdfshdjsjhsdf giving the knife Aragorn gave <33333 time <:(((( NEALA YES <3

Lexilooper · 17 December 2025 · Chapter 11: To Make Right Again

Aragorn lifted his fist to knock, then hesitated. He took a steadying breath, then stepped back a pace, tightening his grip both on the linen-wrapped sword he carried and on his shaky courage. As ever, he failed to understand why doing the right thing must always be so taxing on the nerves. that's such a great question <3 Despite the fact that he had eaten it hours earlier, Galadh’s burnt wild duck still sat like a rock in his stomach. How can a man manage to so overcook a duck so that it chews like old wood, yet at the same time leave it so greasy that.... He couldn’t suppress a shudder. "Do not think about it," he whispered to himself. "It will only bring back the nausea." LOLLLLL WHISPERING TO HIMSELF TRAUMATIZED BY THE DUCK Randir still stood uncertainly, staring at Aragorn as though moonstruck, until quick footsteps came up behind him and a small, work-roughened hand pulled him away from the doorway. "My apologies, Lord Aragorn!" Mallor’s mother cried. "I am Neala, and of course, you now know Randir. Please, come in." Blue eyes in a care-worn but still pretty face snapped with impatience as she shooed her son out of the way. She was younger than he expected, a bit older than Denlad, perhaps thirty-five or -six. "Randir, step aside and let him in before he falls down!" awww so baby young Aragorn smiled. "Is my weakness so obvious?" She gave him a frank, assessing look. "You look in danger of falling victim to the next light breeze." He followed her inside, and gratefully sank into the chair she offered. "You should not be up and taxing your strength so!" SAKJDHG THANK YOU <3 I love when other people can tell too and are like. You know I can tell you're about to fall over so do us all a favor and SIT DOWN. "You must be in league with Halbarad. Right now, he is pacing back and forth, worried that I will come to my end because I dared rise from my bed." lollll <333 "You have a wise friend." "And none with a more caring heart. <333 But I did not come here to speak with you about Halbarad. I came to offer you my deepest thanks, and my humblest apologies for the way we burst into your home. I fear that my men may have been overzealous in their care for me and put you out of your home without reason." LOL sure "Without reason? No, my lord, they had grave reason to do exactly as they did. I have never seen a man as near death as you were that night. And it was beyond my abilities to help you, so I thought it best to move Randir and myself out of the way." She made a gesture that took in the room, one that was very similar to the larger room at the other house, down to the cat on the hearth, although this particular specimen was orange and white. "We winter in this house, because it is smaller and easier to keep warm. We merely moved a week or two earlier than we would have otherwise. It was no burden." <333 saksdjuhgs she's like. Please. You looked nearly dead. <3 "If you say so, then I thank you." He dropped his eyes to the sword laying across his knees. "I also wanted to bring this to you." He carefully unwrapped the linen and revealed the well-oiled leather scabbard. His throat suddenly caught, as he looked at the hilt that had hung so proudly first at Malthen’s waist, and then from Mallor’s. He held the sword out to Neala, not trying to hide the emotion pooling in his eyes. "Mallor was a brave and valiant man. He is sorely missed." <3333 the sword At the sight of the familiar scabbard and sword, Neala let out a soft cry. She took it lovingly in her hands. "Mallor was so proud when he finally was able to strap on his father’s sword." She stroked the leather, lost in memory, then finally lifted the hilt to her lips and kissed it. Randir reached out with a tentative finger to touch it, then ran from the room. Aragorn winced as the door slammed loudly shut. skasdhfjshgh Neala sighed quietly. "His brother was everything to Randir. After their father died, Mallor, young though he was, took on the role of father to Randir. They were inseparable until the day Mallor left to take his place among your men. Randir was so proud of Mallor, as I was. As I still am," she said with a trembling smile. "I grieve, but I have no regrets. Mallor died doing what he was called to do from birth. But... I would ask one thing of you, though I feel perhaps I shouldn’t, for I see in your eyes that the death of my son causes you great pain." askddfhkg she is such a brave woman <333 I grieve but I have no regrets "Anything, my lady." "Then please, I must know... did he die quickly?" For a moment, Aragorn was unable to speak. "Yes," he finally managed. "He did not suffer, nor was his death in vain. He died saving Denlad from an orc’s pike." She nodded, her eyes burning with a fierce light despite her tears. "Then that is all the mother of a warrior can ask. He is now with his father, and Randir and I will remember him, as we do his father, with pride." skasdshjk <333 <:( how I love this. Tears. A fierce light. The mother of a warrior can ask. She is not bitter, she is sad, but so, so proud. <3 "Your strength does you great honor, Neala." At her embarrassed shrug, he continued. "I held Malthen, whom I fought alongside for many years before he fell, in the highest esteem. Few were braver than he. And now, having met you, I see that you are no less a true Dúnadan warrior than he." "I am no warrior, my lord." He reached out and caught her hand, looking into her eyes. "But you are, my lady. You and every wife and mother who sends husband or son to fight for me, for our people... it takes a rare bravery to do such a thing. I want you to know that it does not go unnoticed, or unappreciated." SKADHJHGSKJSH oh how meaningful this is <3333 and directly from Lord Aragorn. Thank you, thank you. he said nothing, but he could tell his words had touched her deeply. He smiled, releasing her hand and letting the weight of the moment pass. "Randir is in good hands." <333 yes "As he will eventually be in yours, my lord. He has the same warrior spirit singing in his veins as his brother and father. I won’t be able to keep him tied to hearth and home for very many more years." "Then I pray that whatever doom is before us is settled long before I need to call on his services. Even such a valiant mother as yourself needs to have one strong son beside her, especially living as you do, in such an isolated place." He glanced toward the door. "Do you think I should go to him?" awwwww <333 "Indeed," Aragorn laughed, but his mirth faded as his thoughts turned to a son of his own. I need a wife to have a son. And I need to be a king before I can wed the one I love. And that seems so far from my reach... "Lord Aragorn? Does something trouble you?" Aragorn felt himself blush slightly. He had not meant to wear his heart so plainly for her to see. his deep desire to be a father is so very precious to me <3 "We will be fine, don’t worry. Randir is a good boy, growing in strength and stature day by day. And you said yourself, I am a true Dúnadan." Her eyes sparkled with mirth and pride. "I said I was no warrior, but that does not mean I am helpless. I’ve no small talent with a bow. There are several orcs and bandits whose bones are moldering in the plains, thanks to a well-placed arrow." He laughed as he bowed his head to her. "I may have to recruit you instead of Randir! But still... do not hesitate to ask if you have any need. The Dúnedain are scattered and few, but it has always been my heart’s desire to strengthen the bonds between all of us, any way I can." skasdjhjsfdsk oh my goodness how I love her. YESS THE BOW <3 "And you have done that, and done it well," she assured him. Then she gave him what could only be a motherly look. "But right now, the only need I have is to feed this starving man who sits before me. You must take some tea, and some stew, and perhaps some bread and cake. While I’ve never laid eyes on you until two nights ago, I have a feeling that tunic you wear is not supposed to hang so loosely on your shoulders." YESSS thank you for noticing <3 Aragorn ruefully pulled at his shirt. "Ranger patrols are not known for their fine cuisine." <33 indeed :) She rewarded his small joke with a laugh so merry and a face so light that he felt he was surely glimpsing the pretty girl she must have once been, before life’s cares had whittled her countenance into sorrowful planes. Sorrowful but strong, he amended, and wasn’t sure if the woman before him was more beautiful than any untested young girl could be. As he watched her busying herself with bowls and cups and plates of steaming dishes, his thoughts strayed to another strong woman, a fair Elf maiden far away in Lothlórien. He rubbed his bare index finger, where the Ring of Barahir would have been had he not given it to Arwen as a betrothal gift. How he missed her right now as he sat amidst the comforts of a home that was not his own. Someday.... AKSJDHJSDKG this this more beautiful than any untested young girl could be and missing Arwen <333 and again his desire to make a home with herrr A clatter of crockery and the rich aroma of venison pulled him from his reverie. He looked at the table and was dismayed to see more food spread before him than he and all his Rangers could eat in an entire day. "This is too much!" he protested. "Nonsense. Besides, it is not all for you, but for your men as well." "But even so–" <33 "Hush, my lord. Do you know how long it has been since I’ve had the honor of cooking for more than Randir, Mallor and myself? Years! And I will not let it be said that the Chieftain of the Dúnedain and his men found my generosity lacking in any way. Now, eat!" okay YES it is honestly a joy to make food for people, who need it or enjoy it or both. Another way of offering hospitality. You do a beautiful job of not like, reducing people to "kitchen wife" and "hunting husband" or something, but enriching their roles and showing the deep desire to raise and family and protect and care for others and each other and the strength in all roles, both in learning to use a bow and in caring for a household while husband and son leave and fight and are killed, and all these things, anyways,,, "I recognize a direct order when I hear it," he laughed, then after briefly looking to the West and with an inward apology to the Valar for not standing, he obediently tucked a fork full of stew into his mouth. His eyes widened at the explosion of flavor. The meat melted on his tongue, and the spices... he’d not tasted such since leaving Rivendell many years ago. "There, I see in your eyes that I haven’t lost my touch!" YESSSS <33 also yes I love that custom "You truly have a gift!" He would have said more, but decided the best compliment he could pay her was to keep his mouth as full as possible. And he discovered that despite the Nazgûl, and despite the burnt offering Galadh had called breakfast, his appetite had very happily returned. OH THIS MADE ME SMILE SO BIG <3333 i'm so happy he finally met them

Lexilooper · 17 December 2025 · Chapter 10: Respite

He must have lost his mind. lol oops He groaned and slowly sat up. Every muscle protested. He could never recall being so stiff, sore, and weak in his life. He was not certain but what even his hair ached. He rubbed his face, feeling every one of his years. Acutely. I suppose even a mere sixty-nine-year-old Númenórean can feel old after battling a Nazgfl. But to then be confronted by ghosts...or more likely the apparent loss of one’s sanity... mm yes I think they can also thank you!! For telling me the age. For I have indeed wondered. And this makes sense. Okay wait. Is this like...a year before Bilbo gives Frodo the Ring then? If Aragorn is 87 later (I think) and Frodo has it for 17 years before leaving... He scrubbed at his face with both hands and whispered, "What did I just see?" A chuckle from the doorway surprised him. He had thought he was alone. "It wasn’t a lost spirit," Halbarad said. He walked over to sit on the edge of Aragorn’s bed. "That was Mallor’s younger brother. Mirror image of Mallor, even though he’s nearly four years younger. He could no longer contain his curiosity about the Chieftain of the Dúnedain and apparently sneaked in here to see just what you looked like." sakdfhdsj okay wait now looking back that was the cutest interaction ever XD <3 I want a drawing this makes me happy now "Yes, this is their farm. When we ran from the Nazgûl, we had the choice of crossing the river into the Wilds and seeking Rivendell, or trying for more immediate shelter. Denlad knew their farm was not far off, and he thought it best to seek the shelter there. And he was right—trying to go all the way to Rivendell might have been the end of you." mmm good call very good call Aragorn frowned. "So Mallor’s mother learned of her son’s death in the midst of our invasion of her home." He pinched the bridge of his nose. He could not remember the last time in his life when things had gone according to plan. "This was not how I would have broken the news to her." skaskdfh <:(( okay but. I would not say that is your fault Aragorn. Life has dealt you many decisions with no good paths. "Nor I, but ofttimes life does not acquiesce to our plans. I tried to comfort her as best as I could." <33 thank you "But where is she? Surely you did not drive her from her own home? We’ve taken enough from her!" Halbarad gave him a look his accusation deserved. lol yesss good He's like okay you really think so little of me "Of course not we did not drive her from her home! There’s a small house beside this one... a little cottage where she said Malthen’s mother once lived. She’s staying there, with Randir, the one who just scared the living wits out of you. Her name is Neala, by the way. She is waiting for you to give her leave to come." <33 okay I love how he said Randir scared the living daylights out of Aragorn, not the other way around. Randir may have been like eep sorry! But like. Aragorn is the traumatized one who went WHAT IN THE GHOST and hit the wall XD <3 "Give her leave? When we are uninvited guests in her own home? And when she has already lost two of her loved ones in my service? No... I will go to her this very morning." He swung his legs over the bed, causing Halbarad to scramble to his feet out of the way. Aragorn saw the protest in Halbarad’s face and hardened his voice as he staggered upright. "She will not come to me like some supplicant on her knees! I am the one in greatly in her debt, and... and... I will... I.... " He stammered to a halt as the room suddenly seemed to fade and slide away from him. awwww he's so cute YES PREMATURELY FORCING HIMSELF TO STAND AND THEN room spinning worse than ever Halbarad’s hand immediately grasped his arm. "Easy, easy," he soothed as he guided Aragorn back into bed. "Calm yourself–you’re not ready to be up yet." <33 he's like okay I let you try now BACK TO BED "...I will give her the honor she deserves," he finished stubbornly, but the way he had to gasp it took all the fire out of his declaration. He settled for glaring at Halbarad– all three of him–instead. Then he shut his eyes. One Halbarad was vexation enough. The very idea of there ever being three of him was simply too much to take. <33 SJKAHDFJS XDDD cackling all three of him the very idea being too much to take XD how I love them My apologies, my lord," he said, drawing Aragorn’s gaze again. If Aragorn could but focus his eyes, he was sure he would see that Halbarad’s cheeks were aflame. "You are right, of course." <3 I love how they do also like. Halbarad is like okay you're right of course about giving her the respect she deserves. Whether or not there's fire in your voice. "Apology accepted," Aragorn muttered. He wanted to glare one more time, but the spinning room forced him to shut his eyes again. But the contrition in Halbarad’s voice immediately melted all his anger. Still, when the room finally settled down and he dared open his eyes again, he managed a weak glare. "And don’t call me ‘lord’." loll aw "Aragorn," Halbarad protested somewhat petulantly, but with a gleam in his eyes that Aragorn liked even less than seeing three Halbarads, "you know that there are times when I simply cannot help but call you that. When anger stirs you into acting like the king you will be someday, it’s all I can do not to drop to one knee and grovel." Then, openly grinning at Aragorn’s snort of disbelief, he added, "But seeing as you are now back to being nothing more than a lowly Dúnedain chieftain, and one flat on his back, no less, I will, in the best manner of certain members of Bree society, try to hide any sign of respect, Mr. Strider." aww LOL the gleam he liked even less than three Halbarads XD ah yay he's laying down again "Thank you. I think." XD <33 Halbarad’s smile changed to a grimace. "Driven her from her home, indeed." This time it was Aragorn who felt his cheeks warm. "Now I am the one who is sorry. I meant no insult. Her sorrow lies heavy on my conscience, and regret made my words clumsy. Forgive me." mm yes <33 both apologizing. How I love them. And love that Aragorn can speak in full sentences again <3 (I think.) "I would appreciate that. So how do you fare this morning, aside from the obvious in that you are not quite ready to leap to your feet? You seemed to have had quite a rough night." aww <3 thanks for noticing "Dark dreams, nothing more. I suppose it’s to be expected, after...." He lifted one shoulder in a rueful shrug, leaving the words unsaid. The same nightmare had chased him throughout the night. Floating, coming ashore, Halbarad and Denlad slapping him in chains. The ring and the hilt ripped from him. And the added enjoyment of watching Halbarad spit on him as he told him was unfit to be king. It had been a far from restful night. skasdfhsgh <:(((( the ring too, his other great heirloom <:( saksjhf the added enjoyment oh my poor boy Halbarad frowned. "These nightmares... I am sorry you’re having such troubles. The athelas seems to help somewhat, but you seem to go straight back to them as soon as you fall asleep. Tonight I will make sure one of us keeps the athelas steaming throughout the night." mmmm literally no sleep before nightmares take him again :( "Can you do it by yourself?" Aragorn stared at him without answering. "Of course. Very well, then. I will, er, be outside. If you need help, call out and I’ll...." Aragorn continued to stare. "Of course, you won’t need help." Halbarad moved quickly to the door. SKASDJGSHK XDDDD i was wondering about that, thanks for bringing it up Aragorn managed just fine by himself, thank the Valar. He grimaced at the thought of having to call Halbarad back inside to help him. It was one thing for Halbarad to have assisted with all of that when Aragorn was unconscious and unaware, but the very thought of being conscious and having then to call on his help... Best not to think about it. lolllll yes He limped carefully across the room. Getting up more slowly, in stages, had been the solution to the vertigo problem, and he was not surprised at his overall weakness, nor the aches and pains of his stiff and sore muscles. But he was dismayed to discover that in addition to all that, his left ankle felt well and truly wrenched. He vaguely remembered turning it on a stone at some point during the fight. Two days lying in bed in varying states of unconsciousness seemed to have done little to speed its healing. He supposed a wrenched ankle was a small price to pay for avoiding a Morgul blade marked with his death, but between the ankle and his wounded left arm, his entire left side was well nigh useless. <33 yayy thank you for replacing "he can sorta walk now" with "well also his ankle doesn't really work and his left side is mostly useless for the time being :))" makes me happy. And I do remember that stone. I forgot though. He shook off the dark thought. Simple logic reminded him that he was not the cause, that they had no choice but to face the battle the enemy laid before them. But tell that to my heart.... <:(( at least he has the logic balancing a little Halbarad’s soft voice interrupted his joyless reverie. "Needs some work," he said as he came around the corner of the house, a hammer in his hand, and when Aragorn only nodded, continued, "Randir does what he can, but he’s young–he has seen only twelve summers. He has his hands full just taking care of the horses." aww yes hammer <3 "And he does well with them. But you are right in saying this place needs some care. If we can do so without insult, I think, before we resume our pursuit of this Nazgûl and his orcs, we must make things right for them. We cannot tarry long, but while we do, the men can do some repairs for them, although it seems too small a thing compared to what they have lost. What she has lost." darn. No Rivendell? Also <33 I love these things. He does very well with the horses (the most important to care for, as they are living). And they will try to help a little with other things while they are here <33 "Aye, it won’t bring her husband or son back, now, will it? But it will help, whatever we are able to accomplish, and I have already spoken to her about it. She was very grateful for anything we might do, so no fears of insulting her pride. oh good <3 And to be honest, I do think we will have the time to do quite a bit. You need at least a week–no, don’t argue! I am the one looking at the grayness in your skin and dark circles under your eyes and the tremble in your hands that you think you are hiding. Healer or no, I say you need a week. At least. Besides, the men are weary as well. It’s been a hard road of late and much as I would desire we ride forth right now, we would do Windydale no good at all to show up as battered as we are." His troubled gaze dropped to the hammer in his hand, then toward the horizon before coming back to Aragorn. "Perhaps taking a day or two to rebuild what the enemy and time have torn down will restore us better than any medicine." yess the gray skin AND THE TREMBLE YOU THINK YOU ARE HIDING <3 yesss I think that may very well be true <3 Halbarad flipped the hammer end over end in his hand, hefting it and then taking a swing at an imaginary nail somewhere in the air in front of him. He finally shrugged. "It’s Denlad. You saw how he was last night, and you know how fell moods plague him at times... he’s as bad as you for taking on burdens of guilt that don’t belong to him." His glance caught Aragorn’s and let him know that Halbarad knew exactly the dark paths his thoughts had taken him. <333 I love how discerning he is Aragorn looked away, refusing to acknowledge Halbarad’s unspoken concern. "Have you talked to him?" lol Aragornnn "Until my face turned blue!" Halbarad growled. He pointed the hammer accusingly. "He also has you beat for being stubborn. If I did not know better, I would swear you were long lost brothers." LOL how I love him "How bad is it?" "Who can tell? He may snap out of it tomorrow, or he might mope around for days yet. It gets on my nerves, to be honest." Aragorn smiled. Halbarad might hold Aragorn by the hand to bring him back from the dark pit of despair, but he had no patience to spare for so coddling any other man. "If he doesn’t come out of this on his own, I will talk to him." XD <333 I am grateful he will hold Aragorn's hand, at least. He needs it. :) "Now who is taking on unwarranted guilt? Taking comfort that your own family is safe is nothing to be ashamed of. I too am very glad that Arwen is safe in Lórien, and my father in Rivendell. And I wish my mother had stayed there." He worked his shoulders and neck, then flexed his left arm carefully. "I am sure we can all move out together. I will not need an entire week. I am not at my best but I think by tomorrow I will have sufficient strength to travel, and should the need to fight come upon us, I can manage." <33 yes there is no need for guilt in that Aragorn. Buddy. Quit. I say this with all the love in my heart. Halbarad let out a longsuffering sigh. "So speaks a man who can barely stand up. THANK YOU yess buckle knees buckle sit down <3 "And when do you actually sleep, Halbarad?" GREAT QUESTION I WAS WONDERING THE SAME He grinned. "Had you not noticed? When I’m taking care of you. I’ve done it so often I can do it in my sleep." LOL "Halbarad." "I am getting my sleep, fear not." Aragorn hardly believed him, but he let the matter drop. uh-huh. Yeah I don't believe either. But I fear now is not the time for that matter either. Mm October thank you for answering my other question XD He frowned. Darkness still vexed the corners of his mind. Some lingering... presence. He shivered slightly, and absently started to rub the spot where the blade struck him, only to stop when the merest brush of his tunic against the bruise seemed to drive a dagger into his chest. He clenched his teeth against the pain, and for a moment, the sunlight dimmed and he felt his gaze traveling unbidden to distant, dark places. It was a darkness beyond losing his vision from pain, beyond the loss of sight from mere lightheadedness. It was a darkness that was somehow... alive. He shuddered. saksjdfsjghsjgh I love this lingering sword-pain do not touch akfsh the darkness :( "Aragorn?" Halbarad’s voice brought him back. He blinked and saw once again the bright morning and the grazing horses. He took a careful breath and held it for a moment before letting it out slowly. "I’m sorry. It’s just..." He left the thought unsaid, for somehow the very idea of speaking it aloud brought a frisson of fear down his back. "I think that I may have a broken rib or two," he lied. "Shall I wrap them? I didn’t think you had any broken ribs when I checked you yesterday." He moved to Aragorn’s side. "No, no. There’s no need for wrapping them." He made a pretense of wincing as he let Halbarad press on ribs that felt completely free of any pain. "Perhaps they are merely bruised." mmm Aragorn buddy please don't lie only time he's lied about having an injury he doesn't have, ever, probably XD :') Halbarad face cleared. aww he's like HE WANTS TO ACTUALLY EAT THINGS?? YAY But his smile slipped away as he thought of the far more worrisome ache in his chest. He shut his eyes, turning his face to the sun, but try as he might, its warmth and light could not penetrate the chill in his heart. <:(((( skadhafjsg tell someone please yeah I was worried about it being. Over your heart. yayyy

