*Hello again everyone! This is lovely chapter five :3 and I got plenty of reviews for chapter 4 which makes me delighted! Sorry it took me a bit longer than normal! I have school of course and I was sick for a day, I still need to write a bit more before I put up chapter six so that I can stay ahead, I wanted to wait till I wrote more to put up this chapter but I didn't want to keep you waiting! Thank you LoliMochi, ZombiesForNarnia, ccgnme, Lady Minuialwen, and bam-143 for reviewing!(: It was much appreciated! The usual: this is an Aragorn/OC story, elvish is in italics, and disclaimer is in first chapter! –cookies for everyone! And an extra cookie for all who reviewed!-*
Now I do believe I have some questions to answer:
LoliMochi: Thank you and yes I try my best too! And yes I know D: I do that quite often actually and I try not but I'll try harder now! I'll try and go through the chapters and make sure they are all in the same tense and thank you for your thoughts! And thank you!(:
Lady Minuialwen: Thank you(: and no Aria is not half elf, at least at this point in the story they don't think so, her adoptive family does not know where she came from or what exactly she is, they just know she ages more slowly, btw if you looked at the picture of Aria on my page she is not supposed to have pointed ears, I just liked the girl in the picture, just try to imagine her with rounded ears, hope that helps(:
Bam-143: Very good guess indeed Bam(: I don't want to give away so I won't say anything hehe but I will say you will find out who her adoptive family is in this chapter! And thank you!(:
Enjoy folks!
It was the next day and we had been traveling for a while now; Aragorn was at the front and I was in the rear, walking with Elwing. She was still grumpy about all the things she had to carry. Aragorn and I decided to take the hobbits to Rivendell, since Gandalf did not show. I was very worried forGandalf by now but I tried to push the thoughts away.
"Where are you taking us?" I heard Frodo call out to Aragorn.
"Into the wild," was his only reply and I couldn't help but chuckle at his vagueness. I noticed the hobbits' uneasiness as we continued to follow Aragorn.
"How do we know this Strider man is a friend of Gandalf's?" I heard Merry ask in a whisper and I stepped closer to them.
"Because he is my friend Merry, therefore he is yours and Gandalf's friend. Do not worry, you can trust him." I gave them all a reassuring smile.
"But where is he taking us?" Sam asked and I winked.
"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, to the house of Elrond." Aragorn said and I smiled widely, thinking of Elrond and Arwen.
"You're going to see the elves Sam." Sam smiled widely at this and I couldn't help but chuckle, Sam had always been fascinated with the elves.
The sun was now began to go down and we had reached the countryside. Aragorn finally slowed to a stop and stood before a large tower in front of us as I slid up next to him.
"This was once the great watchtower of Amon Sul. We shall rest here tonight." Aragorn said before he began his walking again. I silently thanked the Valar, not used to this kind of travel anymore from traveling for so long with Gandalf.
"Come, Elwing, we need not waste more time!" I yelled to Elwing, who had apparently found a delicious apple tree. "That horse will never stop eating!" I mumbled angrily.
"Still stubborn?" Aragorn asked with a chuckle.
"As much as she's ever been, if not worse! I still love her so though." I said with a light smile, glancing behind us at Elwing, who was trying to eat as many apples as she could before I yelled to her again. "She still follows me everywhere I go, she's been the best companion I have ever had."
"Aye, she's been an honorable companion." He said with another smile.
"Come along Elwing, we have places to go!" I yelled once more and I began to hear her trotting towards us with a neigh of annoyance.
It was now dusk and we had finally reached near the top of the watchtower. I had commanded Elwing to once again hide in the forest for the night, knowing she would probably go back to that apple tree. I sat down next to the four hobbits as I saw Strider place four small swords in front of the hobbits.
"These are for you, stay here, I'm going to have a look around." Aragorn said and began to turn away as I started to stand up, but Aragorn held his hand up. "Stay here Aria, I know if you have been traveling with Gandalf then you aren't used to traveling this way anymore. Stay here, watch the hobbits and rest." He said with a soft smile and walked away.
I awoke with a start, not realizing I had fallen asleep. I must have not been able to help it this time, considering I had been avoiding sleep, as of late, my dreams had been ill. I sat there for a moment trying to let my senses come back to me and as they were coming back to me I began to notice odd things. The sound of sizzling filled the air, the smell of smoke and meat invaded my nose, I sat up with a gasp. I quickly looked over to see the fire three of the hobbits had going while Frodo laid asleep. I jumped and immediately ran over to them.
