Return to a New Place
By Nefhiriel
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Suspense/Angst
Characters: Aragorn, Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Thranduil, and (briefly) Glorfindel
Summary: Sequel to The Wrong One. Legolas & Aragorn are sent to Laketown to affirm a treaty. Predictably, they run into complications—in the form of an elusive stalker.
Disclaimer: I'm afraid that, just like all the rest of you, I can't claim to own any part of Middle Earth, or it's amazing characters. The only characters I can claim as my own are my OCs (Dolenil, Dinerion, etc…). If for any reason you would like to use my characters please ask permission. I don't anticipate swarms of people begging to use my superfluous creations, but if you do like them, please ask for permission before using them ;-)
A/N: Well...here it is: the highly belabored sequel to The Wrong One. I don't think that it is necessary to have read The Wrong One in order to understand the gist of this story, but I think you'll "get" some things a lot more quickly if you have ;-)
A special thanks to Imbecamiel who's been for me beta, best friend, and the gentlest of critics. Hannon le, muinthel.
Chapter 1: Making Old Enemies
"Thank you for meeting with me." The dark-haired man smiled warmly at the younger man across the table from him.
"Well, you are paying me to do this." The voice of the second man was low and smooth, holding in it a singular air of unwavering confidence and self-sufficiency. His shoulder-length blond hair and obvious youth contrasted strikingly with his suave, experienced demeanor.
"True, but even so, you do me a great honor in lending me your distinguished services." His older companion leaned forward, forced, because of the bustling tavern around them, to raise his voice to be heard, despite its already deep quality.
"Ah, but my friend, it is I who am honored."
The dark-haired man laughed. "And what honor can a simple man like myself possibly give a man of Kadrin Númair's legendary skill?"
"You give me the honor of presenting me with prey worthy of my efforts." A gleam entered the younger man's clear, ice-filled, blue eyes, and the unfortunate man across from him found himself the victim of their mesmerizing intensity.
The older man asked seriously, "Then you accept?"
The other man's grin had an eerie quality to it. "Of course."
"Keep a close watch on him. There's no knowing when he'll decide to depart from that elf-haven he so stubbornly refuses to leave…" It was easy to read the annoyance in his last statement.
"Do not worry," Kadrin assured him. "I did not get to the place I am now by being impatient. I know how to wait, and to watch."
"Yes, of course you do." The man sighed wearily, nodding his head slowly. "Forgive me, I'm sure you do not need my advice to carry through on the job you do so well." The blond-haired man nodded his acceptance of both the praise and apology. "I have unfinished…business…to attend to, but then I shall find you."
"I do not mean to pry, my friend, but if this 'unfinished business' pertains to the matter at hand…" Kadrin tilted his head inquiringly. "It is rarely necessary in my line of work to know all the facts, but I've found that it can make things easier to at least know where your employer will be. It is best to gather all the facts you can before you wage a war."
"Yes, I understand. The business I go to take care of has nothing to do with what I'm hiring you for. The details are irrelevant, but my unfortunate cousin has managed to get himself into jail." He laughed and added dryly, "I suppose I am duty-bound to retrieve my only living relative from the clutches of the law."
Kadrin raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Naturally."
"As soon as I have 'retrieved' him, I'll make sure he's off my hands and return to give you further instructions. I hope to take care of my cousin quickly, but if the…quarry…should leave before I return, follow him."
"I will not let him escape. It is not every day I get the pleasure of having an elf for my prey."
0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0-o-0
Aragorn watched the light snow drift listlessly down through the still afternoon air. There wasn't a hint of wind to disturb its steady descent. It gave the vast woods that surrounded him an almost ethereal glow as it settled along the branches of the trees and dusted the forest floor with a clean, untainted sheet of white.
Glancing around him, the dark-haired ranger eagerly scanned the wintry landscape. The memories of the blindness he'd experienced a few months ago still remained vividly fresh in his mind. He would never forget the experience. And he didn't want to. Somehow, remembering how dark his future could have been made the present sights seem all the brighter. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. At times it proved rather difficult to keep that sentiment while a coldly silent elf rode watchfully behind you.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Dolenil had ridden out from Rivendell, and for some time had been leisurely making their way towards Mirkwood. Legolas had easily convinced Aragorn to come with him on a "relaxing" trip to Mirkwood, to help him forget, and recover from, all he'd been through. Elrond's face had become very weary and tired looking when they'd announced their intended "quiet trip" to Legolas' home. Yes, Elrond really looked like he was more in need of the vacation than any of them…
Now they were right at the heart of Mirkwood, and with the lazily drifting snow falling around them, the forest seemed to be at the height of its beauty. Aragorn rode next to Legolas, with the faithful Dolenil ever riding behind them, his penetrating, cold gaze sending shivers down the human's back. Aragorn remembered the morning he'd first met Dolenil in Rivendell. Despite Dolenil's attempts to obey his prince's request to "give the human a chance", things hadn't changed between them very much. Dolenil still had the uncanny ability to scare Aragorn half out of his wits without so much as saying a word. Sometimes Aragorn thought that was just the problem: Dolenil hardly ever spoke to him. He just rode back there, ominously silent…
He brushed these thoughts away. These were just the kind of thoughts he wanted to avoid right now. He was going to relax. Besides, Dolenil, for all his watching, wasn't going to get the satisfaction of knowing the effect he was having upon him. Still, sometimes he thought that Dolenil was just waiting to see him…
To see you what? An inner-voice mocked him. Fall off your horse? Leap at Legolas and attempt to strangle him?
