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Let's start with the basics.
Not from my earth, clearly.
Does your alphabet function the same way?

SH

[ Somehow he's found a pen and paper. This is what Sherlock sees. even if it might be a little shaky: ]

[ He speaks quietly: ] Mae govannen. 'Tis what the writing says. [ A beat. ]

I know not what the language you speak, Sherlock Holmes, for from you I read only Westron.

[ He takes a moment to examine the written words. It's not english. He's trying to discern roots, where it could have originated from in his word. He's still keeping to text, but if the similarities to Welsh are to be assumed - much to Ianto's chagrin, he attempts to pronounce it. Entirely grateful that he isn't there in person. ]

What does that mean?

Start with the absolute basics.
Letters follow a pattern.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

Possibly the simplest cipher is Caesarian Shift.
Now, Caesarian Shift happens when these letters that are normally in order
are shifted to up to twenty four paces to either the left or the right.

If we were to do a Caesarian Shift, with the key of 'Four'
to write down the word 'A'
would then be replaced with 'D'.

It's a simple substitution cipher.

SH

[ There's a pause. Longer than he actually takes to grasp the concept - he's struggling with the text function. And... you know, English code ciphers. ]

Thus it is:

D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C

Aye?

Quite so. Shift ciphers form the basics.
Vignere, which is the good Tranquility's favourite - has roots in Vignere.
You didn't define what that word meant.
Redirects don't work.

SH

[ frodo's voice is quiet over the other end, but it's steady. ]

Strider, Legolas and I are going to look with the others. You're worse off than we are, and we can't sit by and do nothing.

[ ... WHAT. ]

Frodo- [ flail, flail, flail, FLAIL ] I am not ill. [ Uh, liar. ]

'Tis a great risk to go.

Aragorn.

[ he says his name this time, and it's firm. ]
I have been at risk since I chose to take the Ring to Mordor, there is little that can harm me anymore, you know this.

We'll find a way to heal you and the others. It's better than being silent.

[and alone with the Ring. ]

[ He knows. And he knows that his protectiveness over Frodo comes not only from Frodo's perceived fragility, but also his guilt at not being able to protect him all the way until Mordor.

He breathes out quietly. ]

Your body is still weak. [ Then- ] Let me give you some herbs, so that if you are injured on the way, the wounds will not worsen.

[ He wants to go with them. He knows he does. But the medbay is horridly shortstaffed, and he does not break promises. ]

[ a pause ]
It's alright. They've healed more than I expected them to with my body as it is. I have you to thank for that.

[ quietly ]
You mustn't overwork yourself, Aragorn. You must be alive when we return.
[ and he sounds a little bit desperate. if he loses any of his other companions, anyone tied to the fellowship it will only make his fall that much quicker. ]

I am glad to hear that.

[ A pause. ]

I have lived for eighty-seven years without harm, Frodo. [ Gently. ] No small ink will harm me. [ Now he's kidding about it. ]

[ he notices and he laughs a little, though it breaks off into a slight cough. ]

You could take this a bit more seriously. You Big People..
[ sounds of metal in the background, frodo is attaching sting and putting on his cloak ]

[ ... The cough worries him. But he has motherhenned over Frodo enough that he doesn't immediately jump at it. ]

'Tis the hobbits who taught me to find hope, no matter how dire the situation. [ There's a smile in his voice. ]

I will bring the herbs to your room, Frodo. Wait for me.

If I wait for you, I fear you won't let me go.
[ though his words do make him smile a bit. ]

[ A low chuckle, and you can hear footsteps. ]

I will try my best to restrain the urge.

[ he just shakes his head in response. ]

[ It's a few minutes later when Frodo hears a knock on his door. ]

[ frodo pauses, then opens it. his fingers are tipped in blue. he looks no less frail than usual though there is no tinge to his eyes. he stares at him with concern. ]

You shouldn't have made the trip. You need to store your strength.

'Tis but a few steps.

