Sixteen - Hello, Old Friend

~Fifty Years Later~ 

“You’re going to ruin the blade if you hit the metal that hard, Hadrian,” I critiqued and he rolled his eyes at me. 

Hadrian and Nik had decided to craft swords together, forgetting I knew more about the art than they did. 

After a few months of dragging my feet and mourning, I finally went into Alek’s room and got the bag of mother and father’s things. 

Nik cried when he saw the sword, making me cry, then the rest of our siblings and uncles, and Cleos. 

“I will not,” he muttered and went back to swinging. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I said as I sat down. 

“So, Nik, I have a question,” I smiled and he looked at me then back at the sword. “If it is about leaving again, you know better than to ask, Verena,” he warned. 

“Nikolas, please, I have been here for fifty years. I just want to go past the borders, maybe even to Ingas, for a change?” I begged. “Maybe soon, but not yet,” He sighed and I nodded sadly. “It was worth a try,” I leaned back. 

“Oh you’ve got to be joking,” Nik and I turned to Hadrian, who busted the hot metal. I tried to keep myself from laughing. “Don’t you dare say it, Ver,” he warned and I stood up. 

“I told you so,” I laughed and ran. “Verena!” he started after me. Nikolas shook his head at us. 

~~~

The next day, I took gate duty from Thallan and watched the borders to hide from Hadrian. He can really hold a grudge sometimes. “Open the gate!” someone shouted on the other side. I looked down to see a familiar Elf below with a man’s arm over his shoulder. 

I blew the horn and shouted at another guard to take my place as I ran down to them and got the man’s other arm around my shoulder to help him. “What happened?” I asked. “Orcs. He was stabbed by a morgul blade,” Legolas said quickly. “We’ll get him to Aurelia,” I answered. 

“Ver! Legolas?!” Zion shouted, running to us. “Get Aurelia from the library. Tell her she’s needed in the healing ward,” He took off running. 

We laid the Man down in one of the empty beds and Aurelia came in minutes after. “Wait outside. Zion, get me the Athelas,” she ordered and we walked out in the hall while Zion took off for the gardens.

“Were you hurt?” I asked, looking at his dirty face. I’m not sure what happened, but he was covered in dirt. “No, I’m fine,” He shook his head.

“Who is he?” I asked as we walked down the hall. “He is the Strider I was looking for, his true name is Aragorn,” He sighed.

“Legolas,” Martarys called down the hall. “What were you attacked by?” he asked. “Orcs. maybe a league from here. I don’t know how many are left,” Le told him. “We will see to it,” Martarys told him and continued down the hall. 

“Aurelia could be a while if you would like for me to walk you to guest chambers so you can rest,” I suggested and he nodded. 

~~~

“How is he?” I asked Lia when I walked in. “Fine, the poison didn’t get far before I cleaned it out. He won’t even have a scar,” She answered as I sat next to her. 

“You’re good at what you do,” I smiled. “Well, I have been healing for over a thousand years,” She said and I laughed quietly.

“Who is he?” she asked. “A ranger from the North they call Strider,” I explained and she nodded. 

“I can stay with him if you want to go,” I told her and she nodded. “I will come back and check on him later to make sure I got all of the poison. We had just enough Athelas,” she told me. “I’ll grow more tomorrow,” I told her and she nodded and walked out.

~~~

“Will he be alright?” Le asked in Elvish and sat next to me. “Aurelia cleared out the poison with athelas. He is resting for now,” I explained and put my book down. 

“Aragorn knew Alek. After we found out he died, he told me he stayed in Imladris as a child and Alek showed him how to use a sword,” He explained. 

“Alek used to speak of a dunedain child he trained but never said his name,” I said and looked back at the sleeping Man. 

“How have you been?” he asked in the common tongue. “It was difficult when I returned. I haven’t left since I got back and am about to go mad,” I whispered. “Punishment for Erebor?” he teased and I rolled my eyes. “Yes,” I muttered and he chuckled softly. 

“What about you?” I asked. “It was almost a year until I found ‘Strider’ and I’ve been out there till now,” he sighed. “You’ve been in the Wild for fifty years?” I asked in surprise. “I pledged him my bow,” He nodded.

“How did Nikolas take it when you came back?” He asked. “He was angry and relieved, but he didn’t have time to express it. Only hours into the night I came back, Saruman came to us with… Alek,” I hesitated. 

“Once I had heard about his death, I wanted to come here. I am truly sorry, Ver,” He said sympathetically and reached for my hand. 

“What’s done is done. No matter how badly I want him back,”

~~~

“How are you feeling, my friend?” Le asked as we walked in. We had left the infirmary for a bit and Cleos found us to tell us the Ranger ws awake.

“Bit of pain but I will live, I think,” he told him and looked at Lia for confirmation on the ‘living’ part. “You will be fine. You should rest for the next day or so, then you are free to go,” She explained, then left. 

“Verena, this is Aragorn Elassar. Aragorn, this is Verena Tempest, she was Alek’s sister,” I smiled and he looked at me in surprise. “You look so much like him,” Aragorn marvelled and stared at me. “We used to hear that from everyone we met together. Many thought we were Hadessa and Hadrian,” I smiled.

“I’m pleased to have met the mystery child my brother spoke so highly of,” I praised. “It is nice to meet the sister he looked up to,” he replied and I smiled.

“Did Le say your second name is Elassar?” I asked and he nodded slowly. “You are Arathorn’s son,” I said. “Yes,” he confirmed. 

“I knew your father well. He was a kind and honourable man,” I told him and he nodded. “Thank you, My lady, Verena,” said formally. “Formalities aren’t my forte. Please, just call me Ver,” I responded and he nodded.