Aragorn: 17 years old

At the breakfast table the next morning as Aragorn was eating eggs and a lettuce wrap, Lagorion walked in. Aragorn looked to him and was eager to see what he would say to him. That morning, Aragorn had seen that the fog had successfully flowed down the mountain towards Rivendell. All the Elves were getting louder and worried what would happen next.

"You won't believe this," Lagorion said as he sat in the chair across from Aragorn.

It was usually the chair Arwen sat in when all the Elves gathered for the weekly dinner. Aragorn listened intently as he set down his food on the plate.

"You have to go to the mountain," was all Lagorion said.

"What?"

"Lyki and I couldn't get inside the mountain yesterday and the only person that can fit through is somebody small,"

"Why me?" Aragorn asked, "Elrond will disprove,"

"To get inside of the mountain, there is a 15-inch-wide by 6-inch-tall tunnel that..."

"15 by 6!?" Aragorn exclaimed, "That is too small for even me!"

"It is the only way into the mountain and without somebody getting into the mountain before dusk, everybody in Rivendell will go to sleep,"

All was silent again as Aragorn took in his new task. At first, he had wanted to go to the mountain, but now he was nervous he would get stuck in the mountain. After all, he was a very claustrophobic person and worried that he acually would panic in such a small tunnel.

"What happens when I am in?" Aragorn asked.

"You look for a medium sized, purple crystal. You will see it fast because you will see all the fog jetting out of it," Lagorion explained as if he were an expert.

Aragorn nodded and took the last bite of his breakfast.

"And my father is okay with this?" Aragorn asked after he swallowed.

Lagorion nodded and said,

"He wants to see you before you leave though. Let's go,"

"Now?"

"Yes, we have by tonight to set things right again,"

Aragorn gave his empty plate to a nearby Elf and then followed Lagorion who started off towards Elrond's building. Once they got there, Lagorion gestured towards the front door. Aragorn knocked and a moment later, Elrond opened it. Aragorn opened his mouth to say something, but Elrond beat him to it,

"Are you ready?"

"I guess so," Aragorn said and patted the knife on his belt.

"Please be careful and come home in one piece... alive for that matter," Elrond said.

Aragorn chuckled and said,

"Of course, father. All I have to do is destroy a crystal,"

"That's what I fear. That the task is too easy," Elrond paused, "Move along then, Lagorion will lead you to the top,"

Aragorn and Lagorion gave a quick nod and bow and were on their way to the mountain.

-----

The only things that Aragorn brought with him on the hike was a water jug, his knife, and sword that slung safely to his belt and back. He wore super thin clothing so he wouldn't have too much extra to squeeze into the skinny tunnel at the top of the mountain.

"Almost to the top," Lagorion announced down to Aragorn.

They were on a sheer cliff climbing up a 90-degree rock wall. Lagorion was a little nervous Aragorn would lose his footing or grip, but his friend assured him he loved climbing and that he wouldn't fall. In any case, Lagorion had tightened a rope around each of their waists that they were connected to one another. Just for safety.

Aragorn was out of breath as they climbed the rest of the way. His hands were already bruised and scratched up from handling the rock wall so much. On the other hand, Lagorion seemed to make the hike look easy. Sometimes he would accidently move too quickly and pull Aragorn up even more with the rope.

A moment later, Lagorion made it to the top of the mountain and the two friends were dangerously close to the fog. It was about twenty feet away from them coming out of the mountain a little way to the left of them.

Lagorion looked down and saw Aragorn gasping for air as he took his final reach out from the cliff he was hanging on. The Elf reached his own hand down to the human for extra help and he took it happily. He pulled Aragorn up and instantly, Aragorn grabbed the water he had brought with him. Tipping the bottom up, he drank the whole jug in one sitting.

"Ready?" Lagorion asked after Aragorn had a good five-minute breather.

"Where to next?" Aragorn asked as he looked around.

"There," Lagorion pointed straight ahead of them.

Aragorn followed his gaze to were Lagorion was pointing and almost laughed at what he saw. It was the small 15 by 6 tunnel that lead into the mountain. He crawled over to it and looked inside.

"There is no way I am going to fit into that thing," Aragorn said measuring the sides of the tunnel.

"Yes, you will," Lagorion argued, "The more time we waste, the less time the Elves down there have time to be awake,"

Aragorn sighed and looked back into the tunnel. He nodded slightly as he understood that his friend was right. He had to fit into the tunnel or else all of Rivendell was doomed. It was probably too late to flee Rivendell, nor did anybody wish to do such a thing. It was their home.

"Okay, okay," Aragorn whispered to himself.

"It's the claustrophobia, isn't it?" Lagorion asked and crouched down next to Aragorn.

Aragorn shrugged, not wanting Lagorion to see his fear. Lagorion put a hand on Aragorn's shoulder and said,

"I know you can do this, you have been through so much worse,"

That was true. Aragorn smiled and then tucked his body close to the ground and put his face through the tunnel entrance. He felt the walls already closing in on him as he looked ahead, but he closed his eyes and told himself that he could do the job.

He had too in order to save the Elves of Rivendell.