Disclaimer: Everything is Tolkien's apart from Theo and Rowan, hope you
enjoy
Chapter 6:
Rowan awoke just before dawn. A strong arm was encircling her, and for a moment she was confused as to her where abouts, and thought that the man from the night before had still got her, that she was still trapped in the nightmare. Looking up, she saw the familiar face of Theo, fast asleep, still leaning against the tree trunk. She smiled faintly as she remembered the night before. He had rescued her! Saved her from that filth. A multitude of feelings welled up inside her as she looked at him. Did she really hate him? She was so confused. Why did everything have to change? Settling down comfortably into his strong arms, Rowan settled down once more. She felt so comfortable and safe like this. She didn't ever want to move from this place. To freeze time, and be forever in this moment... Her common sense started to take control. What was she thinking?! She couldn't start thinking like this! She liked him, but... She couldn't let this happen! She had to prove that she was as good as any boy! After having to save her, he would think her even more of a girl than before! It never occurred to her, that he might like her because she was a girl. She felt that she had to prove herself, before anyone would think her worthy. She couldn't stay like this. He must not find her like this. She was so confused she had to get away.
Carefully she slipped underneath his arm, and crept away from their resting place. She moved quietly, desperate to get away before he woke. She carefully packed up her things and settled her saddlebags and tack onto Shadowfax. Taking a small amount of food to eat on her way, she mounted up, with some difficulty as she was still stiff and sore from her fight the night before, and her cuts stung as she moved. Once comfortably settled, she wrapped her cloak tightly around her against the pre-dawn chill, and set off at a steady trot. Once out of hearing of their camp, she sped up to a canter, and then to a gallop, determined to put as much distance between her and Theo as she could. She couldn't let these feelings continue, not now.
Theo muttered to himself as he rode.
'Left me, after all I did.....I'll show her.....See who's best now! Won't be beaten.....not by a GIRL!'
With his mumbling's his pace quickened, until he rode like the wind, determined now. Investing all of his strength in this race. He would show them! All of them! Especially her! He couldn't believe that he had ever liked her! How could she have done that to him?! Confusion and tears replaced his anger. He couldn't understand it. Any of it! Why did it all have to be so complicated? He carried on in this way, until exhaustion took him that night. He rested briefly, and continued on by the light of the moon, ignoring the screams from his body for rest. He would beat her!
A week passed, and still she continued on, never resting for more than a few hours at a time, and continuing for long miles each day. Rowan had not seen Theo since that morning, but when she rested with her ear against the ground, she could hear the thunder of hoof beats, always coming nearer, never fading. They plagued her dreams, and disturbed what little rest she had. The road ran on, never changing, and soon she was so tired of her journey and the never changing landscape, she felt like lying down and giving up then and there. The only thing that changed with each passing day was the mountains. With each step she took they loomed closer, marching upon her left like a huge army coming to hinder her progress. Each day passed filled with the same tasks as the one's that had passed before it. As she rode, Rowan tried to bring order to her tumbled thoughts. She had gradually come to accept that she did have feelings for Theo, much as she hated to admit it to anyone, especially herself! She did not know what to do about it though. Yes she had had friends that were boys, but she had never felt like this about any of them. She did not know how to explain to him that she felt this way. She finally came to the conclusion, after several days of thinking about it though, that she had to tell him. It was eating away inside her, and she could not bear the burden any longer. She had to tell him.
One day dawned brighter and clearer than the other's, and Rowan awoke in the shadows of the Misty Mountains. Hope was rekindled in her heart, and she readied for the day, eagerly, desperate to be off. She started off slowly to warm both Shadowfax and her stiff and cold body. Her wounds had not yet healed completely, and they still troubled her, but she said nothing of them, just gritted her teeth and continued onwards. Late that same afternoon, as the sun was beginning to sink behind the mountains she finally came to the river Isen. Cool and clear, its rushing waters flowed, and she gladly bathed her face and tired limbs in its fresh water. Bringing new life and strength to her. She rested by its waters for a while, enjoying the feeling of calmness that washed over her. Suddenly the sound of faint hoof beats could be heard, and as she listened they became clearer as they neared her camp. Rowan stood and unsheathed her sword. The attack she had faced against the man, had taught her to be cautious whilst out in the wild. The hoof beats grew louder, and around the corner came a rider. She recognised him immediately, and sheathing her sword, ran to him and called.
