The following morning at breakfast, Legolas kept giving her and Aragorn smiling looks and Gimli rolled his eyes. The fellowship was sitting with each other at one of the tables in the Golden Hall when Boromir spoke up. "Alarain." he said, drawing her attention. "I was wondering..." he began. "What did Aragorn do to you yesterday?" Alarain stiffened and stared at him. He smiled. "You walked right by me to your room, but when I greeted you, you ignored me."
Alarain glanced around nervously. "I did?"
He nodded and Legolas spoke. "I too was wondering why you had been chasing her." he said to the ranger. "You both nearly trampled me on your way past."
Neither Aragorn nor Alarain offered an explanation and Gimli chuckled. Merry had been sitting quietly beside Boromir when he spoke up. "I don't get it." he said. Boromir leaned down and whispered something in his ear. A look of understanding came across his face before he smiled widely and glanced between the two of them.
"What did happen?" Boromir asked.
There was no answer and Aragorn got up to leave. All eyes except for Alarain's watched him go before turning back to her. Legolas and Boromir exchanged a look before getting up and sitting on either side of her.
"There's no escape for you lass." Gimli chuckled again.
Legolas leaned one elbow on the table and watched her face. With one of her friends on each side, there was no hiding her expression. Her face was hot and Legolas laughed. "Alarain. We won't let you go until you tell us." he threatened.
"You're all as bad as old ladies." she mumbled.
"Excuse me?" Boromir asked.
She looked up to him. "Old ladies love gossip." she explained.
Him and the others laughed. "I guess we are as bad as old ladies then. So? Are you going to tell us?"
Alarain's heart was beating rather fast with their teasing tones and she wished Aragorn would come save her or something. "Nothing happened." she lied.
Merry let out a huff. "Likely story Alarain." he snickered.
"Oh, just tell them." Gimli insisted. "They'll leave you alone if you do."
"No they won't." she countered.
Boromir and Legolas exchanged another glance. "And why is that?" the elf asked. "What happened?" he repeated.
"Nothing... he just..."
They leaned in. "Yes?" Boromir pried.
Blood pumped fast through her body as she spoke, remembering the moment with Aragorn. "We kissed, alright?" she admitted quietly.
"Finally!" Gimli cried. "About time that laddie did something!" What all of them didn't know however, was that it wasn't the first time.
Alarain felt herself blushing as they all watched her with growing smiles. Legolas sat up straight again and sighed. "Ah, love. It's a beautiful thing."
Boromir slid over so she could throw her legs over the bench and leave. He was grinning up at her and she gave him a hard glare.
Walking quickly away, she didn't run until she was out of the building. She needed some time alone and dashed to the stables to get Fayna out. She gave her a quick brushing before saddling her and mounting. Pushing her forward, she cantered out the gates and onto the plains. It was not long before she heard hoof beats behind her. She urged her mare into a gallop and smiled as the wind rushed past her. Glancing over, she saw her pursuer as he came up beside her. Brego was faster than Fayna, and Aragorn soon pulled in front. He turned his horse, slowing her down and they soon came to a halt.
"Alarain!" he said. "You shouldn't go out by yourself! It's not safe!"
"I can take care of myself!" she shot back. Aragorn looked quite stunned at her outburst. "I'm sorry." she said, looking away. "It's just, lately you seem to think I can't."
"Alarain." he said carefully. "I know you can."
She looked over. "Then why do you..."
"Because I worry about you." he interrupted. "You've begun to mean a lot more to me, and I don't want to lose you."
Alarain smiled. His words made her feel good. They made her feel special, and she liked that. Though his protectiveness was still slightly annoying, she agreed to go back with him. They trotted side by side through the gates and up to the stable. Putting the horses away in their respective stalls, she glanced over to see him watching her. She wished her horse farewell and they came out to the corridor again, meeting in the middle.
Aragorn said nothing but took her hand. He brought it up and kissed it, not moving his eyes from her. She blushed and he smiled before turning and striding out.
Soon, she found herself back at the sparing arena that she had come across Boromir in the day before. There were some guards practicing and she decided to watch.
They were well matched and neither of them seemed to gain the upper hand. After a moment, one of them saw her watching. He paused and came over. "Excuse me milady." he said, giving her a polite nod. "Are you the warrior woman that everyone speaks of?"
Alarain almost laughed at that. "I did not know that's what I've been dubbed, but I suppose I am." she answered with a grin.
They exchanged a glance and the other one spoke. "Would you care to show us your skills?"
She hesitated. "I've not practiced in a while."
