"Gandalf!" Stella cried while launching herself into the old man. "Where had you wandered off to?" She asked, knowing that the old man would give no answer.
"Some things, my child, are best left unspoken." He finally stated.
The response made Stella scowl. It wasn't an answer and Stella had the distinct impression that he was hiding something from all of them.
Stella had just taken care of the last living soldier and was finally able to take a break. It was no surprise to Stella that, when given the option, she chose to sit with her newly reunited family rather than sleep. She had been given a blow by blow of the entire battle once from Legolas and then again from Gimli, who insisted that the elf was gravely mistaken. Perhaps Gandalf's reappearance was a shock to the rest of the group, Stella on the other hand found his actions incredibly predictable.
"You old dog! Always one step ahead of the game." Stella commented.
Her remark made little sense given the current topic and it was what stirred Aragorn to pick her up and tote her off to bed.
"Clearly my wife has overexerted herself." Aragorn explained earning a sharp slap on the chest from Stella.
"I am tired, very well take me to bed!" Stella commanded in a voice slightly larger than she intended.
The comment earned several pointed glances from the men that remained in the hall. Stella ignored these glances and wrapped herself around Aragorn. He picked her up as if she were a feather and strode away from the table they were congregated at. Stella did not have to look at his face to know he wore a ridiculous grin.
"You probably think you are going to get lucky tonight because we won, and just got over our first fight. Under normal circumstances you would be one hundred per cent correct. However, it's late and I worked very hard. Right now nothing sounds more appealing than a bubble bath and sleep. Sorry." She mumbled into his neck because she couldn't be bothered to raise her head to his ear.
She could feel his chest rumble with laughter.
"Stella, you are truly an amazing woman." He whispered.
There was no response. Stella had managed to lull herself into sleep. Aragorn debated waking her up but saw little point. He deposited her on the bed before joining her.
He attempted to sleep however he found himself replaying the words Stella had shouted at him before the battle. 'You wanted someone to boss around? Someone that will do exactly what you say because we shared a few kisses!' Aragorn knew that he loved her and it wasn't about control. He regretted his words immediately after they left his mouth but could find no way to take them back. Then she apologised to him. Aragorn could barely form the next words out of his mouth when he heard it. He could not believe that his fighter had apologised. 'Why?' he thought briefly, 'she had never once apologised for her beliefs. Why now?' The thoughts stayed with him for most of the time Stella was sleeping. As soon as Stella showed signs of alertness Aragorn began asking her questions.
"Good morning." He whispered, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Stella, why did you apologise?" H e asked knowing that she would appreciate his straightforward manner of questions.
"Aragorn? Give me a minute to wake up, alright?" Stella mumbled, her voice still thick from sleep.
Stella stretched and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She sneezed once, twice, three times before turning to Aragorn.
"What was that you said? Why did I apologise, for what?" Stella's brow furrowed.
"You apologised, after we fought. I came to find you and you apologised to me. It seemed unlike you. I accepted it at the time but I have been thinking about it ever since." Aragorn elaborated.
He was unwilling to break eye contact as he saw her shift uncomfortably.
"Because we are married. I am your wife; we are in this for the long haul. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure this," she gestured between the two of them, "works. I don't think you understand just how seriously I take marriage. Back home there is this thing, called divorce, what it means is the end of a relationship." Stella explained in the simplest way she could.
"My father and mother were part of a religion that didn't allow for divorce. That is how they raised me. I was told from a very young age that the act of marriage was one taken before God and to break that relationship was sin. I was taught that a marriage required sacrifice, some give and take. If us making it as a couple means I have to give up something that I want. I can make that sacrifice." Stella took a deep breath.
"Stella, I love you. You are never going to lose me. Our relationship has seen so much and we are stronger for it. Never feel as if you have to sacrifice for what we have." Aragorn finally whispered.
"If you asked, I would give you the world for only a moment in your arms, to see your smile, and to know your love." Stella recited.
"What is that?"
