A/N: - Sorry it's been a while since I updated but I've decided that the
last remaining chapters have to be as close to perfection as possible and
therefore I'm taking some more time to do them. So I hope that you guys
enjoy this one. I know I had lots of fun with the emotional dialogue and
don't forget to read and review. Mousie I wish you all the best in your
exams and hope that the results are to your liking.
P.S. This chappie is dedicated to Riad on his first birthday. Happy b-day baby boy!!
Night had fallen upon the weary couple as they materialized from the cavern clutching their prized possessions as they made their way from the steps in search of their companions. They held hands as they moved tiredly towards the talan of Galadriel, Aragorn leading the way past the former resting place of Galadriel's Seeing Mirror. Both were only too eager to put away the day's events behind them and locate the elves.
"Aragorn?" she asked quietly as they walked through the dew-filled grass.
"Yes." came the quiet reply. It was a voice filled with resignation and she feared inwardly their battle had taken some hold upon her loved one.
"I fear for the others." She stated quietly as her voice filtered into the cold night. "My heart states something is amiss." Èowyn replied.
"As does mine, let us not however dwell on the fact." He replied gently. "Knowing Legolas, he will have undoubtedly have headed for Lady Galadriel's talan." He replied to the smaller form beside him.
She nodded her head gently but continued to observe the king. Their battle with the La Diablese had no doubt grieved him in a way she could not fathom. Privately she reminded herself to ask after they located their missing comrades.
They had gone not much farther when they saw the burning light of a fireside a few yards before them and beside it, two figures huddled close to each other. A small sigh of relief escaped from Èowyn's lips as she dragged her tired form towards the elves, Aragorn following hotly in her heels.
"Matejé, Legolas! You are....." she said excitedly then slurred into a deafening silence as she beheld the elves in the aftermath of their battle.
They had numerous wounds and bruises upon their fair skin where their amour could not protect them from the claws of the foul creatures they had fought. Dried blood had caked and mingled with the crimson liquid seeping from their fresh wounds, which were bandaged. Matejé seemed in the worse state. Her dark hair; was mangled and bathed in sweat, as she nursed her wounds quietly with Legolas cradling her gently in his arms. Èowyn knew it was only a short time before they began to heal, but she could not bear the sight of her friends in such anguish. The calm green eyes of the elf maiden was replaced by those of a wounded animal and Èowyn felt and overwhelming sense of guilt as she watched them in stunned silence.
"Valar!" she heard Aragorn cry in disbelief as he rushed to his friends. "What has happened Legolas?" Elessar asked quietly as he kneeled before his comrade, as Èowyn made her way towards Matejé.
The elf warrior smiled lightly at his friend, his blue eyes attempting to mask the pain of seeing his loved one in pain but it was to no avail.
"They are nothing more than the casualties of battle." He replied softly, in an attempt to alleviate the concern in Estel's eyes. "We shall be in the best of spirits by morning. It has been three days since we parted ways Aragorn. We are healing slowly there is no need for worry." He stated strongly. "I am concerned for Matejé though. She seems to be ailing despite everything I have tried. Can you heal her Aragorn?" he asked looking at his melamin where Èowyn held her tending to her wounds.
"I shall try. Do not worry. Stay my friend and rest. We shall speak when you are healed." Came the sombre reply as the Gondor King clasped his hand gently over his meladrim's cold own and walked over to where the women sat.
"Lady Matejé," Aragorn said softly to the ill elf who had become unconscious once again.
"My King... Lady Èowyn." She replied as her eyes fluttered open, gazing upon the sight of the mortal couple before her a small smile gracing her lips. "It heals my heart to see you are well." She whispered before erupting into a series of coughs, which grieved them both to their very essence.
"Save your strength." Èowyn said softly as she wiped the elf's heated brow. "Can you not help her my lord?" she pleaded to the man kneeling before them, a thoughtful look upon his handsome face.
"I shall need kingsfoil and if I am not mistaken, Gandalf entrusted some to your care Èowyn, before we parted at Medusled." He stated as she nodded eagerly.
"It is in the knapsack." She replied as the man delved into the bag, retrieving the green herb, which was now slightly shrivelled. "It is not fresh." She whispered to him, her voice wavering slightly.
"It will do." He replied smiling reassuringly at her. "I shall require your assistance." He said as the Sheildmaiden held the elf maiden firmly to her, while Aragorn applied the medicine.