Lexilooper · 17 December 2025 · Chapter 9: Putting Together the Pieces

"Are you hungry? We have some broth." Aragorn grimaced. "No." He had slept for an hour, at most, before a horrible nightmare brought him gasping back to wakefulness. It was the same terrible vision of Halbarad binding him in chains and casting him before Sauron. He woke up shuddering with cold and crying out and Halbarad had flown to his side with the athelas and although it helped, he still felt shivery and unsettled. The thought of food, even broth, made his stomach do a slow flip. But then he looked at Halbarad’s worried eyes and tried to find a way to reassure him. "Perhaps later." YESS needing food but feeling revulsed at the thought of even something gentle, my favorite ALSO SKAKHFG HAHA NOT PEACEFUL SLEEP NOT YET >:)))) asjshfs it being with Halbarad, his most trusted friend and kinsman betraying him SUCH A HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE and waking to Halbarad the EXACT OPPOSITE, FLYING to his side (love that way of putting it <3), and still feeling shivery and shaky "As you wish. We have had a hard time keeping you warm," Halbarad said as he reached out and laid the back of his hand against Aragorn’s forehead and then his cheek, "yet you do not seem to have fever. Is this coldness part of the Black Breath?" "It must be, although I am not certain." "Nothing has been certain since we left Chetwood," Halbarad sighed. He dipped a cloth into the bowl and slowly wrung it out. "However, it is certain that you are still cold even now." yessss Aragorn nodded. Truth to tell, he was miserable with cold. He pulled the blanket tighter under his chin. YESS trying not to let on that he is absolutely miserable with it, but Halbarad can at least partly guess "My arms, especially. Every time my sword hit his... " His voice trailed away. He had no words to describe the deadness each shocking parry of the Nazgûl blade had driven into his arms. To even bend his thoughts in that direction opened visions of horrible black hands clawing for his spirit. Even now he felt himself somehow falling, and the line between waking and nightmare wavered, and safety and comfort crumbled under a sudden onslaught of malice that Aragorn could not tell was real or simply remembered. He bit his lower lip hard, gripping the sides of the cot and telling himself he was safe, the Nazgûl was gone. I am safe! But the terror felt too real, too immediate. His breathing hitched and before he could stop it, a soft guttural cry escaped his throat. asdfsjshgksdf "the deadness each shocking parry of the Nazgul blade had *driven* into his arms" again like, I know Merry and Eowyn both actually struck the Nazgul and he did not but...STILL! That he fought the numbness without his arms immediately becoming useless yessss the being pulled towards nightmare memory at each recall I am safe! AGAIN THE TERROR ENVELOPING ARAGORN THE MOST COURAGEOUS OF MEN skasdfhjsh biting his lip AND gripping the cot AND STILL "a soft gutteral cry escaped his throat" SKADJSF I such a lovely whumpy line ESPECIALLY because Halbarad is watching and listening the cry being not loud this time but soft and weakly filled with a deep (gutteral) anguish, just. Loud and soft cries are both great for different things :) He heard as if from the depths of a well Halbarad’s voice. "Shhh. Peace, Aragorn, remember you are safe!" but he still felt himself slipping down, down into that chasm and he didn’t know if he had the strength to drag himself up from the blackness. But he stared hard at Halbarad’s eyes and slowly, slowly the fear started to leave. Halbarad quickly thrust the steaming athelas toward Aragorn’s face. "Breathe! Breathe as deep as you can!" AKSDHFDJF "peace, Aragorn, remember you are safe!" AKHDSFJKH MY HEART. The wishing peace upon him, hushing him gently, being an outside reminder that he is safe because the Valar know his own trying to tell himself is NOT enough for his needs,,, and quickly going please this one helps you!! Breathe as deep as you can! <:( <33 also "he didn't know if he had the strength to drag himself up from the blackness" skadjdk He did and the blackness took a reluctant step back and after another breath finally retreated enough that Aragorn’s heart calmed and he could ease his death grip on the cot. <3333 aww he was still death-gripping it his heart racing every time gets me. It shows how deeps the fear is. Like. Idk it's forcing opportunities on Aragorn for him to be like a child in need of and receiving comfort and it's kind of my favorite. Not something he can master himself, the terror is too deep. "I won’t ask what just happened," Halbarad said shakily, "for I would not want to trouble your spirit again, but I know now without doubt that you need more care than I can give. I think we should take you to Rivendell as soon as you’re able. You need the care of a real healer, not secondhand ministrations from a man taking orders from his own patient." skasdjfjsghskh I agree <33333 he wants to know but he doesn't want to trouble his spirit again <:( and I love how much Aragorn's spirit is being mentioned, how deep the hurt is aww lol from a man taking orders from his own patient <3 true Aragorn said nothing, but he quailed at the thought of journeying to Rivendell. It seemed as impossible as storming Thangorodrim, as exhausted as he felt. ASKFDSHSGJ how I love that Aragorn is reluctant now not because it feels like a cowardly retreat or unnecessary BUT BECAUSE HIS HEART QUAILS AT THE INSURMOUNTABLE JOURNEY IT NOW SEEMS I promise Halbarad will take you on his horse again if you need <3 Although somehow I don't think you'll like that as much being actually aware for the journey. "Shhh. Peace, Aragorn, remember you are safe!" okay coming back to this again because it is soothing to me <3 "No, we can send you... and the entire patrol with you. There is nothing the five of us can accomplish against such an enemy. We need help, and Rivendell is the closest aid." mm yesss the entire patrol this time <3 Aragorn shut his eyes. He had no strength to argue, even if there was something he could think of to counter Halbarad’s very sound logic. "We will discuss it later," he finally sighed. aww he's so tired can't counter his very sound logic lol "Of course. I’m pushing too hard again. The only thing you need to do now is rest. Try to go to sleep." aww <3 recognizing when he's pushing too hard Sleep was tempting, but knowing the nightmares lurking therein, he was reluctant to return to its uneasy embrace. He pulled the blanket back and stretched out his right arm, wincing at the stiffness of it. askjdh its uneasy embrace. What a misery when sleep is not an escape but a trap. Halbarad hold him while he sleeps? Although Halbarad must sleep too at some point "Shall I try laving it with the athelas?" <3 good idea I like the word "laving" it sounds very soothing and like. yeah. pain relieving? Aragorn nodded. Maybe the water’s warming touch would bring some life back into his deadened limbs. He watched as Halbarad, humming softly, rhythmically and gently ran the cloth down his arm. It felt good, the warm touch of it. <33 HE FEELS WARMTH not warm perhaps but a bit of warmth Halbarad suddenly chuckled and started softly singing. "‘Enchantment healed his weary feet ....’(1) I am no Luthien, nor are these your feet, but may winter’s touch flee your limbs as they fled poor Beren’s." He then continued to hum the beloved song, and Aragorn sighed, this time with contentment as warmth finally stole its way back into his limbs. He flexed his right hand. His fingers moved stiffly, but at least they moved. His left arm... he winced. Athelas would do little for that arm. The splinter wounds were stiff and very, very sore. skasgsjhsjkghsjkgsdj thank youuuuu for making me smile "nor are these your feet" HEHE <3 awwww at least they moved his left arm...:) "You tore the wound open, in the fight," Halbarad said, frowning. "There is no infection and Denlad cleaned it and re-bandaged it, but it will be that much longer in healing, I fear." "I seem to have made quite a mess of myself." aww <3 yes A glimmer of amusement suddenly softened the grim lines of Halbarad’s face. "Yes, it was a bit clumsy of you, all this." SKADH <333 those words are so cute. a bit clumsy of you, all this. He winked as he carefully lifted Aragorn’s left arm and wiped down the arm below the bandage. "I imagine you are finding this more to your liking than my horse balm." LOL okay he would never try to inflict that horror upon Aragorn in this case. Aragorn thought he was too tired for the smile he felt to reach his lips, but somehow he must have managed, for Halbarad’s amusement bloomed into a smile. "‘Tis a good thing to see something besides terror looking through your eyes." AKSJHJGHK AWW ALSO YOU ABSOLUTELY PIERCED MY HEART WITH THAT LAST STATEMENT suddenly rerunning through all their interactions and Halbarad can CLEARLY see the pure terror "looking through his eyes" (love) constantly. Particularly, like, watching his struggle when he was gripping the bed and softly crying out earlier, but, also implies that all this time it has still been there. And Halbarad can SEE it. And that hurts and also makes me so happy. He sees his pain, nay, his TERROR, and that is something worse. Fear is a lonely mental enemy but Halbarad sees. And Aragorn is not alone. Not alone. <333 Halbarad laid the cloth across Aragorn’s forehead for a moment, then gently wiped it across his cheeks. He pulled Aragorn’s torn shirt open. "Life distanced from death by the turn of the Nazgûl’s sword," he said softly. "You are indeed fortunate." He touched it lightly. awww yes the torn shirt Aragorn gasped. It felt like Halbarad had driven a dagger into him. He felt beads of sweat pop out on his forehead. SKADDFSHGJ that is such a visceral reaction I cannot even imagine because...well no one has ever driven a dagger into me, thankfully. Also IMMEDIATELY sweating from the pain, and thank you for remembering that symptom of intense pain. "I am sorry!" Halbarad cried. "I thought after two days it might not be as sore. I will not touch it again." He leaned forward and peered closely at it. "I do not see any broken skin, at least not in this light. But still... is there not something I could give you, to ease the pain?" askjdhf I thought so as well but I am glad it is not :) "Maybe some willow bark, if you have any." "I think there is some, yes. But for now, let me try placing this cloth against it. I will simply lay it across the bruise, without pressing. It is light, but tell me if even its weight causes you too much pain." Aragorn nodded, not trusting his voice. <33 SAKJFHSK in enough pain that he doesn't trust his voice with a steady responseee Halbarad gently laid the cloth across the bruise, carefully watching Aragorn’s face. "Better?" "No. Wait...." Finally the ache yielded. "Yes, it’s better." He felt muscles he hadn’t realized were clenched relax under the warming touch of the athelas. He wiped his forehead with a shaky hand. Halbarad still looked stricken at having caused him such pain, so he dredged up a smile. "Where did you learn a healer’s touch?" awwww <333 shakily wiping the sweat off his forehead looking stricken awwww he learned a healer's touch <333 "Where do you suppose? My teacher is stretched out before me. And I bet you thought I was not listening to your endless tedious lectures out on the trail." skasdjfhg <3333 my teacher is stretched out before me OKAY THE FACT THAT ARAGORN SPENDS RANDOM PARTS OF THEIR RIDES LECTURING ON HEALING I LOVE I bet some of that at least was teaching...oh I forgot his name <:( you know who. "You have learned much, Halbarad," Aragon murmured. Sleep’s relentless clamor returned, now that the pain eased. He shut his eyes, letting his thoughts wander where they may, for some reason–perhaps the athelas–no longer quite so fearful lest he fall into some bottomless black pit. The shadows were still there, but weaker and pushed back into the dark corners of his mind where, maybe for a moment, he could ignore them. skajhfjgs <3333 yay But sleep, for all its insistence, refused to come, and his thoughts returned to Halbarad. Aragorn would never have believed his gruff kinsman had such gentleness in him. He certainly had never shown it up to now. He remembered the stinging slap of that horrid horse balm across his shoulders. Revenge would be sweet... all I would need is some of Denlad’s fiery spices and Halbarad’s water skin. And although he knew he could never do it, he could not hold back a quiet laugh at the idea. LOLLL "I do not like the sound of that laugh," Halbarad commented as he removed the cloth and soaked it again in the athelas water. Aragorn smiled. "Nor the look of that smile! The last time you aimed it my way, you followed it with a sound thumping." AWWW okay how I love that Halbarad can HEAR and see the mischief in that laugh and smile. He immediately goes. Uh-oh. Time for a bit of banter <3 "Just thinking about that horse balm. And revenge." "Yes, well, I’ll thank you to get that look of retribution off your face. I only find comfort in knowing that you are too weak to swat a gnat right now." "I'll thank you" aww lollll how I love them Aragorn sobered. As Halbarad moved to put the cloth back on his chest, he reached out and grabbed his wrist to stop him. "Weak but alive, thanks to you." Aragorn did not try to blink away the tears stinging his eyes."I cannot thump you after all you’ve done. I cannot even find words sufficient to thank you." awwwww <333 HE DID NOT TRY TO BLINK THEM AWAY disproving a bit with being able to grab Halbarad's wrist. Still probably can't swat anything, but. "Ach, away with you and your weepy gratitude." He gently pulled his wrist free and placed the cloth again on Aragorn’s chest. "I have no doubt that, despite this lovely display of heartwarming thanks, you will get even with me as soon as your strength returns." <33 Aragorn breathed a laugh and again shut his eyes to try to slip into the embrace of sleep. He was so tired, weary beyond anything he had ever known. But even as he sought the refuge of rest, questions started to crowd his thoughts, swirling through his mind and demanding answers. He gave up trying to sleep and struggled to sit up. He made it as far as propping himself up on his right elbow before Halbarad stepped in to pull him up until he was sitting upright. He leaned back dizzily against the wall for a moment, and when the world finally settled down around him, he reached for the bowl of steaming athelas. askdfhgj now he can't sleep >:) even though he wants to now and I love that Halbarad does not try to keep him from sitting up, just helps him. I think Aragorn needs that right now. But Halbarad pulled it out of reach. "No, I think I best hold it, or you’ll bathe yourself in it, and we don’t have enough athelas to waste it so wantonly. And don’t glare. Those hands of yours are still trembling like leaves." aww lollll :) love significantly shaky hands Aragorn ruefully looked at his hands. They shook like those of a palsied old man. He balled his fists and let them lay in his lap, and pointedly ignored Halbarad’s smirk. They sat for a long moment without speaking, letting the fragrant steam do its work as Aragorn tried to catch his breath and felt grey and ill and old. aww feeling old and utterly exhausted and chilled But alive. Thank the Valar, alive. The wonder of it helped him ignore how wretched he felt. Halbarad finally pulled a small stool closer to the cot and set the bowl down on it. "So, do you think you will live after all?" BUT ALIVE <3 and Halbarad agrees did he tell him he did not think so? Or did he simply mumble things in his delirium? Aragorn smiled faintly. "I think so." He looked around the cottage. "Halbarad, where are we? Whose cottage–" great question "Aragorn!" a glad voice interrupted as the door flew open. Denlad came into the room with an armload of wood. He dropped it with a heedless clatter on the hearth, hardly noticing as the cat ran off, tail bushed out and hissing at being driven from his comfortable spot. Denlad’s gaze fixed on Aragorn as though he were afraid if he blinked Aragorn might disappear. He came over to the cot and squatted beside it, resting a concerned gaze on Aragorn’s face and a gentle hand on his forearm. "How fare you, Aragorn? It does my heart good to see you sitting up, but you look, well... I am sorry but I cannot say it in a more gentle way: you look terrible." DENLAD <33 Aragorn laughed. "I am not as bad off as I must look, Denlad. I will be well, given time." uh I am...not sure about that first part. I am grateful he looks sufficiently terrible though :). Invisible whump is kinda the worst. But I am also grateful he will be well given time. Remind me--it's fall? I'm tryna imagine the proper temperature Denlad drew a deep breath and blew it out, blinking rapidly. "I’m glad," he said, then rubbed a hand across his face. He gave Aragorn’s arm a squeeze. "Very glad." <333 Halbarad gave Denlad a sympathetic glance, then turned to Aragorn. "I have to admit, when I saw you lying there on the ground, I thought you were done for this world, you were so still and white. Your skin was like ice. And these two days have been... well, I won’t burden you with it. I’ll just say that when you woke up long enough to tell me about the athelas, I felt that perhaps hope had not abandoned us after all. I should have known you were made of sterner stuff. It will take more than a wraith to stop the Heir of Isildur, thank the Valar." skasjdhgsk <33 yeah I could hear it in his voice when he said "he's alive!" he had been so worried. I love momentarily hearing Halbarad's perspective <3. Also--if the black breath had taken him, would he have died like normal? Or would he have become a sort of wraith, as Frodo was in danger of?? Doomed to that misery until perhaps Sauron fell (if ever he did without Aragorn)?? That would have been horrible. And no, Estel had not abandoned them :) <3 plus we needed Aragorn to wake up in extra pain. So. :) "Or he’s gone for reinforcements and will be back to plague us with ten times their number," Denlad muttered. "Pessimism does not suit you, Denlad," Halbarad said. "I prefer to hope the Nazgûl finished whatever evil task he meant to accomplish and has now left our lands." "Hope for that seems dim," Aragorn sighed, "but remains a hope, all the same. I wish I knew why he was here." "As do I, but we must be satisfied that for now, he is gone," Halbarad said firmly, his hard glance daring Denlad to argue. "I feel no shadow." lol <333 no pessimism Aragorn was not sure if he would know the difference between an approaching Nazgûl and the shadows still lingering in his mind. He would have to trust to Halbarad’s discernment. He frowned as a memory stirred. "I remember... fire... flashing in the air. And shouting... for a moment, I thought I had somehow fallen from this time into the time of Beren. I do not really understand it now, though. The memory is too hazy." aww okay good point he has to rely on their discernment for the time being. His feelings would tell him the shadow of the Nazgul is a constant "You remember part of it aright," Denlad chuckled. "Would that you had seen it more clearly, Aragorn, but I suppose you were too far gone by that point. Our Halbarad snatched up a flaming brand in each hand and ran at the Nazgûl. ‘Get you gone and fly! For here is a fire that shall consume you, and all evil things!’ he bellowed, just like Beren of yore." <333 AWW how I love that also this interesting middle ground of Aragorn not yet faded but Halbarad and the others too focused on the survival of chasing it off, that by the time they can pay attention to Aragorn he could be dead as far as they can tell "Denlad, I’m sure Aragorn is not interested..." "I am sure he is," Aragorn countered softly. LOL THIS MADE ME GRIN AS WELL <33 the soft counter <:) in third person. He's like don't you dare tell me I don't want to listen to stories of your heroics, dear Halbarad. For heroics they are <3 "That Nazgûl turned toward him," Denlad continued, shooting a triumphant look at Halbarad, "and you could feel his rage pressing against all of us, and fearsome it was. I felt frozen in place, but not our Halbarad. He jabbed his torches at it again and cried, ‘You’ll not have your way this day, not while the arm of Halbarad is strong and the fire of my wrath burns!’" AWW Aragorn raised an eyebrow. Halbarad scratched his beard. "I might have said something like that, yes. It seemed appropriate, at the time." SKAJF XD I love it it did seem appropriate at the time. Very heroic and fitting. Denlad slapped Halbarad’s back. "They will sing of this in songs, old man, just as we do Beren and Carcharoth." Then his mirth died as he dropped his gaze to stare fixedly at his clenched hands. "You were able to do what the rest of us could not." <333 yesss aww :( do not be ashamed, Denlad "Feel no shame, Denlad," Aragorn said, and with an inward grimace at the irony of handing out advice he couldn’t follow himself, he continued, "This is the first anyone here in the North has seen of the Nazgûl for generations. They carry an evil none of us have ever encountered, and, unlike in Mirkwood, where they battle the Wraiths still, our knowledge of defeating them has largely fallen away into myth. That we failed to identify the source of the evil is not entirely surprising, although I should have known what it was, for I have been near Mordor and Dol Goldur and sensed the evil of the Enemy, from afar and from nearer than any man should pass. I have no excuse. But be that as it may, I could not have asked for greater valor than all of you have shown during this fell chase." skadkfsghk yesssss exactlyyy <33 Denlad failed to look convinced, and Halbarad merely grunted and wrung out the cloth and twisted it absently in his hands. They all fell silent, and Aragorn did not miss the shadows that fell across the faces of his two companions. It will be long before the nightmares from this fade. For the men to feel anything but failure that they did not earn. But if blame is to be laid at anyone’s feet, lay it at mine. He struggled for something to say, to break this gloom that had settled on them all. Then he cursed himself again for overlooking the obvious. "Halbarad, what of you? Are you sure the Black Breath didn’t affect you?" <:(( NOO THEY ALL FEEL TOO MUCH FAILURE YOU TOO, ARAGORN I do love Aragorn noting the irony of telling them words he's struggling to take to himself He shrugged. "Not enough to cause any problems. I felt him trying to... to probe my mind, if that makes sense." Aragorn nodded. "His voice intrudes into your thoughts." And claws at your soul... "Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. <33 I love kinda that they can understand this together Words that I didn’t understand–and didn’t want to understand, mind you–came into my mind, not through my ears but as clear and loud as if they had. It was disconcerting." "That’s one way of putting it," Aragorn agreed drily. LOL disconcerting Halbarad grinned. "Suffice to say, any lingering effects I might have felt, the athelas pretty much took care of. I don’t think I fought him long enough for him to do any permanent damage." "That and your skull is so thick even a Nazgûl can’t penetrate it," Denlad muttered, then ducked as Halbarad swung a fist toward his head. Aragorn smiled. Denlad and Halbarad hurling insults... life as it should be. Maybe we will somehow come through this after all. "How did you know to use fire?" AWW <333 Again the mirth faded, and Halbarad was long in answering. "I had nothing else," he finally said softly. "As I started for you, I saw how your blade eventually disintegrated under the Nazgûl’s. I feared my own sword would have been useless–it’s not Elven make like yours and not as strong. I hadn’t a hope with it. So it was fire or my bare hands. Fire seemed more of a threat." "You drove this wraith off much like Glorfindel drove off the Witch King. I will remember that," Aragorn murmured. Skasjdhkdgsjh yessss he surely shall <33 again I love that showing how he learned, and it was rather luck He leaned his head back against the wall. And I will remember how you succeeded where I failed. Not for the first time, the thought crossed his mind that Gondor might be better served by its Stewards than it would by a king as prone to error as he seemed to be. NOPE NOPE bro have you MET Denethor??? I suppose I don't know for sure if he's steward yet but it feels likely also. You both succeeded in your own ways. Remember that. "Aragorn?" Denlad asked softly. "Do you feel worse?" <3 Aragorn forced a smile. "No, I am well enough. Just too full of questions and too tired to ask them, nor comprehend the answers even if I did ask." Indeed, the questions crowded his mind almost as thickly as the Nazgûl’s foul words had: where was the Nazgûl now? Why was the wraith here? What evil might be unleashed next, and where? And how on Arda could they hope to drive him out? Somehow he did not think brandishing torches at him would chase him away for good. mmm yes "Time for answering questions later, I think," Halbarad said. "For now... you have earned your rest, son of Arathorn. Lay back down, and fear not any nightmares, for I will be here." askhghsh awwww <333 for I will be here <:) thank you Halbarad keep him safe be his anchor Aragorn nodded, but then once more realized that he had no idea where they were, whose farm they had taken over. It bothered him, but his thoughts were getting increasingly hard to focus and it seemed less and less important as each minute passed. He let Halbarad help him resettle himself. He shut his eyes. "Son of Arathorn," he murmured. "I think my father might have handled himself better in this than I did." But that was as much as he would speak of his failure. He would not burden his men with the need to prop up the shaky confidence of their leader. askjhd mm yes bothers me slightly too noooo would he really though? mm hmm AGAIN SEEING EVEN THAT AS SOMETHING HE SHOULD NOT VOICE TO BURDEN OTHERS Aragorn my friend, you have much to learn <3 Halbarad tucked the blanket around Aragorn’s shoulders. "I think you give yourself too little credit, but that argument can wait as well. Sleep. That’s an order." <3333 yes do argue it someday that's an order <33 thank youuu "Yes, sir," Aragorn tried to answer, but he was asleep before he could form the words. awwwwww

