A larger chapter this time. I got a bit stuck since it is set in winter and it is very hot here at the moment. I love getting reviews, thank you for posting them.
I hope you like this chapter.
When Ram woke again she did not recognize her surroundings at first. A dark wooden ceiling was above her and dark walls next to her. She was lying on a straw bed. She felt much better, though her side started to hurt again. The yellow light from the fire made shadows on the wall and the female ranger stared at it in amazement for a while. Slowly her mind started to figure out where she was. But her mind was working at a very slow pace.
A woman came into view. Her blond hair had started to turn white and grey and her skin was touched by the sun. You could see she smiled a lot. But her cool blue eyes now looked worried at the ranger in the bed. Ram had known the woman for quite some time now. She had grown older since she last saw her, which saddened Ram a bit
Once she had known the woman like the back of her own hand. But time was catching up on them. But when she looked into her friend's Blue eyes she saw nothing but love. "Ah you are awake." her friend sat down on the bed, rubbing a piece of hair away from Ram's face. "How are you feeling my dear?" Ram closed her eyes and wanted to drift back to sleep. "The room is spinning Hilda." Hilda snickered and places a kiss on her friend's brow. "That will be the painkillers sweety. In a few days, you will be missing them." Ram tried to move, but a burning sensation shot through her side. "careful." Hilda spoke gently. "you are not fully healed yet. But that Striderfellow did a fine job."
Ram lay back down on her pillow and searched her memory for bits an pieces what had happened. But there was nothing to remember. So she asked her friend. "Your fellow rangers brought you here 3 days ago. You had some vile encounter and you were tossing and turning. Making it impossible for them to heal you. They brought you to the farm. Strider was very worried about you.
" Where is he now?" "Whom? Strider? Probably in the kitchen." Hilda's eyebrows knit together before she turned to her friend. "Is there something between you?"
would scold someone for asking a question like that. But Hilda was her friend and she was used to it. She also felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "perhaps." Hilda shook her head. "sleep now friend, we will talk about this later." she placed a kiss on the rangers brow.
The farm they were resting at was a large homestead with the windowless walls on the outside and a small gate the only way to enter. It was very much like a castle, but a lot smaller. When you walked into the gate you came to a small square what could best be described as a courtyard. The blacksmith, stables, kitchen and main living area were all linked to the courtyard. It held the room for about 50 people, but it was only filled to the max during harvest time.
Now the winter was setting in only three families lived there. Tors, the head of the farm and his wife Hilda and two daughters Vala and Caila. Caila was in a nearby town with her husband's family. Vala and her husband Rickard were expecting their second child. Ram had not seen Vala and Caila since they were only children but warmed up to Vala easily enough.
The blacksmith Burudir and his wife Ellaste lived near the kitchen with Ellaste's nephew Bar were permanent residents of the farm as well as Tors' cousin with his wife and three children, who lived on the other side of the homestead. They took care of it and provided the Rangers with regular food transports.
Tors had been a ranger when he was younger and the farm had often been a home away from home for traveling rangers. In the summertime and fall, he called to them for help on the field. Ram had stayed there many summers and a few winters and had gotten friends with Hilda when they were younger.
Ram was slowly starting to feel better. Hilda and her daughter Vala were taking care of her, as well as Halbarad and Strider. And Kalen found many excuses to bother her. She kept waiting for the moment they would tell her they would leave her behind. She had been losing sleep over it. She did not mind staying at the farm but the thought of Strider getting back in the wild without protection, without her, was eating her up.
It was a cold morning and the snow outside was falling down gently and started to form a thin blanket on the swept courtyard. Hilda had put Ram in the kitchen since it was the warmest place in the house. The lady of the house made sure Ram wasn't straining herself. And handed her some potatoes to peel for dinner that day. Vala was making porridge for everyone. Her big belly showed the baby could come in a few weeks. Hilda was busy making coffee.
The door opened softly, and Strider walked in. He smiled as he looked at Ram, making her smile in response. "good morning my ladies." Hilda turned and curtsied perfectly. "Goodmorning my Lord." Strider laughed as he was handed a cup of coffee and was put down next to Ram. "How are you feeling today?" Ram shrugged her shoulders. "It's hard without the painkillers. But as long as I stay put, I am alright." He nodded and carefully lifted her shirt to redress her wound under the watchful eye of Hilda. She had been making sure they were never alone when Rams wound was redressed of when Strider checked on her. If the ranger was annoyed by it, he did not show it. But the casual touched and hugs had returned to a minimum. For now, Ram did not mind. She did not like being touched when she was sick or injured. She did, however, miss talking to her friend.
"So…" She started. "When are you and the others leaving for Rivendell? The winter solstice is in a few weeks if you leave now, I am sure you will make it in time." She managed to smile, but it did not reach her eyes. In truth, she did not want him to go. But she knew it was childish.
