Hope every one likes this chapter. This one isn't evil:) but BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is more evilness to come.

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Chapter 9

"How is everyone?" Katalia asked as he bound her wounds.

"They are all safe last I saw them. Telperion wanted to fight, but I forced her to stay."

Katalia smiled and shook her head. She always wanted to fight. "How is Leanar?" Katalia said hesitantly. She didn't was to talk of her yet she must.

"She is well. Katalia, there's something you should know."

"What?" Something in the way he said it made her want to turn and face him. Which was impossible then seeing as how he was cleaning her back.

"Leanar and I aren't getting married at all."

Katalia was so surprised and stunned. For a moment she couldn't speak. Thoughts went racing thoufh her head like crazy. At first she was happy. Happy Baragon wasn't marrying her. Then she grew concerned. Why aren't they getting married? Is Baragon upset about this? Baragon had finished binding her wounds she turned to face him. If she hurt him, I'll kill her. "Baragon, how, why, what happened?"

"She told me she figured out she loved another person. At around the same time she figured that our, I figured out I didn't really love her that way."

"So you're not upset?"

Baragon smiled. "Do I look upset?"

Katalia smiled as well. Her real smile not a fake one like she ahd been doing for the past months."Well I'm glad you guys figured this out before you got married!"

"Me too. Now we have to go back to Ithilien."

"I know."

They started back on their way to Ithilien. Katalia was in front of Baragon. Baragon had insisted she ride with someone because she was hurt and would most likely fall asleep.

Katalia sighed. "What?" asked Baragon.

"I know how to ride now and I'm not tired."

"I know you know how to ride. But, knowing you and that your wounded you will be asleep in less then an hour."

"You win this time. I'm in no mood to fight." Katalia rested her head against Baragon's chest so she could look at him. It was so nice to have him near again. Baragon's predictions were right, 45 minutes later Katalia was asleep.

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They finally stopped for the night. Katalia's wounds hurt. She had dozed in and out all day.

"Come with me Katalia. Your bindings need to be changed." Baragon said after supper.

Katalia obediently went with Baragon. They stopped at a place near camp. "Why here?" Katalia asked, she looked around her. They were in thick brush, some trees covered a lightly covered forest area.

"This is where we first met. I was hiding behind this tree."

"Oh." the memory came flooding back to her. She smiled.

"I'm glad to see you happy."

Katalia looked at him confused. He gestured for her to sit down and began to redress her wounds. "You haven't been yourself for a while. There was something wrong with you, but I knew you wouldn't tell. You weren't happy. I wanted you to tell me in the garden but you wouldn't.
What was it that made you unhappy?"

Katalia was surprised. "I... I... How did you know I wasn't myself! I thought I was doing a pretty good job of acting happy."

"Because I know you Katalia. And I know when something is wrong with you, will you honor me as a friend? Will you please tell me why you were upset?"

"No."

"Will you someday tell me?"

Katalia didn't know what she should say finally she came up with a good answer. "No one will ever know except my husband of my dreams."

"Have you found him yet?"

"Yes." It was useless to tell him a lie. He would know she lied.

"Who?"

"I'm not going to tell."

Baragon saw the stubborn look on her face. She wouldn't tell at least not right now. "Suit yourself. I have something to tell you, but maybe I won't."

"Please!"

"I will tell you some of it. The we will see if you can guess the rest. There was another reason I'm not getting married to Leanar. I found out I love someone else."

Katalia heart was beating so fast. he had just finished binding her wounds. "Try to guess who I'm in love with." he said as he turned her around to face him.

Katalia did not look at him if she did she might betray the feelings that rose up in her. She was afraid that he loved someone else and yet hoping maybe he love her. Katalia named a few, playing along with his little game, then said in confusion, "Can't you just tell me? I don't know who it can be."

"Really? I thought it was quite obvious.

He put on hand on her cheek and gently lifted her face up so she was looking straight into his eyes. His eyes were soft, and the setting sun reflected on his long brown locks. He almost looked like an angel, yes, her guardian angel. He didn't take his hand away inch by inch they grew closer to each other. She could feel his arms pull his closer to him, feel his warm breath on her neck.

Then it happened.

It was like in Cinderella, when she finally becomes a princess, or when Snow White awakes from the enchantment from true love's first kiss. Their lips met. She went into shock, yet it was all too wonderful. He loves me! That was all she could think of, it was like floating on a cloud, drifting and realizing everything she had ever dreamed of, had come true. It was like they were one, is that what true love is like? Baragon gently broke it and smiled down at her, pulling her closer to his chest and resting his chin on her forehead. She could hear his heart beating. Her own was fluttering wildly. "Can you now guess?"

"You love me." It was quiet, the relief came, and the silent sensation that right then, everything was perfect.

"That's right. Katalia." He lowered himself, and she realized that he was on his knees, looking up into her face. "Will you marry me if we survive this battle?" he pulled her closer.

Katalia looked up at him. His eyes searching her face looking for an answer, he looked so hopeful, wishing... "Baragon, I can tell you now why I was upset. It was because you were going to marry Leanar and I love you. I loved you ever since I first met you, but I didn't know I loved you until I was in Gondor after you came back from the battle of Osgiliath."

He pressed her head to his chest as he said, "I'm so glad I didn't marry her."

"Me too. As much as I love her I am so happy that you could love me when Leanar is around."

"Katalia, look at me." Katalia looked up. His eyes were so full of love they over powered her. "Katalia, how could I not love you? You are everything I need. I love everything about you." Then they kissed again.

She wanted to laugh, she smiled as they once again parted. "Oh how I've longed for this day."

"What?"

"Ever since I was little, I always dreamed of the one I am supposed to marry and when I would be engaged, married, and so forth. I have almost nothing left to dream about now except our wedding."

They sat for a while in silence. then, Baragon said, "It's getting late and were have to start out early tomorrow. Who knows what has happened while me and my men left the battle." Baragon looked grim. He didn't like this on bit. It had been a hard fight and would continue to be so till the end, whatever that might be. Katalia looked at him she knew he was worried. She was too but she couldn't have him so tonight. He needed his sleep after all. "If I get into a scrape I'll expect you to get me out of it!"

He hugged her so thankful that he had her and that she would always be there. "No need to worry about that. Well Katalia you'll be able to fight in one more battle. You always like to and I'm sorry to say there is no way for you to escape this one." They started walking back toward camp.

"Yes I will. But, I never like killing, it's just that I didn't see why you guys think women shouldn't fight. I understood after the first battle I was in. You explained it. The reason I was in the other battle was because one, release anger, for you to see since I knew I loved you then but thought that I would have to return home so I didn't want to break any hearts so I thought that would make you not like me. Along with how mean I treated you." Katalia winced she remembered some of the cruel things she said to him.

"Katalia, I knew you weren't in your right mind when you said that stuff to me. It didn't hurt though but has long since been forgotten and forgiven. It was for a good reason."

They had reached camp Katalia looked up at Baragon her blue eyes shining in the moonlight. Baragon thought he had never seen anything as pretty as Katalia. "Le mellon."

"What?"

"It's what I said that day in the garden when I had said I hated you. It means I love you."

Baragon smiled. "I'll have to learn elvish." He reached up and touched her cheek. "so I can learn to say stuff like that to you and you will never know what I say!"

"Good night Baragon."

"Good night Katalia. Le mellon."

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I had so much fun writing that chapter.

Namarie,

Katalia