-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- = Dream
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ = Scene change
(Takes place when Ashia is about 14, according to the elves. doesn't start with any of the LotR characters at first. but they'll be here, promise)
"She said life sucks, it's the truth to me, didn't you think it would be better than this? So where's the prize that I was promised, where's my great reward, where's my happiness.?" - More, J Englishmen
Chapter 6
Ashia-Daughter of Dark
I entered the forest ahead of me, slowly and as quietly as an elf can go. My steps were inaudible to anything but other elves. These trees were old, but they didn't carry the memories of centuries past. There was something special about these woods, and it felt like eyes were watching me at all times.
The leaves were golden with the sunlight above me. I felt calm, almost safe, here and even Akasha, at first reluctant to enter the forest, had calmed down. As we went on, deeper and deeper into a danger, unknown at the time, I began to hear something following us. I pretended not to notice, but it gradually came closer, and I kept my hand near the hilt of my sword.
Night fell, and still I was sure of the follower, very close now, but keeping itself a measurable distance from us. Akasha was getting jumpy; the dark weakened her sight even more than it already was and she began to refuse to go any farther. 'Come on Akasha. Damn it! We can't stop here, not yet. not now.'
She stopped, and would not budge. The follower stopped and I thought I heard muffled laughter, too. I grew impatient and eventually let her stay. Sitting down at the base of a tree, I tried to focus all of my attention to the sounds around me, so that my tag along could not sneak up on me.
I sincerely tried not to sleep that night, but I was weary after a day of travel and those woods had an indescribable effect on the heart of a traveler. I did not have a dream that night, for the first time in many days. But when I awoke, Akasha was nowhere to be found. All of my stuff was still there, save Akasha. I swore under my breath, picked up my bag and started to trudge along the green paths.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I wove myself in-between the great, almost Elven trees silently, as all Elves can. I did not grow tired, and the next morning's light crept over the trees tops, sparking each leaf with its fire. I sighed and stopped. These woods were beautiful and ancient, yet I could not hear their memories. There should be many here but there were none reachable with my young mind.
Standing still as a tree myself in the middle of a clearing probably wasn't the most brilliant thing I had done all day. Nothing happened, but I was sure I had picked up another follower, perhaps the same one. I was sure it was of Elvish blood, for even with my keen ears, I couldn't hear it at times.
I walked swiftly as my legs would carry me after days of travel with little rest. Even when and where it was possible to rest my eyes, it was not enough to get me as far as a good night of sleep would have. I do not know when I sat down to sleep, in fact I do not even remember attempting it. But I awoke late the next morning, safe and sound, nothing missing, and near fully rested.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I had decided that I would spend at least one day of rest in the ethereal woods, something was drawing me to the deepest part of them, but for now, I refused to go any farther. With only one night of proper rest in a whole 3 weeks was finally getting to my mind and body. I was finding myself nodding off as I stood, catching myself before I fell. Now I was wishing that I had waited longer in Mirkwood, for then I would have learned the Elven trick of slipping into a dream-like state of mind, while still being 'awake'.
I opened my pack, searching for my cards, finding them I laid them out in front of me on the mossy ground. Looking at each one carefully, I found that one looked very familiar. It depicted a tree with silver bark in full bloom, golden flowers of spiritual luster. "The Golden Wood" it read at the bottom. I looked up, and for the first time noticed that the trees here had bark of silver, and in spring I assumed they would bloom gold. Remembering what my mother had told me of far of places, I also remembered her saying, "Lothlorien is the most beautiful place you could visit. the golden wood. Always safe under the watchful eye of Galadriel.
'So I'm in Lothlorien. well now that I have that figured out, let's try these cards.'
I placed the card picturing the celestial tree against one of the ones around the clearing and my hand over top of the card. Sighing I closed my eyes, truly not believing anything would happen, hell I wasn't pure. but that's where I was wrong, yet again.
Slowly a tingling sensation rose from my fingertips, passing up through my hand, into my arm. From there it expanded, and as it reached my head, I opened my eyes to see a green orb growing in-between my hand and the tree. The air around me was heating. not like fire, but it was something, it was indescribable.
The tingling grew to a buzz inside my ears and the green light had wrapped itself around my body, enveloping me in an ancient secret. I felt like I was floating, carefree, so. so, alive. Everything around me lost meaning, I was not here, and all at the same time I was. I wasn't breathing air; I was breathing in the soul of everything and nothing. My fatigued body was numb, and I did not need it; I was power, I was the earth, I was... free.