"Are you mad?" I practically screamed and quickly started to try to put the fire out. I ended up sacrificing my water to do so. "Those wraiths are still out there and you three are foolish enough to give them a beacon to us!"
"We are sorry Aria." Merry said quietly and all three of their heads were down, I sighed, forgetting how naïve the hobbits were.
"It's fine, at the least they-" Then there was a loud screech that echoed around the still night air. I released my breath loudly and shut my eyes, only thinking why me. I noticed Frodo woke up with a start in surprise and jumped up when he heard the screech again.
"To the top! Hurry!" I yelled as they all grabbed the swords Aragorn had given them and began to ran up to the top. I started following behind them and once we reached the top, I ordered them to stand in a far corner.
I placed myself in the center, close to the entrance of the top of the building. I stood in a defensive position and readied myself for them to come. I knew they could reach the top of the building faster than any mortal man and I had to be ready quickly. I hurriedly grabbed my sword.
Relax sister, a frantic soldier is just as good as a naïve and unprepared soldier.
I heard my brother's voice whisper in my head, remembering his advice from long ago. I suddenly heard a screech again as they came through the entrance and I winced.
"Give up the ring bearer!" One of the wraiths, I'm guessing their leader, the Witch King, yelled out in an unnatural voice.
"What makes you think I would do that?" I retorted and the wraith cried out a screech of anger. They began to come towards me and I held my sword high, ready as I would ever be. They finally reached me and I blocked the attack of the first wraith before quickly spinning and blocking another attack. I could barely get an attack in myself and I was mostly on the defense side since I was protecting myself against four of them. I then noticed the Witch King headed towards Frodo while the other four wraiths were a distraction towards me.
"You must defend each other! Work together!" I yelled towards the hobbits but it was useless, the poor hobbits didn't know a single thing about fighting. Brave Sam tried to defend Frodo but was simply flicked away like a fly buzzing upon one's shoulder. Merry and Pippin threw themselves on the floor in sheer terror, not knowing what else to do. The Witch King now stood before Frodo and I tried desperately to shake off the other four wraiths to no avail. I glanced over and saw Frodo on his knees, beginning to place the ring of his finger.
"No Frodo!" I cried out but he did so anyways, unable to resist the temptation.
"Frodo!" I heard the hobbits cry out and I gasped as I saw the Witch King stab his sword into what looked like thin air, knowing it was really Frodo. Suddenly I saw Aragorn run through the entrance and I smiled, glad to finally have some help.
"Aragorn!" I cried out as I continued to defend myself. "Frodo! Go help Frodo!" I told him, glancing at Frodo again, I hissed in pain as I felt a sting on my arm. One of the wraiths had caught my arm and I got a cut. Aragorn quickly ran toward me, sticking the torch in one of his hands into the face of one the wraiths and helped me defeat the others.
"Frodo!" I heard Sam cry out once all the wraiths left and we all rushed over to Frodo who was gasping and wheezing. "Mr. Frodo!" He tried again and I winced as I saw his wound.
"It was the Witch King that stabbed him." I said to Aragorn who nodded and looked over the wound as well. He picked up the Morgul Blade that the Witch King left behind and once he picked it up the blade part of the sword melted away into a wisp of smoke. Aragorn threw the hilt down in anger and disgust.
"Do something!" Sam demanded, worried for his friend, as I was worried as well. "Please help him!"
"This is beyond my healing skill, he needs Elvish medicine." Aragorn said and began to pick up Frodo.
"But Rivendell is six days from here!" Sam said, losing hope and that was when an idea came to my head.
"Maybe it is for you four, but it is not for me!" I cried out suddenly and began to race back down to the bottom, the other four trying to follow my quick pace. Once I reached the bottom I began to whistle different pitches in a certain pattern. "Elwing, this is urgent!" I yelled at the top of my lungs and I soon saw Elwing galloping towards me. I quickly threw any extra weight off her and readied her for a ride just as the other four reached the bottom, Aragorn ran up to me.
"Aria, let me take him, the road is not safe." Aragorn said and I shook my head as jumped up onto Elwing.
"No, we all know I am the fastest rider here and that no one knows how to ride Elwing best other than myself. I will make it to Rivendell, once I reach the boarders I know Arwen will come, she or Elrond will know I am coming." I told him and with a sigh he reluctantly agreed before placing Frodo in front of me.
