Chapter 18
Wow! The holidays are almost over!
Thank you everyone for being patient with me^^
I really love this series! HAppy reading! :)
Aragorn felt very thick. Something was swelling and it was very painful. He found himself in the dark, but he doubted he was dead for the pain he was feeling was excruciating. Not dead… sleeping…
With a grunt he forced himself to open his eyes. He stared up at the tall ceiling of his chamber. Trying to recall what happened to him, he remembered vividly the fight on the stone valley. He had been wounded. Somebody took him back to Minas Tirith, and then there was the Steward, and then an Elf. An Elf. The man blinked back at the ceiling, with the bothering pain around his chest. Legolas, who was more than his friend had forgotten him. With a stab of another pain, Aragorn inhaled. How would he deal with the Elf…?
Someone on his left side stirred and Aragorn was caught surprised and hopeful as he looked around. For a brief moment he wished it was Legolas, who, in spite of having forgotten him, would still look after him in his death bed. But instead of a pale, fair Elf, the man saw a maiden, whose brown hair was long and curly, wearing a white dress that touched the floor. She had her back on him and seemed too busy on the side table. A flicker of recognition made Aragorn sit up gingerly and whisper.
"Lady Théodwyn?"
The lady in white looked around with round watery, green eyes. For a moment they stared at each other before the lady smiled and went near him.
"Lord Aragorn!" she knelt down beside the bed and stared at him unwaveringly. "How do you fair, my Lord?"
"I'm- I'm fine." The man stammered, clearly taken aback at the lady's concern, he just also realized that his whole upper body was covered with nothing but bandages, "What are you doing here? This is Minas Tirith, right?"
"Why yes, my lord." nodded the fair lady, standing up and sitting on the side of the bed, "My father had decided to help Gondor as what you have done to our lands. We have been here for three days. And you, you have been in this room for two days." She stopped for a moment, looking very uncertain, with her eyes lowered and searching, "When we heard that you have fallen on the battle field my father thought… I thought… it was hopeless."
Aragorn couldn't think of anything to say and for a long moment he just stared at the lady.
"But…" Théodwyn looked up at him suddenly smiling with her eyes shining, "Here you are, alive and whole. We couldn't ask for anything more."
"Thank you." Aragorn answered, still feeling anxious, "A friend saved me from death, and I have not thanked him. I wonder how everyone is doing now…?"
"Oh, the rangers, they are all here. You all have survived." Théodwyn answered in the same pleased tone, "They have been rejoicing for many days now, since your return. Lord Ecthelion have provided them all they needed so you must not worry."
"That's good news." The man smiled briefly, but his smile instantly faded as he looked around unconsciously, "And Legolas? What of him? The last time I saw him, he seemed to have forgotten me…"
Lady Théodwyn looked at the man with knitted eyebrows, "I'm sorry my Lord, but Legolas doesn't seem so. He was here a little while ago, asking if you were alright."
"Really?" Aragorn felt suddenly delighted after hearing this. "Where is he now? Why isn't he-?"
"Lord Aragorn, relax," smiled Théodwyn, putting a gentle hand on his right shoulder, "Legolas seemed to be concerned, indeed. When I have asked him about you when I first arrived here he said he didn't know. He has been wandering around with another man so I wasn't really sure of what is happening with him."
"Man?" Aragorn's eyes clouded darkly, "Rohimnūn?"
The lady blinked for a moment before shaking her head, "No, I believe it was another one of your rangers."
"One of my rangers?" Aragorn couldn't believe his ears. One of the rangers? Who? Why?
Suddenly there was a soft knock on the door. Aragorn and Théodwyn both looked up as it opened. A ranger and the Elf entered.
"Lord Aragorn?" called the ranger, Aragorn recognized as Dellion's voice. Beside him was Legolas, looking at Aragorn quietly. His stare made Aragorn conscious of his position with the Lady Théodwyn.
"Come in." he whispered, hoping to see a hint of annoyance on the Elf's face for it was he who told him he gets jealous with the lady of rohan. To his disappointment, Legolas continued to stare at them indifferently, he and Dellion were both looking uncertain if they should continue.
"We're very sorry to intrude," Dellion was saying apologetically. Aragorn nodded at him and then turned to Théodwyn, who understood instantly.