Lexilooper · 17 December 2025 · Chapter 8: Flight

Freezing... For what felt like unmeasured ages, Aragorn drifted helplessly on a current that pulled him inexorably away from life. Pain, fear, hopelessness... death awaiting. It was all he knew and all he had ever known and all that would ever be. There was no air... no light... no sound... only emptiness and a savage cold that cut through to his very marrow. He sank into achingly frigid black waters. oooooh yesss my poor boy And Arwen... I have failed her... ASKDJUFH :( Something like a sob wrenched itself from his throat. <:((( "Aragorn! Can you hear me?" The plaintive cry broke through the oppressive silence, but it came from so very far away. Too far away to help him. He curled into himself. Despair consumed him; he had no strength left to fight it and he was alone, so alone... HE HEARD THE SOB? AKSDHFD SO ALONE ARAGORN KING CURLING INTO HIMSELF IN DESOLATE DESPAIR AND ALONENESS (loneliness seems a little different from being absolutely Alone, so. Aloneness it is.) But then someone touched his hand. He flinched. In such an evil place, how could it possibly be a friend? SKASJDHSKGJ HOW COULD IT POSSIBLY BE A FRIEND <:( FLINCHING AT TOUCH MY BELOVED But the touch turned into a hand that gently took his and gripped it tight and then a voice called his name, a voice tangled with worry and tears and despair and Aragorn sobbed again as he felt warmth. He had so little strength left but whatever remnants of life force he still possessed he poured into grasping the hand that held his and he clung to it more tightly than he had ever held onto anything. He would not let it fade away and leave him to die alone in this icy Valar-forsaken sea. For die he surely would... but not alone. Not alone. SKASJDSKHFKDJSHSDJKSDJHFJD oh my gosh the pure angst here the SOB when he feels WARMTH that he thought he would never could never again feel die he surely would... but not alone. *Not alone*. AKSJSHFSJKH MY HEART SOBBETH the "but not alone" repeated just GETS me he will die but he will spend ALL his barely existent strength to cling to this person who will be with him Again the voice came, closer this time, tinged with hope. "He’s alive! Aragorn? Aragorn!" AKSJHSKJG THE PAIN OF HIS OWN HEARD IN THOSE WORDS THAT SHOWED HE DEEPLY FEARED THE WORST AND THAT FEAR IS BREAKING WITH HOPE He opened his eyes. What a struggle, but they were open. Shadowy mist still blurred his sight, but through it he saw a familiar face lean down. "Aragorn, can you hear me?" aksdshkg "what a struggle, but they were open" also earlier or perhaps last chapter you said something about a "groan from the depths of his soul" and that was so very good "Hal... Halbarad." Broken glass words scraping across his throat. Deep coughs suddenly tore through him. DEEP COUGHS TORE THROUGH HIM my favorite :) The hand he was gripping tightened, hurting him, but it was a good pain. It was a pain that told him he was alive. But then he started to shake, his body racked with shudders he could not seem to stop. He moaned and shut his eyes. Darkness reached for him once more... AKSHDFSGKJH SHAKING RACKED WITH SHUDDERS and this feels like. A violent shaking. Not a mere unnoticeable shiver. moaned and shut his eyes yesss hurting him <:( BUT IT WAS A GOOD PAIN <:( <3333 because he is alive "Aragorn, open your eyes!" "So... c-cold." He felt hands pulling at him, probing him. Stop... hurts... askhsjhsdjgsgjdsj screaming for joy at the...pain? Am I a psychopath? I surely hope not. But the whump is so good :). Halbarad’s voice was tight with fear. "Aragorn, did his blade find you? Where are you hurt?" "N-no. He d-did n-not..." askjdhfsf him speaking <3 stuttering reply Another anxious voice spoke. Denlad. "Halbarad, we must leave this place, and quickly. You managed to chase it off, but Eledh fears they are about to circle back around. He’s found our horses. Can you carry him?" yesss Aragorn felt arms sliding beneath his body, and he was lifted upward. Pain drove consciousness from him, and his spirit screamed within him as he fell back into the icy void. HALBARAD CARRY ASJDKSFHSDJ pain driving consciousness from him is like. A BRUTALLY sharp spike. Literally pushing his mind into darkness. AND HIS SPIRIT SCREAMED WITHIN HIM ASKDHFSGJK the pain touches his very spirit Voices and words and sounds tumbled through his mind. Something jarred his shivering, aching body, over and over. "Stop," he cried, but no one heard him. He lifted his head and something tightened around him. He reached up and felt a strong arm across his chest. askdsjkshgsjkdghsdk did no one hear? Was the voice in his head or did he cry out loud? (i want it to be out loud :)) "Easy, Aragorn," a voice said in his ear, gentle, soothing. "I have you. You will not fall." askshfsjfhgsjgh the strong arm around his chest in response to him lifting his head. Strong Halbarad lifting him and then holding him securely in place is just so. Warm and secure. <3 Coherent thought dribbled slowly together. I am on a horse. Riding. Halbarad behind me, holding me... why is he holding me? Am I wounded? Nothing made sense, so he quit trying to figure things out, instead letting the pain and cold wash him into a semi-conscious stupor. If it had not been for the pain, he would have felt like he was floating somewhere outside himself. But the pain was too fierce and the shudders too constant to imagine that he was anywhere but on stone cold Arda. yessssss Halbarad holding him on horse <3 and Aragorn's like what in the why THE PAIN how great it is STILL SHUDDERING Eventually the jolting rhythm slowed and he felt the arm across him loosen. He gasped as he started to fall, but many arms reached out and caught him before he could crash to the ground. He struggled to move his legs but they felt like dead things. askdjfsgh them all catching himmmm they are his support <333 it feels so safe trust fall at its finest also his little whumpy gasp when he starts blindly falling helplessly <3 "No, Aragorn, do not try to walk. We have you. Do not struggle." yessss <33 we have you combined with "do not struggle". Like. "Please don't fight us. You're hurt and we need to help you. Let us help." Is honestly one of my favorite whumpy things. Fighting not to fight friends. Who are also asking them not to fight, or apologizing for having to force things upon them if they do struggle. Hands gripped him; arms circled his waist and he did not fall, but it hurt. Oh Valar, how it hurt to move. ASJDDKJGH but it hurt. "Oh Valar, how it hurt to move." is SO STRAIGHTFORWARDLY ANGUISHED. Like. Candid "this is agony beyond description". And while barely even conscious he's still aware of that. Thank you for continuing the pain :). They passed through a doorway, and light stabbed his eyes. He shut them, but not before glimpsing a candle on a table and a fire laid on a hearth. Sounds assaulted his ears... men’s commanding voices, and a woman’s startled cry. The hands... my men?... laid him gently on a cot and a blanket dropped across his body. He could barely feel its warmth, so chilled was he. Another hand smoothed his hair back from his forehead. He opened his eyes, squinting, and Halbarad’s face swam into view. aksjsfhsdjdfhg forehead brushing hair back <333 the lights and sounds being assaulting "Aragorn, you must tell me... where are you injured?" Aragorn’s tongue felt thick. He could only frown at Halbarad as he mumbled, "Cold... " "Are you injured?" Halbarad repeated. "You must tell me! What did this evil thing do to you?" askdfhsgj they don't know what is wrong with him. They don't know that he carries no real physical wound. Like Sam "what is wrong with my master?" Memories roared back and Aragorn’s heart raced. The room faded and he was back there, facing the terror. His breathing quickened. He fumbled for a sword that no longer hung at his side. "Cannot... cannot let him get to the men... to you..." SKADSFHJGH rushing back to the trauma, immediately quickening his heart and reaching for his sword and repeating his motivation out louddd "Aragorn, it did not harm us. Whatever it was, it is gone and cannot hurt any of us." He took Aragorn’s face in both hands. "Aragorn, look at me. Look at me! It is gone." <333 TAKING HIS FACE IN BOTH HANDS I need someone to do this to my Aragorn okay he just did this is canon now He searched Halbarad’s eyes, for assurance. For an anchor. The evil vision faded, replaced by the reality of a quiet room full of worried men. "Gone...?" <:((( SEARCHING HIS EYES DESPERATELY FOR AN ANCHOR <33 the evil vision fadedddd "Yes, Aragorn. It’s gone. You are safe now." One rough hand stroked Aragorn’s hair back, over and over as one might try to soothe a frightened child. "You are safe." ASKDHFJ please keep stroking his hair back like a frightened child it comforts me as well thank you for the "over and over" Aragorn let his eyes close. He could not stop shaking. "I-I tried not to..." He coughed, then kept coughing as though his very lungs would tear themselves to pieces. "... tried not to..." AKSJUHK tear themselves to pieces violent coughing is such great whump it also threatens suffocation so like. Then there's gasping in between. "Shhh. Save your strength." "... not t-to... listen... to h-his voice... b-but... " <3 he continues of course Halbarad’s hand gripped his. "Never mind the voice. It is gone and he is gone. You are safe, Aragorn." yes. you did well. GRIPPING HIS HAND. YOU ARE SAFE <333 Aragorn took a shuddering breath and swallowed. "He w-was... terrible." ASDKDHSG THEY ARE TERRIBLE a traumatic memory is born <3 "I know, my friend. I know." <3333 <:( Aragorn felt himself start to drift, but Halbarad’s sharp cry called him back. He blinked, but his eyelids felt burdened with lead weights. "I-I’m s-sorry... so tired. So c-cold." YESSS sharp cry calling him back this fight over his consciousness "Stay with me, Aragorn. You must tell me where you’re injured." asking again Aragorn shook his head weakly. His entire body seemed awash with pain. "I-I don’t know. H-hurts to breathe." The blanket lifted, and then cloth ripped. Cool air brushed his skin and he cried out as Halbarad touched his chest. I DON'T KNOW <3 YESS literally ripping his shirt open AND CRYING OUT WHEN HALBARAD SO MUCH AS TOUCHES IT this is very good <3 He heard Halbarad’s sharp intake of breath. "He hit you with the flat of his blade. It did not break the skin but the outline is plain as words on a page. Aragorn, what did this to you? What was that thing we fought?" skadsshfkg yessss thatttt he would be strong enough to leave a stark bruise outline Aragorn shut his eyes tightly, as if that would do anything to dispel the horrific images that still burned in his mind. He clenched his jaw to keep his teeth from chattering and ground out, "It was a Nazgûl." skahjhfksf the horrific images that still burned in his minddd TEETH STILL CHATTERING STILL TRYING TO FIGHT IT "One of Sauron’s wraiths!" "They b-breathe out... p-poison. Surrounds them. L-lord Elrond called it... the B-black Breath." Lord Elrond <3 I wish he were here but you know. Without him will be slower healing for *le whump* so it's okay. "And that is what is wrong with you? This... this is the Black Breath?" Aragorn tried to answer, but the shaking was getting worse, pulling the cold into a tight knot in the center of his being. Thought drifted, shattered... SKAJDHG THE SHAKING again kind of my favorite thing same vibes as uncontrollable cough "Aragorn!" "I-I can’t..." skadhdsfkgj these responses Halbarad tries to use sharpness and more and more Aragorn's response is a stuttering "I can't" <3333 "Aragorn, you must tell me! Did Lord Elrond tell you of a cure?" Aragorn frowned, trying to pull his rapidly scattering thoughts together. He felt his hold on consciousness slipping away. The room swirled and a vision flickered... a strident cry from an Elven Lord’s lips... athelas! But before he could voice the word, the light faded and he passed into the darkness of nightmares. hahahaHA they can't get it yet the whump endures When next he swam back to consciousness, the cold and the pain were worse. IT'S WORSE IT'S WORSE HOW IS IT WORSE (by all means I do not mind) I do not ask why, for I know He was dimly aware that someone was beside him, holding something to his lips. He couldn’t stop himself from groaning. SAKDJGH YES all the "can't stop self" "uncontrollable" things are the best, cause EVERYONE gets to see despite their best efforts. The groan. :) Immediately a voice called out. Aragorn thought it was Denlad. "He’s waking!" Then the cup pressed more urgently against his mouth. "Aragorn, please. Try to drink." yesss waiting for him to wake He parted his lips and a foul-tasting liquid sloshed into his mouth and down his throat before he could swallow. He choked and the pain that knifed through him felt like a shaft of fire. SKASJD the force-drinking again out of care but Aragorn's body is fighting nonetheless, and unprepared, and he chokes, and PAIN :)))) I love so much it's SO GOOD also are they at...oh what is it called. The place they were trying to get to before the orcs did. Somewhere in the pain came another voice, urgent and worried. "Aragorn?" HALBARAD <3 Halbarad. It was Halbarad. Halbarad, what is happening? Why am I trapped in this cold black sea? Why does it hurt so fiercely? If only he could open his eyes, maybe it would all prove to be some dreadful nightmare, but try as he might, his eyes would not open. He was sinking again into those deadly waters, and their hold was too strong. The world of Arda, where comfort and help waited, felt far away and impossible to reach. He heard another groan and was ashamed to realize it came from his own throat. SKADHGKJ don't be ashamed AKSDHF HIS QUESTIONS TO HALBARAD PLEADING AGAIN CHILD NEEDING SOOTHING VIBES <333 only he can't voice them ooh yes picturing now his eyes closeddd or maybe even if he could open he still wouldn't be able to see for the Darkness. Maybe they are fluttering. I do not know. also this feeling of the drowning in frigid Valar-forsaken waters. The continued water metaphor. I love. The voice came louder, a note of desperation stretching it higher than Halbarad’s usual deep rumble. "Aragorn, can you hear me?" Skasjhjhsjsdghjds higher than normal He managed to nod. A hand... Halbarad’s... once again grasped his and he clung to it and somehow fought his way back to the surface. CLUNG TO IT <3333 again this clinging to the not-aloneness the surface of the black water <3 "Aragorn, you must stay with me. You must listen to me! All the medicines and herbs I know to try are not helping. Do you know anything that will?" aksjdshkg (but have you tried the horse balm /joking) I love Halbarad this time desperate with ARAGORN YOU ARE THE HEALER AND YOU KNOW MORE THAN ME AND MY KNOWLEDGE THIS TIME IS NOT HELPING. PLEASE. TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO. (also...did he try putting the horse salve on the bruise on his chest. Did unconscious Aragorn writhe and hiss. Did he.) Again, the sudden vision of his father, holding out a bundle of green leaves. But Aragorn was so weary, so tired. Forming words was too much... saksddsh "Aragorn!" I love people who love him saying his name <3 It was Halbarad’s voice, so broken, so choked with worry, that finally gave Aragorn strength. He could not bear hearing his friend in such sorrow. But it is so hard... so hard. Valar, help me... OH THIS BOY how I love him. Hearing his FRIEND'S sorrow (ironically for him) is the only thing that can give him the strength to speak His lips moved but he didn’t have breath to say the words. asjkhjhjsg no breath Halbarad leaned closer, so close his hair touched Aragorn’s lips as he turned his ear toward Aragorn’s face. <333 "Athelas," Aragorn finally whispered. Darkness clawed at him, but he was able to say it one more time. "Athelas...." <33333333 SKAHF <3 okay so it better not be too quick a recovery :) Long had he drifted on this barren sea, a sea forsaken even by Ulmo, but now his body washed up on a desolate rocky shore. He looked for help and saw his men coming but even as he cried out, his joy turned to horror as they chained his hands and feet and dragged him over the rocks and through a black gate. sksadhjhsjghsj forsaken even by Ulmo HIS FRIENDS chaining his hands and feetttt bringing him to Sauron's feet as the wraith envisioned looking for help and the relief immediately turning to horror ahhhhh also. The relief of leaving the barren sea CRUSHED by an equally desolate shore and then being betrayed by his closest friends...augh so good They dropped him at the base of a tall, black tower. He tried to cry out, but his voice was trapped deep within his fear. He stared upward, pleading with his eyes, but Halbarad... no, not Halbarad... my friend...my kinsman...no... simply stared back at him, then jerked Narsil’s hilt from his belt and tossed it contemptuously to the