"That's alright." the first one said. "We'll practice with you."
Alarain gave them each a look before giving in. "Alright, if you insist."
They smiled. "We do."
She walked into the middle and drew her blade. One moved towards her. "Ready?" he asked.
She sent him and nod and he attacked. It was easy to block and he gave her an impressed glance before trying again. This time, he lunged forward and stabbed, testing her abilities. She dodged to the side and twisted his sword away with hers. They continued for a while and she could tell he was holding back.
"Now it's my turn." the other guard said from his spot by the side. "And I won't go easy on you." he smiled.
The first one gave him a playful shove as they switched places. He unsheathed his sword and sprang at her right away. She wasn't expecting it and jumped aside to the side to avoid his sharp blade. He kept on her and she had to concentrate hard to block his crazy stabs and swings. Alarain was glad not to be wearing a dress, for if she had been, she would've tripped long ago.
His sword suddenly slipped off hers and sliced open her sleeve. The guard was about to apologize when he saw the scar. They both stared at it before looking up to her. Their eyes grew dark and one spoke. "You have the mark of Saruman. You must have been spying for him all along!" They advanced and Alarain watched in horror as they grabbed for her.
"No!" she yelled. "I would never work for him!"
She tried to get away, but they ignored her protests and took hold of her by the arms before pulling her along with them. "Come on." one said to the other. "Let's throw her in the dungeon. That'll teach her a lesson."
"Yes! Then we'll tell Theoden King of our find!" he grinned.
They yanked her roughly after them and through a door in the side of a hill. Another guard stood when seeing them. "What's this?" he asked.
"She's a spy of Saruman."
They showed him the scar and he glared. He then pushed her harshly into a cell. Closing the door, he locked it and sent her a wicked smile. "You witch." he growled before walking back to his post.
The others had left to tell the king already and she looked around in the dark. Her cell was slightly damp with cobwebs everywhere. She felt her heart pounding in fear and glanced over at the guard. He stood near the doorway to the dungeon smoking a pipe in a bored manner. Alarain slowly sat down on the floor as far from the walls as possible. They were covered in webs and she didn't wish to be close to any spiders. She wasn't terrified of them, but she'd rather not touch the creepy little critters.
Aragorn's POV
Aragorn was speaking with Theoden when the two Rohirrim guards entered. They bowed low to the king and told him they had some news.
"Speak then." Theoden ordered.
They straighted and Aragorn watched in interest as they glanced at each other excitedly. One stepped forward and spoke. "We caught another of Saruman's spies." he announced.
The ranger was surprised and looked to see the same emotion on the king's face as well. "Well who is it?" Theoden asked. "And where is he?"
"Not he, sire. She." the second guard corrected. He too stepped forward. "It is the Lady Alarain milord."
Aragorn froze and a feeling of dread swept over him. They saw her scar! "What?" he yelled, startling the two guards. Rage suddenly came over him and he shot forward, grabbing the closest one by his shirt front. "What did you do to her?" he growled.
The man stared wide eyed and scared at his sudden outburst. He looked to the king for orders, but Theoden just watched him with shocked eyes. "We put her in the dungeon milord." he stuttered to Aragorn. The ranger pushed him away and rushed out of the building.
Alarain's POV
Absently flicking a spider away from her, Alarain was still leaning back on the bars and hoping for help to come when she heard a commotion by the door. She turned to see the guard step in someone's way.
"I'm sorry, but you cannot enter milord." he said gruffly.
The shadowed figure in front of him stepped forward and glared him down. It seemed to have an effect on him, for he soon looked away and moved. Aragorn rushed past him and dashed to her side. She was relieved to find it was him. Had it been anyone else, she didn't know if they would've been able to intimidate the guard as he had.
"Alarain, are you alright? They didn't hurt you did they?" he asked, crouching down beside her.
She rolled her eyes at him through the bars. "I'm in a spider infested cell. How do you think I'm doing." Aragorn gave her a slightly annoyed look. "I'm alright." she said, giving him a clear answer.
He reached through the bars and took her hand. "What happened?" he asked quietly.
"I was practicing my sword work with them and one of their swords slipped. It caught my sleeve and ripped it." She showed him the rip that revealed the hand. "You can guess how the rest of the story goes."
"Did they hurt you?" he asked again.
Her arms were aching a bit from their rough yanking, but she didn't want Aragorn to know that. "No. They didn't. I'm fine."
He gazed into her eyes, looking for something. "I don't believe you." he whispered.
