Hey guys so heres the next chapter. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the reviews they have really made me feel fantastic and like I am doing the right thing in keeping at it. I have tried to take on board your comments and I am considering adding a few from Aragorn's POV chapters so that you guys get those conversations too so let me know if that is something you'd like and keep the reviews coming.
Waking up the next morning I roll over yawing and realise that I am alone and it takes me a moment to work out what has happened and where I am. I simultaneously cringe and smile at the memories of last night knowing that I had made peace with Aragorn but that I had made a complete fool out of myself too. For a long moment I stay still as I work out whether I can hide in here all day to avoid seeing Legolas or Haldir who will no doubt mock me relentlessly whilst not saying anything and just appearing superior and aloof. Bloody Elves, if I didn't care for them both so much I'd hurt them. Eventually though my stomach growls and the thought of Merry being alone sways me to get up and leave the room in search of both things.
"Is she fit to ride?" The voice is clear although low and as soon as I hear it I slow to a stop and hold my breath as I listen. I really am making a bad habit of listening and spying on conversations but in my defence they are usually talking about me and it is not my fault if I happen to come across people who are talking about me.
"It does not matter much if she is she will ride either way," that is Legolas' voice and I can almost hear the hint of pride in it which makes me smile despite myself.
"It would be unwise to let her travel if she is wounded still," I think that is Kind Theodon talking.
"She will not be left behind and I would not leave her," Aragorn says firmly and my heart swells.
"Surely if you told her…"
"I will tell her nothing her decisions are her own," Aragorn says and by his tone it is clear there is no room for debate.
"Haldir, how is her back?" Legolas asks and I can tell he is trying to diffuse the tension that I can almost feel from around the corner.
"It is healing quickly, if she rests and if she continues to have the paste applied then there is a chance that it will not tear in battle or become infected," he says and I tense despite myself feeling the tingling across my scar as they discuss it.
"So there is a chance that it will?" Gimli interjects, thanks a lot Gimli I did not need that pointed out to them.
"You know she once told me that we may be destined for greater things as we had both survived events which we should not have, we must trust in the Valar to protect her as we do for all of us," Aragorn says and I can sense that the conversation is over so I push away from the wall slightly and attempt to make a little more noise as I round the corner and to their credit the small group of warriors quickly spring apart looking slightly guilty.
"Good morning," I smile at them politely and they all incline their heads to me,
"Good morning Melamin (my love)," Aragorn replies and I instantly feel a blush stain my cheeks as Legolas and Haldir exchange what I would describe as grins, which let me tell you is an odd expression on an elf.
"How are you feeling my friend?" Legolas asks after a second of silence and I smile at him,
"Brilliant thank you I think I am ready to train some more today,"
"I am afraid that will not be possible," Haldir replies and I frown at him slightly.
"Why not?" I ask preparing for an argument,
"Because we are riding out to Gondor's aid within the hour little one," Aragorn says quietly and I spin to look at him.
"Oh right… okay… I'll go and get ready," I say quietly and turn to rush back to the room.
It is no more than fifteen minutes later when I hear someone enter the room and shut the door behind them as I am packing my bag and preparing my weapons and without turning I know it is Aragorn. There is a sense of calm that washes through me whenever he is close to me and I have somehow over the months I have known him become so familiar with his scent and the way he moves that I do not need to be looking at him to know when he has entered a room and I wonder briefly if it is the same for him, part of me wants to ask him but a bigger part is far too scared to do that so instead I just continue to examine my bow and my arrows until he appears by my side and sits on the bed letting out a soft sigh.
"How are you feeling?" he asks eventually and I stop what I am doing and look at him for a long moment.
"I am well," I say quietly and he quirks an eyebrow at me.
"I mean how are you feeling about riding out to battle?" this time I let out a little huff of air as I slump down beside him and stare at the arrow I am still holding in my hands for a while whilst I try to formulate an answer.
"I'm not sure," I say at last, "I am scared about fighting because battle is frightening and I am terrified of losing you, of losing any of you but at the same time I am relieved that at last we are doing something to help Frodo, I am so scared for him Aragorn, of letting him down and breaking my promise to him but what worries me the most is that I am a little excited about moving again of being useful of fighting, does that make me a terrible person?" I ask as I finish risking a quick glance at him.
"It makes you human little one, I too feel much the same as you do about it," he says and I look at him fully and can almost feel the relief flooding through me and across my face as he smiles a little.
