Exodus
By: Alilacia
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Either at my email address: erynlasgalenuk@yahoo.co.uk or here at LiveJournal
Spoilers: None that I can think of. In fact, this story is pretty much entirely AU, so I doubt it. I shall let you know if there is.
Beta reader: Ying
Disclaimer:
I do not own Lord of the Rings, or anything to do with the film or books. That honour goes to Peter Jackson (et all) and J.R.R Tolkien. I have no permission what so ever to use these characters, will not receive any money for this, and I am doing this for my own enjoyment. And to pass the time between working during the day.
Note: The Characters (and concept of) Dehlfalhen and Glamferaen were created by Cassia and Siobhan and they were kind enough to let me borrow them for this story.
The story in which they were first introduced was called Siege of Dread and is posted here:
http://www.aragorn-legolas.5u.com/SoD.htm Again, these characters (and concept) are not mine, and if one wishes to use this (or any of the characters or concepts from the Mellon Chronicles series) email Cassia at cassia60097@yahoo.com or Siobhan at siobhan3cl@aol.com
Edit: Have also just been informed (thanks Cassia :D) that Saelons are indeed another invention of Cassia and Sio. So all the above wording applies to them as well.
Also, I am by no means fluent in Sindarin. Any faults are my own. I'm still learning :-)
Summary:
"Strider, you have to understand a lot of things. There is much that I cannot tell you, much that only they can tell you. If you can find them. Only know that there was a darkness within them that they had been fighting with for so long, and when they found his body lying there..."
Events put into motion, the beginning of the end started long before it could be stopped. In all his years he had never considered what the loss of one life could have on the world, none of them had. It should have come to no surprise to him really, that when a pivotal figure was lost forever that his life was turned upside down, and nothing was the same again.
And do you know what the worst part was... it really was all his fault.
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Exodus
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Part Eight - Change of Plans
"Where now, sir?" Caryn asked.
They were all gathered on the outskirts of Malenethuil and an air of depression was lingering over some of the group. The silence was momentarily broken by the sound of children laughing and one little boy ran close to the group, his dog running just behind him.
"Well ranger, it was your bright idea to come here. So tell us, where do we go next?" Rûth spoke as soon as the laughter had faded, his voice angry.
"How do we know that you didn't even plan this, ranger? Getting us here and then setting this whole thing up to kill Gleina." It was Gwerio that spoke now, anger also bleeding into his words. Aragorn almost rolled his eyes. To him, the idea was ludicrous. But the group was getting angry and suspicious.
"You all seem so eager to place blame on my shoulders. Have you maybe considered that the source of all your problems lies a little deeper than I?"
"And why should I trust your word, ranger?" Raeg spoke up at last. "I have been with these a lot longer than you; they have more of my trust than you."
"You are a fool if you think you can turn Raeg against us." Said Gwerio. "We have been serving him faithfully for years, unlike yourself that just showed up out of the blue."
"Answer me this then, Gwerio. Why, when I was getting the second round of drinks were you still with that bartender? It is strange, and I admit I do not know fellow traders as well as yourself, but I did not think that the names of this group, their sleeping arrangements and the plans for the following day were parts of a normal buyer-seller conversation." Aragorn paused, deliberately not looking at Gwerio for a moment. When he did look at the man he was pleased to see that the man's face had paled.
"Gwerio?"
The man swallowed and turned to face Raeg who had addressed him. "You would trust this stranger over me? He- I-" Gwerio wiped his sweaty hands on his leggings and tried to reign in his panic and nervousness. "Raeg, you know I-"
"Are acting strangely at the moment." Raeg glanced at Rûth and Caryn. Both immediately moved forwards and held Gwerio still. Gwerio's eyes widened and he began to stammer apologies when he saw Raeg pull out his sword. The group settled in close, concealing the events to come from prying eyes. Aragorn frowned, realising what was happened, and moved forwards to stop it. But he was too late and Gwerio arched in pain, a gurgling cry escaping his lips as blood began to trail from one corner of his mouth. Only when the tremors ceased did Raeg pull his sword out of Gwerio's chest and wiped the blade off on the dead traitors shirt.
Raeg moved his way out of the group as Rûth and Caryn dropped the body to lie next to Gleina's. Aragorn followed Raeg with a frown on his face. "Why did you do that? Why didn't you turn him over for a trial?"
"Because ranger, I am judge, jury and executioner in this little group." Raeg's voice was emotionless as he was walking. "I hate traitors even more than I hate those not strong enough to survive on the battlefield. Consider yourself privileged ranger; you just earned part of my trust."
*~*~*~*
Later that night from where they were camped just next to the River Mitheithel it was Caryn that sought the ranger out. Aragorn glanced up from where he was sitting. It was his turn for watch, and he did not expect anyone else to be up.
"That was a brave thing you did, ranger, going up against Gwerio and Raeg like that." Caryn said lowly, sitting next to Aragorn. "In the past, Raeg has killed those who said anything bad against members of this group. He must like you."
