Aragorn: 19 years old

Aragorn woke up the next morning on Elrond's chair. He looked around him and saw nobody around.

"Elrond?" Aragorn whispered thinking he was there, he just couldn't see him.

It turned out that there really was nobody with him. He was about to stand when he saw a piece of paper on his lap. Aragorn recognized the ink writing to be by Elrond. It was so fancy and beautiful like every Elves penmanship. He took it up to his face and read it inside his head. It said:

Estel,

I ran out to do some errands, but I will be back early morning. You shouldn't have to wait too long, depending on when you woke. In any case, I left the map of Middle Earth on the table beside you. I thought you would enjoy looking at it until I got back.

Please, stay on the chair and don't get up. I will know if you did get up.

~Elrond

Aragon sighed and repositioned himself in the chair. He put the note on the table and took the map in his hands. As he looked at it, he studied all the different places and engravings on the golden parchment. He saw ay swamps, forests, mountains, and rivers. He knew that whole thing by heart.

He traced his fingers across many places and a trail to Rivendell, as if to see how long it would take him to go to that place and back again. He pointed out the Shire, Bree, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Rohan, Mirkwood, Woodland Realm, Dol Guldur, Gondor, and Mordor.

Something sounded so familiar about the name Gondor and Aragorn could not place it. He had a sudden urge to look at the ring he wore. The one his father had given him before he died. It was Barahir. It had the diamond shaped emerald in the center with two serpents on either side. He had studied it many times.

Just then, the doors opened and in walked Elrond. The sun had just come up, so Elrond wasn't surprised Aragorn was up already.

"Good morning," Aragorn said still studying the map again.

"Good morning, Estel. How is your ankle?"

Aragorn shrugged.

"What is Gondor?" Aragorn asked.

Elrond froze but quickly composed himself and simply said,

"It is a place, just like Rohan or the Shire,"

"Oh," Aragorn sounded disappointed. He was sure it meant something more than that to him.

"How is your ankle?" Elrond asked again sitting down next to his son this time.

"It's fine. I can probably walk now,"

"I would not advise that, I think you should be in bed all week at least,"

Aragorn sighed and said grumpily,

"At least I have my books and map to look at,"

"There's the Estel I know,"

Elrond could tell by the human's face that he wasn't thrilled. He never liked being sick or injured because that showed weakness that he could do little about. Aragorn started getting up, and Elrond was at his side in a second.

"I can do this," Aragorn put up his hand to stop his father from help, I ran all the way here, remember?"

"That you did," Elrond mumbled, "I still don't see how,"

Elrond took the book and map of Middle Earth and stayed close to Aragorn as he limped to the door. Once they got to Aragorn's room, he felt embarrassed by all the eyes that had stared at his hurt body. He plopped down on his bed helplessly and flung up his feet.

Elrond set Aragorn's things on the table next to him and said,

"I want you to stay here, okay? You promise you won't get up?"

Aragorn nodded and reached for his book and map. Satisfied, Elrond left the room without another word.

-----

Months and months went by and Aragorn had been able to accomplish lots. Elrond had taught him lots of different things about Middle Earth and specific places and events that took place from long ago in history. Aragorn was a little bothered by the fact he hadn't told him such things a long time ago.

Lagorion and his twin brothers had kept the human trained up well with using a sword and all the techniques they knew. Over time, all of them, even the twins, admitted that Aragorn was better than they were.

Elrohir taught Aragorn how to shoot a bow, although it wasn't Aragorn's favorite weapon of choice. But he did know that he would have to use one if he needed to kill something from far away. Like a deer in the woods, or an Orc far away from him.

Elladan taught Aragorn all the skills needed to know about knives. He knew Aragorn would use them also in a tight situation, but it was still useful information to know. It could be used for throwing or stabbing, Aragorn was aware of.

Aragorn's favorite weapon was the sword. It had practically become his best friend. The gloves that Elrohir had gifted him with always served well while he practiced.

Arwen and Aragorn hadn't talked much in the past few months, due to Elrond's constant watch over them both. Now a days, the two only saw each other during meals and sometimes walking past each other. They both very well knew that the things between them could not be carried out any farther.

There had been so much Aragorn had learned from his stay in Rivendell through almost his whole life. Aragorn had no idea that his life would soon change as he became twenty and Elrond told him his true story and identity.