"Then we must face these things together as we do everything and hope that the Valar will protect us," I say quietly and he nods his head leaning forward to place a kiss on my forehead.
"That we must, I must go and help the king will you be okay to find your way down to the stables and to Legolas, Gimli and Merry?" he asks and I nod with a little laugh.
"You know sometimes I think you forget that I am able to care for myself, I once fended for myself for three days with an arrowhead in my shoulder after fighting a pack of orc," I say and feel guilty when I see him flinch a little at this.
"I know I just… try to forget that those things have happened to you it makes my heart ache," he sighs and my chest constricts at this admission.
"You are sometimes too perfect for your own good you know, no wonder every female that meets you is instantly in love with you," I say with a mock scowl done partly to alleviate the sombre atmosphere around us, which it does as he laughs a little as he stands, but also because it is true, I mean if he tried to be a bit more like an average man, annoying and irrational and inappropriate and women may not fawn over him quite so much.
It is several days later when we finally reach the camp where the troops are gathering ready to march on to Gondor and I have enjoyed spending time with my companions in the way we used to, even if there are several hundred others along for the ride this time. It is a strange thing to say that I feel more peaceful sleeping on the ground with the risk of being attacked ever there and clutching at weapons as I sleep than I did when I was at Edoras but I feel like I am maybe at least more help to Frodo here. Like I am doing something to keep my promise to him, even if I can't be with him.
"Little one are you well?" the voice instantly pulls me out of my pondering and I turn to see Aragorn standing behind me smiling at me a little as if he knows I have been daydreaming, who am I kidding of course he knows.
"I'm fine how are you?" I reply and he steps forward squeezing my fingers briefly before stepping back again as if worried that too many of the men would see our close proximity.
"I am as well as can be, I must go meet with King Theodan but wanted to ask if I can see you after," he says in almost a whisper.
"Of course you can, you never need to ask to see me," I smile back at him and he seems to relax a little and the thought of him being nervous about asking me to spend time with me makes my heart swell a little in love for him.
"I will be back soon I promise Melanin," he says staring at me for a while as if trying to memorise my face before finally moving away and I sigh as I watch him leave staying for sometime afterwards as if unable to move away from that spot.
It must be at least three hours later when I eventually decide to move and go to find Aragorn or the others and the sun was well on its way to setting.
"Aragorn," the voice is Eowyn's and I stop as soon as I hear it, hidden in the shadows of a tent to the side of them both I watch as she rushes towards him. A surge of jealousy and anxiety washes through me so suddenly I almost feel lightheaded and it so consumes me that it takes me a moment or two to realise that Aragorn is saddling his horse and attaching his pack to it and I furrow my brow in confusion at this. "Why are you doing this? The war lies to the east, you cannot leave when we are on the eve of battle the men need you," she continues in a pleading voice and I have to begrudgingly agree with her, he stops what he is doing but still does not turn to face her.
"Why have you come?" he asks,
"Do you not know?" her reply has me gripping the edge of the tent I am standing beside, my breath rattling in my lungs as I await his reply, every fear and anxiety I have had waiting to be dismissed or proved right in the next few seconds as she lays it all out for him. He turns to face her now so that his back is fully to me although I can still hear every word.
"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love, I cannot give you what you seek," he says quietly his hand reaching for her cheek and grazing his fingers over it lightly and several things happen to me all at once. I feel so relieved that my legs very nearly give way as I remember to breathe for the first time in what feels like years and my lungs burn with relief as oxygen floods them, I am also filled with guilt that I could ever have doubted him and a sense of inadequacy next to his perfection. Mostly though, I feel terrible for Eowyn as I watch her face crumple with his rejection, I knew too well what it was to feel love for this beautiful, perfect man and fear it was not reciprocated, to have those feeling confirmed must be unbearable, I just prayed she would find her own Aragorn, someone who loved her as much as she loved him. "Peyson," the voice is quiet and drags me from my thoughts to see that she is gone and Aragorn is now standing in front of my his horse behind him.
"Where are you going?" I ask just as quietly, choosing not to mention that I had overheard the conversation, I can tell from the way that he is looking at me that he already knows.
"I must leave through the pass in the mountains to… I hope to get help… more arms that way," he says and I stare in open shock at him for a while, "come with me,"
"But…" I'm not really sure what to say to that so I stand for a second in shock and continue to stare at him until his fingers reach mine and set my skin on fire as they always do.