[ A long pause, before Aragorn lets out of a soft, soft breath. ]

I am a Ranger of the North, [ a common refrain by now, but unlike other times, he does not stop there- ] but aye, I do indeed.

It seems strange that many do not think the ship as having a mind. It has brought me much. Two friends. A memento of a dearly-loved friend and a promise I once made. [ Exhale. ] My dearest love.

[ He does not declare those, merely speaks them. There is no shame or need to hide those. Then- ]

The red smile speaks obliquely, but its directions are clear, and 'tis those directions that saved the lives of those friends and my own. 'Tis the only voice that spoke that is not one of us; the Captain and his right hand said not a word even as the healing house fills up with patients, slowly dying. I believe them immune.

[ There's anger there. ]

Despite the fear the red smile gives the inhabitants here, and despite its strange entrance and ways of speech- I trust it more than the two who call themselves our leaders but do not lead at all.

[ There is a really good reason why Aragorn calls Kirk 'Captain' all the time. ]