ground. AKSDHFSG Aragorn PLEADING WITH HIS EYES those IRRESISTABLE EYES BEING MET WITH COLDNESS <:( BY HALBARADDDD <:((((( HIS KINSMAN if I could caps bigger I would NOT NARSIL :( CONTEMPTUOUSLY THAT BLADE THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO HIM wow I can only imagine how that would tear him apart. He doesn't even have the mind to distinguish dream from reality right now. No! He wanted to scream his anguish but no sound came from his mouth. His men stepped back and they were no longer men but orcs and he turned his head toward the Tower and he saw a great eye, ringed in flames and unblinking... unblinking as it tried to pierce through to his innermost thoughts.... Sauron! TO SCREAM HIS ANGUISH "No," he whispered and tried to close his eyes against it but still he saw it and it consumed him and the world was filled with the Eye and the Eye saw... saw who he was and all was lost... Sweet Eru, all is lost and I have failed.... whispering askjghsjg "No," he groaned. "No..." askjdhsjgsdhjsdgjhgj the "no..." repeatedddd is this out loud do the others hear And then the eye inexplicably shattered. SKADJH YES <3333 Aragorn gasped and jerked his head to the side as fire and smoke rushed toward him but he felt only the softest breeze touch his cheek, a soothing zephyr that carried with it warmth and light and all the goodness of Arda on the first day of life. As the chains fell from his limbs, strength returned and he spun around to fully meet the wind, taking a deep breath, then another, and another, as fast as he could draw it into his lungs. skadjfhsgjsh waking with a gasp SAKDHG THE BREATH OF THE ATHELAS GASPING AS HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BREATH FOR SO LONG all the goodness of Arda on the first day of life <3 As the burning smoke of Mordor receded into nothing more than flickering firelight against his closed eyelids, he realized that he was waking up. For the first time since his fight with the Nazgûl, his eyes opened easily. He lay for a long moment without moving, simply measuring his breaths as he stared at a rough plastered ceiling overhead. It took many more minutes of watching that ceiling, of listening to his own breathing and the crackle of the fire and the small noise of the wind outside before he accepted that this was reality. That this room, this cot, this air he breathed was true and real and that the rest had been nightmare... hideous, terrifying, but of no more substance than smoke from a fire. He reached up and put a hand over his eyes as unbidden tears of relief flooded them. His bones still felt as though the snows of the North had settled into his very marrow, but the horrible shudders were gone, and the nightmare was gone, and he was alive. He was alive. SAKDHFSJHJGHSDFJGH hand over his eyes and tearsssss <3333 TEARS OF RELIEF FROM THE MISERY AND UTTER ALONENESS AND DESOLATION bones still aching <3 He took a deep breath. Again the sweet fragrance of athelas caressed him and it seemed as though the breezes of all the summers of his youth filled his aching lungs. aching lungs <333 the summers of his youth <:((((( The sad lost joy thereeeee "By the Valar, this little weed does work," Halbarad said, his voice full of wonder. HALBARAD <333 voice full of wonder <3 Aragorn lowered his hand and turned his head, wincing a little as the room briefly whirled around him. His voice was but a breath. "You found... athelas." but a breath <3 whirling room yay lol Halbarad nodded. He held up a small steaming bowl and waved a hand over it so the fragrance drifted across Aragorn’s face. Then, like a river released from a dam, Halbarad’s words tumbled out, one coming on the heels of another. "I wasn’t sure what to do... all you were able to say was athelas and we had Morgoth’s own time finding any... your pack had gotten trampled and destroyed in the fight, and Denlad had no athelas in his, nor did any of us. But Eledh found some, still untouched by frost, in a thicket not far from here. But none of us knew what to do, whether to crush the leaves and feed them to you or make a poultice and then Denlad thought maybe to make a tea... he had seen you do that... and somehow spoon it into you but I was afraid you would choke. But you were sinking, fading so fast, crying out...." He stopped and swallowed. "I knew we had no more time. So we made the tea and thank the Valar, as the fragrance came up, you took one whiff and color came back to your face and then another and you were blinking and waking up. ‘Tis a good thing, for I think we were that close to losing you." He suddenly stopped again and shut his eyes for a moment. He shook his head hard and looked away. "Too close," he said hoarsely. skajddfhs yes I was wondering what they would do with it. Tea was a good choice. <33 Too close <:((((( HALBARAD I love him <3 Aragorn saw in the shadows below Halbarad’s eyes and the careworn lines of fatigue along his mouth just what price Halbarad had paid in worry over him. He felt too weak to speak, so he simply held his hand out. Halbarad took it and Aragorn gave his hand a feeble squeeze, hoping it was enough to convey his thanks. A look passed between them that held all their long years of hard times and good, of friendship and soldiering and trust. Halbarad said nothing, but Aragorn saw in Halbarad’s dark eyes all he needed. He understands. I long to say more, but for now, it is enough. ASJKDDGH held his hand out a feeble squeeze and as weak as it is, this time being able to offer his hand to Halbarad first in gratitude for the lifesaving hands Halbarad has been holding out to him <3 Aragorn let his tired gaze travel around the dim room. There was not much to see: a small table, three chairs, a fireplace. A gray-striped cat drowsing on the stone hearth. As far as he could tell, he lay on a simple cot, a brown homespun wool blanket covering him. Beside the door, a small diamond-paned window let in weak sunlight, but it made poor inroads against the gloom. He watched dust motes swirl lazily and realized he had no idea if it was morning, noon or evening, nor how many days had passed while he languished in the nether world of nightmares. "How long?" His voice was more a croak, like a rusted hinge long unused. "the nether world of nightmares" askdjfsgh "Two days, nearly." Halbarad set the steaming bowl aside and grabbed up a cup and poured water into it. He moved to sit beside Aragorn on the edge of the cot and, tucking a hand under Aragorn’s head, lifted it enough to let him drink. Fine wine had never tasted so good. yesssss sweet sweet water lifting his head to help him drink my favoriteee recalling half-conscious Aragorn choking on the gross medicine poured down his throat :) "Thank you," he whispered. <:(( I have been lost to the world for two entire days. Not as long as the lifetime it had felt, but to have lost that much time was still disturbing, especially when the bulk of those hours had been filled with nightmares such as he had never– No. saksdjf He stopped his thoughts from turning down those troubling paths. There was no profit to be gained in remembering what were merely conjured-up imaginings, however real they felt. Instead, he continued looking at the room. A doorway led to another room where he saw the end of a bed. Across the room where he lay, a ladder disappeared up into a hole in the ceiling, presumably to an attic room of some sort. Aside from Halbarad, the house seemed empty. He wondered what place this was that his men... good job Aragorn. Again showing impressive strength of mind. His men! Alarm flooded him and he struggled to sit up. Might as well have tried to leap from Mount Gundabad to Gondor; he barely managed to lift his head, and even that small movement left him gasping. But he had to know. "The men... Halbarad, the men... what of our men?" ASKHGSDJF yessssss gasping at tryna lift his head (this is also why he knows Eowyn needs ten days of bed :)) THE MEN <33333 the pure alarm Halbard slid a hand behind Aragorn’s head and reached again for a cup of water. "Calm down. We are all fine. All but you." <33333 yess lift his head again "I... " His voice rasped and he coughed and the room dimmed and swirled in a sickening kaleidoscope of lightheadedness. hahahaaaa "Drink." Halbarad lifted his head and held a cup to his lips. "You need water." it has indeed been two days <3 He drank a few sips of water. The dark spots that bloomed before his eyes faded. "I thought I could fight it, but... I placed you all... in greater danger than I should have." He stopped to catch his breath. Valar, but when did mere speech become such a test of endurance? "I failed. I am sorry... " sakshdjsg such a test of endurance perhaps since you fought a Nazgul face to face (okay. when he fought the Nazgul with the hobbits. Was he terrified that he wouldn't be able to fight them off again? That he would again succumb? For without him they all surely would have been destroyed.) Also why Aragorn suspected the piece of sword remaining in Frodo's shoulder, because Athelas should have had a more permanent cure Halbarad shook his head vigorously as he lowered Aragorn’s head back onto the pillow. "No," he said. "Do not be sorry. You did not fail, my friend." <3333 vigorously hehe Halbarad is in control of Aragorn's raising and lowering of head for the time being this makes me happy lol also seeing Aragorn try to sit up fail at even raising his head himself and we go. Big difference whoa. And thank you Halbarad for helping him to drink. He needs his head even supported we see now. "We... I... should have ordered the men... you... to run." hmm OKAY THIS FROM ARAGORN you can see the mark of terror it has left "Shh, quiet yourself. None of us knew what we were about to face–what you were about to face. And we all knew the time for running was long past, or nothing would be left of our people along the Hoarwell." quiet yourself <3333333 "But he ... it... the wraith is still out there. I was not strong enough..." Another long pause while he tried to catch his breath. "I had not the strength to defeat him." "Aragorn, you are wrong." His voice thickened with emotion. "You... you only... among us are strong enough to have fought the Black Breath for so long without falling. The Nazgûl may yet roam, but your actions have given us time. He is in disarray, his orcs vanquished. And had you not kept his attention from us, the Black Breath would have been the death of every last one of us. Feel no shame, for truly, you saved us all." THICKENED WITH EMOTION FEEL NO SHAME, FOR TRULY, YOU SAVED US ALL skasdjuhfj <333333 <:(((( <3 oh how I love them the like. Honor of this statement. The sincere gratitude. No scolding the reckless foolishness. Only gratitude for he sees they none of them would have stood a chance. They all would have fallen, would not have been able to save Aragorn then either. In his love and courage and sacrifice he saved them all. <3 Aragorn looked away. Halbarad had it wrong. He had failed them. So many of the decisions he had made in the last weeks had been wrong. Too often he depended on a strength that he did not possess, on intelligence that was wanting. If he had but given the matter the least thought, he would have known that the evil presence they had felt could only have come from a Nazgûl, and he would have sent for help from Imladris, from all of Eriador, from every corner of Middle Earth. But instead, he foolishly believed it was an evil he could handle by himself with a mere four Rangers. It had cost Mallor his life, and that the rest of the men had so far survived he could only ascribe to the grace of Valar. But he was too tired to argue all that to Halbarad, so he turned his face toward the wall and shut his eyes, hoping that Halbarad would drop the matter and think he had fallen asleep. askjdhkfjdh Aragorn you were bidden to feel no shame But Halbarad would not leave him alone. "Aragorn, look at me." YESS <3 "look at me" is my favorite I need to get this point across and I need you to look me in the eyes while I do. For a moment, Aragorn refused, but then he supposed that was childish. He turned his head and reluctantly looked at his friend, and was a little taken aback to see the frown darkening Halbarad’s brow. hehe when something is childish and he's like. Darn. Can't do that. :) "Don’t wallow." HA <3 Aragorn blinked. "I am not–" mmhmm "Yes, you are. Aragorn, you are by far the worst liar on Arda and I can see self-pity writ large across your face." <333 how I love Halbarad "It is not self pity," Aragorn growled. He started coughing again but he struggled on. "But realization... that... I am not fit–" mmm <33 hehe stopped by his coughing despite his desperate attempts to ignore it THE COUGH WINS :) He couldn’t finish his thought for coughing, so Halbarad waited for the spell to pass and in the silence while Aragorn struggled to catch his breath, finished it for him. "–to be chieftain, to marry Arwen, to fulfill your destiny and rule Gondor and Arnor and save Middle-earth from all evil, bad weather, bad manners, and spoiled vegetables," Halbarad said, ticking them off on his fingers and ignoring what Aragorn hoped was a withering glare. SAKDJSHG thank you for making me cackle lol you hope it's a withering glare, in your state. also, "to marry Arwen" <333 thank you for adding that one. He is worthy of her. "Have I missed anything? No, I could not possibly have, because I have heard you recite the litany of all you are not worthy of a hundred times and a hundred times I have beaten the self pity out of you with my words, tempting though it is at times to use my fists instead." He leaned closer, the bantering light in his eyes giving way to pleading. He grasped Aragorn’s hand again and squeezed as though he could drive the words into Aragorn with the intensity of his grip. "Aragorn, heed my words. You are the bravest man I know. Braver than any in Eriador, braver than any in all of Arda, and Elven-wise beyond any man alive. You are brave enough, wise enough... more than enough... to meet your destiny. Have faith in yourself. Have faith in the strength Ilúvatar gave you; yea in the strength of your line, for there remains much strength still in the blood of Isildur. In your blood, for the purity of Elros’ line has not diminished, either in Isildur or in you. It remains pure, unfaded and undimmed." <:((( <3333 he is so wonderful. And so right. He is really good at affirmative...pep talks? That sounds too...light, but Aragorn knew how he should answer, that he should nod and smile and thank Halbarad but he felt too... fragile. As fragile as a glass sword and equally useless. Halbarad’s eyes filled with a despair that Aragorn knew was a mere reflection of what was in his own eyes. "I am sorry," he whispered. askdhsfjhgjkgsjhg THANK YOU for letting him feel fragile. Too fragile to respond "right", or convincingly. But instead he apologizes. And Halbarad knows. He knows truly what Aragorn is feeling, and I love that. Aragorn needs people to see his fragile moments sometimes. And I feel that feeling. That is such an accurate response to not being quite ready to fully believe such kind words <3. Halbarad smiled sadly. "And as usual, I am pushing too hard, too soon. But I will not give up on you, nor will I allow you to give up on yourself. Not as long as I have breath." <3333 he understands pushing too hard too soon maybe but even if he backs off he will never, NEVER give up. <33 also. um. So sad that when Halbarad died...it was okay in this regard because Aragorn had found his faith in himself. Like. I'm incredibly grateful. But. He said it with such a forbidding look that Aragorn could not help but think of similar stern gazes Lord Elrond had laid on him as a child. He suddenly laughed and shook his head, immediately regretting it as the room spun. He groaned, bracing his hand against his forehead as he shut his eyes and rode out the wild disorientation. "The Valar only know why I put up with you," he finally muttered. <333 Lord Elrond giving him the same stern gazes of "you're really cool you better know I will not let you give up on yourself" <333 THE LAUGH <3 and the wild disorientation :))) "Because you know you need setting straight now and then, and I am the only Ranger feebleminded enough not to be intimidated by you and all those fancy names you haul around. Now come, breathe," Halbarad said. He moved the steaming bowl closer. feebleminded is. One way of putting it??? I don't think ANYONE else would call it that though XDDD Aragorn sighed and breathed in the fresh aroma of athelas as it sweetened the air. He shut his eyes, letting the fragrance ease the tightness in his chest and the turmoil in his heart. Perhaps Halbarad was right... but that was something only time would reveal. But for now, sleep beckoned, and he heeded its quiet call. <3333 bringing the athelas to him again. "Breathe". FINALLY A PEACEFUL SLEEP <3