"Wait Theo! Stop! I need to talk to you! Please wait..."
Theo slowed and stopped, looking down at her.
"I have nothing to say to you, Miss Took."
Rowan tried to ignore the jibe, but it took all of her self-control not to do anything rash. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say. She opened her eyes again, and looked straight into his, holding his gaze.
"I just wanted to apologize, and say...that, well maybe we got off on the wrong foot, and well I've..... I've started to have feelings, for you... And I just needed to tell you this, that well. I think I'm in love with you."
There she had finally said it! It felt like a great weight had rolled off her, and she stood a little straighter. She felt like she could face anything now! Theo paused, he had not expected for her to say that. For a minute he wanted to jump off his pony, sweep her up in his arms and kiss her, but he managed to fight the urge down. Swallowing, he looked down at her once more, and replied,
"I do not accept your apology, Miss Took."
And with that, he nudged Surefoot, and set of at a gallop into the gathering gloom. Rowan watched him go, tears forming in her eyes,
"Fine! I don't really care! You won't win!"
Rowan fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. She couldn't help it. She had laid her soul bare before him, and he had thrown it back into her face. Gradually her resolve stiffened. She was not going to be beaten by him. She'd show him. Wiping her face on the corner of her cloak, she packed her things up once more, threw water over her small fire, and hurtled onto Shadowfax's back. She kicked him, and raced off after him into the night.
Theo raced on into the night, trying to ignore Rowan's last words. The fact that she loved him had made his heart race, and he had felt hope once more. He was still hurt about her deserting him though, and he couldn't understand what had compelled him to say what he had. More than anything, he wanted to go back and apologize. He had seen the look in her eyes as he had said that. Felt her pain as her hopes had come crashing down. He cursed himself for his own stupidity. Now she would hate him, there could be no second chance. He had ruined it. Tears found their way down his face, and he wept as he rode.
Rowan soon drew level with Theo, and rode for a short distance side by side with him. He tried to reach out to her, and to say something, but she brushed his hand away as if it were made of poison, and nudged Shadowfax ahead. Shadowfax was renowned for his speed, and she soon left him behind, never turning back. Now all that mattered to her was to win.
The days passed quickly. Rowan soon lost track of where Theo was, for she never once looked back. She went on. She had passed into Rohan, and looked eagerly about her for signs of the famous horse lords. Although she most wanted to see Gondor, Rohan had always fascinated her, when Merry and Pippin had told her stories of it. The luscious green grass spurred Shadowfax to go even faster, and when three days had passed, she crossed the Snowbourn at dawn. Edoras loomed to her right, and she was sorely tempted to turn aside and see the wonders that were there. ' Time for that, after I have won!' She thought to herself. She was trying her hardest to put Theo out of her mind, and was succeeding most of the time. The only time he was in her thoughts was when she rested. He crept quietly into her dreams, and together they visited far distant lands.
Five days later, Rowan crossed the border into Gondor. She was almost there.
Theo turned off the road shortly after Rowan had overtaken them, and kept to the shadow of the mountains. He followed her closely, but was careful to make sure that she never saw him. His sorrow deepened with each passing day, and he drew further and further behind Rowan, until he was only just keeping her within his sight. Part of him wanted to turn back, to let her win and leave now. But something made him keep going, he thought that maybe if he let her win, she might be in a better frame of mind when he tried to apologise to her. He knew he had to try and make peace with her, he had come to realise over the past few days that he could not live without her. No matter how hard he tried to shut her out, he needed her. He loved her.
