The Crosses Enigma

Aragorn blinked in surprise.

He did not startle easily, yet the Elf's tendency to appear silently could be unnervingly accurate. He heard no sign of the Sindarin prince come near.

After the initial shock of being caught off guard faded, he note with concern the expression his friend wear. His brows were drawn down in a frown, and his lips pressed together. A true sign of something amiss.

"I have been looking for you, as has Gimli" Aragorn figured he should be the first to break the silence, as in this mood Legolas would not.
"I begun to become worried 'gwador'. What troubles you?"

To his relief Legolas expression softened from his scowl and he almost smiled. Leave it to Aragorn to know him so well. He gripped the Kings shoulder and they both began to walk to the main building.
"Come, we should find Gimli before he has my head for not greeting you whence you arrived."

Aragorn gave him a warning look. He was attempting to skip round the issue.

�Do not make me pull rank on you Lord of Ithilien, I am your King and I will know what troubles you." he stated with his best 'High King of the Reunited Kingdoms' expression. But it was short lived as a smile tugged on his lips, �Don�t make me beat you up"

Legolas chuckled and shook his head "I should like to see you try human". This time it was Aragorn's turn to laugh.
"I will enlist Gimli and the Hobbits if I must. Come, speak to me." He became serious, worried for Legolas strange behavior. The blond Elf was still skirting the issue at hand.

The blonde elf met his eye and nodded solemnly, "Very well, but let us first find Gimli. It will soon be time to depart. Then I shall have time to speak to you of what is on my mind."

Aragorn accepted this and they head to the stable courtyard where they knew the rest of their company would be ready to depart.

Their mission of sorts was to accompany Gandalf in finding some type of useful jewels. He had called them crosses of a sort, as they consisted of two vertical lines in a crossed shape. He had claimed that they had been created in order to keep a regiment of the Rings powers within Middle-earth once the Ring bearers themselves had departed these lands.

Aragorn was quick to offer his aid, partially because he knew it must be of importance if Gandalf has specifically asked him. He also know his skills were yet valuable to the cause.
Part because it was a chance to play 'ranger' again.

He also knew that it was another chance to enjoy the presence of Gandalf before he left; he was quite looking forward to it.

And thus two weeks after Legolas arrival, they all entered the safety of Rivendell for one last 'Adventure'.




The two made their way across the yard and came into view of the others, Aragorn looking up and taking in the view of the horses and ponies laden with provisions and everyone in ready.
He took a deep breath of air, and then stopped.

Beside him Legolas had gone rigid, staring straight ahead.
His friends gaze led to Gandalf and beside the wizard someone he had never seen before.



He knew not what to say, as the scene could not easily be described.
Beside the tall Istar, his long flowing white beard and long grey cape, was a girl.
Small in stature compared to the towering Wizard. Petite and clad in colorful garments, her head covered in an article he recognized. A type of shawl.



A gypsy.


Gypsy's were a common sight long ago in the dawning of his Ranger service. Yet as the years had passed, they became more scarce and a rarity to come upon a full caravan. The Gypsy's were known to have a turbulent time with acceptance, which always saddened him. They were a kind people and had a friendship with all Rangers.

Once it had been said that they roamed in vast numbers, large caravans gathering in the summer and winter seasons for festivals that lead to colorful parades and festivities. Yet with the fall of the Dunedain and the rise of evil the Gypsy's fled for other lands. A colorful and misunderstood people.

Last he knew there were but a handful left, if even that.
But what she was doing there he knew not. She stare back at them and it took him but another moment to realize it was Legolas who held her attention.

She stare at the Tall Blonde Elf with startled blue eyes.

//Valar, her eyes are blue. I have never seen one of her kind with such a color them// Aragorn could not help thinking. From what he remembered Gypsy's were mostly people of native origin to Angmar, Harad and beyond those lands. Some of the Dunedain blood had also seemed to be found here and there, and he even heard tale of strong Wosie influence in some.
A mixture of lineage from almost all the human nations of Middle-earth, from a happier and nobler time. Perhaps she had a strong amount of Dunedain blood in her veins.