His thumb brushed the back of her hand and she leaned her head on a bar. It was almost a nice moment, except for the fact that they were in a dismal dungeon full of bugs.
Their heads swung around when there were more sounds from the doorway. The king entered, followed by Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Merry and even Eowyn.
"Let me see your arm." the king ordered, coming to stand by the cell. She and Aragorn got to their feet and she silently pulled her ripped sleeve away. Theoden's face grew pained for a moment. "Did Gandalf know about this?" he asked. Alarain nodded.
"He knew about it and still trusted her." Aragorn insisted. "She is no threat to you. Gandalf would have known if she was."
Her friends were quiet as they looked for Theoden to speak. He appeared to be deliberating. "That is true." he said slowly. "Tell me then. How did you get such a mark?"
All eyes were on her. Aragorn was the only one present who knew how it had happened, and the others waited curiously for her answer. She felt small and scared with everyone waiting and watching, and when she hesitated too long, Aragorn spoke for her. "She was caught by Saruman. He thought she was a spy sent by you and tortured her." he said to the king. Theoden looked shocked at this news and his eyes moved back to her. "He put that mark on her before throwing her out. Not long ago, he began torturing her again, though this time in her head. He almost drove her to kill Boromir, but she somehow won the fight inside her and, instead of killing him, she saved his life." he finished and everyone seemed to hold their breath.
Theoden watched her thoughtfully, while her friends stared on in amazement and shock. Eowyn looked slightly impressed.
"Do you all trust her?" the king asked, turning to the others.
He received nods and proud smiles. Looking about again, the king asked the same question to Aragorn. He gazed over to her and his eyes were soft and full of care. "With my life." he whispered.
Theoden watched him carefully before turning to the guard that was waiting quietly by the door. "Release her." he ordered. "I apologize Alarain." he spoke to her as the man unlocked her cell. "Please, you must understand that we had been enemies with the White Wizard for a long time. After Grima, we cannot be too careful. Will you except my deepest apology?"
Stepping from the damp spider hole, she nodded. "I understand and I don't blame you. If I were you, I would be suspicious of me as well." she smiled.
She suddenly felt something wrap around her legs. Looking down, she discovered a hobbit had locked his arms around her legs and wasn't letting go. "I'm so glad you're alright Alarain!" he said. "Pippin leaving was bad enough. I don't think I could have handled losing another friend as well."
Giggling, she returned his hug. Gimli gave her a pat on the back and Legolas sent her a relieved smile. Boromir walked up next and grinned. "I didn't know Aragorn trusted you with his life, but I sure do." He too gave her a big brotherly hug and left with Legolas and Gimli. Merry finally let go and trotted after them.
"Milady." Alarain turned to see Eowyn still staring at her with amazement. "I cannot even begin to imagine what you have gone through. I'm just happy to see you out of that jail." she smiled.
Alarain sent her a nod and smile back before Aragorn spoke. "You must be tired." She only just noticed then how dark it was already. The sun was only a hand above the horizon and was shinning a brilliant orange. "Come with me." the ranger spoke again.
Before they left, Theoden apologized once more and she began to feel very awkward with the king practically groveling at her feet. Aragorn quickly lead her away before he could say anything more.
When they were out of sight, he took her hand and kept it all the way to her room. She was thankful for it as her eyes were beginning to fall and her feet were dragging. He brought her into her room and closed the door quietly as she let go of his hand and went to the bed.
Lying down still dressed in her ranger garb, she sighed and closed her eyes. Aragorn was halfway to her side when a whine sounded. He gave a frustrated sigh and went back to let Brenir in. The slowly fattening dog wandered to the bed and jumped up, turning in a few circles before plopping down. The ranger closed the door a second time and came to crouch by her side.
"Alarain." he whispered. A groan was her only answer. Aragorn sighed again and caressed her hand with his fingers. "Goodnight melamin."
His hand slipped away but she caught it. "Wait." He turned back. "Stay." she whispered.
He hesitated, but soon climbed beside her and she rolled over to him in her sleepy state. The ranger took her in his arms and held her tight.
Alarain blinked herself awake and looked up to his face. "What did you say?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" He looked back down at her and her heart skipped with his face so close.
"You said something in elvish. What did it mean?"
He paused, seemingly thinking about whether or not to tell her. Stroking her arm gently, he pulled her to his chest. "The word was melamin. It means 'my love'."
A smile grew across her lips, though he couldn't see, and her heart flipped. Snuggling closer, she felt his arms give her a small squeeze before she began to drift to sleep.
"Goodnight melamin." he whispered again, kissing her hair tenderly.