A/N Hope you liked it, it's going differently to how I planned it, but I hope you think that it's ok. Please let me know what you think of it. ( Look out for my next story, which is about Rowan's earlier life before this. (
Chapter 6:
Rowan awoke just before dawn. A strong arm was encircling her, and for a moment she was confused as to her where abouts, and thought that the man from the night before had still got her, that she was still trapped in the nightmare. Looking up, she saw the familiar face of Theo, fast asleep, still leaning against the tree trunk. She smiled faintly as she remembered the night before. He had rescued her! Saved her from that filth. A multitude of feelings welled up inside her as she looked at him. Did she really hate him? She was so confused. Why did everything have to change? Settling down comfortably into his strong arms, Rowan settled down once more. She felt so comfortable and safe like this. She didn't ever want to move from this place. To freeze time, and be forever in this moment... Her common sense started to take control. What was she thinking?! She couldn't start thinking like this! She liked him, but... She couldn't let this happen! She had to prove that she was as good as any boy! After having to save her, he would think her even more of a girl than before! It never occurred to her, that he might like her because she was a girl. She felt that she had to prove herself, before anyone would think her worthy. She couldn't stay like this. He must not find her like this. She was so confused she had to get away.
Carefully she slipped underneath his arm, and crept away from their resting place. She moved quietly, desperate to get away before he woke. She carefully packed up her things and settled her saddlebags and tack onto Shadowfax. Taking a small amount of food to eat on her way, she mounted up, with some difficulty as she was still stiff and sore from her fight the night before, and her cuts stung as she moved. Once comfortably settled, she wrapped her cloak tightly around her against the pre-dawn chill, and set off at a steady trot. Once out of hearing of their camp, she sped up to a canter, and then to a gallop, determined to put as much distance between her and Theo as she could. She couldn't let these feelings continue, not now.
Theo muttered to himself as he rode.
'Left me, after all I did.....I'll show her.....See who's best now! Won't be beaten.....not by a GIRL!'
With his mumbling's his pace quickened, until he rode like the wind, determined now. Investing all of his strength in this race. He would show them! All of them! Especially her! He couldn't believe that he had ever liked her! How could she have done that to him?! Confusion and tears replaced his anger. He couldn't understand it. Any of it! Why did it all have to be so complicated? He carried on in this way, until exhaustion took him that night. He rested briefly, and continued on by the light of the moon, ignoring the screams from his body for rest. He would beat her!
A week passed, and still she continued on, never resting for more than a few hours at a time, and continuing for long miles each day. Rowan had not seen Theo since that morning, but when she rested with her ear against the ground, she could hear the thunder of hoof beats, always coming nearer, never fading. They plagued her dreams, and disturbed what little rest she had. The road ran on, never changing, and soon she was so tired of her journey and the never changing landscape, she felt like lying down and giving up then and there. The only thing that changed with each passing day was the mountains. With each step she took they loomed closer, marching upon her left like a huge army coming to hinder her progress. Each day passed filled with the same tasks as the one's that had passed before it. As she rode, Rowan tried to bring order to her tumbled thoughts. She had gradually come to accept that she did have feelings for Theo, much as she hated to admit it to anyone, especially herself! She did not know what to do about it though. Yes she had had friends that were boys, but she had never felt like this about any of them. She did not know how to explain to him that she felt this way. She finally came to the conclusion, after several days of thinking about it though, that she had to tell him. It was eating away inside her, and she could not bear the burden any longer. She had to tell him.
One day dawned brighter and clearer than the other's, and Rowan awoke in the shadows of the Misty Mountains. Hope was rekindled in her heart, and she readied for the day, eagerly, desperate to be off. She started off slowly to warm both Shadowfax and her stiff and cold body. Her wounds had not yet healed completely, and they still troubled her, but she said nothing of them, just gritted her teeth and continued onwards. Late that same afternoon, as the sun was beginning to sink behind the mountains she finally came to the river Isen. Cool and clear, its rushing waters flowed, and she gladly bathed her face and tired limbs in its fresh water. Bringing new life and strength to her. She rested by its waters for a while, enjoying the feeling of calmness that washed over her. Suddenly the sound of faint hoof beats could be heard, and as she listened they became clearer as they neared her camp. Rowan stood and unsheathed her sword. The attack she had faced against the man, had taught her to be cautious whilst out in the wild. The hoof beats grew louder, and around the corner came a rider. She recognised him immediately, and sheathing her sword, ran to him and called.
