The Crosses Enigma

Meriadoc Brandybuck had a question.

It burned in his mind until he could think of nothing else. And because it remained unanswered, it seemed to bring many friends in the form of other questions.

He drum his fingers across his elbow, arms crossed in front of him.

The morning had been a quiet one, and though it was a peaceful silence, it had also been unnerving. This Hobbit had learned over the past year that absolute silence could serve as trouble.

He sighed and shifted his seat, flipping blonde curls away from his eyes.
It was too quiet.

Most were present in the camp: Gandalf, Pippin, Strider, Gimli, and Greer.
And none of them had spoken a word since over an hour ago.

It was driving him crazy.

He had so many questions.

//Where were they going? What was for time lunch yet? Who had that which they were looking for? When was lunch? Why hadn't Gandalf told them more about the mission? Was anyone else aware it was time for Lunch??//

Merry turned his head resting his ear and cheek in his upturned palm, one eye shut, the other looking towards Pippin.

The Brandybuck wondered how the Took could seem so entertained when he himself was bored and frustrated.

"How can you be so calm?" he asked annoyed by the seemingly constant smile, and the joyful humming of his friend. Pippin simply shrugged in response and continued to hum his tune, tapping a stick against the log he sat upon. It created a rhythm to go with his song.

After another annoying moment Merry couldn't take it anymore. "Stop! just...stop" he reach over and yank the stick from Pippin, pinning him with his 'angry elf gaze' imitation.
Pip shrugged and rest his chin his hands.

Finally, there was silence that pleased Merry. Between his hands he slightly bent the thick twig, and it was strong enough that it gave way and did not snap under the tension.
At least if he had to deal with his minds consistent questions, he could do it in silence.

"Merry?" Pippin muttered cautiously, eyeing the older Halfling.

His arms crossed back over his chest and eyes now closed, Merry was not in the mood to be bothered. He opened his eyes again, slowly. "What is it Pip?"

"I'm Hungry"







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The morning had risen cloudy and overcast.
Again.

In the distance those clouds loomed, and though Aragorn could tell they were pregnant with rain, he could not tell if they intended to turn towards there direction.
He needed better eyes, better senses for that.
He needed Legolas.

Yet said Elf was nowhere to be seen. All had been in camp during the morning, none saying very much. Legolas least of all.

But a hour ago Gandalf had sent Tempest in search of a particular herb she would need to complete the lesson of this day. She was learning quickly and could almost identify every herb, root and leaf in this area that was good for anything.

She could name and categorize each and Aragorn would smile as she would mummer their names as they passed them along the way.

Gandalf had simply stated that it was time for her to move on to bigger and more complicated things. It was time for her to learn to use those herbs for healing and other skills.

Aragorn sighed at the clouds again. He liked them not.






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Patience had been surprisingly strong among the camp these days, and he was shocked by it.

Things were stressed between many, but each had managed to do a decent job of keeping there impatient thoughts to themselves.

The Hobbits specifically, though he could tell Merriadoc's was beginning to spread thin.


Gandalf chuckled at the sight of the Brandybuck reprimanding the Took, waving a stick to punctuate each angry phrase.
He would have to speak of his intentions soon, or the stout Hobbit might drag it out of him.

He looked up at rustle in the brush, but it turned out only to be the wind. He knew Tempest was in safe hands, as Legolas had accompanied her.

Again he grinned; the Elf was becoming awfully protective of her.
It made sense to him, as Legolas was such a type to wish to aid others at all times. And Tempest would trust him; after all he did save her life.

His grey eyes turned towards the resident Dwarf. He was sharpening his Halbard and smoking on his pipe. Behind him, leaning against a tree was Pendleton, doing the same with her Daggers.
Those two had become comfortable in each others presence. Gandalf thought it was because they could stand each others personalities quietly easily enough.

Gimli could deal with her short fiery temper and sarcastic humor, he even enjoyed it. And was not phased by that temper or her outbursts, he could thank having Legolas as his closest friend for that.

