Shadow laughed. It was the same musical laughter, only now it was tinted with a trace of sadness that broke Aragorn's heart. His mentor deserved to be happy; the Elf was the most wonderful person he had ever met. The sadness spoke of a carefully concealed vulnerability; it aroused a protective urge in Aragorn that he had not known. His mentor had always been there to protect him. He had loved the Elf for it, but now he wanted more. He wanted to be a shelter for Shadow as much as his mentor was his light.