Author's note: Finally an update! And so long after such a cliffhanger! Aren't I mean?
Sorry about the long wait, guys! I was sick for about a week then my power went out for about three days because of all that ice and snow. But now it's back on! Yay! I don't see how anyone survived in an era without electricity. I guess we're just spoiled.
Thanks for the wonderful reviews as always! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Rhovanion's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rhiannon's heart was beating so hard she thought it near to bursting inside her chest. Here in front of her was everything she had ever wished for ever since she had begun to have these feelings for the handsome ranger, and all she could think of was how very wrong it was for this to be happening. He was betrothed to another, had pledged his life to love her forever, and she couldn't allow him to throw it all away so easily since she did care for him.
Even if it meant living the rest of her life without him.
She placed a trembling hand on his chest to stop him and gazed up into blue eyes full of gentle questioning. "Aragorn, we can't do this. If you do, then you're compromising everything that I admire about you, as well as everything that I am for I cannot in good conscience do this when I know you are promised to another."
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, knowing she was right and feeling such a fool for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. It was a weakness in him she never should've seen as he felt that things between them might never be the same after tonight. "You're right, Rhiannon. I'm sorry--"
She hushed him with a finger to his lips. "Do not apologize," she said softly. "I know the burden you carry, and I wish I could be the one to ease some of it off your shoulders. But it's not my place to do so, although I have a burden as well to carry."
His eyes filled with curiosity. "You have spoken of it before. Will you tell me of it?" he asked, his eyes suddenly drawn to the flash of moonlight off of the necklace around her neck. He reached up and took the pendant in his hand, feeling its weight heavy against his fingers, and he could just barely make out the design on the face in the dark. It looked old yet in good condition, obviously an heirloom of some sort. "Does this have something to do with it?"
She swallowed deeply before answering, unsure of whether she should tell him the truth. "It does. It is a family heirloom handed down from my mother, a symbol of my Rhovanion ancestry."
He raised his gaze up to her own, seeing the solemn light in her eyes. "You are descended from the nobility of old then."
She looked away as she gently reclaimed the pendant, her own hand closing around it and feeling the rounded edges cool against her skin. "Yes, that of Valacar and Vidumavi. Vinitharya was my forefather, known as Eldacar and descendant of--"
"Anarion," a different voice finished for her, seeming to float out of the darkness. They turned to look and saw a figure drawing near, dressed in flowing robes of grey and leaning on a staff as he walked. "The brother of Isildur and son of Elendil who came from Numenor of long ago."
Aragorn was too surprised to acknowledge Gandalf's presence as a million thoughts raced through his mind all at once. "The blood of Gondor's kings runs through your veins, as well as that of Rhovanion's," he breathed.
Gandalf chuckled at the ranger's reaction to this bit of information. "That she does, Aragorn. Although most of her blood is that of Rhovanion's now since that is where she has lived most of her life, most specifically here in Mirkwood where she is also known as Elenariel."
Rhiannon smiled a little in reply. "It seems you know me well, Gandalf. But I know nothing of where Aragorn is from, although judging from his name it sounds as if he came from Gondor."
"That is true, Rhiannon. However, Aragorn traces his lineage directly back to Isildur himself as he is also heir to Gondor's throne," he supplied, watching her expression as well.
Now it was her turn to be speechless as she had not known of another heir to the throne, although he was welcome to have it as she had no desire to rule others. "Well, it appears we are cousins many times removed," she finally said, drawing an embarrassed smile from Aragorn.
"It appears so," he replied, finally turning his attention to the wizard. "I have found Gollum. He is being held here as we discussed, but I fear that we may be too late."
Gandalf's smile faltered. "Sauron found him first," he said, his heart sinking. "Well then, it's time I have a talk with Gollum and find out just how much he told the enemy. We may not have much time left." He brushed past them and continued inside, disappearing just as quickly as he had come.
Both rangers eyed each other gravely before following him inside, both fearing the worst inside their hearts.
Rhiannon sat quietly on the bed in her chamber, her feet dangling off the edge as she listlessly turned the pages of a book of history that had rested on her bedside table. Aragorn paced restlessly nearby, impatient to hear what Gollum had had to say. They both had hoped they could sit in on his interrogation, but the foul creature wouldn't talk when they were close by and they had been forced to wait until Gandalf chose to speak to them.
She sighed and closed the book softly, returning it to the place where she had found it. "Aragorn, please calm down. Your pacing won't help things go faster."
He sent an irritated glare her way, but that faded as soon as he saw the patient smile she wore on her face. It hadn't been Gollum that he had been thinking about the whole time, but the interesting connection between them both. Perhaps this was why he felt so close to her, because they were cousins and they both shared the same burden together.
But then their attention was caught as Gandalf entered the room, his face solemn and filled with anguish, and although they had been impatient to hear from him, they knew not to rush him when there were lives at stake. "It is as I feared. Sauron knows that the Ring has been kept in the Shire all these years. There's no doubt in my mind that he will try and find it in order to reclaim it."