Lexilooper · 16 December 2025 · Chapter 7: For the Dead of Bracken's Ferry

But even so, come the dawn, his harsh treatment of Halbarad continued to plague his conscience, and he found himself unable to comfortably meet Halbarad’s gaze. So in the midst of the clamor of breaking camp, he concentrated on loading his gear onto Bronadui and tried to block out both Halbarad and the litany of self recrimination that droned relentlessly in his mind. <33 <:( aww Aragorn started to speak, but found no words, so he stood silently as Halbarad peeled back his tunic in order to loosen the bandages. Aragorn winced, for as Halbarad had warned, the arm felt more stiff and sore than ever this morning. And as Halbarad unwrapped the last winding, he winced again. Two of the deeper cuts had angry red edges. "peeled back his tunic" yess hurts even moreee yayyy "I have salve... made from lavender and comfrey... in my pack," Aragorn said quickly, moving to his horse. his halting "I have! Uh! Salve!" <3 "It will work well enough." As sore as his arm was, horse balm would likely send him sobbing to his knees, a performance he would not care for any of his men to see. Bad enough they had already bore witness to his hissing and squirming after the first go round with that ooze of Mordor. SKASJDFH uh I wanna see Aragorn sobbing on his knees please please "hissing and squirming" is also delightful and I'm also grateful we saw it and get to see Aragorn looking back on it with hatred :) "that ooze of Mordor" lol fair Halbarad studied him for a long moment, then lifted a shoulder in a rueful shrug. "I suppose it is best that you stay with me, so I can keep after this arm of yours. You’d likely ignore it or stuff it full of the wrong weeds and let it fall off from rot by the time you reached Rivendell." Aragorn let out a soft laugh, the weight of guilt lifted by all that Halbarad left unspoken. awwww <3333 Aragorn shot him a look. "Lest you forget, I am a healer. I can take care of myself." "Hmm." heheheee can you though healers are notoriously the worst patients "I would not ‘stuff it with the wrong weeds’." LOLL he has to come back to this insulting accusation "Hmm." "Mumbling fool. Go mount your horse," Aragorn finally growled, although he gave Halbarad a faint smile as he swung atop Bronadui. lol awwww point out the wording of "this night", it's very Aragorn-mind, I love how you write everything so it subtly sounds just like him <3 The rain had cleared away but left a heavy dampness in the air that seemed to seep into all his joints. He hugged himself, pulling his cloak tighter around him and wondered if it was just the chilly evening air that made the skin on his neck tighten. "It’s gotten to the point where every cool wind has me reaching for my sword." yess (takes a moment to remind that Aragorn is still *recovering* even if it's more the night air bothering his mind because of the other night than it is to do with him getting chilled more easily. Still.) Denlad smiled but his eyes remained worried. "It yet lies afar off, but I feel the brush of evil, Aragorn. There is a foreboding in the air, an unease that stirs fear into my heart, though I am trying my best to ignore it." Aragorn nodded. "I do not think it is entirely your imagination. We will rest lightly tonight." mmm yes he feels it too This time, at least, they were not caught by surprise. FOREBODING immediately telling us "all was not well" <3 Aragorn had fallen into a light doze, having been relieved of an uneventful watch by Denlad, and now, before consciously recognizing the reason why he was jerked so suddenly from his sleep, Aragorn’s hand had drawn his sword, and he was on his feet. Then he heard Denlad’s harsh cry ring through the night and knew what had awakened him. yess dang he's so quick like the movie moment when he wakes up drawing his knife in his tent and messenger dude is like "this thing shall end tonight" (again spoken truly like Aragorn) OR WILL IT? WHAT ABOUT THE CAPITAL E EVIL THING? He looked at each one of them, gauging their resolve and finding their returning gazes fierce and gratifyingly firm. <333 "Take care not to let them separate any one of you from the rest. I’ll not lose any one of you tonight." how I love them each <333 and so does he and then Aragorn was fighting with his own orc also is his injured arm his left or right? I hope for his sake his left and you do well in describing the horror and stench and misery of a battlefield. Not that I know. But it seems accurate. oh look there it says his left arm. thank you XD His blood sang in battle as it did at no other time, and he knew that afterward, if he lived, he would be exhausted and sore of heart and sickened by the charnel but in this moment he gave himself to the warrior spirit of his ancestors and he fought with the strength of Arathorn his father and all those who had gone before him. awwww I LOVE THIS the battle is horrible and yet his blood sings and he fights with the strength of his father for he and all his ancestors are warriors strong and mighty <3 He ran forward to help Halbarad, but suddenly a dread stronger than any they had yet experienced stopped him in his tracks. Fear again tightened its clammy fist on his gut and he actually stumbled under the onslaught. OOH EVEN ARAGORN IT OVERCOMES (for the moment) It seemed almost a physical presence, like some wholly unnatural mist, so heavily did it fall upon the hillside. Where before there had been only hints and vague shadows, Aragorn now knew that whatever evil being carried such wickedness was coming forth at last. and so it begins He did not want to go near it. He had to. He took a step. Stopped. OOH he must overcome this so later he will have the strength to conquer the fear of the paths of the dead for not only himself but his men it's so cool to see these moments where this willpower was forged and refined <3 His breath quickened, but he forced each foot forward as he walked slowly toward the shadow, away from his men and their battle, ignoring his own orders not to allow themselves to become separated. His Rangers were winning against the ever-shrinking band of orcs, but this shadow... he knew he could not let whatever evil lurked within that blackness find his men, or any more of the people they strove to protect. And with that resolve, he found the courage he needed. With a swift prayer to the Valar, he raised the sword before him, holding it with both hands. oooooh <33 disobeying his own orders "Come out!" he called, his voice harsh as he threw every ounce of authority he could into his shout. SKASDJH <3 HE FREEZES AGAIN <3 Aragorn set his stance firmer, <333 so impressive and a single word from a nearly forgotten conversation with Elrond... the lesson he had tried but could not remember... cut cruelly through his mind: Nazgûl! sakdhsdfjgs He had no more time than for that one dismaying thought before the Nazgûl rushed forward and brought down his sword. Aragorn desperately threw his blade upward and to the side, instinct alone guiding his clumsy parry. The shock of their colliding blades rattled Aragorn’s hands and numbed his arms. Pain flared through the forgotten splinter wounds of his left arm. He barely retained his grip on his sword. With no hope to bring it back to bear, he simply ducked as the Nazgûl’s back stroke whistled a hair’s breadth past his head. AHHH YES He jumped backward, scrambling up the hill across the rocky ground, as much to get away from the frigid miasma that seemed to flow from the Nazgûl as to avoid the black sword. And he knew he had to draw the Nazgûl as far away from his men as he could. He grimly banished any thought about the danger such a move placed on his own life. Standing in the breach in order to spare his men was nothing particularly new to him, nor anything worth ascribing glory. When such an act became necessary, he did it and prayed to come out, if not whole, than at least alive. It was as simple as that. But never before had it been so terrifying. askadhfsjfkshhsk this <333 it is indeed worthy of praise SO COOL how even in the midst of "flee for your life" terror his instincts lead him to defend his men still <3 "grim" a word Tolkien loves indeed <3 He felt grim satisfaction as the Nazgûl followed him. And then, banishing all thought of Halbarad and the others, Aragorn narrowed his focus to the wraith before him. The noise of the Rangers’ battle with the orcs faded as he tried fiercely to concentrate only on where the dark lord would bring his sword to bear next. so impressive he managed even to keep a grip on his sword <3 and that his hands aren't entirely numb As if sensing the strength of Aragorn’s concentration, the taunts of the Nazgûl grew louder. Words in a barbarous language he barely recognized battered not his ears so much as his very mind with an ever-rising chorus of evil. Aragorn staggered back a step at the onslaught, momentarily overwhelmed. He resisted the urge to uselessly throw his hands over his ears and plead for the voice to stop Elbereth help me make it stop and instead shook his head and stepped forward, raising in his mind a stern refrain of his own. Elberethhhh Do not listen to him! Do not think! Attack! YES HIS OWN STERN STAGGERING WILLPOWER Their swords rang against each other in a harsh cacophony, a sickening parody of bells tolling death and despair and Aragorn again had to shake his head to stop the overwhelming flood of hopelessness. He blocked the parry, then another and somehow another but his arm was growing heavy and cold and it took every last measure of skill he possessed to match sword stroke for sword stroke. He found himself too often simply ducking or jumping backwards or sideways, twisting and spinning in a desperate dance to avoid the death promised by the Nazgûl’s swinging blade. Oh my gosh Aragorn lasting in a hand to hand combat against a Nazgul is so overwhelmingly Cool :) even if he's like BARELY keeping up, he's still meeting his strokes and avoiding a hit He kept his eyes away from the black shadow where the Nazgûl’s face should be. To look there filled him with terror sufficient to melt the strength from his legs. As it was, his heart hammered in near panic, as though it were trying to escape this menace by bursting from his chest. He saw an opening and thrust his blade but the Nazgûl swiftly turned and Aragorn’s sword bit only frigid, empty air. Off balance, he had to throw himself hard to the ground as the Nazgûl countered with a lunging swipe of his own. Winded from landing on jagged stones, Aragorn staggered back to his feet. The voice pressed harder on his mind, taunting, laughing... nearly impossible to ignore. yessss I love how you describe the Nazgul's voice and the way it uses that power of words Do... not... listen... AND ARAGORN'S GASPING MANTRA <3 His parries grew slower. Breath rasped against his dry throat as his lungs dragged in ever-colder air. It took both hands on his sword now to force the Nazgûl’s blade away. His chest burned; his legs dragged. His left arm felt afire, but at the same time he was getting cold, so very cold. The only warmth he felt stemmed from his own blood flowing down from re-opened wounds. He stumbled, caught himself, lifted his sword... and the blade met the Nazgûl’s at an awkward angle and shattered into smoking shards that fell around him. For a timeless moment, Aragorn stared helplessly at his foe, knowing his death was now certain. But as the Nazgûl raised his sword, Aragorn dropped to the ground and the blow that would have severed his head from his neck missed. YESSS bleeding again SWORD DISSOLVES COLD helpless his own inability to stand saving his life (or maybe the drop was intentional. or both.) The Nazgûl uttered an angry growl. Cold lanced deeper, into Aragorn’s very heart. The Enemy’s voice swelled... filled his mind... buffeted him... hammered away at his courage... I cannot... it’s too much... I cannot... skasjdfsjshjgshgjgjds ARAGORN CAN'T IT'S TOO MUCH But one more time, he found the strength to move, to roll clear as the blade whistled down past his head. He flinched at the loud clang as the Nazgûl’s steel cracked open a rock inches from where he lay. THE WAY HE'S FINDING LAST IMPOSSIBLE BITS OF STRENGTH split a rock danggggg idk maybe that's normal for a sword but I love the last reserves on the ground still managing to evade the enemy's angry swings Aragorn shuddered as another wave of glacial air swept over him. The blackness battering his soul was unbearable. Icy fingers clawed through his mind and suddenly Aragorn knew this wraith meant not to kill him but to bend his very spirit to his will. To Sauron’s will. In a flash, Aragorn saw himself defeated, in chains, thrown at the feet of Sauron. OOH GREAT PICTURE to bend his very spirit to Sauron's will ALSO GREAT WAY TO MOTIVATE ARAGORN <33 joke's on them He knew he could never let that happen. He risked precious breath to growl, "No! You will not have me!" YESS how to not defeat Aragorn: show him that you're trying bend his spirit to the will of the Enemy. He will not allow it. The Nazgûl laughed, and Aragorn’s soul shrank from such a hissing travesty of mirth, for the noise seemed to have been born in the depths of Mt. Doom itself. Aragorn rolled to his left, his hand landing on a stout limb. He clasped it and thrust it upward and blocked another slash of the evil blade, but the force of it knocked the branch from his hand. askfhjgs born in Mt Doom itself his soul shrank from the HISSING TRAVESTY OF MIRTH whoa also I had the definition of travesty a bit wrong before this so thank you for correcting that I actually love that it's a very powerful word found a branchhh lost ittt But he had to. His Rangers were fighting their own battles. No one could help him, nor could he let the Nazgûl defeat him and go after his men. oooh THE WAY FIGHTING FOR OTHERS GIVES YOU FAR GREATER STRENGTH THAN FIGHTING FOR YOURSELF EVER WOULD Another roll, another dodge... another staggering climb to his feet, and then hope! A remnant of his broken sword lay within reach. He put out a hand toward it. YES The Nazgûl slammed Aragorn hard across the chest with the flat of his blade, seeming almost to toy with him as he threw Aragorn off balance. Aragorn’s foot turned on a stone and with a cry, he slammed onto his back, strength a fading memory. His chest burned from the icy touch of the Nazgûl’s blade and he had nothing left in him. No breath. No strength. okay YEAH being slammed ACROSS THE CHEST with that blade?? Your very heart and already failing lungs?? Would do things. To you. That are not good. And yeah the Nazgul would toy with him. A lot of bad guys *really* like doing that, and I'm grateful, because it's often their own downfall. also sword within reach but knocked away from it yesss No hope. SKAHFJSDH the edge of hope gone Cannot breathe... the very air is poison... I cannot... cannot last... The cold... Valar, it hurts... skaddsjdfhsdfjshgjsfgjh it hurtssss this coming from Aragorn <3 Blackness edged closer, blinding his eyes with its foul mist, filling his ears with its dizzying roar. its foul mist All became shadow save the Nazgûl. Aragorn stared upward at the faceless wraith, caught like prey in the hypnotic spell of a wolf’s gaze. Sorrow pierced through his terror as the Nazgûl raised the sword for the killing stroke. SORROW PIERCED askjks the helpless He has won. I have failed... nooo A sudden blinding flash of fire stunned him, and he threw up his hands to shield his face, but the heat rushed past him, toward the Nazgûl. A wailing shriek rent the air and suddenly Aragorn found himself struggling against an even greater surge of chilling malice, a physical wave of fury and unbearable hatred so great it crushed him against the ground. For a moment he felt he could not possibly fight against it, but with a groan that seemed torn from the depths of his soul, he pushed against it and rolled over. He forced himself to his hands and knees. But he could not find the strength to stand. He stayed where he was, head hanging, drawing wheezing breaths into his tortured lungs. Waiting for the death blow to finally come. This time there could be no escape. PRESSING HIM INTO THE GROUND as he lays on his back very vulnerable yes nice OOH OOOOH THIS THE WHUMP hands and knees and head hanging and *can't get to his feet* and WHEEZING into his TORTURED lungs and who is this fire???? :)) Another flash of light and a wave of heat and he flinched, but instead of death, the blackness deafening his ears retreated enough for him to hear a bellowing voice. "Get you gone and fly! For here is a fire that shall consume you, and all evil things!"(1) Aragorn tried to make sense of it. Those were Beren’s words... Beren as he faced Carcharoth, the great beast, in long ages past... but how could Beren be here? YESSSSS lol uh I don't think he is Also I love so much how they have exact words of their ancestors from moments like this and the power of quoting them <33 (oh wait like we do with the scriptures!) The voice boomed again. "You will not have your way this day, not while the arm of Halbarad is strong and the fire of my wrath burns!" Fire flashed once more and there was a terrible shrieking. YESSSSS so this is how Aragorn knows to fight them off with fire :)))) IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER Hope surged for a moment, but the mist covering Aragorn’s vision would not clear. The darkness and malice and terror were too strong. Darkness... blackness... black breath... SKADHJDF BLACK BREATH THE BLACK BREATH AND HE CAN'T SEE for the present anyways. Not being able to see is always great moments. Terror consumed him and he collapsed to the ground, and all light and knowledge fled. skadhjs not darkness but TERROR consumed him. Consumed ARAGORN. Love love LOVE. "And all light and knowledge fled" SKASJDSHJ MY BOY <:((( I'm happy collapse collapse collapseeeee what shall he do now how shall he overcome this without another of himself to pull him out. Also this gives such appreciation to his understanding of Eowyn, Faramir, and Merry being under the Black Breath. He understands. He experienced it too. And it makes SO MUCH SENSE that he has such "do you wish to meet them? They are terrible!" memories of them.

