Tolkien Fan Fiction
| 58 |
| Least Expected |
What if Halbarad’s first appearance had taken a different turn? MEFAwards 2008: 3rd Place – Genres: Alternate Universe: Drabbles |
| Soon after crossing the Fords of Isen a sharp challenge disturbs the night. “Halbarad Dúnadan, Ranger of the North I am,” I call back. “We seek one Aragorn son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan.” One rider comes forward from the shadowy host facing us. No warrior, this: a wizened figure, face oddly pale by starlight. “You won’t find him here; unbidden stranger that he was...” Too slow to react to his furtive hand-signal, the lethal arrow quickly robbing me of all senses but pain, the last I hear in life his mocking words: “...like you.” |
A/N: - “Of all joys this is the least expected!” – Aragorn’s words in RotK, The Passing of the Grey Company. - Halbarad’s dialogue is taken from the actual scene ibid. - Gríma’s appearance is as described in TTT, The King of the Golden Hall. - “We welcomed guests kindly in the better days, but in these times the unbidden stranger finds us swift and hard”, says Éomer in TTT, The Riders of Rohan. 18.05.08 B-drabble for Dwimordene, who requested AU stories. |