Shay shuffled to his feet as he placed the last stone on the mound of his brother. The warrior felt his eyes water once again, but he blinked away the unwanted tears. He had to believe his brother was in a better place, he was away from this evil that hung around them. He was safe. So why did he feel so sad? Every time he looked at the two graves they had made, his stomach churned. Aragorn had struggled the entire night trying to bring the elf Lord back, but Thranduil spirit left that morning. And instead of burying one companion that day, they buried two.

"Are you ready?" The low voice of the other man called out quietly, getting the attention of the grieving brother.

Shay tensed and used the back of his palm to wipe away the silver tears that trickled down his cheeks.

"Y-yeah." The warrior chocked out, just speaking made a new wave of tears burn in his hazel eyes.

Aragorn stepped forward, resting a hand on the man's shoulder. "it's okay to grieve. He was your brother." The man tried to ease, but Shay recoiled.

"It should have been me!" The older brother shouted, tears now pouring down his cheeks. "it should have been me.." his voice got quieter and he repeated it.

"He is in a better place... He doesn't have to run anymore... He doesn't have to fight against false hope. Realistically it's better he fell..." Aragorn tried to sooth the man's doubts, it seemed to work for the moment. But he wasn't sure how he was going to deal with a grieving brother the entire time.

"I know." Shay spoke our shakily as he held back another sob. "let's just get moving."

Aragorn nodded his agreement, picking up the two packs they had left. But Shay seized the second one.

"I can carry my own things." Shay snapped haughtily, but only Aragorn nodded in response and backing away.

"If that's what you wish." Aragorn left it at that and moved on, pushing his weak body to walk.

They two walked in utter silence for hours. Neither daring to say a word. But Aragorn stopped, raising one had to stop Shay from continuing forward. As if on key, Shay halted silently as ever he had his crossbow raised and loaded.

"Aye we've got us sum wanders. They seem lost to ya?" A deep thick accented voice broke the silence and the two warriors spun around in fear.
A man sat atop a Warg, his bright red hair sticking out from under his large hat and his beard was long and unkept. He smiled down at the two. Truly he would have been quite handsome if he entertained the though of a haircut or a shave.

"Who are you?" Shay snapped, squeezing the trigger on his crossbow.

"Who am I? Names Ceylon, most call me Lubs. Most friends- Most friends call me Lubs." The man spoke, his words slightly distorted by his thick edgy southern like accent.

"You aren't with Sauron?" Aragorn asked quietly, he wore nothing but a large hat and coat. He wore nothing that bore the sign of Sauron.

"Me? A servant of Sauron? Now that laddie, is a funny joke." Ceylon spoke laughing cheerily at the jest. "You see, Sauron would have had to get them one ring. "

The two warriors paused, exchanging a look of confusion.

"Sauron did retrieve the ring." The two chorused, making the other man frown.

"Don't ya be playing games. It's not funny to joke of them sorts."

"We aren't joking!" The two spoke again.

Ceylon looked around, confused. "Sauron's got the ring? When did that happen?"

"Quite a long time ago, Ceylon." Aragorn spoke, his face clearly showing much confusion. "how have you not noticed?"

"Never really paid much attention to what's been happening... But I guess now that ya mention it... It has seemed kinda gloomy..." Lubs spoke, stroking his short red beard in thought. His distracted gaze searching the land before them, as if looking for something that wasn't there.

The two warriors jaws practically fell open. How had he not noticed? Was this man just that niave? But Shay began to loose patience.

"Let's just kill him and be done with it!" Shay hissed, but Aragorn shook his head.

"He's no enemy. If we kill him it makes us no better than Sauron. "

"Yes. But at the moment I could careless about whether I am or am not like Sauron. We could use that Warg. If he's tamed it, we can ride it also."

Ceylon cocked his head to one side, his red hair spilling over his young face. "You realize I can hear whatcha both be saying?"

The two slowly turned their heads to look at the stranger, Aragorn face palmed. Making a soft groan he peaked through his fingers.

"My Warg as you call it, wouldn't let anyone ride but me."

"Would you be kind enough to allow us to ride with you? I have nothing but some food I can give in return." Aragorn brought his hands down to rest at his side's as he spoke. Offering a thin smile.

The stranger looked down at his hands, his mouth moving silently as he discussed the question with himself. Truly displaying a perfect imagine of mad man.

"He's insane, Aragorn."

"No one is sane these days, why does it matter?"

"He makes me unsettled."

Aragorn looked at him jaw hanging open. "oh he makes you unsettled?"

"What kind of man would ride a Warg?!"

"Maybe he was desperate!? I haven't seen any horses trotting about."

