A/N: Hello everyone! Let's get right to it, shall we?
Nestaron set the note down, giving Kate a critical glare.
"To the Harpy? You are so well acquitted with one another he has given you a nickname?" He asked, annoyance sharpening his tone.
"Hardly." Kate scoffed. "I suppose he thinks it's funny. I don't really care either way, I just want to know if he's cursed this ring or something. Is there some freaky magic on it? Is it safe?"
"How could I possibly know that, Kate?" He asked with a roll of his eye.
"Well, because you've got all the information."
"I much preferred it when we kept to a strictly working relationship. Certainly, there is someone else you could bother with this?"
"No, no there's not. Gandalf is gone and Aragorn and Legolas don't really know about this kind of stuff. As much as they'd try to help, as well meaning as it is, I'd rather keep them out of it." Kate huffed, "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." She said wryly, snatching the letter back up and placing it into her pocket.
Nestaron stared down his nose at her, suddenly looking exhausted.
"You are an odd woman. Truly, I could not even begin to understand you." With a weary sigh, he grabbed the ring and made a great display of inspecting it, tapping it against a counter and holding it up to the light. "It seems bereft of any enchantment or spell. Unless that is part of the spell." He said handing it back to her, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"How very reassuring." Kate muttered, sliding the ring back onto her finger. The weight of it seemed odd after not wearing it for so many days but she didn't feel any different. There was no obvious physical difference to the ring itself, no odd inscriptions or mystical glowing green lights, but you could never be too careful with magic rings in this world, Kate figured. Despite her previous words it was the slightest bit reassuring that Nestaron seemed to be unbothered by it. Still, she didn't really see Kedron as someone who gave back stolen goods without a reason and the unexplained reappearance of this important item had her more than a little concerned. "So what do I do now?"
"Do whatever you wish." He said gruffly, returning to the task of sorting and boxing some select supplies in the now empty infirmary.
"That's a crap answer."
"What would you have me say, Kate?" Nestaron snapped, slamming the wooden chest closed. "What could I teach you? Hm? I am not a Traveler; did you not hear me? I can do nothing about any of this and anything that I could teach you might end in harming you more than it could help you because I can do nothing to intervene should something go awry!"
Kate's lips thinned as she listened to the Elf's irritation. She felt sorry for him…she did, but something was happening, she could feel it and she could no longer stick her head in the sand and pretend like it wasn't. She didn't want to be a Traveler, but she didn't want what she had seen to come to pass either…she needed to help and if dealing with this Traveler crap could help in any way then she would do it.
"You could, though. You could teach me about how to control it…what all I can do, how to make things right. You could teach me out to spot people who don't belong here and how to pick assignments and how to live with this!" She shouted, her voice growing more and more desperate as Nestaron grew more and more ambivalent. "You could teach me about the dreams." She whispered finally, shuddering at the memory.
Nestaron stilled, his body tensing.
"Have you had them?" He asked quietly, to which Kate nodded in reply. "How long?"
"Since I became an intern, I think. Sporadically, every few years or some but they never really bothered me until I came here, to this world. I used to just chalk it up to a bad dream but then…I started to see people I knew, faces I recognized and things that didn't make sense. Then once I learned about all this Traveler stuff and assignments…I guess I put two and two together. They are assignments, right?"
"Yes, they are." He said evenly, his voice not raising a decibel and he still hadn't met her gaze.
"D-do you still have them?"
"Sometimes."
"Does it hurt?"
"Sometimes." Nestaron said after a pause, staring up to meet her gaze with his own pitying expression. Her confusion prompted him to explain. "I still have the dreams, the promptings, though I can do nothing about it. I still…feel it. Do you understand? It as if one has lost an appendage, an arm or a leg. They know it's no longer there, know they can no longer use their arms to reach for it or their leg to stand on, but sometimes, they can feel it there. They can feel their leg itch or their arm throb and for a moment, they forget, just a moment that it is lost to them."
But they always remember.
The unspoken sentence hung in the air between them and suddenly Kate realized why Nestaron didn't want to help. It wasn't that he was purposely being unhelpful, or that he didn't care but that it was too painful. That it would cause him a physical ache to extend himself in that way and he was right; after all the effort of going through and teaching her if something were to go wrong then what could he do to help?
"I'm sorry." Kate said after a moment, wrapping her arms around herself, her voice deepening as she hugged herself tighter. "I'm just, uh, just a bit…concerned is all. It's a lot to take in."
"It is." He said, packing the last of his tools away. Kate frowned, looking around the barren room for the first time now. "I've left you most of the medicinal items. They should replenish your stock and help where you need it."
"Where are you going?" She asked, trying to keep her voice from cracking.
"The Greenwood."
"Why? Can't you just stay?"
"I cannot."
"Why? Is it because of me?"
"Not everything is about you, Kate." Nestaron teased as he stacked the boxes atop one another.
"Then why?"
"Because I am needed in the Greenwood. I came with my kin to assist you in Helm's Deep, I've done that and more. I came to help as a healer not as an instructor in the art of Traveling. I have given you more information that I cared to and I've tutored you as much as I can, I-I can do no more. You do not need me as much as you think you do, Kate."
"So, it is because of me?"
"No! And…yes…I…" Nestaron frowned, grumbling to himself inaudibly. "Do you know, I have just now understood why he called you the Harpy? He was always very clever that one, I will credit him that.."
