It had been 3 days since Maethor had arrived with Frodo and she had passed out and neither one had woken. Aragorn and the hobbits had arrived the day before. The hobbits were completely worried about the friend that they were off to his room as soon as Elrond had told them where it was. Aragorn chuckled as he watched the halflings runoff. "I better go thank Maethor for them for her getting him here in time. " he said.
Elrond's face dropped at the mention of Maethor and it didn't go unnoticed by the ranger.
"My Lord, what happened? Is Maethor alright?" Aragorn asked quickly.
Elrond let out a loud sighed as Aragorn feared the worst until the elf spoke "She was stabbed on her left side by one of the wraiths on her way to us. The fact that she hasn't properly rested in days didn't help either...I didn't even know she was wounded until she passed out in front of me from loss of blood but we were lucky and she survived and is resting now."
A strike of pain and guilt hit Aragorn's heart but also relief at the news that MAethor was alive. Elrond could sense the guilt coming from Aragorn.
"It was not your fault, Aragorn. You did what you thought was right even though I know she left little room for you to argue with her. Frodo would not have survived had she not brought him to us...I just wish she wasn't so reckless." Elrond told him.
Aragorn nodded but still felt slightly responsible, he was the one who let her go alone.
Elrond then took the liberty of showing Aragorn his room. the two walked in silence down the halls.
"My Lord," Aragorn said "If I may, Who is she...Maethor?"
Elrond looked at the ranger but shook his head. "It is not my place to reveal her true identity but fear not for I believe it will be revealed...in due time." replied the elf as they arrived at the ranger's room.
Aragorn now sat alongside Maethor's bed as he held a book in his hand. He had been searching for anything that may lead him to solve the mystery of the woman that laid in the bed recovering next to him but after all the books he had been through there was nothing.
A soft groan pulled Aragorn from his thoughts as he looked over to see that Maethor's head was in turned in the opposite direction and watched as her eyes fluttered open. A gasp left her lips as she shot up from her pillow regretting her choice of action as she felt the pain shot up her side.
Aragorn immediately stopped her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Maethor." he said causing her to turn her head towards him. "It's alright, you're safe, everyone is safe." He told her, trying to calm her.
"Aragorn?" she asked causing him to smile and nod. "Yes, it's alright. You're safe." he said again. MAethor took a deep breath and relaxed against her pillow. "How long have I've been out for?" she asked. "3 days. We arrived yesterday, Gandal arrived yesterday as well." Aragorn replied.
MAethor removed the blankets to see that her wound was now wrapped in bandages. "How long before these come off?" she asked.
"When you learn that you can't always be reckless." Said a voice. Both looked over to see Elrond walk in. "Uncle..." MAethor started but Elrond shook his head.
"My dear, you may be half-elf but that doesn't mean you can reject your needs. I understand putting others before yourself but you can not protect them when you haven't eaten or rested in a week. You have to be careful, because of your recklessness it nearly cost you your life. Do you understand?" Elrond asked. Maethor nodded like a small child being scolded as she had many years ago.
Elrond then sat on her bed and with a softer voice said "I am thankful that you are alright and I'm proud of what you did." He then kissed his niece's head before telling her what had transpired since she had been out and how her wounds were doing.
Elrond had always wanted a daughter, he had accepted Maethor as his own daughter since the passing of her mother and all the long years she had spent in Rivendell.
Both Frodo and Maethor were up and walking within the few hours of their waking without much help...much to Maethor's delight. They were walking around and enjoying Rivendell while above them watched Gandalf and Elrond from the elf lord's study.
"Both of their strength returns." Elrond stated. "Frodo's wound will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life." Gandalf reminded him. Elrond rolled his eyes as he turned away and walked over to his desk. "Yet to come so fast to bearing the Ring the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil." Elrond said.
"It is a burden he never should have had to carry. We can ask no more of Frodo." Said the wizard. "Nor should we be asking any more of Amdiriel yet we do." Elrond said in defense of his niece, knowing she had endured more than the hobbit. Elrond sighed "Gandalf. the enemy is moving. Sauron's forces are massing in the east. His eye is fixed on Rivendell and Sauroman, you tell me has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin." exclaimed the elf lord.
"His treachery runs deeper than you know. Saruman has crossed orcs with goblin men, he's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. One that can move in sunlight and travel great distance at speed. Saruman is coming for the Ring." Gandalf informed Elrond. "This evil can not be contained by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard." Elrond told him. Gandalf then walked away trying to think. "Gandalf, the Ring can not stay here." said Elrond. Gandalf said nothing but turned towards the window and looked out at the city.
"This peril belongs to all Middle-Earth, they must decide now how to end it. The time of the elves is over. My people are leaving these shores and if I have my way I would take Amdiriel with me. So who are you to look to when we are gone? The dwarves? They hide in their mountains, they care nothing for the troubles of others." Elrond stated.
Gandalf turned to Elrond confidently "It is men that we must place our hope."
"Men? Men are weak." said Elrond and turned to walk furtherer into his study, Gandalf following him. The race of Men is failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent. It's pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the Ring survived. " Elrond could see in his memories the events of that day as if it were yesterday. "We were there Gandalf, me and Amdiriel's mother. We were there 3,000 years ago. When Isildur took the Ring. We were there the day the strength of Men failed. We lead Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom, the one place it could be destroyed. It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure." Elrond came out of his memory and turned back to face Gandalf. "Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. Amdiriel's mother believed that there was still hope and strength left in them. Something she undoubtedly passed to her daughter. But look at them now, there is no strength left in the world of men. They're scattered, divided, leaderless." Elrond finished.
"There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor." Gandalf said. Elrond shook his head slightly "He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile, in result, she has been exiled as well."
