Yet another author's note: I promise I won't have these on top of every chapter, but I just wanted to say keep in mind here that Aragorn is like, 20-30 here. He's not the zen master warrior guy from LOTR, he's young and adventurous and looking for some fun. Just be wary of that. Anyway, enjoy!

Strider P.O.V

I was watching him intently.

From my dark little corner of the bar, I saw the strange hooded creature sweep into the bar, walking with an unusual, lethal grace, honed by years on the battlefield. Little scragglers of pale blond hair slipped out from under his hood as he sat by the fireplace. I was no fool. I knew exactly who he was.

I had grown up around his kind, and was able to distinguish them from a mile away. A devious spark grew in my eye. It had been a long time since I had been around Elves - I had spent the last seven months dealing with fussy hobbits and bristly bar keeps. And, low and behold, Illuvatar brings me Elven royalty! Now this was going to be fun.

I got up from my seat, not bothering to bring my ale, and strode over to the chair opposite him, slumping down dramatically. "It's packed tonight, isn't it?" I said.

Wide blue eyes, Elvish eyes, snapped to me, alert with that predatory stillness. Now though, it looked as if he were the prey. He remained silent. Well, if Princey didn't want to speak, I would.

I slung one leg over the other and huffed a long sigh. "You know, I was expecting someone to trail me. A man, maybe, a fellow with something to gain. But not you." I leaned forward, resting my head on my hand. "You are no ordinary traveller, Legolas Thranduillion."

Legolas shot to his feet, startling people on nearby tables. His mouth opened as if to say something, but then went back to being closed. I quickly scanned the room. People were whispering, wondering, piecing together the foreigner in the bar. I had to get him out before we - he - drew the wrong kind of attention.

I stood up. "Come with me," I said quietly, then stalked out of the inn.

Fireflies buzzed lazily through the night air as I led him towards the stables, my footsteps crunching in the gravel. Legolas's were near silent as I turned around to face him.

He really was the embodiment of all the stories. I had managed a few glimpses of him when he came to visit Rivendell once or twice, but the memories were blurry. But this Elf, with the longbow slung over a quiver full of arrows, that regal blond hair and the hand twitching towards his dagger, were anything but.

"You're Strider," he said, looking me up and down. Unimpressed, Princey?

"So it speaks," I said, leaning against a wooden pillar. I fished my pipe out from my cloak. "Now tell me," I struck the match, "what brings Legolas Greenleaf to Bree?"

He narrowed his eyes, then very pointedly sniffed at the smoke. "I came here of my own will," he said, clearly dodging the subject. Hmm. Family drama? Squaring his shoulders, he fixed those blazing blue eyes on me again. "What brings...Strider, whoever you are, to Bree?"

I chuckled at his disposition. "Barter with me, Legolas. A story for a story. I'll tell you mine, and you tell me yours." He seemed to consider this, while I made up some sort of alibi in my head -

"Shouldn't you be in the North?"

I scowled and recoiled. No one, not even Lord Elrond, had brought up that tiny fact of my heritage in a long while. I had made up my mind; I was never going back. I kicked some of the gravel up, sending a miniature cloud of dust flying. "And what business, pray tell, Legolas, would I have in the North?" I said quietly.

Uncertainty flashed across his features as he cocked his head, his hair flopping to the side. "You are a ranger, aren't you? One of the Dunedain Rangers - "

"Listen here, Elf," I growled, prowling towards him. "I don't know how you know so much about me, or where I hail from. Stop sticking your royal nose where it shouldn't be, and run along to defeat the forces of evil, or whatever it is you do to fill your immortal days." I fixed my chin up and glared daggers at him. My mind was racing. How did Legolas Greenleaf, of all people, know these things when I knew for a fact hardly anyone knew my secret? My mother had died defending these little details he was throwing away so casually.

He recoiled, taking a step back. "I am sorry," he said unsurely. "I didn't mean to - "

"Gandalf assigned me to the Shire," I ground out. "He is aware of an anonymous threat to Eriador, and has many other Rangers watching over the place. He has asked me to aid him in finding the creature Gollum, who may hold some valuable information which if passed to the enemy, could be extremely dangerous."

There. Practically my entire story, no trace of a lie in it. Whether or not he could tell that I was withholding some unnecessary information, I couldn't tell.

"An anonymous threat to the Shire?" I nodded.

He mulled it over, pacing around a little. I watched him, smoking my pipe.

After a small while, he stilled, and turned back towards me. "I want to join you," he said. "On this...mission. An extra pair of eyes would be helpful. And two out in the wild is better than one, especially during these strange times."

Hmm. Now this was a turn of events. An extra pair of eyes could be helpful, and with his lethal nature, any threats would automatically be vanquished...

But more than that, I was curious. I wanted to know why the Prince of Mirkwood, practically a living legend, wished to join me on my journey. And why he seemed so eager that he actually ventured this far west to do it. So I put down my pipe and grudgingly smiled.

"Alright then. We begin at first light."

Hello!

Here is chapter 3! While I was on my trip, I planned out this chapter, and writing from young Aragorn's - or should I say Strider's - point of view is really entertaining. The next chapter should be quite interesting, as we get to see them be funny travellers :D

Late merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

residenthobbit49 :) <3