My hair was flowing around me as if a wind held it there, and I could see it rippling in blonde waves in an ocean of life. All that once concerned me was now lost; I couldn't remember pain, suffering, or the lost hope I once carried. I was so carried away in the temporary moment of peace with myself, that I didn't notice my curious onlookers.
All at once, the light faded, the buzzing in my ears ceased, my hair fell back into place, my body felt drained again. This sudden change overwhelmed me, and all went black as I fell to the ground. Though not known to me at the time, and I thanked them later; swift-moving arms caught me and carried my pack and myself to the safest place I'd been in for as long as I remembered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Voices hovered around me as I woke. It felt like I'd been sleeping forever and the last thing I remembered was the wondrous feeling I'd gotten from the magic of the Istari's card. "They found her near the walls of the city, my Lady. She was using a magic that seemed to carry her away, it was impossible, no one has ever called up power like that in these woods, not even you."
"Haldir, silence yourself, the girl wakes. I would wish to have a word with our guest alone, continue your patrol." A female speaker with a voice like icy rain spoke with great authority, and the first speaker, Haldir, had spoken with respect, "you may talk with her afterwards, if that is your wish and she is willing, but for now, I have my own questions."
I opened my eyes slowly to see two elves across the room. Haldir, tall and fair-haired, was bowing and leaving the room. The woman who had spoken last turned towards her with icy eyes. In my head I could hear her voice, I was sure, "Welcome to the Golden Wood, Ashia, Daughter of the Dark."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ashia, if you don't mind, I'd like a look at those cards you have been carrying." Lady Galadriel had questioned me for a few hours now, and I knew I could trust her no matter what. Reaching into my pack I pulled out the small, but so powerful, deck of cards. After inspecting them thoroughly, she sighed and seemed content. "Keep these close to your heart, child. They are a great gift and have been given to the right person. Do not doubt your purity." She smiled, "Now, I'm sure you'd like to meet the young man who found you?"
I nodded, but I was still confused about what the cards really were. She stood and began to walk out of the room, beckoning for me to follow.
We walked through winding paths and down stairs declining through the trees. The housing here was all in the trees, and simple, still majestic but simple. I looked all around me in wonder and she led me leisurely to a small clearing. There sat a group of eight companions, a dwarf, two men, four halflings, and another elf. They all looked up as we entered, and the elf looked like someone I knew.
Galadriel introduced me as Ashia the Wander. The name made me wonder, and I almost missed her telling me of the others. At their name, they bowed and I back. Queen Galadriel told me of their mission, to destroy The One. I had heard of it, in stories told by the elders in the little village I had lived in, but I was also told that it was lost, never to be found again.
"This is the fellowship appointed by Elrond to destroy the ring, but nine were sent from Rivendell, one has already fallen. Ashia, I would like it if you were to accompany them to Mordor. You are still young, but carry a great power with you. Will you accept?" the others looked at me and I didn't need to think very hard. 'It's not like I have any specific plans to go anywhere. why not? It would be nice to have company, and maybe it would distract me from these annoying thoughts.'
I looked at each member of the fellowship. Boromir, the other human, had a look on his face that reminded me of the dream I'd had in Mirkwood. Something about him scared me, I didn't think he could be trusted. Finally I decided on where I was going, and with who.
"Yes, Lady Galadriel, I think I will. Of course if they do not care." I looked questioningly at the dark haired man who seemed to be their leader, Aragorn. Why did that name sound so familiar?
He looked right into my eyes; something was oddly familiar about these people, especially him and the elf, Legolas. "Of course, we could never turn down an offer of another member, particularly one referred by Galadriel. Welcome to our Fellowship, Mistress Ashia."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I stayed with the fellowship for our last night in Lorien, answering all of their questions. The hobbits were very curious and the youngest one, Peregrin, I think it was, was the most amusing.
Blinking wildly after another couple hours of questions, not wanting to be rude, I tried to stay awake. Legolas noticed this and said something that I didn't catch, but the Hobbits stopped talking and I fell into a deep sleep, disturbed only by another dream; one that was stranger then all of the rest. The one that changed the rest of my life drastically.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Blood was everywhere, utter chaos. Everything was blurry; I heard voices talking in soft Sindarin above me. Realizing I was on the ground, I tried to sit up, but I was completely numb. [FLASH] I was at the top of a waterfall, looking down. Tears welling in my eyes, a single boat was brought by in the current. As it fell my tears broke loose.
