Courting

Nauralad and Rhia rode in their quite company into the burning dawn. Rhia let out a yawn.

"My lady, you are weary. Come now, give your horse a break and ride with me so that you may rest." Nauralad said.

Rhia sat up straight. Was he coming onto her?

"Hold up there cowboy!" she said.

"Sorry?" Nauralad asked with confusion.

"I may be tired but I'm not going to ride with just so that I can be fondled with in my sleep. I barely know you! I'm not that kind of girl in case you haven't noticed." Rhia said

"I'm sorry; I did not mean to offend you my lady. It was just a thought. I did not mean to dishonour you!" Nauralad apologised, blushing furiously.

Rhia laughed in spite of the situation. He wasn't half bad after all.

"I'm afraid I do not see what is so humorous, Lady Aurenessa…" he said.

"Never mind. Forget I even said anything, let's just forget this memory." Rhia said.

-


The company rode down between broken gates at the Hornburg and passed the mounds of the fallen soldiers by until they came to Helm's Dike. They looked down into the Coomb, watching men repair what they could, and then they went to dine.

Merry sat with the King, telling him of the Shire as promised, while Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Halbarad sat to one side speaking, Nauralad and Rhia off on their own.

"It seems my son has taken quite the liking to your cousin, Aragorn." Halbarad said with a smirk.

"It definitely seems that way." Aragorn commented, looking that the two young adults. They were sitting next to each other, laughing and eating quietly, enjoying their own company.

"Ah, leave them be. Young love only springs once and it should not be interfered with." Gimli said, rather out of character.

Aragorn, Halbarad and Legolas stared at him.

"Forget I said anything." Gimli said gruffly, leaving his place to speak to Merry quickly.


An hour or so later the company prepared to move again. The king and his men, while Aragorn, the ranger's, the son's of Elrond, Legolas, Gimli and Rhia were wait for Aragorn's signal to leave.

The group now remaining in the Hornburg parted ways, Aragorn taken Gimli, Legolas and Rhia with him to speak a moment.

"Speak and be comforted my good friend! Shake off the shadow that hangs over your mind." Legolas said as he took a seat on a large rock.

"I have looked into the stone of Orthanc." Aragorn replied dimly.

"Did he speak to you?" asked Gimli. "Even Gandalf feared to do so."

"Then Gimli, you must be forgetting who Aragorn is…" Rhia said. The elf and the dwarf looked at her. "He is the heir of the palantír. He has the right to look into it when he wished."

"I did not proclaim myself to him. I thought that I possessed the strength to look into it, but I was wrong. The strength was barely enough." Aragorn said, weary, and pale and he had dark rings under his eyes. "I did not speak to him, but I managed to bend the stone to my will. Sauron did not expect that, nor did he find it easy to endure, but he saw me, but not as you see me here, in another guise. That will not aid him; only shatter the remains of his wicked heart. I showed him the reforged blade…the one thing he fears above all, save the destruction of his ring."

Rhia looked at Aragorn in awe. She could not believe this was the same ranger she had met back in Rivendell. He had changed.

"Now we must make the first move my friends. We cannot afford for him to do this. He is going to attack the city of Gondor. We must stop him or the city will not stand the same ten days hence. It is our move." He said, standing tall. "We will take the paths of the dead."

"The paths of the dead! If we use such a road shan't we perish with those lost there?" Gimli asked. "Dark ways doubtless."

"I do not go gladly, only by the force of need. You are free to go with me of your own will; I will not ask you to follow." Aragorn said, beginning to walk away.

"I don not fear the dead. I will join you, my friend." Legolas said, following Aragorn.

"To whatever end, I will follow you." Gimli said, following also.

Rhia stood up and lazily followed the other three.

"Meh." She said.


When the King, his men, Aragorn, the Dúnedain, Elrond's fair sons, Legolas, Gimli and Rhia arrived at Dunharrow, they were greeted by Éowyn.

"My lords, my lady, will you not go now and rest. Tomorrow a fairer dawn shall rise, let that be your signal to ride on!" she said.

"Nay, do not trouble yourself over us. We shall rest here the night and be gone by the dawning of tomorrow. My errand is most urgent." Aragorn said.

He spoke with the lady a while. In that time Rhia and Nauralad looked for a place to rest.

"You will take the paths of the dead? Then surely my father and our kin will follow. I will not break my promise to you now, Esgalwen." Nauralad said, his hand caressing her cheek softly.

"You speak Sindarin? What does Esgalwen mean?" Rhia asked, her voice masked by a whisper.

"Yes, my kin have close encounters with the elves. Esgalwen means hiding maiden. You would be great; you know that, you just have to see it in yourself." Nauralad said, his face coming close to Rhia's.

"Then show me." She said. His lips brushed against hers softly. Nauralad captured her lips in a sweet kiss and held them there for what seemed like an eternity. When he let her go, Rhia was lost for words, but both were contented in the sweet silence.


Before the sun rose in the midst of twilight, Nauralad awakened Rhia from her peaceful dreams.

"Wake up, forgive me Esgalwen, but we must rise before the sun and have left Dunharrow." He said, kissing her lightly on the forehead.

"It's ok." Rhia said, smiling as she sat up, looking into the young ranger's eyes who sat before her. He helped her to her feet and they packed everything up they had brought with them, then went to find their friends, who were in the main hall. The two walked in side by side.

"Where have you been son? I was looking for you for the greater part of the night." Halbarad said.

"I can look after myself father." Nauralad said quietly as his father approached them.

"That is known, but it is not wise to be the only man in the company of a woman. I hope nothing has happened…" Halbarad said, raising his eyebrows.

"Of course not father. I am about to get permission." Nauralad replied, embarrassed and angry that his father would say such a thing. His strode forward, Rhia behind him unaware of what was going on.

Nauralad marched up to Aragorn with Rhia at his side.

"My lord, Aragorn, a moment of your time if you please." Nauralad said politely.

"Of course." Aragorn said, raising his eyebrows at his younger kinsman.

"My lord." Nauralad said on one knee. "I wish to ask your permission to court the fair maiden Aurenessa who is in your care."

Aragorn's face grew into a large grin and Rhia finally figured out what was going on. Nauralad couldn't ask her out. It was not proper in this world. He had to ask her guardian, which in a sense was Aragorn, as he was her only family here.

"I accept your wish, Nauralad son of Halbarad, if my cousin, the Lady Aurenessa does." Aragorn said. Rhia nodded her head furiously. "They you may. I shall allocate Legolas of the Woodland realm and Gimli the dwarf as your chaperones." Legolas and Gimli looked at Aragorn in defiance. The last thing they wanted was to worry about two love-struck youngsters on the eve of battle.

"Very well, we shall if it is your wish." Legolas said.

"Good. Then it is settled." Aragorn said as he joined his prior company, his heart slightly lighter. He had in fact been wondering how long it would take Nauralad. He underestimated him. He was far more confident than Aragorn first anticipated.


AE: Sorry, I couldn't help but have them hook up. They're too cute! Anyways. Reviews are more than welcome in this humble fantasy abode so please, look deep into your hearts and send me a message!

Levanna: Thank you so much for your review. I hadn't noticed the change but thanks! Wow, I'm really flattered! Yeah. Grad was huge and I thought being outa school would rock but to be honest, even though I am working, I find myself bored a lot. I guess there's no escape. Thanks for picking up the faults there; I should probably pay more attention. Sbagliando s'impara. One learns from their mistakes. (although technically it means one learns from his mistakes). Oh well! Have a good one champ and thanks again! Vivi e lascia vivere.