Disclaimer: I do not own anything that J.R.R Tolkien wrote.
Chapter Nine
She could feel the pitying looks on her back as they walked. After her break down, they had started walking. They didn't know if the orcs would follow them but they needed to keep moving anyways.
She walked beside Aragorn at the front and she could tell from the looks he was shooting her that he wanted to talk about what had happened.
Why she had broken down like she did? Why hadn't she said a word since they started walking again? All those questions that she couldn't answer to even herself.
"That is Durin's Stone!" Adara jumped as Gimili yelled.
"I cannot pass without turning aside for a moment to look at the wonder of the dale." He exclaimed.
"Be swift! The sun sinks early and the orcs may not come out until dusk but we shall be long gone before then." Aragorn told him.
"Come Frodo!" Gimili shouted something about wanting Frodo to see so him and Sam followed after the dwarf.
Adara walked over to a large tree root and sat down. It had been a long day and she wanted nothing more than to curl up and her own bed with her own blankets and books, all in her own home.
Last week, her biggest worry had been passing her PCAT and now it was surving the bloody war that was about to come.
Not to mention everything in between.
"Hey." Adara looked up at the sound of the gravely voice and saw Aragorn looking at her with concern.
She nodded at him and scooted over so he could sit next to her on the root. "Are you alright?" He asked her but then scrunched up his face like he realized it was a stupid thing to say.
She sighed, "Not really. I-" She was cut off by Gimili, Sam, and Frodo came back. Aragorn looked at her with regret but they still got up.
"Later, okay?" She nodded and wrapped his cloak around her tighter.
They walked a little while before anyone spoke again.
"Here is the spring from which the Silverlode rises." Gimili said pointing to a spring.
"Our road leads beside it for many miles. For I am taking you on the road Gandalf wished before his departure. I hope to bring you to the woods in which the Silverlode flows down yonder." Every one looked to where he was pointing.
"There are the roads in which Lothlorien lies!" Legolas exclaimed.
Adara felt a thrill go through her at the mention of the forest. That had been one of her favorite chapters in the book. And it still was.
Sometimes she would open the book and read just that chapter and think of what life in Lothlorien would be like.
"My heart would be glad if it were under those woods and it were springtime." Adara zoned back into the conversation as Legolas was ending his speech about the woods.
"My heart will be glad even in winter. But the woods are still many leagues away. Let us hurry!" Aragorn said and with that they walked even faster than before.
She tried to keep up with the Company, really she did. But Aragorn was leading them with a brisk pace that she couldn't keep up with it.
Besides, she wasn't the only one. Frodo and Sam were right beside her, they were leaning on each other and huffing just as much as she was.
She really wanted a cigarette but she didn't think that the smoke would help her walk faster, or her lungs to stop burning.
Legolas looked back and saw that they were lagging behind and called Aragorn's attention to it.
"I'm sorry! I had forgotten what time it was. Let us find a place to settle for bit."
And with that they walked slower until they found a place to rest. They dug out the food and passed it around while checking over everybody for wounds.
Adara walked a little whiles away from everyone and sat on the earthy ground. Aragorn soon came and sat next to her.
Adara dug out a cigarette and counted her remaining six. She would have to pace herself to make those last.
She silently lit it and took a drag before speaking.
"I don't know why I collapsed like I did. I guess it's just all the stress finally got to me. I mean, this is so just unreal. I'm in a book/movie series that I read when I was five! I'm getting weird-visions-dreams-whatever the fuck they are! And then Moria and the balrog and Gandalf! I just-I don't-" Adara realized that her voice had gotten louder and she was pacing instead of sitting down like before.
Aragorn got up and wrapped his arms around her. Adara didn't like hugs, she hated being touched, she hated any social interaction; it's why she was going to school to work with dead people.
So when she felt the rangers strong, incrediably warm, body wrap around hers, she shocked herself by immediatly melting into them and crying.
Big, lound, gasping sobs. Adara was an ugly crier, her face got all red and swollen, snot went everywhere. It was gross. But Aragorn just held her tightly and let her get out all her frustration and sadness and just let her cry.
After a few minuets her sobs subsided into heavy breathing and silent tears but she was still shaking. She also noticed that she had dropped her cigarette and was clutching Aragorn to her tightly.
She pulled back and wiped her eyes quickly. God she must look horrible.
"We should-we should get back to the others." Adara said picking up her cigarette and putting it in her pack. She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes again.
"Adara look at me." Adara looked up at Aragorn.
He had a serious look on his face but his eyes were concerned. Adara deflated and shook her head.
"I don't know." She whispered. Aragprn looked so pained at her answer and her stepped forward.
Taking her cheek in his hand he whispered, "I will get you through this. Don't you ever think that you are not safe because I will never let anything happen to you."
There was such intensity in his gaze that it made all the breath swoosh out of her lungs.
His eyes were such an intense blue color. Not electric like Legolas's or deep like Frodo's or even icy like hers, they looked like an ocean. So pretty and water like she just wanted to climb in them and swim.
She wanted to live in his eyes and never leave him. She didn't notice either of them moving forward until they were nose to nose, breath intermingling. Her exhales were his inhales. Her eyes fluttered close and her mouth parted.
And- "Aragorn! Adara!"
Authors Note: Hey guys! This chapter didn't have much to do with the story line but I wanted to kind of move Aragorn and Adara's relationship a little more. I put the disclaimer on this chapter because there is some dialog that I got from the book so I didn't want to copyright! The next chapter will feature Lothlorien! Hope you enjoy! See you guys next Sunday!