"Ride hard and please be careful." Aragorn whispered and I nodded once toward him.
"We will see each other once more, I swear to it." I whispered back and stared for a moment before looking towards Elwing. "Go Elwing! Hurry! We must make it to Rivendell!" I cried out and she immediately began to gallop towards the forest as I leaned forward, making sure Frodo would not fall off.
"What are you doing? Those things are still out there!" I heard Sam cry as I rode off into the distance.
I had been riding all night and my butt began to hurt, that was one of things I didn't like about riding. I took a glance at Frodo and noticed he was steadily getting worse, he looked sicker with every moment passing by.
"Quickly Elwing, we must hurry!" I urged poor Elwing, knowing she was tired but we could not stop for her to rest.
It was now morning and I was now getting closer to Rivendell. Elwing was one of the fastest horses I had ever met and I was silently thanking Valar for giving her strength to keep up her quick pace. I was now in open land and I began to think of Aragorn and the other three hobbits. Wondering where they were and how they were fairing. I feared that the wraiths did not know of my leaving and tried to attack them again. I had only just seen Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Aragorn again, I did not want to lose them all in one swoop.
It was now midday as I finally reached the forests again. This was a pine forest and I knew I was getting closer to the river of Bruinen and I was hoping I would see Arwen there. As I was rode I noticed something to my left, I immediately thought it was wraith and gripped my reins, readying myself for whatever will happen. But as the rider pulled near me I saw it was not a wraith but it was Arwen. I smiled in joy and pulled lightly back on Elwing's reins, letting her knowing she can slow down a little.
"Arwen you have no idea how happy I am to see you!" I yelled out to her over the noises of the horses who were in between galloping and cantering, I wasn't exactly sure what to call it.
"And I you!" She yelled back, glancing ahead of us. "I found Aragorn and the other hobbits. They are fine, once Aragorn told me Frodo was with you, I immediately wanted to go searching for you. Of course Aragorn tried to convince me to let him go himself but I would not hear otherwise. I knew I could reach you before you reached the river."
"Why must Aragorn always be like this? I'm not a child, he treats me like brother does!" I yelled with an annoyed expression and Arwen smiled knowingly.
"He thinks fondly of you my friend, do not doubt it." Suddenly I saw Arwen's eyes go wide, she was looking past me and I looked to see a wraith.
"We must hurry again Elwing! Go!" I cried and she began a full on gallop before as Arwen and I hurried to reach the ford of the river. I heard the wraiths pull closer to us and I urged Elwing faster. "We are almost there Elwing! Hurry!"
We had finally reached the ford and I let out a breath of relief as both horses quickly jumped into the river and trotted to the other side. We both stopped and turned towards the forest once more. Once the wraiths had arrived on the other side, I drew out the sword that I had. The nine wraiths slowed to a stop, nervous to cross the river, they didn't know what we had up our sleeves.
"Give up the Halfling!" The Witch King growled out towards us and we both glared at him.
"If you want him, come and claim him!" Arwen challenged the Witch King, hoping they would be bold enough to walk out into the river. As soon they did she began to chant, hoping to awaken the river. I looked on nervously once she completed the chant once and it didn't work.
"Arwen," I muttered nervously but she did not answer, she only began the chant again, concentrating as best as she could. Suddenly it looked as though the water rushing towards us was a thousand large horses and they swept out the wraiths. "Come we must hurry, they will be back." I said and we were quickly off. Heading towards Rivendell, my home away from home.
As we finally reached Rivendell and the gates were opened for us and I finally slowed Elwing down. She neighed toward me appreciatively as Arwen jumped off her horse and rushed towards me.
"Quickly, hand me Frodo! I will take him to the house of healing, my father is there waiting." Arwen spoke quickly, holding her arms out as I nodded tiredly and numbly handed her Frodo, my tiredness hitting me full force now that the adrenaline had passed. She began to run off my stopped and turn. "Oh and your brother is here, I do not doubt he is running over to the gates now." She said before turning back around and began running towards the house of healing.
I jumped off Elwing and quickly placed my hand on her, having to steady myself from the sudden dizziness. I groaned lightly before handing the reins to one of the elves at the gates.
"Are you well my lady?" The elf asked and I nodded quickly.
"Aria!" I heard someone yell out and I began to smile. I turned towards the voice and I saw Legolas running towards me. He had finally reached me, placing both hands one each of my shoulders.
"Brother, I have missed you." I was able to mumble out before the world went black.