Vague memories of the House of Healing floated through Èowyn's mind as the crushed herb filled the air. Though she did not remember Aragorn's touch, the sweet scent of the athleas filling her being, was as sharp as the shards of her sword that sliced her as she felled the Witch King on that fateful battle. It was a scent that consoled her in times of need even though, there were days in the aftermath of the battle where the sight of kingsfoil was grievous.
Watching Aragorn lathe the unconscious elf's wounds as both Legolas and herself looked on anxiously she wondered had this been the same scenario in the House of Healing. Èomer had never uttered a word to her of the incident and she had never asked for fear of reproach, reliving a memory he had wished to suppress. A dull colour appeared upon the face of Matejé as the elf maiden seemed to return to the world of the living. All three sighed with relief as the emerald green eyes of Matejé opened slightly and smiled weakly at them, the earlier pain Èowyn saw had disappeared.
"Many thanks my King" she said hoarsely to the mortal before her and reached for Legolas' hand, which he grasped firmly, kissing the pale fingers, tears falling freely upon his pallid face.
"There is no need my Lady. Save your strength and rest now. It is I who should be grateful for your bravery in battle against those creatures." Aragorn said sincerely smiling lightly with her. "I leave you with Legolas in your company, forgive me we are all weary of the days past events." Aragorn said softly as he rose before them.
"Meladrim forgive my selfishness. I had forgotten of your own struggle. Please rest and we shall all speak of our next move when we are refreshed." Legolas stated as he saw the lines of fatigue etched upon the mortals faces in the amber light.
"I shall remain with Matejé for the night." Èowyn quipped but Legolas shook his head in disagreement.
"Nay my Lady. You need respite as well. I shall stay with Matejé. Please do not argue." He pleaded as Èowyn prepared to challenge him.
"Legolas is correct." Aragorn stated to his female companion. "We need to regain our strength, for tomorrow is a new day." He said wisely and for once Èowyn was at a loss for words. She grasped Matejé's limp hand and stroked it soothingly smiling at her friend who looked frail but in better spirits.
"Until first light, keep safe friends." Èowyn said softly as she and Aragorn left the elf couple to themselves.
Though she was exhausted, a deep sleep would not invade her eyes and she was plagued with nightmares of her battle with the Witch King combined with haunting memories of Grima pursuing her in the dark halls of Medusled, accompanied by the devil woman she fought earlier. She awoke bathed in a cold sweat, panting heavily, her heart thumping wildly inside. Long had she pushed aside those memories of the Worm since his death. She shuddered as she recollected the painful memoirs of his conniving methods of seducing her uncle. Too often, she had to defend herself against his amorous ways, unable to say confess the torture he had inflicted upon her soul not even Èomer knew for she had feared the consequences of harming Wormtongue. Even to this day, she could not forget the withered man who had stalked her like prey in her darkest hours. His oily scent filled her with revulsion and most of all terror. Not for her life, but for the others who were dear to her. There was not a day that passed where she wished for nothing than to end the misery she had to undergo. Too often, had she dreamt of plunging Helm deep into the bowels of that dastardly man watching with self relief as he breathed his last breath before her eyes. They were nothing more than fantasies until the coming of the Fellowship where she finally became free of Grima's obsession.
"Your attempts to erase his existence, is futile. He will continue to haunt you in every weak moment of your life despite your actions." Her mind screamed as she bolted up from her sleeping spot.
"I will not let him occupy my mind. He is dead. Dead." She vowed quietly and looked around for Aragorn, spotting the empty space where he had occupied earlier during the night. She threw her cloak over body, warding off the chilly night breeze and set off to locate him. He seemed disturbed somehow after their earlier battle and she felt the need to comfort him.
"I knew you would return here." She said softly behind his form as he sat upon the moss-covered stairs leading to the caverns, staring into the black sky his gaze occupied with the stars above them.
"Èowyn..... Forgive me I did not hear your entrance." He replied apologetically as she sat beside him, her smaller frame blending into his as she covered them both with her cloak, from the cold wind.
"You have been very distant since our return." She said softly and reached for his hand, entwining her long fingers into his, happy that he returned the gesture. "Something preoccupies your mind and I surmise it had to do with our battle with the La Diablese." She said shrewdly.
He turned towards her, his eyes lighting in the moonlight and a wide smile curving into a small laugh. "You are wiser beyond your years." He complimented and delighted in seeing a rare smile from the Shieldmaiden.
"Èomer always stated that I would be a better ruler than him, had it not been for my gender." She replied. "I have always disagreed with that point." She said turning away from Elessar.
