The camp was nothing short of magnificent. Six thousand soldiers had answered Théoden's call, white tents filling the land as far as any mortal eye could see blazing like white fires, flags flickered brightly in the breeze as proud as standards atop a spire of the talles kingdoms. Indilwen watched with her bow knocked securely with an arrow.
The time was fast approaching, the time when she would have to disappear, only then would Aragorn take upon him his birth right. Her scouting party consisted of eight men and horses including herself, not far away Legolas was also scouting the area which made things trickier for her. How should she do this? How can she make it look like Sauron had taken her in front of so many witnesses. Unless...that was the point. Aragorn needed to see it with his own eyes to believe it. Indilwen smiled slightly to herself then turned her horse around. "We go back. There is nothing to report."
"But my lady, we have barely covered any ground." One of the men pointed out.
"I can see far beyond the horizon and I see no threats. Unless you think that the bear seven miles downwind might affect your good night of rest?" Indilwen shot back.
"But-" She threw him a dark look and he fell silent instantly.
"Believe what I say, mortal." She tossed her hair over her shoulder then led the party back to Théoden. She sent one of the men to report to the king then led Celestial back to the space she had been allocated. Someone had already put up her tent and got a warm fire going with a large leg of meat roasting on a spit. "That looks good Gimli." Indilwen called to him as she tethered Celestial up then untacked her.
"Best meat in the valley." Gimli nodded proudly. "Or it will be one I'm done with it. This deer had little more meat than a skinny bush, but still good meat, I think the one who shot this animal should be on the spit instead."
"You forget I was the one to shoot it, if you don't end up burning the animal to a cinder then it will be thanks to me we have a decent meal." Legolas reminded him.
"You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a ripe, fat, juicy hare and a dead rat." Gimli snorted. The argument erupted. Indilwen chuckled then her eyes fell on Aragorn approaching her with a look of concentration on his face. "What's wrong?" Indilwen asked him as he stood in front of her.
"I was just thinking about someone I met a long time ago." Aragorn told her softly as he sat down. "She told me that life is unfair and to get used to it."
"Who was she? I like her already." Indilwen smiled as she tossed another log onto the fire where Gimi continued to roast the meat, grumbling under his breath about proud princelings or something.
"I don't know. I never saw her again but I always felt that she had been watching me for a long time." Aragorn sighed.
"How did you meet her?"
"I was travelling from a small western village when I was attacked on the road by thieves. I fought back but their numbers outweighed my chances greatly, they beat me until I was left broken on the road, all my belongings and weapons taken." He stared into the fire. "When one of them was about to take off my head I saw arrows flying over them faster than anything I had ever seen before. She was like storm and fire, sending the thieves away like whipped dogs before she stood over me, healed me with her own magic before returning my belongings to me."
"Did she say anything?" Indilwen asked him.
"Only after I had insisted that I only lost because I was at an unfair advantage, my stubborn pride made me arrogant and rude which I regret now. I never said thank you to her. After my declaration she merely smiled and said, 'life is unfair, so get used to it', she had a powerful presence, so strong and overwhelming that I was almost afraid."
"Like if she even looked at you, she could read every secret to out every had, every thought that crossed your mind and all the dreams you had ever dreamt?" Legolas added. "I have met her too."
"Who is she?" Aragorn inquired instantly.
"She is an elleth of an ancient realm, she was marked with silver tattoos and her eyes were the colour of liquid gold. The elves call her Fainauriel." Legolas explained. "I became acquainted with her when the dwarves of Erebor came into my father's lands. She travelled with the dwarves, Bilbo Baggins and a young woman with black hair who called herself Raven." he suddenly became very quiet and forlorn which made Indilwen curious but she did not push for anymore, in fact the elf looked like he was grieving.
"Strange that we should both met this elleth. Did you ever see her again?" Legolas shook his head.
"After the war against Smaug she disappeared alone into the mountains. I have heard nothing more of her since."
"It's a very small world we live in. I could almost swear I met a lady like that once when I was a wee lad. I was in an old mine playing, as children of all races do, but the cave collapsed around me, crushing other dwarves to their deaths but not me. I was small and easy to miss. I must have been struck there for days until I heard a voice, a woman's voice singing to me as beautifully as a bird. The rocks and stones slid from their places and fell away, revealing a binding light blocked by a radiant being. She was still singing so I went to her, bleeding and crying. She took care of me, fixing up my hurts before allowing my family to find me alone. After that she was gone like a breath of wind." Gimli narrated then sniffed. "Meat must be done now." Indilwen was now leaning against Aragorn's shoulder, eyes closed peacefully.
"I'm going to fetch some water for us." She said quietly then got up, taking a pail with her. Now was the time. Inform walked a fair distance away before dropping her pail and screaming as if in great agony. Aragorn leaped to his feet and called her name as he ran. Around her Indilwen cast a halo of air that spun around her as she clutched her chest and cried out again and again. She lifted up into the air, spinning around as dark storm clouds sank from the sky and wrapped themselves around her in a cold embrace.