Lexilooper · 13 December 2025 · Chapter 6: Unexpected

Including me. To think of Bilfen, whose greatest joy was to give comfort to strangers What a beautiful life purpose <:( <3 He shifted, struggling to find a way to hold his left arm without waking the dragon that had been chewing on it. Halbarad had dug out all the splinters, and wrapped it well, but some had been large and deep and Aragorn wondered if a bit of fever was settling in. He felt shivery, but he wasn’t sure if that was from the wound or simply from the overwhelming toll the day had taken on him. He shut his eyes to try to snatch sleep, but jerked them open when a vision of collapsing walls and crushing timbers and a child’s broken body assaulted his mind. Aksdfshgsdh hurt again and now with nightmare visions <3 He sighed without meaning to, and Denlad glanced his way, then to his surprise, quietly came to sit down beside him. Denlad had not spoken to him since the disastrous rescue attempt. Aragorn was not sure the man would ever willingly speak to him again. "I apologize," Denlad said without preamble. "Denlad, you do not need–" "No, Aragorn, I do. My sorrow filled me with fury, and I made you the target when I should have saved my wrath for the foul wretches responsible. It was unforgivable and I apologize." sakdhfsj how I love them <3 "Apology accepted, then. But I never held blame against you, Denlad. Grief makes a man do things his heart would never let him do otherwise." Denlad picked up a rock chip and tossed it toward the fire. "You would think I would learn to control myself better." "If you figure out how, pray share the secret with me. I have plenty of my own moments when anger gets the better of me." <333 what a good response to "I should be better". "I you figure it out, please tell me" "If you have, I’ve not seen them." aww <3 "And now I fear you lie to your Chieftain," Aragorn said drily. "I have never felt your wrath." <33 "That’s because you have never given me cause for such anger." "Now who is telling falsehoods? Either that or that wound has obviously made you delirious." Aragorn’s smile was fleeting. "Perhaps." lolll <3 Halbarad came over and handed Aragorn a cup. "Hot tea. You look like you need something stronger but it’s all we have." aww thanks they can all see "This will do, thank you," Aragorn said, taking a cautious sip. LOL he's like will it burn my insides this time "And that goes for you as well, Aragorn," Halbarad said. "You look fairly well used up." "I am simply tired, and if you will both leave me in peace, I will drink this and lay me down like a good little chieftain and sleep. I promise." <333 yay Denlad chuckled and left to dig a blanket from his own pack, but Halbarad scooted around to Aragorn’s left side. "Let me see that arm before you bed down." "It has not changed since you looked at it an hour ago," Aragorn grumbled, but he gentled his arm from his coat for Halbarad’s inspection. "gentled his arm from his coat" okay what a wonderful way to say that. Love. he certainly would do it very gingerly After some poking and prodding that more than sufficiently awakened the sleeping dragon and brought forth several involuntary grunts and hisses of pain, Halbarad pronounced his satisfaction that thus far there was no sign of infection. "It looks good." THE DRAGON THAT HAD BEEN CHEWING ON IT "It feels terrible." yess being honest "And it will no doubt feel worse tomorrow." Aragorn pulled a face. "Ever do you speak words of overwhelming comfort." lolll so much better than "it barely hurts" claims Halbarad gave him a crooked smile and then retired to the other side of the fire, where he spread his blankets between the men and the cave opening, and lay down with a soft groaning sigh. Aragorn sipped his tea, then set it aside and stretched out on his back. It was a long time before he finally found sleep. awwwww he's doing it againn Impatience with his apparently endless proclivity for making wrong choices oh how this again fits with his feelings in the books As the figure slowly approached the outer reaches of the glow cast by their fire, arms held high, Aragorn could scarce believe his eyes. "Bilfen?" he cried incredulously. Another, taller figure followed him. "Kenevir!" "Bless me if it isn’t that rascal of a Ranger, Strider!" Bilfen Broadbow cried, lowering his hands to clap them together with delight. SKADJSGHKDJH I I SOBBED BILFEN????? ASKDHFJDSGHJHJKS THE JOY UNEXPECTED INDEED His round face wreathed itself in smiles and, completely missing the dumbfounded expressions on all the men, he launched into a rambling greeting. "Halbarad, Denlad... and you two young men whom I have yet to meet... what a wonderful surprise! You know, it was pure chance that I saw your fire. I had to stop to pick a stone from my horse’s hoof and while I was bent low, I saw the faintest gleam through the bottom of the bushes. You’ve a good hiding spot here. I doubt even orcs know of it." He glanced back at Kenevir, who nodded his confirmation. The man’s glittering black eyes silently took in the walls, the horses in the rear, the narrow passage that led to the opening. He nodded again, with approval. Aww the approval of that dour man <3 Bilfen went on, "And I hope you didn’t ride through Bracken’s Ferry expecting a meal at my inn–it’s been closed these last three weeks while we’ve been visiting my cousin in Bree. oh NO I'm so glad but...he doesn't yet know Bilfen tapped his arm. "Strider?" Somehow when Bilfen called him that name, it never felt like an insult, and never before had he been happier to have anyone call him that than at this moment. <33333 oh my heart "I say, young man, are you ill?" young man <3 also is he a certain age here? Perhaps I have already asked Aragorn shook his head, a smile trembling on his lips. "No," he choked, finally finding his voice. "No, Bilfen Broadbow, I feel better at this moment than I have felt in many a long day." Unable to hold himself back, he pulled the astounded innkeeper into a rough embrace, knowing the man would feel the tremor of emotion shaking him and not caring. He reached past Bilfen with one arm and Kenevir clasped his hand, a bemused expression on his face. sakdjdkshgjgshjshjsghsdjhs HUGS HE FEELS JOY "What is this, Strider?" Bilfen said, pulling back to peer into Aragorn’s face. He touched the tears tracking down Aragorn’s cheeks. "Such lines of care and sorrow..." He carefully looked at the rest of the men, at their sooty faces, their muddy clothes and the weariness in their eyes that Aragorn knew was mirrored in his own. "Oh dear. You look... all of you look... oh my. What has happened to put such grief in your hearts?" askdkhdsjsdg he's crying finally <333 The men silently looked to Aragorn to tell the tale. Aragorn walked back to his bedroll and dropped onto it, feeling like his legs would no longer hold him. He swiped an impatient hand across his cheeks and nose and took a deep breath that shook more than he wanted. "Bilfen, Kenevir, sit down, please." aww the impatient wiping away tears that he will not stop now <3 Alarm rose in Bilfen’s normally merry blue eyes. He and Kenevir exchanged glances before slowly lowering themselves to the stone floor beside Aragorn, Kenevir taking a spot just behind Bilfen. They looked at him with expectation and dread. <:(( Kenevir, his tongue long ago cut out by orcs, could only growl his rage and sorrow, but Bilfen was more vocal. "Burned... oh dear," he said faintly. "Oh dear. What of the people? Telvor, the other families? Were they spared?" <:(( oh he must have so many memories of orcs "Annelia. That would have been Annelia. She turned two this summer. Oh dear." So it was indeed a girl. Aragorn glanced at Denlad, but Denlad was staring with empty eyes into the fire. <:((( asdhskdsg and SO YOUNG. And she survived so long. Halbarad cleared his throat. "We did all we could to save her, but the building collapsed. It nearly took Strider, here, with it." thank you for giving him this credit he deserves <3 Bilfen was silent for a long moment, then shook himself. "It is well to mourn the dead, but care for the living cannot be neglected. You men look half starved. I may no longer have an inn, but I do have supplies on my pack horse, which is still outside. I have vegetables, and Kenevir took down a stag just this afternoon. It’s late, I know, but if you will allow, I’ll bring my animal in and fix all of you some food. I always say that food can provide comfort when nothing else can." He laughed softly and patted his ample belly. "I obviously have had much need of comfort in my life." Halbarad managed a chuckle and Aragorn even managed a smile. "You do well to remind us that there is still joy in this dark world." <3333 oh how I adore him and live to be that kind of person. His entire town destroyed and he says "you look half-starved. let me make you a warm meal" <333 and these terrible cooks need it :) Teach Aragorn some cooking, Bilfen Aragorn nodded, but there was not much to say. They had all had moments where the emotional toll was too heavy and they had broken down in tears or in anger, Aragorn included. Denlad would overcome this, as they all would, given time. <3 they have been through much together Aragorn tossed the pebble aside and again leaned his head back against the cave wall, watching as Bilfen busied himself with making a stew. He did not think he wanted any food, not now nor at any time in the immediate future, and the way his stomach turned over as the smell of Bilfen’s soup rose to fill the cave only confirmed his suspicions. He knew he should try to choke something down, that he needed food to keep up his stamina, but he could not face even a spoonful. He stood. "I’m going outside to ensure that less friendly eyes have not spied our cave." oooh "too sick at heart to choke down food even though starving" is great angst Halbarad was watching him with that piercing look that Aragorn knew portended questions about his well-being, questions for which he had little desire to provide answers, even if he had answers he was willing to give. "Before you ask, I will tell you that there is nothing wrong with me." "Hmm." bless you, Halbarad, for your non-committal grunts <3 Halbarad laughed. "Ah, Aragorn, your sword has less bite than your wit when anger has hold of you. But to answer your question... I still have a tongue in my head and, believe it or not, sometimes I actually know how to hold it." XD <33 oh how I love him true words indeed Aragorn snorted. "Your hand is on your sword already. One ill-timed word from me and I fear you will slice my head from my shoulders. So I am sticking with ‘hmm’. It’s safer." XD Aragorn deliberately folded his arms. "Now my hand is nowhere near my sword. Speak your mind." XDDD I love them both "Very well. I think that sending Bilfen and Kenevir to Rivendell is a good idea." "And for that you think I would lop off your head?" hmm "I also think," he continued, "that you should go with them." SKAHDFG I agree I like this opinion But there goes his head :) His patience gone, Aragorn shoved Halbarad back, pinning him against the rough stone. "My life, and my destiny, are my own, to command or forfeit as I see fit," he hissed. "And you forget your place!" oh dear Halbarad gazed at him with infuriating calm, not trying to free himself. "I have not forgotten my place. Lord Elrond conferred on me the task of keeping you safe, and ever has it been that my house has defended its Chieftain. Even if that means risking harm at your own hand, I will do my duty." <333 thank you Halbarad Aragorn’s anger dissolved into shame. He shut his eyes, dropping his head and then his hands and took a step back, appalled at his loss of control. askdhsfdgjsdhjdsk the shame what a good man he knows Halbarad is indeed in his place <3 While he groped for the words to apologize, Halbarad stepped close and grasped Aragorn’s good arm. "If I could, I would take your burden and carry it for you, for surely it is crushing you." aksdhfjshjsg <:( thank you, my brother "It is mine alone to bear," Aragorn whispered. <:(((( THE WHISPER And I can only pray that I find the strength to go on bearing it. Then he worked up a crooked smile. "And I am not crushed. A bit wilted, perhaps, but not crushed." Halbarad did not look convinced and Aragorn’s smile faltered. oh my heart the falter "Truly, Halbarad. I am frustrated, yes, and full of sorrow, but not crushed." He paused as he looked out into the dark night. He spoke almost as if to himself. "I spoke too harshly just now. My life is not solely my own, I know. And long have I accepted that, and gladly do I bear the burden of my destiny. But these days it seems my future lies in shadow, and more than ever I feel that evil will overtake this world before I figure out how to take the first steps toward defeating it." But then he glanced back at Halbarad and cut his musing short. He had no right to add to his friend’s worries by speaking aloud of his dwindling hope, especially after his harshness a mere moment ago. Halbarad was too loyal to deserve the ill treatment he had just meted out. "Your devotion deserves more respect than I just gave you. I am sorry," he said softly, then walked back to the fire. oh oh all true things said and I love your words. But I think Halbarad would be gladder for you also to voice your dwindling hope. He sees it. He has guessed it. You know this. And he just expressed his desire to take your burden. I think he would be grateful for an opportunity to share it. <3

Lexilooper · 13 December 2025 · Chapter 5: To Save One Soul

"Her," Denlad interjected softly. Eledh cast a quizzical glance at Denlad, but continued, "Her... something to drink." <33 THIS CHAPTER TITLE OH "And no doubt frightened out of her wits," Denlad said. <33 CAN YOU IMAGINE FOUR DAYS Aragorn studied the tangled pile, finding little to like about the situation. Then he sat back on his heels and regarded Denlad. "Why do you think it is a girl?" There was a pause and then, softly, with a note of embarrassment, "I always wanted a little girl." "Do not feel embarrassed, Denlad. It is in the heart of all men to have a wife, a family." He could not stop the wistful tone creeping into his voice. "Your own hope will be fulfilled, Aragorn. Of that I am certain," Denlad said quietly. awwww THIS <:(((( these two dear, dear men He recalled his own childhood, when nightmares woke him crying in the dark and his father would steal into his room and sing him to sleep with quiet lullabies. SKASKDSF PICTURING ELROND DOING THIS <:((((( a father singing to a child is like. The most sweetest thing. And when it's kind Elrond...<3 A longing crossed Denlad’s face, there and gone so quickly that had Aragorn not been watching him, he would not have seen it. "I never learned much Quenya," Denlad admitted. "I barely feel I know Sindarin." Oh how I wish to know all languages. And here, where Sindarin is so beautiful and Quenya is almost like...the heavenly language. How the yearning would be strong. Maybe I should start learning. Or maybe I should try to keep learning something more useful XD "You speak it as well as any Dúnadan," Aragorn assured him quietly. He knew very well the hardships Denlad faced as a child. Far from the gentle life Aragorn had known in Rivendell, Denlad had spent his childhood years on a remote farm, with only his mother for company, and she a woman of questionable virtue and stern demeanor and little in the way of love for her fellow man. Aragorn remembered her reaction when once he tried to speak to her in Sindarin. She had all but hissed at him that he speak to her in the Common Tongue. One of the first things Denlad had done after he joined Aragorn’s patrol was lose himself in learning Sindarin, and he had done well for himself. Learning the difficult language had seemed, to Aragorn’s thinking, like walking through a door that led from darkness into light, and he had felt immense pride in seeing Denlad’s progress. He still held Denlad in high regard, actually. But he did not have the words to say such things without embarrassing the man. Still, Denlad gazed long at Aragorn, seeming to measure Aragorn’s words, looking for their deeper meaning and holding them against his own doubts, and finally, as if accepting their truth, his troubled gaze cleared and he nodded. "Thank you." <:(((( SKASHFJDSSFH I love them thank you for again giving the background <3 "I somehow doubt at this point in time he would be willing to do that again," Aragorn smiled. It was incongruous and probably a little ridiculous, but it felt good to talk of light matters in the midst of such horrors. "Besides, I was a relative. As the Rohirrim would put it, a brother-son, a nephew, although many generations removed." Denlad’s voice held a hint of laughter. "And I am certain that bit about ‘Sixteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain, Isildur’s heir didn’t cross his mind at all when he decided to take you in." "It may have, I suppose." XD <3 "I wasn’t raised as an Elf. Just raised with Elves. My mother and Lord Elrond both saw to it that I had a thorough understanding of my own people and their culture. Still... there were some surprises." "Such as?" "The food, for one. Or maybe I should say the lack thereof." "Lost some weight, did you?" "A little, yes," Aragorn admitted. "It took some getting used to, living in the wild, missing meals more often than not." that is such a good point. I always have a hard time reckoning those two sides of his life. They would not have tried to make him "soft" or sheltered, but were also certainly not going to treat him with neglect in a place of plenty. That likely would have done more harm than good. They fell silent again, then Aragorn ventured his own question. "And what of you, Denlad? What was hardest for you to get used to when you joined the Grey Company?" Denlad took a long time to answer, and when he did, his quiet reply cut straight to Aragorn’s heart. "Friendship." <:(( OH the shoulder squeeze <3 I love how Aragorn and them all have started saying her as well <3 Again, Denlad always wanting specifically a daughter squeezes my heart "hope lending them strength" <333 "Get back!" Aragorn cried, grabbing Halbarad around the waist and whirling him around to shove him toward Galadh. Galadh steadied Halbarad and they both ran toward the kitchen. Eledh scrambled after them but Denlad remained behind, on his belly, again reaching into the small opening with one arm. "Denlad, get out!" "I think I can reach her!" "No! It’s too dangerous!" Aragorn reached down and hauled Denlad to his feet. Denlad turned on him, fury flashing in his eyes, but Aragorn didn’t give him time to argue before shoving him hard toward the doorway where Eledh still waited. "Get him out of here! All of you, out!" AKSJDSFH Aragorn bodily yanking his men out <3 FURY FLASHING <:( of course It seemed to be holding. His gaze strayed back toward the tangled pile of timbers. I have to try. YESSSSS i would expect nothing less word I learned today: temerity. Thank you. It is a nice one. Skakjdfhs likening the building to a dying man Aragorn pushed himself hard against the opening, trying to gain another few inches... just a few... and his fingers closed on soft cloth and he felt movement under his hand and hope surged wild and soaring within him. He grasped the cloth as tightly as he could and pulled. Again the building groaned and he pulled and the child moved toward him and for an instant hope turned to joy. She’s going to make it... THE WILD HOPE And then the building shook once more and kept shaking and the timbers suddenly collapsed around his arm. He was trapped. He bit back a scream of frustration as pain bit deep into his upper arm and his hand reflexively opened and the cloth fell away. A board clattered to the floor inches from his foot and another scraped across his shoulders and all around him the cacophony of the building's death throes deafened him. He had to free himself, had to forget about the dying child... oh Valar, how can I save myself and not her... but he had to. She was gone. It was over. He choked on a sob and gritted his teeth and pulled his arm. The sleeve of his coat tore and jagged splinters plunged like needles into his flesh but then he was free and scrambling to his feet and running, the child left behind. SAKSDFHSKJHSKFHSJKFS THAT WAS DEVASTATING He staggered out of the building, where he fell to his knees in the mud and buried his face in his hands. He had come so close. So close. UTTERLY DEVASTATING Anger warred with sorrow in the tall Ranger’s blue eyes and Aragorn was certain a large part of the anger was deservedly aimed at him. He dropped his head and grasped his aching arm. oh there are no words "Let me see," Halbarad said, gently pulling Aragorn’s hand back. He peeled back the torn leather. "Now there's a bit of a mess for you. You’ve amassed a fine collection of splinters. It will hurt, but I’ll have to dig them out." "Just get on with it." thank you <3 Aragorn shrugged. If tearing it off at the shoulder would save the child, he would prefer living life as a cripple over enduring the pain he felt in his heart right now. He dropped his chin to his chest and shut his eyes. "Have the men gather the bodies of the townspeople for burial," he said dully. "Since we cannot save any of them, we will at least keep the vultures from further desecrating their remains." oh this is pain <:((((( *wails*

