Chapter Two- Attack

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Lasgalen glanced at Aragorn and Gandalf. They seemed intent on getting as far away from Minas Tirith as possible. He was tired; he wasn't used to walking so far, or so fast, in one day. But he didn't dare voice his exhaustion; he didn't want to be beaten.

Aragorn turned to watch the Elf. He seemed to be having problems keeping up with them. "Gandalf, Lasgalen is falling behind. He isn't used to this. He's tired. Elrond would kill me if we cause him to faint from exhaustion."

Gandalf glanced back at Lasgalen as well. "Just a little further. Your feelings go deep for Lasgalen, don't they?" Aragorn looked uncomfortable. "I feel responsible for him, Gandalf, I saved him. I'd hate to think what he would go through if the Men caught him."

Gandalf sighed. "Did you know what the Men did to him?" He turned to the front again and scanned the area.

Aragorn nodded, looking disgusted. Then a thought occurred to him. "What if he is Legolas?" His voice was hopeful, yet conveyed his sorrow for the suffering the Elf had experienced.

Gandalf sighed and shook his head. "I don't know. I just don't know." It was possible, but Gandalf did not want to get his hopes up. In all likelihood Legolas was lost forever. He then jerked his head forwards. "We'll stop here."

Lasgalen looked up when Aragorn walked back to him. "Lasgalen! We're stopping now!" Lasgalen nodded and plopped down where he had stopped. He was supposed to stay away from those he traveled with. It was a rule.

Aragorn raised an eyebrow. "Lasgalen. We are not camping here. We are camping a little further ahead." Lasgalen nodded, but made no move to stand. Seeing that the Elf was not going to move, Aragorn urged him further. "Lasgalencome!"

Lasgalen shook his head. He wasn't allowed in the camp. "I stayhererule."

He was surprised when Aragorn dropped down in front of him. "It's not a rule anymore. You have no master but yourself."

Lasgalen nodded and followed Aragorn back to the camp which Gandalf had set up. Gandalf looked up; Lasgalen looked upset, like a child whose parent had scolded him for trying to please them.

Aragorn then started cooking a broth for the three of them. Gandalf sighed and turned to Lasgalen. "What have you heard about Lothlòrien?"

"Nothing."

Gandalf smiled. "Nothing? Then I must tell you." Gandalf then lit his pipe, preparing to begin his tale. Lasgalen leaned forward, clearly interested. Even Aragorn, who had lived in Lòrien for a small amount of time, listened.

Gandalf laughed at the Elf's enthusiastic interest and sang:

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In Dwinordene, in Lòrien

Seldom have walked the feet of Men

Few mortal eyes have seen the light

That lies there ever, long and bright.

Galadriel! Galadriel!

Clear is the water of your well;

White is the star in your white hand;

Unmarred, unstained is leaf and land

In Dwinordene, in Lòrien

More fair than thoughts of Mortal Men

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Lasgalen gave the Wizard a tiny smile and turned back to Aragorn as the Man dish up the broth. But Gandalf placed a hand on Lasgalen's shoulder. "I have barely begun the tales of Lòrien! Listen a little longer!"

A shudder ripped through the young Elf's body and he bowed, showing his submission. He hoped submitting to the Wizard's will would enable him to avoid a beating. Gandalf looked questioningly at Aragorn.

The Man placed the tin cup he had been holding on the ground. "Lasgalen, you do not have to follow any orders but this one." Lasgalen did not dare to look up. "You will not submit yourself to another. Ever. Everything else is a request, and YOU decide if you want to comply."

Lasgalen nodded, surprised at the Man's command. He did not understand the Ranger at all. He didn't even understand himself. He hated Men, he hated the cruel things they did to him, but there was this one Man that he wanted to please more than anything.

Aragorn exchanged a look with Gandalf that said 'see, he trusts me'. Meanwhile, Lasgalen coughed and looked around; he wished to bathe and have a change of clothes. And, if he was lucky, shoes! He had never worn any shoes before. It would be a real treat!

Gandalf glanced at him and the Elf blushed. It seemed that the Wizard knew what he was thinking. "There is a creek not far from here, if you want, you can bathe." Lasgalen nodded and was handed an old blanket to use as a towel, soap, and Aragorn's spare set of clothes. The Elf then left in the direction that Aragorn had pointed out to him.

When he was gone, Gandalf turned to Aragorn. "Do you have a spare pair of shoes?"

Aragorn, confused, nodded. "Well, only soft oneswhy?" He couldn't fathom what Gandalf would want with his spare set of shoes.

Gandalf gave him a small smile. "I believe that Lasgalen would enjoy wearing shoes if the Men are as cruel as I have heard, I do not think they would've given him shoes as well as the fact that it will make the journey easier on him." Gandalf accepted the tin mug which Aragorn offered him. Lasgalen's was still in the cooking pot to keep it warm until the Elf returned.

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Lasgalen stopped at the shore of the small, clear creek. He stripped and stepped into the cool water, enjoying the feel of cleanliness against his dirty skin. He grabbed the soap and began scrubbing. He glanced down as the soap removed the dirt and grime on his skin and was amazed. He began to scrub harder and faster, trying to remove the foulness he felt within him.

He was scrubbing so hard that he didn't notice the other figure that watched him in the shadows.

****

Gandalf laughed as Aragorn finished telling him a hilarious story about the time Arwen had decided to reorganize her wardrobe and had forced Elladan and Elrohir to model her clothes.

Gandalf wiped tears from his eyes. "Ahyou certainly tell a good story, Aragorn!"

The Man glanced around, looking for the Elf. "And how are those merry folk in the Shire? Still blissfully unaware of the danger that is outside their borders?"

Gandalf grinned and laughed. "Well, one is aware of the evil that haunts Mirkwood since the Elves fled. Bilbo Baggins. Sent him off with thirteen Dwarves to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. They passed though Mirkwood."

Aragorn nodded and smiled. Then he glanced around again. "Where's Lasgalen?"

Lasgalen had just begun drying himself with the old blanket when the figure stepped out from the shadows. "Well, well, what have we here? A whore? I certainly believe so." Cuilhor had found him.

Lasgalen straightened and wrapped the blanket firmly around his waist, hiding his privates from view.

Cuilhor drew his sword. "Now, now, why be like that? It's nothing I ain't seen before, I've even touched it!"

****

Aragorn ran through the trees, looking for the thin, shy Elf. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if the Men found the Elf. He reached the creek just in time to see Cuilhor push the helpless Elf down onto the rough ground. The Elf cried out as the cruel Man tried to rip the cloth from his body.

Aragorn hissed. The Elf was his. He paused in momentary confusion. His? Where did that come from? He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Right then, it didn't matter, that bastard was trying to rape Lasgalen. He had to stop him. "ELENDIL!" He drew his sword and charged off towards Cuilhor.

The Man leapt to his feet and picked up his sword, but he was no match for the enraged Ranger, and soon fell to the ground, dead.

Aragorn ran over to the Elf and dropped to his knees beside him. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Lasgalen shook his head and threw himself at the kind Man, sobbing. The Man, though surprised that Lasgalen was touching him, opened his arms and held the Elf, trying to comfort him.