"Nestaron!"
"I am needed in the Greenwood, Kate. My king needs my assistance as there is a force mounting against them as we speak and he will need a friend and allay. I cannot go back to Lothlorien. And yes, before you ask, I do go to inform him of the relationship between you and his son and deliver a letter Legolas has sent explaining just that. I can only imagine what that letter says and frankly, it is best that he hears it from me instead of another poor messenger, do you not think? "
"When are you leaving?"
"5 days time." He said, watching Kate swallow hard and tuck her head down. "That is hardly enough time to teach you all there is for you to know."
He could hear her heart racing and feel the stress mounting upon her as she gave a curt nod, blinking back tears.
"No, I suppose not." Came her clipped reply. Nestaron busied himself, with starting a fire, for no other purpose than to keep his hands occupied.
"And what even could I teach you? It is not like healing, or the mixing of tinctures. It is not based on measurements but rather a sensing…it would be entirely on you to deduce that for yourself."
"Of course." She said again, this time a small bud of hope bloomed within.
"And I am not exactly thrilled about this as it comes to great personal cost to myself! What would Legolas say if he knew that I was teaching you all the best ways to get yourself killed. All my tried and true methods on how to get yourself into the most impossible positions! Legolas is like his mother in every way except his temper. That he gets from his father, and i'd rather not bear the brunt of it."
"He doesn't have to know everything."
"He doesn't have to know…" Nestaron scoffed to himself, stoking the fire as it started to burn. "He is bound to notice when you have been missing for a few days, flitting back and forth through time. Or when that wretched imp shows up to cause trouble once you have grown in your skills. He is surely bound to notice! I cannot lie to my Prince!"
"Well Kedron is showing up, and soon, so you've at least got to show me how to protect myself. I'm training with Aragorn and Legolas but that's not enough and you know it."
"No, it is certainly not."
"And what's worse, Legolas finding out you lied or finding out you could show me how to defend myself and others but chose not to?" Kate asked, a last-ditch effort in getting the aid she needed.
Nestaron let out an exasperated groan as her words hit home. She could practically see him weighing his options as he stared into the fire.
"It would not be enough. It could do more harm than good Kate…I would not see harm come to you, which is why I would not do this. If I teach you…it will not end how you think." He ground out. "You would be much better off being taught but one who is not…crippled in such a way as I."
"Well…then I suppose I'm lucky your such an excellent teacher, or this would be really difficult." Kate teased, shoulders sagging in relief as he turned to glance at her.
"You can ignore it, you know. This does not have to be your path in life…the things to come in your future, they do not have to come to pass." Kate gave him a quizzical look. "It would be painful…but in time, perhaps it will leave you."
"Has it ever left you?" She asked, to which Nestaron had no reply. The both of them were silent, the memories of those vivid dreams, their assignments pooling in their minds and threatening to drown them. Kate shuddered, but shook herself out of her reverie. "It's not going away Nestaron. Something…I think something is going to happen, I can feel it…I need to prepare. I need to know what I'm doing. I can't ignore It anymore and if five days of instruction is all you can give me then I will take it, please. I'm just…I'm scared, ok? I'm freaking terrified but I can't really afford to be so I need to just suck it up and fix it! So just help me. We'll do it on your terms, I'll listen to everything you say and if it gets too much or something starts to go wrong then we'll stop. We'll stop."
Nestaron said nothing for a long time, so long that Kate had begun to believe his previous weakened resolve had all but been restored and he was taking the time to mount a rebuttal.
"Alright." He said softly, standing to his feet.
"Alright?"
"Alright. After your training, you may meet me in the evening at the stables. We will need to take a horse, as you cannot possibly learn here. It would not be… safe."
"Ok." Kate said, letting out a sigh of relief. "Ok…thank you." She turned on her heels, exiting the room before he could change his mind and the Elf was left in the empty room with only the sound of the crackling fire wood to fill the silence.
"Forgive me." He whispered, voice barely audible. "I did not want this for you my friend. Forgive me."
"Really? Wine?" Kate asked as she stood in the empty plains, waiting for Nestaron to start their lesson. "I thought you hated Rohan's wine."
"It is not for the taste, I assure you." He answered, taking a hefty swing of the bottle and Kate felt a twinge of guilt.
"Sorry." She muttered, checking for the borrowed sword on her hip. She shifted uncomfortably, staring across the moonlight bathed field and she wondered just why it was he brought her here. She listened carefully but heard none of the familiar buzzing that alerted her to a stone circle, only the sounds of their horses and Nestaron gulping down the bottle. Even after carefully sliding off the ring she felt none of the usual effects, and she quickly slid the ring back on, anxiously twisting it as she pondered whatever lesson she could be learning tonight.
"So," Nestaron started, placing the empty bottle in the saddle bag and drawing out another just as quickly. "You said that you stumbled across the stone circle at Helm's Deep?"
"Yeah. Did you know it was there the whole time?"
"I was aware of it." He grunted, twisting the cork out. "You described it as an experiment, but that you were able to move these ley lines…and you've managed to send another individual away? Were you aware of what you were doing?"
"In the caves, yea…but not with Kieran. That just sort of happened. I…I don't think I could do it again."
"And you will not, remember?" Nestaron chided taking another sip of wine.
