Finding Home

Title: Finding Home
By: thegraybluebird
Author's Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkein's characters (but I wish I did in some cases *wink*), but only my own and this story.


CHAPTER 3

Aragorn, Legolas, and Chayton had walked throughout the day, only stopping for short breaks. Chayton had never walked so much, or so far in one day, but surprisingly, it did not tire her. She actually found the whispers of nature to be quite peaceful. At one point, Chayton began to hike ahead of the other two without even noticing it.

They kept up their pace well into the early evening, when the exhaustion started to hit Chayton head on. She kept her slinged wrist close to her breast, in hopes of reducing the pain. Chayton hadn't spoken much to Aragorn and Legolas, but only watched them. They fascinated her, because they were unlike any men she had ever met.

The radiant sun dipped low in the sky, its orange glow comforting Chayton. Her weary eyes wanted to follow the sun into its nighttime resting place. She was so terribly exhausted that she could hardly move her aching body anymore. Chayton had been watching her footing for the past hour until Legolas spoke to her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, walking in step with her.

Chayton smiled. "I'm fine, just a little tired."

"And that's to be expected," he smiled warmly. "Your day has been quite tiresome, I can imagine."

Chayton looked up at Legolas.

"Can you imagine it? From what I've seen today, it doesn't seem like you ever run out of breath, or get tired," Chayton stated.

"Elves do not tire, nor do we require sleep as humans do. It is just in our nature that this is so," Legolas chuckled slightly.

"You really are that much different from people like Aragorn and me," Chayton wondered.

"In some ways, this is true. For instance, we cannot die by any disease or old age. But, in most ways, we are all very much the same, too," Legolas answered. "We have feeling and emotion; we can feel pain or loss. We have the ability to use logic and reason. We are not merely mindless creatures."

Chayton giggled at that comment. Legolas's eyes lit up like the stars, and his smile was brightly displayed on his fair face. Chayton was satisfied with Legolas's answers, but intrigued her even more.

Legolas smiled again at Chayton before running on ahead of her and Aragorn. Chayton walked beside Aragorn now, her eyes following Legolas's figure in the distance.

"He's so agile that it's almost unbelievable," Chayton noted. "What other unusual traits do elves possess?"

Aragorn peered down at Chayton. Chayton could tell that Aragorn was an aged man by the warm look in his eyes, but his rugged physical feautures didn't tell you that otherwise.

"Elves, like Legolas, posses many traits that we do not. I heard you and Legolas discussing this topic moments ago, did you not?" Aragorn asked.

"Yes. He said that elves did not sleep, and could not die from disease or old age," Chayton replied. Her brown eyes were inquisitive.

"They have greater eyesight and hearing abilities than us. Also, their accuracy with their weapons are supreme," Aragorn added. He placed his hands behind his back.

Chayton nodded, taking all this information into memory. She bowed her head for a moment, her long hair tickling her tan skin.

"What is it, my lady?" Aragorn wondered.

"It's nothing. It's just that this all seems to have come from a fairytale storybook, that's all," Chayton said. "I keep feeling like I'm going to wake up, and this would all be a dream, but it's not, is it?"

"It is sometimes difficult to tell what is real, and what is not," Aragorn said under his breath. "But, listen to what your heart tells you, for it will speak the truth to you alone."

Chayton sighed deeply and shook her head.

"I wish I was as confident as you, Aragorn," she mumbled.

Relief flushed over Chayton as they neared the top of the hill that they had been treading endlessly up for the past two hours. She could see a wisp of smoke rising, suspecting it to be from a campfire.

They came up and stopped beside Legolas, who had been waiting for them there after his scouting trip. He smiled at Chayton and quickly looked toward Aragorn. Chayton recieved the impression that the two wanted to speak privately, so she turned around and took ten paces back down the hill.

"Did you find anything, Legolas?" Aragorn asked, crossing his arms.

"I saw a smoldered fire pit and orc tracks leading from the western forest," Legolas replied. "It's a good thing you found the lady when you did. They've been tracking us for awhile now. What are your suggestions, mellon nin?"

Aragorn shifted his feet on the ground and sighed. "It's unlikely that we've been spotted as of yet, because of the fact that we have not been ambushed. I will take Lady Chayton down by the others and we will find shelter elsewhere for the night."

"That would be wise, for I can already smell the enemy is near," Legolas replied. "I will go out again and find the position of the enemy. I will look for you later, when I feel it is safe."

"I have trust in you, mellon nin," Aragorn smiled.

Legolas patted Aragorn on the shoulder and departed.

Chayton watched Legolas disappear into the dimming light of the evening. She trudged back up the hill to where Aragorn awaited her.

"Where is Legolas going?" she asked.

"Do not worry, Lady Chayton. He went out to make sure that we are not being followed," Aragorn didn't want to alert Chayton, but knew there were things she needed to know. "There are many creatures here in Middle-Earth that will strike you dead before you even have the chance to defend yourself. You must always keep your eyes and ears open, even when you sleep. Do you understand?"

Chayton felt like she had a knot in her throat, but reluctantly nodded. "I understand, Aragorn."

