Chapter 5

Lee awoke with a start. It was currently three days since Aria had gone into a coma. Ron, Finn, Dan, and Rohi would be arriving today. Lee could only hope Ron would tell him what his dream had meant. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was nearly noon. Getting to his feet, popping his back from sleeping in the uncomfortable hospital chair, he kissed Aria's brow.

"I'll bring some people by in about two hours who will help you come back to me, meleth." Lee left the room and went to his car.

Two hours later found him at the Airport waiting for his friends. The plane landed late, creating a delay. He was starting to fidget, having expected to be back beside Aria's bed at this very moment. The first two he saw were the twins, Dan and Rohi. They were tall, muscular, and dark. Their black tresses had been cut short. Dan's were almost a crew cut while Rohi's hair was shaggy and fell to his ears, curling behind the ears.

"Lee!" they called when they caught sight of their friend.

"It's been too long mellons," Lee said, grasping first Dan then Rohi's forearm in their warrior embrace.

"Ada and Finn are coming," Dan said. Just then the two were spotted, Finn's golden tresses still long, but only touching his shoulders now, while Ron had left his tresses alone. Rohi's eyes began to sparkle with mischief upon sighting his father and mentor.

"That's what happens when you hit old age!" Rohi was promptly slapped upside the head by Finn.

"Good to see you again Lee," Ron said stoically.

"Yeah. Rohi's been cracking one too many old jokes lately," Finn glared at said mentioned person.

"Good to see you all after all these years," Lee said courteously. "Would you like to stop by my place first? Leave all your luggage there?"

"Yeah," Ron said exchanging glances with Finn.

Lee made a stop at his two-story home so they could all get a refreshment ad put their suitcases down. After twenty minutes there, they left for Miami General Hospital.

"What happened Lee?" Ron asked as the entourage made their way to the elevator.

"I should have kept a better handle on her!" Lee exclaimed, frustration leaking out into his words. "We were called to what should have been a simple domestic. Though it quickly escalated and turned into a hostage situation. We were being shot at. Back-up came and Aria got the brilliant idea to negotiate with the bastard. He shot her twice. One the Kevlar stopped, though it broke a rib, cracked two others, and the second shot got her in her leg. It severed her main femoral artery."

"Well we're here now. Hopefully we can get her out of her coma," Ron winked. They came to her room.

"I wanted everyone to meet her differently," Lee said, frowning at the door.

"You feel that strongly mellon?" Dan asked, frowning as he remember the last person Lee felt so strongly about.

"Yes, I do," Lee paused before opening the door. The visitors could only see a mass, breathing deeply with the aid of multiple machines. The room was semi-dark with shadows spilling everywhere. They all approached. A pale girl with medium length brown hair was lying there. A very familiar face.

"You're in love with her?" Rohi finally blurted out. The rest of them exchanged looks and Finn silently shut the door.

"How in the world did you manage to find her?" Ron mused. "After all this time."

"You know her?" Lee asked, bewildered at their apparent familiarity with her.

"Yes, we do. As do you, but she was gracious and took your memories of her time with you as well as that dark time, so as to not cause you pain," Finn explained.

"Who? Aria?" Lee was confused.

"Her real name isn't Aria, Lee. It's Ariava, the Daughter of Aulë and Yavanna," Dan said, sighing.

"And bonded to a Durin. Kili," Rohi added. Lee looked at them all in horror.

"A Durin?" He whispered, faint touches of memories evading his mind.

"Yes," Ron said in his soft but direct voice. "And if she is to survive in this world, we must find Kili for her."