"I agree with him. You reflect before you react." He said softly watching her beautiful features highlighted even more in the full force of the moon.
"Have you forgotten my actions at Dunharrow?" she retorted. "Disobeying my uncle and heading off into battle. I hardly call that wise." She said sharply.
"I call it the ignorance of youth and your overwhelming desire to prove to all you were not simply a Shieldmaiden by name but by your actions. For those brief moments on the battle field, you were free of the cage which enclosed you from your birth." He replied wisely and saw her demeanour change.
"I now have been blessed to witness the renowned wisdom of the famed Elessar." She replied modestly. "You have been the only one to understand my heart and my intentions from our initial meeting Aragorn and it is this that drew me to you." She said quietly as he stroked her golden locks.
"I have known your desires from our first contact Èowyn and it grieved me deeply at the time, to see such beauty and intelligence waste. Had I not been that position, I would have readily accepted and reciprocated the love you showered upon my unworthy being." He said quietly as she turned towards him.
"And now? What of us?" she asked quizzically. "Know that I shall never reproach your love for Lady Arwen. My desire was never to cause pain on either side." She stated sincerely, her blue eyes flashing in the light with an honestly and purity he had never seen since his meeting with Frodo at the Prancing Pony.
"You need not say it, for in your eyes I see the truth to your words." Aragorn said and embraced her. "Though piece of my heart will belong to the Evenstar, it now resides with you and will always be. I fear in my heart that I will never be good enough for your bravery and your innocence." He whispered into her ear and she held him to her absorbing the strength to her weakened body.
"It is I who shall never be worthy of you Aragorn." She replied in a muffled voice and then she knew what bothered him. Pulling away gently she faced him, staring intently at his face. "You were given a choice to choose between Arwen and myself by the demon woman in our trance." She said firmly as he nodded slowly.
"It has plagued my dreams since we embarked upon this journey.... but, no more. My heart and my mind have spoken in unison for once and it has chosen you Èowyn. I was foolish not to have seen your worth. Faramir is wiser than me in years to come, for he saw you in your complete glory without even knowing you." Aragorn stated calmly.
She looked at him with a shocked expression on her face. Never had she believed he knew of Faramir's attempts of wooing her, but she had been sorely mistaken.
"You knew of us but how?" she asked questioningly.
"His reaction, to your departure for the Shire. Though, he craftily hid his feelings, it was simple to see he cared deeply for you and I must confess through Ioreth and the Warden from the House of Healing. I received information of your stay." He said in embarrassment
"The great King Elessar snooping for gossip. I would have never imagined." She replied in jest her laughter echoing sweetly to the top of the trees.
"You are not angry. I hope." He said sheepishly not looking at her beautiful face.
"Nay Aragorn. I never thought that Faramir's intentions would bother you though." She said sweetly, smiling alluringly at him.
"It did not at the time. But I thank Valar you did not accept his proposal." He said smugly. "I would never have this opportunity to amend my mistake." He said deeply as his lips found her ear.
"It would not have been fair to accept it, knowing I had given my heart to another man." She whispered as she embraced him, revelling in his scent, his lips like molten liquid flowing through her skin, as he trailed his way down to her neck nipping at her skin with his teeth, flooding her entire body with yearning. Suddenly she was aware of his desire as he captured her mouth in a crushing kiss and her pulses raced. His tongue demanding entry and she readily gave way, as they meshed and melded into one, her moans of desire sending him over the edge. His hands stroking her body as she was made solely for him and she craved his touch.
"Aragorn.... Please stop. I cannot.... though my body states something else." She pleaded as she sat on top of him and he immediately complied.
"Forgive me Èowyn. I did not mean to cause you distress." He replied softly as he stroked her cheek with his long fingers.
She grasped his hand and kissed it gently. "I have always dreamt it would be you Aragorn but now is not the time." She said as he embraced her.
"Of course I have been selfish." He said and kissed her sweetly. "You shall and will always be my white snow lily. You who are the veritable icon of purity in my eyes." He said as they embraced as she covered her face into his shoulder, sighing with relief that Aragorn would stand by her no matter what adversities she would face.
Then came the mounting sound of laughter. Rising towards her like a wave of deceit mocking her, taunting her very thoughts and she held on to Aragorn in an even tighter embrace. Praying he would love her to very ends of the world.
"Leave me be." Her mind hissed to the laughing dark clad figure before her. "Aragorn is here. He loves me." Her mind screamed.
