A/N: Again, please enjoy!
Lucksby
CHAPTER 2
Five years later…
The pair of rangers stood still as statues as they kept watch over the plains; the wind blew and a sheet of rain was approaching them from the North but neither broke their vigil. Both were dressed in long brown coats, forest green cloaks and boots, all of which were travel-worn and severely weather stained. They were people of the land, of the fields and trees, but one of them was not who she appeared.
Ari glanced at Halbarad as the pair waited, prepared to run with all haste back to the camp when they sighted their pursuers. She fingered the hilt of the sword that hung at her hip drawing comfort from the cold steel and leather against her palm. Five years ago had you told her she would be here, a respected member of the hardiest and, in her opinion, most loyal peoples of Middle Earth she would never have believed it. It wasn't always easy, and in the beginning she had spent many hours wishing to be back in the comfort of her London flat with central heating rather than freezing through the harsh winters, but she had grown to love the wilderness where the Dunedain wandered. She had adapted, in more ways than one. Arathorn had kept his promise; she had been trained by the greatest warriors the tribe possessed, including himself, and they had adopted her as one of their own. To the uninformed observer she would be mistaken for being Dunedain born and bred.
A movement on the horizon drew Ari's eye, and at once her suspicions were confirmed by Halbarad beside her; it was time to go. Flying through the woods the pair sprinted down hill, branches whipping against them as the ground levelled out and they hit the home straight, the remnants of the summer camp ahead of them.
"They're on our scent my Lord, we must make all haste." Halbarad announced to their chieftain without preamble.
"How many?" The man looked concerned. Ari was the one to answer.
"Two hundred strong at least my Lord, Halbarad is right, we need to head towards Rivendell before the weather breaks and we lose our advantage."
Arathorn regarded his captains, briefly allowing himself a glimmer of pride as he observed Arianna. She had fit in much better than he could have hoped and was dearly loved by the whole company; not to mention respected. She was surprisingly fierce with a sword.
"Yes." He had come to his decision, "We move out as soon as the rest of the provisions are packed. Halbarad, assemble the rest of the warriors, ensure all weaponry is accessible and that all the ponies are readied." The man gave a respectful nod to his commander before hurrying off to complete his assigned tasks.
"Arianna, ensure that all the women and children are ready for the journey and that we have sufficient medical supplies to last until we reach Lord Elrond's domain."
Ari saw the veiled request in her Lord's eyes, and nodded with a small smile. "She will not leave my sight Arathorn." She placed a hand on his shoulder, "worry not for her or the babe, I will protect them until my last breath." She was rewarded with a rare genuine smile from the man.
"I have no doubt of it, and I am comforted beyond words by it."
Rain lashed against Ari as she bowed her head against the howling gale that had sprung up around them. It had been a month since they had left the remains of the summer encampment and they were a little over half way to Rivendell; a fact for which she was very glad. Ari was worried for Gilraen; Arathorn's wife, and one of Ari's greatest friends, the woman was nearly eight months pregnant and it would be much more pleasant, and much less dangerous for her to give birth within the walls of the elven city where she could receive the best medical care. And where they were not always trying to stay one step ahead of a band of orcs who had prompted their hasty retreat over a month earlier.
With Gilraen on her mind Ari dropped back in the group of men and women trudging through the never ending wood, jaws set in grim determination. Her friend was alternating between walking and riding on one of the few horses that they had with them, but the journey had been very hard on her and Ari had spent many days and nights trying to raise her spirits.
"How do you feel my friend?" Ari asked, drawing level with Gilraen.
The other woman grimaced, speaking as low as would allow Ari to hear her, "I ache certainly, and I fear that we will not arrive in Rivendell before the time comes for me to give birth. It plagues my every waking moment Ari, I couldn't bear for-"
Ari cut her off before she could dig to deep a hole of sadness to wallow in, "Please my friend, do not let these things trouble you. You do not think that anyone here would let anything happen to you or the little one do you? We will try our best to get you to Rivendell, but whatever happens all will turn out alright in the end. I solemnly promise you that."
Gilraen's smile lifted slightly at her friend's soft vow, her heart comforted, "What would I do without you Arianna Redford?" Ari just grinned in reply.
A week later, just as the huge company had stopped for the night, the first wave of pain hit Gilraen; her cry pulling Ari to her side in just seconds.
"Gilraen?"
"I think-" She let out a moan of pain which said all Ari needed to hear.
"I need a healer now!" Around them people sprang into action, "Someone help me get her to the tent, and fetch Lord Arathorn!"
Within the flurry of activity Ari gently calmed her friend as much as she could, coaxing her, with the aid of Halbarad, towards the healing tent. As she and one of the healers Leiela were getting Gilraen comfortable for what would certainly be a long night, Arathorn rushed in looking more panicked than Ari had ever seen him.
"How is she?" He caught her by the arm, "Is there anything I can do to help? Can-"
"My Lord, you need to calm yourself and listen to me, Gilraen is in excellent hands and we will do the upmost to ensure that both she and your child are happy and healthy when all this is over, but for now you must leave us to do our job." He looked lost for a second, but with Halbarad coming to his arm to guide him out of the tent, he complied.
"Right." Ari said turning back to her friend as she lay in bed, teeth gritted as another contraction hit her. "Let's do this."
It did indeed end up as a very long and tiring night, and Ari was pretty sure that every bone in her hand had been crushed because of how tightly Gilraen gripped it, but it was so worth it. As the exhausted mother lay back, Leiela gently passed the tiny baby to Ari, whose eyes were full of tears. She nodded to one of the women who stood at the tents entrance, signalling that she should fetch Arathorn, before placing the baby into his mother's arms, with a soft smile filled with love. As the Lord of the Dunedain entered she stood, "My Lord Arathorn, you have a son."
The joy on his face would stay with Ari forever, and she quietly slipped out of the tent along with all of the attending healers to give the new parents the privacy they deserved. It had been a joyous night for the Dunedain indeed, and as she watched the sun bursting over the horizon in a blaze of orange and pink and gold Ari was perfectly happy.
