Chapter 6: Warrior Princess

Aragorn straightened up, realizing that he had been staring for a long time. Haldir did the same, and clearing his throat, he said:

"Pardon me, Lady Arwen...we did not realize that you were here." he said humbly.

Arwen. It was like something magical and elusive. So beautiful, just like that girl. Aragorn found that he could not meet her gaze. What must she think, him gawking at her like that?

The girl rose and nodded politely. Haldir seemed lost for words. But then, remembering his manners, he made the introductions.

"Aragorn, may I present Arwen, princess of Rivendell. Arwen, this is Aragorn." The elf paused and waited.

Aragorn bowed with difficulty, for he was still seated on Tilinae, but his heart simply glowed when she curtsied.

"I am honored, my lady..." Aragorn began, but then stopped, feeling foolish. She smiled kindly. "I am honored as well, Aragorn of the Elendil. Of course, my father has told me all about you."

"Your father?" he asked.

The elf blinked "Lord Elrond."

And suddenly, it was all clear to Aragorn...the elf's rudeness toward him this morning was because he did not want the human to discover his daughter...or did he?

Suddenly, Haldir shifted in his saddle, and Aragorn sensed his discomfort.

"We should probably go." Aragorn told the elf girl, and she nodded.

Reluctant to leave Arwen, the boy spurred his horse away, only to hear hoofbeats behind him. He turned in the saddle to see

Arwen riding on a gray stallion with a black mane that was vaguely familar...

"You didn't really think that you could leave me behind, now did you?" Arwen's brown eyes sparkled green with mischief.

Haldir blushed. "No, my lady." he said, and reached over to assist her.

Haldir's saddle tilted and he fell to the ground. Aragorn let out a laugh. Haldir had always been rather clumsy. Arwen laughed too, but Haldir was certainly not happy. He rose with a huff, and turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "It's not funny!" he cried, struggling to readjust the saddle. The two with him stopped laughing, but remained smiling. Arwen winked at Aragorn mysteriously.

As they rode back into Rivendell, Aragorn tried to make small talk to the lovely girl beside him.

"How long have you lived in Rivendell?" he asked.

She replied. "I have lived here all my life."

"I was here since I was eleven. Yet I thought I knew every elf in the entire city, at least by sight." he said.

Arwen looked secretive. "Perhaps you were not looking hard enough."

Aragorn smiled. "I must have missed a great many things if I have been so blind all along."

Suddenly, Aragorn felt a sharp pain to his head, and he was knocked off his horse. Haldir dismounted quickly and ran over to him.

"Are you alright?" The elf's dark eyes showed his concern. Aragorn struggled to his feet, shaking his head to clear it and remounted Tilinae. He turned to look at Arwen.

She raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Aragorn, I would say that you are blind to most things around you. I suppose you weren't looking for tree branches, though." Haldir started laughing, unable to hold it in. Aragorn looked down and smirked sheepishly, laughing at himself. She was right...he had been distracted too easily.

Then Aragorn felt a real pain in his side. He fell to the ground, and he heard Arwen scream.

"Orcs! In Imladris?" Haldir exclaimed, drawing his sword. Aragorn stumbled to his feet and looked down at his side. There was an arrow sticking out of him.

He felt very faint, but he drew Anirudil just the same, ready to fight. The horses reared and fled, but only Arwen's mount stayed behind. Haldir looked at Aragorn and seeing that he was hurt, he tossed his sword to Arwen who caught it. Haldir took hold of the arrow and looked up at Aragorn.

"Brace yourself, quick!" he said, but before the human could, Haldir yanked the arrow from the wound. Aragorn cried out in pain, and Haldir began to heal it. The elvish spell flowed from his lips:

Gather petal back to flower

Turn stone to sand again

Build the bricks into the tower

Give peace to the heart of men...

Then the pain vanished, and Aragorn stood, his mind focused on one thing: Arwen. His dark hazel eyes searched until he found her amidst a sea of orcs. But there was no need for him to worry, it seemed, for the girl was clearly taking care of herself.

Her sword glinted as she struck again and again, orks falling about her. Her fight was like a dance, as she lept gracefully to avoid one blow, then ducked to dodge another. She parried blow after blow effortlessly. Aragorn wasted no more time thinking. He drew Anirudil once more, charging into the swarm that now surrounded Arwen. He swerved and slashed, thinking of nothing but destroying them all. An arrow whizzed past him within a fraction of an inch from his ear and sank into the ork he had been fighting. Haldir, he thought, but then he heard the sound of running horses behind him. He allowed himself to look away from the battle...

Eomai galloped towards them on a magnificant steed, followed by about 30 other warriors of Rivendell. The few remaining orks turned and fled, squaking hopelessly. Eomai galloped onward after them, giving the three a cheerful wave as he rode by with his legion. Aragorn gave a gesture between a wave and a shrug. He was so tired.

"Well, that was refreshing." Aragorn said to Haldir, still trying to catch his breath. Haldir just looked puzzled. "Why would they be here?" he asked. The human studied one of the dead orcs before him. "They were obviously traveling for a long time...see the dust on them? And just look at their weapons...not Morgul blades, so where could they have come from?" Aragorn finished and stood. "There is some strange and terrible thing beginning" he said, "An old evil long forgotten, yet ever present. An awful vision by a dark tyrant..."

Arwen approached him and smiledas she said "I was afraid that you had died back there." Aragorn smirked "So was I...but I knew that I had to get up and-" Arwen interrupted "Protect me? Sorry, but I'm no damsel in distress. I'm a fighter. Someday, I shall prove my value to my father...and he will let me become a warrior." The stubbornness and will of Arwen's words shocked him. She stood tall and proud before him, and Aragorn felt her strength and determination.

Aragorn admired her courage. No other female he had ever known was like her. She was wholesome and brave, and wise and kind. On top of it all, she was beautiful. Her eyes betrayed hidden thoughts that even he could not see. And then Aragorn felt great despair....A girl like her could never love a man like him. Wearily, they made their way home.

As they passed under the archway leading into Rivendell, Legolas burst out of the armory, panting, his blond hair askew. "Aragorn! Haldir!" He cried and ran over to them and helped Arwen down from her mare. His wide blue eyes gazed up at them in worry.

Aragorn gave weak smile. "We're alright. How did you know that orcs attacked us?" he looked at the elf quizzically. Legolas shrugged and said "Elrond had a vision...and they usually turn out to be correct. He sent aide the minute he sensed it had come true. That's why he didn't want you to go into Imladris today." Suddenly, it hit him. Elrond had forseen that terrible things could happen if Aragorn met his daughter and went back with her, taking the northern road. But why had Elrond done almost nothing to stop this? Was this another of his tests?

Aragorn knew only one thing, and that was that he needed to think. He simply nodded to the others and headed to his favorite place to think...the Hall of Narsil.

Hmmm....I definetly need to cut that short to two chapters...