"Yeah, got it. Rule number one, no sending people off their designated planet."
Nestaron hummed in agreement as he regarded her, wondering just exactly where he would start. He could start from scratch, yes, but on her own she had already progressed at an alarming rate! She was doing things unaware that she should have taken her years to achieve.
But, of course, that was all done in the presence of a circle, with obvious ley lines to draw energy off of…and she would not always be somewhere so obvious… he would have to teach her to draw that energy out when she was not near a stone circle, that was his first and foremost objective.
Then he would need to teach her how to defend herself….. It would take too much time to teach her how to fight and should she run into another Traveler, a stronger one, and not quite be up to par….no, she needed to defend herself.
Nestaron took another heavy sip, berating himself once more for agreeing to this. This was a terrible idea. Five days! Five days was nothing!
"Sit." He said after a moment and Kate obediently dropped to the ground, sliding off the ring in preparation. "What are you doing?"
"Taking off the ring?"
"Why?"
"Well, um, Kedron had said that it lessened my-"
"Do not trust what Kedron says. He is not a Traveler and he does not know nearly as much as he thinks he does. He is reckless and foolish and that is what landed him where he is in the first place." Nestaron said, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to maintain his composure. "Do not trust is your number one rule."
"Oh, ok. Got it." Kate nodded, sliding the ring back on. "So, the ring doesn't hamper my Traveler stuff?"
"No, it merely concentrates it."
"Well, why the heck would he say that then?" Kate huffed.
"Because he lied, Kate. What did you expect"
"I don't know, he's a wizard! Isn't he supposed to be one of the good guys?" She knew Kedron wasn't even close to being good, but the whole thing was rather confusing.
"He is much more than a wizard, Kate, he is one of the Maiar."
"Like Gandalf?"
"Yes...and no."
"Oh, is he cursed too?" Kate asked lightly. "Sorry." She chirped, clamping her mouth shut. Restrain shrugged, rolling his eyes as he lifted the bottle for another swig.
"No...you are not entirely wrong." He said. "He was not always as he is now. He was once a great friend and Kin to Mandos, the Judge and Vairë, the Weaver."
"He doesn't seem to really like them much now." Kate said, realizing he didn't seem to like anyone for that matter.
"No...I suppose not. Greed has a way of distorting things. No, in that time Kedron was quite the devoted servant to them both, even taking a part in sending out Travelers, choosing with Vairë who would be blessed with such a gift. As one of the Maiar he had more than enough power of his own, but he grew weary of watching those he thought less than be blessed with power he felt he should have. Elves, Dwarves, especially humans, were all beneath him. Why should they have Vairë's blessing when he did not? So one day he asks her for it, to be blessed with as a Traveler is, but disturbed by his greed she denied him. He was livid, she knew this, but even she could not forsee his betrayal. Corrupted and deceived he chose to side with Melkor, as many Maia did, turning many Travelers against Vairë and bringing them into the service of Melkor and then Sauron there after. His power was fueled by hate and rage now, and after the Traveler's abandoned their post and Vairë cut their threads, she cut Kedron's as well. He should have lost his power then, but being the clever deceiver he was , he struck a deal with Melkor, many long years before...that should the threads of his life ever be cut and Mandos judge against him, that he should be conformed to a physical body, able to access some of his magic until a time when he might regain it."
"So he's basically a god, trapped in an immortal pseudo human body, just marinating in all that rage?"
"Hardly a god...but that is the jist of it."
"And he has like eighty percent of his power? And all that is focused on getting me to help him...what? Regain his power?"
"I can only assume."
"What?!" Kate screeched, the horses letting out a whine of disapproval. "Holy…this Traveler shit is way weirder than I thought!"
"You have no idea." Nestaron said wryly with a roll of his eye. "Now do you want a history lesson, or should we carry on?"
You are absolutely going to get killed! Run Kate, go back to Edoras. This will kill you! You can't do this! You can't fight anyone! You've got weak wrists, Aragorn tells you all the time you've got weak wrists! How can you fight a mythological god, alien, whatever, with weak wrists?!
"Let's carry on." Kate said weakly, feeling a bit sick now as she sat in the grass. "What's the first lesson."
"Grab a ley line, if you please." Kate sniffed.
"I can't grab a ley line. We're nowhere near a circle. I can't find any, I looked."
"We have not been here that long, you could not possibly have looked very hard." Nestaron said with a sigh, settling down himself. "They are there, I assure you. You can always find them, they travel, like a grid, beneath the surface. They are strong near the stone circles, yes, because that is where they intersect, but you will not always be near a stone circle. You cannot depend solely on them."
"Ok. How do I find them?" Kate asked, resigning herself to the task.
"Focus, Kate. You will find them."
"Focus on what?" She asked, trying not to sound irritated. She thought she'd be doing something a little more…important. This was exactly the bad-ass traveler training she imagined. How was she going to prevent what she dreamed about from happening, and keep what was supposed to happen going as planned if she only learned how to grab a ley line?! "What am I supposed to be focusing on? Are they just gonna pop up, or-"
"Focus quietly, Kate." Nestaron chided, taking another gulp of his wine. He wanted to really get the effects of it before the real training started, and if she was anywhere close to being as talented as he thought than that training would start very soon.