As for Greer, the Wizard shook his head. Quite an Enigma herself that one and his smile widen.

He had known her as of her younger days as a Thief in Brikidan.

The incident of the stealing of his staff came to mind. She had been young and quick, but he had been quicker. He still remembered her huge cobalt eyes staring up at him, expecting the worst for stealing from a Wizard. Yet he found it amusing and let her go.
She never attempted to steal from him again.

Now she was all grown up, a woman. A fiery young woman at that.
//Valar help the man she chose as husband, he shall have to be exceptional.//

She was one of the best thieves ever, he was sure of it. And in this she would aid them, as was there deal. She had been eager for the challenge and accepted readily. The pay was decent and he guessed where she had been, there was not much traffic where she could pick and choose her catches.

But why she had been away from Brikidan was the question. The Thieves of the Eagle Guild did not strive to be farther away from the Trollshaw's or the lands just above it, not often anyway.

She was very far away from Brikidan, damn near Angmar.
He made a mental note to find out why she had left her Guild.


With that settled in his mind he looked skyward. Clouds were forming in the distance, though the area directly above was yet clear of the ominous looking grey forms.

Standing Gandalf made his way to Aragorn's side, watching in the direction he was.
"Looks like Rain" he murmured, glancing sideways at the 'Ranger'.
He received a grunt of approval as the King continue to stare ahead. Gandalf only shook his head. At least Aragorn was playing the part of 'dark and mysterious Ranger' to the fullest.

"I need Legolas' opinion to tell if it will come in this direction. I sense it will, but I cannot be sure. Do you know where he is?" Aragorn kept his eyes on the clouds, as if giving it once last chance in his attempt to discern the storms direction.

"I sent him to escort Tempest in searching of herbs for her lesson" Gandalf stated, again eyeing the King playing Ranger. The man's lips twitched and Gandalf recognized that as the holding back of a smirk.


His bushy eyebrow raised in inquiry as Aragorn continued his battle against his mirth.
"What is so very humorous, Strider..."

Finally Aragorn could hold it no longer; the smile broke free like water from a bloated damn. But the man only shook his head as if in an attempt to pass it off.
"Oh nothing, Perhaps I should go see what takes those two so long" he tweaked his eyebrows in a manner that was far too mischievous for Gandalf's liking.

Watching him move into the brush, Gandalf could not help but wonder if he had missed something.







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"I cannot..." her voice came in a short quick breath.

"You can, and you will" his was like music echoed upon clam water, its edges hinted of sternness in his command.

"It is too, difficult" she whispered breathless.

"Again" was all the warning she got as Legolas came at her again. Counting in his mind and timing his steps properly, he swung one knife in a slow and deadly dance.
And she blocked, one after another.

Turning, ducking and swiping with a matching knife to use as her own.
In a moments notice he sped up, almost faster than the eyes of a mortal could see, and brought the tip of the cool metal to her neck.

He sighed. "You left yourself open again. If I had been an assailant, I could have killed you twice over" Legolas stern, no nonsense tone echoed in the opening of tress and brush.
He had been showing her for the last few days the use of a short knife and bow.

Legolas turned stern sky-blue eyes upon her again. He was one to let his actions speak for themselves, but was far from cruel or cold. Yet when he instructed in the fighting arts he became as serious as those captains whom taught him. He did not wish to push her so, only to stress the importance of what he taught her. Those skills would save her life, and after watching Pendleton take her out twice-he would make sure it should never happen again. At least not as easily.

She watch him with a ghost of a smile playing upon her full lips, and saw as his expression changed from cool and discerning, to confusion.
"What?" he asked, giving in to his curiosities.

"You said if you had been after my life you would have had it, twice even. Well I say to you Legolas of Mirkwood, I would have had yours as well. We would have both fallen in this battle" and with that, she turned her eyes downward. Legolas furrowed his brows frowning, not understanding. He turned his head slowly looking down and froze in an expression of shock.