"That he does, but shall he when he realizes the terrible truth." The figure derided before dissolving away.
"He shall never know. That I vow." Èowyn promised herself as they clung to each other in the hallowed space surrounding them.
P.S. This chappie is dedicated to Riad on his first birthday. Happy b-day baby boy!!
Night had fallen upon the weary couple as they materialized from the cavern clutching their prized possessions as they made their way from the steps in search of their companions. They held hands as they moved tiredly towards the talan of Galadriel, Aragorn leading the way past the former resting place of Galadriel's Seeing Mirror. Both were only too eager to put away the day's events behind them and locate the elves.
"Aragorn?" she asked quietly as they walked through the dew-filled grass.
"Yes." came the quiet reply. It was a voice filled with resignation and she feared inwardly their battle had taken some hold upon her loved one.
"I fear for the others." She stated quietly as her voice filtered into the cold night. "My heart states something is amiss." Èowyn replied.
"As does mine, let us not however dwell on the fact." He replied gently. "Knowing Legolas, he will have undoubtedly have headed for Lady Galadriel's talan." He replied to the smaller form beside him.
She nodded her head gently but continued to observe the king. Their battle with the La Diablese had no doubt grieved him in a way she could not fathom. Privately she reminded herself to ask after they located their missing comrades.
They had gone not much farther when they saw the burning light of a fireside a few yards before them and beside it, two figures huddled close to each other. A small sigh of relief escaped from Èowyn's lips as she dragged her tired form towards the elves, Aragorn following hotly in her heels.
"Matejé, Legolas! You are....." she said excitedly then slurred into a deafening silence as she beheld the elves in the aftermath of their battle.
They had numerous wounds and bruises upon their fair skin where their amour could not protect them from the claws of the foul creatures they had fought. Dried blood had caked and mingled with the crimson liquid seeping from their fresh wounds, which were bandaged. Matejé seemed in the worse state. Her dark hair; was mangled and bathed in sweat, as she nursed her wounds quietly with Legolas cradling her gently in his arms. Èowyn knew it was only a short time before they began to heal, but she could not bear the sight of her friends in such anguish. The calm green eyes of the elf maiden was replaced by those of a wounded animal and Èowyn felt and overwhelming sense of guilt as she watched them in stunned silence.
"Valar!" she heard Aragorn cry in disbelief as he rushed to his friends. "What has happened Legolas?" Elessar asked quietly as he kneeled before his comrade, as Èowyn made her way towards Matejé.
The elf warrior smiled lightly at his friend, his blue eyes attempting to mask the pain of seeing his loved one in pain but it was to no avail.
"They are nothing more than the casualties of battle." He replied softly, in an attempt to alleviate the concern in Estel's eyes. "We shall be in the best of spirits by morning. It has been three days since we parted ways Aragorn. We are healing slowly there is no need for worry." He stated strongly. "I am concerned for Matejé though. She seems to be ailing despite everything I have tried. Can you heal her Aragorn?" he asked looking at his melamin where Èowyn held her tending to her wounds.
"I shall try. Do not worry. Stay my friend and rest. We shall speak when you are healed." Came the sombre reply as the Gondor King clasped his hand gently over his meladrim's cold own and walked over to where the women sat.
"Lady Matejé," Aragorn said softly to the ill elf who had become unconscious once again.
"My King... Lady Èowyn." She replied as her eyes fluttered open, gazing upon the sight of the mortal couple before her a small smile gracing her lips. "It heals my heart to see you are well." She whispered before erupting into a series of coughs, which grieved them both to their very essence.
"Save your strength." Èowyn said softly as she wiped the elf's heated brow. "Can you not help her my lord?" she pleaded to the man kneeling before them, a thoughtful look upon his handsome face.
"I shall need kingsfoil and if I am not mistaken, Gandalf entrusted some to your care Èowyn, before we parted at Medusled." He stated as she nodded eagerly.
"It is in the knapsack." She replied as the man delved into the bag, retrieving the green herb, which was now slightly shrivelled. "It is not fresh." She whispered to him, her voice wavering slightly.
"It will do." He replied smiling reassuringly at her. "I shall require your assistance." He said as the Sheildmaiden held the elf maiden firmly to her, while Aragorn applied the medicine.
Vague memories of the House of Healing floated through Èowyn's mind as the crushed herb filled the air. Though she did not remember Aragorn's touch, the sweet scent of the athleas filling her being, was as sharp as the shards of her sword that sliced her as she felled the Witch King on that fateful battle. It was a scent that consoled her in times of need even though, there were days in the aftermath of the battle where the sight of kingsfoil was grievous.
