I walked quietly to Theodred's room, flitting in and out of the shadows. It was approaching midnight. Though it was improper for me to be out going to visit him so late, I couldn't resist. I had just finished talking with Gandalf. After the end of the feast we had sat down to plan our trip to the Shire. We were to leave in the morning so as to make it there on time but still allowing for a gentle traveling pace.

Reaching his room, I knocked on the door. I waited a few seconds before the door slowly opened. "Dela? What are you doing here do late?" Theodred ushered me inside as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. I sat down on his bed and he sat beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I leaned against him and sighed. "Gandalf asked me to go to the Shire with him and I agreed. Unfortunately he wants to leave in the morning. I don't know how long I'll be gone."

"Dela…" Theodred paused. I looked up at him and frowned. He looked uneasy. "What's wrong Theo?" He stood up and began to pace. I watched him silently, waiting for him to speak. The silence felt like an eternity.

"Dela, my father has made me Second Marshal. I'm going to leave next week to lead my men against the orcs. I didn't want to tell you until it was time for me to go, but now you're leaving as well…" My heart dropped at his words and I stood up, walking over to hug him. "What's going to happen to us then?" I almost didn't ask the question, too afraid to hear the answer.

He pulled me close to him and grimaced. "We end us Dela. I love you, but I can't do this to you. There's a very real possibility I won't come back alive and with you leaving it just isn't going to work."

I shook my head and stood on my toes, brushing a light kiss on his lips, then pulled away and looked at him. "Theodred, I don't want us to end. Please reconsider! I love you and want to be with you. Don't end it all just because we'll be apart for a little while. I'm begging you not to do this."

He pulled me back in and kissed me gently, then let me go and stepped away. "I'm sorry, but it has to be this way."

I just stared at him, fighting the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. Turning around, I walked to the door and opened it.

"Fine Theo. This is it then. Don't bother coming to say goodbye to me when I leave. I don't want to see you ever again." I walked out of his room and ran to my own, flopping down on my bed. I curled up into a ball and cried myself to sleep, wishing it could have ended differently.

….

He didn't come to see me the next morning. I ate a quick breakfast and gathered my things, then went to the stables to meet Gandalf. I had said my goodbyes to Theoden and Eowyn earlier. Now I saddled up my mare and waited. I kept hoping he'd show up and tell me he was just being foolish last night, but he didn't and when Gandalf arrived I noiselessly mounted Wyn and followed Gandalf out of the gates.

We didn't speak until we stopped a few hours later. I dismounted near a stream and walked along it as Gandalf watered the horses.

"Ara, come back now dear. I'd like to cover as much ground as possible today." Gandalf called out to me. I quickly returned and mounted my horse again. Sighing, Gandalf looked at me. "It'll get easier my dear. Theodred will come to his senses and the next time you two meet it'll be as if nothing ever happened."

I stared at Gandalf. It crossed my mind to ask him how he knew what was bothering me, but I pushed the question aside. Gandalf always seemed to know what was going on. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes Ara, I do think so. Do not fret about it anymore. Perhaps you will find that you do not really love him and this is a blessing in disguise." I nodded and we set out again.

We traveled like this for many days, catching up with each other on what had happened since we last saw each other. I slowly began to put Theodred out of my mind. Gandalf was right. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Finally after a few weeks of riding we arrived on the outskirts of the Shire.