Kate let out a frustrated grunt, turning around a closing her eyes. She did her best to focus. She imagined the ley lines, what they looked like, what they felt like. She visualized herself finding them, all over the place but as the hours ticked by, she was growing more and more frustrated.
Nothing was happening!
"There's nothing here." She grunted after some time. "I'm focusing and there's nothing there."
"Then perhaps you are focusing on the wrong thing." He said simply, starting in on the third bottle.
The tolerance of elves is astounding!
"That's not very helpful."
"How would you know what is helpful and what is not? You have not been taught anything." He retorted, and with a wave of his hand he beckoned her to try again. "They are there. Find them. We have all night."
All night?!
With a frustrated sigh Kate tried again, trying not to think about all the ways she was annoyed with this entire situation. She cleared her mind, focusing instead on her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat. She listened to the rhythmic thumping and while she certainly felt calmer, she was no closer to a ley line. Should she move? Was she in the wrong spot? Leave it to her to pick the wrong seating!
"Still nothing, are you sure-"
"Nearly there." He replied drolly, cutting her off before she could argue further. She was on the right track, but as he had explained to her before, there was nothing he could do to help her, he could not lead her to it, she would have to do this for herself. She needed to do this. If she could not get past this step then there really was not point in continuing further. "You will find them." He said, as an encouragement to both he and her.
Kate tried again, feeling a bit desperate and more than a little silly. She tugged her cloak tighter, to her, the smell of the Lothlorien garment still holding a bit of the forest's scent, as she resettled and tried again. She cleared her mind once more and decided to go for a different method, as she listened to her heart beating.
Perhaps, this was much the same as when Legolas had tried to teach her how to listen to the trees. She hadn't done it, but…but maybe they had heard her. If everything was made of energy vibrating on their own unique energy wave…were these ley lines the same?
She already knew she could do it, now it was simply just a matter of doing it here. So, with a steadying breathe she tried once more. She waited, listening, hearing nothing but the sound of her heart beating in her ears at first.
And then she heard it…a faint buzz, like the sound of fluorescent lighting in an office building. Her leapt a beat in her excitement and for a moment she lost it, mentally grasping at whatever she could to try and regain it.
There it was. She listened intently, trying to find it in her mind's eye, to see where is lay in the ground, but at this point all she could do was hear it. She could feel it there, somewhere and that was something at least.
After a few moments, she left out a frustrated grunt, standing to her feet. She paced for a moment, trying to find where it felt stronger. Nestaron finished his last bottle now, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Ha!" Kate said finally, finding the ley line. She could see it now just the one, but that was more than she had expected to find.
"Pick it up." Nestaron instructed. Kate gave a curt nod, feeling the give of the line, but once she knew it was there this part was far easier, it was the finding it that was an issue. Kate picked it up in her hands, the energy feeling much more concentrated than the last time. It was more than a little unsettling and Kate quickly glanced to Nestaron, who gave her a reassuring nod.
Ok, this is fine. Not weird at all. You can do this. You can totally do this. Kate thought to herself as she held it in her hands a little longer, feeling it strain against the unwanted disturbance. She felt like if she so much as breathed wrong it would fall away! Sweat began to bead on her forehead and the longer she held it the more she began to notice more and more ley lines pop up around her, bending and twisting around each other.
She was now more keenly aware of the amount of energy around her than she ever had been and it was starting to overwhelm her! If it was taking this much effort to just grasp on to one how would she ever manage multiple ones.
"Very good. Now let go." Nestaron said, arms crossed as he assessed her.
"Let go? I just found it."
"Yes. Let go and start over." He said again. Kate's nostrils flared in annoyance as she held onto the line, staring at it in fascination. She didn't want to just let it go, not after how hard she worked, and not now that the mounting energy in her hands was starting to feel invigorating instead of exhausting! No, she could hold onto this all day, all this energy, this power …why would she want to just let it go? "Release it, Kate." Nestaron repeated, more stern this time. Kate looked up at him sharply, and for the briefest moment she would have… Let go!
Kate dropped it, the force of the sudden loss throwing her flat on her back, breathing heavily as she stared up at the dark night.
"You really think you could resist all that power for that long…you'll want more…you'll need more"
Kedron's voice wove its way through her mind as Kate struggled to regulate her breathing. Was that what it was to want power. Was that what it felt like?! If this was even half of what It felt like to resist the ring…she had no idea. Once again, her thoughts drifted to Boromir and her heart lurched…and his intentions were honorable. He at least wanted to save his people.
"Nestaron…I can't do this. I should not do this." Kate gasped slowly sitting up now and looking warily around her. Nothing felt safe anymore, the ley lines hidden under the ground like landmines. "That's too much! One person cannot hold that much power, they just can't!"
"No, they cannot. Not for long." He replied, nodding in agreement. He was pleased he had to admit. Sure, he saw the hesitation, knew it might overwhelm her, but it didn't. "Your movements with them should be quick, precise. You would never hold onto them for longer than you just did for no reason."
Kate nodded, not needing further information to that. All that power, the buildup of energy…it could kill her, she was sure of it.
"So why even find them? What do they even do?"
"They serve various purposes. At their intersection is the portal, through which you can pass through. However, should you need to leave rather quickly, you make move the lines to intersection where you desire them, creating another portal."
"Like an escape hatch?" Kate said with a laugh. Nestaron nodded, his lips quirking up in amusement.
