Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Back to The Past.	By : Solaris Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 1944 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Three.
Aragorn quickly followed her out of the house and followed her down to the pond where she collapsed by the water�s edge, whispering to herself. �I will not cry. I will not. I mustn�t. It�s not like a ranger to cry!�
He stood there watching her for a few minutes when he couldn�t let her be alone no longer and walked towards her. �Tari?�
Tari turned to look up towards him; he was haloed by the sun�s rays so she could not really see who it was. She whispered, �Dad?�
�No, Tari, its Aragorn,� whispered Aragorn, as he went to her side. �How did your father die?�
�He was murdered, Aragorn. Not one chance to fight for his life or even face the murderer in combat,� Tari stated.
�How?� asked Aragorn, as he knelt next to her.
�We were all poisoned, even my older adopted brother was. My father was poisoned worse than my mother and much less than I was but still enough to kill him and mom. It happened about eight years ago. My older brother decided to make dinner for the whole family because it was his turn to make or pick out which restaurant we were to go to that night� Tari said, sadly. �Each day at dinner time one of us would either make dinner or pick out which restaurant we would go to eat dinner at. He made us dinner that night and we all ate a lot of the meal. But the only thing strange was that he only ate part of his meal�like he was aware of something in the food itself.�
�He was the one who killed your father?� asked Aragorn, as he went to sit by her side.
�I am not able to prove it. They didn�t even listen to me about testing the blood that they had of mine and my parents which would prove everything. I can tell the police�the magistrates that he did it but it would probably not be believed because everyone wouldn�t believe that a thirteen year old boy would do something like that. I, on the other hand know he could.� said Tari.
�What happened?� inquired Aragorn, looking at her.
�It happened right after he got into some trouble with the magistrates and when he got home, dad and mom grounded him but he swore they would be dead before the year was out. They didn�t take the threat seriously. Just assumed it was that he was just angry and it would soon be gone.� said Tari, looking towards the pond.
�But it wasn�t right?� asked Aragorn.
�No, that night, he put a lot of poison into our food. But we never knew as we ate the meal. He acted fine but just looked disinterested in eating but he did eat some of his meal. Mom, dad and I ate about three or four plates full never knowing we were getting poisoned. I spent almost three months with the healers before I was able to even get out of bed and I was not even allowed to see my parents� grave till many weeks after that,� stated Tari, looking at him, her eyes wet with tears that threatened to fall.
�They didn�t tell you of your folks� death?� posed Aragorn, looking at her.
�Not till after I woke up fully three months later, I was really sick. My dad died three weeks after we got into the hospital. My mom died nine days after my dad. My brother since he was not as sick as we were or in a critical state as I was in, was sent to stay with some friends of his.� Tari said, as she looked at him before she turned to look at the pond. �The detective�the head magistrate asked me some questions about what we all did that night. I told him what we did and then asked him to get my dad. I wanted to see him. He went out of the room and it took another ten minutes before my dad�s best friend came into the room along with the magistrate. My dad�s best friend showed me only one thing and it was this.�
Tari turned back to Aragorn as her hands went around her neck and removed the necklace. She held up the very same necklace that Arwen had given to him when he left her on the bridge in Rivendell to go with Frodo and the others to Mordor. She spoke once again, �I knew right then and there that my father Arden was dead. He never removed it. He told me that this was given to the sons of Gondor from their father Aragorn and it remained in the family to this date.�
Aragorn reached for his and revealed it to Tari, the very same necklace. �You are truly my descendant.�
�And the last one till I marry and bear a child, Aragorn,� spoke Tari, as she put the necklace back on. �My older brother isn�t even of our blood and he�s the one who murdered my parents! He even admitted it to me that he killed our�I mean my parents.�
Aragorn never looked angrier than he did right then and there. His descendants were murdered by their own adopted son. His fist clinched tightly and then he spoke, his voice showing his anger. �Did you tell anyone what he said?�
�Yes, but they didn�t believed me or won�t cause there is no proof that it was him, he was also poisoned so they doubt it was even him who did it. I was only an eleven year old girl who was openly grieving the loss of both her parents. I stopped talking about my parents and left school to live alone here with my memories and my animals,� said Tari, as a single tear dripped from her eye. �Away from people, living my life like a Ranger. Always lived alone, even my �brother� doesn�t even come and visit me unless he wants more money. All I have left is my tears that I refuse to let go.�
Aragorn�s hand reached up and wiped the tear that fell away as he whispered, �It�s all right. Cry, cry till you can�t anymore, Tari.�
Tari collapsed into Aragorn�s arms and cried as he held her close to his chest, stroking her hair as he heard the quiet footsteps of Legolas coming closer to him and Tari. Legolas placed his hand on Aragorn�s shoulder and spoke in elven.