"That was one of my father's wedding vows to my mother. He vowed to give her everything she asked for to make her happy." Stella smiled as she remembered the story. "My mother used to tell me the story before bed. I always romanticised the memory."
Aragorn smiled. He was at a loss for words. Stella had such differing accounts of her father. In some memories he was the reason for her tears in others she seemed almost wistful for the man Aragorn would never meet.
"I need a bath and so do you." Stella stated after some time.
She laughed at Aragorn's face as it surveyed her body taking in the blood that splattered her clothing.
"Hey you aren't much better!" Stella cried slapping his arm playfully.
Three hours later the bath basin was filled and Stella had sunk into the water allowing the warmth to massage away the aches of yesterday. She stayed there until the water turned too cold before she forced herself out of the tub and into the clean clothing Aragorn had somehow procured for her. She could barely make herself stand she was so tired. Suppressing a yawn she mentally prepared herself for the day. She knew there would be so much to do but she found little will to do it. As Stella contemplated her lack of will to do much of anything it suddenly dawned on her. Stella carefully recounted the days unsure of the exact day she knew she had to find someone that did.
She ran out of her room, flying down the hallways. 'It cant be. How could I have forgotten?' Stella silently asked herself as guilt and remorse filled her.
Finally she ran into a somewhat familiar face.
"Oh, Gimli, there you are!" Stella exclaimed. "I have a very important question for you. What day is it?" She looked into his eyes as the dwarf began laughing.
"Stella, of all the important questions in the world that is what you ask me?" he chucked before seeing the serious look on her face. "Right well, today is the fifteenth day of September. Why do you ask?"
"Tomorrow is William's birthday. It is the day he enlisted in the army." Stella almost whispered. "I can't believe I forgot." Tears started to well up in her eyes.
Gimli looked at a loss for how to comfort her. 'Buck up Maddox!' Stella chastised herself.
"Thank you, Gimli. I need to go make myself useful. I heard we are leaving this God forsaken wall. I for one will not be sad to leave this place." She plastered on a false grin and turned to leave. "Oh and Gimli," Stella called over her shoulder. "I believe it would be best if we kept this conversation to ourselves. Lord knows I don't need anybody asking me about it." Stella explained.
The dwarf looked at her as if he could not understand her words but finally nodded his head in agreement.
"Thank you." Stella whispered.
She continued to meander at a slightly more leisurely pace as she made her way to the main room. Everything was in disarray. Men and women moved about everywhere. Stella searched the room for Eowyn finally finding handing blankets to a woman. Stella waited for them to finish their conversation before greeting her friend.
"What in the world is going on here?" Stella questioned. "How long was I bathing for? I thought we weren't leaving until tomorrow?"
Eowyn laughed.
"Stella! Are you always the last to know everything?" She teased. "We are headed back, today." She explained. "Well most of us are. My Uncle, my brother, and my cousin are accompanying your fellowship to Isengard."
"I know that name." Stella whispered to herself.
"You should, Stella, that is the tower of Saruman, the white wizard." Eowyn could not believe the naïveté of her friend.
"That's right!" Stella remembered. "Sorry, back home I can barely read a map now people want me to forget about New York and Chicago and learn things like Isengard and Rivendell." Stella huffed to cover her embarrassment.
"Your grievances aside I need to get back to helping these people. Perhaps you should find your husband or brother to fill in the blanks." Stella's mouth dropped.
She had been dismissed. Eowyn never dismissed her. They were friends.
"Eowyn, did I do something to offend you?" Stella questioned. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help." Stella guessed at tension that sprung between them.
"It is not that. I doubt very much I will ever see you again perhaps it would be best to take our leave here." Eowyn bit out.
It finally struck Stella. Eowyn was jealous.
"I can ask and see if you can come with us. I am sure it will be fine." Stella offered though she held little hope behind her words.
"Do not bother to ask your dear brother. I have begged enough for the both of us." Eowyn replied curtly.
"Why would you ask him? He can't tell you if you can come or not. Gandalf's your man. Forget Legolas, I really can't see why you went to him." Stella played dumb waiting for her friend to spill the beans.
