Chapter 25

"Open the gate!"

Someone's shout rang out from the stone walls, and on the wall I thought I could see a dwarf and an elf sitting side by side. I couldn't actually be sure, though—I was panicking. Boromir had fallen into a sleep. A very frightening sleep, for me anyway. He sat cold and still in front of me in the saddle, breathing in a very shallow and labored rhythm. I tried my best to keep him propped up, so he wouldn't slip off the horse and injure himself anymore. Leaving me very little room to grab the reins, I had to hold his arm and chest against me. How we had ever gotten this far, I'll never know. As the gate opened and we trotted in, some random soldier led the horse. All around people began to crowd, trying to see who we were. I looked around frantically for someone, anyone familiar, or a healer. Aragorn was nowhere to be found. I guess he was still on the way back from his little nuzzle with Brego. But the elf caught me by surprise, Gimli trailing behind.

"Ai Elbereth, Elaina!" he breathed, helping Gamling lift Boromir off the horse. Once they had gotten him down, Legolas turned to me, eyeing the dress with interest while still managing the worried look. Gimli sported somewhere between a bewildered expression of relief and a shit-eating grin. Somehow, I was not amused.

"So, Lass, while we were off protectin' the population of Rohan, you and the lad decided to play dress up?"

I almost had the energy to reply in a sarcastic and sharp tone, but a sudden wave of strong exhaustion hit me. I swayed dangerously, slipping from the saddle.

Damn. How many times to I have to faint in this freaking year?!

Luckily, hard stone was there to break my fall.

Ouch.

Be proud of me, though—I actually managed to stay conscious. Legolas was able to hoist me up on my feet and push me to the nearest nurse's station—which happened to be Eowyn's.

The elf threw one last worried glance over his shoulder, and then went to help the other healer with Boromir. I winced, tugging at the annoying lace on the sleeves of Morwenna's gown. With as much strength as I could muster, I succeeded in ripping the sleeve with a satisfying tear. Eowyn eyed me curiously, drawing some hot water and spare clothes for me.

"Thanks," I murmured as she handed me a tunic and some breeches. "Can you help me get out of this damned mass of frills?"

I was rewarded with a small grin, and she pulled me into a narrow alcove that protected us from the view of others. I was thankful for all the privacy. It seemed people hadn't stopped staring at me since I got to Middle Earth.

"My lady does not enjoy the finery of court clothing?" Her eyes were alight with humor, and a bit of light mockery colored her tone. I could tell she was still trying to figure out if I was as desperately sick of the medieval-type female role as she was.

"Yeah," I grumbled. "I'd have run out of that tent in nothing but a barrel if it wouldn't have ruined our plan of escape."

I finally pulled the dress over my head with Eowyn's help, grabbing the shirt and tunic to replace it.

"Escape?" she prompted, and a faint mix of curiosity and awe passed across her face. "The masters Legolas and Gimli told me of your travel with them." A strange, wistful expression broke her cool attitude. "A lady that rides with a company of warriors, eludes the Uruk Hai, takes a horse and a wounded man halfway across Rohan, and lives to speak of it?"

I finished dressing, tying up the lacing on the worn boots with a skeptical look to match her slightly jealous one.

"Listen," I began, "Of course, it sounds all adventurous and heroic when you say it that way, but listen to me when I say—it's not."

She smiled a purely disapproving smile at my obvious distaste.

"Would you care, then, my lady, to become the King's niece in my stead?" The disbelief positively radiated from her now, and she wore a grin that denounced me as a complete lunatic. "I would gladly take your place in the company of great heroes and leaders of men."

I grinned right back, wincing and rubbing my sore neck.

"I'm sure you would," I said encouragingly, "Feel free to do just that at any time. My shoulders are killing me. And I need a bath."

She pursed her lips, rolling her eyes.

Then we both turned our heads when whispers of 'he has returned' rippled through the crowd.

"Lord Aragorn!" gasped Eowyn, grabbing my arm and pulling me along with her. She was sprinting.

Ok, Arwen, anytime you wanna show up that would be great. Like, now. Seriously, this looks like some twisted 90210 episode.

The ranger in question looked more like some hobo that just fell off a bridge and into a sewer. Yeah, he was that gross. Fortunately, he remained a safe distance away from me. Eowyn had broken off (me? slowing her down?) and ran full speed ahead. Poor girl. She only just saw Legolas grin and hand the Evenstar pendant back into Aragorn's grimy hand.

Oh God—will not feel sorry for Eowyn. Repeat. Er, dang it! She's making the puppy eyes!

Eowyn muttered something about clean linens and dashed away. What a relief.

Uh-oh. Looks like the ranger spotted me.

My stomach lurched a bit. How do you expect me to react? You didn't see how mad he was!

"Elaina," he muttered, and in that single word I heard a few choice emotions—namely relief, confusion, and disbelief.

"Aragorn." I nodded my head casually as was possible. He just stood there for a second, eyeing me with some unreadable expression.

Then, I was pulled into a crushing hug.

"I am sorry," he muttered. Pulling away and sighting my wrinkled nose and small smile, he chuckled. "I guess you didn't catch me at the best of times."

I laughed, trying to fight off the nervousness. No matter how much you're forgiven for your mistakes, the shame is still there. "Well, that makes two of us. And I'm the one who should be sorry." I paused, carefully observing his blank face. "I put you all in danger—twice—and if I could do it over again I would change it."

He scrutinized my eyes for a second, and then nodded with a forgiving smile. "I must see the king—but before, where is Boromir? Is he well?"

I sighed, still a little embarrassed that I had dragged the poor man into the whole thing. "He's alright—his arm was tagged by an arrow—"

"What? Is he alright?" Aragorn's worry only made the dread rock in my stomach flip more.

"I think he's fine," I said, hoping to God he really was. "He's just worn out. Legolas has seen him to a healer." Aragorn relaxed visibly, then nodded and walked off to see the king. But before I left, he turned and touched my arm. His face was stern, but kind.

"We'll talk after I see the King."

Oh, shit.

TBC….

Author's Note: cowers Seriously, don't kill me. I know this is a short chapter. I know it's been a while since my last update. I'm really, really sorry. And I have complete confidence when I say, this story will be continued. With, possibly, a sequel. The reason for the lapse in update was this—I've been writing. Not this story (sorry), but working on an original piece of fiction, one that will hopefully blow everyone out of the water. It's taken up a lot of my time in research and lists (the not fun part) and I've barely gotten to the actual writing part (the fun stuff ;). But that's what I have to do. I can't promise an update immediately, but I can say it will be soon. And, (hint hint) you can expect a little romance in the next few chapters. Which, by the way, will be longer. I'm on Christmas break, which means basically that all my time will be spent writing, revising, editing, and rewriting. So, have a great Holiday break!

Reviews are nice. Really, they are. They make me smile like a goofy lunatic.