The tents and flags whipped back wildly in the force of the wind, the horses bucking and voting away from the terrifying event as men crowded around in awe. Aragorn pushed and shoved his way through with Legolas and Gimli right on his heels, desperately trying to reach Indilwen as she rose higher into the sky. A bolt of lightning flashed to the ground and threw everyone back like a wave, including Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. "Aragorn!" Indilwen screeched, reaching out to him just as he reached her. With a flash of lightning Indilwen pulled herself away and disappeared, leaving nothing behind save for the scorched ground where the boot had struck.
To hear Aragorn's painful cries was like torture to Indilwen as she forced herself to leave him. The complete agony and fear that tore through the earth and sky enough to shake the mountains. Indilwen felt terrible for doing this to Aragorn but she knew it was for a greater good, hopefully he would forgive her one day. Indilwen travelled on the wings of air to Minas Tirith, hoping that she would not be too late to meet them before the battle, hopefully she would be able to persuade Faramir to disobey his father's commands. Like an angel Indilwen descended upon the city to the hall of kings. Soldiers called for Denethor and he came running outside in awe, Gandalf and Pippin close behind. Indilwen spread her arms out and slowly reached out with one foot, light radiating blindingly from her as she stepped onto the soft grass and walked towards Denethor. She looked directly past him, smiling as she stood before Gandalf. "Mithrandir." She bowed her head respectfully to him.
"Indilwen of the Valar, I thought you might be coming." Gandalf smiled at her.
"Why are you here Indi? What's happened? Is Merry alright?" Pippin asked her hurriedly.
"Of course, Pip, everything is as it should be." Indilwen glanced coldly at Denethor who still blinked dumbly at her. "For now."
"Look!" Someone shouted. Indilwen's head whipped around and she saw the Nazgul attacking the last remnants of Faramir's force.
"Come Pippin!" Gandalf cried and raced to get Shadowfax. "Hold them back Indilwen!" Indilwen turned confidently, bending her body towards the Nazgul then opening up her hands. A cruel wind rose against the fell beasts, pushing them back from the army as they raced for their lives. Indilwen held them back as best as she could but she was not strong enough on her own to keep them all at bay. Soldiers screamed as gigantic claws snatched them from saddles or ground, horses shrieked with fear as they were grabbed mid-run then dropped some hundred feet back to the hard ground again. "Hurry Gandalf." Indilwen whispered inaudibly as the pain became increasingly unbearable.
Why did magic have to come at such a price? Finally there he was, galloping across the plain like a silver stream, glistening pure white in the blind sunlight. The light bloomed from his staff powerfully, even Indilwen could feel the magic that radiated from Gandalf as he raced to save the men of Osgiliath. The Nazgul shrieked in agony then swept away, blinded by the brightness of Gandalf's staff as he pulled around and led the company safely behind the city walls. Indiwlen gripped her sword hilt then raced down to meet them in the citadel, ignoring Denethor's shaky gasps and stares as he watched her leave.
"Now there is a power unlike any other." He murmured darkly before resuming his believed place on the throne of Men.
His loud footsteps could be heard against the stones as Aragorn paced back and forth, slashing with his sword against bushes. Gimli watched, glancing up to Legolas who glanced down then back to their friend. "Aragorn?" Legolas asked softly. In answer Aragorn flung his sword to the ground then fell to his knees, crying out in anguish to the sky as he clenched his fist.
"WHY!?"
"Aragorn!" Théoden's stern voice snapped and he looked up to Théoden who blinked in shock. Araogrn had tears streaking down his face, his pale eyes distant and in pain. "Aragorn." He continued, just as sternly but with a little more understanding. "You must rest."
"She's gone."
"I know, but Indilwen is strong. She will fight back the Dark Lord for as long as she can."
"It won't be enough. He'll destroy her, mutilate her into one of his own." Aragorn said then pounded his fist against the earth. "And I did nothing!"
"You tried to reach her, Aragorn. Do you really think she would have wanted you to go too? Where the last hope for Man would suffer a worse fate?" Théoden reasoned then gripped Aragorn's shoulder. "I am old, but I understand the pain you are feeling. I have felt it many times. Through my father, my son, my sister...it never ends, but time does dull the senses." Théoden pulled Aragorn to his feet then gripped the other shoulder, touching his brow with his. "Indilwen would want you to stay strong. Would you have her look at you with shame in her eyes?" Aragorn blinked slowly.
"No."
"Make her proud...be the man she could see in you, the man that she brought out. The king, the leader, the honourable man who thinks of everyone save himself." Aragorn sighed.
"It is empty...and dark...without her light to lead me. I needed her. I do not know how to see in the night. She was my moon and stars, who guided me through the dark, my dawn that brought me from the darkest night, the sun that shone brightly over me and revealed my foes and path. She was...she was..."
"I know. Aragorn...love is like a stone you toss into the river. It may be swept away from you before you realise what has happened, but it is always there, somewhere, living." Aragorn nodded. "Go and rest, you'll need your strength."