"I just, he was the first person I saw." Eowyn stumbled over her words.
"Eowyn, I want the truth. What is happening between you and my brother? Tell me now or so help me God I will slap you." Her threat was weak but it was all she could think of in time. She never really was too quick on her feet with comebacks.
"Stella," Eowyn started in the same tone. "Honestly I have no idea what is happening. I was listening to him one day. He was singing this beautiful song in his language and he caught me staring. Since then, I don't know." She finally explained.
"Oh, honey, your smitten." Stella informed her taking on a deep southern accent. "Now you listen to me, ya hear? Go for him! Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Stella couldn't help it she loved playing matchmaker.
Eowyn grimaced.
"I don't know if that is the best path. I mean right now, things are hard, there is a war." Eowyn argued.
"Well I suppose then you will never know. You can live with that heart brake for the rest of your life. You know if elves are your thing there was another here. I think his name was Haldir, seemed nice enough. You could always go for him." Stella layered it on thick hoping to get a rise out of the young woman.
Eowyn turned her back on Stella and she took it as a sign to 'let sleeping dogs lie.'
The day passed quickly and the next morning Stella found herself on Ares II with Gimli clinging to her.
"Just loosen up on my side a little." She murmured to the dwarf. "I know it's scary but all you are doing is wasting energy and making it difficult for me to breathe. Here, put your hands on my hips." She placed Gimli's hands, "now see that you don't leave bruises." She instructed to the blushing dwarf.
"I don't believe it is appropriate for me to touch a married lady so intimately." He mumbled shooting a glance at Aragorn.
"Don't be silly. He likes me breathing so he likes your hands right were I have them. You do have a strong grip." She commented lightly. "I'll have to remember to keep the fine crystal our of your reach." Stella teased.
This comment spurred Gimli into a long-winded lecture about the lives of dwarves. Stella tuned him out for the most part, not because his tales weren't interesting but because her attention was drawn to Legolas. She slowly edged her horse towards the elf, whose attention was fixed on some wisp of a cloud.
"So you have been talking to Eowyn a lot lately?" Stella asked knowing the answer.
"Yes, she's a brave woman in a world of men." He commented lightly.
"That she is, but you know even brave women sometimes won't go after what they really want. Sometimes they need a friend to help them out a little." She suggested. "Hard to believe she's single, right?"
This comment drew Legolas' attention away from the sky and onto Stella.
"Where is this going?"
"Nowhere, I just think you should keep talking to her when we get back. You never know, she might get a friendly push to go after what she wants."
They rode in silence until they came up on a mound of rock with two figures perched atop it.
"Merry! Pippin! Get down hear! What do you two think you are doing? Smoking! I hope you saved me some I had my last cigarette like a week ago." Stella yammered at breakneck speed. "Oh! My boys!" Stella cried as she dismounted Ares II and ran to sweep them both up in a hug.
She embraced both of them kissing the tops of their heads.
"I missed you so much." She cried. "Gimli, get of my horse! I need to spend some quality time with my boys!" She hollered back at a grumpy Gimli.
With the group newly arranged, with Aragorn and Gimli sharing a horse, they started off again to the ominous tower that loomed over everything.
"I don't like that thing, it looks evil." Stella whispered to Merry who was in front of her.
He only nodded. Pippin spoke up.
"Well it was evil but now Treebeard is in charge. We are safe." He spoke confidently.
"Oh pippin I have missed you." Stella leaned back into him. "Things just weren't the same without you there to make me laugh. Besides I needed you to beat up my husband." She joked, ignoring the stunned faces of her small friends.
'Husband?' the hobbits mouthed to each other around Stella.
"Yes you little rascals! Husband only made official five days ago. Rather bizarre honeymoon if you ask me but he asked for it."
"Congratulations, Strider." Pippin called out earning a wave from Aragorn.
"Best wishes." Merry whispered to her in a knowing voice.
"I am going to need it!" Stella joked.