"I will visit you later, my Lord." She stood up gracefully, and bowed at him, before leaving.
Aragorn watched the man and Elf come near his bed with questions thundering in his mind.
"How do you fair, my lord?" Dellion asked with a smile on his lips, "Just when we thought it was hopeless for you and Iriad to survived, you both have surpassed our expectation as always."
"How is Iriad?" Aragorn decided it was the first question he must ask, the others will be later.
"Resting on the quarters." Dellion answered, looking satisfied.
The Chieftain nodded. He looked around the room and spotted two stools on his left.
"Take those seats; I want a full explanation of what has been happening…"
As Dellion and Legolas took the stools, Aragorn couldn't help but feel gloomy. The Elf wasn't showing any sign of being himself…
Dellion looked at him inquiringly and he nodded to start the story.
"After the battle we looked for you, but you could not be found. It was the same with Iriad. It was Rohimnūn who told us that he saw you get stabbed while fighting. We did not believe it until we see your body with our own eyes. All of us tried to locate your position but when we could not find any we decided it was indeed, your death, so we dedcided to go back to Minas Tirith with the grave news. It was a must to save the wounded too, captain."
"I understand that part very much," the Chieftain nodded impatiently. "What I would like to know is what happened to him?" He shot the Elf a look, who blinked back at him. Dellion looked sideways at Legolas, his face becoming grim all of a sudden.
"Ah… Now that you have mentioned it, this one over here seemed to have forgotten who you are, captain."
"Why?"
Dellion stared at the Chieftain for a moment before clearing his throat and starting,
"I don't know myself, captain, but he was like that after he heard of your death from Rohimnūn."
Aragorn shot Legolas a look who inhaled quietly. Dellion looked sideways at the Elf again.
"Legolas, if you could give us a moment here. In the window…"
"He will hear us even from that distant, he's an Elf." Aragorn was half annoyed at Dellion ordering his Elf around like that but the bitterness on his voice seemed to be left unnoticed by the two. His words, however, made Legolas look at him in wonder.
"Then I will leave, my Lord." the Elf said, standing up quietly while still staring at the man.
"On the balcony…you can stay there." the Chieftain said, looking back at the Elf, still searching but could find none. When Legolas had gone on the balcony, Dellion started his story.
"We arrived here late in the midnight with the grave news with us. It was Rohimnūn who broke the news to him and after it has been said the poor creature collapsed."
"Collapse…" Aragorn mouthed the word as he listened intently.
"Yes, my lord, and it was Rohimnun who brought him in his room. I saw him do it. I knew what he was feeling for the Elf so I decided to follow and guard him. All the rangers does feel it our duty to look after what you think is important, captain. We told Rohimnun to stay away from the Elf until he wakes up. We take shifts on guarding him until we decide to go back on the North."
Aragorn felt a swell of gratitude for his rangers that moment as he nodded and understood.
"He woke up late at sunset. It was I who was guarding him that time, captain. You would never imagine how berserk he was then. He could not recognize us, he even tried to run. He despised our hands my lord… It was as if a wild Elf was there in the room and he kept repeating never to touch him. It was a race. Until Lord Ecthelion talked to him."
"The steward…" Aragorn murmured to himself.
"Yes." nodded the ranger. "He told Legolas where he was and what he was doing there. He said you, Lord Thorongli would not be happy to see his friend like that. It was that which Legolas calm, my lord. He believed he had a friend. After that I escorted him back on his room, he had been asking about you. I said your name was Lord Aragorn, but for some reason you allowed yourself to be branded with a new name here in the West, that is Lord Thorongil. I told him he was your servant."
At this, Aragorn remembered what the Elf had told him back on the hall…
"You are my master!"
"I told him how you brought him back from Bree, how the two of you had gone along with each other. Legolas seemed to remember some of those times for he nods while I tell him so. He believed what we were saying was true, but he still could not remember what you looked like. He was depressed to know that you have died. Until two days ago when you and Iriad successfully returned."
Aragorn took in every word that Dellion said. He sat there on the bed, quietly pondering on what to do with everything that has been said and done. After a long pause he looked up at the ranger again.
"Did you not tell him…what we were together?"