[FLASH] Screams were everywhere. And I felt like I was flying, the ground rushed up towards me, but I never hit it. Clouds were everywhere now, the azure sky around me. The wind wrapped itself around me. [FLASH] I was cold, I was breathing but I couldn't see my breath. Everyone around me had clouds of steam near their mouths but I didn't. Ice ran down my cheeks, and I tried to wipe it away but my hand drifted so slowly to my face. I fell to my knees, letting the deep snow take me, bury me in its cold. [FLASH] {Wake up number ten, wake up. It is not your time.yet. wake up.} a Quenya voice rang in my ears, but it was getting father and farther away, {Number ten, time is running out. You need to wake up.} Water was flooding into my lungs. [FLASH] Everything was black, but I could feel myself spinning insanely, spiraling downwards. Another voice speaking in Westron echoed around me, "ASHIA! Ashia, you can beat it, open your eyes. Please, open your eyes, you can't go now. Not now, they need you." [FLASH] Meaghan sat across the room from me, and she held something in her hand. "Meaghan? What do you have?" she didn't hear me and uncrumpled the paper. It was the note I'd left behind. Clear tears ran down her cheeks, and she fell to the floor. I tried to catch her but my own hand, once solid, passed right through her. I screamed for help, but know one came. [FLASH] All around me, the world was shaking, and a deep voice was speaking. I couldn't hear the words at first but then they became clear. "She's passing," more shaking, "Ashia, come on, don't stop holding on. Just open your eyes. look alive."
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
"Number ten. Number ten. I'm waking up. now," I didn't realize that I was talking, my eyes were still closed tightly. I felt like I was suffocating and someone was shaking me violently. "I am awake now, it's not my time. I'm awake, Meaghan wipe your tears. I'm flying; I'm still here. I'm awake. don't die without me."
"Ashia?" someone was still shaking me, hard. "Let me know you're okay!" the shaking stopped just long enough for me to open my eyes. I felt so dazed and I couldn't figure out where I was.
"Where, where am I.?" my eyes were burning now, like I'd gotten sand into them. My eyes closed and the shaking started again. I threw my eyes open immediately and started to blink wildly.
"Don't close your eyes! Do not let yourself sleep again!" it was still dark out, probably near the middle of the night. And I was just starting to grasp where I was and who was talking to me. Grey eyes were looking at me sternly, making sure I was there.
My eyelids were getting heavy and I could hear the Quenya voice again {number ten, number ten. your time is coming. Soon you will know, soon you will be rid of it.} I shuddered and covered my ears, the voice was harsh and it echoed, it hurt. {Ashia you are not going to make it. you will be the --}
The voice stopped and I noticed that it was Aragorn who had been shaking me. "I. I think I am okay now. Why can I not sleep?" my vision was slipping in and out of focus and it was making me light-headed. My eyes were starting to close again but I caught myself. All of the others were still sleeping; I looked at Aragorn and wondered why he'd been awake.
He seemed to read my mind and simply said, "I couldn't find sleep tonight." There was something about him that made him seem even more familiar about him. "Ashia, you were saying something about the number ten, what was wrong? You were slipping. I couldn't hear you breathing anymore."
"It's just a bad dream. Aragorn? Do I know you, I mean, do I know you from somewhere else?" he looked surprised at first, then looked like he was trying to remember. I was trying to remember, too.
"I thought the same thing about you when I saw you, but I think I know where we've met each other before." He sighed, and looked like he couldn't explain it, "have you ever had a dream, one that was so real, that you thought it was real? That is where I first saw you, before the other day in the woods. In a dream that I couldn't explain any other way than to say that it was going to happen, a prediction."
I nodded my head, yes now I knew. He'd been in a dream one I'd had when I came into Lothlorien at first. It was a short one, and I'd hardly counted it as a dream. But it fit now, he was the one who'd found me and caught me when the power of the card faded. In my dream I was falling and he'd caught me. Simple enough. a premonition. but that didn't explain this past one and the two I'd had before.