In the slight space that remain between them Tempest had maneuvered the borrowed knife right under his rib-cage.
The tip remained inches from him, and in his effort to gain his point, he had not noticed a more dangerous 'point' aimed for his stomach, and vital organs.


It would have been a killing blow he realized, a smile pulling on his pink lips.
His eyes glint mischievously.
The hair that fell forward upon his pale brow slid back one more, like strands of golden silk as he turn his face and sky-blue eyes upon her.

"Impressive"

He had again been caught unawares, but this time it was not Strider's appearance that made him jump. But Tempest's shout.
It was not a yelp of surprise, but a brief stricken out-cry. It sent shivers down Legolas spine, and not the good sort.

The short knife in her hands had dropped the moment they had been startled and landed upon its sharp end, lodging itself in the soft earth. Its balance was perfect, as it had been made and maintained by Elvish hands, and so it landed impaling the ground.

Aragorn too had jumped by the tone of her yell, it sounded as if she had awaken from a disturbing dream, only to find a nightmare.

Had he startled her that much?
His head shake to-and-fro, and he step forward. "I am sorry" he breathed, automatically regretting catching the two off guard. He had not seen the knife she had placed between her and Legolas, never imaging that she could catch the Elf off his guard.
In there surprise they could have injured each other, Aragorn grimaced



Her hand was upon her heart and it seemed she had gone pale for a moment, her color coming back with much ferocity making her cheeks flush with an undertone of pink to there already almond-brown tone.

Horrified by her show of weakness, or perhaps something else deeper, Tempest bent down and grip up the knife by its white handle.
She handed it to Legolas silently and turned to Aragorn, "It is well, you simply surprised me. That is all" and with that she retrieved the pouch of herbs she had collected for her lesson and moved back towards the camp.

The expression upon her face made Aragorn know all was not well. What he had said struck a dark cord with her, and he could not help wonder what.

He watch her go and felt his heart wrench. Aragorn was very fond of the young girl, and did not wish to cause her undo grief.


Beside him Legolas re-sheath his knifes and retrieve his bow and quiver, strapping it upon his back in one movement. He stood beside Aragorn and watch the direction she had gone.

"What did I say?" Aragorn murmured, still at an utter loss for her reaction. Legolas could offer him no answers and simply put his hand upon his shoulders and shake his head, following her quickly. He was supposed to be seeing that she was safe moving about under the trees.

With a heavy sigh the King, playing the part of resident Ranger, followed after.







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Tempest walked in silence, even after Legolas had managed to catch up with her and pulled up to her right side. She did not acknowledge him, nor make it known if she wished to be alone. Slowing her steps made him think that perhaps she wished the company, yet her features were still stressed.


"Do you wish to speak of it?" Legolas asked, softly breaking the silence. Tempest continued walking with no sound.

The Prince ducked his chin and continued walking in quiet, it seemed she did not wish to discuss anything, so it was a surprise to him when she stopped dead in her tracks.

"I have this nightmare, of a memory." she begun, her voice silent enough for only keen ears to hear.
"It feels so long ago, it is difficult to remember-save in my dreams. He said that...and he snuck upon us as well" Her expression was dire as she stare ahead stonily.

Legolas wanted nothing more than to aid her in feeling better, but he did not know of what she spoke. He was confused, and he watch her unsure of what to say. His hand moved from gripping his bow, to cupping his right hand upon her shoulder.

"Who said what, who snuck upon who?" he asked squeezing his hand tight to show his support, willing her to explain in more detail so he could learn more, so he could help her.

Her head shook and the material of the shawl that framed her face moved.
"The one who killed them all. They didn't even hear him coming, and he said that. "Impressive"...and then, he killed them all" her face crumbled suppressing sobs and not knowing of aught else to do, Legolas hand moved from her shoulder to her chin. His head nod, though he was still at a loss of the whole story. He had heard enough to know, this is what had happened to her family.

