Eternal Life, Eternal Pain
III. The Journey Begins
~*~*~
Heart, don't fail me now!
Courage, don't desert me!
Don't turn back now that we're here.
People always say
Life is full of choices.
No one ever mentions fear!
Or how a road can seem so long
Or how the world can seem so vast.
Courage see me through
Heart I'm trusting you
On this journey...(to the past.)
~*~*~
Aragorn closed his eyes. What fool he had been! Always cover your back, you idiot!
Legolas and Gimli didn't turn back in fear that Aragorn could be killed or captured. Uneasiness hung in the air until...
"What's this? A ranger caught off his guard?" Those familiar words, that familiar voice... Aragorn broke out into laughter as he turned around, laughing. There he saw the face he had been expecting, that of his lovely wife.
"Arwen! Don't scare me like that!"
Gimli loudly exhaled. "Dear Lady, it would be much appreciated if you didn't do that again."
Arwen smiled mischievously. "Aragorn, I thought I'd like to teach you a lesson."
Legolas smiled. "She got you, Aragorn."
Gimli added, "Got you good. And us too!"
Aragorn, however, chose to address a far more serious matter. "Was it you, Arwen? Was it you that drove away the orcs?"
Arwen nodded, smiling. "Yes. Which is why I have chosen to join you on your journey."
"Darling... this journey is not for..."
"For what?" she cut him off. "Women?" she snorted. "Don't be a fool, Aragorn. You know my powers - though considerably weakened when I'm away from the land of my people - can protect you far better than your sword can!"
"What about Alli?" Aragorn tried another tactic. "Our children? What about them?"
Arwen sighed. "They can stay with my father." She turned to Legolas. "Legolas, I do have news for you."
Legolas looked at her confused.
"Your uncle - he as called your father back home on some serious business. Do you know what this could be? I saw your father leave quickly. Too quickly in my opinion. He seemed rather nervous - could barely mount his own horse without the help from several of his servants. Legolas, have you any idea what it might be?"
Legolas laughed. "If it's my uncle, it can't be too serious. My uncle is a fool. Always meandering about... Father says he's lost his mind."
Gimli laughed. "Yes, your doddering old uncle. Shame, he had a fine mind before. Intelligent, your father said. Often helped him in battle. Until..." Gimli paused.
Aragorn prodded him. "Until what?"
"Until he saw his family slaughtered before his very own eyes..." Gimli whispered.
Legolas sneered. "What a weak man."
Arwen frowned. "Legolas, how could you be so heartless? How would you like it to see your own family die before you? The ones you loved?"
"Love? I know no love."
Before Arwen could say much more, Aragorn held up a hand. "Arwen, stop. It's no use. This boy," he said, knocking Legolas on the head, "is about as thick-headed as he can be when it comes to emotions. Otherwise, he's a good man. Loyal, brave," he smiled, "though too stubborn if you ask me. Won't be long before he changes his mind about love."
Legolas could only say one word to that: "Never."
"Never, Legolas?" Aragorn asked. He gave him a look. "Be careful of what you say. I'd hate to see you eat your words."
Somewhere down this road
I know someone's waiting.
Years of dreams just can't be wrong!
Arms will open wide.
I'll be safe and wanted
Fin'lly home where I belong.
Well, starting here, my life begins
Starting now, I'm learning fast
Courage see me through
Heart I'm trusting you
On this journey...(to the past)
~*~*~
As they walked through the woods, Aragorn continually tried to convince Arwen to turn back home. Arwen just laughed at each of his excuses. She led the way with Aragorn following her closely. Legolas and Gimli trailed behind them, trekking slowly, covering their trail so nobody could find it and follow them...
"Aragorn, stop wasting your breath!" Arwen laughed melodiously. "It is nothing but futile... although it is amusing me..."
With that, Aragorn immediately shut up. He had no intention of amusing his wife with his rants.
Heart don't fail me now!
Courage don't desert me!
Home, Love, Family
There was once a time
I must have had them too
Home, Love, Family
I will never be complete
Until I find you...
~*~*~
Night was coming. The sky began to darken. Perhaps time to find a place for the night, Legolas thought. It seemed Arwen was thinking the same thing, for she was looking around through the trees pointedly. Aragorn absentmindedly followed her, sulking, wandering around until she abruptly stopped, causing him to crash into her. "OOMPH!" he cried out as the two fell down into a pile of leaves. Legolas and Gimli tried hard to hold back their sniggers.
Arwen gracefully stood up. "At least," she commented, "I am properly dressed for such!" For this journey, she had forgone her usual beautiful clothing in favor of some simpler clothes. Leggings and a simple tunic over. Legolas couldn't help but notice how familiar those clothes looked... As a matter of fact...
"These are your clothes, Legolas," Arwen laughed.
Aragorn made a face. "You're wearing his clothes?!"
"Well, I couldn't very well ask for your clothes, could I?"
"WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK YOUR FATHER?"
"Why would I ask my father? I sneaked out here, remember?"
"But that's just disgusting! You're wearing Legolas's clothes!"
"Aragorn," Legolas interrupted, "I don't mind."
But Aragorn ignored him. "How, may I ask, did you get them?"
Arwen smirked. "For me to know, for you to never find out." With that, she added, "Let's stay here for the night. I brought food for tonight so we don't have to cook - I know you men can't cook and we shouldn't light a fire anyway. Here," she said, "take this, and this..."
Gimli added, "AND THIS!" He lugged out a huge bottle of wine.
"Gimli! Is that the heavy sack you so insisted on bringing?"
"Yeh. So?"
"So nothing." Aragorn smiled. "Open it."
And Gimli would have if Arwen didn't intervene. "No. Not tonight."
Legolas agreed. "The orcs are still far too close."
Gimli made a face. "I knew we shouldn't have let her come..."
Aragorn laughed. "I agree!" His laughter abruptly stopped when Arwen sent him a dirty look.
He cleared his throat. "Ahem... ahem..." Arwen contined sending him that dirty look. His voice grew weaker. "Aheemm... ah... Oh forget it." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry sweetie," he said and winked at her. Arwen laughed.
"Ugh... if that's what love does to you, I'm definately not interested," Legolas commented.
Gimli laughed. "Yes, Legolas, that's what love does to you."
One step at a time,
One hope, then another
Who knows where this road may go --
Back to who I was
On to find my future,
Things my heart still needs to know.
Yes, let this be a sign!
Let this road be mine!
Let it lead me to my past
Courage see me through
Heart I'm trusting you
To bring me home...
Far off in the distance, the four warriors are being watched. She sees the four laughing, sitting together eating their small dinner. Such happiness and yet...
"Such a burden," she says, "to know the future... Sleep well, my four warriors. Your journey has just begun..."
A/N: Like it??? Please, tell me if you do. If you don't, say it nicely! =) But I can't stop you from being mean... I mean, it's not nice but I guess I could live with it. Like, I said, this is my first fan fic, so I don't really know how to do all this stuff yet... ah... But I think i'm getting the hang of it. Anyway, review please?
**This song was sung by Aaliyah, not written by me.**