In the early hours of the morning, before the sun had fully risen, Kitra stirred from her sleep. She blinked away the remnants of a dream, one filled with stolen kisses and tender touches, only to realize that she was still safely cocooned in Aragorn's arms. A soft smile played on her lips as she carefully turned to face him, not wanting to wake him just yet.
In the dim light of the campfire's dying embers, Kitra studied Aragorn's sleeping face. The lines of worry and responsibility that often creased his brow were smoothed away in slumber, making him appear younger and more at peace. Gently, she reached up and traced the curve of his jaw with her fingertips, marveling at the rare moment of tranquility they shared amidst the chaos of their quest.
As if sensing her touch, Aragorn's eyes fluttered open, his gaze immediately locking with hers. A sleepy smile spread across his face as he pulled her closer, his hand splaying across the small of her back. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.
"Good morning," Kitra whispered back, her own smile mirroring his. She leaned in, brushing her nose against his in a tender gesture, before capturing his lips in a soft, languid kiss. Aragorn hummed contentedly, his fingers tangling in her sleep-tousled hair as he deepened the kiss, the world around them fading away as they lost themselves in the intimate moment.
Reluctantly, they parted, both aware that they needed to rouse themselves before the others awoke. Kitra sighed, resting her forehead against Aragorn's chest for a moment longer, savoring the last few seconds of their peaceful sanctuary.
"We should get up," Aragorn whispered, his fingers tracing soothing patterns along her spine. "Gandalf will want to set out soon."
Kitra nodded, stealing one last kiss before untangling herself from Aragorn's embrace. As they rose, stretching out the kinks from sleeping on the hard ground, the camp began to stir.
As Kitra gently roused Alana and the hobbits from their slumber, she couldn't help but smile at their drowsy, disoriented expressions. Pippin, in particular, seemed reluctant to leave the comfort of his bedroll, grumbling about the early hour and the chill in the air.
"Come on, Pip," Merry chided, nudging his friend with his foot. "The sooner we get moving, the sooner we can have breakfast."
At the mention of food, Pippin perked up, his eyes brightening as he scrambled to his feet. "Breakfast, you say? Well, why didn't you lead with that?"
Kitra chuckled, shaking her head at the hobbit's predictable enthusiasm for meals. She turned to Alana, who was already rolling up her bedding, her movements efficient and practiced.
" I saw you were making friends with Boromir last night." Kitra said quietly.
Alana paused, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she glanced up at Kitra. "He's a good man," she said softly, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "I know you and Aragorn have your doubts, but I believe his heart is true."
Kitra sighed, reaching out to squeeze Alana's shoulder reassuringly. "I don't doubt his intentions, Alana. It's just... this quest, the Ring... it has a way of twisting even the noblest of hearts. We must be cautious."
Alana nodded, her expression somber as she resumed packing her gear. "I understand. But I also think it's important to have faith in our companions."
As the camp came to life around them, Kitra found herself pondering Alana's words as they finished breaking camp and prepared to set out once more. Faith in their companions was essential, she knew, but the weight of their quest and the ever-present danger of the Ring's corrupting influence made it difficult to fully trust anyone outside of their tight-knit fellowship.
As they began their day's journey, Kitra fell into step beside Aragorn at the head of the group. The ranger's keen eyes scanned the surrounding landscape, alert for any signs of trouble, while his hand rested reassuringly on the hilt of his sword.
"I spoke with Alana this morning," Kitra said softly, her voice low enough that only Aragorn could hear. "She seems to be growing close to Boromir."
Aragorn's brow furrowed, a flicker of concern passing over his features. "I've noticed."
"I also noticed before his brother left that they were talking quite a bit. She hasn't shown interest in men in almost twenty years. Not since her husband." Kitra said, her voice trailing off, as she looked over to her cousin who was handing Boromir a bowl of food.
Aragorn followed Kitra's gaze, watching the interaction between Alana and Boromir with a thoughtful expression. "Grief can linger long in the heart," he murmured, his own experiences with loss coloring his words. "But perhaps Alana is ready to open herself to the possibility of love once more."
Kitra nodded, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I hope so. She deserves happiness, after all she's been through." Her eyes drifted back to Aragorn, a flicker of uncertainty passing over her features.
The group marched on for what seemed like endless days, pausing at nightfall to rest and replenish their energy. Unlike the seasoned Rangers in the group, the hobbits struggled with the strenuous trek across the country. Kitra stuck close to her Alana and Aragorn, exchanging small talk whenever they caught their breath. But Kitra noticed that Alana seemed drawn to Boromir, often deep in conversation with him as they journeyed through the rugged terrain.
Kitra was grateful for this newfound companionship for Alana, who did not have many friends back home. Kitra had had her doubts at first about Boromir, and while he did have a set mind about the roles of women on the battlefield, she had heard Alana trying to persuade him otherwise. She could see that Boromir was a good man, who cared deeply for his family with the way he talked about his younger brother.
Lost in the rhythm of their travels, Kitra didn't keep track of the passing days. It helped make the daunting journey seem more manageable when she wasn't counting down until it ended.
One afternoon they found themselves stopped for lunch at a hill covered in rocks which would provide cover if they needed it. As the sun beat down on them, the fellowship took a much-needed break at the top of a hill. The ground was littered with rocks, providing ample cover if they should need it.
Gandalf sat off to the side, puffing away on his pipe as he conversed with Gimli. Sam and Frodo huddled around a small fire, cooking food for the entire party. Merry and Pippin, along with Alana and Boromir, were engaged in sword practice. The Hobbits looked determined as they followed her cousins' lead, knowing they would need to defend themselves on their journey.
