It was a while before I spoke to you again, Lord Aragorn, on the passing from Edoras. I know you were against fleeing to Helms Deep, I recall your words to my uncle clearly after he expressed his fear of war.
Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.
The way you remained calm; the way you merely puffed on your pipe when he replied made my insides do flips.
When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.
You seemed to sense there was to be no arguing with him, that he was as stubborn of a man as they came. Your calm indifference, though you disagreed… The only sign of emotion you showed was a quick flash of anger and irritation, immediately masked with a small nod of your head.
Most would have exploded, continued arguing, refused to help… but you did not.
You aided us on the crossing, helping us lead the people towards the fortress, and you would help later in an even greater way.
I was a head of you… I remember it all so clearly, as if it were yesterday. I lead the dwarf's, Gimli they called him, horse, listening to his babble about dwarf women. I might have been able to concentrate had you not been there… but my thoughts were intoxicated with you, the ease with which you mounted your horse, the way you nobly sat atop your mount, laughing at the dwarf occasionally… Your face, your lips, your hair, your rugged, unshaven chin… my mind played with the thought of kissing those perfect lips, running my hands through your hair as your stubble tickled my face… oh how badly I wanted you, Lord Aragorn… yet I kept my thoughts hidden well.
It's true you don't see many dwarf women… and in fact, they're so alike in voice and appearance that they're often mistaken for dwarf men.
Turning to cast you a small smile, I had to stifle a laugh at your next comment, and I know my eyes were dancing with as much amusement as yours were.
It's the beards.
Biting my lip to keep from laughing out loud, I turned back to face the front, knowing if I continued to look at you, if only for a moment, my resolve not to laugh would weaken and break.
Fortunately, I managed to hold in my laughter until the dwarf said something that he thought amusing, and I let it ring out, turning once more to look at you. You smiled, and I did also, laughing silently at the secret joke only you and I held. Our eyes danced with amusement, and for a moment, if only a moment, I thought I saw my feelings reciprocated in your eyes. … But it was gone in a moment.
That was the moment Gimli's horse took off at a gallop, tossing him to the ground where he did an odd sort of roll. I laughed once, then stopped, rushing forward to make sure he was alright. He was.
It was when I turned to glance at you again that I felt it once more, stronger than before…
The feelings I had felt for you the day I first saw you… was it only two days ago? The yearning to hold you, to kiss you, to call you my beloved… I felt these things rise to the surface like bubbles, and I had to turn my eyes away to keep from doing or saying anything stupid. Did I love you? Why were my feelings playing tricks on me? Had I not always held control of my own emotions, a feat of which I was immensely proud? These feelings were quite new to me, and I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
We spent the rest of the evening sharing glances and smiles, along with the occasional bit of laughter.
Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel?
I immediately wished I had not asked… a shadow passed over your attractive face, and you did not answer for a moment… But I had asked, and I yearned to know where your heart lay.
My lord?
She is sailing to the undying lands with all that is left of her kin.
I said naught, though secretly, I was somewhat glad. Not for your loss… no. It did not please me to see you in pain, my Lord… But it would have broken my heart to know that your heart belonged to another, another who was waiting for your safe return.
The awkward silence was broken as Uruk-Hai fell upon us and we were forced to go our separate ways, you riding valiantly into battle, I helping herd the people to safety. How I longed to be at your side, beside you, slaying the beasts that for too long had plagued my country… But I was not.
