Chapter 14
She was only aware of the warmth that wrapped around her. Unable to wake to see if she had dreamt the 'rescue', she decided to melt into the embrace. Her side throbbed painfully. She tried to move to rub the soreness away, but found that she could not.
"No, she hasn't moved yet. I'm so worried for her, Aragorn." Boromir's voice came softly and sounding sorrowful. A hand rested on her cheek, gently stroking her hair behind a pointed ear. Ava again reached her magic and inwardly sighed when she could not access it.
"Give her time, Boromir. She will make it." Aragorn replied quietly, while checking her wound. "She may have lost what small amount of voice she did have. Her neck looks agonizing." The healer stated, looking to the prince of stewardship. Boromir winced hoping he was wrong.
"Why would he do this?" he asked, scanning Ava's face.
Aragorn looked to him before bandaging her wound. "Perhaps he did it to hurt Gandalf, for his own sick pleasure, or to get information. These wounds only prove that she fought the wizard." He stated handing the man a salve for her neck. "This will help heal the burn properly without scarring. What is best for her is rest."
Boromir nodded slightly, putting the salve under his pack. "Thank you, Aragorn." He whispered. The Ranger rested a hand on his shoulder. "Alert me when she wakes." He requested before walking off, sitting beside Gandalf.
The white wizard had kept his gaze on his daughter, giving them space. He pardoned himself from Aragorn and went to his daughter. "Oh my sweet Aesuithiel, what has he done to you?" He murmured, kneeling beside her. Boromir looked up to him, smiling slightly. The wizard rested a hand on her head, gently searching her mind to see all Saruman cast upon her. Boromir tensed feeling her breathing pick up at the intrusion.
'Ada! I saw you fall.' She thought, feeling her father enter her mind.
"I know, dear one. However, I have returned until my task is complete. I am trying to think of a way to reverse Saruman's hold on your magic." Gandalf explained. "Rest, Ava." The wizard said softly before leaving her mind, sitting beside Aragorn once more.
Later that night, Ava woke up opening tired eyes. Boromir held her close to him in his sleep. Ava smiled looking to him, scanning his face. She frowned with concern seeing worry and sorrow in his features. She carefully turned in his arms lying on her side. She rested a slender hand on his cheek and kissed his lips tenderly.
The man hummed softly and returned it fully. His opened his eyes when Ava broke the kiss scanning his eyes. He smiled brightly hugging her against him. "I was so worried for you!" he whispered. Ava kissed his neck several times, tightening her arms around him closing her eyes tightly.
"Well good morning." Aragorn said walking up to them. Boromir laughed looking up to him, pulling away. "Look who is awake." Aragorn said grinning. Ava smiled looking up to the Ranger with a nod. "Let me look at your wound." He said kneeling beside her.
Ava turned so he could check her injury. Aragorn carefully removed the bandage and stared at it in shock. "That healed quicker than I thought it would." He muttered looking to her neck, which still looked half-raw from the burn. "Continue with the salve, Boromir and it should be healed in a day or so." Aragorn said smiling. "Get ready. We leave by sunrise."
They had made it to Rohan quicker than normal, thanks to Shadowfax leading the way. Ava had ridden her stallion, Shadow, with Boromir. Everyone stood in the Golden Hall of King Théoden with a glass of ale. The king raised his in the air.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this city. Hail the victorious dead!" he declared.
"Hail!" Came the response from the entire hall.
Ava drank to his toast, staying beside her father. They were near the tables watching the festivities go on. It was not until Merry and Pippin climbed onto the table, did Ava start enjoying the celebration. She chuckled as they danced and sang their song.
"You can drink your fancy ales
You can drink 'em by the flagon
But the only brew for the Brave and True
Comes from The Green Dragon"
They tapped their drinks roughly and drank them together. Ava smiled at them before Aragorn stepped up beside Gandalf. "No news from Frodo?"
"No word. Nothing." Gandalf stated sadly looking to the crowd. Ava glanced at her father then Aragorn.
"We still have time. Everyday Frodo moves closer to Mordor." The Ranger stated in a hushed tone.
"Do we know that?" Gandalf asked with doubt and worry sketched in his blue eyes. Aragorn paused to think for a moment.
"What does your heart tell you?" came his soft question.
This surprised both Gandalf and Ava. The white wizard smiled slowly. "That he is still alive." The Ranger nodded looking to the Hobbits dancing and singing again. Ava looked away resting a hand on the side of her neck, losing herself in thought. She jumped when Boromir wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her neck gently.
Ava sighed in relief realizing it was just him and flashed a bright smile at him. "Are you alright?" he whispered searching her face. She nodded slightly caressing his cheek and kissed his lips. He hummed and returned it lovingly. Ava smiles against him and breaks it after a moment, scanning his face. "Want to get away from the party for awhile?" he asked seeing how bored and tired she looked.
She smiled brightly at him, nodding to him. Boromir grinned at her and took her hand, which was resting over his, and lead her away from her father. She was glad her father was able to release some of Saruman's hold on her magic. She still could not speak yet, but she was excited she was able to enter minds and exchange feelings.