Dellion shook his head apologetically.
"I… I did not think it was mine to pry over, Captain… and since you have returned my urge to tell him died down already. I know if some one is to tell him then it is you."
"Thank you." Aragorn nodded quietly. "Where is Rohimnūn?"
At the mention of the name, Dellion obviously smirked.
"He's around, though I do not know where. The Kings did something... and ever since our warning he has not shown himself for days. It seemed like we outraged him to the point that he wants to show he doesn't care. But he is around…Legolas doesn't think highly of him. We told him you loath each other."
Aragorn coughed and stared at the ranger in disbelief. The ranger smiled shrewdly.
"Thank you very much, Dellion. For everything, and for looking after him…" the chieftain sighed inwardly as he said this, thinking hard of any possible reasons for Legolas' actions.
"It is nothing, Captain." Dellion replied with a slight bow, "Nothing compare to your return."
The ranger stood up quietly and stared at Aragorn.
"Now it is your duty and responsibility on what to do next with him."
"Yes." Aragorn smiled slightly, "and it is yours with the rangers at the moment, Dellion."
The ranger nodded.
"I must go now. Iriad's demanding to see all of us."
"Go." Aragorn whispered.
When Dellion was gone Aragorn was left pondering on to himself. His troubles have not stopped bothering him. Legolas' sudden memory lost was a mystery and he would give anything to find out the core reason of this incident. His thoughts immediately jumped to Rohimnūn. He knew he had to deal with the man once again. Somehow he was the only answer he got…
The balcony door opened and Legolas looked inside.
"Ah, Dellion left?"
"He did." Aragorn answered, looking around at the Elf silently. "Come here."
Legolas entered the room, looking at Aragorn as he walked near. The man watched him with sad eyes that did not go unnoticed.
"You do not have to pity me." Legolas started quietly when he stopped on the side of the bed. Aragorn chuckled softly.
"I do not pity you… more over; I pity myself, why must you forget?"
Legolas immediately bowed his head, "Forgive me."
"Nay," Aragorn waved his apology away, "Elves are proud beings, do not lower yourself to me."
Legolas stared at him.
"But they say you are my Master…"
"It is only a title of belonging." Aragorn stared hard at the Elf, "Do you want to belong to me?"
The Elf remained quiet for awhile. Aragorn chuckled again.
"You do not have to worry about anything; I won't force you if you don't feel like it." The Chieftain threw his covers out and put a leg out, attempting to stand.
"You can't do that!" Legolas called in alarm as he put a hand on the man's shoulder. Aragorn gently shove it away and stood up. He leveled with the elf and arched an eyebrow.
"Do not pity me just because I'm wounded." He said, walking near the window and leaving the Elf staring after him.
Aragorn pushed the windows open and felt the breeze of the morning air. He could see the sun shining on the East with the plane of Gondor stretched in front of him.
"You are stubborn; you know that, my Lord?" said Legolas as he stood beside the man, and looking at the plane too. Aragorn looked sideways at him with meaningful eyes.
"Why must you forget?" he repeated quietly. The Elf looked back and was surprised by the emotion on the silver eyes.
"Lord Aragorn…" he started uncertainly but the man shook his head.
"Forgive me…" he muttered, looking away, "I seemed to have forgotten what you are going through… But indeed, it is very lonely… to be the only one to remember…"
Silence filled the two, and for a moment only the breeze of the wind could be heard. Aragorn looked sideways at the Elf, feeling calm. To his surprise he found the Elf looking back at him with serious eyes.
"You don't have to be the only one to remember." said the fair being that made Aragorn's heart thunder, "You can tell me."
At these words, the man reached his right palm toward the Elf's cheek, a familiar longing was on his eyes, with the ferocious roar of the beast back on his heart. He would love to kiss him, to make him whisper his name, it has been too long…
"Lord Aragorn…" the Elf whispered uncertainly. His uncertainty made Aragorn sigh and let go. He should try to control his gluttony, he thought, berating himself.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" he suddenly asked that caught the Elf off guard. After being asked, Legolas looked at him as if trying to ask himself the same question. After some time of deliberation, the Elf shook his head and answered truthfully,
"No, I have been told many times how great you were, and it struck me that you must have been a good man. But, even without those I feel simply calm beside you… probably because my body can remember you even if my mind can't."