His hand moved again, unsure as he wiped away a tear from her cheek with his thumb, then slid his hand behind her head pulling her into his embrace.
She went willingly, not caring whom saw or happened upon them. The faded memories were far to much to deal with alone.









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In the distance Aragorn approached and his ears picked upon the air the sounds of her emotion filled comment.


'The one who killed them all. They didn't even hear him coming, and he said that. "Impressive"...and then, he killed them all'



The Ranger stepped back into the brush, not wishing to be seen. The pieces fell quickly into the puzzle, making a more definite picture. His hand rest upon the hilt of Anduril and he closed his eye slightly, sighing.

He had been correct, her caravan and family had indeed been destroyed. This made many things more understandable about the mysterious young woman, and his heart ached.

He had most likely scared her half out of her wits, coming up on them like that. His jaw clenched and he sighed softly, turning away and leaving Legolas to fix what he had set wrong.






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It was a subdued and silent Aragorn that returned to camp. Now a far cry from the mischievous, and humored one who left intent upon proving a theory about the relationship of a certain Elf Prince and Gypsy.
The one who return was now dark in his mulling over his mistake.

Gandalf raised an eyebrow at him and frowned at the expression. He knew that look.
"Of Tempest and Legolas?" he asked, hiding most of his true question.

"They are coming, he was instructing her in the use of a long knife" Aragorn revealed, sitting with his hand still upon his sword.

"ahh" Gandalf nodded. "Yes, I know. Legolas inquired if I would mind much that he should teach my student in this art. Well of course I agreed, who better to teach her the use of a long knife and bow" Gandalf murmured in return, and Aragorn turned a surprised gaze upon him. He hadn't known about it, not that he felt he should have, it was just curious that Gandalf had said nothing.

Gandalf smiled upon the Ranger, half at his surprised expression. Mostly though because the comment had succeeded in taking his mind away from whatever it truly had been that was bringing him down.

"I shall wait for them to return then. All should be present, so I may explain to them our mission." he huffed slightly as he stood to go check on Shadowfax and the other horses.

Leaving Aragorn to his thoughts.







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Silently Legolas slipped between two trees that lined the camp. Tempest before him, pouch in hand. She moved away to the side of the camp where Gandalf's supplies were. Lowering herself, she lean in and began her task of separating the different leaves and herbs.

He instinctively remained between the two trees, looking upon the camp and taking it in.
All seemed well enough, if not for the odd tension in the air.

Tempest busied herself with her chore.
To his right, the Hobbits were curiously tugging upon a stick. One to each side, they struggle for it as if it were food. Legolas raised an eyebrow at this, but optioned not to ask...he was sure he did not wish to know.

To the left of the circle Gimli look up and regard him with a questioning look. He nod his head assuring which seemed to settle the Dwarfs curiosity, but Legolas already knew it was only temporarily.
And slightly behind Gimli farther to Legolas left, Pendleton sat with her arms crossed. Her eyes were locked on Aragorn with curiosity heavy in them.

And finally he turned to Aragorn.
The Ranger sat directly before him, far on the other side of the camp's circle.
Legolas drew in a deep breath and sighed, rolling his eyes and suppressing a groan.

This was the last thing he needed. Aragorn was suffering from a bout of 'Ranger Syndrome'.

It was as if every time one of there company fell ill, injured, or were distressed...the mortal blamed himself. Even if he were not directly involved, often when he was not even present.

He knew automatically that Aragorn blamed himself, and he wished that he could tell him exactly why he was not. But he had sworn to speak of it to no one. It was a promise he intended to keep.
Perhaps if he explained to Tempest what Aragorn was feeling, she would take it upon herself to explain.

The Elf prince grimaced, that was not a very good idea. For her to relive that was not well. He did not wish her to despair, it had been so hard on her already.
He decided he had to do something and opted to try and convince him it was simply not his fault and hope he would understand why he could not explain why, when Tempest appeared blocking his view of Aragorn.