Lexilooper · 13 December 2025 · Chapter 4: Bracken's Ferry

Aragorn had rejected Halbarad’s offer of another application of his beloved horse balm, going as far as drawing his sword in firm, incontrovertible proof that his shoulders were fine. And even with Aragorn’s sword at his neck, Halbarad had the nerve to look smug at the effectiveness of the balm. LOLLL okay that smug look would tempt me as well Bilfen Broadbow was its keeper, a round, cheerful little man who wore a perpetual smile and always greeted Aragorn with an “Oh ho! Lock up your daughters, all you fathers! That handsome rascal Strider's a'prowlin' these parts!” Then he would throw back his head and roar with laughter, and Aragorn could never help but join in, even after the fifth, tenth and thirtieth time the joke was repeated. Many a cold night Aragorn had spent with his feet warming on Bilfen’s hearth as he ate some of the best roast mutton to be found west of Rivendell. AWWWWWWWWW okay are you about to break my heart again You're really good at bringing me to love characters deeply with a sentence or two And I suppose that is because we have Aragorn's perspective, who is overflowing with love for these good people. Which again, is kudos to your writing of his perspective <3 Aragorn pulled up, his men stopping with him. As he tried to see past the thick fog, the hollow ache in his gut told him that there would be no more happy evenings at The Hunter’s Horn. <:(( The town was ruined. Smoke rolled from the ashes of the buildings, and as they rode in, what looked like misshapen piles of rags revealed themselves to be bodies. Aragorn’s stomach reeled as his eyes unwillingly took in the carnage. Men, women . . . Dear Valar, they did not spare even the children. <:(( "That will do, Halbarad!” Aragorn hissed. He was having a hard enough time keeping his bile down without hearing a discourse on the effect of heat on decomposing bodies. He swallowed hard, then continued walking. <:(( There were no signs of life, save for a flock of vultures that flew briefly upwards from a dark bundle on the ground as the men approached, returning almost immediately to their unholy feasting once the men passed. Galadh’s horse shied at the sudden burst of flapping wings, but he brought him under control with a quiet word. Again I love seeing the deeply trusting relationships with their horses, hinted at in The Paths of the Dead <3 They had to go through these sorts of things before they could get there. Also, this is so sad. FIFTY. FAMILIES. Aragorn turned and looked up at his Rangers. “We will check every building, in case there might be someone still alive.” He received quiet nods in answer, and he wondered if his own eyes looked as haunted as his men’s. <:( Unshed tears burned the back of his throat. “Farewell, Bilfen Broadbow,” he whispered. Then he abruptly turned away from the listing building and headed across the street. Mud pulled at his boots. <:((( BILFEN the mud the mud This from a man utterly besotted with his wife. Aragorn stared at Halbarad from a moment, then shook his head. He would never really understand the way Halbarad’s mind worked. skajddhg I love him so much How you manage to write his character so beautifully when we have about two lines of him in the book I do not know Halbarad squatted, his knees popping, and steadied himself with a hand on Aragorn’s shoulder as he bent low to look. “Huh,” he grunted. “I’m not sure. It could be a boot track that the rain partially washed away.” I love the details like his knees popping they make it so real “It seems big for a boot track.” OOH OH I KNOW “Telvor was a huge man. Could be his.” “But look here, that looks like the heel. See the nail marks? I don’t remember seeing a heel of any kind on Telvor’s boots, nor any nails.” oh dear oh dear I know To be fair I also had a hint with the prologue quote Halbarad raised an eyebrow. “You remember the kind of boots a backwater blacksmith wears? I barely remember the color of the man’s hair.” “His hair was black, and the only reason I know Telvor’s boots is from one day seeing him kick a vagrant out of his shop when he was fixing a broken harness link for me. His boots had smooth leather soles, completely flat. They were Elven make–my brothers wear similar boots, and it stuck in my mind. And look at this.” He pointed to a series of swirling arabesques in the dust up against the wall. he remembers go much things <33 “A long cloak dragging the ground?” “Could be. Which seems odd. I’ve never seen an orc wear a cloak.” yesss yes yes Halbarad straightened, nearly knocking Aragorn over as he used him for leverage. LOL “I don’t know, Aragorn. All it really says is that a tall man with a cloak stepped here. That does not explain who, why, or where he is going next or if it even matters a gnat’s eyelash to us. A GNAT'S EYELASH I'm using that oooh the cold echo and finding enough tortured remains of townspeople to fill their heads with nightmares for the rest of their days. <:(( they have far too many of those memories At first, Aragorn searched the faces, trying to find people he recognized, but finally his shredded heart could take no more HIS SHREDDED HEART SKASDKSHK :((( Aragorn broke into a run, hanging onto the hilt of his sword to keep it from banging awkwardly against his leg. oh that's so real And I think they totally do that in the movies? Aragorn bent low and after nearly a minute’s silence, he heard it: a soft whimper. Someone was still alive. OH OH I'm so glad they searched

Lexilooper · 13 December 2025 · Chapter 3: Healing Balm

Oh just kidding it's Galadh. That makes more sense. :)

Lexilooper · 13 December 2025 · Chapter 3: Healing Balm

Finishing the sausage, Aragorn tossed away the stick and stood up to ready himself for the first watch, assuming that his glare had been sufficient to stop even an oliphaunt in its tracks, let alone any protests from a small patrol of Rangers. lol, like I said. He knows his own power. But even as he started to walk away, Halbarad stood. “Aragorn, wait.” I should have known better. LOL I love him “Feeble old man is just what you look like, Aragorn,” he whispered low enough that only Aragorn could hear him. “Do not think I have not seen you wince every time you lift an arm.” akdsjfhskg this makes me so happy whump is so much better when it is obvious to others. "feeble old man is just what you look like" asjdfsgh Also Halbarad obviously loves him enough that he is ONLY trying to care for him. He's speaking sharply to get through to him, but quietly so no one else hears the words Aragorn glanced back toward the men, but they were studiously keeping their eyes turned away. Too studiously. This ambush of Halbarad’s looked to have been organized by council. “How long have you and the men had this little uprising planned?” LOL he's like mutiny Aragorn this is quite the opposite “Since I saw that you were barely able to lift your pack from your horse.” yesss I'm glad he saw that <3 Again, if I take off my backpack and my shoulders are sore, there's like a bit of silent hiss and I'm like owwww internally Aragorn would be like Nothing He would be like nothing If he actually STRUGGLES TO GET THE PACK OFF HIS HORSE A SMALL GASP EVEN he's hurt and no wonder. His body is still in recovery. “My back is merely sore from where the orc slammed me against the tree. I am quite well, I assure you.” Halbarad subtly but firmly steered Aragorn a step further away from the men. “Then show me you can raise your sword.” oop Aragorn’s chin lifted. “There is nothing so wrong with me that I cannot fight.” AHA EVASION “Aragorn, I do not do this to undermine you.” aksjdhfskjghs <:( <33 YES the gentle and yet unarguable words. He *loves him*. He is *not* trying to make Aragorn seem weak, or *anything else*. He is not trying to undermine his power. They locked gazes for a long moment, until finally Aragorn had to look away. Skajdhdfs looks like I don't want an eye-war with Halbarad either. Impressive. He tried one last tack. “I am the healer, not you. I can be trusted to know the status of my own injuries.” mmhmm “As you wish, then. But pray tell me, so I can learn from such a great healer, how you somehow contrived to stretch your neck around to see your own back.” HA Aragorn struggled to unclench his jaw. Halbarad was only doing what a friend would do, he supposed, much as it galled him to admit. “You are not going to give up, are you?” askdfjghk how irked Aragorn is getting by this is kinda funny to me Halbarad’s grin flashed white in the gathering twilight. “You should know me better than that.” <33 “What I know is that your mother should rue the day you were ever born,” Aragorn muttered, but he returned to his place by the fire and sat on the ground, Halbarad kneeling behind him. YESS sit by fire to be tended to <3 To his disgust, the rest of the men immediately came over and formed a ring in front of him. He scowled upward as three pairs of eyes looked down with varying degrees of worry, and in the case of Denlad’s, not a little amusement. Halbarad’s influence is greater than I thought; he’s turned an entire scouting patrol of Rangers into a flock of hand-wringing maidens. He glared at Denlad. Laughing, hand-wringing maidens. SKADHSF I AM SO CACKLING OVER HERE how I adore them oh Denlad and his mirth <3 The men reluctantly moved back a pace, and then another as they gave way under Aragorn’s murderous glare. But they still hovered close enough to further irritate Aragorn’s already frayed temper. But since drawing his sword and slaying them all was not really a viable option, tempting though it was, he gave up trying to get them to ignore what he knew would shape up to be lively fireside entertainment. For them. As for himself... he would rather face a fire-drake in its den. oh I am so irrationally excited I love this type of thing your murderous glares are powerful but I fear you're overusing them a bit right now. Or the situation is such to grant a degree of immunity to your men. They know what you're tryna do. :) “Your coat, Aragorn,” Halbarad said. yess I love every step of this?? So much?? Aragorn sighed, but he pulled off his leather coat, then his jerkin, and finally untucked his shirt. He grunted as he struggled to pull it over his head. His shoulders really did hurt, there was no denying it, and a small part of him feared that perhaps Halbarad’s worries were justified after all. But even so, he cringed at the idea of the men knowing such. He pulled his arms back down and pulled the tunic back over his head. “It is too cold to take off my shirt,” he said. yesss forced to undress layer by layer in front of everyone with injury so they can check the injury :) “For Valar’s sake,” Halbarad muttered. “At least pull your arms out of the sleeves.” “You do not need to look at my arms. Simply lift the back.” He heard Halbarad’s swift intake of breath and knew Halbarad had nearly lost his patience with him, and the result might be the loss of a perfectly good tunic. LOLL <3 He glanced over his shoulder and confirmed that a thundercloud had indeed formed across Halbarad’s brow. Without another word, he quietly slipped his arms out of the sleeves, but left the shirt hanging around his neck, draped across his chest in a meager attempt to ward off the cold. His skin immediately shriveled into legions of goose bumps. “There. Look quickly before I freeze in this wind, and see that there is nothing wrong with me other than a bruise or two.” Halbarad surveyed Aragorn’s shoulders. “Your back is starting to look as black as Sauron’s heart.” He pressed a thumb against Aragorn’s right shoulder blade. yesss good. It is extreme obvious bruising. and to be fair. He was slammed with teeth-rattling force, so Aragorn hissed and flinched. “Stop! A great healer you are, trying to break what is not broken!” Your reaction says much about your pain, my friend “Never claimed to be a healer.” Keeping his iron grip on Aragorn’s left shoulder, Halbarad used his right hand to rub the balm across Aragorn’s shoulders. It felt like he was grinding rocks into his back. “And the horses do not mind it cold. Besides, it will warm up soon enough.” lol Halbarad my friend. Gently. Although while I would love it, perhaps Aragorn deep down appreciates some rougher treatment right now. Proves they don't really see him as frail and sickly. Plus, hurts more, so I'm not complaining. “They may not mind it cold, but I am not a... wait... horses? You mean this stinking ointment from Mordor is horse balm?” SKADHSFS "a... wait... horses?" “Nothing but.” Aragorn tried to glare over his shoulder, but the fumes were starting to make his eyes water. The men took another step back. Denlad pinched his nose shut and retreated upwind to the far side of the fire, and Aragorn could hardly blame him. He thought he knew nearly every remedy there was, but this ... this utterly defied any description of a decent medicament. Dreadful did not begin to describe the smell. “You may call it horse balm, but I cannot imagine a horse standing still when approached by such a...a... stench.” He coughed and tried waving his hand in front of his face to clear the air, to no avail. Now his nose was running. He blinked and tried not to sniff. SKADHSJF this is glorious lol he can't even sniff cause it'll smell worse “It does smell a little strong, I admit. We usually have to tie the horse’s head to a post so he does not run off,” Halbarad said. “It’s my father’s own recipe, you know. Handed down from his father and his father before him. Family secret.” “Then why did you not keep the secret to yourself?” Aragorn muttered. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed wearily. LOL how I love them I am defeated. I am completely and shamefully defeated, and at the hands of my own men; at the hands of my own kinsman, no less! poor guy <3 He suddenly gasped. His skin . . . he was sure it was aflame! “You... ahhh... I will wring your.... ” His threat died to an inarticulate growl through clenched teeth. If he lived through this, he would tear Halbarad limb from limb. “Did I not say it would warm up?” He resisted the urge to leap for Halbarad’s throat. He was sure this... this sludge... was not meant for use on men. “When I have died from the burns you’ve inflicted,” he ground out, “will you at least send my bones to Minas Tirith? Or what’s left of them after this foul paste has eaten through to my very heart!” skakshjsgh his dramatic angry growling is making me happy. And again says something about how much it *does* hurt, for it he could bear it he probably would. Instead it *burns* and so he's tryna distract Halbarad with threats on his life and despairing of his own life. “Now, now, it’s not that bad,” Halbarad grinned as he wiped his hands on his own pants. “The burning only lasts a minute or two, and trust me, afterwards, you will feel reborn. It works better than any herb in your pack, I’ll wager. Now, on with that shirt before you catch your death.” lollll yes the rough and backwoods painful cures that do, however, work like magic Aragorn slapped away several pairs of hands that reached down to help. He tugged his shirt back on, then grabbed his jerkin and coat. “I go to take watch,” he grumbled. “Eledh, you best do likewise.” lol <3 He gave Halbarad one last glare before he turned his back ... his burning, aching back... on him and started to climb. He could not believe he let Halbarad smear that... that ... He could not find a word vile enough to describe it. XD <33 He trudged on, occasionally stopping to mop his sleeve against his still-streaming eyes, until he finally reached a suitable lookout spot and sat down to put his clothes back on. Eledh passed him and gave him a sympathetic look but wisely said nothing as he assumed his own position on the outcrop. Aragorn sighed. At least the burning sensation would help him stay awake. Fatigue sat on his shoulders like a oxen’s yoke. <:( exhaustedddd He glanced down at the camp. The men were settling down in their bedrolls, Halbarad spreading his out beside the empty one that was Aragorn’s, making sure to put his own to the outside edge of the camp so as to be between Aragorn and whatever evil that might strike from the darkness. Seeing the evidence of Halbarad’s protectiveness in even that small thing, Aragorn’s anger cooled. awwwwwwww Halbarad had truly meant no harm, and it was not his fault that he was a bit on the ham-handed side when it came to the healing arts. Halbarad was a warrior, not a healer, as he had said. It was not as though Halbarad had deliberately set out to char the flesh off his Chieftain’s back. Aragorn laughed quietly. What an end that would be: the sixteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain, fallen not to trolls or orc arrow but to a misguided attempt to ease a set of sore muscles. They would sing of it in songs, but not the kind written to extol the virtues of Arnor’s heroes. No, he would have become a character to amuse small children and drunken tavern-dwellers. <33 I love that he doesn't have too much pride to laugh about this Tom Bombadil <3 A poor end to a noble people <:( that's so sadddd “No,” he whispered. The wind carried his word away, lost to the night, but he spoke it anyway. “Our people will not come to an end. We will not fall. We cannot.” awww <3333 But how to keep it happening. The faces of those who fell during the summer paraded before his mind’s eye, one by tragic one. Who would rise to replace the men’s strong arms and valiant hearts? Who would step forward to be mothers to the orphaned children? And what of the children gone? How could the potential of their lost lives ever be replaced? askfshghdjgkj the grief that goes deeper than just the lives lost, but that losing those lives also is hastening the decline of the entire people. There is no one to fill their roles. Aragorn restlessly climbed to his feet to pace the length of the cliff. And what of Bracken’s Ferry? What would they find there? More lives lost? A hollow ache had settled in his gut as soon as he had heard the reports of the attacks, and now that they were only a day’s ride from the village, his growing anxiety made the ache feel more like someone had tied his innards into a hard knot. In his pacing, he crossed Eledh’s post. He stopped briefly and squatted on his heels beside the archer. “Do you see anything?” “Nothing. The area is clear, except for a nighthawk and about three half-frozen crickets.” He grimaced and then slapped his leg. “And mosquitoes big enough to drill through clothing.” “I had not noticed any mosquitoes.” Eledh leaned toward him and sniffed, then coughed. “No, I don’t think they will come near you.” SAJF there you go “An alternative use for the horse balm, eh? Although I would not recommend it. I think I would rather be eaten alive by bugs than endure again the stinging heat of that stuff.” XDD fair “Did it help your shoulders?” He flexed them. “Surprisingly, yes. They do feel better.” <3 “And will you tell him?” Aragorn gave him a sidelong look. “No, I suppose you won’t.” AKSHF XD he knows them well Also He's TALKING He's the one who doesn't talk right? <333 Aragorn smiled faintly, and they sat watching the night, silent but in accord. It was moments like this, Aragorn realized, that acted as a balm to his aching soul just as Halbarad’s ointment had helped his aching shoulders, and far less painfully at that. He eased to his feet and nodded to Eledh, then walked back to his original post. He stood looking into the shadows, and watched as one by one the stars came out. Tomorrow may bring sorrows unimaginable, but tonight, as Eärendil sailed toward the western horizon, all was still under his bright beacon. asjdghsjhsj awwwwww A MOMENT OF HOPE TO CLING ON TO

