Hello all! Just so you know, I haven't abandoned this story and I don't plan to. I do plan on taking as long as I like to finish it though. If I don't take my time, I'm worried it will turn out terrible. I hope you don't hate me! :D
Waking up to the sound of flowing water, Alarain immediately sat up and looked down at her arm. The moon was low in the sky by then and she could barely make out the red hot marks that covered her skin. Quickly, she pulled her sleeve down and scrambled to her feet before finding her way back to her bed.
The guards were all sprawled out in various positions, having drunk themselves to sleep, so she had no trouble slipping back into the makeshift room. For the rest of the night she lay awake, staring at the dull grey ceiling with worry. When the sun rose, she decided to keep the news of her newly acquired burns to herself. Aragorn had enough on his mind already.
"Lady Alarain?" She looked over and blinked the weariness from her eyes to see a man waiting in the entrance. "Lord Aragorn has requested your presence."
Letting out a groan as she rose from the hard bed, she stretched and followed the man out into the light. He led her through the ruins and she couldn't help the smile that grew on her face when she spotted her husband-to-be. He stood next to two horses while he spoke to a group of soldiers. The men stood tall and their eyes were full of pride and wonder. No doubt they were honoured to be speaking with Gondor's heir. As they approached, Alarain's escort bowed low to announce her.
Aragorn walked over and gently put a hand on her shoulder. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked, keeping their interaction as formal as he could. It would not have been very proper of the heir to run forward and scoop her up in his arms.
"Sore," Alarain smiled lopsidedly before looking past him to the horses. "Are we leaving?"
He nodded and led her to a strong chestnut. "I apologize if you were hoping to stay longer, but I must return to Minas Tirith and you must return to the Houses of Healing."
Rolling her eyes, Alarain whispered so only he could hear her complaints. "But I feel so trapped in there."
He grinned down at her and raised an eyebrow. "Are you refusing a direct order from your king?"
Alarain glared and spoke teasingly. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You're not the king yet."
Before the soldiers could begin to wonder why they were speaking so quietly to each other, Aragorn helped her up onto the stallion and swung into the saddle of the other horse. His steed danced beneath him and the men bowed as they passed.
Alarain turned her horse and trotted to his side. "Where are Fayna and Brego?" she asked, still worried for their horses. They had both been in rough shape and she was dying to know of their condition.
Aragorn looked over with a soft gaze. "They are to stay here until they're strong again. I checked on them earlier this morning and they were both sleeping." At the sight of a frown on her face, he continued. "They will recover in no time at all, Alarain. I know Fayna is special, not only because of her loyalty, but because of who gave her to you." He glanced around and seeing no soldiers, reached over to rest his hand on hers. "I share your worry as I feel the same about Brego."
Her face relaxed at his words and she looked to the ground. "Are you sure they'll be fine…?"
"Yes."
Rolling her eyes at his interruption, she kicked her horse into canter as they reached the Pelennor Fields and spun her head back to see him do the same. As he drew up beside her, she turned again to gaze up at the White City as it rose from the ground.
"Who has been in charge while you were gone?" she asked loudly over the blustering wind in her ears.
"Mostly Boromir," Aragorn yelled back. "And Gandalf when needed."
The two she'd once thought were gone. Her mind suddenly took her back to the day she had saved Boromir's life. She could almost hear the deep, malicious voice of Saruman in her ears as he ordered her to kill her friend.
The agony gripped at her heart as a pang as hot as fire shot up to her shoulder. Alarain's vision dimmed at the edges and went black. She didn't feel the ground as it came up to meet her, nor did she hear the terror Aragorn's desperate call.
The first thing that came to her senses when she woke was the smell of strawberries. Her eyes opened painfully so she closed them again and listened for voices. All was quiet though, and she moved her fingers to feel a blanket lain out on top of her. Twisting her head and opening her eyes once more, Alarain spotted a dish of strawberries on the table next to the bed. When she finally looked around through her squinting eyes, she let out a moan. She was in the Houses of Healing.
She was startled when a healer came through the door, but closed her eyes again quickly, recognizing the woman from her previous time there. Kneeling by the bed, the healer proceeded in checking Alarain's wounds and cleaning them with some sort of stinging substance.
Hissing in pain, Alarain grumbled. "That hurts."
The woman's answered with a soft smile. "I'm sorry milady, but it will feel better in a moment." Sure enough, the aching subsided.
"Where's Aragorn?" Her mouth was dry as she spoke and she soon felt the edge of a cup at her lips.
"Drink," the healer ordered, helping her to hold it still. "Lord Aragorn was here earlier. You should be honoured that he came to see you at all, what with his duties as the new heir."
Alarain's eyebrows drew together in an irritated look, but she kept her mouth shut. The woman didn't know how close they really were. As she rose to leave, there was a scratching sound at the door. The healer huffed impatiently and rushed over before anyone could enter.
"She has only just woken up," she spoke to whoever was there. "She must rest."
The woman yelped and Alarain looked over curiously. She was suddenly pushed aside and the door swung open as Brenir came scrambling through. A smile lit up her face as Alarain's dog came leaping onto the bed to wiggle in excitement. Ignoring her aches and pains, she sat up and let him crawl into her lap. The healer muttered something before throwing up her hands and storming out.
"I think we may have upset her," Eowyn's voice came as she closed the door quietly.
They giggled for a moment before Eowyn scowled. "You are injured, so I will not get too angry, but what were you thinking?"
Oh no, Alarain thought. She put on her best innocent look as Eowyn glared daggers at her.