He nearly rolled his eyes in irritation. No, he wasn't going to think these ridiculous thoughts. At the moment he was riding, side by side with his best friend, through a beautiful woods, on his way to a relaxing and well-earned break. And he wasn't going to let Dolenil, or any other elves who decided to take up unwarranted grudges against him, ruin his happiness.
With renewed determination not to pay attention to Dolenil, Aragorn returned to watching, as each new sight was revealed from behind the curves of the path. Dolenil was easy enough to forget. All around him the new snow sparkled as rays of sunlight, diligently seeking the forest floor through gaps in the tree branches, fell upon it. The horses' breathing created small puffs of white as it came into contact with the frigid air. He enjoyed the slightly damp, but crisp, smell of the freshly fallen snow.
Legolas smiled as he watched his friend, who was so obviously enraptured with the snow. He, too, enjoyed seeing the woods he loved so much looking so beautiful. But right now, he derived even more pleasure from just watching Aragorn, whose eyes were literally glowing with excitement. With that look of anticipation on his face, he looked more like Estel, out on his first hunt, and less like Aragorn, future king of Gondor. He wished that Estel hadn't grown up so quickly. He was proud of his friend, of all that he would become, and all that he had already become. Still, he wished that things could go on forever like they were now… But, like Aragorn, Legolas interrupted his serious thoughts, and turned them back onto lighter subjects.
He looked back to his friend. Aragorn was still ecstatically viewing his surroundings, as if he really was on his first hunting trip.
"You have certainly been quiet, mellon-nín. You've hardly said a word in the last hour." Legolas said, pulling Aragorn's attention to himself.
"Hmm?" Aragorn turned to him, looking almost startled, "I'm sorry, Legolas. It's just, the snow is so beautiful… I just can't seem to tear my eyes away."
"Yes, so I've noticed." Legolas smiled.
Legolas saw the ranger stiffen, his gaze on the forest hardening. "What is it?"
Aragorn shook his head. "Nothing, it's just, for a moment there I thought I saw something…" Aragorn stopped, abruptly changing the subject. "How long would you say until we reach the Palace?"
"We'll be there within the hour." Legolas cooperatively allowed the subject to turn to another topic. "So mellon-nín, do you think we'll be able to escape any trouble and have a relaxing trip this time?"
"Hmm." Aragorn paused to consider the question. "Who knows. It certainly is a possibility—just look how far we've come so far, without so much as a scratch!"
Legolas laughed and slowly shook his head.
"What?" Aragorn questioned the laughing elf indignantly, "What's so funny?"
"You!"
"Yes? What about me?"
"Even in the most improbable things, you insist on hoping for the best."
"Well it could happen!" the ranger defended his case.
"It could happen, yes—and Elladan and Elrohir could sign a permanent peace treaty." He grinned, "You're ridiculously optimistic, mellon-nín. Just face it: we are, in all likelihood never going get back from any trip without one of us sustaining injury of some kind."
"Yes, I agree."
"Really, you should just concede—" Legolas stopped mid-sentence as he realized that his friend wasn't arguing with him. "You agree?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, I agree. We will, in all likelihood, never return to our homes without one of us being injured. But that's only a probability, and it still leaves open many, many possibilities…"
"Incurable optimist." Legolas sighed in fond exasperation and returned to watching the trail as its familiar windings unfolded.
"Well, if it is unlikely that we will ever escape without injury, you have to take part of the blame, Legolas."
"Oh, do I, human?"
"Don't you start up with that innocent voice, elf!" Aragorn said imperiously. "We've both got the oddest, most annoying luck, and it's that strange combination which is responsible for our troubles. Admit it!"
"And just why do I have to admit anything, human?"
"Legolas, quit being so condescending—and quit calling me 'human' in that irritating tone of voice!"
"I don't like the way you said 'strange' combination. If it is a strange combination, than it must be you that makes it so…"
"Legolas, please!"
"'Please' what?"