Aragorn replied, looking up at his elven friend, �She�s my true descendant, Legolas. She has the very same necklace that I wear right now around her neck.�
�Aragorn, night is coming and we best get inside. Perhaps, we can find some food to eat,� spoke Legolas, looking at him.
�Yes. Tari, night�s falling and we best find something to eat,� whispered Aragorn, as he helped her to stand up.
�I best show you the rest of the house and then start dinner. I don�t have much food to share but I don�t really eat much anyways,� said Tari, as she finished wiping her eyes dry and headed towards the house.
They went through the same doors that she went out earlier. She explained the room as the library or as she usually calls it the living room. Up the stairs she went and then up another stair to another level where she opened two doors.
�These are the guest bedrooms. Actually, this one is my old bedroom but I don�t need it anymore, so I keep it as a guest bedroom when the need arise for it�s use which is so rare I rarely venture up to the rooms, but during the summer months to let the heat escape from the house. We have communal bathrooms at this end of the house. Shower/bath and wash basins and toilets.� spoke Tari, as she showed them the bathroom.
Legolas was the most curious about the toilet as he looked at it. �Don�t you go into the woods to pass body wastes?�
�I could but in mid winter, I doubt you want to bear your butt to the bitter winds of the snow,� chuckled Tari, as she led them out of the bathroom and back down the stairs. She could hear Aragorn asking Legolas to come on.
�Tari, where do you sleep at?� asked Legolas, as he quickly went to her side.
�Follow me,� spoke Tari, as she headed towards the north side of the building to pass though a doorway and into a big chamber where a bed and a trunk laid open. �This room was once belonged to my parents. I didn�t want to sleep in my own bed anymore and so I chose to sleep here where I could smell my folks when I go to sleep at night.�
Aragorn noticed that Tari was picking up a long grayish brown cloak from the trunk and taking it to another room. It looked very familiar to him. �Tari, is that your father�s cloak?�
�In a way, it is. It is actually your cloak, Aragorn; it has been handed down from each son to their son. It has managed to stay in one piece all these years. My mom met my dad when he was wearing this cloak at the tournament. They fell in love there and married soon after,� said Tari, as she held the cloak close to her before she put it on a hanger and put it away. �I�ll be wearing it in two years from now for the tournament . . . if I am able to learn how to wield a sword by that time.�
Aragorn looked at the cloak and spoke, �I�ll teach you how to wield a sword, Tari. But I will ask for a reward?�
�I think I know what it is. The cloak?� asked Tari, as she removed it from the closet and held it out to him. Aragorn smiled as he took hold of the cloak and wrapped it around him.
Legolas was looking at Aragorn, who looked fabulous in the cloak as he glanced over to look at Tari and judging by how she was looking at him, he must look like her father truly by now.
Aragorn removed it and held it to her. �All I wanted was to wear it one time more. I think when I return home and if we do, I�m going to get a new one probably made by Rivendell elves. They make the best cloaks.�
�A movie company wanted to use the cloak for a movie but I refused it was too priceless to use and plus if it got torn there would be no way to repair it. I would wear it and very cautious with where I walk when I have it on my shoulders.� spoke Tari. �There was one time when my dad wore it and he swore he could smell�no offense Aragorn but he could smell you in the cloak itself. It happens with each male heir. Even I got the smell when I first wore it.�
�Strange. So can we help make the meal?� asked Legolas, turning to look at her.
