Looks like they'll be spending a little time in Ost Guruth, while Gwin tries to come to terms with what happened. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

I awoke to a familiar melody. Squinting, I could make out Candaith sitting next to me, humming the song which had brought me comfort in one of my worst moments. He wasn't looking at me, but rather out the window, and was whittling something. "What are you making?"

He started, looking at me in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you to be awake yet; Techeryn said you would sleep a few more hours." He smiled and my heart felt lighter. "I will say it was a little unnerving seeing you sleep with your eyes closed." He quickly pocketed whatever he was working on.

I smirked, "How terrifying for you."

His smile faded and a look of concern and grief took its place. "I was worried. After we found you, and you slipped out of consciousness, we were afraid you were too wounded to survive. We couldn't get the bleeding to stop and you were burning up. The only thing we could do was bring you here."

"I'm glad you did; Techeryn fixed me right up," I replied with a somewhat forced smile, which turned into a frown as I noted the guilt on Candaith's face. "What is it?"

He sighed, "I…we should have been able to protect you. This shouldn't have happened in the first place. It took us far too long to notice you were missing, and even longer to find you. When I heard you screaming," he paused, his voice breaking slightly before clearing his throat, "I feared the worst. I was praying to the Valar, or anyone who was listening, to protect you and keep you safe, and we found you alive….and killed the bastards who took you." He looked grim, but I could tell he felt vindicated.

As shaken as I was, I knew I needed to try and lessen some of his guilt; he seemed to feel responsible and I wanted to comfort him. I took his hand in mine and squeezed it gently, "I am safe now, and hopefully soon I will be healed enough to continue on our journey." Healed physically, that is. I felt like I was going through the motions; smiling when I was expected to, trying to reassure everyone that I was fine…I didn't know what else to do. Absentmindedly Candaith was running his thumb back and forth across my knuckles, looking out the window and thinking. I don't think he even realizes he's doing it. It was comforting.

After a few minutes, he reached into his pack with his other hand and pulled out a small book, "This is a book of poems from Esteldin," he said. "I know you like poetry, and I thought perhaps you haven't yet read this one. I have carried it with me for a long time, and book marked some of my favorites." He gently released my hand and flipped it open to a page. "This one is one my mother used to read to me before bed. I thought it might be as comforting to you as it was to me."

I took the book and read the title, "The Garden." I looked up at him, feeling grateful for the distraction. "I do like gardens".

He gave me a small smile before standing up, but it seemed sad, "I will leave you to it. Try to rest; we will need your many talents on the road." He hesitated, as if debating whether to actually leave.

The words left my mouth before I could stop them, "Wait, would you read it to me? My hands are still sore from…before." I don't want you to leave.

He must have seen what was likely some form of desperation in my expression; his eyes softened and he nodded, sitting down in the chair next to me once more. He took the book from me and began to read, "There is a garden of tangled vines, and sharp thorns…" I closed my eyes, listening to his deep timbre.

As I was falling asleep, I thought I felt him tuck my hair behind my ear, but I must have imagined it.

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Two days later and a clean bill of health from Techeryn had us saying goodbye to the patrons and setting out on the road once more. "I think they like me better after seeing me injured," I mused. Candaith looked pained.

We decided to head straight to Ost Guruth; we would need to keep a fast pace to get there before sunset, but it was the safest place to spend the night. We were all leery of being out in the open after what had happened a few days ago.

As we rode, I tried to reflect on what happened, but found it was too fresh. Perhaps time would heal all wounds, as they say. Both men looked back at me frequently and kept close to me, so much so that I became a little irritated, but I understood their caution. They blamed themselves for what happened, even though it clearly was not their fault. I was too careless. While it was true that I had been outnumbered by the orcs who had captured me, I should have been able to defeat them all without trouble. I wasn't paying enough attention to my surroundings.

Wearily we left our horses at the stable and climbed the stone steps into Ost Guruth. Frederic the Elder knew of Candaith and I, and welcomed us warmly. We settled in one of the large guest tents; they had multiple rooms separated by collapsible walls, providing privacy for each guest. Saeradan volunteered to find us some food, and I wordlessly collapsed on the camp bed provided, sighing at the softness.

Candaith peeked his head around and I waved him in. "You look comfortable," he remarked, looking amused.

"If there is a bed provided, it is certainly bound to be more comfortable than the ground," I replied, closing my eyes.

I heard him move a little closer, "How are you feeling? We did travel the entire day, and you are only just recovering."

I sighed, finally sitting up. Candaith adjusted some pillows underneath my head, and I thanked him, "I am well. It is helpful to keep busy, as it keeps my mind off other things. Speaking of which, I feel in dire need of some weapons practice. Want to join me after dinner?"

Candaith look surprised but nodded, "I would be honored, my lady." I chose to lie down until Saeradan returned; I wasn't sure if I had my full strength back.

I decided I was going to push everything painful aside and focus on having some fun.

As expected, I trounced Candaith in archery, despite some lingering soreness. "Clearly this is unfair," he complained. "You have been practicing for hundreds of years!"

"Thousands." I replied smirking. "Excuses excuses; I expect more improvement when we compete in Imladris."

"I was unaware there was to be a competition there?" He asked curiously.

"Well, there is not one scheduled yet, but I am determined to make it happen." I smiled as he rolled his eyes.

He sauntered over to where I was collecting my arrows. "What are the stakes?"

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "You will have to participate to find out."