"That's good." Aragorn answered immediately, "That's really good…"
There was another eye contact between the two until another knock on the door interrupted them. The two looked and saw Lady Théodwyn walking in with a tray of food on her hands.
"Lord Aragorn," she called smiling.
Aragorn turned to Legolas who looked at him with a small smile.
"I'll comeback later, my Lord." He said, bowing a little and walking toward the door way.
"Wait-" Aragorn called, his heart racing all of a sudden. Both Lady Théodwyn and Legolas looked at the Chieftain. Aragorn stared back, lost for words.
"Tell- Tell Iriad my words of gratitude." He said finally. Legolas nodded, and then with a bid to the Lady Théodwyn, left the room quietly. Aragorn stared after him with regret in his heart. His Legolas would never leave him alone… he was sure…
"Lord Aragorn, you must not be standing around! Your wounds have not yet healed!" Théodwyn whispered, leaving the tray on the side table and helping Aragorn back on his bed.
"I'm feeling much better," Aragorn told her, as he sat back on his bed and Théodwyn patted the covers back on his lap. "How is everything outside?"
"All is preparing for a feast, my Lord."
"Feast?"
"Yes, to celebrate your victory and your return, my Lord. Truthfully my father and Lord Ecthelion were planning to disturb your meal but I warned them not to. They will be speaking with you later in the afternoon about your plans…"
The Chieftain remained silent with his mind back on Legolas and how to help him.
..TT…TT...TT...TT…
The feast was started late that night after Aragorn was visited by the steward and the King of Gondor and making sure he could stand and walk. They sent him the gratitude of their people and themselves, with the hope that Aragorn would recover soon. The ranger thanked them as well and said he was planning to return to the North as soon as he can. This did not come as a surprise to the two.
"But I hope you could visit Rohan soon." Lord Thengel added with a hint in his voice.
Aragorn merely smiled and watched the two gentlemen leave his room. Aside from the update to him he also learned from the two that Rohimnun has been ordered to stay on the Western tower after his lie about Aragorn's real name has been revealed by King Thengel, and his rudeness to the King back on Rohan. This probably was the reason why the Gondorian hasn't bothered him one bit…
On the feast that night, Aragorn watched as his men ate and drank to their hearts content. He was standing on the side, watching and smiling at the feast, his eyes traveling from one person to another. Legolas was standing near him, quietly watching and observing. He had not shown any affection towards the man. Aragorn knew they could not stay like that longer…
"Legolas?" he started. The Elf looked at him inquiringly from the glass of wine he was sipping.
"I…do you want to walk outside for a bit?"
Legolas blinked at the man and then looked back at the feast.
"Of course," he nodded and the two left the hall quietly and walked outside the terrace, where the night sky could be seen.
"Don't you like it there?" Legolas asked when they stopped to admire the stars.
"It's not that." Aragorn answered, looking solemn, "I just prefer to be standing here with you."
The Elf did not answer. Aragorn felt the gust of wind touch his face. He closed his eyes, praying that Valar would give him strength for this unexpected confession. With another blow of the wind, the man inhaled and turned his eyes on the Elf who was watching him quietly.
"I love you."
He had told him this many times but this was the only time that the words seemed much important than his own life. Aragorn watched as the Elf blinked in surprise.
"If you could only remember-" he continued, his voice shaking at the emotion he was feeling, "We were together before you forgot everything. We love one another!"
He took a step toward the Elf but Legolas stepped back. Aragorn was hurt by this.
"My Lord, you're saying…" Legolas started, looking hard at the man, "it's impossible…"
Aragorn felt he was stabbed by million knives at the back and front. He watched Legolas step away more, looking doubtful and uncertain once again.
"You must believe me-!"
"Lord Aragorn?"
Legolas and Aragorn both looked up and saw Théodwyn standing by the entrance and looking curiously at the pair of them. The man closed his eyes and sighed. The lady walked near, oblivious as to what was happening around her. She was carrying with her a small mug of ale and she offered this to the man.