Aragorn sat nearby on a log, smoking his pipe while keeping an eye on the sparring match. The gentle breeze stirred through her hair as she lay with her head in his lap, taking a moment to rest after pulling the last night watch. She had grown accustomed to little sleep on their journey, but was grateful for the brief nap.
With her hood pulled up to shield her eyes from the bright sun, she blindly reached into her pack and pulled out an apple. As she bit into it, the sweet juice dripped down her chin. Before she could wipe it away, Aragorn's rough fingers gently brushed it aside. Lifting her gaze to meet his loving gaze, she blushed at the sweet gesture.
"Thank you." She whispered softly.
"You're welcome." With her eyes barely open she can see the smile on his face as he looked down at her. "Are you tired?"
"A little." She replied, closing her eyes once again.
"Take a moment to rest," he suggested, and she simply nodded in agreement. She shifted her body so that her head rested more comfortably in his lap, exhaling a deep sigh of contentment. It was a rare treat to have him by her side on this long journey, even if they were not completely alone. The time spent with him was precious to her.
Suddenly, Pippin's unexpected yelp jolted her out of her half-sleep state. Reacting quickly, she reached for the dagger hidden in her boot, ready to defend herself. As soon as her eyes opened fully, she winced at the blinding sunlight and instinctively buried her face into Aragorn's chest, seeking refuge from the bright rays. He chuckled softly and gently placed a hand on the top of her head, shielding her further from the sun's glare.
"Get him." Alana's urgent cry echoed from her left, breaking through the stillness of the forest.
As she opened her eyes and looked up at him, she winced at the bright sunlight filtering through the canopy. She could see that he was grinning down at her, his dark hair tousled from their playful nap. With a half-hearted punch to his gut, she complained about the brightness and rubbed her tired eyes. "How long was I asleep?" she asked.
"Not very long; maybe half an hour," he replied with a smile. She groaned in exhaustion and slowly sat up, still feeling the heaviness of sleep in her limbs. Glancing over at the hobbits, she rolled her eyes at their antics. Alana and the Hobbits had joined forces to attack Boromir, and they now had the poor man pinned to the ground as they playfully wrestled with him. Their laughter filled the air, harmonizing with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves.
The children's shouting and roughhousing caught the attention of a nearby woman, who pointed at them with a tired expression. "You should probably break that up before they do any damage to each other," she said, her voice tinged with impatience.
She glanced at the group of children, knowing that if she intervened, her cousin would quickly pull her into the fray. But she also knew better than to let these little fighters go unchecked.
Aragorn's booming voice cut through the chaos as he shouted at the group of children to stop. Alana turned to face him, her eyes wild with fury. "Gentlemen?! What do you take me for, you heathen!" she yelled, her gaze shifting from Aragorn to the hobbits standing nearby. She seemed to view them as her loyal minions.
"Attack!" Alana commanded, sweeping her arm out towards the hobbits as if signaling an army into battle. The chaos only intensified as the children charged forward with renewed energy, their shouts and laughter echoing through the trees.
With no hesitation, both hobbits lunged at Aragorn's legs, dragging him backwards onto the ground with a loud thud. Their faces were alight with mischief as they burst into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Finally noticing her presence, their eyes locked onto her like predators stalking their prey and before she knew it, they were upon her. Fingers wiggled and danced along her sides, tickling her mercilessly until she was shrieking with laughter. But suddenly, the fun turned painful as one of them jabbed too hard into her left ribcage.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she yelped in pain. Pippin's concerned face appeared above her, followed by Merry's worried expression. With the help of Aragorn, she managed to get to her feet and stretched out the discomfort.
"It's okay," she reassured them through gasps for air.
"We didn't mean to hurt you," Merry apologized, guilt evident in his voice.
"I'm fine," she insisted, brushing off their worries. But then Gimli's statement caught her attention and she whipped around to see what was going on. In the distance, a dark cloud loomed ominously, moving towards them at an alarming speed. She couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding wash over her
"Its moving fast... against the wind" Boromir muttered to himself.
"Credbain! From Dunland!" Legolas yelled out to the group and she looked at Aragorn.
"Quick, hide!" Aragorn's panicked voice sent a jolt of fear through her body as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards their scattered packs. Frodo followed close behind, his small frame struggling to keep up.
Glimpsing to her left, she saw Boromir forcefully pulling Alana along with him. Legolas was still scanning the sky for any signs of danger. She prayed silently that the flock of crows wouldn't spot them.
Aragorn guided her towards a rocky outcropping and they both dove under it for cover. The weight of his body landing on top of hers knocked the breath out of her, leaving her gasping for air.
"Aragorn, you're crushing me," she managed to wheeze, attempting to push him off so she could breathe again.
Realizing his mistake, he quickly shifted most of his weight off of her without saying a word. She took in a deep gulp of air just as the flock of crows swooped by, their beady eyes searching for any sign of their prey. After circling around the rocks a few times, they flew off in another direction. It was only then that Aragorn stood up and offered her a hand to help her up from the ground. He apologized once again for accidentally landing on top of her.
"Saruman's spies. The southern passage is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras," Gandalf declared grimly, his usually calm demeanor betraying a sense of urgency.
She groaned inwardly at the thought of traversing through snowy mountains. She had not packed for such harsh weather conditions. But looking up at the towering mountain looming over them, she knew there was no other choice but to follow the group into the treacherous pass. The cold air already starting to seep through her clothes, she could feel her mood turning sour.