Shortly after, I watched Saeradan and Candaith spar. They moved fluidly, with an almost Elven grace. I knew that the Dunedain had Elven origins from Elrond's brother Elros, however distant, which explained their longer lives. Perhaps the faint trace in their bloodline accounted for it.

After a little while I noticed myself slipping into darker thoughts, so I jumped up and started independently going through my exercises. When Prince Legolas had suggested I try twin knives all those years ago, I was a little skeptical, but after perfecting my skill I couldn't imagine using anything else. They felt like extensions of my arms, and I was grateful Saeradan had retrieved them from the orc camp. I quickly found my rhythm, controlling my breathing and focusing on the present. Getting distracted meant mistakes, and I was determined to prevent those from now on.

I moved over to one of the practice dummies, as my companions were still busy. I closed my eyes and visualized my target; when I was training the Guard, they would blindfold us when we would spar. It taught us how to use our other senses to fight. I briefly considered being kind to the dummy and swinging lightly…

…but pretending it was the Uruk was much more satisfying. My knives were flying in concentric circles as I began furiously attacking the dummy. However, instead of feeling calmer, I felt more and more anger. That Uruk deserved my ire, and it needed to die by my hand. I could see the image of his mocking, laughing face, and my strikes became even more forceful.

Suddenly I felt a sword clash with one of my knives, and I was abruptly brought back to the present with some confusion. Candaith was looking at me warily, and I noted the tears on my cheeks. I lowered my knives and roughly wiped my face, "Did you need something?"

Candaith wordlessly gestured towards the dummy…or what was left of it. I had completely destroyed it, leaving nothing more than a barely standing block of wood with straw everywhere.

Instead of acknowledging it, I turned away from him and quickly walked away. I was embarrassed to face him after losing my composure, and I needed some space.

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The breeze felt nice on my face as I stood on a wall on the east side of the city. The sun had set and the stars were out in all their glory. I tried to enjoy the view, but I found myself glaring at the sky as Earendil made his way across. What did Earendil think as he sailed on his ship? Did he know the anguish his son Elrond was facing? Did he care? Could he even tell? How could the Valar just sit back and watch as the world fell further and further into peril?

"Your face will stay that way if you keep that expression too long," a voice said softly, and I knew it was Candaith trying to make a joke.

"I'll take my chances," I replied, not in the mood for humor.

I sensed him hesitate. "Would you prefer I leave you to your thoughts?"

I sighed, "Perhaps not." I sat on the wall and he eventually settled next to me. We looked out across the plains, and I cringed when I heard the distant howling of wargs. "Will this land ever be free of it?"

He didn't ask for clarification, for he knew what I meant. "The darkness that has settled here will be hard to fully cleanse, especially while Sauron still reigns." He paused for a few minutes in thought, and then continued, "I look out over these Lone Lands and wonder what will happen to them when we have gone."

The picture was bleak, and I couldn't help but feel some despair, "It seems hopeless. I have tried to stand against the darkness, but it feels like a never-ending abyss. So much pain, and so much death". My jaw was clenched as I tried to stop my words, but it was too hard, "What chance do we have, in the end?" I had never spoken these things out loud, because I was too ashamed to acknowledge the possibility of failure. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Candaith clenching his fists, and I worried I had angered him.

Before I could speak, he replied with intensity, "There is still bravery and dedication to be found here; the people are strong, and they will not let these lands be fully taken over without a fight." He looked at me earnestly. "You helped them in ways I never thought possible. Agamaur, Garth Agarwen; you even braved the trolls in Harloeg, although when I heard of it, I may have questioned your sanity," he finished with a weak smile. His eyes were shining, and I found I could not look away.

He moved a little closer, and his voice was full of emotion, "I do not know how I can ever repay you."

My breath caught in my throat, and I didn't know what to say. I dimly noted his hands had taken mine, and he squeezed them tightly. It felt like the air was crackling with something. We were only a foot apart, and I had the sudden, inexplicable urge to close the distance.

Before I could consider this, he moved away abruptly. I noticed he was breathing a little faster, and I felt shaken and slightly confused. "I…I should go. I promised to help Saeradan with something," he muttered, making a quick exit and leaving me frozen in place, facing where he had been sitting so close only moments before. My heart and my thoughts were racing. What had come over me?

Running my fingers through my hair, I clenched it in my hands in frustration. My emotions felt like they were all over the place. I still felt raw from my capture, but Candaith had found a way to make my heart a little lighter over the past few days. Joking with me, reading out loud as I rested at the Inn, or just sitting in silence with me. Saeradan had also been a quiet supportive presence, but that relationship felt different than it was with Candaith. It was true I had known Candaith for longer than Saeradan, and we had been through much in our times together, but it did not fully explain the closeness I felt to him.

Was there something more than friendship forming between us?

I shook my head; I was likely just imagining things. I had gone through a lot recently and my emotional judgement was skewed. Realizing the hour was late and that tomorrow would be another long day, I jumped off the wall and landed lightly on the ground inside the city. I was not particularly tired, as Elves did not have to rest as often as humans, but my body felt sore and I had to acknowledge that I was still recovering from my injuries.

As I approached the large tent, I noted that both men were lying on their camp beds, and looked to be sleeping. I settled under the blankets and tried to clear my mind before I fell into an uneasy reverie.

Looks like perhaps Candaith and Gwin are starting to notice their feelings! Thanks for reading! Review and follow/favorite if you'd like!

The poem Candaith read to Gwin called "The Garden" is another one of my stories on the website. If you're curious, you can check it out! It isn't related to LotR, but I like how it turned out, all those years ago.