"Something like that yes. It takes a bit of practice and skill but you will find it to be a useful skill. One you will most certainly want to learn, and quickly!" Kate bit her lip, staring at a leyline that was already starting to make itself known. She wasn't sure she wanted to learn that much more, not if it meant she would feel like that. "It is difficult, but there is a comfort in your aversion."
"Like what?" Kate scoffed.
"You will know when you have gone too far, when you have meddled enough. It is easy to see now, why others gave into the power, why they feel that the rules might not apply to them. It is no easy thing to feel that force within you and not allow it to take root. Do not be displeased with yourself. You did well." He explained, and Kate smiled at the rarely given compliment.
"If that's what doing well feels like then I'm happy to remain mediocre." She said, laughing to herself as she should took Nestaron's outstretched hand and pulled herself to her feet.
"You could not be mediocre if you tried, and you will try once again Kate." He said, his voice returning back to its original austere tone. "You are far too powerful to remain untrained."
Kate swallowed…that was not what she wanted to here. She chewed her lips as more ley lines appeared unbidden, the humming sounding harmonic when intermingled with the sounds of the night.
She didn't want that kind of power. How did the saying go, with great power came great responsibility? It wasn't as if she needed any more responsibility and as she said before, it was far too much power just sitting there waiting to be manipulated.
She had a sudden moment of clarity that moment, as her eyes followed the ley lines as far as they could and her memories filled with her dreams of all the tasks that must be done, people that must be protected and timelines that must be kept safe. Perhaps this really was what it meant to be a Traveler… to have access to that power and know that there were real lives and entire histories that would be eradicated if she didn't do her part. It was a sobering, and not entirely welcome, realization to have and she looked at Nestaron with newfound respect. He'd done this, for years, decades! He's said no to that power time and time again, he might have over indulged now and then but he hadn't lost himself to it.
"Thank you." Kate said quietly. Nestaron turned away, looking the slightest bit abash as he cleared his throat and gave a curt nod.
"Try again. Quick movements, pick it up, let it go. Master finding them and carrying more than one and then we will move to another lesson." He said. Kate smiled to herself staring out into the field, already spotting which ones she would grab. "You may begin."
The sun was just beginning to crest over the fields as Kate walked through the village, the dew soaked grass clinging to her skirt but she paid little mind. She happily carried her medical pack as she popped in and out of the houses of the patients her and Nestaron had cared for, making her rounds and assuring that they were healing as planned.
She learned quickly that if she did not meet the people of Rohan before the sun, it was unlikely that she'd ever get a chance to properly assess them in-between their busy schedule and her own. It had taken some time to adjust to the earlier time frame but once she had started training with Aragorn, Legolas and now Nestaron, she quickly adapted. Besides, most times she was up anyway.
This morning, she hadn't sleep yet, to charged up with adrenaline and energy from the ley lines to even think about sleep! The past few nights were full of as much practice and training as she could, learning as much as she was able in the short about of time. Her own top priority was the formation of a new portal, her little escape hatch trick. It was imperative that she perfect that skill if her plan was to work, and if it did work…well then Kedron wouldn't be her problem anymore.
Kate walked faster through the village to the blacksmith, absentmindedly trailing a ley line with her fingers as she went over her plan again and again, confident that she could at least form the portal, it was the going through that frightened her…but Nestaron had assured her it would work, time and time again as she discussed with him the one dream that plagued her night after night, the dream that had led her to devise such a plan in the first place. She couldn't allow what she had seen to happen, that was one assignment she'd had no trouble taking and if she failed…no she couldn't think of that now!
It'll work, Kate. Kedron doesn't know what all you've learned…he doesn't know Nestaron has been teaching you. This will work. Besides these assignments, they're really just a possibility…a warning. It might not happen. But even if it does you've got another more pressing assignment to deal with at the moment. Kedron should be the last of your concerns!
Kate should her head, dropping the ley line comfortably as she turned down the path, smiling to herself as she watched Bergil work. Now there was a sight sore eyes! She stood just outside, watching the boy work with the Blacksmith to pound out a horseshoe, amazed at how he was managing it all one handed in such a short amount of time. He really was an amazing kid. For all he'd been through and seen and lost, here he was still making the best out of a bad situation.
"Good morning!" Kate called, walking back into the work area, knocking on the wooden post as she breezed in.
"Aye, mind the flame miss! And a good morning to you." The blacksmith called, stepping back to let Bergil flip and hammer the horseshoe by himself, nodding approvingly.
"Sorry it's so late in the morning! I stopped by your place to look for Bergil there but your wife said you and he had already left for the day." Kate explained, handing a small basket containing a wrapped loaf of bread, a jar of fresh honey and some salted ham to the blacksmith. "She asked me to bring you this once I made it to your shop."
"Oh, well thank you. You are welcome to help yourself to it while you wait for the boy, he'll need to finish that first though, you understand, it won't do to let it cool." The blacksmith explained, setting the basked down on the workbench and begging to cut a few slices of the fresh bread with the picnic basket.
"Oh, I understand, and yes thank you. It smells delicious." Kate said, eagerly accepting a slice and drizzling a bit of honey over the top. Aldrich, the blacksmith, set aside a few hefty slices for Bergil as he called out a few instructions here and there. "How is your wife taking to the tea? Do you find it has helped her sleep?" Kate asked, finishing of her meal. Aldrich nodding, a relieved smile spreading across his face.
