Chapter Nine: Aragorn

By

LordHelen

It creeps me out, walking in a forest with walking trees. I don't know which trees are Ents, so that makes me a little bit insane. Every creak makes me jump and if a leaf so much as moves an inch, I have to back away from that tree. Because what if an Ent comes and steps on me?

I walk in a green twilight, not absolutely positive what time it is. My stomach says it is time for lunch, so I am going by that clock. Gimli looks just as uncomfortable as me, one hand always on his axe. Naturally, the elf is all happy-go-lucky in the woods. I could swear Legolas is glowing with his absurd delight to be in a forest. Like a fat person and a chocolate cake.

I can't tell about Aragorn. He seems rather cool, like he doesn't care he's in an enchanted forest with giant trees that that can completely destroy him. Then again, he might be acting that way because he has to be the leader. This seems very…nice. Especially since if I saw him freak out, I might just run away screaming.

Boromir doesn't like it any more than me. In fact, I think it might be worse for him. He looks like he's feeling claustrophobic. Great, and now I'm feeling claustrophobic. The trees are too many, closing in around me. Then all the trees creak at once, like they're about to stand up and kick my butt.

"Gimli," Aragorn whispers, looking at the dwarf. He has his axe out, which explains why the trees are mad. "Lower your axe."

Gimli replaces his axe on his belt and looks around at the trees, all spooked. I'd beware, if I were him. The trees know he's an enemy now. I decide this world has too much magic. If it had less magic, the Ring wouldn't exist, trees couldn't kill you for the fun of it, and elves might not be so far above the rest of us.

Then again, what fun would it be if there was no magic? No fun. The world would be completely boring. Also, if we happen to come across a good wizard with magic, he might heal my broken arm.

Yeah, my arm was broken by that sadistic orc and I'm not allowed to use it for any reason whatsoever. What really sucks is it is my right arm, and I'm right-handed. So I won't be much use in a fight…or a pop quiz, should one appear randomly.

I feel a bit better about the whole Natalie situation. She probably got picked up by the Ent and is fine right now. I'm really worried about Sarah. Sam and Frodo get through all fine, but she absolutely loathes Gollum. She won't just travel with him, I'm sure. We stop to eat finally, but again, the only thing on the menu is lembas.

"How big do you think this forest is?" I ask once we have stopped and get out the flavorless food.

"Really big," Gimli answers.

"Maybe a few acres," Boromir offers.

"Are acres big?" I wonder. They all look me and I decide to go with yes. "Do you think a few hobbits could be easily lost?"

"Extremely," Aragorn answers. I curse under m breath. I did not want to spend the rest of my day searching through the forest. Couldn't the Ent bring them to us or something? We get going again, and the green twilight starts to go a shade or two darker.

Then there's the sound of a branch breaking and We all look that way, suspicious. I see a flash of white in the green.

"The White Wizard," Aragorn murmurs. "Get ready…"

We all turn when he does, and there's a flash of light. Legolas' arrow dies and Gimli's axe is ineffective. Aragorn drop their sword like they've been burned. I don't draw my weapon-because I can't-and wait patiently for the light to fade. When it does, I really see him. Gandalf.

"GANDALF!" I fling myself at him and wrap my arms as tight around him as I can. I didn't expect to feel so happy, but about the time the tears start, I realize how much I've really missed him. He didn't seem like such a big part of my life before, but now I see that I had cared for him a lot.

"You have changed quite a lot, Brine," Gandalf commented, hugging me back. I pulled back to give him a smile. "Now, we have much to talk about. Such as…what has happened since I've been gone?"

The recount was lengthy and boring. I put in details about my locket, and was very grateful when Aragorn quickly glossed over the me-being-girl part. Then Gandalf told us about his time in purgatory, and finally we were all caught up with each other and on our way out of the forest to Rohan.

When we were beneath the shining sun, Gandalf whistled for his white horse and our ponies came with. We'd had to leave them behind when we entered the forest. Once again I rode with Aragorn and we set out across the countryside. I became rather competitive with Shadowfax, whispering encouragement and insults to Hasufel Then I get tired and fall asleep.

The moon shines above me, lighting the ground around me. I know I'm not alone, I feel his arm across my shoulders, holding me tight against him.

"Will you not tell me of your past?" Aragorn asks me, turning to face me.

"No…my past is something no one should relive," I answer honestly, taken aback by his question.

"Very well then. Let us forget pasts and futures. Let us think of only the present." Aragorn pulls me against him and his lips connect with mine. At first my body and lips are stiff with surprise. Then my body reacts, molding around his in a way I'd never imagined possible. My lips fit his as perfectly as could be, and a warmth started in my stomach, a fire.

The fire spreads down, feeding me on as I kiss back with fierce intensity. His hand movedsto the small of my back, going down slowly…

I jerk awake, sweating and cold at the same time. After the dream, I feel very uncomfortable in the same saddle with Aragorn. It is dark, not the moonlit night of my fantasy. After what seems like an eternity, Gandalf lets us stop. I crawl away from the others and wrap myself in my cloak.

I feel all hyper about the dream. Then a realization crushes me into a depression as I take into consideration my first crush. Recently I have been feeling optimistic about something between Legolas and I. He knows I'm a girl, a first step in the right direction. He also feels protective of me, which is very good.

But I suddenly want Aragorn more, and he doesn't even think of me that way. Which would make Legolas my second choice, which isn't fair to him. He should be with someone who'd pick him over anyone else. Which isn't me. So that paints a pretty picture for them, with me left alone in the rain. Which is where my despair emanates from.

And I don't sleep that night.