"Please quite acting like such a…a…"
"Yes?" Legolas lifted an eyebrow and continued watching the path with maddening calmness of demeanor.
Aragorn growled something undistinguishable, and the dark look on his face finally made Legolas erupt into laughter. The human rolled his eyes.
"Could you possibly make yourself more companionable, elf? After all, I don't think that Lord Elrond would appreciate your making this trip anymore strenuous for me than necessary. I am only just recovering."
"So he finally he admits it!" Legolas said triumphantly shooting the stoic Dolenil a smile. "You are a witness of this historic moment, Dolenil."
"And to what have I just admitted?" Aragorn asked, his expression, if possible, turning a shade darker.
"Why, you just admitted that you actually had something to recover from in the firstplace." Aragorn fell silent. "What? Nothing to say?"
"No." Aragorn said in a low voice, "It seems that every time I say anything, a certain elf twists my words around until they confuse even me."
Legolas laughed and Aragorn turned from the conversation. Soon Legolas' laughter began to sound a little uncertain. Finally he faltered, and they all rode in silence.
"Mellon-nín?" Legolas tried to catch a glimpse of his friend's averted eyes. "Are you really…That is, have I…"
Aragorn was not doing him any favors by acknowledging that he understood what Legolas was trying to say. He didn't so much as look at the elf. Legolas cleared his throat.
"Aragorn, are you really mad at me?"
Silence.
Legolas was really getting a little concerned now.
"Estel?"
Legolas almost missed the smirk on Aragorn's face as he suddenly turned his face away.
"Strider!"
Aragorn laughed. "If you keep on like that, you'll have used all my names up before long – and considering the number of names I've accumulated, that is quite an accomplishment."
Legolas' concern was giving way to irritation.
"Then you weren't mad."
"Oh no, I was mad, I just can't stay mad for very long with you remorsefully asking my forgiveness and half falling off your horse, trying to get a look at my face."
"I was not half falling off my horse!"
Aragorn just laughed harder.
"Very well." Legolas quit glaring and gave a slight nod of concession. "You've had your revenge, mellon-nín—do you feel better now?"
"Much better."
"How do I ever put up with you, Estel?"
Aragorn's only reply was a self-satisfied grin. Legolas shook his head and smiled as well. He decided that is was most definitely time to change the subject. It would be best to do it while he was more or less still ahead and, if only barely, in control of things.
"We're almost there," he pointed out, immediately bringing Aragorn out of his state of smug complacency.
Sure enough, they soon began to catch glimpses of the Palace through the snow-laden boughs of the trees. Within minutes they were passing through the gates and into the courtyard.
Aragorn and Legolas eagerly jumped down from their horses. Dolenil dismounted at a less hurried, and far more dignified speed, and turned to Legolas.
"If you'll excuse me, hir-nín, I have a few things to attend to."
"Of course, Dolenil."
He bowed deeply to Legolas, "My prince." he bowed formally, but without feeling, to Aragorn, "My Lord Estel." And then he left them.
The two of them proceeded towards the entrance. As they reached the door, Aragorn, who was in front, held back and unexpectedly stepped to the side. "My Prince…" The ranger swept his arm and bowed in a dramatic gesture of respect as he stepped deferentially out of the doorway.
"Estel, don't you dare start."
"Start what, hir-nín?" Aragorn smiled innocently before darting hurriedly through the door, skillfully avoiding a playful swat from Legolas. "This way, my Prince," he tauntingly mocked Legolas over his shoulder.
The unfortunate prince walked after the human with a calm, but brisk, step, and a menacingly dark face.
"Estel, come back here!"
TBC...
There you go! If things go as planned, Ishould be updating this story at least once a week. Next Saturday, I'll be posting Chapter 2, "Volunteering for Trouble". I hope that all the kind friends who've been asking after this aren't dissapointed. After such a long wait for it, I'm afraid you're almost bound to be :-P But I do hope you all like it!
A Note About Reviewer Responses:
1. First of all, since this site has decided it won't allow authors to respond at the bottom of each chapter, I'll be e-mailing my responses to reviewers. So, if you want me to respond, be sure to either leave me your address, or review signed in, so I can get it from your bio ;-)
2. Secondly, due to some medical problems, I may not be able to respond to reviews at all, some weeks. I still hope to be updating on the weekends, but lots of continued back-pain is making it harder for me to sit at the computer for along periods of time. To top it off, I just found out last week I'm going to need surgery for some problems with my gums (ack!). -strikes dramatic pose- But not to fear, I have already finished the actual writing of the story, and if I should perish before I'm through posting, Imbecamiel shall carry on in my stead! I shall not desert you, dear readers. You will have an end to the story! LOL, I'll have to see how things go, but I'm really looking forward to talking to you all again :-)