`Chapter 11
Ava was still heavy hearted when they finally arrived at Helm's Deep. Boromir stayed by her side trying to comfort her as much as he could. She admired him for it but she couldn't help the feeling that she lost the ranger. The image of him slipping from her hand kept running through her mind.
They got the wounded off the horses and to the healers. Éowyn ran up, her expression swiftly fading from a bright smile to confused sadness. Ava walked past her without noticing she was asking for the Ranger of the North. Boromir, holding Ava close to him, lead her to a room so she could collect herself.
Ava sat down on the bed wrapping her arms around herself in a tight hug. Her green eyes were fixed staring at the blurry floor. Her long black hair fell around her trembling shoulders creating a dark curtain to hide her face.
Boromir scanned her for a long moment before going up to her, kneeling down so he could see her face. His hand brushed aside part of the black curtain concealing her face, making it rest behind a slightly pointed ear. Ava closed her eyes when his hand caressed her cheek. She leaned into it as fresh tears emerged, resting her hand over his.
"Ava, you can not blame yourself. Aragorn was a great man and I know he didn't blame you." He paused for a moment, watching her and brushing away the hot tears that slid down her cheeks. "You did everything you could. We all know that." He added kissing her cheek softly.
Ava sniffled and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. Boromir returned the hug with a soft hum. "Boromir… I love you." She whispered in his mind. The Steward paused wondering if he heard her correctly. Ava smiled through her tears and added, "You did."
He looked at her with a bright smile scanning her face. "I love you too, Ava." He stated, kissing her lips lovingly. Ava returned it fully, keeping him close. After a minute they broke the kiss, gazing at each other.
"Thank you for comforting me." She said softly, glad he was there with her. Boromir shook his head.
"Please don't thank me. I'll always be there for you." He said softly.
A few days later, Ava and Boromir were walking about the fortress when several people ran by including Gimli, who was clumping along. Ava quickly followed them, curious as to what might have Gimli excited other than food. Both, Boromir and Ava, were lead to the main gate where a wounded and very weary man rode through the gate on a horse. Ava froze in her steps staring at the man carefully.
He dismounted, greeted Gimli and started heading their way. Ava refused to budge as he neared, forcing him to stop in front of her. Aragorn looked up to her and smiled brightly at her. "Ava." He whispered.
Ava exhaled sharply hugging him tightly. Aragorn smiled, returning it just as tightly. "I didn't kill you!" She said happily. Aragorn chuckled softly. "No, but it wasn't your fault. You did what you could and I admire that about you, Ava. Thank you." Aragorn said softly, pulling away slightly to look at her. Ava smiled up at him, kissed his cheek and pulled away.
Boromir rested his hand on his shoulder, smiling brightly. "I'm happy to see you back." He said. Aragorn did the same, still smiling.
"I'm happy too. Pardon my rush, but I must see the King." Aragorn said politely. Boromir nodded and let him through.
Ava stared after Aragorn in amazement. Boromir smiled brightly seeing her happy again. She looked up to him, her eyes bright. "I'm so glad to see you happy." Boromir said softly. Ava quickly hugged him, smiling brightly.
The entire fortress was humming like a bee hive with everyone preparing for battle. Ava snuck around preparing as well, knowing full well that Boromir, Legolas and Aragorn wouldn't allow it.
"And what do you think you're up to Lassie?" A gruff voice sounded behind her. Ava gasped sharply whirling around quickly looking around. She didn't see anyone standing near her. The gruff voice cleared his throat causing her gaze to fall to see Gimli with crossed arms and a stern look.
She smiled sheepishly at him hiding the armor behind her back. "He will not be too happy with you." He said shaking his head.
"Gimli please don't tell him! Please don't tell!" She said quickly looking worried. Gimli looked up to her scanning her face.
"Why don't you wait in the caves like all the other women and children. You should not be fighting, young lady." He said gently. Ava hid the sadness from her eyes, thinking her sounded like her father.
"I want to fight. I refuse to stay cooped up with all of them. I want to stay by Boromir's side so I know he won't be hurt." Ava said scanning his stern face for a long moment. "Please don't tell anyone, Gimli." She pleaded.
Gimli sighed heavily. "And you get hurt Lassie, I won't forgive myself." Gimli stated shaking his head. "Fine, but you must promise to be safe!" Gimli pointed a stubby finger at her narrowing his eyes.
Ava smiled brightly and hugged Gimli quickly. The dwarf gasped softly in surprise, patting her back. He smiled up at her when she pulled away. She mouthed thank you silently and took off to finish getting ready. Gimli watched her leave, his expression worried. "I hope I haven't stepped in it this time."
"Aragorn you must rest!" Legolas urged the weary man, who kept walking with an annoyed expression. Ava paused looking to them in the crowded pathway. The males were walking against traffic. Aragorn looked determined to make sure everything was ready for tonight. She walked up behind them. "You'll get yourself killed out there, Aragorn!" Legolas growled pulling the man's shoulder.
Aragorn sighed and turned to Legolas with a glare. "I'll be alright, Legolas. Drop it!" Aragorn hissed continuing on his way. The elf glared darkly, following him quickly. Ava touched Legolas' shoulder gently, worried about them.
The elf turned to her and smiled slightly through his glare. "He's too worried about this battle to rest. No one here, besides a select few, knows how to fight. It's a good possibility we won't be here tomorrow morning." Ava thought to him.
Legolas paused, looking to Aragorn speaking with Éowyn, then back to Gandalf's daughter. "Good point, but I'm about to knock him out so he can rest. He desperately needs it." The elf said in his musical voice. Ava chuckled softly, rolling her eyes.
She parted from them and ran to her room with her bag of supplies. Locking the door, she went through the armor she grabbed. Ava quickly hid the armor and changed in to a loose long sleeve shirt and a comfortable pair of pants. Pulling her long black hair to the back, she fastened a tight herring-bone braid down the back of her head and through the rest of her hair. It was shoved in the back of her shirt and she was out the door, sliding on a helmet to hide her face.
She had studied a lot of the men in the fort so she could blend in more, heading to the armory for weapons. Several looked at her since she was just entering the room. Ava immediately recognized Aragorn standing in the room observing everyone around him, looking deeply worried and in thought.
Ava stood near a table looking at the swords picking one up that looked strong. Aragorn brushed past her with a sigh. "Farmers, ferriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." He said softly with a shake of his head.
Ava glanced around the room listening to him. Gimli was reclining on a column watching everyone. "Most have seen too many winters."
"Or too few." Came the cold reply from Legolas. Ava looked at him, surprised at his tone. "Look at them. They're frightened." She looked around sadly knowing he was right. "You can see it in their eyes." Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked to elf. He merely turned away. Ava looked to the weapons as he spoke in elvish, knowing no one but Aragorn and herself could understand him.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn yelled before storming off. She sighed softly grabbing a sword that she liked and left the room, hoping Boromir doesn't find her. He came around the corner, his expression troubled. Ava froze in the hall seeing him. She was tempted to go to him to find out what was wrong. She had a sudden thought entering his mind.
"Where are you Ava?" Boromir panicked through his mind. The man walked by her headed for where she had come from.
"I'm in the caves, love." Ava said gently. Complete relief spread through him, hearing her. She smiled feeling it and left his mind before he could say anything. She continued down the hall quickly to finish getting ready.