Legolas stopped his forward motion before it even seemed to begin, and watch.

Watched, and hopped.








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Aragorn's mood was dark.

If there was one thing that could transform his feelings, it was the event of one of those under his care hurt because of him.

Of course Tempest was not exactly under his care, she was Gandalf�s charge. And he was not healing her in the sense of the word.
But she still was among this group, the youngest, and he saw her as his responsibility if nothing else.

He also did not mean to cause her harm, but many people who do not mean to do things...do them anyway.

His thoughts would have continued down that dark path of self-blaming if it hadn't been for the shadow blocking out the little sun of the overcast noon.

Grey-blue eyes shifted upwards to meet almond shaped sea-blue ones. The look on his face transformed from brooding, to surprise.
"May I sit here?" Tempest asked softly, unsure if it had been wise to interrupt the Rangers brooding.

She received her answer in the form of a soft nod, and instantly took a seat beside him, hands clasped in her lap.
There was another long stretched silence, as both were unsure if they should speak.

"I am so sorry.."
"It is not your..."

Both had begun to speak at the same time, and laughed at the realization of how silly it sounded. Then after another soft pause Aragorn spoke.

"I apologize little one, I meant not to cause you so much distress" Aragorn's brow's rose pleading with his sincerity. A face that was stern enough to command the legions of Gondor, was now full of worry.
He had not intended to startle her as such, and had not expected to harm her.

Tempest could somehow see all this in his eyes, understanding more than even he realized.


If only he had known the depth to which she could see. He had no way of knowing that, knowing she could sense all of his sincerity and true caring for those around him.
She saw beyond a Ranger, and in her heart she saw something more. Though she would keep the discovery a secret, she saw some kind of great nobility that she thought was only supposed to belong to great Lords, or Kings.

"It is not your fault, Strider" that name did not seem to fit him as much anymore, but she was intent to show him he was not the cause of her harm.

"You must believe me when I say you are not to blame. It is not your fault, and you startling us was not the cause of it. It was the word you said, it brings back unwanted memories. But you could not have known this, you did not have ill intentions. I knew this all along. But please, do not ask me to explain" her own eyes were pleading now with the thought of having to relive those terrible memories.

Tempest was truly relieved when Aragorn smiled at her and nodded.

"Very well then little one, if you are well-then we shall speak of it no more" patting her hands and receiving a smile that warmed his heart.

She stood and returned to her duties, now separating the herbs and leaves into there own separate designated bags. He watch her for a moment before his eyes turned forward, only to meet Legolas'.

The Elf was watching him with the same smile he had graced him with when Aragorn had returned from the brink of death back to Helms Deep.


Legolas had stood before him then, catching the Ranger off guard with a smile that spoke volumes of how relieved he was to simply see the man breathing.
Of all the adventures Legolas and he had endured when they were younger, of all the scares and near fatal accidents that had to have been one of the closest times he had come to death.

And he knew that Legolas had thought him dead for those horrible few hours, even if slightly he wished him to not be because his heart was unwilling to let the human go from his life.

Yet he had lived. And as Aragorn halted unsteadily, damp and ragged, looking up to find his greatest friend standing before holding Undomiel's pendant, he saw that smile Legolas had given him hundreds of times after hundreds of mishaps.

It was the grin that meant //welcome back//.

Aragorn smiled to him in return, his own responding //thank you//

The Elf turn turned his eyes away and look back at Tempest, and this time Aragorn did not feel compelled to note it. All humor in his joke of insisting Legolas had feelings for her, had drained away. She needed someone to look after her, and no one was better than Legolas, he knew this now.

This time he sat back, lazily letting his head turn to the Hobbits.
One eyebrow rose as he took in the strange scene indeed.

The two were quarreling over what seemed to be a simple twig. Merry looked to have the upper-hand as he held the piece of wood far away from the Took, one hand upon Pip's forehead-holding him back as Pippin swung his arms in a futile attempt to reach.
Aragorn shook his head, he did not wish to know.