Somehow I felt closer to Aragorn from that moment. We were connected through our dreams; it was like we shared a past. {And you'll never know why.} the voice taunted, why was it still here?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ = Scene change
(Takes place when Ashia is about 14, according to the elves. doesn't start with any of the LotR characters at first. but they'll be here, promise)
"She said life sucks, it's the truth to me, didn't you think it would be better than this? So where's the prize that I was promised, where's my great reward, where's my happiness.?" - More, J Englishmen
Chapter 6
Ashia-Daughter of Dark
I entered the forest ahead of me, slowly and as quietly as an elf can go. My steps were inaudible to anything but other elves. These trees were old, but they didn't carry the memories of centuries past. There was something special about these woods, and it felt like eyes were watching me at all times.
The leaves were golden with the sunlight above me. I felt calm, almost safe, here and even Akasha, at first reluctant to enter the forest, had calmed down. As we went on, deeper and deeper into a danger, unknown at the time, I began to hear something following us. I pretended not to notice, but it gradually came closer, and I kept my hand near the hilt of my sword.
Night fell, and still I was sure of the follower, very close now, but keeping itself a measurable distance from us. Akasha was getting jumpy; the dark weakened her sight even more than it already was and she began to refuse to go any farther. 'Come on Akasha. Damn it! We can't stop here, not yet. not now.'
She stopped, and would not budge. The follower stopped and I thought I heard muffled laughter, too. I grew impatient and eventually let her stay. Sitting down at the base of a tree, I tried to focus all of my attention to the sounds around me, so that my tag along could not sneak up on me.
I sincerely tried not to sleep that night, but I was weary after a day of travel and those woods had an indescribable effect on the heart of a traveler. I did not have a dream that night, for the first time in many days. But when I awoke, Akasha was nowhere to be found. All of my stuff was still there, save Akasha. I swore under my breath, picked up my bag and started to trudge along the green paths.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I wove myself in-between the great, almost Elven trees silently, as all Elves can. I did not grow tired, and the next morning's light crept over the trees tops, sparking each leaf with its fire. I sighed and stopped. These woods were beautiful and ancient, yet I could not hear their memories. There should be many here but there were none reachable with my young mind.
Standing still as a tree myself in the middle of a clearing probably wasn't the most brilliant thing I had done all day. Nothing happened, but I was sure I had picked up another follower, perhaps the same one. I was sure it was of Elvish blood, for even with my keen ears, I couldn't hear it at times.
I walked swiftly as my legs would carry me after days of travel with little rest. Even when and where it was possible to rest my eyes, it was not enough to get me as far as a good night of sleep would have. I do not know when I sat down to sleep, in fact I do not even remember attempting it. But I awoke late the next morning, safe and sound, nothing missing, and near fully rested.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I had decided that I would spend at least one day of rest in the ethereal woods, something was drawing me to the deepest part of them, but for now, I refused to go any farther. With only one night of proper rest in a whole 3 weeks was finally getting to my mind and body. I was finding myself nodding off as I stood, catching myself before I fell. Now I was wishing that I had waited longer in Mirkwood, for then I would have learned the Elven trick of slipping into a dream-like state of mind, while still being 'awake'.
I opened my pack, searching for my cards, finding them I laid them out in front of me on the mossy ground. Looking at each one carefully, I found that one looked very familiar. It depicted a tree with silver bark in full bloom, golden flowers of spiritual luster. "The Golden Wood" it read at the bottom. I looked up, and for the first time noticed that the trees here had bark of silver, and in spring I assumed they would bloom gold. Remembering what my mother had told me of far of places, I also remembered her saying, "Lothlorien is the most beautiful place you could visit. the golden wood. Always safe under the watchful eye of Galadriel.
'So I'm in Lothlorien. well now that I have that figured out, let's try these cards.'
I placed the card picturing the celestial tree against one of the ones around the clearing and my hand over top of the card. Sighing I closed my eyes, truly not believing anything would happen, hell I wasn't pure. but that's where I was wrong, yet again.
Slowly a tingling sensation rose from my fingertips, passing up through my hand, into my arm. From there it expanded, and as it reached my head, I opened my eyes to see a green orb growing in-between my hand and the tree. The air around me was heating. not like fire, but it was something, it was indescribable.
The tingling grew to a buzz inside my ears and the green light had wrapped itself around my body, enveloping me in an ancient secret. I felt like I was floating, carefree, so. so, alive. Everything around me lost meaning, I was not here, and all at the same time I was. I wasn't breathing air; I was breathing in the soul of everything and nothing. My fatigued body was numb, and I did not need it; I was power, I was the earth, I was... free.