�It�s not going to be a big meal, Legolas. I don�t have enough meat to make three dinners. I do have deer sticks and some deer jerky it will tide us over till I�m able to go hunting in the morning for a healthy buck.� Tari stated, as they headed towards the kitchen.
Once there, Legolas and Aragorn heard a strange cry but it was muffled like someone was tied up. Tari didn�t even bat an eye as she hurriedly went into another room and brought out a small brown glove like item. She plunged her hand into the glove and opened the door where they heard the sound even louder than before.
�I hear you, Gandalf! Don�t throw a fit! I�m coming!� yelled Tari, as she went through the door.
�Gandalf is here?!� whispered Aragorn, as they both quickly rushed behind Tari to see no one but a very big, brown eagle sitting on a perch, screeching like mad.
Tari went towards the eagle and he hopped onto her outstretched hand. �This is Gandalf, my golden eagle. He�s my messenger eagle.�
�Why do you use a messenger eagle? Don�t you have pages here?� asked Aragorn, looking at the eagle; who flapped his wings several times before settling down.
�No, we don�t have those here. Besides, if I did�I wouldn�t be living alone wouldn�t I?� stated Tari, turning to look at them. �He needs at least a few minutes outside to fly in the fresh air before the sun fully sets for her sleep, while I tend to his area.�
�I�ll take him out,� spoke Aragorn, as he walked over to her holding his arm up.
�All right, go on, Gandalf. It�s okay,� said Tari, as Gandalf flew over to Aragorn�s outstretched arm. Aragorn walked outside and set Gandalf free to fly. Tari started to fill a bucket with some water as she hurried back to his perch and started to scrub it clean.
�Can I help with anything, Tari?� asked Legolas, watching her work.
�Are you sure you want to help, Legolas?" Tari asked, pausing to look at him.
"Yes, I would like to help." Legolas said, as he looked at the perch that Gandalf was on.
"All right, you can grab that broom and start sweeping the floor under the perch. His droppings must be picked up and removed before he is to return to his perch. Hopefully, Gandalf will not be a brat and stay in the sky today. It usually takes me about half an hour just to get him in for the night,� said Tari, as she finished drying the perch off with a towel.
Legolas swept up around the perch as he did so he asked questions about the bathroom and the functions of the toilet. Tari chuckled as she told him about the functions of the toilet. She headed outside quickly when she heard Aragorn whistle loudly. He held his arm up as Gandalf landed on his arm and acted like he was done with what he needed to do.
�He never�,� spoke a stunned Tari, as she watched Aragorn walk past her as he put Gandalf onto his perch and tied the ties around the perch itself. �Gandalf would never come down from the sky that easily.�
�Why didn�t he?� asked Aragorn, turning away from Gandalf to look at Tari.
�He just made the finish cleaning of his perch difficult. He wouldn�t come to my whistle or to the tie for over half an hour before he would come. I never keep him locked up all day, I usually do let him fly freely each day.� said Tari.
�I think you just need to be a bit sterner in your whistle when you call for him, Tari.� spoke Aragorn, as they entered the house once again.
�Actually, Aragorn, I do believe he thinks you are his original owner Arden. This was his eagle. I told him when I found out that daddy was dead and buried that I will tend to him till the day he passes on to join my father wherever his soul is resting now. He probably thinks that you are Arden, which was my first thought when I saw you,� said Tari.
�Is that why you shot at my feet instead of my heart?� asked Aragorn.