"I am not going to Rivendell." He said as he pulled her shirt back down. "Well, not yet anyway."
Ram stared at him for a second, needing a moment to process what she had heard. "But you will miss the holidays with your family. That is why we left in the first place."
Strider snickered. "I have missed them before, and I will miss them again. It makes the ones I am home more special. Do not worry about it, Ram. I am not leaving my friend." He moved closed and placed a fast kiss on her hair. Both their eyes flashed at Hilda, but she had her back turned. Vala had seen it but winked at her. "Besides. I want to help Vala with the birth of her child." Vala laughed. "I would be very happy with your aid Strider. The midwife can't come with all the snow. I know how to get a baby out, but it gives me peace to know we have such a skilled healer here with us."
Hilda had put her arm around her daughter. "And we would love to have you all here for the winter solstice."
They all smiled. "So who wants some breakfast?"
The day was filled with homely choirs, talking and laughing. Strider, Halbarad, and Kallen were helping Hilda's husband Tors with some reparations on tools and the house. Now it was winter they only had to take care of the livestock and had time to do the jobs there was no time for during the summer. Now with the extra hands, Tors could do the bigger repairs he had been postponing.
Hilda and Ram got along like old times without the blink of an eye, and it felt to Ram she had gained a sister in Vala. They were preparing food and decorations for the winter solstice.
Ram was busy tying a ribbon together when she let out a yawn for the third time. It was getting close to dinner time and she shifted to find a better position. Her side had started to hurt again. Hilda spotted it. "What's wrong Cailean?" "Nothing, I am just tired, that's all." Hilda smiled. "Then take a rest. Vala is lying down as well before dinner." "I can not leave you to make dinner for everyone!" Ram protested, only making Hilda laugh. "I have been feeding more rangers in the last couple of years than you ever have. Go to bed Cailean, I will call you in time."
Cailean woke up when someone entered her room. Strider smelled like a fresh forest in winter. It was clear he had just come from outside.
Strider sat down next to her. "How are you feeling?" He spoke gently. His hand placed caring on her arm. A kind smile around his lips. "Tired," she spoke, her face pulled in pain as she moved. She had not slept at all and was trying to find relief from the pain.
"I am going to look at your wound." He spoke, his hands moving towards the edge of her tunic. The touch of his hands heightened her senses Ram exhaled and his cold fingers brushed her warm skin. "What's wrong?" he stopped, looking at her.
Ram smiled softly "your hands are cold"
"I apologize." he let go of her shirt and rubbed his hands together to warm them up. After a moment he started again. His finger still cold, but not as freezing as they were. She winced when he touched her wound. Feeling a sharp sting shooting through her. Striders face turned to worry. "You overdid yourself today Cailean." He scolded her.
She bit her lower lip. Strider froze. He moved a bit, taking his hands off her. "I am sorry," she whispered, afraid his lack of interaction was because he was mad at her.
A calloused hand lifted her face. "It is alright Cailean. I will have Hilda bring you some food and some painkillers so you can sleep tonight." He sighed and put his arm around her, moving closer to her. "You have to take care of yourself, I can not lose you." He whispered.
"You will not lose me Aragorn, I am too stubborn." She leaned in, having missed this interaction between them.
He snickered, moving his nose into her hair. "I love the smell of your hair." He spoke softly. He froze as if he suddenly realized he said it out loud. He moved away quickly. "I will send Hilda to you. Sleep well Cailean."
He almost ran out of her room, leaving a very confused ranger.
Hilda came in moments later, looking over her shoulder. "What happened?"
Cailean stared at her friend. "What do you mean?"
"Strider was flustered, I never saw the man blush, ever. He blushed like a maiden on her wedding day."
Cailean felt her cheeks starting to warm up. "He said he loved the smell of my hair."
Hilda smiled. "Did he now?" her voice became softer. "I think he is a good match for you. when are you taking the next step." Cailean felt a sharp pain inside her. She looked at her hands as her smile fell. "I can't Hilda, I just can't." She looked up at her friend, seeing the lines in her face, her grey hair. "You are afraid you outlive him. Like you are outliving me."
Cailean looked back at her friend with tears in her eyes. "I am sorry," she whispered.
Hilda pulled her close, embracing her tightly. "I have lived a good life. A better one because I got to know you. I am still living a good life. And you will carry me in your heart until your ends. But you have to count the happy days, the days filled with love and laughter. Not the ones you in which you are fearing something that might happen. Please, Cailean. Live your long life to the fullest, not in fear."
Cailean had started to cry.
"Now that man is crazy about you, but he doesn't realize it yet. And you need to get your things together and let it happen. Who knows, in the many years I seen him he has not aged a lot. He might live as long as you. He is a ranger you know."