Watching Aragorn lathe the unconscious elf's wounds as both Legolas and herself looked on anxiously she wondered had this been the same scenario in the House of Healing. Èomer had never uttered a word to her of the incident and she had never asked for fear of reproach, reliving a memory he had wished to suppress. A dull colour appeared upon the face of Matejé as the elf maiden seemed to return to the world of the living. All three sighed with relief as the emerald green eyes of Matejé opened slightly and smiled weakly at them, the earlier pain Èowyn saw had disappeared.
"Many thanks my King" she said hoarsely to the mortal before her and reached for Legolas' hand, which he grasped firmly, kissing the pale fingers, tears falling freely upon his pallid face.
"There is no need my Lady. Save your strength and rest now. It is I who should be grateful for your bravery in battle against those creatures." Aragorn said sincerely smiling lightly with her. "I leave you with Legolas in your company, forgive me we are all weary of the days past events." Aragorn said softly as he rose before them.
"Meladrim forgive my selfishness. I had forgotten of your own struggle. Please rest and we shall all speak of our next move when we are refreshed." Legolas stated as he saw the lines of fatigue etched upon the mortals faces in the amber light.
"I shall remain with Matejé for the night." Èowyn quipped but Legolas shook his head in disagreement.
"Nay my Lady. You need respite as well. I shall stay with Matejé. Please do not argue." He pleaded as Èowyn prepared to challenge him.
"Legolas is correct." Aragorn stated to his female companion. "We need to regain our strength, for tomorrow is a new day." He said wisely and for once Èowyn was at a loss for words. She grasped Matejé's limp hand and stroked it soothingly smiling at her friend who looked frail but in better spirits.
"Until first light, keep safe friends." Èowyn said softly as she and Aragorn left the elf couple to themselves.
Though she was exhausted, a deep sleep would not invade her eyes and she was plagued with nightmares of her battle with the Witch King combined with haunting memories of Grima pursuing her in the dark halls of Medusled, accompanied by the devil woman she fought earlier. She awoke bathed in a cold sweat, panting heavily, her heart thumping wildly inside. Long had she pushed aside those memories of the Worm since his death. She shuddered as she recollected the painful memoirs of his conniving methods of seducing her uncle. Too often, she had to defend herself against his amorous ways, unable to say confess the torture he had inflicted upon her soul not even Èomer knew for she had feared the consequences of harming Wormtongue. Even to this day, she could not forget the withered man who had stalked her like prey in her darkest hours. His oily scent filled her with revulsion and most of all terror. Not for her life, but for the others who were dear to her. There was not a day that passed where she wished for nothing than to end the misery she had to undergo. Too often, had she dreamt of plunging Helm deep into the bowels of that dastardly man watching with self relief as he breathed his last breath before her eyes. They were nothing more than fantasies until the coming of the Fellowship where she finally became free of Grima's obsession.
"Your attempts to erase his existence, is futile. He will continue to haunt you in every weak moment of your life despite your actions." Her mind screamed as she bolted up from her sleeping spot.
"I will not let him occupy my mind. He is dead. Dead." She vowed quietly and looked around for Aragorn, spotting the empty space where he had occupied earlier during the night. She threw her cloak over body, warding off the chilly night breeze and set off to locate him. He seemed disturbed somehow after their earlier battle and she felt the need to comfort him.
"I knew you would return here." She said softly behind his form as he sat upon the moss-covered stairs leading to the caverns, staring into the black sky his gaze occupied with the stars above them.
"Èowyn..... Forgive me I did not hear your entrance." He replied apologetically as she sat beside him, her smaller frame blending into his as she covered them both with her cloak, from the cold wind.
"You have been very distant since our return." She said softly and reached for his hand, entwining her long fingers into his, happy that he returned the gesture. "Something preoccupies your mind and I surmise it had to do with our battle with the La Diablese." She said shrewdly.
He turned towards her, his eyes lighting in the moonlight and a wide smile curving into a small laugh. "You are wiser beyond your years." He complimented and delighted in seeing a rare smile from the Shieldmaiden.
"Èomer always stated that I would be a better ruler than him, had it not been for my gender." She replied. "I have always disagreed with that point." She said turning away from Elessar.
"I agree with him. You reflect before you react." He said softly watching her beautiful features highlighted even more in the full force of the moon.
