Chapter 4

(JAMIE'S POV)

God this horse won't go fast enough. Sometimes being connected to Aragorn was such a pain. It forced me to take action. I heard him in my head and instantly got on my horse and rode off. Of course…father, Elladan and Elrohir all yelled at me, wondering what I was doing. I couldn't help it…I had to do something. Fifty years since I first met Aragorn and already I'm acting like a wife.

I couldn't believe I had been riding for two days looking for Aragorn and the hobbits. Normally I find him quickly.

Flashback

I walked with Aragorn through the forest, showing him around.

"Milady." Aragorn said suddenly. I looked at him. "This place is beautiful…it really is."

"But…" I said, sensing there was something he was trying to get at.

"I don't want to talk about it." Aragorn said. "I want to talk about you."

"Well…how about we talk about each other my lord?" I asked, sitting down on a bench.

"Very well." Aragorn said, sitting next to me.

"I'll ask a question first." I said. I gave my determined look and Aragorn nodded. "Alright…hmm…Your real name."

"What about it?" Aragorn asked.

"I know it isn't Thorongil." I said. "What is it?" I was trying so hard not to tell him that I knew more about him then he could think imaginable.

"Aragorn." Aragorn said.

"Aragorn…aren't you…" I asked.

"Supposed to be king of Gondor? Yes." Aragorn said.

"I was going to say something else." I said.

"What?" Aragorn asked.

"Never mind." I said, smiling.

"Alright. My turn." Aragorn said.

Present

I jumped off the horse and looked around. I took out my sword and slowly took a few steps before spotting a familiar back. Just to annoy him I approached him quietly and put my sword to his throat.

"What's this? A ranger caught off his guard?" I asked. He slowly stood up and I smiled slightly. "I believe you called for me."

"Not intentionally." Aragorn said.

"No matter. Where are the hobbits?" I asked urgently. Aragorn led me to where the hobbits were. I looked around, recognizing all of them: Merry, Pippin, Sam…and Frodo. I went to my knees next to Frodo.

"Who is she?" I heard Pippin ask.

"She's an elf." Sam replied. Inside my head I was smiling. Aragorn joined me and applied some of the athelas that he was gathering to Frodo's wound. I looked at Frodo then at Aragorn.

"He's fading." I said, worried. "He's not going to last. I have to get him to my father."

"Where are you taking him?" Merry asked. I felt bad for ignoring him and the others, but I couldn't answer all their questions.

"There are five wraiths behind you." I said, standing up as Aragorn lifted Frodo. "I don't know where the other four are."

"Stay with the hobbits." Aragorn said, putting Frodo on my horse. I put my hands on my hips. "I'll send horses back for you."

"I'm not staying here." I said. "I'm the faster rider. I'll take him."

"The road is dangerous, Nienna." Aragorn said.

"What are they saying?" I heard Pippin say. I sighed.

"Frodo is dying. If I can get across the river, the power of my people can protect him." I said. For some reason, arguing with Aragorn was fun. "I don't fear them."

"As you wish." Aragorn said after sighing in defeat. I smiled in a triumphant way but it was gone quickly. I climbed onto my horse before Frodo.

"Don't worry about your friend." I told the hobbits. "He is in good hands." I clicked my tongue and squeezed my heels making the horse run. I wasn't feeling quite as confident as I did before, but I really didn't want to stay behind. It didn't matter that it had been fifty years, I still remembered the movie. That's where most of my lines came from. Riding, I remembered the first time Aragorn taught me how to ride. It was really embarrassing.

Flashback

I sat on the ground next to the horse and looked up at it. Aragorn turned his horse around and came back.

"This horse hates me." I whined. Aragorn laughed and pulled me to my feet.

"It does not hate you." He said.

"Easy for you to say." I muttered.

"Nienna…you have to let it know you do not fear it." Aragorn said.

"I don't…I just fear the bumping." I said. Aragorn laughed again. "Quit it. My ego is bruised enough as it is."

"Try again." Aragorn said. I sighed but nodded and allowed him to help me onto the horse again. It felt like this was my thousandth time trying this when it actually was only my tenth. I watched as Aragorn patted the horse's neck and I had to smile. He was really amazing.

"Ok…let's try this again." I said.

"Alright. Relax." Aragorn said. I gave him a look but sighed and relaxed. We started off slowly and gradually I began to relax more. "Let's go faster." So much for relaxing.

"No no no…slow is good." I said. "Slow is nice…nice little swaying and…stuff."

"A race." Aragorn said.