Cailean sighed and moved away from Hilda, wiping her tears away. She was right, Cailean knew she was. But the thought of outliving him scared her. It was a knot in her stomach she could not get so easily untangled. But she would try. She smiled at Hilda."You are right my friend, as always. Thank you."
Hilda laughed and patted her on her cheek. "I know, I always am. Now eat something."
The time passed quickly and Ram was feeling a lot better and helping to decorate the house. She and Vala were decorating the dining room. Ram was standing on a chair tying a green branch to the beams of the ceiling.
"Cailean, I am confused a bit." The pregnant woman handed her a ribbon.
"About what Vala?" The ranger bit her lower lip as she tried the ribbon on the beams of the ceiling.
"You and my mother have been friends since she was young." Ram smiled, knowing where this was going. She moved her hands away from the ribbon, that kept the branch up.
"We have." Ram knew what was coming and she smiled to herself.
"But you are so much younger then she is." Vala handed her another ribbon, and Ram tied it. "I am not, I about as old as she is."
Vala snickered. "Then the rangers life is better for you then I thought." Ram smiled at her friend's daughter. "I am gifted with long life, as is my family. Can you hand me another ribbon?" She looked down, seeing Vala being bend over. "Vala? Are you well?"
The woman looked up pain clearly on her face. "The baby is coming."
Ram got off the chair quickly. Vala stood up straight again. "Where do we need to go?"
"The kitchen, to my mother." Ram put her arm around the woman and together they walked to the kitchen. Hilda knew what was happening when they came in. Ram almost jumped when Vala bends over again with a loud moan. "Why don't you go and get Strider Cailean."
Ram nodded and ran towards the blacksmith. fetching Strider, who followed her quickly inside the house.
A wave of heat hit them in their face as a scream filled the air. Vala was sitting on a birthing chair, her hair stuck to her forehead. She was held up by Halbarad and Ellaste, the blacksmith's wife. Hilda was sitting at her knees. She turned her head.
"Close the door!" Her voice sounding like a captain at war.
Strider walked on. "What is wrong?" Vala screamed again. "The baby is turned." Hilda looked worried at the ranger. "Can you help her?"
"I will try," Strider spoke and washed his hands quickly. Ram did the best she could to aid him. They worked what seemed like hours when finally the wail of a newborn baby filled the air.
Ram quickly took the child, wrapping it in soft warm cloth. Strider and Hilda quickly put their attention to Vala, who was not out of the woods yet. But Ram walked away, holding the baby, carefully cleaning her face. She was crying loudly, which was good. Her pink skin so new to the world. Ram could not help but smile, holding the girl close to her. She was complete in every way and perfect to all who saw her. The baby was moving around to find food, and Ram quickly made a bottle. She sang a soft song, as she held the tiny infant in her arms. When the baby started eating Ram felt a hand on her shoulder.
"How is she?" Ram looked up at Strider. He looked tired and his hands were still wet from the water he cleaned himself with. "Perfect." Ram smiled lovingly at the baby."How is her mother?" "She will survive." Ram looked at the baby as she felt an arm around her shoulder. She froze underneath his touch, the picture of him, her and a baby too much to handle. Strider froze in reaction and moved away quickly. "Good thing we came when we did. I will go and show the mother her baby." Ram smiled at the baby. "She is beautiful."
Vala looked pail, but a smile was on her face when Ram entered the bedroom. Hilda looked at her with a smile. "Hello, mommy," Ram spoke softly as she smiled at Vala. Vala sat up a bit straight, taking the baby girl in her arms. "What are you going to call her?" Ram asked stroking the baby's soft cheek with her worn index finger. "Penelope Duna Tulm. I wanted to call her Dunedain, but Strider advised against it, saying that name would hunt her down her whole life. So, Duna, it is." Ram smiled. "Welcome to the world, Penelope Duna Tulm."
The baby scrunched her nose, before she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep in her mother's arms.
She closed the door behind her, making her way to the others and finally getting some sleep.
Winter solstice came to them without snow and with the celebrations of new life.
They were all seated at the very large dining table. Ready to start with the feast. But Tors was going to hold a little speech first.
"Dear friends and family." He took a deep breath to continue when there was a loud knock on the door.
Looks were exchanged and no one moved, all a bit surprised by the sound since they were all at the dining table. Again a loud knock. Tors got to his feet. "Well, let's not let our visitor wait for too long." He muttered. When he opened the door a tall figure as at the door. His pointy hat in his hand and a smile hid in his grey beard. "Good evening. I heard you were having a celebration."
"Gandalf!" Tors embraced the wizard "Welcome, please feel free to join us!"
I am changing the first chapters a bit since I found a very bad continuity mistake and I got a better spelling program to fish out the mistakes.
No new content, so if you read them, you don't have to re-read.