"I miss, it has helped immensely. She sleeps much better now, and she seems quite happier." He said, looking back and Bergil and then leaning closer. "Though, I think having the boy around helps a bit too. After we lost our own son…well she hasn't been the same. I think it helps her to have someone else to take care of…we know he's not our real son, and I don't mean to replace his father, he was a good man that was, but…he has been a welcome presence in our home."
Kate smiled warmly at that, the idea that. She had been worried for the boy after the events of Helm's Deep, not knowing where he'd stay or who would look after him, but hearing that he was not just doing well but thriving, well that made a lot of what she'd done worth it.
"Oy! Don't eat it all!" Bergil shouted good naturedly as he finished his task and ambled
"Um, excuse me but it was a celebration!" Kate exclaimed in mock outrage. "Should I just let all that food go to waste?"
"No food'll go to waste around you!" Bergil teased, dodging a swat from Aldrich.
"Mind your manners, boy. She's to have as much as she likes."
"See? Someone is hospitable." Kate laughed while Bergil rolled his eyes and popped a slice of ham into his mouth.
"Wash up boy! Have you lost all sense?" Alrdich called to which Bergil snorted in response but obligingly moved to the washbasin at the far end of the workroom to wash his hands. "You think he looks to thin? He eats enough, 'cept he looks thin to me." He asked, scratching his whiskers as he regarded the boy.
"Yeah, he's a bit thin, but I don't think it's anything to worry over. As long as he keeps eating as he does he'll be fine."
Aldrich nodded, content with her answer and he set about his own tasks while Kate waited for Bergil to finish his meal. She quickly assessed the boy, happy that he was progressing as well, if not better than expected. Kate happily reported so to him, and began packing her things up until Bergil suddenly shot up out of the bench exclaiming that he'd be right back.
"I finished it." Bergil said proudly, bringing out the wrapped sword a few moments later. "Now this, this you can call a sword. Nothing like the old cruddy thing it was before." Kate lighted up, pulling the blade from its sheath.
He was right, this new blade was nothing like the sword it used to be! The blade was now perfectly beveled and lighter it seemed, and when she held it in her hands it was perfectly balanced, which would make handling it a lot easier.
"Bergil! I have to pay you for this!" She exclaimed, delightedly stroking the blade in appreciation. "This is incredible! I mean really! It's art. You did this?"
"Well, I had a bit of help from Aldrich." He said sheepishly. "Couldn't quite move it in the beginning, as I was still getting used to one arm…but I did most of it. You like it then?"
"Like it? Holy hell Bergil this is an amazing sword! You really didn't have to do all this, this is incredible. Please, let me pay you."
"No, a trade for services rendered, remember? I told you I'd fix it right and I did. I threw in some extra work for all the help with my da, and the battle and Kieran…they didn't thank you proper like you should have been, at the feast…but surely you know Lady Kate, we are that much grateful for you." Bergil replied, his eyes earnest as he stood in front of her, not quite looking like a young boy anymore. "The people…we won't forget what you did. You have our trust, witch or whatever the rumor is, we trust you. You're simply Lady Kate to us."
A sharp stab of guilt pierced her heart and Kate quickly looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze as the memory of what had really happened to Kieran reared its head. Guilty or not, the things that Bergil had said touched her and she cleared her throat, blinking back unshed tears as she sheathed the sword.
"Well, I thank you for that. This is no small thing…thank you Bergil…I'm so glad your well, really…it makes me so happy."
They said their farewells and Kate made her way down the path her new sword strapped to her hips. It was amazing to think that the fellowships initial arrival had left Kate with a not so lovely opinion of Rohan and now she couldn't imagine leaving! She loved Rohan! The people, their culture and hardiness, Eowyn, Ardith and Elostre, Bergil…all these wonderful people she had met, the food, the dancing, heck even the horses were starting to grow on her! She often found herself sneaking a few apples here and there to the mare she would often ride.
A part of her wished she could stay her forever…build a little hut for her and Legolas with an attached shop where she could practice her healing, enjoy the feasts and community dinners that they held in the halls every evening, catch up on all the latest goings on with Ardith and Elostre and practice with Eowyn. It could be a good life she thought, sighing contentedly as she made her way up the hill, enjoying the view of the mountain in the distance. It could be, but it was a pipe dream and she knew it…however her future played out, that idyllic dream would not be it.
Kate shook her head, forcing herself to think on other things just as she spotted Aragorn seated outside the outpost.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Kate asked cheerily, happy for the distraction. Aragorn smiled warmly, patting the ground next to him as he cupped his warm tea in his hands.
"How were your patients?" He asked, assuming that's why she was up early. Kate shrugged, making herself comfortable as she sat next to her uncle.
"They're doing well for the most part. The guy with the sword wound, the tissue around his stitches are starting to worry me a bit but he hasn't been keeping it clean either so that's a concern. Oh, and the pregnant woman with the lovely red hair, I think her blood pressure's too high. I can't be sure but I'm willing to bet money, I'm hoping she'll go into labor on her own soon but if she doesn't…well I'll cross that bridge when I come to it I suppose. But the woman I've been training, Jorunn, she's helped to deliver most of the children here so I think we'll be ok." Kate explained. "She's learning quickly too, Nestaron's been showing her somethings now and then, which is good. I want them to have a healer…a permanent one."
