Authors note: I'm so sorry it has taken so long to update I hit a bit of writers block with all my stories and then I was away road tripping around Canada and had no access to my writing for a while. Remember I am always open to ideas, suggestions and constructive criticism, I hope you enjoy. This is just a little chapter to get me back into the swing of things and is slightly mushy but who doesn't love a bit of romance and mush there is enough violence and sorrow in the world why make it that way in fiction too when we could make characters happy in between.
Opening my eyes it takes me a while to get my bearings and I spend some time staring around the room I am in. I am alone in a small bare room a loose dress now covering me and by the feel of the air around me I would guess it to be the middle of the night. Although that also may have been given away by the darkness everywhere. After laying there for a while I finally decide to get up and find my friends and my Aragorn. My Aragorn! Even thinking about it now sends a little shiver down my spine and goosebumps over my skin, I still feel a little as if I am in a dream I never thought I could be so happy despite the wound across my back which once healed would no doubt leave a scar which will no doubt worry me in the future but right now I was just happy to be alive. Slowly, I drag my way out of the bed I am in and shakily stand on my feet. Moving along to the door I use the wall to support me and can already feel sweat building on my forehead and prickling on my back as I step out into the corridor and make my way along it. I realise quite suddenly that I am not at Helms Deep at all but am walking down one of the halls at Edoras. How long have I been asleep?
"My lady, you should not be up and walking around so soon," a voice says quietly from behind me causing me to gasp lightly and spin around to see Haldir standing there.
"How did I get back here? What happened? Where is everyone?" I ask, questions pouring out of me even as he takes my arm and begins to walk slowly with me.
"You lost a lot of blood my lady and became feverish, you have been unconscious these past few days and during that time you were brought back here to heal," he pauses and I open my mouth to interrupt but he holds a hand up to stop me before continuing, "Aragorn and your other companions rode to Isenguard and are returning as we speak in fact by the time we reach the hall they should have got there," he finishes smiling knowingly at me and I smile in return.
"Can I ask one more question?" I say looking up at him and he nods down at me as we continue to make our way along the corridor. "Why did you not ride with them?"
"You saved my life my lady and I owe you my allegiance and protection," he says solemnly and I gasp a tiny bit it surprise.
"But your family…"
"Do not trouble yourself lady Peyson my decision is my own and my brothers await me in the safe havens," he looks so serene as he says this that I feel quite jealous, I'm fairly sure that it's not fair for someone to pledge their allegiance to someone else and look so bloody self righteous and perfect whilst doing it.
"You know I don't need protecting right? I can look after myself," I retort stubbornly and I notice his smirk which brings a slight flush to my cheeks which increases as I stumble and am forced to clutch him for support.
"Come you should be resting let us get you to the hall and your lover so you can take some advice and actually recover as I sense that you will not listen to me," he says supporting me gently as I fight the burning in my cheeks and offer him a grunt in reply.
By the time we reach the hall I am pretty exhausted which is frustrating and worrying. What if they come back with news that we must ride out soon and I am still too weak I can not face leaving him now that I have found him. Any of them for that matter they are all I have left in the world now. Halide helps me over to a seat by the fire and I lean back slightly wincing at the soreness still in my wounded back and fidget around until I find a comfortable position resting on my side and close my eyes for a second. A movement causes me to stir and I open my eyes to see stormy grey ones staring back at me.
"Aragorn," I whisper, "is it really you?" I ask not sure whether I am still dreaming,
"I am here my little one," he smiles and I move to sit up as he helps me and then seats himself beside me.
"When did you get back?" I ask after a moments silence,'
"Only an hour or so ago, I did not want to disturb you, you looked so peaceful.
"I have done little else these past days it would seem," I mutter and he laughs a little at the note of annoyance in my voice which I know I haven't been able to hide but then he sighs heavily and turns towards me his fingers tracing the features of my face before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and letting his hand rest on my cheek eliciting a small sigh from me as I lean into his touch.
"I have never been so afraid Peyson," he whispers eventually, "I have only just found you. I could not face losing you,"
"I am fine Aragorn," I cut in, "I am healing even as we speak, I will be left with a scar but that is all I was lucky,"
"You were brave and foolish and I wish you wouldn't do such things and yet I know that you will always do such things and that is why I love you," he drops his hand from my face here and runs his fingers through his own hair in a gesture which I know means he's frustrated.
"Then you know there is no point worrying about it," I pause again before adding, "besides you are exactly the same and you let me spend nearly two whole days believing you were dead so it was revenge," I say cheekily and he chuckles a little.
"Only you my little one can make me laugh when I should weep or shout," he smiles leaning towards me and after checking that the room is empty kissing my lightly on the lips.
"You look tired my love," I say after another pause and he smiles at me.
"I shall rest some now, tomorrow we celebrate our victory,"
"What of Saruman?"
"He is dead," he replies and I nod knowing that he does not want to discuss it any further, at least not tonight although I have the feeling there is something that has happened that he will not be willing to tell me and I may have to coax out of Legolas instead. "Come let us rest and we will celebrate and see the others tomorrow," he says after a final long silence between us and he stands wearily pulling me carefully up with him.
"I am not sure who is supporting who here," I comment quietly and he chuckles again at me.
"I am perhaps more battle weary than I let myself believe," he whispers back and I almost stop at hearing my great and fearless and tireless warrior admit to this and feel I need to share with him too.
"You know I am glad that I was not awake when I was brought here from Helms Deep," I say in a very quiet voice, which I feel still echoes too much in the silent hallways.
"Why is that little one?" he asks equally as quietly.
"You will think me a coward,"
"I could never think that, you are the bravest person I know," he says with so much conviction that tears spring to my eyes.
"I am glad because… I fear that every time I see death… I do not see anything other than my family, my friends, the images from my nightmares and my past. I am scared that new images will be added to my nightmares. I am frightened that my nightmares will return. I am terrified of falling apart and appearing weak in front of others. Of not being able to hold it together in the face of death and so I am glad that I did not have to face that, does that make me terribly selfish?" for a few minutes we walk on in silence until we reach the door of a room that I do not recognise and here he stops and turns to face me.
"You are the most selfless person I have ever met my love. Your fear is natural and founded from a trauma few have experienced and you have handled everything with such bravery never doubt your heart Peyson or your courage and remember that you have a family in the fellowship and in me always," I am embarrassed to feel a few tears making tracks down my face at his little speech, and try to turn away blushing.
"You know it is not fair for you to be so handsome brave and eloquently spoken," I snip at him causing a chuckle to echo quietly around us.
"Come let us get some sleep,"
"Where are we?" I ask panic filling me slightly at the thought of him staying with me which suddenly feels less appropriate when we weren't in immediate danger of oncoming armies and enemies and I was after all brought up properly and the notion of sharing a bed with a man who was not my husband, let alone the future king of Gondor, was not good.
"It is the fellowships sleeping quarters, I made sure that you had a bed in here, I would not leave your side but I need rest and it is inappropriate for us to be alone in a room together," he smiles having clearly noticed my sudden awkwardness and I smile up at him and allow him to lead me into the room.
"Goodnight Aragorn," I sigh as he helps me to lie on my side and then settles down on his own bed facing me.
"Goodnight my little one,"
"I love you," I say in a whisper on impulse and I can see him smile even through the darkness.
"I love you too," he replies and within minutes I hear his breath even out as he slips into what is probably the first restful sleep he has had in many long nights.