A Meeting of Lovers

Chapter Three: The Dream

He moved quickly through the darkness, dodging every branch, shifting swiftly past each tree but no matter how fast he ran there were no means of getting away, no matter of escaping the shadows. He was stuck with no where to go and no place to hide. The shadows were moving closer each second, hiding throughout the blankets of the dark and concealed by nighttime's cloak.

He took quarters between the lines of shrubbery surrounding the lake hoping they would be enough to hide him from the shadows. He stirred slowly within the greenery but cut himself on one of the large sharp thorns growing form the bushes. His skin turned red and a line of blood slowly dripped out from his body splashing onto the ground. He groaned and placed his hand over the cut in an attempt to stop the bleeding but soon saw that the blood simply flowed over his hand and onto the ground. He grabbed a handful of leaves to wipe the red off but found that the leaves didn't help; they only covered his hand with more dirt and filth.

* * * * *

The shadows moved faster and faster, they had caught his scent and were fresh on his trail. Trying not to fall behind, they quickened their pace. With great stride they moved throughout the forest knocking down everything that crossed their path. Eyes glaring, nostrils flared, they cast a flash of evil throughout the woods as they moved closer and closer to their prey. Gliding through the air like kites caught in an updraft they moved ever nearer to the lake where he hid. Nothing could escape the shadows for once they caught your scent they will never stop hunting you. With great patience the shadows crept around the line of bushes, circling the almost completely hidden lake, and were preparing to launch their attack. They had followed his scent all the way here and now it was time to make their final move. The creatures stopped once they had reached the bushes trying to hear the movement of their prey. Their shifting cape-like bodies brushed up against the greenery making slight noises. They knew that they had to strike now while they were good and ready so with one quick pounce they leapt straight over the shrubbery to grab the nearly defenseless man but were surprised to find nothing there but a small dried up circle of blood.

* * * * *

His hand was wet and sticky, completely covered in blood and muck. He knew that he had to quickly conceal the scent of his blood if he stood any chance of surviving this god awful experience. Suddenly he heard a noise that made him completely freeze. Trying not to move, he stayed knelt upon the ground attempting to hear what exactly was coming. He stopped every motion and every breath but the noise had gone, whatever he heard must have left. Then the noise came again and he knew that was the time to leave, so very quietly he crawled slowly towards the lake to make his escape. From clear across the bushes he could see a few shadow-like figures leaping over the bushes and hovering over the circle of blood he had left.

The lake was calm, no ripples were cast and the only thing that could be seen was the reflection of the giant moon floating in the lake. Everything else was dark and dreary.

What was this place that he had wondered into and how did he get there? He was completely alone, alone in this forest with not a sign of civilization. Not even an animal could be seen anywhere near there, no owls hooting incessantly in the tree tops, no squirrels scurrying across the grass, not even a single firefly illuminating the night sky. It was as if the forest had been wiped clean of all living creatures. The only thing he had seen that even remotely resembled a living being were those shadows but they were hunting him and he wasn't about to go ask them for any help.

He turned towards the lake and could see his reflection, could see his face covered in endless filth and his body marred the scars left behind by the wicked thorns. He didn't like it. He didn't like seeing himself this way, so savage and wild, so unclean and indecent. He needed to change that. His clothes on the ground the man submerged himself into the lake to wash everything off, to wash off the cuts and bruises, the dirt and muck, and memories.the hurtful memories of his betrayal.

The lake was cold and Aragorn shivered as the water flapped up against his bare skin. His body was rough and his skin hard and ragged. His hands were coarse and his hair dry and damaged. His body was no longer in the perfect shape that it once was in, and he was ashamed, ashamed of his body and ashamed of himself.

How could he have possibly strayed away from the one thing in his life that seemed sure? Why did he do that to her? Why did he betray her?

All these questions and more were running through his head but this was neither the time nor the place for answers.

A loud ear piercing shriek could be heard echoing through the entire forest. The shriek rang through woods and reached the lake, loud and discordantly. Aragorn exited the lake and quickly gathered his garments. Nervous and afraid of what would happen to him he nervously fumbled and dropped his things on the floor. He tripped over his shoe and landed roughly in a bed of rocks. Aragorn lay there exposed on the ground unable to get up. He had lost all feeling in his legs and arms so he couldn't feel the pains surging through his body.

Then came another shriek but this time it was much louder, it was getting closer and by the sound of it, much madder.

Aragorn didn't know what to do. He couldn't move he couldn't even feel his body. It was as if all that was left of him was his head, but there was body laying there motionless. He was defenseless and he was pretty sure that the shadow was getting much closer.

The shriek came again but now it was coming from behind him.

"What am I going to do?"

He thought to himself but his thoughts were quickly interrupted as a strange cloak-like figure came gliding towards him. It came slowly closer to him and inch by inch it made its way towards the injured man, its body moving around as if being blown by the wind.

What was this thing? It couldn't possibly be person because it had no body. It looked just like a cape caught in an updraft but Aragorn could see its deadly red eyes glowing nastily under the hooded beast and suddenly from out of nowhere came at least seven more of these things. He was surrounded and it looked like the end. With no feeling in his body Aragorn couldn't protect himself but even if he could move, he didn't have a single weapon, no bow and arrow, no axe, no mace, not even a sword. He was sure that if he had his sword that he would be able to get out of this predicament but alas, he was stuck.

The cloak-like creatures slowly lowered themselves as if getting ready to bite him. Aragorn was afraid, he feared for his life.

"Aragorn..Aragorn"

He heard his name but where was it coming from?

"Aragorn wake up my darling"

* * * * *

Everything was blurred and as Aragorn opened his eyes he could see her, hovering over him. She looked like an angel; he could see Arwen placing a damp cloth unto his forehead. He slowly rose, and sat up straight on the bed. He was weak and could barely move his arms but somehow he found the strength to open his mouth and ask "What happened?"

"You gave us quite a scare my love. When you fell unto the floor I yelled for help and got someone to pick you up and take you to our room. You've been here sleeping here ever since."

"I have?" he asked with a confusing look on his face.

"But what about the shadows. were they all a dream, was that whole thing made up?"

He couldn't believe it. It was all a dream and now he was safe and sound and next to his angel. "What a weird dream" he whispered to himself.

"What did you say my love?"

"I'm sorry for frightening you, I wasn't feeling quite myself but now I am all better."

A smile appeared on Arwen's face and she let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear that, so maybe now we could begin the planning of our wedding."

The wedding, how could Aragorn have forgotten? They had planned to get married as soon as Aragorn had returned, but how could he marry her now? How could he marry her after.that?

Aragorn said nothing but instead sat there with a less than sincere smile upon his face. He didn't have any choice but to lie to her. "Of course we can, it's all I've been thinking about."

Arwen was so excited she jumped up off of her chair and into Aragorn's arms. Aragorn took her in and held her tight. Her hair rubbed against his face and as he inhaled he took in the most wonderful fragrance. She moaned and pushed herself deeper into his embrace. He didn't want to let her go because for that one brief moment he was happy and nothing else mattered.