[ The world isn't swaying right now, and for that he is grateful. He steps into the room before he drops down to look at Frodo, pulling up a small bag. ]

There is athelas here. Though I doubt you will find hot water for tea during your journey, the leaves can be chewed. [ They have been touched by the King's hands, and so will be useful. ]

There is aloe [ the largest leaf, with translucent white flesh inside ] for small wounds, and bandages to wrap them with. Peel off the skins, and press the flesh against the wound and wound it tight. Elderberries will aid them as well.

Clove oil to relieve pain, willowbark and eucalyptus for fevers, feverfew for the same, and headaches. [ He gives so much for fevers because he's starting to have one.

A breath out, and he reaches out to press his hand against Frodo's forehead. From where their skins touch, Frodo will feel warmth and strength seeping through his skin. A healer's touch. ]

I can only hope these will keep you safe.

[ frodo listens silently, all the while taking in his friend's condition. the same athelas that slowed the wound taken at weathertop. it pains him to be reunited against all odds with aragorn, and to have infliction strike the king. if this is what most likely will be their last chance to see one another, he would have him smiling and singing songs, though he knows healing is something that he also does gladly.

he wishes for sam to be here, he wishes for him to see aragorn who he mistrusted so stubbornly and be glad upon his face. he wants pippin and merry, his cousins. he wants gimli, he wants bilbo, gandalf.

and he takes them, and then frodo is wrapping his arms around his friend, something he hadn't done when they met and despite everything aragorn is still as he remembered him. and even though frodo has changed so much now, he can still do this and know it was done by himself.

his voice is muffled. ]

I'll be alright. Take care of yourself, Aragorn. Please.

[ The feel of those arms around him makes him gasp a little, but Aragorn reaches out immediately to return that embrace. Frodo's body feels so small and fragile still in his arms, and though he knows that it is truly foolish of him to think that the hobbit isn't strong as it is he who will save them all, Aragorn cannot help but hold onto him tight. ]

I will.

[ It's a promise, but it is one he finds that he will find it difficult to keep the next moment. He pulls away from Frodo and stands- and in that moment the world spins in front of his eyes. He takes a single step forward and suddenly his vision is filled with black spots, and he stumbles, trying to grasp onto the doorframe. His fingers slip past the metal and he crashes, hard, onto his hands and knees in front of the door.

The fall isn't a hard one, much less the hardest he has ever suffered through - he remembers being dragged down a cliff - but the skin on his fingertips burst, and red mixes in with blue. ]

I am alright, Frodo. [ He inhales sharply, but the vertigo is as stubborn as he is, and refuses to fade. He closes his eyes and shakes his head hard, but the white stars that burst in that moment makes him press the back of his bleeding hand against his eyes. He doesn't open them. ]

I'm alright.

[ he looks up at him as he stands and immediately knwos something is wrong, and once he falls, he cries out for him and walks as fast as he can on battered feet towards his friend. frodo keeps his hands on his shoulders, his heart racing in his chest.

because aragorn never looks weak. a direct contrast to him, who always looks as if he is on the edge of no return. it bothers him. it scares him.

he doesn't release his grip on shoulders though he is far taller. ]

You are not alright.

[ It terrifies him more than words can say that Frodo's words are true. He is not alright. Aragorn has never been sick a single day in his life. He is a healer - of illnesses he sees them only in others, for even in Caradhas amongst the cold and snow he had stood strong. They all had, but it was Aragorn's athelas and healing hands that had made sure the little ones did not suffer frostbite or been frozen in the snow.

Now he is weakened, but Frodo's worry and his hands strengthens him. Aragorn takes a deep breath and chases away the dizziness by sheer will, opening his eyes. His vision is not focused, but he fixes it upon Frodo's visage, and curls his bleeding hand by his side so the hobbit will not have to see more of his blood.

Frodo has never seen it. By the time Aragorn bleeds from his wounds, he has already taken an Elven boat to the Anduin. To Mordor. ]

I will be. [ He takes his clean hand and wraps it around Frodo's hand on his right shoulder, squeezing it. ] 'Tis but a small ailment.

