Hello, my wonderful readers! Thank you to anyone who has read, reviewed or added this story to their alerts and favorites :)
I'm sorry it took me this long to update this. I am currently wrapping up chapter six, so I will try and get you guys caught up with this story. I don't think you need to wait for more than a couple of days for the next chapter (I will just have to read it through a couple of times.)
Ah, things are getting interesting with this chapter as we get to see Asta starting to understand bits of Westron as well of some of her 'true personality' showing through :D Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four Traveling
It was now three days since the three of them had left the small town on foot. The first day and night had been agony to Asta. The boots Einhard had given her were of soft material and she could feel every small stone pressing against her soles. Needless to say, her feet had been full of blisters by the time they had stopped for the night. Asta had reluctantly let Aragorn see her feet when the 'no-nonsense' look appeared on his face. Aragorn had applied some kind of salve on her feet and had wrapped them with bandages. After that, her walking hadn't given her that much trouble.
Her coughing was entirely another matter. Asta had a nagging feeling the two men were taking more breaks in their travel and going far slower than they usually would because of her. The dust made her lungs burn even more and she would suddenly have a coughing fit so bad that she thought she might throw up because of it. Every time this occurred, Aragorn made them stop their walking and rubbed her back until the coughing subdued. At night, before one of the men told her to sleep, and in the mornings before they started to walk again, Aragorn would make her drink that foul tasting herbal drink of some kind.
Asta was growing tired of just walking all day long and then sitting or lying down near the men all night.
So, as Aragorn and Einhard started to make camp for the night on the fourth day, Asta looked around them. She gathered that the sun would be up for at least another hour or so and with the men occupied to find some wood to the fire and setting the camp she might as well explore around a bit.
Asta had enough instinct of self-preservation that she knew she shouldn't go far from Aragorn and Einhard and that she should keep herself within eyesight of the two men. After all, Asta probably wouldn't do great on her own in the wilderness for very long. Especially now that she was still fighting the after-effects of her sickness.
Asta walked about twenty meters from camp and then stopped. To her right, there was a pond or what might have also been a small lake. She looked at it with interest.
That rock there does look good at standing and admiring the view…
Asta looked over her shoulder. Both Einhard and Aragorn seemed to be focused on their own tasks and neither paid attention to her. She looked towards the pond again and then back to camp. Making up her mind, Asta left towards the pond.
It's not that far and I can perfectly hear when they call me, she reasoned.
When Asta reached the water she eyed it closely. It didn't appear to be very deep, at least not near the shore. And the rock she had spotted was actually so close to the water's edge that she could easily jump on it from where she stood.
And jump she did. Asta couldn't help the grin on her face as she landed on the surface of the rock. It was flat enough that she had no trouble standing on it. Asta looked around her. There was no sight of Aragorn or Einhard and she couldn't hear either of them yell her name either.
She decided it was safe to stay for a while. With a smile still playing on her lips, Asta crouched down on the rock. She surveyed the water and watched as fish circled around in it. She could make out some plants below the surface as well.
Absentmindedly, Asta lowered her hand to the water. It was warm and Asta formed a cup with her hands and washed her face with the water. She almost lost her balance but managed to lean back just in time.
Startled, and panting a little, Asta stood up. There was another rock not that far from the one she was standing on. The other rock wasn't as large and flat as the one she stood on. It looked quite wet and slippery, in fact. Biting her lower lip lightly, Asta regarded the other rock.
Just as Asta was about to make the move to jump forward, someone grabbed her arm. Startled, Asta let out a yelp and lost her balance on the slightly wet surface of the rock. She would have probably fallen into the water had there not been a firm but gentle yank from the hands that were now latched on her both arms. She was pulled against someone's chest.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Asta looked up to see Aragorn. She yelped again when the man lifted her up and took the few steps it took to reach dry land. Aragorn lowered Asta back to her own feet but he didn't let go of Asta's shoulders.
"What were you thinking, Asta?" He shook her shoulders a bit.
Asta was taken back by Aragorn's actions. He seemed to be angry with her but she could also see the worry shine briefly in his stern eyes. Asta stammered something in her defense in her own language but stopped short when she remembered that there was no way she could explain her reasoning to the man so he could understand.
Asta lowered her eyes to their feet. She noted that Aragorn had removed his boots and that his trousers were wet up to the half-way of his shin. Aragorn said something and Asta understood the lecturing tone even if she didn't understand the words that were spoken.
Aragorn put his boots back on and then steered Asta back to the camp with a firm hand placed between her shoulder blades. He made her sit down on a small tree trunk.