"No fair. You know I can't turn down a challenge." I said. Aragorn smiled widely and nodded. I glared at him. "Fine. Go!" I made my horse run. Since it surprised him, Aragorn was still back a bit. He obviously got over it because soon he had caught up with me.

The horses ran neck and neck for a while until we got to the river. Aragorn was next to it so I decided to pull a prank on him. I quickly turned my horse, making it so he had to stop quickly. He got thrown off his horse and into the water.

"Uh oh." I said, sliding off my horse. "Aragorn? Heellloo?" I walked into the water slightly, looking around for him. I couldn't see him or any air bubbles. "Oh shit. ARAGORN!" I ran farther into the river and looked around. Suddenly something grabbed my ankles and yanked me under the water. When I resurfaced I saw his whole upper body out of the water and he was smiling at me.

"That's for making me get thrown in." Aragorn said. I stared at him in disbelief.

"You little…" I couldn't think of a word good enough for him. So I did the next best thing…I jumped on him, making both of us fall back under water. This time I was smiling when he resurfaced. "I win." I looked down at my clothes. Thank god I went for the blue tunic instead of the white one today. It was still clingy though. I looked back at Aragorn before putting my arms over his shoulder.

"Alright…you win." Aragorn agreed. I smiled.

Present

I was glad my horse was fine in water. We passed the river and turned on the other side to look at the Nazgul.

"Give up the halfling, She-elf." Nazgul said.

"If you want him…" I said, pulling my sword out again. "Come and claim him." The Nazgul all draw their swords and urge their horses across the ford. I could tell the horses didn't want to go. I started chanting. "Water of the Misty Mountains listen to the great word; flow waters of Loudwater against the Ringwraiths!" I watched the water rise and wash away the Nazgul.

Frodo started slipping off the horse. I quickly got him off and laid him on the ground.

"Frodo…oh no." I muttered. "Frodo don't give in. Not now…please not now." I hugged him to me. –What grace has given me, let it pass to him, let him be spared. Save him.—

I could tell father was shocked to see me come back with a hobbit. I made him take Frodo and heal him before he could ask. Elladan and Elrohir managed to ask questions.

"What happened?" Elladan asked.

"Where were you?" Elrohir asked.

"Why did you bring back a hobbit?" Elladan asked.

"You saw Aragorn didn't you?" Elrohir asked.

"STOP!" I said finally, making the flow of questions end. "Ok…Nazgul attacked four hobbits. The one I brought, Frodo, he was stabbed, he carries The Ring." I took another breath. "I was looking for them for the last two days because Aragorn 'unintentionally' called to me." I took another breath. Each breath was to show I was moving to the next question. "I brought Frodo because he needs elvish healing." One more breaths. "And yes…I did see Aragorn. He was with the hobbits."

"Ok then." Elladan said.

"Thanks." Elrohir said.

"No problem brothers." I said.

A few days later I was standing with father and Gandalf, watching Frodo and Sam. I looked out the window and saw people arriving.

"Father…they have arrived." I said. I looked around and saw two people I haven't seen in a long time. I smiled and ran off. I never thought I could run this fast but soon I was down where all the guests were and I jumped, first on Legolas. "Oh my god you guys are here!"

"Nienna…get off my husband." Jacklyn said, smiling.

"He's my brother-in-law Ja…uh…Alatariel." I said. Jacklyn sighed and rolled her eyes. I jumped on her this time.

"I'll leave you two then." Legolas said.

"Great plan." I said. I had so much to tell Jacklyn that it was killing me not to tell her now. I dragged her to a better spot where we could talk. "It's starting. Frodo is here."

"I know…I felt you go after them." Jacklyn said.

"Jackie…this is serious." I said. "It's not just a movie anymore. This is really happening. I don't know if this is exciting or terrifying."

"It can be both Jams." Jacklyn said. "God…doesn't it feel like forever since we called each other those names?"

"Longer then that." I muttered. "God I missed you so much. Being separated from your twin is so hard."

"I know." Jacklyn said. We went silent. "You do know that we're gonna hafta talk dad into letting us go."

"Oh yeah." I said, smiling. "He won't let us go willingly. This should be fun." We smiled at each other and headed back. "Ok…so when Aragorn finally takes his place as king of Gondor…and I marry him…then you and Legolas better visit way more often."

"We will." Jacklyn said. "I just don't understand you. You got commitment problems sis. I don't know why but you do." I stayed quiet. I really do have commitment problems and Jacklyn, who knows everything about me, doesn't know about that.