Riana is my OC so please don't steal. Riana is Aragorn's older sister (older by four years). They are seperated, he is taken to Rivendell and Riana is left to grow up as a Dunedain Ranger. Will the two meet again? Hope you enjoy the story!!
Chapter One
"Mama, they're back!"
A small girl with auburn hair, excitedly opened the front door of the house. She looked happily at the group of men walking through the village, but as soon as they came clearer into sight, she saw that each face was grave. They were carrying what seemed to be a cart, pulled along by a giant shire horse.
"Mama …" said the little girl softly. Her mother, Gilraen stood beside her.
"In the house little one" she said but the small girl looked up into her mother's face, and was nearly brought to tears. She was so pale. Without warning, the small girl rushed from her mother's side, to the cart. None of the men stopped her and by the time she paused beside what was upon it, she already knew. She already knew the terrible truth. Upon the cart was her father. Arathorn. The late chieftain of the village. Arrowheads stuck crudely out of his chest and smears of dirt and blood stained his blank face.
"No …"
Horror struck the small girl, and it moved her beyond tears. She could not understand, being so young but she hated being torn away. Hands clasped over her arms as she was pulled away gently by her mother. "Riana, what have I said about running … away." Each word Gilraen said seemed to be causing her intense pain. Her grey eyes roved over her dead husband but stemmed the flow of tears which threatened. Instead she nodded to each man around the cart.
"Bury him by his father."
The men nodded.
Gilraen, little Riana and her baby brother Aragorn stood at the foot of a grave. A body wrapped in cloth was laid into the earth, as men and women sang around it.
"What happened, Mama?" said Riana, a small breeze playing with her auburn hair.
"Daddy has gone to his fathers" replied Gilraen soberly. The woman looked as if she would never smile again. Riana looked down. Emotions were turning inside her but she had not cried yet.
"Can I sing for Daddy?"
Gilraen sniffed, suppressing a sob and nodded. Riana stood forth, and the men and women choir fell silent.
"With a sigh,
You turn away
With a deepening heart
No more words to say
You will find
That the world has changed
Forever
(Music plays)
And the trees are now turning
From green to gold…
And the sun is now fading
I wish I could hold you
Closer…"
The song seemed to stop the time of the day. Each person around the grave looked amazed by such a sweet yet strong voice from a six year old.
"You sung that gorgeously," said an old woman. Riana merely nodded her head, and silently watched as dirt began to pile on top of her father's body.
Eventually, everyone else turned away.
"We have no Chieftain. We are leaderless." said a strong man named Bon in the local Inn that night. Gilraen sat in a dark corner, only reluctantly there because she was the most important person at the meeting. "Gilraen, your son is the next heir for the Grey Company."
Gilraen finally looked up from staring into the fire. Her face was white, hollowed and her eyes deadpan in the firelight.
"I don't know what it is you ask of me," she said.
"Do what has been tradition of each Chieftain of this tribe." Growled Bon. "I knew Arathorn best as ye, and he should be raised in Imladris. There is but five of us left."
Gilraen looked down at her feet. "I cannot do that."
"Why?" said Bon.
"What of Riana?"
Bon looked sympathetically at her. "I will look after her. But you must protect your son. If anyone else knew of his true heritage he will be slaughtered like a lamb. Take him to Imladris."
Gilraen looked down at the burly man's intense gaze. He noticed that life had gone beyond the woman's eyes and her only hope was to save what was left of her family, and of the Dunedain.
"You are right" she said. "I will take him, Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim (I gave hope to the Dunedain, I leave none for myself.)
Bon looked at her gravely.
"Tenna' ento lye omenta, Arwenamin" (Until next we meet my lady)
It was a grave heart when Gilraen readied her horse for the next morning, and packing Aragorn's clothes and belongings. Riana watched her from her bed, a frown curving her brow.
"What are you doing, Mama?" she said.
"Getting ready for a surprise dear," she replied. "On a little adventure."
Riana whooped and stopped Aragorn from sucking his fist in his mouth. Soon, Gilraen had stored away most basic items and ushered for Riana to come outside. The morning was fresh and cold. Her horse, Anrid, was prepared. Bon soon appeared out of nowhere, leading his own burly built steed, Asca. He was wearing his long brown coat and a pair of powerful buckled boots. His massive, hard sword glinted in the sunlight.
"Scouts will meet you in the woods and you must be quick" he said to Gilraen who only nodded. She silently hoisted a baby Aragorn onto the back of Anrid. He was contentedly sucking on both his thumbs and humming to himself. Riana meanwhile was staring at both her mother and Bon. Something wasn't right.
"Are you going somewhere mother?" she said. Bon looked uneasily at Gilraen.
"Yes I am Riana" she replied kneeling down to her six year old daughter's height. "I have to leave."
Riana's lower lip trembled. "W- What? Am I not coming?"
Gilraen shook her head slowly.
"NO! NO! NO!" Riana screamed, but she was hoisted firmly by Bon in case she ran away. Instead Gilraen gave her daughter a spasmodic embrace before mounting her horse. Riana cried from Bon's arms.
"Aragorn!" she yelled, "I wanna see Aragorn!"
Bon held her tight and moved over. As Riana made to hug her younger brother, he burst into tears at the sight of his older sister's face. It was a heartbreaking site.
"Here" said Bon. He reached out and placed a certain ring into Gilraen's hand. It was Arathorn's ring. The ring of Barahir. She stared at Bon, full of understanding.
"He will learn of it when he is of age. Look after Riana. Treat her well!"
With one last brief kiss of her stricken daughter, Gilraen took off on her steed and cantered out of site. Riana was still sobbing but Bon looked into her face.
"Well it looks like it's just you and me."