I Believe
III.
I Feel You Come Back Again
Aragorn turned from his place by the window as his wife emerged from her dressing room. "You have seemed troubled, meleth-nïn."
Aragorn frowned as Arwen sat upon the bed, her back facing the king. "I came upon the son of Denethor and the son of Glòin this night."
Aragorn raised his brows. "Faramir and Gimli?"
"Indeed," she pivoted to look at him. "It was wrong of me to listen to their conversation without their knowing it, but they spoke of Legolas."
The king stepped forward. "Yes?"
"Both wish for revenge."
He sighed as he seated himself next to her. "I believe we all do."
"No!"
Aragorn was startled by his wife' sudden outburst as she rose from the bed, turning to face him.
"How can you not see? How can all of you not see? Aragorn, he would not wish for revenge! Would you soil his memory by violating him further?"
"Arwen-"
She ignored his bewildered expression. "When he returned to Gondor it was not mere minutes or hours after he was attacked, it was days. Days, Estel. In that time he made his peace with the world. When he came to us he was ready to leave Middle-earth. You know this- you saw it in his eyes as much as I."
Aragorn took a deep, shuddering breath.
Arwen had tears in her eyes. "He died in your arms, Estel. This much you have told me. Keep whatever secrets lie between you, but please, think back on his last words. While I do not know what they were I know they were not of revenge. Trust your heart in this, Estel."
The Ranger blinked at the floor in shock a moment more. Swallowing hard, he rose, his trouble eyes meeting the desperate blues of his queen's. He smiled weakly as he took up her hands in his, stepping closer. She watched him almost fearfully. "It was the trees, Arwen. He'd left to see the trees one last time."
At the words Arwen could hold in her tears no longer and she let loose a sob before Aragorn pulled her into an embrace. Tears slipped down his own cheeks as he held her shaking form. "You knew his heart as well as I did, Arwen," he whispered into her dark tresses. "Yet as his kindred sister you have always known more. He would not want revenge, and so none shall seek it."
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, My Lord. I had intended to see your lady but they said she was with the healers."
Aragorn inclined his head. "This is true."
"Does something ail her?" worry laced the young man's tone.
The king smiled. "No. It is merely a visit to assure the health of our child."
Faramir smiled in relief. "Of course."
Aragorn beckoned him into the room. A small fire was lit to ward away the oncoming chill of evening. A cool, moist fog was rolling in from the sea this night, though the midsummer skies were not yet dark.
The two men now stood before the fire, the younger watching the flames in avoidance of the older who watched him curiously, waiting for him to speak. At last it came. "I wish to apologize to the queen. Last night a companion and I spoke without thought. We did not know she listened yet we upset her with our words. I would never wish for that."
"Then I shall be sure to tell her for you, though I am sure such an apology is unmerited, my friend." He placed his hand upon the younger man's shoulder.
Faramir smiled weakly. "All the same, I wish her to know that she has my deepest apologies for any harm I may have caused her. She suffers enough already."
"This much is true," he let his hand fall away. "Yet I often feel that our coming child has been a gift to us in our time of need. This babe has already brought us much joy."
Faramir grinned in earnest. "That is well, then. I wish you both the best."
Aragorn smiled in turn as he stretched his hands out toward the flames, his shoulders slumping slightly as he relaxed. Faramir watched him from the corner of his eye for a moment before breaking the companionable silence. "My Lord, there is something more I wish to say."
"My ears are yours, Faramir."
The young Ranger stiffened slightly and he resisted the urge to bite his lip. "Have you ever heard of Spirit Talkers?"
Aragorn's sharp glance turned to the man beside him. "Of course. Why?"
Faramir swallowed hard. "When you were a Ranger, surely you heard rumors. In my own time among my men they spoke of a certain lady," he paused, waiting to see if Aragorn knew where this was going.
"I have heard of no such lady."
Faramir raised his head slightly. "They say she lives in the southeast. She is a great Spirit Talker and known as the Wind Woman. Few know how to find her and even fewer have ever met her. Yet one in my company had. When he spoke of her words to him both chills and warmth flooded my soul. She claims to be able to speak to the dead."
The king stared at the lord before him, his eyes wide and unreadable. At last he broke his gaze and returned it to the flames. "Such abilities are not beyond the imagination."
"No, Aragorn. But this man, this Ranger in my company held no doubt in his mind that she spoke the truth."
Aragorn stiffened. "Why are you telling me this?"
Faramir blinked, surprised. He had thought the reason rather obvious. He sighed in the face of his king's feigned ignorance. He spoke slowly, choosing his words wisely. "In times of grief... it often helps when we are reassured that those who have passed are not gone."
Aragorn's only response was to continue to stare into the flames before him. The moment became filled with a tense silence. Faramir took that as his cue. "That is all, My Lord. May you rest well this eve."
The younger Ranger turned swiftly and strode out of the room, leaving a shaken king to stand alone in his great hall.
Please review!
Review Responses: (Sorry these are a bit short- I am unfortuantely not feelingvery well and shamefully didn't make a huge effort to respond to my lovely reviewers as well as I should have. Please forgive me!)
Sirnonenath: My dear friend! It's so wonderful to hear from you! I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the first chapter. :o) And thank you so much for your high compliments, mellon. They really mean a lot to me. You are always so perceptive! I also hope that you have enjoyed these new chapters! :o) Be well, my friend. :o)
Dreamality: I'm so immensely pleased that you enjoyed this last chapter! And even more so that you enjoy the style I've adopted for this story. Bless, you, my friend. Your words are ever a gift and an inspiriation to me. Mae carnen.
Silver Thorne: Gwathel-nïn! How are you, noss faer? Returns hug Thank you, as always, for your support, mellon. May you continue to enjoy this story. I only hope that I can tell a tale that is worthy of your eyes, gwathel. Much love and, well, you-know-whats. ;o)
Partheon: Oh mellon, thank you so much for BOTH of your reviews! I am so glad that you are enjoying the story. Please, feel free to e-mail me with any errors that you find! I hope you know that I am all ears for those sorts of things since they help me improve! :o) Thank you so much for being the guiding light for me, always. No matter what I know that you'll be here to guide me. :o) Hannon le.
Merrylad: Nïn mellon! How are you? I'm so glad that you're enjoying this story! I know- I love that line, too! LOL. I hope you alsoliked this chapter!
LegolasLover2003: Awww- I'm sorry for your troubles, mellon! I hope that they are now over! And I am so happy that you're enjoying this tale! And the comment about David Wenham- that is such a high compliment. Thank you so very much, mellon-nïn. :o)
And to all others - thank you for reading! Hannon le!