"That was neither of their faults, it had to happen for the proficiency to come true. You know he could not reclaim the throne without her." Gandalf reminded him.
Elrond let out a heavy sigh as he looked up and saw Amdiriel passed by his study. His heart ached. Amdiriel had sacrificed and endured so much pain for a world that didn't deserve her. But like her mother, it was in her to fight for her those she loved and nothing could stop that.
Maethor had spent her day catching up and training with her longtime friend, Legolas. It was now night and Maethor was walking around Rivendel silently. Her feet lead her to one of the older outside rooms/patios that told a legend. In that room, the shards of Narsil laid...and next to it laid the sword's twin-blade, Elendil and their story was told on the walls surrounding them, their rise and their fall.
There sat Aragorn, alone as he read a book of history as he came across what many believed to be his.
Suddenly, a man walked in. The man was known as Boromir, Captain of Gondor. Maethor continued to hide in the shadows, curious as to how the exchange was going to go between the should be king and the kingdom's captain.
Boromir looked in awe at the history painted on the wall of Isildur during the Great Battle, fighting Saruman. Boromir felt a stare come from across the room so he turned to look and faound a man sitting in a chair, book in hand. "You are no elf." Stated Boromir. "The men of the south are welcomed here." Aragorn replied.
"Who are you?" questioned Boromir. "I am a friend of Gandalf the Gray." was all Aragorn said. "Then we are here on comen purpose...friend." replied Boromir, seeing that he wasn't going to get any more information from his new friend. So he continued around the room, his eyes caught sight of the broken swords. Boromir walked over to them "The shards of Narsil." said the Gondorian in amazement and picked up the handle of the broken blade "The blade that cut the Ring " bring his hand to touch the swords "Off Sauron's hand." Boromir then gasped as he cut his finger. "It's still sharp." he noted to himself.
Boromir looked over to find Aragorn staring at him with an intense stare causing Boromir to falter. "Nothing more than a broken handle." Boromir stuttered and moved to place the sword back down but it slipped and fell to the floor. Boromir had already turned to leave when he heard the clash of the metal on the floor causing him to stop for a second but he continued on.
Aragorn sighed and placed his book down on his seat and walked over to pick up the broken handle. Aragorn picked it up with his right hand for a moment as he looked upon it before he very carefully placed it back on the mantle, where it belonged.
Maethor walked in quietly as she watched Aragorn stood before the sword with a hand over his heart. "Why do you fear the past?" Maethor asked as she walked behind him. "You are Isildur's heir not Isildur himself. So, you are not bound to his fate." she told him. Aragorn shook his head slightly "The same blood runs through my veins." he said and took a step back and looked at Maethor. "The same weakness." Maethor could see the fear in his eyes and it broke her heart as it did so many years ago. All she wanted to do was comfort him but she knew she couldn't push him because to him, they had only just met but she was thankful that he was just being vulnerable with her.
For Aragorn, he didn't understand why he could be but felt like he could. In a strange way she felt safe, she felt like home, a feeling he had not felt in a very long time. Maybe it was the fact that she had haunted his dream for years but nevertheless he was grateful to have that feeling and was soon going to be scared to lose it.
Maethor took a step closer to him "Your time will come, Aragorn. It will come whether you may like it or not. You will have to face the same evil Isildur did but only you can choose to defeat it. Our actions will mirror the desires of our hearts. You have to choose and believe in the decision you make." She told him sotfly.
The two stood there in silence for a moment, Aragorn taking Maethor's words to heart, wondering why they sounded like the had come from a distant dream.
Maethor then offered him a small smile. "Good night, my lord." she said and turned to leave.
"Who are you?" Aragorn couldn't help the words coming from his mouth. His words caused Maethor to bite her lip as she stopped and turned halfway around so she could see him. "Surely, I would have remembered had we met before but I still feel like we have." He told her.
Maethor was about to reply but a shimmer of light caught her eye. Maethor could feel her breath get caught in her throat when she saw what was dangling from his neck. Slightly, hidden from view was her promise to him, to love him, to stand by him and protect him. Her promise to him hung from his neck in the form of her Evenstar necklace she had been given at birth. It was a symbol of hope, love, strength, beauty, and love...everything was she supposed to be not only for her people but for him as well.
"Perhaps we did long ago...in another life and maybe one day you will remember it." she said holding back the tear as she felt her heartbreak in her chest. She then bowed to the ranger and hurried away before he could see the tears streaming down her face.
Aragorn sighed in defeat, he was again left with more questions than answers. He went back to his seat and picked up his book, hoping to somewhat clear his head of the mysteries of the woman that had been occupying his thoughts since the night they met in Bree. Aragorn turned the page and came across something he had never seen before. Aragorn furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he read the unfamiliar prophecy he found just a page after his own.
Hope shall come forth from their own
A fierce fire she will be
Love the price she will pay
Banished from all she once held dear
But not all who wander are lost
For love will endure
Alongside the crownless king, she will stand
Together they will defeat the evil that nearly destroyed them
For love will conquer all
Under the reign of Isiludr's flesh and woman warrior of his people their people will blossom as darkness meets its end.
Aragorn's eyes ran over the text several times as he memorized each line.
Suddenly flashes showed in his mind. Flashes of a woman with light brown hair, looking over the city of Minas Tirith as her hair blew in the wind. Flashes of her kisses but then of her crying brokenheartedly. Flashes of a woman dressed in black, her face covered as she killed the orcs around her but her brown eyes were those he had seen before but didn't know where. Lastly, he saw flashes as she stood at his side both crowned as the people around them danced joyously. Flashes were all Aragorn saw in his mind, only to finds himself in his bed the next morning...again left with more questions than answers.