Chapter 7

Passing Time

Alavine woke cold and frightened. How did she happen upon this place? How many days until the gathering of the Eored? Forcing herself to get up she began walking down the cavernous hallways and corridors. Nothing looked familiar. Ducking into a small indent in the wall she waited until two armed guards passed before she ran up the opposite way, her mind running a mile a minute.

Out she ran to the outer court, catching a whiff of salty air she supposed that she was somewhere in Gondor, but how? She was headed to the outermost parts of Mordor when she last remembered. Why the heck was she in Gondor?! Dashing to her right she found the stable yard and dodged the two guards. The stable was nothing like in Medusald. It didn't have any wooden things except for the stable doors. The entire place was stone, cold, and hard, empty stone. Her footsteps echoed through the stables, letting the grazing horses know she was here. Crossing over to a nearby stall, she slipped the bridle over the horse's head. Grabbing the reins she opened the stall door, mounted and galloped down and out of the stable.

As soon as she had galloped into the city the guards had sprung into action, they rode after her in a rush, leaving the people themselves to jump out of the way. She ducked as a volley of arrows cam after her and jumped over a cart being pushed by an old man. She spurred the horse faster as the city gate was beginning to close, dodging another volley of arrows Alavine could almost feel the metal doors of the Gates as they narrowly galloped past them and towards the northeast where she hoped to find Minas Tirith, and perhaps some kind of answer to her questions.

Two days of hard riding Alavine finally rode through the first gate of Minas Tirith. The city seemed strange to her, like time had gone on without her. The people eyed her and whispered once they were past her. Alavine shook her head and rode up through each gate, stopping at the third gate. Last time she had been here, the gate was under going an extensive repair job that would take at least a year or two the complete, how did they get it up in a matter of days. And where was this army that was supposedly attacking the city?

"My Lord Elessar." A messenger boy said, bowing at the waist to the still young looking king. King Elessar smiled, taking his child from his lap and giving him to the nurse maid who stood ready to take the boy.

"Yes, Imair,"

"A Lady Alavine wishes to see you M' Lord, should her request be granted?" the messenger asked, shocked at seeing the King's face pale suddenly.

"Yes, thank you Imair, send her in." he replied, and with that the messenger back out of the room. Elessar sighed,

"How long have you been there Eowyn?" He asked, Eowyn stepped out in the light.

"Just a few minutes," she said brushing a piece of her golden locks behind her ears. "I wonder if this is really her, and how she will take this."

"We will have to see, Eowyn, would you care to stay?" He offered, his face a blank mirror that reflected the harsh words and emptiness of the halls.

"Yes I will, but remember Aragorn, she most likely does not know anything, try to go easy on her and do not bring upon the empty flow of compassion you so recently have developed.

They both starred straight ahead as the heavy doors opened and the sound of light footsteps as they approached them. For a moment, both Elessar and Eowyn studied Alavine. Longer was her hair, which now brushed her kneecaps, a deep scar ran it's was across the side of her face. Her eyes were full of questions and anticipation although her face was taught as if also studying the two of them.

"Aragorn, the people seemed frightened of me, why?" She asked, Eowyn was surprised at how vulnerable her voice sounded. Aragorn's eyes softened but did not speak.

"Where have you been for the past four years?" Eowyn heard herself blurt. Aragorn shot her a look but said nothing. Alavine's face twisted in confusion,

"What did you say?" she asked her voice just above a whisper.

"Alavine," Aragorn began, "You have been dead for just over four years." With that, Eowyn saw her entire body go stiff, her skin paled and her breathing slowed. Eowyn stepped foreword but Aragorn shook his head. He stood up and slowly approached her. As soon as he got within reach of her, she let out a loud shriek, and jerked away from him.

"YOU LIE! THIS IS A TRAP!" she shouted at them tearing away from them once again.

"Alavine, listen to reason!" Aragorn said, his own energy building up should the need arise to chase her. Alavine shook her head vigorously, and darted away running for the doors with Aragorn hot on her heels. Alavine burst through the doors and out into the courtyard and was almost to the stairs when something caught her ankle, sending her down on the ground.

Alavine fought with Aragorn, trying to free herself from his grasp. Biting and lashing out at him every chance she had. He found a free opening and grasped her wrists together behind her. He pushed his full weight on her until she stilled beneath him and instead lapsed into tears.

"Alavine, tis' all true, you have been thought dead for four Years!" he paused to take her collapsing form into his arms as he did with his son when he was upset. "You never appeared at Dunharow, it was a no-show. The enemy retreated before they ever got to Rohan or Gondor after you went missing. We thought they had killed you."

"Éomer-" she squeaked

"Éomer has your armor and sword hanging in Medusald and has a grave marker for you in the burial grounds. We all gather there to morn your death."

Alavine stayed silent. Her rhythmic breathing and soft monotone of crying told him she was calm enough to go inside. Helping her inside, he explained to both Eowyn and Alavine how they can get her to Rohan without Éomer knowing it was her, it was as she wanted. For her 'to go as a shadow, nothing more then a person there to grieve for some one who died long ago.'

