Chapter 21 The Truth

Mariell could hardly sit still. First Elrond, then Galadriel, now Theoden. Ever since leaving the shire she had been running into beings

that seemed to know her but would not tell her anything. She had had enough. She jumped to her feet as Gandalf entered with Theoden

and Eowyn. Breaking free of the restraining hand Aragorn had on her arm she rushed toward the King.

"You know me," she stated. "I want to know how." The king stared at her sadly and exchanged a glance with Gandalf.

"Gandalf?" the king asked. Gandalf seemed to be considering. Mariell stared at him incredulously.

"Gandalf," she said, " ever since leaving the Shire everyone I have come into contact with has looked at me like they knew me. Why?

Tell me the truth. Who am I? Tell me, please." For a long time Gandalf looked at the floor. Finally he lifted his head and met Mariell's

eyes.

"You are right Mariell. It is time you were told the truth." Gandalf placed a hand on her shoulder and led her to sit down on the bench.

"Before Sauron was corrupted by evil he was a man. A man with a wife and a son. His wife was an elf named Selendil. She was the

younger sister of Galadriel, lady of Lorien. After Sauron came to power, Selendil went into hiding with her son, Jonales. Selendil knew

that if Sauron got control over her son he would become Sauron's agent. So Galadriel and Elrond along with the elves of Lorien and

Rivendell created a shield that would protect the baby and keep his father from finding him. The baby was then taken to Lorien"

"What happened to Selendil?" Aragorn asked.

"Sauron eventually found her. When she refused to reveal where the child was he killed her. And so the pendant of Galahdon, has been

passed on to the youngest heir of Sauron for the last 3,000 years." Mariell's hand went to her throat. Her head was spinning.

"My pendant," she whispered. "I'm Sauron's heir"

"Yes," Gandalf said. "Your mother placed it around your neck the day you were born. It has shielded you from Sauron and his agents"

"That's why her wound from the Nazgul healed so quickly," Aragorn said in realization.

"But it did not protect her in Moria," Legolas said.

"It was torn from my neck," Mariell said weakly. "I picked it up after I was hit by the arrow"

"That's why Galadriel was so willing to heal her," Legolas said. "She's your kin"

"As are Elrond and Arwen," said Aragorn.

"And myself," Theoden said. "Your mother gave up the immortal life of her people to marry your father Thendilen. He was my brother."
Mariell stared at the king in shock.

"I'm your uncle, Mariell. Eowyn is your cousin." Mariell looked at the golden haired maiden whose shocked face must have matched

her own.

"I remember…" Eowyn said. "Father used to speak of a younger brother who was killed battling orcs"

"They attacked the village," Theoden said.

"They were looking for me," Mariell said.

"The ring was quiet, but the spirit of Sauron still sought for his heir. I fled on horseback with your mother orcs pursuing us all the way.

Lindela was mortally struck by one of their arrows. She gave you to me, begged me to protect you with her dying breath. I took you to

the Shire and placed you in Bilbo's keeping"

"And directly into the path of the ring," Mariell snapped.

"At the time I did not know Bilbo had the ring. Had I known I would have taken you as far from the Shire as I could"

"That's why you insisted I accompany Frodo on the quest"

"Your pendant kept you safe from both Sauron and the ring's call"

"Why, Gandalf? Why did you insist I go?"

"Mariell," Gandalf said gently, "your destiny is still before you"

"My destiny," Mariell snapped. "My destiny to do what? Serve at Sauron's side? Serve him while he destroys everything good in this

world? Is that my destiny?" Unable to take anymore Mariell fled from the hall. Her sight was blurry as she ran. She ran until she came to
the edge of the castle. She leaned against a post, sobs wracking her body. The sky was black and she could hear the thunder. It was

close. She stared into the void as the rain fell, soaking her to the skin. The rain upon her face washed her tears from her eyes. So much

pain. So much death. All of it caused by her ancestor. She stared down at the earth far below her. It would be so easy to jump. She

could end it all. The evil, the destruction, the death. All she had to do was jump and it would be over. Sauron's evil blood would be

wiped from the earth. She stepped onto the ledge, staring down. Faces floated before her, Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli,

Merry, Pippin, Bilbo, Theoden, Eowyn, Arwen, Elrond. She saw them in pain, she saw them suffering. She had to end it. A strong pair

of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her from the ledge. She buried her face in Aragorn's chest and sobbed.

Aragorn had followed Mariell when she fled from the chamber. He watched her from the distance as she clung to the post weeping. He

felt a deep sympathy for her. She'd received quite a blow. He of all people knew what it meant to fear your heritage. He watched as the
rain soaked her clothing and her hair. She seemed so small and fragile at that moment. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his

arms and make her pain go away. To his horror he saw her step onto the ledge. Moving quickly he stepped behind her and pulled her

from the ledge. She did not fight him as he pulled her into his embrace. She buried her face in his chest soaking his shirt with her hot

tears. He stroked her wet hair and rubbed her back.

"I'm evil," she whispered. He took her face in his hands so that he could look directly into her eyes.

"You are Sauron's heir, not Sauron himself. You are not bound to his fate." With a start he realized that these were the same words

Arwen had spoken to him before the council as he stared at the painting of Isildur.

"His evil blood runs through my veins," Mariell said.

"I have seen your heart," he told her. "You do not hesitate to protect the ones you care about. You have so much love to give and you

give it so freely. These are not the qualities of evil." Mariell did not seem to believe him.

"I know what it is to fear the past. To fear that the mistakes of your ancestors will become your own." Mariell shook her head.

"Your ancestor could not destroy the ring, Aragorn, but mine created it"

"But look at your other ancestors. The sacrifices they made, the courage they showed. I see that courage in you. I saw it from the

moment I met you. You have so much goodness in you, Mariell. You have the heart of good. And it has captured mine." Mariell looked
up at him and he thought he would drown in her eyes.

"I love you, Mariell," he whispered. She stared at him in wonder. Before he could say anything else she had seized him in a fiery kiss.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him close to her crushing her breasts against him. Through her wet tunic he could feel her
heart beating in time with his own. A need for oxygen forced them to part. Mariell leaned against his chest and let out a long breath.

"Elbereth," she breathed. "I love you so very much Aragorn." Aragorn's heart felt as thought it would burst as she said those words.

"Make love to me, Aragorn," she whispered. "Show me what it is to love and be loved."

=explicit scene deleted

After awhile he rolled to her side and pulled her against him. They lay quietly in each other's arms as reality slowly came back to them.

"He'll come for me," she whispered.

"He won't take you," Aragorn swore, "I won't let him"

"How will you stop him?" Aragorn had no answer for her.

"Aragorn?" Mariell said.

"Yes?" he said looking down at her.

"Why did you tell the riders that I was your wife?"

"Because I wanted it to be true. I don't know what fate has in store for us. But I know that no matter what, we will face it together.

Mariell, will you marry me? "

"Yes," was her answer.