Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, or Harry Potter, of Kel, or Neal.ButI do own Emily and Itarilde.

A/N: Sorry the update took so long. Our internet was kind of screwy.

Chapter 7

Along the Great River

The Fellowship rowed. . . and rowed. Isn't that a horrible start to a chapter? Anyway, Aragorn, Itarilde, and Emily were at the front of the pack, followed by Legolas and Gimli in one boat and Kel, Frodo, and Sam in another. And lastly, there was Neal and Harry and Boromir, Merry and Pippin. Everyone was talking quietly to the people in their boat, but Harry remained strangely silent.

"What's wrong?" Neal asked him.

Harry shook his head. "I was just thinking of Gandalf." He said. "I could have prevented his death. I'm a wizard, too. But my own fear kept me from doing it. There are so many things I could have done. . ."

"No." said Aragorn firmly. "It wasn't your fault. None of us could have done anything. At the Council in Rivendell Elrond forewarned Gandalf of his doom. You have to understand Harry, it was his fate."

Harry shook his head again. "I could have-I should have done something." He began to cry. "I've seen enough deaths in 14 years to last me a lifetime. I keep thinking that maybe I could have done something to stop if. And now, we don't have a guide." He continued to sob.

Aragorn pretended to look insulted. "I'm not that bad, am I? I've been a Ranger for as long as I can remember."

Neal was about to make a crude remark when rapids in the river made their boats bump up and down in a jarring motion. The boat that Kel was in nearly tipped over, but from behind Legolas and Gimli crashed into them and set their boat back on course.

The rapids were treacherous, and the Company spent 2 hours working their way through them, holding their breath, wondering when they would end.

Eventually, the water calmed, and they moored the boats at a shore. As soon as they were on land, Itarilde dropped down onto her back, wanting to simply wake up from this nightmare. Her arms felt like they were on fire, or worse, like soggy spaghetti on fire. She had strained her arms rowing through the rapids, and her head spun from the hard work. She wanted to find herself back at home, in bed, with pillows and much desired comfort. But, she thought as she settled against a tree trunk, while I'm here, I'll have to make do. And with that wonderful thought in mind, she drifted off into dreams of reading in front of the fireplace, with a cup of hot liquid in front of her.

When Itarilde woke she found it was nighttime. Everyone else was asleep. Save for Aragorn. He was on watch duty, as always. She walked quietly up to him and asked, "Don't you ever get tired of doing that every night?"

Aragorn jumped. He had gotten a lot jumpier lately.

"It's easier to think when it's quiet." He told her.

"But doesn't the lack of sleep ever get to you?"

Aragorn thought for a moment. Did it? He covered a yawn and mumbled something about getting used to it.

"Wait a minute-aren't you afraid of the dark?"

Aragorn began to lose his patience. "Do you ever get tired of asking questions?"

"Never."

The Ranger sighed. Truth to tell, he wasn't sure how he could stay up the entire night, in the dark, thinking, when a dark room frightened him so much.

"I guess I don't mind when there's a full moon, and things to think about."

Then his eyes seemed to glaze over and it looked to Itarilde as if he was reminiscing about something that had taken place long ago.

"Arwen." He whispered. "Velen le."

Itarilde looked at him questioningly. Aragorn sighed.

"When my father Arathorn was slain by an orc, my mother took me to Rivendell. At that time I was only 2 years old. We lived in the house of Elrond, and Elrond himself became like my father, loving me as if I were his son."

Itarilde could not imagine Elrond loving anyone. There was no mercy in his eyes, and he was stern and intimidating in character. He never seemed to do anything but frown and disagree.

"He named me Estel and when I was 21 years old, he gave me my inheritances: the Ring of Barahir and the shards of Narsil. And then, the next evening. . ."

Aragorn walked alone in the woods. A feeling of subtle loneliness washed over him and he found himself wishing he had a companion walking with him. Then, suddenly, a beautiful woman appeared, clothed in silver and blue, with long, dark hair. Aragorn shook his head. He must have been dreaming. But the image stayed real, and the lady came over to him, saying, "Who are you?"

"I am Aragorn, Arathorn's son, Isildur's heir, Lord of the Dunedain." He answered, never taking his eyes off her.

She laughed, and a musical sound filled the woods. "I am Arwen Undomiel, Elrond's daughter."

Aragorn frowned. "But if Elrond is your father, then how can it be that I have never seen you here before?"

Arwen waved her hand in the direction of the Misty Mountains. It was then that Aragorn noticed her grace and composure. "I have been in Lothlorien, visiting my mother's kin. It has been a long while since I have come back to Imladris."

Aragorn gaped. "But how- I mean, you look. . ."

Arwen smiled. "The children of Elrond have the life of the Eldar."

And from that day on, Aragorn knew he loved her.

"My mother told me my aim was too high, that Arwen was too highly ranked to be suited to me, and Elrond said that Arwen was to live out her long life. To wed me was to mean her death, her becoming mortal." He touched the Evenstar pendant around his neck before continuing. "Then many years passed and I saw her no more until I came upon the woods of Lorien. We stayed together for a few months, the happiest few months of my life. Then, I had to leave. We said farewell on the hill of Cerin Amroth. It was then that Arwen made her decision to become mortal. Her father wasn't too happy though. He wanted Arwen to go with him to the Undying Lands, when the time came. Although he did say that Arwen would marry no less than the King of Gondor and Arnor."

Itarilde glanced at Aragorn. He was still staring at the stars, yet he seemed more sorrowful than he had been when she had first snuck up on him.

"You don't want to be a king?"

He shook his head. "I like my life right now. The responsibility of being a king is too great for me. I do not wish for all the attention."

"But don't you love her?"

Aragorn was seriously getting tired of all these questions. Why couldn't she just leave him alone?

"Of course I do!" he snapped, his patience long evaporated. There was an edge to his voice that Itarilde had never heard before.

Her eyes widened. She'd said too much. Quickly, she got up and hurried back to the camp before her mouth could blurt out any more. Aragorn watched her leave, thinking, "What have I done?"

When Itarilde got back to the camp she found that not everyone was asleep. Harry was sitting a few yards away, staring at the glass ball that Galadriel had given him, wondering what it was. She walked over to him and sat down.

"Do you know what this is?" Harry asked her.

Itarilde shook her head.

"Galadriel said I could use it only if I looked inside myself. What does that mean?"

Itarilde shook her head again. She had not idea, and decided just to go back to bed.

Harry stayed awake long into the night, trying to figure out what the object in his hand was.

The next morning dawned bright and early, and the Company set out as the first streaks of sun appeared over the horizon. They rowed a lot more, though they encountered few rapids on the way.

Emily frowned. There was something, well, two somethings, looming in the distance. As they rowed closer, everyone could see 2 great stone statues, one on either side of the river, holding their left hands up in warning, and glaring into the distance. There was a stone crown on each head and both seemed terribly intimidating.

"Here are the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings." Said Aragorn.

They passed the statues, but Neal could have sworn they were still glaring at the Fellowship.

End of chapter

A/N: I'm sorry to all the Harry fans. I had to make him break down. . .