//that would most definitely make for an interesting lineage, and story//
As a former Ranger Aragorn knew of them well enough to say, she must have been one of the more eclectic bands.


He and his Ranger Company had often crossed paths with them in the very early days. He reckoned that last time he had come across a Gypsy's Caravan, he had been no older than 30. And this was long ago.



"Ahh" Said Gandalf, noting their arrival.
"Aragorn I should like you to meet someone." He smiled, and sent a strange look toward Legolas whom still seemed to be staring in surprise at the girl.

"This is Tempest" He put a hand behind the girls shoulder, affectionately smiling down at her. "She shall be joining us on this mission of sorts. She is my Apprentice..." He nod and smiled as if this was some common news.


If all in company jaws fell any lower, Aragorn was sure that they would be certain to touch the ground.
They had naught left the yards of Imladris, and things were already getting interesting.






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Soon they were on the well worn path, coming across tree and hill.

Aragorn pulled Roheryn up beside Gandalf and Tempest, who were riding upon Shadowfax.
The girl seemed a bit pale and he was sure this had not gone unnoticed by Gandalf.
The wizard looked at the area below, a line that was the Misty Mountains to their right in the distance.

They would have to make camp soon he knew, and being so close to the mountains, even after the end of the WR was quite dangerous.
Especially on their path nearing closer to Angmar.

Aragorn had learned a little about the girl on there way.

She indeed had been a gypsy, but of her caravan and family she would say naught.
Aragorn did not push this issue; he knew all too well how difficult Gypsy's roads could be.
And that not many were left, the chance they had perished was very strong.

She was mostly soft spoken, shy he figured. Being around many males of many species and her being the only female besides Pippin's pony could not be an easy task.
Yet, quietly she hold her own.

The Hobbits though relished the thought of someone who would listen to there stories. Merry and Pippin retelling there tales, and Tempest listening silently. It was almost as if she were awed by the accounts of the WR and such.
Aragorn smiled, he never knew Hobbits were such masters at embellishments.
It was quite the scene, Merry and Pippin reacting parts of the tales. They almost seemed to be in a small battle for her attention, and she gave it freely.



During day rides, Gandalf seemed to tutor her in his art. It was shocking at first to think Gandalf would take an Apprentice, and a mortal one. Somehow Aragorn thought that only Maiar could be wizards, but then again...he had seen stranger things in his life.



Soon they would come to a halt, being on the road for many days already.
They were in search of those crosses, and unfortunately not even Gandalf was sure exactly of their locations.

But to Aragorn's surprise, Gandalf revealed they were not in search of those jewels yet. Instead they were in search of someone. He would say naught else, only that they would help make getting them back much easier.
The King of Gondor knew better than to push it any further than this, he would get no more information until the Istar was ready to give it.



It would be up to luck and a bit of problem solving to find all three 'crosses'. They were quite an enigma, and Aragorn suddenly knew why they were named such.



"Let us stop and make camp for the night" he commented to Gandalf, and the wizard nodded in approval.
Tempest smiled weakly in thanks, he returned the smile.
He was becoming very fond of the young wizards apprentice...


The surprise still hung over them yet, that Gandalf would tutor one when he was now so close to leaving Arda. Unless his true intentions were to stay. It made him both unsure and relieved to think it possible, that Mithrandir would remain just a bit longer.



Aragorn shot a glance over to Legolas. He had been skittish and wary ever since they left Rivendell...
Something was still amiss with the Elf, and he would not speak of it more than the explanation of finding the girl.


The Wizard would offer no more on the subject as well.
And somehow Aragorn felt as if Gandalf had a whole lot more in mind than what he was leading on to.
And somehow, this 'Apprentice' had something to do with it.
Perhaps this was why Legolas was acting most odd.

He shook his head, shaking long coppery-brown curls. Then looked back to the Girl sitting behind Gandalf, his mind wandering.
He shake his head once more ever so slightly, //This is definitely, without a doubt, going to be an interesting journey//.





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Translations:

Gwador= brother, especially ones that were not of blood. Like a sworn brother.



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