After Alavine had settled down in her room, Eowyn pulled Aragorn aside.

"Does she know?"

"It is better that she not hear it from me." Aragorn said quietly.

"You did not tell her? Tis' better she be prepared to face him if she knew!" Eowyn yelled, he grabbed her arm before she could walk away.

"Do not toy with me, if you tell her before Éomer does, I would watch your back."

"The threat is considered."

Alavine drew in a shaky breath, the black cloak that was once Aragorn's ranger cloak hid her from onlookers and especially from the one person she most desperately wanted to see.

They stood in front of her grave; it was covered with the same flowers that covered the graves of the kings, and their forbears. She was supposedly laid to rest next to Théoden. But no, she wasn't dead, she was breathing, as if it was only yesterday she had been in Éomer's way. A single tear ran down her pale cheek. She had not said one thing to him when she had left, not 'I love you' or 'I'll come back soon'. Maybe if she had, if she had said goodbye, then she wouldn't have been dead for four years.

He stood before her, chanting in old Rohirric, not knowing that the person that they were all mourning was standing amongst them, fully alive, but broken and changed.

Éomer had changed, but more then all, was the lost puppy like look in his eyes when he met with Elessar after the ceremony, he had properly apologized to her for his emotions making her want to reach out and touch him, to make him relax, to tell him who she was, but then there was his wife.

The wife had a name, Lorothriel. She was from Dol Amroth, near the sea. Alavine had properly excused herself when he had introduced her. How he looked at Lorothriel, was it more or less then the way he had looked at her when he was still in love with her. Alavine had gone back to her grave, squatting down before it, tracing the Rohirrim letters that spelled out her full name.

'Here thus lies Alavine Alean Mriam.

Always will her name be remembered amongst the Kings for her service to Rohan.'

Carefully she looked around, seeing no one she pulled down the hood of Elessar's cloak, letting her hair billow out behind her in the wind. Slowly, she let the tears fall, gifting the ground with small raindrops.

"One should not hide herself, even in mourning for someone." Éomer said behind her, she gasped, forcing herself not to look at him.

"I may grieve whichever way I wish, M' Lord."

"Say that again?"

"I-I have to go." Alavine stuttered reaching back to pull up her hood.

"No, look at me." He commanded to her. Alavine let her shoulders sag and turned around to face him. His piercing gaze seemed to lighten into confusion, then anger. Suddenly his fist made contact with her jaw sending her backwards into the grass.

"Alavine is dead! How is it you come to look like her? Is this some kind of trick from the evil?" he shouted drawing his sword. She shook away her tears.

"Please Éomer don't do this!"

"To late traitor," He shouted to her raising his sword high above his head to deliver the fatal blow. Alavine shut her eyes tightly to brace herself for the impact of his sword, but it never came. Opening up one eye she saw Aragorn standing in front of her trying to reason with Éomer.

"Éomer stop. You are acting out of rage and anger for year's worth of pain. Alavine is not a traitor she knows nothing of what the enemy did to her for the past years.

"Then why did you not tell me she was alive!" Éomer said his voice high pitched.

"Because I am dead Éomer" She said her voice low and harsh as she got up to face him. It was Aragorn's turn to shoot her a small warning glance.

"I won't lie, I am dead to myself. I do not know this world any more. I do not know who I am." She said, gently running a finger over a small trickle of blood that escaped from her nose.

"I do not know anyone anymore. You said before that you would never strike against me and that you would wait for me should I fall behind..." she paused as Éomer's eyes widened in realization. "It is clear you did not hold to that promise. I do not want your apology or your pity. Give me none." Alavine said, keeping her tone menacing allowing no argument, she drew in a shaky breath. "If anyone is the traitor Éomer, it is you."

We said we would walk together, Baby come what may....

That comes the twilight, should we lose our way...

Éomer stood there in shock, "Alavine....wait!" he cried out, she paused on the hill, but did not look back. When he did not speak again she ran up the hill, trying to hold the tears that were threatening her vision.

If as we're walking a hand, should slip free....

I'll wait for you....

And should I fall behind

Wait for me

We swore we'd be travel together, darlin' side by side

We'd help each other stay in stride.

But each lover's steps fall so differently

So I'll wait for you

And should I fall behind

Wait for me

Now everyone dreams of a love everlasting and true

But you and I know what this world can do

So let's make our steps clear so that others may see

And I'll wait for you

Should I fall behind

Wait for me

Now there's a beautiful river in a valley ahead

And there 'neath the oak's bough, soon we will be wed

Should we lose each other,

In the shadow of the evening trees

I'll wait for you,

And should I fall behind

Wait for me

Wait for me.....

© 'If I should fall behind' by Faith Hill

I thought that this song felt really in tune with the mood of everyone. I hope everything is up to people's standards and that everyone likes it. No, this isn't the end people, I still have LOTS and LOTS of more fun I have in store for you guys. I suggest that you guys actually go out and listen to the song, while your reading this, it brought me to tears, maybe it will you, let me know about what you guys think. The bad and the good. I have now 32 pages on this :) See you in the next chapter my spoiled ones.