Tari looked uncomfortable as she shifted from foot to foot. �No, Arden could reach out his hand and grab the arrow before it struck the ground or him. He had a very good eye with catching arrows. It was one of my few arrow tricks we worked on together. Scared mother a few times and the crowd at the tourney when I would do that trick. Never hit him at all,� said Tari, as she brought out the deer sticks and the jerky and three silver goblets and then she walked back and brought out another container and poured wine into each goblet.
Aragorn took two of the deer sticks and the goblet and took a sip to find it was a nice tasting wine as Legolas took a few of the deer jerky. Tari quietly munched on her sticks but then just stuck it in her mouth; took her goblet and went to where her arrows were located at and started to examine them as she did she took chunks of the stick in her mouth and ate it. Legolas was by her side and assisting her with the arrows as Aragorn noticed that she had a small collection of weapons, there were daggers, swords and bows and quivers along with the arrows of all different sizes. And something that sparked his interest - a horn rimmed with gold. It looked old to him as he picked it up.
Aragorn was deep in thought as he looked at the horn. He wondered if it was the horn of Gondor, the one he had redone after the one that Boromir had when he died. He reached for the horn and held it. It was the same weight as the horn he had by his side. He removed his and held both together only to find that it was indeed the same horn. He put it back and looked at the smaller weapons which he was sure was for Hobbits as they were the right size for a Hobbit�s hand. But he knew they must be for children�s hands. The Hobbits were long dead and not even believed to be real in this era. He shook his head sadly knowing that the world he was in didn�t believe in elves, dwarves or Hobbits anymore.
�Those swords were mine and my�brother, Aragorn. We were just starting to learn�well I was�my brother on the other hand�didn�t care about them and would throw them blade first into the ground, tree or whatever he could. Dad finally told him if he didn�t want to learn, he can leave and he did.� said Tari, as she looked at the swords and then to Aragorn.
�You said earlier you were training to wield a sword, but why would you need to learn if your father taught you all ready?� asked Legolas, as he got up from his seat and looked at the swords in the display case.
�Because later that night; we all were rushed to the hospital . . . to the healers, Legolas. We were all deathly ill or dying,� Tari said sadly, as she turned to look at him. She looked at him fully and realized that she had two grown men in her own home since her father was alive. �I�ll be getting up early in the morning. If you want to come hunt with me, that�s fine or stay here and check out the house some.�
�I will go with you,� spoke Aragorn.
�As I will,� Legolas said, as he looked at her.
�Then, we best all get some sleep or go into a waking sleep. I�ll see you in the morning. Night,� smiled Tari, as she walked towards the corridor of her room and closed the door after her.
Aragorn glanced back towards Legolas who had a smile on his face. He grabbed Legolas�s tunic and whispered in a low growl, �Don�t think about getting romantic with her. She�s my descendant, Legolas.�
�I wouldn�t till she makes it clear herself. I will help her with her dagger lessons,� the elf just smiled as he went back to the table and continued to work on her arrows, only to find that the arrows were made by elven or a man�s hands.
�And I�ll teach her how to wield a sword. I�ll see you in the morning, Legolas. You better head on up to the bed she given you so if she gets up in the night, she doesn�t see you still here cleaning her arrows,� said Aragorn, as he walked up the stairs and took the room to the right.
Legolas finished putting the arrows in her quiver and headed up the stairs with a light foot when he decided to check on her first. He crept back down the stairs towards her door, gently pushed the door open and with his ears searched for the steady sound of sleep. Once, he found it he closed the door and headed up the stairs only to find Aragorn standing there looking sternly.
�What did you do, Legolas?� he asked, the tone in his voice revealed that he would not take no refusals in the answer.
�Just made sure she was all right, Aragorn. You would have snuck out of your room to make sure she was all right, now that you know she�s your descendant,� spoke Legolas, looking at him giving him a serene look.
�Come on, let�s get some sleep,� Aragorn turned and entered his room again. He could hear the other door opening and closing, he smiled knowing that Legolas was probably examining his room as he did before he wondered about him.
TBC . . .
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Back to The Past.

Chapter Three.