They dodged drunk and dancing people, making their way to the empties hallways. Ava smiled at him kissing his lips suddenly, once they were near an empty room. Boromir hummed in surprise, quickly returning it. "Mm- My love." Boromir whispered against her lips. They entered the room, closing the door behind them.
He kissed her lips again, smirking when he felt her entering his mind. Boromir held her against him and Ava melted into him, mixing their emotions. He moaned against her lips, deepening the kiss. She smirked hearing him while she began working on the ties to his shirt. They soon began making their way toward the bed, smiling brightly at each other.
A few hours later, Ava was snuggled up against Boromir on the floor with the rest of the fellowship. Boromir kept his arm around her protectively while he slept. They were not aware of the restless hobbit making his way quietly to Gandalf's cot. Ava was in a good dream when suddenly a shout for help startled her. She looked around confused and gasped when she saw Pippin writhing on the floor with the palantir.
"Gandalf! Help!" Merry cried out. Ava quickly pulled free from Boromir's hold on her and ran to help the hobbit. Gandalf jumped with a start hearing his name shouted. Aragorn and Legolas burst into the room with a cry. Aragorn grabbed the palantir from Pippin's hands without thinking. He fell to his knees looking to be in pain and drained of energy. Ava ran faster to him and snatched it away when Legolas braced Aragorn.
Sauron filled her mind and thoughts. "Where is the ring and the hobbit bearing it?" He whispered harshly in her mind. Ava winced glaring into the sphere, falling to her knees. "I do not know of whom you speak of!" She thought to him. "LIAR!" His voice rang in his head with a sudden piercing pain in the wound on her side. Images of Boromir dying by three arrows to the chest burned in her mind as he did this. She cried out silently in pain and rage throwing the ball into the corner of the room. Her father snatched a blanket off the nearest sleeping person and threw it over the sphere.
Boromir was holding onto her shaking shoulders from behind her. "Ava! Ava, look at me. It's alright!" Boromir whispered softly, moving in front of her. Ava eyes looked to his face quickly. He gasped seeing her eyes as fierce as a dragon's. They were slowly fading from silver with slits for pupils to the beautiful green eyes he was used to seeing. She gasped sharply looking him over, running her hands over his chest frantically.
Boromir caressed her face and kissed her lips gently. "Ava, I'm right here. It's alright." Ava hugged him quickly in relief, burying her face in his chest. Boromir held her while looking to the wizard and hobbit as they spoke. "Come let's get some more sleep." He soothed quietly. She merely nodded, seeing everyone else make their way for bed once more, her father leaving the room.
They all stood in the now empty hall with the King of Rohan. Ava stood beside Boromir, holding his hand though she stared at the floor. They listened patiently as her father spoke of what Pippin saw. Ava's gaze kept shifting to Boromir's chest with worry. The images of the man dying still fresh in her mind, along with the burning left behind from Sauron.
"Sauron fears this. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war." The old wizard said looking to Théoden purposefully.
The King of Rohan paused for a long moment looking to Gandalf. "Tell me… Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" He asked calmly looking to everyone else. Ava glanced at Aragorn who had mostly suppressed a stunned expression aimed at Théoden.
"I will go." He whispered looking away in thought.
"No!" Gandalf said immediately looking to Aragorn.
"They must be warned!" He protested.
"They will be." Gandalf said going up to the man telling him what to do. Ava looked up to Boromir knowing how much he wanted to return home. His features held excitement and his gaze rested on her with the question. She smiled at him and nodded slightly. "I'll go." She mouthed to him. "I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone." Gandalf said as he looked to Pippin.
Ava and Boromir began preparing the two horses for the long journey. Gandalf was entering the stables with Merry and Pippin when they were ready. Ava helped her father prepare by lifting Pippin up on the horse. Her father was answering his questions, obvious that he was growing impatient. Ava ran to Shadow and mounted him quickly. Boromir mounted behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. She smiled at him gathering the reigns.
"Merry!" Pippin shouted just before Shadowfax bolted from the stall at a gallop. Ava urged Shadow with gentle nudges and was rewarded with a lunge and remaining on Shadowfax's heels. Boromir clung tightly to Ava surprised they had not flown off when the animal surged forward. Ava glanced back at him, scanning his face with a small smile.
For three days, they rode hard, flying over valleys, through woods and across rivers. Ava gave energy to her horse when he started tiring, thus giving him an extra wind. Boromir had taken over the reigns a few times, so she could rest a bit. During the times she slept a dream kept playing over and over in her mind. A dream of love and passion she and Boromir had shared a couple nights ago when the dream would turn dark. Three arrows flew and landed with a sharp thud into Boromir's chest.
Startling Boromir when she jumped awake from her dream, Ava's eyes scanned him quickly. The prince of stewardship gazed at her confused every time. 'Sorry.' She mouthed petting his leg softly.
Before he could questions her, Gandalf called out, "We just passed into the realm of Gondor!" Boromir sighed with relief, eager to return home. Ava and her father stopped the horses on top of a hill that over-looked the White City of Stone. Ava patted Shadow firmly on the neck, proud of the exhausted animal.
"Home at last!" the man whispered with a bright smile. Gandalf glanced at him knowing that Denethor was completely different from when the son of the steward had seen him. He remained silent and urged them forward at an easy trot.