"If he knows that the Ring is in the Shire then that's where he'll strike first," Aragorn pointed out.
"No, Aragorn," she interrupted him. "In order to get to the Shire, he must first cross over the Anduin, and that means that Gondor will be hit first. Therefore I must go there to make sure that doesn't happen."
"And just how do you propose to do that?" Gandalf asked her. "If you intend to warn the Steward of imminent attack, you will be wasting your breath. He would laugh in your face and discount your words as stories, although I expect he has been anticipating some kind of attack for some time now. He is filled with pride but he is far from stupid."
"I don't care what it is I have to do, I won't see Gondor fall to the enemy," she replied, her voice unwavering. "Aragorn is more familiar with the north lands than I am, and he would be better served protecting the Shire."
The wizard exchanged wry glances with Aragorn, both of them knowing it is futile to try and argue with her when she has made up her mind on a course of action.
She was thankful she didn't stay long as she had very little to pack to prepare her for her journey. She was given the barest of provisions, some of the lembas which would sustain her as well as a full quiver of arrows and some lighter clothing which was also stronger than what she normally wore.
Aragorn came to see her before her departure, wishing her a safe journey and bidding her to be careful as she was going to tread in very dangerous country as there was no doubt Sauron's forces would be on the move soon. She wished him the same and accepted his kiss on her cheek as a way of saying farewell, and when they both parted they had tears shimmering in their eyes.
There was one more person waiting to wish her well, and she accepted the elven prince's embrace with a little desperation as she had wished they could spend more time together. "I am sorry I could not stay longer," she whispered.
He released her and kept his hands resting lightly on her arms. "You do what you must, Elenariel," he replied, using her elven name he had given her. "And I am sad to see you go. It seems though that things are different between you and Aragorn now than they were last night. I suppose you both discovered your kinship to one another."
She smiled. "We did, and everything is as it should be between us," she answered. Then she leaned up to kiss his smooth cheek, taking a moment to rest her own against his. "I will miss you, Legolas."
"And you know I will miss you," he said. "Have a safe journey, my friend."
She smiled then drew away to turn her back to the forests of Mirkwood as she looked forward to her long journey southward towards Gondor and an uncertain future that drew her ever closer to Mordor and the fortress that stood against it.
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You didn't think I'd have her kiss Aragorn, now did you? I'm saving that for Bory! Speaking of him, she'll be meeting him in the next chapter. And it's about time, Shelly!
Thank you so much for hanging around even though it took me so long to bring him in. I appreciate all your patience, I really do!
C-ya!
Sorry about the long wait, guys! I was sick for about a week then my power went out for about three days because of all that ice and snow. But now it's back on! Yay! I don't see how anyone survived in an era without electricity. I guess we're just spoiled.
Thanks for the wonderful reviews as always! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Rhovanion's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rhiannon's heart was beating so hard she thought it near to bursting inside her chest. Here in front of her was everything she had ever wished for ever since she had begun to have these feelings for the handsome ranger, and all she could think of was how very wrong it was for this to be happening. He was betrothed to another, had pledged his life to love her forever, and she couldn't allow him to throw it all away so easily since she did care for him.
Even if it meant living the rest of her life without him.
She placed a trembling hand on his chest to stop him and gazed up into blue eyes full of gentle questioning. "Aragorn, we can't do this. If you do, then you're compromising everything that I admire about you, as well as everything that I am for I cannot in good conscience do this when I know you are promised to another."
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, knowing she was right and feeling such a fool for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. It was a weakness in him she never should've seen as he felt that things between them might never be the same after tonight. "You're right, Rhiannon. I'm sorry--"
She hushed him with a finger to his lips. "Do not apologize," she said softly. "I know the burden you carry, and I wish I could be the one to ease some of it off your shoulders. But it's not my place to do so, although I have a burden as well to carry."
His eyes filled with curiosity. "You have spoken of it before. Will you tell me of it?" he asked, his eyes suddenly drawn to the flash of moonlight off of the necklace around her neck. He reached up and took the pendant in his hand, feeling its weight heavy against his fingers, and he could just barely make out the design on the face in the dark. It looked old yet in good condition, obviously an heirloom of some sort. "Does this have something to do with it?"
She swallowed deeply before answering, unsure of whether she should tell him the truth. "It does. It is a family heirloom handed down from my mother, a symbol of my Rhovanion ancestry."
He raised his gaze up to her own, seeing the solemn light in her eyes. "You are descended from the nobility of old then."
She looked away as she gently reclaimed the pendant, her own hand closing around it and feeling the rounded edges cool against her skin. "Yes, that of Valacar and Vidumavi. Vinitharya was my forefather, known as Eldacar and descendant of--"
"Anarion," a different voice finished for her, seeming to float out of the darkness. They turned to look and saw a figure drawing near, dressed in flowing robes of grey and leaning on a staff as he walked. "The brother of Isildur and son of Elendil who came from Numenor of long ago."