"Still-" Aragorn elbowed him, noticing the stranger was staring at them with a wide grin.

"Creepy and unsettling."

"Shut up!" Aragorn hissed quietly.

"Welcome aboard! His name is Betsy!"

Shay's forehead creased with a deep frown as he started blankly at the shaggy red haired man.

"His name is Betsy? "

"Betsy. Yes."

"....Betsy?" Shay repeated slowly hoping to gently get his point across, but the other men wasn't getting the hint. So he thought.

"do you have a problem with his name?" Lubs glared. Shay raised his hands and made a apologetic gesture.

"no, no. It's a fine name. Honestly." Shay answered, his voice drifting as he shifted under the cold silver-blue gaze of the stranger. Seconds felt like minutes to the hunter as this man just stretched the awkward silence as long as he could.

"Okay, Mr. Name God. What do you think it a more suitable name?" He asked, putting stress on the word suitable. Shay paused, realizing now that he had dug himself a deep hole one that wouldn't be easy to get out of.

"well.... I think something like... Bernard would be more.... appropriate for a... male.... Warg...." Shay let his voice trail off again as the emotionless stare of the stranger held him at bay, yet again. The hunter laughed nervously and patted the matted grey head of the Warg. The beast growled.

"he doesn't like you insulting his name." Was all the stranger said before sending a look at the huntsman, clarifying that the discussion was over.

                  -------------------

The group stopped for a rest. It seemed to have been days since they had taken the time to catch their breath.

"Sauron is bound to know our wares bouts by now!" Eradan grumbled in a low voice as he glanced around the group, then back to his sister. Her normally fair pale skin was a hot irritated red and her breath came quick and shaky.

"We been running... Days, brother." She panted, bracing her hands on her knees. "Surely you must be exhausted too?"

No response came from the blonde thief as his piercing blue eyes held her at bay.

Frea paused. Rolling her eyes she took a quick deep breath to speak. "It makes no sense to me to ware ourselves down by fleeing. If he knows where we are it's better to save our strength and fight him!" The younger of the two growled in anger shaking her head numerous times. "We can't run any longer, brother. We can't run from him. Not any more. It's all a game don't you see?"

"What else can we do but run-?"

"Fight him! Since we were young we've ran and he thinks it sport. If you hate him so much, why not fight him-"

Their conversation was cut short as Zaren approached them, grim as ever. Eradan noted with a irrigated expression.

"I saw a stream not a mile back, I could run and grab some? We need it, if you haven't noticed we are low on water." Zaren's deep mundane voice ran low through the thick air.

The siblings exchanged a look. Frea grinned.

"Frea no!" Eradan protested taking a step forward.

"I'll join you! I have nothing better to do. "

Zaren stared through slitted eyes, Frea couldn't be sure if he was glaring or just squinting. He did both so often it began to get hard to distinguish.

Finally he broke the silence. "I suppose we could carry more back with two."

Frea stepped beside the older man, with a charming smile. "True, let's just hope the water isn't poisoned!"

"Let's hope it is..." Eradan grumbled lowly as the two walked off, fingering his pocket he sighed and pulled the three blue gems free. Admiring them for a moment before cursing. Pushing himself to move towards the two elves he gestured for them to stand.

"Legolas. Malgel. Come here." The man spoke in a hushed whisper.

The two elves exchanged a look of confusion but decided to do what the man asked. Getting on Eradan's bad side wasn't something they wished to do.

"What do you think he wants?" Mangel asked as curious as ever. Striding easily beside the prince.

"I have no clue... I guess we'll find out..." Legolas responded with a shrug and said no more.

Once they had reached the man he gave them both a glove. The two just stared at the glove each were handed in confusion.

"Stop looking like scared ducks. Put them on!" The man snapped moodily as he shifted his weight to his other foot with a sigh.

The two elves clearly were unwilling to do so, but his shout made them do as they were told.

"These stones require a element of I guess you could say magic... Or light in order to be wielded. Elves can create a whole different element of power to be added to the stones. I'm going to teach you how to use them."

Malgel grinned in excitement and elbowed his friend roughly. "This is going to be great!"

Legolas as scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Not exactly what I was thinking." The prince said with a small laugh.

Authors Note:
HELLO WORLD.
ITS BEEN A WHILE.
Good to be back I guess, well, at least for now. I wrote this so long ago... I did some quick editing so hopefully it's not completely trash....

BUT. I have decided that people suck, all over the place. They come allow you to love them, then leave. It honestly hurt me a lot at first, lots of self pity and crying were involved. But now I don't care. I am going to stop wallowing and continue on. So all those who have done me wrong you shall not get the pleasure of my sadness. *tips hat*
My mini rant is done.
I swear 😂