When I finally manage to open my eyes and feel less like I am only half awake I take a moment to examine my surroundings.
"Welcome back," a voice says quietly from beside me and it takes me a few moments to focus on the figure beside me but I soon see Aragorn sitting there and I smile.
"Where are we?" I ask my voice hoarse and my mouth dry,
"We are in Rivendell," he answers shifting forward and supporting me as I try to sit up only to wince a little in pain, "my father has healed you as far as he can my love, you will have full range of movement but you will always bear a scar across your back," he sighs looking confused when I smile.
"I have never cared much for what I look like I am just pleased that I will still be able to use my bow and sword," I say and he smiles a little too before his brow furrows again and he looks downcast.
"I am still sorry that you shall have to live with such a horrible reminder of war,"
"Does it change the way you see me?" I ask slowly feeling an age old doubt creep into my soul.
"What do you mean?" he replies looking perplexed,
"Does the scar make you love me less, does it make you… do you wish to leave me behind now?" I say my voice breaking despite myself as fear begins to build within me.
"It only makes my love for you stronger," he says without hesitation and I let out a huff of breath in relief before I can stop myself and his hands are on my face immediately his nose barely an inch from mine, "you must stop doubting my love for your Peyson, it will not end and it will not fade I promise you that, just as I know that your love for me will remain strong,"
"I know," I whisper blinking away the tears in my eyes. "Tell me the others are okay," I say partly to change the subject so that I can gain control of my emotions and partly because I would not truly be able to relax until I knew they were okay.
"They are all well and worrying for you, Frodo and Sam awoke just yesterday and have been difficult to keep away from your bedside and in their own beds since then," he smiles and my smile widens as I find out that they are not only okay but well enough to be out of bed and worrying for others.
"When can I get up?" I ask now and he laughs at that,
"The war is over my love we can rest now there is no rush," he responds and I quirk an eyebrow at him as he continues to chuckle,
"What about Gondor? What about us? What happens now?"
"For one who is supposed to be recovering from life threatening wounds you are asking a lot of questions?" he says quietly his fingers now intwined with mine.
"I just want to know what is to happen, how am I supposed to rest and recover if I do not know when you are going to leave?" I say quietly feeling suddenly close to tears again.
"I am not leaving your side until you are well little one, then we will ride to Gondor together for my coronation," as he pauses for breath here I let out a little yelp of joy and interrupt him,
"I knew you would do the right thing, oh but you will make such an incredible king," I gush at him until he suddenly silences me with a kiss that temporarily steals the breath from my lungs.
"And you my little one shall make an even greater queen," he whispers into my lips when he pulls away a fraction causing me to feel a blush spread across my cheeks before I can stop it.
"Don't you need to go before then, I do not want to hold anything up," I say quietly instead and he sighs a little as if almost frustrated.
"There are no proceedings that cannot wait until my queen is ready to join me my little one," he says stubbornly and before I can respond there is the sound of a throat clearing from the doorway and we both look over to see Gandalf there pipe in hand and a pensive, slightly amused expression on his face.
"Peyson is right my friend you must leave in the morning," he says as he walks in and sits almost heavily in the chair by the fire in my room.
"I will not leave…" Aragorn says immediately before I put an hand on his arm and squeeze it gently.
"Aragorn, you are being that child again," I tease quietly as he shoots me an expression somewhere between anguish and a scowl.
"I promised I would not leave," he says instead in an almost pleading voice.
"I understand the reason Aragorn, you are not abandoning me, you must go and prepare your city and I shall join you as soon as I can," I smile and he sighs heavily again dropping his head to my hand which is now grasped in both of his.
"I love you little one," he mumbles and I can feel the warmth spreading through my entire body at his words.
"I love you more," I whisper back my smile widening as I hear his answering chuckle.
"As heart warming as this is you will have time to say your goodbyes in the morning and I know some very impatient friends who have spent these last days very worried for you that would very much like to see you awake," Gandalf says from his position startling me as I had almost forgotten he was there. That happens a lot around Aragorn I realise, I get so lost in him I forget that others are around us.
"Yes," I say in an excited squeal, "please I would so love to see them," I add in a slightly more controlled voice as they both laugh at me before Aragorn steps away and out of the doorway.
"Peyson," the cry is so loud I jump slightly and then jump again wincing as four small bodies launch themselves at me but I don't care when I see Frodo and Sam especially I cling to them not caring about the pain it causes me.
"I am so pleased to see you," I sob and suddenly realise that I am crying, tears making a steady stream down my face as I hold them to me before examining them thoroughly.
"We were so worried Peyson, we thought…" Frodo trails off and I laugh then through my tears.
"You had me worried for a long while my friend, I am just so glad I was able to help in some tiny way," I say and he hugs me again.
