Travelers

Chapter 7 - The Elf Star

He wasn't sure he had made the right decision, but he knew he had made the good one. He had let Ryan go, because he knew that was what should be done. Jacob was admittedly nerding out to the highest degree. He had always been a fan of The Lord of the Rings, but he had never thought he would end up in Middle-earth. As soon as they had crossed the border into the shire they had recalled their memories that related to this world. Jacob wondered if J.R.R. Tolkien had also been here and wrote his series to make himself believe it was all just his imagination. After they set up camp that night, he turned to Strider, who he now recognized as Aragorn and smiled. He was meeting one of his role models. He just realized that Aragorn had never said his name to any of them, just said to address him as Strider. When Jacob explained that he now knew more about the world to Strider, he didn't believe him at first. Jacob told him about Tolkien's books and how their story had travelled to earth. Aragorn still seemed to have some doubt, so Jacob looked him straight in the eyes and called him by his name.

"You are Aragorn, son of Arathorn, King of Gondor. That blade that you carry is named Aduríl, the flame of the west. It was forged from the shards of Narsil, the sword of Elendil. It was the sword that cut the ring from Sauron's hand after it had been broken. I know every detail of the story of the fellowship of the ring. I can tell you that I wasn't told any of that in this world," Jacob said rising to his feet in a hushed voice. Aragorn was stunned by Jacob's knowledge of him, and he simply stared at him for a moment.

Jacob began to walk away when Aragorn said something in response, "I believe you, but that knowledge is a danger in this world. If the girls don't know all that, don't tell them. I don't want to risk any slip ups." Jacob looked back and nodded in agreement. It was probably a good idea to mention that to Vince, as well. When he went to sit with the others, he noticed that Cat was looking a little downcast.

He went over and sat next to her, asking, "Hey, what's up? Something wrong?"

"No, I just realized that I still have to carry around my shield and sword even though I don't know how to use them now," She told him. Jacob laughed at this.

"Here give them to me," He said, "I know how to use a sword and a shield. If you want to use my bow, I'm sure Defréndel could give you a lesson or two."

She responded with a hint of sadness in her voice, "No, I don't want to fight now. It just seems wrong." Jacob nodded back to her.

"I understand. I know how to use both anyway. Maybe not as well as I did before, but I do know a little. Now you won't have that burden on you." He said, slinging the sword and shield around his back. He got up and went to his small blanket that he had brought. They went to sleep, and Jacob found that now dreams rushed through his head. Dreams of many things, but when he woke in the morning, he only remembered one of them. The one that was, in truth, a memory. He saw himself squatting there next to Ryan. He remembered every word he had said to him clearly.

"I am going to help lift this warg off you, but then you are going to run away and never return to my sight. If I do see you again, I will put an arrow right between your eyes, drive Vince's knives through your chest, put a blade through your neck, and a spear through your stomach, because you betrayed not only my trust, Mal's, or Drinian's, but you betrayed Cat, and I won't let you get away with that. I am only letting you go because I won't lower myself to your level. Now, push that warg as hard as you can, and I'll help," He had threatened. He still was shocked by what he had done and was beginning to wonder what kind of trouble that threat would probably cause. He guessed Ryan was beginning to muster a force to hunt them down. He had made that threat, and he would have to live with it, or even die with it.

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Cat was glad to not be wearing that heavy shield or blade, since Jacob was now carrying them, plus as they walked into town led by Sam, all the hobbits looked at her friends with concern while they looked at her with smiles. She wanted to be friends with these peaceful people, and they seemed to not like the idea of weapons. As they walked, hobbits greeted Sam and he talked with some of them. Soon though, Sam stopped in front of a round green door.