[ He squeezes the hand again. ]

Please, do not worry so.

[ he steps back, but does not release his grip, his blue eyes searching his. ]

How is this a small ailment? You cannot continue like this, Aragorn. You need to be one who lies down yourself, now.
[ he purses swallows, reaching for some of the herbs. ]

Use some of these to heal yourself, please. For my sake, at least. I know you would not do it for yourself.

[ he gives him a knowing look. for the time they traveled you don't forget people and he didn't forget aragorn's unselfish nature, just as aragorn knew his own. ]

[ Frodo knows him well indeed, and he chuckles, wryness in that sound, before he nods. Then he takes a few leaves of the athelas and throws it into his mouth, chewing on them and letting the warmth spread from his mouth outwards, all the way to his fingers- that had felt not merely blue and strange, but also cold.

He ducks his head down and wipes at his face, rubbing away the spots of blood. ]

I have come to aid you, but it seems that I am the one who is helped instead. [ He lets out a breath. ]

Thank you, Frodo.

[ and he watches that, sees it start to help and it strengthens him in a way that no medicine could do for him now.

frodo simply nods, staring at him with those large, grave, tired blue eyes that are somehow steady despite all the shadows that are inside them. ]

I'll be going now, then. There's little time left to waste. If I were to stay..

[ for a minute there's nothing to be read on the hobbit's face before he simply offers him as usual, one of those tired smiles. ]

I'd hope you'd lie in here for a bit, but I know you won't.

No.

[ A quiet denial, but strong and firm nonetheless. He rocks back on his heels and stands up straight, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. ]

I wish you well on your journey, Frodo, and I do not want to see you return as a patient of mine.

[ It is, he thinks, a rather slim hope. ]

[ a quiet glance, before he nods his head. ]

Have a care for yourself instead, Aragorn, though I know you won't mind that either, but I'd still have your word.

[ he quietly squeezes the hand on his shoulder and lets go, heading towards the door. ]

[ Aragorn inclines his head, and pleads silently for his body to not make him a liar once more. ]

Aye. [ Softly. He watches as Frodo approaches the door before he follows him, closing it behind him. ]

I will wait for your safe return, Frodo.

we should talk.

Strider! Hey, welcome back, good to have you around, sorry I didn't catch up sooner and all. Listen, a couple of numbskulls just made a hell of a mess in the gardens and I need to get people down there unfucking whatever they fucked up. Can I get you on board?

[ Wow, Heather. Your language. Aragorn doesn't pay attention to that, though, because what is more important is: ]

A fire amongst the plants? [ He sounds shocked. Almost horrified. ] The flames have been put out, I assume? Are any of the plants damaged?

[ Pause. ]

Aye. Of course I will lend you my aid.

[Her language gets exponentially worse when she's worried, and the combination of Fire and desperately wanting to do a good job is ramping that up. She'd apologize if she -

actually, no. She wouldn't.]

Yeah, the fire triggered the sprinklers. No immediate danger anymore, the place should just be a soggy mess. I still think it's a good idea to check over the site of the crash, though, make sure nothing's gonna come back and bite us in the ass. Think you could grab a couple people and head out there, take a look, have 'em clean up what needs cleaning?

[ Sprinklers, sprinklers... oh right, the water sprayers. Right. In any case: ]

Aye. [ Pause. ] Have you called any other for this task?

[Jeez, he makes it sound so fancy. She might be smiling a little in spite of herself.]

Yeah, Bardo and Murphy are gonna get the livestock under control. I'm gonna check the sprinklers haven't messed with the hydroponics at all, and I guess if I find anything else needs doing while I'm out there I'll get people on it. I'm not gonna lie to you, I'm kind of playing it by ear here.

[ He nods- and doesn't understand why she's smiling. In any case: ]

Will you allow me to look at what needs to be done first before I call others to the case? [ A sheepish smile. ] Though I know many who will wish to aid, I know not if they will be able to do so. The ship is still strange to those of my world.

[ He's thinking of Legolas and Merry. ]

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