"Wait Theo! Stop! I need to talk to you! Please wait..."
Theo slowed and stopped, looking down at her.
"I have nothing to say to you, Miss Took."
Rowan tried to ignore the jibe, but it took all of her self-control not to do anything rash. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say. She opened her eyes again, and looked straight into his, holding his gaze.
"I just wanted to apologize, and say...that, well maybe we got off on the wrong foot, and well I've..... I've started to have feelings, for you... And I just needed to tell you this, that well. I think I'm in love with you."
There she had finally said it! It felt like a great weight had rolled off her, and she stood a little straighter. She felt like she could face anything now! Theo paused, he had not expected for her to say that. For a minute he wanted to jump off his pony, sweep her up in his arms and kiss her, but he managed to fight the urge down. Swallowing, he looked down at her once more, and replied,
"I do not accept your apology, Miss Took."
And with that, he nudged Surefoot, and set of at a gallop into the gathering gloom. Rowan watched him go, tears forming in her eyes,
"Fine! I don't really care! You won't win!"
Rowan fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. She couldn't help it. She had laid her soul bare before him, and he had thrown it back into her face. Gradually her resolve stiffened. She was not going to be beaten by him. She'd show him. Wiping her face on the corner of her cloak, she packed her things up once more, threw water over her small fire, and hurtled onto Shadowfax's back. She kicked him, and raced off after him into the night.
Theo raced on into the night, trying to ignore Rowan's last words. The fact that she loved him had made his heart race, and he had felt hope once more. He was still hurt about her deserting him though, and he couldn't understand what had compelled him to say what he had. More than anything, he wanted to go back and apologize. He had seen the look in her eyes as he had said that. Felt her pain as her hopes had come crashing down. He cursed himself for his own stupidity. Now she would hate him, there could be no second chance. He had ruined it. Tears found their way down his face, and he wept as he rode.
Rowan soon drew level with Theo, and rode for a short distance side by side with him. He tried to reach out to her, and to say something, but she brushed his hand away as if it were made of poison, and nudged Shadowfax ahead. Shadowfax was renowned for his speed, and she soon left him behind, never turning back. Now all that mattered to her was to win.
The days passed quickly. Rowan soon lost track of where Theo was, for she never once looked back. She went on. She had passed into Rohan, and looked eagerly about her for signs of the famous horse lords. Although she most wanted to see Gondor, Rohan had always fascinated her, when Merry and Pippin had told her stories of it. The luscious green grass spurred Shadowfax to go even faster, and when three days had passed, she crossed the Snowbourn at dawn. Edoras loomed to her right, and she was sorely tempted to turn aside and see the wonders that were there. ' Time for that, after I have won!' She thought to herself. She was trying her hardest to put Theo out of her mind, and was succeeding most of the time. The only time he was in her thoughts was when she rested. He crept quietly into her dreams, and together they visited far distant lands.
Five days later, Rowan crossed the border into Gondor. She was almost there.
Theo turned off the road shortly after Rowan had overtaken them, and kept to the shadow of the mountains. He followed her closely, but was careful to make sure that she never saw him. His sorrow deepened with each passing day, and he drew further and further behind Rowan, until he was only just keeping her within his sight. Part of him wanted to turn back, to let her win and leave now. But something made him keep going, he thought that maybe if he let her win, she might be in a better frame of mind when he tried to apologise to her. He knew he had to try and make peace with her, he had come to realise over the past few days that he could not live without her. No matter how hard he tried to shut her out, he needed her. He loved her.
A/N Hope you liked it, it's going differently to how I planned it, but I hope you think that it's ok. Please let me know what you think of it. ( Look out for my next story, which is about Rowan's earlier life before this. (