My hair was flowing around me as if a wind held it there, and I could see it rippling in blonde waves in an ocean of life. All that once concerned me was now lost; I couldn't remember pain, suffering, or the lost hope I once carried. I was so carried away in the temporary moment of peace with myself, that I didn't notice my curious onlookers.
All at once, the light faded, the buzzing in my ears ceased, my hair fell back into place, my body felt drained again. This sudden change overwhelmed me, and all went black as I fell to the ground. Though not known to me at the time, and I thanked them later; swift-moving arms caught me and carried my pack and myself to the safest place I'd been in for as long as I remembered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Voices hovered around me as I woke. It felt like I'd been sleeping forever and the last thing I remembered was the wondrous feeling I'd gotten from the magic of the Istari's card. "They found her near the walls of the city, my Lady. She was using a magic that seemed to carry her away, it was impossible, no one has ever called up power like that in these woods, not even you."
"Haldir, silence yourself, the girl wakes. I would wish to have a word with our guest alone, continue your patrol." A female speaker with a voice like icy rain spoke with great authority, and the first speaker, Haldir, had spoken with respect, "you may talk with her afterwards, if that is your wish and she is willing, but for now, I have my own questions."
I opened my eyes slowly to see two elves across the room. Haldir, tall and fair-haired, was bowing and leaving the room. The woman who had spoken last turned towards her with icy eyes. In my head I could hear her voice, I was sure, "Welcome to the Golden Wood, Ashia, Daughter of the Dark."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ashia, if you don't mind, I'd like a look at those cards you have been carrying." Lady Galadriel had questioned me for a few hours now, and I knew I could trust her no matter what. Reaching into my pack I pulled out the small, but so powerful, deck of cards. After inspecting them thoroughly, she sighed and seemed content. "Keep these close to your heart, child. They are a great gift and have been given to the right person. Do not doubt your purity." She smiled, "Now, I'm sure you'd like to meet the young man who found you?"
I nodded, but I was still confused about what the cards really were. She stood and began to walk out of the room, beckoning for me to follow.
We walked through winding paths and down stairs declining through the trees. The housing here was all in the trees, and simple, still majestic but simple. I looked all around me in wonder and she led me leisurely to a small clearing. There sat a group of eight companions, a dwarf, two men, four halflings, and another elf. They all looked up as we entered, and the elf looked like someone I knew.
Galadriel introduced me as Ashia the Wander. The name made me wonder, and I almost missed her telling me of the others. At their name, they bowed and I back. Queen Galadriel told me of their mission, to destroy The One. I had heard of it, in stories told by the elders in the little village I had lived in, but I was also told that it was lost, never to be found again.
"This is the fellowship appointed by Elrond to destroy the ring, but nine were sent from Rivendell, one has already fallen. Ashia, I would like it if you were to accompany them to Mordor. You are still young, but carry a great power with you. Will you accept?" the others looked at me and I didn't need to think very hard. 'It's not like I have any specific plans to go anywhere. why not? It would be nice to have company, and maybe it would distract me from these annoying thoughts.'
I looked at each member of the fellowship. Boromir, the other human, had a look on his face that reminded me of the dream I'd had in Mirkwood. Something about him scared me, I didn't think he could be trusted. Finally I decided on where I was going, and with who.
"Yes, Lady Galadriel, I think I will. Of course if they do not care." I looked questioningly at the dark haired man who seemed to be their leader, Aragorn. Why did that name sound so familiar?
He looked right into my eyes; something was oddly familiar about these people, especially him and the elf, Legolas. "Of course, we could never turn down an offer of another member, particularly one referred by Galadriel. Welcome to our Fellowship, Mistress Ashia."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I stayed with the fellowship for our last night in Lorien, answering all of their questions. The hobbits were very curious and the youngest one, Peregrin, I think it was, was the most amusing.
Blinking wildly after another couple hours of questions, not wanting to be rude, I tried to stay awake. Legolas noticed this and said something that I didn't catch, but the Hobbits stopped talking and I fell into a deep sleep, disturbed only by another dream; one that was stranger then all of the rest. The one that changed the rest of my life drastically.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Blood was everywhere, utter chaos. Everything was blurry; I heard voices talking in soft Sindarin above me. Realizing I was on the ground, I tried to sit up, but I was completely numb. [FLASH] I was at the top of a waterfall, looking down. Tears welling in my eyes, a single boat was brought by in the current. As it fell my tears broke loose.