Personally, Aragorn did not like the thought that he was gaining Raeg's trust or favour, but supposed it might come in handy. Assuming he stayed alive long enough to use it.
"It is something I want to have?"
Caryn laughed at that. "Truthfully, you can never tell. Depends on what kind of a mood Raeg's in." He stopped talking and lowered his eyes when one of the men rolled over and rose to his feet. Both men watched as he walked and disappeared into the woods.
"What will happen now?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not entirely sure. Raeg doesn't really share his plans with us. The only one he really talks to is Auth." Caryn pointed to a figure lying not far from where Raeg was lying. "Auth is mysterious, strange. Keeps to himself all of the time. He'll never talk to us, only to Raeg."
"So you don't know anything?" Although Aragorn didn't mind the odd information that the young man told him, he just wanted Caryn to actually answer his question this time.
"I know we were looking for two men." Caryn shrugged, looking down to scratch at an itch on his thigh. He missed Aragorn's suddenly hopeful expression. "Raeg didn't say who they were, or what they were doing this close to elf territory, but he did say that they had something we wanted."
Despite Caryn's words, Aragorn could still tell that there was something that he wasn't being told. But he let it lie for the moment. "I did hear Auth talking with Raeg though. They said that since we're not heading to Rivendell anymore, we're going to be heading there."
Far away from where Legolas was hiding, his heart seized as he realised where they were talking about.
Mirkwood.
His home.
*~*~*~*
Aragorn's worries were swiftly growing. It was the sixth day of their travel since they had left Malenethuil behind them. So far, it seemed as though Caryn had been right. They were heading to Mirkwood.
He feared what their delay would have on finding his brothers. He feared that he would not be able to pick up their trail again. But he knew in his heart that he was too involved now to leave, and he would not risk any of the Mirkwood elves falling into their clutches.
But most of all, he feared for his friend. He was aware that Legolas had probably heard their destination, if he had not figured it out already. Aragorn was worried that Legolas would not be able to keep his silence any longer and would attempt to take this group down before they reached Mirkwood. If it came to that, Aragorn would help him, but he feared his friend would get himself killed.
He also hoped that they would be able to get over Caradhras with the supplies that were left over from Malenethuil. Even with their numbers two less than before, it would still be a long time before they encountered real civilisation.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the next few days passed without delay. When dawn of the seventh day arrived, the group were making their way down the other side of the mountain. During the passage through the icy peaks, Aragorn had gotten to know the group a little better. They had not accepted him as one of their own, nor was he expecting them to, but he had been able to glean a little more information about them.
One of them, a man named Hethu, interested Aragorn. There was something about him which was tugging at Aragorn, he was sure that there was something he was supposed to be remembering about this man. This puzzled the ranger, for he was fairly certain he had never met Hethu before now.
Early into their trip, Aragorn had counselled Raeg against taking the Redhorn Pass all the way across the mountains. He did not want these men any near to Lothlórien nor did he wish them to walk blindly into the southern reaches of Mirkwood. However tempting it was to just let the spiders finish some of them off.
In the end, Raeg had listened to him and they were now taking the slightly longer way around down Caradhras and then along Fanuidhol. That would place them above southern Mirkwood with the Anduin before them. Unfortunately, there was only one place to cross this river, this was the bridge that connected straight to the old forest road, but if the river was steady they wouldn't have to go that far north to cross.
Aragorn watched the group pass him with a heavy heart. Some of these men were young, not evil or barbaric - just misguided. Several times, Raeg had nearly reduced the groups’ numbers by one or two, preferring to cull down those that displeased him than have them err again. On one dark night, the young man Parfseron had been on watch and had grown bored. He was an avid reader and on that night had preferred to immerse himself in the fantasy worlds weaved and created within the pages of the leather bound books to the monotonous walls of stone and snow high in the mountains. Unfortunately, the words had lulled him to sleep and it was by pure chance that someone else had been awake and aware and had seen the wolf coming.
It hadn't taken much effort to kill the creature and it was pure luck, and Aragorn's words, that stayed Raeg's hand that night. Caryn, unexpectedly, had also come to Parfseron's aid. The other young man had pleaded for Parfseron's life, saying that he would never do it again. Parfseron was also the only one amongst the group that could decipher the intricate runes on the map they were carrying. Aragorn was sure that it was that reason and that reason alone, that Raeg had grudgingly lowered his sword and spared Parfseron's life. With the warning that should he fall asleep on watch again, it would be the last mistake he ever did.
Legolas followed with a heavy heart, tempted to kill the entire group now while they were in the mountains and away from aid. Ordinarily he would have been pleased to see the greenwoods appearing on the horizon, but in this instant it filled him with dread. But he had no choice but to carry on following them as they made their way down the mountain.
As they passed over the Loeg Ningloron, or the Gladden Fields in westron, Legolas began hoping that Aragorn had a plan. For if he did not, Legolas would either apprehend or kill them all before even one of them entered his woods.
TBC...