Aragorn was too surprised to acknowledge Gandalf's presence as a million thoughts raced through his mind all at once. "The blood of Gondor's kings runs through your veins, as well as that of Rhovanion's," he breathed.
Gandalf chuckled at the ranger's reaction to this bit of information. "That she does, Aragorn. Although most of her blood is that of Rhovanion's now since that is where she has lived most of her life, most specifically here in Mirkwood where she is also known as Elenariel."
Rhiannon smiled a little in reply. "It seems you know me well, Gandalf. But I know nothing of where Aragorn is from, although judging from his name it sounds as if he came from Gondor."
"That is true, Rhiannon. However, Aragorn traces his lineage directly back to Isildur himself as he is also heir to Gondor's throne," he supplied, watching her expression as well.
Now it was her turn to be speechless as she had not known of another heir to the throne, although he was welcome to have it as she had no desire to rule others. "Well, it appears we are cousins many times removed," she finally said, drawing an embarrassed smile from Aragorn.
"It appears so," he replied, finally turning his attention to the wizard. "I have found Gollum. He is being held here as we discussed, but I fear that we may be too late."
Gandalf's smile faltered. "Sauron found him first," he said, his heart sinking. "Well then, it's time I have a talk with Gollum and find out just how much he told the enemy. We may not have much time left." He brushed past them and continued inside, disappearing just as quickly as he had come.
Both rangers eyed each other gravely before following him inside, both fearing the worst inside their hearts.
Rhiannon sat quietly on the bed in her chamber, her feet dangling off the edge as she listlessly turned the pages of a book of history that had rested on her bedside table. Aragorn paced restlessly nearby, impatient to hear what Gollum had had to say. They both had hoped they could sit in on his interrogation, but the foul creature wouldn't talk when they were close by and they had been forced to wait until Gandalf chose to speak to them.
She sighed and closed the book softly, returning it to the place where she had found it. "Aragorn, please calm down. Your pacing won't help things go faster."
He sent an irritated glare her way, but that faded as soon as he saw the patient smile she wore on her face. It hadn't been Gollum that he had been thinking about the whole time, but the interesting connection between them both. Perhaps this was why he felt so close to her, because they were cousins and they both shared the same burden together.
But then their attention was caught as Gandalf entered the room, his face solemn and filled with anguish, and although they had been impatient to hear from him, they knew not to rush him when there were lives at stake. "It is as I feared. Sauron knows that the Ring has been kept in the Shire all these years. There's no doubt in my mind that he will try and find it in order to reclaim it."
"If he knows that the Ring is in the Shire then that's where he'll strike first," Aragorn pointed out.
"No, Aragorn," she interrupted him. "In order to get to the Shire, he must first cross over the Anduin, and that means that Gondor will be hit first. Therefore I must go there to make sure that doesn't happen."
"And just how do you propose to do that?" Gandalf asked her. "If you intend to warn the Steward of imminent attack, you will be wasting your breath. He would laugh in your face and discount your words as stories, although I expect he has been anticipating some kind of attack for some time now. He is filled with pride but he is far from stupid."
"I don't care what it is I have to do, I won't see Gondor fall to the enemy," she replied, her voice unwavering. "Aragorn is more familiar with the north lands than I am, and he would be better served protecting the Shire."
The wizard exchanged wry glances with Aragorn, both of them knowing it is futile to try and argue with her when she has made up her mind on a course of action.
She was thankful she didn't stay long as she had very little to pack to prepare her for her journey. She was given the barest of provisions, some of the lembas which would sustain her as well as a full quiver of arrows and some lighter clothing which was also stronger than what she normally wore.
Aragorn came to see her before her departure, wishing her a safe journey and bidding her to be careful as she was going to tread in very dangerous country as there was no doubt Sauron's forces would be on the move soon. She wished him the same and accepted his kiss on her cheek as a way of saying farewell, and when they both parted they had tears shimmering in their eyes.
There was one more person waiting to wish her well, and she accepted the elven prince's embrace with a little desperation as she had wished they could spend more time together. "I am sorry I could not stay longer," she whispered.
He released her and kept his hands resting lightly on her arms. "You do what you must, Elenariel," he replied, using her elven name he had given her. "And I am sad to see you go. It seems though that things are different between you and Aragorn now than they were last night. I suppose you both discovered your kinship to one another."
She smiled. "We did, and everything is as it should be between us," she answered. Then she leaned up to kiss his smooth cheek, taking a moment to rest her own against his. "I will miss you, Legolas."
"And you know I will miss you," he said. "Have a safe journey, my friend."
She smiled then drew away to turn her back to the forests of Mirkwood as she looked forward to her long journey southward towards Gondor and an uncertain future that drew her ever closer to Mordor and the fortress that stood against it.
********************
You didn't think I'd have her kiss Aragorn, now did you? I'm saving that for Bory! Speaking of him, she'll be meeting him in the next chapter. And it's about time, Shelly!
Thank you so much for hanging around even though it took me so long to bring him in. I appreciate all your patience, I really do!
C-ya!