Part 16

Aragorn squatted next to the hobbits and informed them, "We must soon leave."

Frodo looked up at the Ranger and nodded, his soulful eyes trusting the Man's words. Pippin blinked up though and, as in every other occasion, decided to satisfy his curiosity by inquiring, "Why so suddenly?"

Sam Gangee, who seemed the most practical of the hobbits, sagely replied, "Because the sooner Master Frodo destroys the wretches ring the better for us all."

Aragorn nodded his agreement, and ruffled Sam's hair in thanks. He then added for good measure, "And our Elven friend has had dread omens. We must make haste."

Merry and Pippin's eyes met. As Aragorn turned and walked away, the two hobbits jogged by his feet. "Dread omens, you say! So shall we then just journey headlong into danger?"

"What dread omens are these, Striker. You should tell us so we know what to avoid," Pippin demanded.

"They were nothing to do with you," Aragorn explained. He spotted Legolas standing underneath a golden tree some distance away, speaking with Haldir intently. Aragorn turned back to the hobbits and requested, "Go pack whatever you feel you need. Pack light."

Then, he started in the direction of the Elves. "More news?" Aragorn inquired of the two.

Aragorn saw the concern and fear that laced Legolas' eyes. They unsettled him. For the longest time he had been companion to Legolas, he had not seen the Elf display such emotions. It was Haldir who answered him. "News from Mirkwood. Thranduil King has commanded all the Woodland Elves to cross the Sea at once."

"Do you know why such a rash decision?"

Haldir nodded sadly. "It had been said that the king of Mirkwood had once been possessed by the shadow that again creeps over the woods. Once he had freed himself, he ordered for the crossing."

Aragorn turned to Legolas, who had not moved an inch during the recounting. After Haldir had gone to attend to his duties, Aragorn turned to Legolas. "You shall cross the Sea, Legolas. Once this is fulfilled, you shall be free to join your kin."

Legolas closed his eyes and nodded. He prayed to the Valar that Chloe would stay safe. The shroud that enclosed her in security had been taken away. He would continue the journey. Pray Eru forgive him because now, his quest was no longer for Middle-earth. He would seek her. If the well had been right, Chloe was out there somewhere in the company of Men. He would find her.

A groan accompanied her waking as consciousness emphasized the soreness of her muscles. She felt cool liquid brush like heaven against her dry lips. Chloe took an involuntary sip, and allowed the water to soothe her throat. Her eyelids fluttered and she rested her gaze on a young man who crouched in front of her and held a flask to her lips.

He was probably around one to two years older than she was. Chloe studied the dirty blond hair that fell over warm eyes and dusty cheeks.

"I am Theodred," he said, repeating information he had shared before. "You are safe."

She nodded carefully. "I remember." Chloe rested back down on the pallet. Her hands folded on the swell of her stomach.

"You carry a babe."

The words from someone else's lips were a beautiful sound, she decided. "Yes."

"I pray your child will grow up in a land free of evil," he pronounced.

Chloe turned her head and looked at the young man barely out of his teens who seemed so passionate about the sentiment.

"It is why I continue to do this," Theodred said, "when I could very well sit in a castle and await other men to clean my kingdom. I shall not rest until I have personally taken down every last one of the Orcs in my land, so that every child will live free from fear and danger."

She recognized the determination in him. Chloe had seen ideal like that before--in Clark, in Legolas. It didn't do them any good. "Sometimes you let your dreams rule you. If you do that, you'll live a dreary life."

"Bitterness does not become a maid like you," Theodred said, smiling a little. "Is that what happened to the father of your babe?"

"He had the same desire you have," she agreed. "He left for the same ideals."

"And he died?"

"He's dead."

Theodred closed his hand around hers and squeezed. "In the future this will not happen," he vowed. "Young women will no longer be left helpless by men who foolishly get killed in battle. If I have to give my life to ensure that, then I will."

"I wish you'd get out now, Theodred. You look like you've got the burden of the world on your shoulders. You're far too young for that."

He took a deep breath. His eyes fell down to the swell of her belly on top of which their hands were entwined. "My life needs brilliance," he told her. "My lot I fear will leave me no chance for a child of my own."

"You can't ever be too sure--"

"Let me raise your babe."