Aragorn woke just before dawn and sat up quickly, then sighed. His eyes fell on the crumpled up piece of paper and necklace on the low table across the room.
What did they mean?
He thought of Savina, she had seemed like an ordinary girl, perhaps a little braver and kinder than some, but a girl nonetheless. He rubbed his hand over his eyes and thought about the first time he had seen her dark eyes through the peephole of the tavern. Who would have thought all of this would happen?
Stretching and yawning, he got out of bed and picked up the piece of paper and studied it carefully…something was going on.
He blamed himself, if he blamed anyone, it had been he, after all, who had decided to let Savina join them. But he had to wonder, if he hadn't ever even met Savina, would all these strange, dark things still be happening?
Too many coincidences…too many things falling perfectly into place, as if they had been planned.
Something was horribly wrong, something that nagged at the back of Aragorn's mind, something he couldn't quite figure out.
Savina had done well, under the circumstances. She was young and naïve, but she was also brave and fiercely pure.
Aragorn pulled on his shirt, still thinking.
What about Legolas? Aragorn knew the prince tried to hide his weakness, his fear, his uncertainties and vulnerabilities. He saw the troubled look in the elf's eyes and heard the strained, frightened undertone in his soft voice. The prince was brave, but Aragorn wished he would realize that only a fool does not have fear.
And what of Legolas and Savina? Aragorn wasn't stupid; he saw the look on Savina's face when Legolas spoke to her. He wasn't surprised; Legolas was a beautiful creature, not to mention courageous and kind. It would be abnormal for any female not to be taken with him. But somehow he had expected more from Legolas, he had been surprised and dismayed when he noticed how Legolas eyes followed Savina and the tender looks he gave her when she wasn't looking. He hadn't expected Legolas to fall in love with the girl.
Was it really love? Aragorn pulled on his boots. Legolas felt alone and frightened, which Aragorn understood, but he hadn't known the prince would fall into a false, desperate love. Love that was more a need for any emotion other than fear than real love. But there was doubt, Aragorn himself knew of love, of a fair Elven princess with beauty beyond imagination. It was possible that Legolas and Savina were simply meant to be, and that their love was pure…but there was heavy doubt.
Aragorn stood up and made his way to the door, he wanted to get back on the road before the sun came up.
He reached Savina's door and paused, wondering what he would find, wondering if it had, after all, been wise to leave them in a room alone all night. Brushing aside those thoughts, he knocked softly and pushed the door open.
Savina was curled up on the bed, he silver hair tousled and flung in all different directions. Legolas was leaning against the wall next to the window.
"Legolas," Aragorn called softly.
Silence, except for Savina's soft breathing.
Aragorn walked closer to the elf and realized, with a small smile, he had fallen asleep leaning against the wall. He shook the elf gently, "Legolas."
Legolas woke instantly; his blue eyes opened and were instantly alert. They darted to Savina, narrowed, and then looked back at Aragorn.
Aragorn hesitated inwardly, he wasn't sure what had gone on, perhaps they had had a fight of some sort. He nodded to Savina, "wake her, we're leaving shortly."
The elf nodded his head and made his way to Savina's bedside.
With a last glance over his shoulder, Aragorn shut the door quietly behind him and went to wake Gimli.
Legolas gazed down at Savina, wanted to feel repulsed, but only feeling the dull ache in his heart that only loving someone who doesn't love you can give you. He sighed and brushed a silver strand of hair off of her face, he could love her anyway, love wasn't about kissing and touching, it was about the joining of two souls, willingly and forever. Even as he acknowledged that, he felt the urge to touch her. He bit his lip and shook her gently, promising himself ho harm would ever come to her.
Savina moaned softly and sat up, rubbing her eyes and pushing her hair off of her face. Then she noticed Legolas and paused uncomfortably, "Legolas…I-" She had meant to apologize to him, she loved him and she knew it, but…
He interrupted her, "we're leaving soon, get dressed and come downstairs."
Bowing her head sadly, she nodded and bit her lip. It wasn't until she heard the door shut that she raised her head. Her mind was spinning with all sorts of emotions…she wasn't sure exactly what had gone on the night before, but she knew it could never happen again. She did love him, which was so true it hurt, but just because she loved him didn't mean she had any right to have him. This wasn't her quest, those hobbits they had set out to rescue weren't her friends, she hardly knew their names! But what she did know was that she wasn't going to let herself mess this rescue mission up, whatever it took, she wasn't going to screw this up.
Savina pulled on her vest and cloak.
She could love him without touching him; love was about more than that.
Pulling on her boot, she grabbed her pack and made her way out into the hallway to join Gimli, Aragorn, and Legolas in the tavern.