Animekitty47: I'm not sure yet, I might. I would like to start a new Lotr fic, any suggestions? Ideas would be helpful :)

Outoftheshadows: You'll see more of Aragorn and Arwen romance in this chapter, too, as well as a bit more of Rochwen. Glad you like!

Bubble-sheep: Yeah, she can remember now, but the event does have a slight significance. I'm giving nothing away! (not that it's all that important).

BregoBeauty: Glad you like! You'll see more of Aragorn and Arwen together, as well as a little bit more of Rochwen, in this chapter.

On with the story!

Arwen gazed out across the vast green plains of Rohan. Aragorn had left for Rohan some time ago, and it was a two- day ride for them back to Edoras. It was warm, and Arwen could feel her mind drifting, her eyelids drooping, heavy with lack of sleep. A two-day ride was rushing it a little, Arwen thought. With all the people here suffering from lack of sleep, Arwen believed it would be more sensible to take three days, and to have two good long nights of sleep.

Arwen glanced down at Rochwen walking next to her. The child must be tired, yet she showed little sign of it. The girl had been leading Arwen all morning, and Arwen would have dismounted long ago to allow Rochwen to ride and ease her legs, but Arwen could not walk with her bad ankle.

"Are you tired, Rochwen?" Arwen asked at last.

Rochwen jumped slightly and looked up, as though she had been deep in thought.

"A little," she admitted. "But you cannot walk, so there's no point worrying about it. It is best to think of something else."

At that moment, Aragorn rode up beside them. He had been speaking to King Théoden for a while, but now felt the need to re-join his betrothed.

Arwen turned and smiled at him.

"We turn aside in about half-an-hour," Aragorn informed her.

Arwen's smile faded a little. "Be careful."

Rochwen snorted. "He can't be killed, Arwen. Believe me, I've been trying long enough." She laughed again to show she had been joking.

Aragorn gave her his most insulted look, which was spoiled somewhat by the huge grin that he wore. "My little cousin wounds me again," he joked, miming having been stabbed.

Rochwen frowned at the 'little', but said nothing else.

"Rochwen, why don't you sit on Brego for twenty minutes and I'll lead Arwen."

"Are you sure he won't throw me?"

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't."

Rochwen nodded and mounted Brego, whilst Aragorn took the reins of Rochwen's horse.

"How are you feeling?" Aragorn asked tenderly once Rochwen had ridden away.

"I'm fine, please do not fuss!"

Aragorn nodded. "Certainly, meleth. I hope Rochwen has not been annoying you. She has a tendency to ask too many questions."

"Nay, she has not. In fact, rather the opposite. She is a very well mannered, kind child. Intelligent, as well."

Aragorn smiled. "She's not anything particularly special to most. I care for her, but she is a close relation. Most people think she's rather unruly, and she is far too stubborn for her age."

Arwen feigned surprise. "Surely not!"

"Yes. But anyway, let's not spend too much time discussing my cousin. I wanted to speak to you."

Arwen could not contain a giggle. "You are speaking to me. But I know what you mean."

Aragorn sighed, all humour gone from his voice. "It has been too long, meleth. The seconds stretch to hours when we are apart, yet together they fly by far too quickly."

Arwen smiled at him understandingly. "They do for me, also." Her face took on a puzzled look. Yet we have been apart far longer than this before. I do not understand why you seem so different, Estel. You seem pained, and I do not seem to be able to offer you the comfort I once did. And up on that tower…"

"I was being an idiot. I should never have said such things in front of you, and I never really meant to say them. I was just thinking out loud, that is all."

"But why did you think such morbid thoughts?"

"It was the battle. It does that to me sometimes," Aragorn said matter-of-factly. "Seeing so much death… I can't seem to help wondering about what death really is. But you… you should not have had to hear my thoughts."

"Is there anything that I can do to ease your pain?" Arwen asked tenderly.

Aragorn turned to her, his strong love shining unchecked in his eyes. "Just to look upon you is enough. Just to touch you…" his hand touched hers where it held the leather rein.

Aragorn shook his head hard to clear it of the turmoil of emotion. He could not, so he expressed it as best he could in words. "I love you," he whispered softly.

"And I you," she whispered back. "But I believe that this is not the place to be speaking in this way."

Aragorn nodded. "Will you be staying for the victory feast?" He asked, changing the subject to a lighter, less private matter.

"I shall. Miriel has promised that I may borrow one of her dresses for the celebration."

Aragorn grinned mischievously. "Perhaps I may now secure the honour of a dance with you, fair maiden?" He inquired with mock formality.

"The honour is always yours, my lord," she said, grinning.

They walked along in silence for a while, each thinking their separate thoughts. Aragorn pictured his betrothed dressed as one of the Dunedain women. The picture in his mind's eye evoked a mixture of pride, love and also sadness. Sadness because his beloved Evenstar would be dressed as a mortal, symbolic of the choice that troubled him so. He always felt unworthy of Arwen. He did was brave, loyal, kind or handsome enough to be worthy of her, or so he thought. Yet what made him feel truly unworthy was that he was mortal. Arwen deserved a strong, noble, gentle elf-lord, one who could care for her, love her for all eternity. Not a simple Ranger, or even the king that he may one day be. No matter who won the war, or what became of him, he would eventually have to leave her.

Arwen was still unsure about what troubled her beloved. Eventually, after much thought, she decided she would ask his cousin when the girl returned to lead her. Perhaps Rochwen would be able to shed some light on what might be wrong with him. Arwen doubted that she could solve very much, but every little helped. Aragorn was being surprisingly secretive about why he seemed so miserable. Normally he was quite open with her.

The child in question came riding back; far too soon, Arwen thought.

"Estel? You have to leave," Rochwen said simply, dismounting.

Aragorn placed a gentle kiss on Arwen's lips.

"I love you," he said. "Do not fear, I shall return soon."

Arwen smiled. "I love you, too," she replied.

Aragorn then turned and embraced his cousin, before turning away and mounting his horse.

"Look after Arwen, little one," he instructed, before turning and cantering away.

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