RUNES

                    by Pride

Author's Note: Hey peeps. I dont have many review and that makes me very very depressed. I say to thee: Review. PLEASE! The reason I have not updated was that I fell from my horse, Casey, last night. I already had the chapters typed up but couldn't update. This chapter wont be long since I can't keep my head down for too long. I cracked one rib and bruised the other, but I will keep writing!!!

       Aragorn watched after her, spellbound. Tinumandra. Tinu. The girl from Rivendell. From another time. What was she now, 3050? Certainly old.

       " Aragorn? Aragorn?" Legolas' voice brought Estel crashing into reality. He stared at the place where Melanna had stood. Aragorn started to move but felt something metal under his knee. Mela's knife. BEfore Legolas or Gimli could notice the blade, He slid it into his pocket quietly. He turned to Legolas.

       "We should go now. Melanna may change her mind. We cannot let her. Do you not agree, Estel?" Legolas asked him. Aragorn shook his head quickly. Gimli lifted an eyebrow at him.

       "No. We must wait for Theodred. Tinu will not change her mind. I promise you. We can wait for Eowyn and Eomer. Estel nin." Aragorn muttered, standing. He raised himself up and walked towards the humans standing by Theodred's bed and stood with them. Eomer turned to him and pulled him aside. Legolas led Gimli over to the bedside also, very slowly. Melanna, seeing Gimli struggle, snapped her fingers and two elves sprang forward to help him.

                                   **********

       Eomer sighed. " Aragorn. Listen to me.  Do not underestimate the treachery of that lady.I have seen it. You should go, now that you have Gimli, which I cannot even begin to ponder. Just leave."  Aragorn looked over Eomer's shoulder to see that Melanna was watching them out of the corner of  her eyes. He ignored this, knowing that she could hear them very clearly. They were just outside of human hearing range and Eomer had forgotten about elven hearing.

       " Eomer. I know what I'm doing. There is no threachery here.  Just trust me. I will not leave you and Eowyn here if they are truly as bad as you say so.  You do not speak their language!" Aragorn spoke in a rough be-real voice that made Eomer think. Eomer sighed once again and turned back to Eowyn, putting his arm around her shoulder in a hug. Aragorn shook his head, sighed also and headed back to stand beside Gimli, whom was leaning on his axe.

       Theodred groaned as Melanna touched his face softly. A pale light surged through his body and left quickly. Mela gasped and drew the man up, embracing him, hiding her face in the side of his hood. His eyes opened slowly and Eowyn made a move to rush forward. A red-haired female elf held her back gently.(AN: Ooh. My back is starting to ache.I will continue;)   She lay him down and stepped back. Mela waved her hand at the red-head and she allowed Eowyn to rush forward and hold her foster brother.

       Eomer came forward and sat on the bed beside Theodred and smiled. Theodred smiled back at him.

       "Brother!" Theodred hugged Eomer very tightly. Eomer patted his back and spoke rohirric to him. Eowyn turned to him and spoke softly.

       " Did you see Mother and Father? Were they alright?" She said, tears in her eyes. Theodred gaped at her for one moment before pulling her into a tight embrace.

       "Eowyn! Sister! Yes, I saw them. They were very happy there, though they missed you, White Lady." Eowyn smiled at him and cried into his shoulder.

       Melanna was quietly grinning behind Legolas. She felt trouble hit and pushed Legolas aside as she rushed forward. Theodred gasped for breath suddenly and he closed his eyes, falling forward. Melanna caught him. He leaned heavily into her. Aragorn ran forward and helped her push Theodred back onto the bed.  He kept gasping and convulsing. Eowyn screamed shrilly and Eomer had to hold her back with all of his strength.

       "EOWYN! No!" Eomer yelled.  Melanna gasped and screamed also.  The redhead, Nauriel, pushed through the people, holding a mug of a purple liquid. She forced down Theodred's thoart. He coughed and went silent. His eyes closed slowly and he hit the bed below him with a dull resounding thud.

       Eowyn shrieked and buried her face in Eomer's shoulder. Thoughtlessly, Aragorn turned to the girl who had always protected him in his childhood. Melanna.

       He slid into her embrace and she lifted her hands to stroke his hair. He reached around her and cried silently into her chest like he had done when he was a child. Aragorn heard her sigh and his shoulders shook slightly.

       "Oh, Estel.... Estel. It is all over. All gone." Then the world around them seemed to go silent and all that was left was Melanna's singing and Aragorn's sobs.

Author's note: Hey. My back is killing me. It is 10:10 and THeodred is dead. I have 2 concerts tomorrow. ** Imagine standing for 4 hours. Can we say 'Advil'? :-P** Anyway. I also have an orthodontist appointment at 7:30am so Namarie. Oh, btw. This will not be an Aragorn/ Melanna. K? REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!************ow.ow.ow. Namarie.