Lexilooper · 13 December 2025 · Chapter 2: I Will Carry Your Sorrows

He was frightened by the way his heart ached. Sorrow was an emotion he could ill afford to entertain, for he feared that when he finally gave in to its pull, it would drown him like waves in the sea. ooooh thissss frightened by it <:( Later. I will grieve later. I cannot give into this, not yet. good, Aragorn. You will grieve. This is sad but I think shows his emotional intelligence, he's not trying to freeze the grief forever, just to get to a safe place before really feeling it He felt his horse, Bronadui, falter, ever so briefly, but it was enough to wrench his attention to the needs of the horses. Even one named Enduring could not run at such speed forever. He reined in. “Easy,” he murmured. “You shall rest soon.” aww what a perfect name <3 and very Aragorn to think of the horses as well, as he should Then he turned to Halbarad. “Out with it,” he snapped. Halbarad blinked, his face a mask of innocence. “Out with what?” LOL <3 “You have been watching me ere we were a furlong away from Mallor’s–” His throat maddeningly seized up, and he struggled to hide the catch from Halbarad. “Since we left,” he finished, the lame response further adding to his ire. awww oh gosh he *hates* to show weakness I think he needs to work on that "his utter nonchalance at being so accused" XD “Even your horse does not believe you.” SKAHF XD Halbarad shifted uneasily. “Very well. Turn those steely gray eyes away from me and I will keep my own off you, if you insist on being so testy about it.” lollll *no one* wants the glare of Aragorn's steely gray eyes (<3), and no surprise. They make even the Mouth of Sauron quail. Aragorn pointedly brought his steely gray eyes, if that was what Halbarad cared to call them, back to Halbarad’s. LOL <3 “No, it was an order!” Aragorn snapped, then lowered his voice as Galadh glanced their way. “You try my patience, which is already worn perilously thin.” Aww <3 Halbarad knows him well enough to know why, because Aragorn is not naturally an impatient person. And Aragorn feels safe enough with him also to be a little open. <3 “Let me say my piece, Strider,” Halbarad interrupted, ignoring Aragorn as he pulled a face at Halbarad’s use of the less-than-flattering appellation put on him by Breelanders. Halbarad used it as an affectionate insult, but also whenever he thought Aragorn was getting too stubborn, as he obviously did now. Aragorn resigned himself to a lecture as Halbarad went on. aww I kind of love that. Aragorn knows exactly what it means when Halbarad uses it, but he still uses it affectionately. Also, Halbarad taught him. Aragorn may be chieftain and future king, but Halbarad reserves the right to lecture him still when he sees the need :) “You know of what I speak. Your destiny, indeed your very character, makes you take on burdens no single man can carry, no matter how great his strength. I see it weighing you down, as day by day goes by and the shadow grows unchecked. And you need rest, and you are not allowing yourself any. You have not fully recovered the strength you lost to fever.” He stopped, frustration creasing his brow. “If one of us falls, Denlad, myself, Eledh, and yes, even Mallor... it is of no great note save to a few grieving friends and our families. But you are more than just a Ranger, and if you were to fall, either to a blade or to illness or even to the failing of your own hope–” Aragorn winced. He knows. Halbarad had, blast his infuriating perceptiveness, seen through the facade behind which Aragorn thought he was well hidden, and the thought frightened him. ooh YES Halbarad, at least, knows of Aragorn's failing hope Also THANK YOU for refuting Aragorn's belief that kings must hold burdens alone. The burdens are far too much for a single man, even Aragorn son of Arathorn, to carry. But of late Aragorn found it harder and harder to see how hope could prevail, and today especially he felt he would draw his sword against any who spoke of his duty or his destiny. Sauron’s shadow grew in the east, and it was reaching even the uttermost parts of Middle-earth, and how could one man, no matter how strong his heart’s desire, vanquish such evil? Especially one as beset by despair as I have been of late? oooh depressionnnnn But he could speak his doubts to no man, least of all his faithful captain. So he shook his head slightly, pleading without saying a word. Not now, Halbarad. Not now. My heart is too sore. ARAGORN PLEADING FOR MERCY ON HIS TENDER HEART <:( He dismounted, hoping that no one noticed his wince as pain shot across his shoulder blades. The bruises from the battle were stiffening up. yess :) Aragorn squeezed Eledh’s arm, then looked at the rest of the men. “Halbarad, you and Galadh take the second. I’ll take the third with Denlad. Take what sustenance and rest you can, and keep your weapons to hand.” just like Aragorn to take two watches. His duty as leader, maybe, but he also needs the rest :(. Galadh nodded. Aragorn felt a faint stirring of wry humor as he watched Galadh dismount. A nod from that man amounted to a lengthy speech. aww Galadh and his mithril words <3 also thank you for subtly reminding us who's who so I don't have to keep referring back to the prologue :) Aragorn felt a smile tug one corner of his mouth for the first time that day. Only Halbarad would have the temerity to mock his chieftain to his face. And the heart big enough to worry over me like a mother hen. Feeling grateful for such a stalwart friend, even if such faithfulness came with aggravating stubbornness and the occasional round of disrespect, Aragorn walked his own horse to the spring. awwwwww <333 and Aragorn being grateful for even his mother henning hehehe mocking "ah so eloquent but still I do not like the words" and managing to making Aragorn just a lil happier As Bronadui drank, Aragorn pulled his pack off, gasping a bit as again his shoulders protested. ooh that is no average soreness. Making Aragorn gasp = not feel good awww Aragorn's relationships with his horses are my favorite "my swift friend" <333 AWW Mallor's horse took it upon himself to follow Aragorn <33 AKSDHDFSGH thank you, THANK YOU for giving us the meaning of those words. AND THEN THE HISTORY. Augh, beautiful. My heart. Is torn. MAGLOR SPEAKING THEM TO ELROND. ELROND TO SWEET YOUNG ESTEL. AND NOW ARAGORN DESIRING TO TAKE THE SORROWS OF EVEN MALLOR'S HORSE UPON HIS OWN HEART <:(((( TEARS And like. I always wondered about the growing up of Elrond and Elros. Earendil and Elwing were wonderful, and what they did was important, but. Elrond and Elros would certainly have grieved long. Also what is the meaning of Mallor?? It's extremely similar to Mallorn, I like, FINALLY noticed. Thinking of those ancient days always brought a great lump to Aragorn’s throat. oh, mood <:(. It'd be so much worse reading Silmarillion knowing it all really happened. Swallowing hard, Aragorn stroked the horse’s head lightly. “Halbarad says I carry the sorrows for too many,” he murmured, “but I suppose I have strength to carry yours as well.” Suddenly feeling weary beyond all reckoning, he hobbled both horses, and then gingerly hoisted his pack and headed to the camp. <:(((( oh I love him "swallowing hard" Denlad had a small fire going. In a patrol of six men who were all terrible at cooking, Denlad was the best, and the big, fair-haired Ranger usually took it upon himself to take care of what meals they were able to scrape together. aww thanks Denlad After Aragorn dropped his pack and settled down beside it, Denlad handed him a stick with a half-burnt sausage impaled upon it. he's like okay I'm just going to make a habit of dropping my pack. Try and minimize shoulder movement. “That is the last of the fresh meat that doesn’t have a foul smell. Or at least not much of a foul smell. We took a vote and decided to give it to you.” Aragorn was relieved to see a bit of sparkle return to Denlad’s blue eyes, but he worried a bit about the cause. Denlad was known for his pranks and Aragorn would not put it past the man to have spiked the sausage with some wild weed that would set his mouth afire. But Denlad’s gaze seemed guileless enough, so Aragorn took it, nodding to the men around the fire. “Thank you.” He sniffed the meat and added, “I think.” He took a tentative bite and tried not to curl his lip at the meat’s ripeness. He had eaten worse, with no ill effect, but it never made for a pleasant meal. The men laughed, but the mirth soon faded. LOL I love them so much <33 Aragorn nodded again, inwardly relaxing. Orcs and blackness and evil are easy subjects compared with Halbarad’s confounded worries about me. LOL wow he REALLY does not like to talk about his negative feelings Although I have never put much stock in ghost stories, there are plenty of evil things in Arda that have no name but might stir themselves without warning to plague Man and Elf alike. yeah...that's the thing. I'm sure there's plenty of ghost stories but. There's also real magic and sorcery in their world, and so there are also many legends of truth and many beings not really living who serve the dark lord. So. "with a muted cacophony of swords sliding from their sheaths" you are soooo good at descriptionsss Halbarad squatted beside Aragorn as the men settled themselves again. “I’ll trust your imagination over hard facts any day.” <333 I love how quickly they all follow suit to his reaction And how quickly he reacts to the feeling And how much they trust him And how much they continue to trust him when there's nothing VISIBLY wrong, they still know his instincts are not to be trifled with, The Witch-Kinggggg Halbarad cleared this throat. “That reminds me. I think it might be best if I take the first watch with Eledh, then stay through the second watch with Galadh. That will let you have more rest.” <33 THANKS Aragorn narrowed his eyes as his earlier irritation at Halbarad’s overprotectiveness flared back to life. “First all of you vote to give me the best meat, a questionable boon though it was. Now Halbarad is talking of taking my watches so I can rest. Have I suddenly grown so feeble that you feel the need to coddle me like an old man?” He made sure every one of them felt his glare. “The watches stay as they’re set.” OH BOY I FEEL THAT GLARE he knows the power of it and he sure uses it when he wants to. Aragorn. Friend. They are not trying to coddle you. They are only caring for you as you do for them. Will you not let them?

Lexilooper · 12 December 2025 · Chapter 1: Foreboding

His racing heart slowed and battle fever diminished and finally he was left with nothing more than the usual shakiness in his limbs and the sick clenching in his gut that were always his lot after a battle. oh my boy <:( <3 I love this For a moment, Aragorn was sure he would fall into the black chasm that suddenly seemed to yawn before him. He thrust an arm out and steadied himself against the tree trunk. oh his grief is so visceral <3 <:( NO NO NO NOT MALLOR I AM DEVASTATED though not so much as he. Oh, he was only a child. And he was going to be such a great man, and raise a family of his own, and...no. And the SILENCE that keeps him from at least singing or crying his grief, oh it burns. And automatically reading the signs of the last battle And his father also died in service to Aragorn <:( how that must hurt SKADJSFH THE SCREAMS OF RAGE, thank you, thank you <3 like losing Merry and Pippin And the "this is a good sword" equivalent memory <3 AWWWWWW AND ARAGORN BECAME A SURROGATE FATHER TO HIM AND WE WILL WEEP for some reason the herb lore part is especially sweet because that means he cared not just to protect but also to learn healing and all other things Aragorn had to teach him <3 again I need Aragorn to send Elrond a truthful letter just for Elrond to weep with him, honestly. I need him to know he's not alone. "holding himself tightly" oh my boy "of blessing, of farewell, OF FUTILITY" oh it hurts he saved his life <3 just as you taught him <:(( a father indeed Halbarad feels the fell air too <3 felt ancient <:(( "where he so bravely fell", oh that sweet boy I only knew for a few sentences <:(

Lexilooper · 12 December 2025 · Chapter 0: Prologue

THIS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MEMORY THE ONE THAT LEFT ARAGORN WITH HIS FACE DRAWN AS IF IN PAIN Oh beautiful day, I am excited indeed, though I may take some time to finish. Perhaps more reading will be done over Christmas break. Or perhaps I will finish in two days, it remains to be seen. Is the quote about hope's edge from the story or something else? Aragorn writing to Elrond is precious to me <3 I do not think the man is ever bothered by injury or illness or doubt. oh I think he is, but he would be glad you do not see it Awwwww Mallorrrrr he sounds precious <3 and that they all wish for sons like him Thanking the Valar by day for sending these chosen men <333 there is just...such combined weariness and sorrow and courage seeping from this people and this letter Oh my gosh I love each of these men. What a talent you have that you managed to weave such words that they feel like they come for Aragorn himself, radiating his love and regard for them <33333 YES THE TENT <3 signed Estel <33 nooo leaveitleaveitleaveit I want Elrond to see this beautiful letter <:( SKADFSHD the thought of seeing his people die out is heartwrenching besides Halbarad gotta go you can't write a new letter Nooooo kings are indeed meant to have supporters to help them bear the burden He's so lonely :(((( Aragorn paused, then squeezed his eyes shut. "I am sorry, Ada, but I dare not tell you the truth." SKADHSGKJ NO these are the most painful words I desperately want him to rewrite and send that first beautiful letter :(

PSW · 22 March 2018 · Chapter 24: These Wounds You Now Carry

Hee! Even after multiple reads, this story about little Estel is still my favorite I’ve ever read. It makes me smile every time ...

PSW · 20 August 2016 · Chapter 999999: Acknowledgements

Yep....it was good this time through, too. :-) Thanks again for writing, hope all is well with you!

layne · 16 June 2014 · Chapter 2: I Will Carry Your Sorrows

I'm thinking that that feeling of being watched was Sauron watching them through the palantir.

MikoNoNyte · 31 January 2013 · Chapter 26: Epilogue - The Year That Followed, Part 2

Angst, angst, angst! You really tortured poor Strider. *snickers* re: Aragorn's .. whatever you want to call it: dream? I used to think renderings of Faramir's dreams were really over the top. You've out done them. What kinds of nightmares does this guy carry around inside of him? *shudders* Aragorn and Elrond; the healing and the catharsis - You have, beyond all doubt, ripped a hole in my heart. We all face grief differently, and Aragorn seems to have bought in to the tale that men are strong, men don't weep, men don't mourn. But oh yes they do! It takes a stronger man to face his grief and let it flow through him, washing clean the soul. It was so nice to see Elrond responding to him as a father would, and telling him just how silly it is not not let the feelings flow. And you are still out-doing yourself with wittiness! " Erestor being Erestor, argued it was fifty-one..." I laughed a very long time! And, before I leave off: did you write this before or after Enzilbeth's lovely first draft of "Hobbit to Hero"? *still laughing* The change of point of view in the last two chapters seemed a bit odd; I never expected journals of Aragorn. I thought perhaps it was your way of dealing with recalcitrant muses or even difficult scenes that refused to be written correctly. The unease over the change was only minor and was fine after I read on, for Aragorn's sense of the ridiculous came through sharply! I was also glad to see the foreshadowing of events yet to come, and Gandalf's interaction thereof. But I think most of all you caught Aragorn's spirit: the rise to the challenge that Gandalf presented, the danger and unknown that he would face trying to find Gollum. I literally shuddered when Aragorn realized the finding of The One Ring - it felt very real - coupled with Aragorn's lightening change of attitude - *something stilled within me. I felt calm again, almost relaxed. It is the same feeling that comes over me in those last seconds before the battle is joined, when all questioning and planning and speculating are done and it remains only to raise sword and fight* That was something else I really liked as well. That call to battle that was like a drumming in his blood. Throughout the story you've used very strong emotional resonances (at least to me). I would not mind having this Dunedan on my team in a fight, nor would I want to face off against him. He does have a recklessness at this point (Hell, at all points really!) and a willingness to sacrifice both his body but his desires. It's young yet in him, but his "I'm fine" answers to any questions of his health point out just how close he's willing to cut it. Last lines are important as well. And while not the most driving, not something to rally the troops with, this one still got me grinning ear to ear: “You have a way about you, Aragorn, of making the hardest challenge sound easy.” End of the story, but not end of the saga. I'll be returning to drive you insane my friend!

MikoNoNyte · 28 January 2013 · Chapter 17: Balrogs Are Quieter

Had to stop to remark again. This has been an incredible journey thus far. Your combat again has me grinning as most people cannot do melee or combat to save their lives. And Glorfindel! OmG!!! I have loved this elf since the beginning but never EVER could find a fanfic that did him justice. Here is his justice. His confrontation with the Nazgul was epically enjoyable! I could feel a bit sorry for Aragorn, giving up command, yet here is a guy who quibbles about even BEING in command some days - to hear him grumble anyways. And of course the combat of Glorfindel as witnessed by our intrepid Aragorn and Halbarad! Actually allowing the elf to enjoy his combat! Rich! I'm quickly running out of praise for this. I'm finding more and more to like about it; not just as a fanfic, but as a well written story with lots of mature, professional descriptions and it warms my heart. Whatever took me so long to wander over here I'll never know, but I'm very glad I did. Favorite quote so far (and it's getting more difficult when you use lines like this and get me giggling like a school-girl): "If you were as mighty a warrior as Glorfindel, who killed a Balrog, who died and was reborn, and who drove out the Witch-king from Arnor, you could put bells on your horse and sound trumpets everywhere you went and still the orcs would run far, far from you."