Suddenly, Asta's guilt was gone and she started to feel she was being treated unjustly. It wasn't like she had been in danger!
Well, maybe when I almost fell, but not really even then! I can swim for goodness sake! And it wasn't even deep…
She almost felt like stomping her foot to the ground like some five-year-old who was about to throw a temper tantrum.
Now, that there's an idea, Asta mused to herself as she crossed her arms over her chest. She made to stand up and get away from Aragorn only to be sat right back down by the man's hand on her shoulders.
Aragorn looked stern and slightly annoyed. "Stay." The strict order came. Asta turned her face away and rolled her eyes. She cast a quick glare to Einhard who was laughing from his place by the fire. Stubbornly she turned her face away from camp.
Asta hadn't missed the relieved look on Einhard's face when Aragorn and she had come to his sight. Now it just seemed that the younger one of the two men was enjoying the scene that was playing in front of him.
"Cease your laughing, Einhard! Had she fell into the water it would have made all my work in vain." Aragorn glared at his friend.
Einhard wiped some water from the corner of his eye. "I know that, my friend. I am not sure that she does. She looks quite adorable when she pouts."
Aragorn glanced at Asta who refused to look at either of them. With a sigh, he went and sat down next to the girl.
"Time for your lesson."
"No."
Aragorn couldn't help the small smile as he exchanged a look with Einhard. He placed two of his fingers under the girl's chin and raised an eyebrow at her. The girl's firm demeanor seemed to falter some as she faced the man. "No?"
Asta thought for a moment if she should just cooperate or if she wanted to stay difficult tonight. She decided she didn't really want to anger Aragorn further even if he didn't seem that mad at her anymore. She let out a sigh in defeat and nodded her head. "Yes."
If she was honest with herself, Asta liked Einhard better than Aragorn. The older man might make her feel better when she was feeling sick, but he was quite frightening on the girl's books. Einhard was more lighthearted spirit than his friend and he tried to make Asta as comfortable as possible.
"Asta", Aragorn's voice caught the girl's attention again as her thoughts had begun to wander. Asta prepared for her next lesson of the language. Einhard and Aragorn had slowly started to teach her some of the words and basic verbs - which the two men usually used to order her around, like when they told her it was time for bed. At first, Einhard had started to point at things while they walked and said their names. Asta had quickly started to repeat them and in no time Aragorn had joined to teach her as well. Either Aragorn or Einhard made her repeat the words she had already learned several times a day.
"A fire", Aragorn said. Wordlessly Asta pointed at the fire. Aragorn gave him a scolding look and raised an eyebrow. The girl let out a sigh and repeated the word. Einhard tried to hide his chuckle by clearing his throat.
Aragorn pointed then at a tree behind them and asked what it was. Asta said the word and at Aragorn's confirming nod, she started to point things herself and said what they were called.
•-•-•-•
Einhard looked up at the stars. The fire crackled merrily in front him.
Aragorn glanced at his friend from the other side of the fire where he sat next to Asta. The girl had started to whimper in her sleep again - something that had happened more than once after they had left Fayburn. He soothed her back to sleep muttering nonsense in Sindarin and rubbing her back. Unconsciously, the girl sought comfort from his touch - by day Asta shied away from his and Einhard's touch whenever one of them made a move towards her. At first, she hadn't seemed bothered by Einhard ruffling her hair affectionately but after a few days, the girl refused to let either of the men touch her. It was strange that Asta hadn't yanked herself away from Aragorn when he had caught her.
"Are you certain you two can make it to Rivendell on your own, Aragorn?"
Aragorn let out a chuckle. "Is that what you have been worried about, my friend?"
Einhard rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Answer the question, old man."
"Old you say? Very well, boy, I am certain. I know my way to Imladris and I shall keep a close eye on our little friend here. I rather not have a repeat of her wandering away from my watch again."
Einhard laughed silently at that. "Aye. Gave me quite a scare when she wandered off like that nowhere to be seen. I gather she understood not do it again, though."
The younger man was silent for a moment. "It is not that I doubt your skills in the wilds, Aragorn, for I know you are far better Ranger than I will ever be. There is an uneasiness in my heart, though. There have been more orc sightings these parts than there ever has before."
"Do not scold yourself, Einhard son of Earnmund, for you are a great Ranger. Your wife and children are waiting for you. Go to them and be at peace knowing I shall keep Asta safe."