"Have you forgotten my actions at Dunharrow?" she retorted. "Disobeying my uncle and heading off into battle. I hardly call that wise." She said sharply.
"I call it the ignorance of youth and your overwhelming desire to prove to all you were not simply a Shieldmaiden by name but by your actions. For those brief moments on the battle field, you were free of the cage which enclosed you from your birth." He replied wisely and saw her demeanour change.
"I now have been blessed to witness the renowned wisdom of the famed Elessar." She replied modestly. "You have been the only one to understand my heart and my intentions from our initial meeting Aragorn and it is this that drew me to you." She said quietly as he stroked her golden locks.
"I have known your desires from our first contact Èowyn and it grieved me deeply at the time, to see such beauty and intelligence waste. Had I not been that position, I would have readily accepted and reciprocated the love you showered upon my unworthy being." He said quietly as she turned towards him.
"And now? What of us?" she asked quizzically. "Know that I shall never reproach your love for Lady Arwen. My desire was never to cause pain on either side." She stated sincerely, her blue eyes flashing in the light with an honestly and purity he had never seen since his meeting with Frodo at the Prancing Pony.
"You need not say it, for in your eyes I see the truth to your words." Aragorn said and embraced her. "Though piece of my heart will belong to the Evenstar, it now resides with you and will always be. I fear in my heart that I will never be good enough for your bravery and your innocence." He whispered into her ear and she held him to her absorbing the strength to her weakened body.
"It is I who shall never be worthy of you Aragorn." She replied in a muffled voice and then she knew what bothered him. Pulling away gently she faced him, staring intently at his face. "You were given a choice to choose between Arwen and myself by the demon woman in our trance." She said firmly as he nodded slowly.
"It has plagued my dreams since we embarked upon this journey.... but, no more. My heart and my mind have spoken in unison for once and it has chosen you Èowyn. I was foolish not to have seen your worth. Faramir is wiser than me in years to come, for he saw you in your complete glory without even knowing you." Aragorn stated calmly.
She looked at him with a shocked expression on her face. Never had she believed he knew of Faramir's attempts of wooing her, but she had been sorely mistaken.
"You knew of us but how?" she asked questioningly.
"His reaction, to your departure for the Shire. Though, he craftily hid his feelings, it was simple to see he cared deeply for you and I must confess through Ioreth and the Warden from the House of Healing. I received information of your stay." He said in embarrassment
"The great King Elessar snooping for gossip. I would have never imagined." She replied in jest her laughter echoing sweetly to the top of the trees.
"You are not angry. I hope." He said sheepishly not looking at her beautiful face.
"Nay Aragorn. I never thought that Faramir's intentions would bother you though." She said sweetly, smiling alluringly at him.
"It did not at the time. But I thank Valar you did not accept his proposal." He said smugly. "I would never have this opportunity to amend my mistake." He said deeply as his lips found her ear.
"It would not have been fair to accept it, knowing I had given my heart to another man." She whispered as she embraced him, revelling in his scent, his lips like molten liquid flowing through her skin, as he trailed his way down to her neck nipping at her skin with his teeth, flooding her entire body with yearning. Suddenly she was aware of his desire as he captured her mouth in a crushing kiss and her pulses raced. His tongue demanding entry and she readily gave way, as they meshed and melded into one, her moans of desire sending him over the edge. His hands stroking her body as she was made solely for him and she craved his touch.
"Aragorn.... Please stop. I cannot.... though my body states something else." She pleaded as she sat on top of him and he immediately complied.
"Forgive me Èowyn. I did not mean to cause you distress." He replied softly as he stroked her cheek with his long fingers.
She grasped his hand and kissed it gently. "I have always dreamt it would be you Aragorn but now is not the time." She said as he embraced her.
"Of course I have been selfish." He said and kissed her sweetly. "You shall and will always be my white snow lily. You who are the veritable icon of purity in my eyes." He said as they embraced as she covered her face into his shoulder, sighing with relief that Aragorn would stand by her no matter what adversities she would face.
Then came the mounting sound of laughter. Rising towards her like a wave of deceit mocking her, taunting her very thoughts and she held on to Aragorn in an even tighter embrace. Praying he would love her to very ends of the world.
"Leave me be." Her mind hissed to the laughing dark clad figure before her. "Aragorn is here. He loves me." Her mind screamed.
"That he does, but shall he when he realizes the terrible truth." The figure derided before dissolving away.
"He shall never know. That I vow." Èowyn promised herself as they clung to each other in the hallowed space surrounding them.