"That is good, and the boy, Bergil, he is well?" Aragon asked, taking a sip of his drink, the hot steam rising lazily. Kate smiled, pulling her cloak tighter around her.
"Yeah, he's doing really well, he'll be just fine I think. What about you, how are you? Your shoulder still giving you trouble?" She asked. It amazed Kate that the man fell off a cliff and then fought in a battle that very night that lasted well on until morning, and was completely unharmed, but falling backward during a training session in just the wrong way was what did him in. Aragorn grimaced, reflexively rolling his shoulder.
"It will mend. The topical ointment is a help, thank you." He said with a smile and Kate nodded. That was more or less the best answer she'd get from her uncle she thought with a wry smile.
"The least I can do." Kate said with a smile.
"You seem in good spirits this morning." Aragorn quipped, handing her his cup his cup of tea to drink from, which she gratefully accepted. She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of the warm liquid against the biting cold of the early morning.
"I am." She said with a contented sigh, taking another sip and then handing it back. "I think…I think I've finally got all of this figured out. I think things are looking up."
She meant it, she realized as she looked out at the landscape before her, the rising sun making the snowcapped mountains look like they were dipped in gold. She was feeling more confident in the skills Nestaron had taught her, learning how to defend herself and do nominal things, and the dreams were starting to make more sense to her now, these people were starting to trust her as a healer and count on her and she was in love with an incredible elf or loved her back.
Things were good. Life was good.
"Am I to assume Legolas has asked you then?" Aragorn queried, a sly smile on his face.
"Asked me what?" Aragorn's face blanched and he quickly took a sip of his tea.
"Only if you would like to go riding with him later. I believe I overheard him talking with Gimli about wanting to help improve your riding skills." Kate rolled her eyes as she pulled her cloak closer around her.
"No, he hasn't, probably because he knows what my answer will be. Though that one mare is nice."
"Aye and she is getting fat from all the apples you are treating her to." Aragorn laughed.
"Well, hey, a girls gotta have her vices." Kate quipped. "But, um, speaking of Legolas. I wanted to talk to you about that." They both heaved a sigh, not really wanting to say more on the subject but knowing they needed to clear the air at some point.
"You need not explain the nature of your relationship, it has been obvious to me for some time now." Aragorn said softly. "More so it was confirmed upon our arrival." Kate frowned.
"Well, yeah, I figured you knew. I guess everyone knows now…not like we were really hiding it, it's just-"
"I understand, Kate."
"And I know you don't approve but-"
"I never said I do not approve."
"Oh." Kate said lamely, blinking rapidly. "I just assumed that you wouldn't, based on our last conversation." Aragorn sighed again, leaning back against the post.
"It is not that, it is simply the nature of it. It is no small thing, to love and Elf."
"You're telling me." Kate snorted. "At least Arwen is half-elven." It was Aragorn's turn to snort now.
"You make it sound as if that would make it easier."
"Well wouldn't it?" She asked.
"Not at all. To ask her to choose death for loving me, to ask her to leave her family and look them in the eyes while they watch her struggle with such a choice? It is not easier…if it were up to me…it is no matter, she has sailed."
"She didn't though. I don't believe she sailed, she loves you Aragorn. You know she would stay."
"You cannot be certain of such things."
"I think it is about as certain as you becoming King. " Kate said quietly, grabbing his hand as she spoke, she wanted him to hear this…just in case. "And you'll be a great King, Aragorn really."
"And if I do not want it?" He asked, his voice only just heard and then suddenly he let out a mirthless laugh. "It seems to be the curse of our lineage…to have such a position that we do not desire thrusted upon us, a position that must dictate our lives whether we should want it or not."
"Yeah…but we get the long-life thing too, so you know, you take the good with the bad." Kate said with a shrug and Aragorn barked out a laugh and pulled Kate too him kissing her head.
"Yes, there is that." The two sat in companionable silence for a few moments and Kate couldn't help but relish this moment. It was rare that they could simply be just family! More often than not he was her leader, her teacher, her future King. It was nice.
It won't last. A niggling voice warned from the back of her mind. But it could! She argued! If things went as she planned, there was no reason why what she had dreamed would come to pass! Some things would, sure, but not all of it. You're being morose, Kate, this will work. Nestaron said it will work…and then Kedron won't be your problem anymore.
Still…she needed him to know how much he meant to her, she needed to ask him to watch after Legolas and to make sure he wouldn't fade…just in case.
"Aragorn…" Kate started but suddenly the man had dropped the cup of tea, the remainder of the drink spilling onto her dress as the man sat up, stock still. "Hey!" She frowned, trying to wipe the hot liquid off her dress.
"The beacons." He whispered, standing to his feet as he moved forward to get a better look, muttering an apology to Kate.
"No problem. Nothing solves the problem of being cold like a little burning hot liquid." She muttered to herself as she stood. When she looked up Aragorn was running at full tilt down the hill. "What the heck!" Kate shouted, her boisterous protestations earning her a few dirty looks from the few people that were milling about.
"Come along!" Aragorn shouted back.
