Aragorn: 16 years old

Aragorn walked up to the paper on Elrond's door and signed his name proudly. Kenath had just signed his name and stared at Aragorn wide eyed as he turned around after signing his own.

"So, you are doing it? The Trials?" Kenath whispered looking terrified.

"Yes, I'd like to give it a try," Aragorn responded.

"You will get slaughtered!" Kenath said, his eyes bulging.

It was the loudest Aragorn had ever heard his voice go before.

"Why do you say that?"

"The Trials are harsh, Estel. I don't want to sound rude, but it would be too much for a human," Kenath said quietly looking Aragorn in the eye.

"My point exactly, Kenath," Aragorn said, "I want to prove that I can do things Elves can do,"

"Well, good luck. Let's hope you go against me. Then I would let you win,"

"Why?"

"I don't want to do the Trials," Kenath looked scared again, "I don't. Have a good night, Estel,"

Kenath patted Aragorn on the shoulder and then left. Aragorn looked to the ground as if to think for moment about the Trials. He looked back at his name that he had engraved with black ink in the paper on Elrond's door.

Do I really want to do this? Do I have to prove myself? It will be fun, though. It will...

Aragorn's thoughts were interrupted by a voice from behind him.

"I see you are doing the Trials,"

Aragorn turned around to see Arwen.

"Are you sure you are allowed?" Arwen asked walking up to Aragorn.

"Your father allowed me... and I want to," Aragorn explained, although he was now questioning himself.

"It's fun watching the Trials, but I don't think it would be fun to do them,"

"Kenath was saying the same thing. Is it really that bad?"

"Just be careful and watch your back is the only advice I have," Arwen said and looked up to Aragorn with a smile, "I have of course never done them. The twins and I are not allowed to do them,"

Aragorn smiled back and said quietly,

"Do you think I could win?"

Arwen was silent for a minute, but then said,

"Yes, Estel... I believe in you,"

"Thanks, so far you are the only one,"

"Don't let the other Elves bring you down. I think you are a very special person, Elf or not,"

"Thanks, Arwen for supporting me. There is always hope,"

Aragorn leaned in to give her a huge and then they both went their separate ways into the night.

-----

For the next week, Lagorion had been going over and training Aragorn with all his might in the woods. Lagorion was determined to have Aragorn trained enough so that he could at the most survive the Trials at least. They had both come to the point where Lagorion and Aragorn both knew exactly which move they would perform on each other in a fight.

"Let's hope we don't go against each other," Lagorion said while they took a break, "Because that would take a long time since we both have the same moves and know what each other would do next,"

"Yah, let's hope not," Aragorn said out of breath from the practice, "Do you have any tips while fighting, Lag?"

Lagorion looked to the tops of the trees as if thinking through the question.

"The thing that helps the most is finding the Elf's weakness. Remember that,"

Aragorn would remember that because that was the only thing that could possibly help him other than a lucky move during the Trials.

"Are you nervous?" Lagorion asked.

"I am excited," Aragorn said with a mischievous smile.

"Just be careful," Lagorion said eyeing his friend strangely.

"I will," Aragorn sensed Lagorion was nervous for him.

"You will do great!" Lagorion said on a more positive note.

"Thanks, Lag. I will try my hardest. Tomorrow is the day we find out who are first opponent will be,"

"Yep, hopefully you will make it through the first round," Lagorion said jokingly and gave Aragorn a playful push.

"Ha, ha," Aragorn murmured and tackled his friend to the ground.

They both laughed and ended up wasting the rest of the afternoon messing around and wrestling on the dirt floor in the middle of the woods.