"We are to go back with Aragorn to Gondor Peyson but you are not… we have only just been reunited," Pippin says almost sadly and I laugh again.
"I will be with you all again soon and now we are safe from an evil lord, thanks to your bravery, we do not need to fear this parting nor any for it will be in peace," I smile although even as I say it I am aware of that fact that my little speech didn't entirely make sense but I think they got the message.
"I think young hobbits that Peyson may need to some rest," a voice says from the foot of the bed and I look up to see Gimli standing there and I smile.
"Gimli I am so glad to see you well," I say and he returns.
"And I you, you gave us quite the scare ranger, completely uncalled for and it better be the last time," he says rather sternly before guffawing so loudly he snorts which of course causes the hobbits to roll around laughing and I can't help giggling myself.
"I am glad to see you awake my friend we were… I was afraid for a while," Legolas says close beside me and I look over to him.
"I am sorry," I whisper back in reply unable to lie or to cover up anything from him even less than with Aragorn, I'm not sure why I just feel like he can read me, can see right through me and it is strangely terrifying and comforting at the same time.
"The things you said to Aragorn… when you awoke," he says slowly now.
"I had another vision… or I died I'm not sure which one, what do you think," I say looking at him and he smile gently at me after a long pause.
"You have been blessed by the Valar Peyson, I have told you this before and I believe you had a vision," he says eventually and I smile at him before yawning.
"I think Peyson may need to rest some now so she may wave you off tomorrow," I look up at the voice and see Aragorn standing in the doorway leaning casually against the wall and looking more relaxed than I have ever seen him and it warms my heart to see him this way, he looks at least ten years younger and as I look around I realise that despite the visible trauma still healing everyone is slightly more relaxed and happy.
"But we haven't even told her all of our adventures," Frodo says suddenly and I laugh at this,
"There shall be so much time for that now my dear friend but Aragorn is right I am tired still and must be rested so that I may fully enjoy your story," I say and he smiles for a second before his smile slips off his face again.
"But we leave tomorrow for Gondor," he says and the other three huff slightly too which makes me giggle again.
"Then the chance to see your faces and listen to your story is what will speed me on in my recovery and towards Gondor to see you all again," I say and after a few minutes of pondering they seem satisfied with this and after another tight hug they head off in search of food leaving me with the others.
"Haldir and I shall stay with you and assist with your healing as we have since the beginning and then travel with you to Gondor," Legolas says now and I don't respond but I know that he knows from my look that I am grateful and honoured and relieved all in one and with another brief smile and nod he is gone with Gimli who mutters something about seeing me in Gondor.
"When you are healed and the coronation is done with I must work with you," Gandalf says and I jump a little again, he really needs to stop blending into the background and then jumping out on me unexpectedly or I'm going to end up having a heart attack before I can heal.
"About what?" I ask and he doesn't answer immediately, instead refilling his pipe and then slowly getting to his feet.
"Your sight, I have a feeling it will get stronger, we need to… train," he says and I nod at him a little dumbfounded as he lights his pipe and after letting out a puff of smoke he leaves patting Aragorn on the shoulder as he does so and we are alone together once more.
"Will you stay a while longer?" I ask quietly as he steps further into the room and perches on the bed beside me his fingers automatically finding mine.
"I was not lying when I said you needed to rest," he replies and I sigh a little,
"But…" I start before his finger covers my mouth and a smile tugs at his lips,
"However, I have only just got you back and until I must leave in the morning and be separated from you once more I will spend every second I can with you," he whispers to me his face now mere inches from mine and my own breath catches in my throat as his gently caresses my face.
"I hate that we are to be separated again so soon," I almost gasp and his lips are suddenly on mine dragging a breathy moan like noise from my throat as he kisses me so thoroughly I can barely remember my own name.
"I love you so much little one," he breathes when he pulls away, his face still hovering an inch above mine, his fingers gently stroking my hair from my face, "amin heart beats ten' lle (my heart beats for you),"
"lle naa amin iluve (you are my everything)," I respond feeling emotion building in me and catching in my throat as I attempt to swallow it back down.
"Rest little one, I shan't leave," he whispers sitting back finally his fingers now wrapped around mine gently again.
"You must go and rest my love you start a long journey tomorrow and I would not have you tired," I scold and he laughs.
"Little one I am more comfortable here than I have been for months sleeping on the ground," he manages eventually and I huff a little at him, "besides," he adds, "I would not be rested anywhere away from you I would only be happy when I know that you are safe and breathing well, if I am to be gone from you again soon I will spend every second I can beside you," he smiles and before I can argue he kisses me again and then settles down in the chair propping his legs up on the bed and closing his eyes.