[FLASH] Screams were everywhere. And I felt like I was flying, the ground rushed up towards me, but I never hit it. Clouds were everywhere now, the azure sky around me. The wind wrapped itself around me. [FLASH] I was cold, I was breathing but I couldn't see my breath. Everyone around me had clouds of steam near their mouths but I didn't. Ice ran down my cheeks, and I tried to wipe it away but my hand drifted so slowly to my face. I fell to my knees, letting the deep snow take me, bury me in its cold. [FLASH] {Wake up number ten, wake up. It is not your time.yet. wake up.} a Quenya voice rang in my ears, but it was getting father and farther away, {Number ten, time is running out. You need to wake up.} Water was flooding into my lungs. [FLASH] Everything was black, but I could feel myself spinning insanely, spiraling downwards. Another voice speaking in Westron echoed around me, "ASHIA! Ashia, you can beat it, open your eyes. Please, open your eyes, you can't go now. Not now, they need you." [FLASH] Meaghan sat across the room from me, and she held something in her hand. "Meaghan? What do you have?" she didn't hear me and uncrumpled the paper. It was the note I'd left behind. Clear tears ran down her cheeks, and she fell to the floor. I tried to catch her but my own hand, once solid, passed right through her. I screamed for help, but know one came. [FLASH] All around me, the world was shaking, and a deep voice was speaking. I couldn't hear the words at first but then they became clear. "She's passing," more shaking, "Ashia, come on, don't stop holding on. Just open your eyes. look alive."
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
"Number ten. Number ten. I'm waking up. now," I didn't realize that I was talking, my eyes were still closed tightly. I felt like I was suffocating and someone was shaking me violently. "I am awake now, it's not my time. I'm awake, Meaghan wipe your tears. I'm flying; I'm still here. I'm awake. don't die without me."
"Ashia?" someone was still shaking me, hard. "Let me know you're okay!" the shaking stopped just long enough for me to open my eyes. I felt so dazed and I couldn't figure out where I was.
"Where, where am I.?" my eyes were burning now, like I'd gotten sand into them. My eyes closed and the shaking started again. I threw my eyes open immediately and started to blink wildly.
"Don't close your eyes! Do not let yourself sleep again!" it was still dark out, probably near the middle of the night. And I was just starting to grasp where I was and who was talking to me. Grey eyes were looking at me sternly, making sure I was there.
My eyelids were getting heavy and I could hear the Quenya voice again {number ten, number ten. your time is coming. Soon you will know, soon you will be rid of it.} I shuddered and covered my ears, the voice was harsh and it echoed, it hurt. {Ashia you are not going to make it. you will be the --}
The voice stopped and I noticed that it was Aragorn who had been shaking me. "I. I think I am okay now. Why can I not sleep?" my vision was slipping in and out of focus and it was making me light-headed. My eyes were starting to close again but I caught myself. All of the others were still sleeping; I looked at Aragorn and wondered why he'd been awake.
He seemed to read my mind and simply said, "I couldn't find sleep tonight." There was something about him that made him seem even more familiar about him. "Ashia, you were saying something about the number ten, what was wrong? You were slipping. I couldn't hear you breathing anymore."
"It's just a bad dream. Aragorn? Do I know you, I mean, do I know you from somewhere else?" he looked surprised at first, then looked like he was trying to remember. I was trying to remember, too.
"I thought the same thing about you when I saw you, but I think I know where we've met each other before." He sighed, and looked like he couldn't explain it, "have you ever had a dream, one that was so real, that you thought it was real? That is where I first saw you, before the other day in the woods. In a dream that I couldn't explain any other way than to say that it was going to happen, a prediction."
I nodded my head, yes now I knew. He'd been in a dream one I'd had when I came into Lothlorien at first. It was a short one, and I'd hardly counted it as a dream. But it fit now, he was the one who'd found me and caught me when the power of the card faded. In my dream I was falling and he'd caught me. Simple enough. a premonition. but that didn't explain this past one and the two I'd had before.
Somehow I felt closer to Aragorn from that moment. We were connected through our dreams; it was like we shared a past. {And you'll never know why.} the voice taunted, why was it still here?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
