Aragorn: 8 years old

Aragorn found a small brown satchel type bag in his room. His room was definitely a lot smaller than Elrond's but still big.

Inside of the bag he put one pair of clothes, his stick he had found in the woods last night, and some food that he was given from one of the kitchen Elves. He was all set to go, but he had to wait for the cover of darkness he was told by Elrond.

Aragorn tied a warm cloak around him and then fastened his brown satchel across his chest so it dangled at his side. He looked over himself and then was off to go find Elrond. Elrond had told him to get an early dinner that night so that after he was done eating, he could leave immediately.

He walked out of his room and started walking towards the Hall. There were never too many Elves about during the night except for the guards that stood at the front of Rivendell's entrance.

Aragorn continued walking as the sun was starting to go down slowly. In winter there were longer nights which were good for staying in the shadows.

"Where are you going?" a voice said from behind Aragorn.

It was a voice he recognized. He turned around and saw Arwen.

"Where are you going?" she repeated.

Aragorn walked up to her and said,

"There is an Elf from a different land that wishes to speak to me. Don't worry, I won't be gone for too long,"

Arwen cocked her head,

"Is it Galadriel?"

Aragorn nodded.

"Are you leaving tonight?"

Aragorn nodded again and patted his packed satchel.

"I am going to go eat and then I am leaving,"

"With who?"

"Elrond hasn't told me yet. Do you want to come eat with me?" Aragorn asked hoping to have her company.

She shook her head.

"I only eat once a week, remember? But I will join you as you eat," Arwen said and smiled.

"Okay," Aragorn said.

They both turned around and headed towards the Hall together.

"Have you learned much Elvish?" Arwen asked as they walked.

"I know quite a bit acually,"

"Like what?" Arwen asked interested in his knowledge.

"Pedil edhellen?" Aragorn asked. (Do you speak Elvish?)

"No," Arwen responded.

"No?" Aragorn was confused.

"This may be confusing, but no means yes in Elvish,"

"Interesting,"

"Do you know anymore?" Arwen asked smiling as she looked at Aragorn.

"I know random words, but not sentences yet. No," Aragorn said.

"Are you saying no in Elvish or English?" Arwen questioned.

"In English,"

They both laughed as they walked up the steps to the building. Aragorn pushed open the door and held it open for Arwen.

Sure enough, Elrond was waiting in the room as he said he would be. There was an Elf in the chair next to Aragorn's normal spot. He wondered if that was the Elf that was going to ride with him. Aragorn and Arwen both took a seat across from each other as Elrond sat at the head of the table as he always did.

"Are you ready?" Elrond asked.

"Yes," Aragorn said with a smile.

"Meet Hokel. He will be riding with you to Lothlorien," Elrond said and gestured to the man seated next to Aragorn.

"Saesa omentien lle," (Pleasure meeting you) Hokel said and held out his hand for Aragorn to shake.

Aragorn shook his hand, but looked to Elrond for translation.

"He says, pleasure meeting you," Elrond whispered.

"My apologies, I forgot that you are still learning," Hokel said with a smile.

"That's okay," Aragorn said, "It's a pleasure meeting you as well,"

They both smiled at one another and Aragorn could tell the man was kind. He had long straight blond hair with fish braids on either side of his head. He was wearing a long tunic and cloak that was dark green in color. It would blend in with the night time darkness.

"After you eat, then you can go," Elrond said.

Aragorn ate quickly at that comment. Taking a small salad and munching on vegetables. Elrond studied the boy and wondered if being really small was normal for a natural human. He had grown any taller or wider in at least two years.

About five minutes past and Aragorn took his last bite and said,

"Done, time to go,"

He backed up his chair and stood. Elrond stood, along with Arwen and Hokel.

"Are you ready?" Elrond asked looking down to the excided Aragorn.

"Yep," Aragorn replied adjusting his belt.

Then he looked up to Elrond confidently. Elrond turned and everybody else followed him outside. There was a horse waiting. Aragorn guessed it was Hokel's.

The horse was a golden- brown color that ran throughout her whole body. Her legs and part of her face looked like it had been dipped in white paint.

"This is Moonbeam," Hokel introduced his horse to Aragorn.

Hokel lead Aragorn to the front of Moonbeam and the horse lower her face to meet his. Aragorn backed up from Moonbeam, but only ran into Hokel instead.

"It's alright," Hokel whispered, "Reach out your hand and pet her,"

Aragorn reached forward slowly and his hand finally reached Moonbeams face. Moonbeam snorted making Aragorn smile, but jump at the same time. The horse was magnificent and Aragorn loved her right away.

Moonbeam let out some high winning sounds as her tail swooshed from back and forth. Arwen laughed and pointed to Moonbeam as she started licking Aragorn's face. It made him smile and even laugh himself.

"Alright, she knows you know. Time to go," Hokel said and reached down to lift Aragorn onto Moonbeam.

Aragorn let Hokel hoist him up onto Moonbeam. Everything looked a lot different from the point of view of being so high up on a horse. Hokel climbed aboard Moonbeam as well and then Elrond came over to Aragorn.

"Keep your hood up all the way. You never know when eyes could be watching," Elrond explained to Aragorn.

Elrond had already gone over all of the safety rules with Hokel before letting Aragorn ride with him. He looked to be quite nervous that they would run into trouble on their way to Lorien.

"Remember to protect him, Hokel. Protect each other," Elrond finished.

Aragorn looked to Arwen and waved. She did the same with a side smile.

"Be safe," Elrond said and then backed up to stand a safe distance away from the horse. Arwen was at his side.

"We will," Hokel said, "We will be back in about a week,"

Elrond nodded and Hokel bowed his head. Then Aragorn and Hokel were off. Moonbeam shot through Rivendell and into the woods. A whole new world awaited Aragorn ahead.

A/N: What are your thoughts about the new character, Hokel?