Galad a Dúath (Light and Shadow)

"I'm going to Bree" Aragorn announced to Elladan and Elrohir as they were watching over Legolas during the night. He had been sleeping deeply since he had first awoken two days ago. Aragorn was worried, but determined. Elladan looked at him in confusion.
"What? Why Estel?"
"You said Nanddal was a Ranger. All Rangers go to Bree. Someone is bound to have heard something at one point or another."
"It is too dangerous. You'll get yourself killed." Elrohir said, shaking his head. "Besides, Ada would never allow you to go."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "I didn't plan on asking. I am an adult now, I don't need permission."
"We won't let you go either." Elladan said, sitting back in the chair. Aragorn slammed his hands down on the arms of the chair he was sitting in frustration
"All right!"
He stood and stormed out of the room. Just as he had hoped, the two did not follow. Hurrying to his room, he slipped on a black cloak and strapped his sword to his belt. He determinedly drew the hood and slipped from his room by the window. He took his time going to the stables, not wanting to risk getting caught leaving. Once he ducked into the stables, he pressed himself against the wall, listening carefully. Time passed slowly without a sound. No one had seen him leave. He went quickly to one of the stalls. The horse was Willow, a beautiful gray mare. He opened the stall door and mounted without worrying about a saddle. Starting a gallop, he steered her towards the West, heading off into the direction of the setting moon...



"He's gone!"
Elrohir's voice early the next morning woke many in the Last Homely House. Elrond was the first out of his room and in the hallway.
"Who is gone?"
"Aragorn. He wanted to ride to Bree to learn about Nanddal. He must have left in the night."
Elrond was silent.
"Do you want me to go after him, Ada?"
Elrond thought for a moment before he slowly shook his head.
"It is too dangerous for you to leave. He is not an elf, so he will not be one of Nanddal's targets."
"But..."
"Elrohir. He will be fine. There are many suspicious folk in Bree. Estel can go about unnoticed. Should you or any other elf go would be too dangerous."
Frustrated, Elrohir turned and stormed down the hallway.
"Don't you leave either, Elrohir! You nor your brother!"
Then the hallway fell silent. Legolas had heard it all. Slowly and painfully raising himself, he sat up in the bed. Elrond had said Elrohir and Elladan could not go get Aragorn. He was all that was left. He stood slowly, wincing as he placed weight on his leg. It was not near as bad as it had been. He could walk at least. He limped to the corner where he quickly strapped his weapons to his back. He looked back in the room and ran a hand through his hair. He knew he had to leave, but he did not want to cause worry or commotion. He drew an arrow from his quiver and laid it on the bed. A sign he was all right. Before leaving however, he slipped into the hallway. It was empty. He went as fast as he could into Aragorn's room where he searched until he found one of the man's black cloaks. He would need it. He then went to the window where he gently eased himself out before he limped as quickly as he could to the stables. He found Mahtar with ease and smiled. He opened the stall door and led Mahtar out, but before mounting, he slid the black cloak over him and pulled up the hood. With a verbal command, he sent Mahtar out at a gallop, following the fresh tracks that Aragorn had made. He silently hoped he could find Aragorn before they reached Bree. He had never been there, but he knew elves were not exactly 'welcomed'. He looked up at the sky just as the sun completely broke free of the horizon.



Aragorn slowed his horse as he came to a familiar scene. Amon Sûl. Looking up at the dark tower, his eyes clouded slightly with anger. It was a tragic reminder of his heritage, of his blood, and of the fate he would someday have to face. Hopefully that day would never come. With a great sigh, he urged Willow faster. If he was arriving at Amon Sûl now, Bree was only a few hours away.



Legolas was forced to slow Mahtar shortly after crossing the Hoarwell River. With a quick calculation, he figured that at the pace he was going, it would be another day's ride before he reached Bree. He would rather enter Bree in the day anyway as opposed to night, but even so, he would go in once he arrived. Amon Sûl, he knew, was pretty much a halfway marker between Bree and the Hoarwell, and at the speed Aragorn was surely going, Legolas wouldn't be surprised if he was all ready there or past there long ago. He shook his head slowly. It was sometime in the afternoon and this was the third time he had to stop due to the pain. Carefully, he eased himself down from Mahtar's back and sat on the ground. He might as well stay for the night. There was no way he was making Bree before tomorrow and Amon Sûl was too dark of a place for his comfort. Lying back, he quickly fell into elven dreams with Mahtar standing watch over him.



"By the Valar, you have GOT to be kidding me." About midmorning, Elrohir's voice sounded through the Last Homely House once again from the Healing rooms. This time, it was Elladan whom answered first.
"What are you complaining about now, 'Ro?" Elladan asked as he went into the room, but he paused in shock. The bed was empty and Elrohir was twirling one of Legolas's arrows in between his fingers.
"How much you want to bet he took off after Aragorn?"
"But how? He was asleep!"
Elrohir shrugged and allowed the arrow to drop to the bed again.
"Don't ask me! We have to tell Ada, now!"