"That's not going to work on me," her friend growled, coming to sit on the side of the bed. "Why did you leave after the battle?" Alarain lowered her eyes to Brenir and scratched his head absently. She didn't really want to admit her fear of loosing Aragorn, but Eowyn had helped her escape and she deserved to know. When she told her, Eowyn's face softened. "You know you should have told him in the first place, don't you? He would have listened." Nodding, Alarain kept her eyes on Brenir. "You two worked it out though?"
Again, Alarain dipped her head, not sure if she should tell her of Aragorn's proposal. No, I'll keep it a secret for now. "Thank you for watching out for Brenir," Alarain said, attempting to subtly change the subject.
"Oh!" Eowyn's face lit up. "Speaking of Brenir…"
Alarain's gaze shot up to her friend's face and then glanced back down to her dog. "What? Is he alright?"
"Yes, yes," Eowyn comforted. "It's good news." She paused and Alarain raised her eyebrows impatiently. A grin came over Eowyn's face and she finally broke. "There are going to be little Brenirs running around here soon." Alarain gawked at her and then down at the fuzzy brown lump that was now splayed across her legs. Eowyn laughed at her expression and explained. "He seems to have formed an attachment to a stray that hangs out in the street nearby. I have since brought her inside and she's been staying with me as well. Faramir helped me name her and we decided on Erebith."
"Hold on," Alarain interrupted. "Faramir?"
The other woman looked away, pretending to be interested in the window. "Yes. He's Boromir's brother."
"I know who he is," she grinned at Eowyn, noticing how the other woman tried to hide her face.
Eowyn looked back and her expression grew confused at Alarain's smirk. "What?" she asked, her voice irritated.
Shaking her head, Alarain looked away as she ran her fingers through Brenir's brown fur. "Nothing at all," she replied innocently.
Eowyn sighed and got to her feet. "I must go and..."
"Meet Faramir?" Alarain was met with a glare before Eowyn turned and exited the room. "Have a nice time," she called out teasingly as the door swung shut. "She's very touchy, isn't she?" Brenir didn't answer. "So who's this Erebith I hear of?"
It was four days later when Alarain was finally allowed to leave her room. She was told very sternly that she was not to leave the Houses and was only allowed to wander in the gardens for a short time so as not to wear herself out.
The garden was beautiful. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Alarain finally breathed in the cool air that she missed when she was stuck inside. Brenir joined her, and was soon frolicking among the bushes, knocking over pots here and there. Alarain grinned as he tried to chase a bird up a tree and promptly fell on his rump. Giving himself an embarrassed shake, he slunk off into the flowers to pout. She rolled her eyes and went to stand looking over the city.
"Alarain?" Turning at the voice, Alarain grinned as an old friend came into view. Hurrying forward with a grin nearly as big as his face, Boromir wrapped his arms around her as gently as he could in his joy. Stepping back, he narrowed his eyes. "You, milady, are in trouble. As soon as you are better, I promise that I am going to hang you upside down from a tree until your head fills with blood so much it turns red."
She rolled her eyes and smiled teasingly. "Pardon me, milord, but I don't believe you would be able to get me up a tree in the first place."
Boromir grinned and turned to gesture back up the path. "Is that not what an elf is good for?"
Legolas came humming around the corner to greet her rather more properly than Boromir had. He bowed low and straightened to grin down at her. "Milady, I do believe the last time we met in a garden as beautiful as this I made you turn red without even having to hang you upside down."
Crossing her arms, Alarain sent him a glare. "I also seem to remember telling you that I'm not a Lady."
The two men exchanged a glance. "Not to spoil your fun, milady, but we aren't daft," Boromir smirked. He walked around her to gaze out at the White City before turning to speak low in her ear. "We saw Aragorn speaking to a man who just happens to be the best person to talk to when one is looking for a ring."
Alarain felt her cheeks grow hot and glanced at the ground as they snickered to each other. Legolas crossed his arms as well and grinned. "It won't be long until everyone is referring to you as 'milady', Alarain."
The three talked for a few more moments, Alarain quickly changing the subject, but Legolas was soon called away for some reason or another.
"I asked my brother to meet me here," Boromir said, looking back out to the great walls of Mordor in the distance. She went to stand beside him as he continued. "He's excited to meet the woman who saved my life, a little too excited in my opinion." He gave her a playful nudge. "I'll have to make sure he doesn't go getting ideas."
Rolling her eyes and giving him a shove back, she answered, "I don't believe you have to worry about that. From what I've heard, there's someone else he's got his eyes on."
Boromir looked over curiously, but his expression changed in an instant. "Oh yes," he grinned. "Eowyn. I'm not surprised. I am a little disappointed though." When Alarain sent him a surprised look, he laughed. "I'm disappointed that I wasn't the one to introduce them."
It was not long before Faramir arrived. Alarain grinned at the proud look on Boromir's face when he saw his little brother. Faramir was just as Boromir had described him, quiet, polite, smart, and cheerful. She had been a little worried about meeting him as she was still feeling self conscious of the scar across her eye, but after a few minutes, she relaxed completely.
The brothers had other duties though, so they didn't stay long. Alarain enjoyed the company after her lonely days in the Houses of Healing and was sad to see them go, even more so when a healer came to bring her back inside.
With one more quick glance out at the world, Alarain felt her heart grow heavy. It finally dawned on her that their journey was over. A new chapter in her life was beginning... and it involved finding out about this new dog that was taking up so much of Brenir's time.
Kind of an odd place to end the chapter, but I couldn't think of anything better.