Kate nodded, pulling up the skirt of her dress and running as fast as she could, thankfully that her leg was finally healing enough so that she could run. Though, she was still far behind the man. What was the rush?! What about beacons sound so familiar? She thought racking her brain until finally she remembered what Gandalf had said at their last meeting. Oh! Gondor! Oh my God!
Kate picked up the pass, hoofing it up the stairs, her hair falling out of its bun as she burst through the doors just behind Aragorn declaring that Gondor had in fact called for aid.
She waited for Théoden's response, the king and his people equally stunned by the revelation. Kate wiped her hair from her face, breathing heavily as she leaned against the post, waiting for an answer. She needed him to go, she needed to make sure he went but she wasn't sure how to convince him should he decide to stay. But what more convincing did he need? Gondor had asked for help! Would Théoden turn his back on them? He had all but said as much but Kate couldn't be sure…everyone said things they didn't mean at times.
"And Rohan will answer." Théoden said, and the room let out a collective sigh. "Muster the Rohirrim."
The room erupted into a flurry of activity as everyone began setting about, making arrangements and abandoning their previous strategies in favor of new ones.
"Grab your things. Your medical kit will be of great use." Aragorn said.
"Another war then?" Kate asked, already knowing the answer. She'd seen it.
Aragorn gave a solemn nod and Kate stood in the middle of the fray, her heartbeat racing. Her eyes darted to Eowyn's, looking for any sign of trepidation or reluctance but instead the conviction in the set of her face making Kate suddenly nauseous. This was crazy, right? There was no way Eowyn was going to do this, to fight in this war. Not when she had so much to do here, right?
Images of the woman, standing on the battlefield, golden hair spilling around her and sword raised high flooded Kate's memory and she felt the now recognizable pull. Now it was time, this was her first task as a Traveler…a task she couldn't ignore, no matter how much it terrified her. It was too important, too crucial a component to ensure that they won this war.
Kate needed to get Eowyn onto that battlefield. She needed to make sure she fought the witch king and won…and to do that, Kate was sure it meant going with her.
Kate hurried back to her room to pack what little things she had, chewing her lip all the while. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, she reasoned, Eowyn seemed quite determined, but that could have been about something else.
No, she wants to fight, you know that by now Kate. And it was true, if Kate knew nothing about the Rohirran woman it was that she desperately wanted to fight for her people, for honor and glory. To Kate, it seemed absolutely ridiculous, but who was she to decide what was right for someone else. Except that's pretty much exactly what you'll be doing for the rest of your life. She retorted, sniffing to herself as she headed to the infirmary.
Nestaron was there, as he always was, preparing for his own departure, and before he could even open his mouth in welcome the words came tumbling out of her mouth, begging for confirmation once more.
"You sure this will work? You're sure?" Kate asked, her voice tightening in panic.
"It will work. If you do what I have taught you it will work. Kedron will not be a problem for you're here again."
"But will I live long enough to see it through? Can you be sure of that?" She asked. "I have my assignment, it's happening, it's not a possibility anymore and I could die."
Nestaron looked away, closing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.
"You might." He said quietly. "But I do not believe that is your fate."
"But do you know?" She asked, practically begging. "Do you know for sure?"
"One cannot know every outcome."
"I need you to know!" Kate shouted. "If I'm going to do this, to accept this fate, to complete the things I've seen… to do the things I know I'll have to do …I need to know I'll live…and I need to know Legolas won't fade."
"I cannot promise you-"
"You have to Nestaron! You have to promise! He cannot fade and you have to promise that this plan will work."
"Have I not said it will work? It will work if you live long enough to see it come to pass and I believe you will. I know that you will, is that what you want me to say. I know you will live, because I have seen it!"
Kate stilled, breathing heavily as she let his words calm her.
"Yes. That is what I want you to say." She said, angrily wiping a stray tear with the back of her hand. "Thank you."
"For all you know it is a lie." Nestaron said, standing at the door as he turned back to look at her. It was no lie, he would see her again. Time was strange that way. He hoped he would know her when he saw her.
"I know." Kate sniffed, packing away the medicines into the chest she would take with her.
Nestaron nodded, the guilt he felt was nearly palpable, he was sure of it. But the things she needed to do, the things she would accomplish in her life…she needed to do these things, and she couldn't if she stayed here and he knew that. That was his assignment. His last and final task the Valar had gone to great lengths to ensure he completed, he had tried, and after Gyda had died, everything they'd done, he wasn't particularly inclined to help them in anyway…but what will be and what should be do not always happen the way it should.
As the decision in her mind was made, the course of her life already set he felt the blessed relief, the ties that kept him tormented and bound here fade away and he let out a shuddered sigh of relief.
"I will look after him, you know. If it is within my power, I will keep him from fading." He said once more turning out the door. "I am…sorry. Do not abandon hope though…you will do great things. Those with such a call on their life are not struck down by lesser men. You will succeed. Have hope, Kate. There is always hope."
A/N: A huge thank you to :
KatPawz186, WickedGreen13(yes, and yes ), Julsalthil (no, I'm not sure what that is actually lol), leward1992, Tibblets (yea, mildly villany), Mooncatknits, Linds, yasmina1, and twibe (sorry dude).
I'm just going to apologize again for any editing errors, I try to give them a good once over but sometimes I miss things, but I'm always going back and editing chapters so it should be fine. Anyway! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and let me know what you think