"For you, my Lord." She said, pleased with herself as Aragorn took it quietly. The man held the mug on his hands, and with a brief glance at Legolas, drank from it quietly. Théodwyn's smile broadened. Legolas on the other hand, held his breath, and then without further ado, turned his back on them and left. The lady did not notice him go but Aragorn was watching. He wanted to call out his name but he stopped himself. With a sad sigh, he turned to Lady Théodwyn who was watching him in interest.
"Father said you will be returning on the Northern Lands soon?"
"Yes," whispered the Chieftain silently.
Théodwyn smiled sadly. She walked around him, as if thinking, with Aragorn silent before her.
"Do you think you can visit Rohan?" she asked suddenly, "On your free day, I mean to say… my Lord?"
Aragorn blinked back, and then turned around to face Théodwyn.
"I'm sorry my Lady, you were saying?"
Théodwyn looked hurt for a moment before gaining back her smile. She walked near Aragorn and then said quietly.
"Do you think we'll ever see each other again?"
Aragorn looked surprised for a moment, "I'm not sure, Rohan is not really that close to the borders we're guarding…I don't think I'll have the time as well…"
Théodwyn looked like she was in tears that really made the Chieftain unnerved.
"I'm sorry." Théodwyn mumbled, "I'll see you around, my Lord."
She strode away from him with her right hand covering her mouth. The maiden left Aragorn gaping after her. The man blinked for a moment, before looking up at the sky and sighing.
Two people had walked away from him that night, he wondered if anyone would add at the number…
"Can't believe you would make a maiden cry, ranger."
Aragorn closed his eyes at the sky and silently prayed. Make him add to the number…
He shot Rohimnun a look from his left and saw the Gondorian leaning on the terrace wall with his arms crossed. The same smug look was on his face, but somehow Aragorn was sure something about his had changed.
"You are one lucky fellow, you know." Rohimnun continued with what appeared to be a sneer, "I have wished million times for your death but here you are before me. I'd say even you can trick the gods of the underworld."
"Stop strutting nonsense." Aragorn spat, with his eyes as sharp as knife. He faced the Gondorian with a sudden purpose. Rohimnun, however, merely shook his head quietly.
"If you are going to blame me for what the Elf is right now, then go ahead and be my guess. This is one of my wishes you see, to make him forget you. I suppose you are not the only one who's lucky."
"What did you do to him?" Aragorn asked icily. He wished he had his sword with him but he left it on the table inside his room, "What made him act that way? He started losing himself the day you attacked him!"
Rohimnūn opened his eyes and stared hard at Aragorn.
"What do you mean?"
The Chieftain exhaled impatiently before continuing, "That day, when he was running…don't tell me you have forgotten…he was so scared… the next day he couldn't remember anything! What did you do?"
Rohimnūn's frown vanished and was replaced by complete indifference.
"I did not mean to scare him… I was just playing around…"
Before the Gonodrian knew what was happening he felt a blow on his left face that sent him down the ground with a thud. Aragorn stood before him with his right hand into fist.
"Play?" his tone was murderous. "Your 'play' made him lost everything… even me…"
The sky above threatened a loud crack of thunder. Rohimnūn chuckled as he wiped the blood on his lip.
"What an imbecile." He muttered, standing up and looking at the ranger with a smirk, "What he forgot that day did him well, but what he forgot about you was better. But more importantly, he forgot you not because of me, but because of your own fault."
Aragorn frowned.
"What are you talking about…?"
"When I said you died," Rohimnūn looked away as he dusted himself, "He lost consciousness, and he forgot you when he woke up. But even if it wasn't me who brought the news to him, do you think he would react differently?" He shot Aragorn a look of despise, "He forgot you because it's the only thing he knew to prevent himself from dying. You knew he loved you but why did you make him believed that your dead? Do you think its right for Legolas to remember you painfully? Do you think you have the right to get angry because he has forgotten you when he was only protecting himself? Aren't you being selfish, Captain?"
Aragorn could not think of anything to say to this.
Rohimnun continued to glare at him, before turning around to leave.
"Now that you are back," the Gondorian stopped walking, "It's your business to make him remember. I will not interfere anymore… I have seen him die once because of you. But if you kill him twice I won't stand around to watch."
And with that the third person walked away from him that night.
Aragorn was left in silence.
~TBC~
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Happ New Year again! This is my first chapter for the year 2011!