"That's not what- I know you will." Then he looked fondly over Asta's sleeping small form. "That bundle has grown on me, makes me sad to think about leaving her", he muttered under his breath, making Aragorn laugh.
"Perhaps you two shall see each other again someday."
•-•-•-•
Betrayed.
That's how Asta felt when Einhard departed from her and Aragorn. He left towards the west where Aragorn and she continued to go slightly to the north.
Einhard had hugged her and said something Asta didn't understand, then he had ruffled her hair and pressed a quick kiss on the crown of her head. Asta had tears in her eyes as she watched Einhard go.
It didn't seem fair that the man left her alone with Aragorn when Asta liked Einhard better. (Of course, the girl knew she had little choice in the matter.)
Asta thought Aragorn must have sensed her discomfort around him as he tried to make her think other things by starting to point out the things Asta didn't yet know the name for. He also kept his distance to the girl.
That night Asta cried herself to sleep. She missed Einhard's laughing nature, she missed Inga and she missed her home. Aragorn tried to comfort the girl but Asta moved away from him. It was only after Asta started to have trouble breathing and she started to cough once again that she accepted the man near her. Even after her breathing came easier and the coughing stopped the tears still fell freely from her eyes.
•-•-•-•
Asta hated when she couldn't voice what she wanted. Well, she could, but not in a way she would get understood. She knew how to say 'yes' and 'no'. She knew what was rock, sword, eyes and mouth. She understood when Aragorn told her to 'sleep', 'eat' or 'drink'. But she longed to have a conversation with another person. Asta wished that wherever it was, Aragorn was taking her, she could properly learn the language of this world. The thought of learning made Asta feel both relieved but also scared.
If I learn the ways of this world, doesn't it mean that I have accepted to be here? I would never have thought I could miss Uncle Aaron as much as I do.
Asta fumbled with the bracelet on her wrist. She did that often when she thought of home. Feeling the cords against her skin brought an odd sense of comfort to her.
"Asta."
The girl looked up to see Aragorn holding out some kind of meat to her. The girl took it but didn't eat as she didn't feel hungry that night.
Aragorn frowned, but for once did not push the girl to eat. He saw the pain in her eyes although the girl tried to keep her face stoned.
•-•-•-•
Asta coughed. She draped her cloak tighter around her and shuffled closer to the fire.
The fever had returned. Aragorn had camped them earlier than usual that day. He had seen how the girl had more trouble than usual to keep up with him.
He was worried. It was still another three days walk to Imladris and Aragorn feared the journey would be too much for Asta. He could only pray to the Valar to give strength to the poor girl. His herbs and skills went only so far. Asta needed lord Elrond and his healing abilities.
Asta shivered. Had she not felt as bad as she did, she would have never done what she did next. She moved closer to Aragorn and leaned against his warm body. She didn't pull away when Aragorn draped an arm around her but simply snuggled closer.
A shrieking kind of sound from somewhere around them in the forest made Asta wake up with a start.
Aragorn had stood up in a haste. He put out the fire and said something under his breath. To Asta, it sounded like he might be cursing.
Suddenly she was afraid. Her fear only increased when Aragorn put his finger quickly to his lips and made Asta stand behind him. The terrifying shrieks seemed to come from every direction at once. Asta whimpered in fear and grasped Aragorn's cloak tight in her fist. Aragorn had his hand on his sword's hilt and he was quick to shush the girl.
Aragorn cursed himself. He should have been more careful but in his haste and worry for Asta, he hadn't taken as close a look of their surroundings as he should have done. He knew that sound - orcs. It didn't sound like there were many of them. Still, Aragorn prayed they hadn't heard or smelled him and the girl.
He would make sure no harm came to Asta but he could not protect her and take care of the orcs at once if there were many of them.
Aragorn listened. The orcs were coming.
The first one leaped through the bushes yelling. Aragorn pushed Asta behind her and faced the enemy.
Asta was shocked at first. The creature had jumped from the bushes and it looked ugly. It had slightly pointed ears and from its armor, several little spikes stood out.
Asta screamed.
Then about a dozen more of the creatures appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
I actually should have more free time to write and update from now on. I finished my exams on Monday - I passed in every subject, yay! (Well, actually not sure about the math, but I am pretty sure I passed - I will never understand why I took the advanced math... Fortunately, I will never have to look another math book again if I don't want to)
Sorry, rambling. I just meant to say that with my exams over, I am officially finished with school until possibly next autumn (maybe further if I don't get accepted into any school) and I have more free time in my hands now than I have had in the past three years combined xD