Turning his face to his right he again caught Greer's eyes.

She blinked in surprise then with cheeks flushed she looked away. This too made his eyebrows rise, as it had not been the first incident when he caught her watching him.
He also felt her eyes upon him when they rode. He did not wish to seem vain, but he was beginning to think she might have a slight infatuation with him.
It was a curious thought that he did not know weather to be humored, or be very afraid.







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The camp that Gandalf returned to was as curious as anything he had ever seen.

Yes he had seen questionable scenes often enough in his long, long life in Middle-earth, but hardly anything this strange.


A Dwarf who was examining his weapon, a thief who was examining a King, said King disguised as a Ranger...who was also attempting to pretend not to notice the thief who was watching him-again, an Elf who was watching his apprentice (which made his eyebrow rise) and his apprentice who was closely examining a pile of leafs and herbs.

Then there were the Hobbits.

Gandalf groaned softly, and placed his hands upon his hips.
Pippin was currently sitting upon Merry. He was pinning the Brandybuck to the floor and tugging the stick from his grip.

"Ehh-Hem!"
Merry and Pippin stopped struggling instantly, Merry sitting up suddenly and throwing Pippin off his back. Both stood and straightened themselves out, the stick forgotten for the moment.

"Now that I have your attention. It is time that I properly brief you all on why we are here" He started, turning around making sure all were playing attention to him instead of each other or there weapons.
They were, so he continued.

"You are all here for one reason, as are we all. To find the Crosses." He moved to the Log beside Aragorn and sat, lighting his pipe and taking a moment to draw in a nice breath of it before he continued.
A triangle shaped puff of smoke went up, then was outdone by a larger one in the shape of a square.

"As the legend says, there were three crosses. One of Fire, one of Water and one of Air. They are infused with a small bit of power from the Rings of Elrond, Galadriel and myself" he said, looking around at each. He had there full attention now.

"Each had been sent into safe keeping, you see the rings chose there masters and not the other way around. Once bearers were found they were sent to them. One remained in Rivendell, one sent to Lothlorien and the other, to Mirkwood."

Legolas brows furrowed at the mention of his birth home. He had not known of this fact and now he wished to know more.

"Unfortunately the two which were sent to the woodland realms never made there destinations. Though I have a very good idea of where we shall find them. And the last, well that last too was lost a while ago" Gandalf said looking around again, his gaze briefly falling to Greer, then meeting Legolas.

"I do not pretend to know precisely where we shall discover them, and I will say this now. We may never find them all, or even one. But we must look, we must try."


His gaze turned to Tempest and he held her eyes momentarily, a look in them she could not understand.

Everyone nodded there agreement, they all would willingly do anything that Gandalf would ask.

"Very well. We shall eat a quick lunch now" he said, standing and stretching his legs giving the Hobbits a glance and winking at them.

"Then we will begin"

Greer stood to her full height, her long thin legs stretching a bit, then she turn to Gandalf.
"So those are what you wish me to help you...recover" she emphasized the last word, as that�s what he had used. In her mind she knew he would want her to steal them back if they were in the possession of someone who would not relinquish them.

Gandalf nodded and she nodded back, her hand going to the front of her tunic and clutching whatever was under. She let her hand drop and placed them upon her hips mimicking the Wizard.

"So, where to oh wise leader?" she asked, one thin eyebrow rising.

The Wizard stare ahead and take a few steps forward, leaning heavily upon his staff. In the distance the Misty mountains loomed, the southern end in which they camp before.

The question had captured everyone�s attention, even the Hobbits who had previously been only interested in getting the beginnings of a meal prepared.

He raise his staff and point forward to the looming monoliths of rock and snow.

"To get here we have moved over many a hill but now..." He looked at the Thief, lowering his staff again and leaning upon it. Then returned his gaze to one exact point he knew they could not see. Yet he knew what was there.

His eyes squinted seriously as he take in the formation before them.

"Now it is time, we have gone under the Mountain"