Aragorn could tell that this upset Chayton. He smiled and tried to make her feel more at ease. "Come, you must be famished and weary, and there are my friends that I want you to meet."

Chayton was sly, as she took one last look around her before heading down to meet the others at camp.


Aragorn led Chayton along a stone path quickly, so not to be spotted by any foe. He pointed to some boulders, that were the base of the rocky hillside. As Aragorn kept his eyes open for any movement, he still didn't allow Chayton to stay anymore than two paces ahead of him. Aragorn hurried Chayton into the shadows of the massive rocks, and stopped once more to look and listen for any movement. After a few moments passed, Aragorn nudged Chayton's shoulder, and pointed upwards at the rocks.

Chayton studied Aragorn's intentions, and said, "We have to climb up there?"

"I know you are in pain, but we must get to the others before nightfall," Aragorn replied honestly. "You do not fear heights, do you, my Lady?"

Chayton rose her chin, and stared at Aragorn. He seemed to look through her, instead of at her.

"Of course I'm not afraid of heights," she replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Good," Aragorn said suddenly, throwing Chayton over his shoulder. "Now, hold on!"

Aragorn lept onto the rocky hillside, climbing with the strength of five men. Chayton was forced not to detest his sudden actions, for behind them did tread the most foul looking creatures Chayton had ever seen.

"Oh, my God!" Chayton cried out.

She grasped Aragorn about the waist, her eyes not leaving the horror behind them. Wretched creatures, short, with hunched backs and rotting flesh cackled and cried out as they began to throw objects at Aragorn and Chayton. Chayton wiggled on Aragorn's shoulder, almost causing him to fall backward.

He turned his head slightly to warn Chayton as he climbed. "If you value your life, for the sake of Valor you will hold still!"

Chayton froze, physically and emotionally, as the creatures began to climb up after them. Their yellow teeth, caked with filth, smiled crookedly, while their dead eyes sought to murder. Chayton closed her eyes, hoping that this was all a nightmare. Then, Aragorn let out a painful grunt. Chayton reopened her eyes to meet one of the creatures head on. He had sliced the side of Aragorn's ankle, nearly cutting Chayton's face in the process. Chayton instinctly swiped at the creature, causing it to fall from the hillside to its death below.

His muscles began to give out, as Aragorn reached for the top ledge of the hillside. Then, a hand grasped his, and began to pull both he and Chayton to safety. Chayton rolled onto the solid ground, and looked up to see Aragorn and another man fighting off the intruding force. The creatures began to crawl over the ledge, and Aragorn and the man could not hold them off alone.

Aragorn looked up. "Lady Chayton, stay back!"

Chayton saw the fury in Aragorn's eyes, but couldn't just sit there and do nothing. Chayton's eyebrows frowned as she climbed to her feet. She looked around frantically for something, anything to use as a weapon. She settled on the only things around her--rocks. She picked up one of the heaviest rocks she could carry and lunged it at one creature. It squealed and fell off the ledge.

Aragorn and the other man quickly finished off the remaining creatures, whose cries echoed throughout the forest. Chayton put her wrist to her chest, trying to sheild the pain she had caused it throwing the rock. She caught her breath, and pulled her loose raven hair back again before facing Aragorn and the man.

Aragorn placed his bloodied sword in its sheath, as did the other man. Aragorn clasped arms with him, and exchanged a few words. Then, Aragorn looked back at Chayton.

"Lady Chayton, this is Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor," Aragorn said. "Boromir, this is Lady Chayton, whom I rescued in the western part of the forest. She is to travel with us for now."

Chayton peered through the loose auburn hair strands, into the man's gaze. His physique was strong, like Aragorn's, but his face revealed a younger man. He smiled casually and extended his hand to Chayton. "Well, then. Welcome, my Lady."

She shook Boromir's hand, his firm grip practically crushing her small hand. Boromir smiled again at Chayton, who smiled stealthily back. Then, she stood back, awaiting Aragorn.

"Where are the others?" Aragorn asked Boromir.

"I was also sent after you, my friend," Boromir chuckled lightly. "We, Legolas and I, convinced Gimli to stay put with the wee ones and protect them until we returned."

Aragorn raised an eyebrow. "And, how, did you convince him exactly?"

Boromir shrugged and smiled. "We tied him to a tree stump and told the hobbits to stay perfectly quiet and watch him."

Aragorn smiled, shaking his head.

"Legolas went out scouting, and should be back later. We should get back then before any of the others come out to look for us as well," Aragorn said.

"And before any more orcs decide to show up," Boromir added.

Aragorn nodded to that comment, and walked over to Chayton.

Chayton looked up at him. "Orcs? Is that what those loathsome creatures are called?"

Aragorn nodded, looking into her dark brown eyes. "Just one of the many enemy races here in Middle Earth. You've done well, though. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just tired, that's all," Chayton answered.

"Maybe everything will make more sense to you after you've eaten and slept," Boromir suggested.

Chayton looked over at Boromir, and then back at Aragorn.

"Come, we've delayed here long enough," Aragorn said, and they walked to the camp.