They watched as Aragorn picked up his sword then went away to his tent. Aragorn found sleep, but also dreams. He saw her face, ridden with pain and anguish as she screamed. "No...no...please no..." He mumbled, trying to reach out to her but her face kept on disappearing, only to come back further away. "No!" Aragorn begged as a flaming whip slashed into her body.
Indilwen watched over him in her mind, feeling his pain as he dreamed. Silently Indilwen picked up a handful of dried flowers from the bowl on her table then crushed them in her hand. She went to her balcony then blew them from her hand, watching the wind snap them up then carry them away.
The soft scent of flowers settled around Aragorn and he relaxed, breathing heavily as Indilwen's pain disappeared and he found himself in a wood. Lothlorien, he realised. He took a step forwards, finding himself bare foot, wearing a soft silver grey tunic over his breaches, his hair clean and brushed as he looked around. A figure stepped from behind a tree and Aragorn expected to see Lady Galadriel but no...it was Indilwen. She wore pure white, her dress shaping her slim figure as she walked forwards then stopped, turning her head to him.
She said no words, but merely smiled and stepped towards him. Her dress flowed behind her like water, softly rustling as Indilwen reached out with one hand, touching Aragorn's face. Her eyes were bright and beautiful as Aragorn gazed into them, tears filling his own. He wanted to say her name, to speak with her but no words came to him. Instead her merely turned his gaze to the braids hanging down before her ears and reached out, taking one in his hand and running it through his fingers, all the way to the end.
Indilwen shivered and Aragorn smiled, pulling her close and kissing her gently. No words said, he felt her touch his chest and he pulled away. In her hands was a crown, the King's crown, silver and gold lay as she lifted it up a little higher. She gazed into him steadily and Aragorn watched her for a long time, contemplating his choices. He knelt to the ground. Indilwen smiled softly as she placed the crown on his head then reached down to raise his chin to face her. Again she said nothing but knelt down too, closing her eyes and kissed his mouth with hers.
Aragorn awoke when someone called his name. "My lord? The King awaits your presence." Aragorn sighed, touching his brow where the crown had been. It wasn't there but he could still feel the comfortable weight from his dream. With a soft sigh, he got up, pulled on his boots then went to the King's tent. Men still worked around him, preparing their weapons, polishing armour or tending their horses.
Aragorn ducked into the king's tent, noticing the furs and banners before the cloaked stranger who stood with Théoden. Aragorn frowned slightly as Théoden glanced between them. "I take my leave." He announced softly and left them alone without another word. Aragorn saw him leave out of the corner of his eye but did not take his attention from the cloaked man.
The stranger stood and turned, revealing fine robes and a noble face as he lifted back his hood. "My lord Elrond." Aragorn bowed and touched his chest respectfully but the elf lord wasted no time.
"I have come on behalf of one whom you love." He said to him. "Indilwen is strong."
"She is gone." Aragorn whispered mournfully, his throat catching his words slightly.
"But she is not lost." Elrond stepped towards Aragorn. "How much did she believe in your strength?" Elrond's dark eyebrows dug deeper down his brow. "How much did she believe in who you could be?"
"I am not my ancestors."
"No, you are far better." Elrond's soft voice rose a little, like he was telling a story. "Indilwen knew of your birth long before she came to this land. She has seen your fate and destiny, the power that we have seen from her are only the start. She is a vessel of the Valar's strength and you know well that their hope and belief is never wrongly misplaced. Indilwen has placed hers entirely on you." Aragorn's shoulders sagged a little.
"What of Alkira? No one seems to remember she is of the Valar too."
"But Alkira is not a warrior. She is barely more than a child and now relies completely on others, solely Indilwen. Indilwen has the strength that neither you or Alkira could possibly ever hope to image, even she is unaware of it. But she knew the strength in you and what you could become." Elrond stepped closer. "You cannot win this war alone, you need more men."
"There are none. None that will answer." Aragorn informed him.
"There are those who dwell in the mountains." Both men were silent as Aragorn's eyes widened. At the very mention of the dead men the wind howled in fear and horses screamed outside.
"Murderers...traitors, you would call upon them to fight?" He demanded in a low hiss. "They believe in nothing! They answer to no one."
"They will answer to the King of Gondor!" With a sweep of his arm Elrond brought out the sword hidden under the folds of his cloak and lifts it up for Aragron to see. "Andúril, Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil." Aragorn gazed over the sword before slowly picking it up, his fingers curling around the hilt.
"Sauron would not have forgotten the sword of Elendil." With a smooth flourish Aragorn tore the blade from the scabbard and stared up to the point. "The blade that was broken...shall return to Minas Tirith."
"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road," Elrond leaned forwards and whispered. "Ónen i-Estel Edain." Aragorn's eyes looked into the depths of Elrond's.
"Ú-chebin estel anim."
Ónen i-Estel Edain. - I give hope to Men.
Ú-chebin estel anim. - I keep none for myself.
What did you think? So next chapter should be up in a few days time, loving the reviews everyone, thank you very much for your support!