Remains of the Banished | Aragorn || Lord of the Rings

II

Aragorn nodded at the bag in her hand. His bag. "I see you have not strayed from your old ways, Eadrid."

"No, no, I have." Eadrid smiled. "But I thought this would be a far more nostalgic reunion, is it not?"

Aragorn raised a brow. "Is that why you left as soon as you saw me in the Prancing Pony? So you could attempt to steal from me again after stealing from that man in the bar?"

"Well, as you said of straying from my old ways... trust me I have learned better since I last saw you. But I suppose the need for a comfortable bed drew me back in." Eadrid shrugged causally.

Aragorn sighed and sheathed his sword. "And yet I have caught you taking my things once again."

"I was not truly going to take anything, just enough roaming through your things for you to finally catch me." Eadrid gave a sarcastic smile and put away her sword as well. "And I knew you were sure I was following you, it was just a matter of time before I showed myself."

"Then you thought right." His grey eyes pierced into hers but softened after a moment. "And why did you follow us?"

"The Ringwraiths, what were they doing?" she asked.

"Searching for something," Aragorn said as he turned and sat by the fading fire.

Eadrid stood across from him and said in a hushed tone, "The Ring."

Aragorn looked up from the burning embers. "How do you know?" he said in a low voice.

"I go many places, Aragorn. I meet many people, and from that, I learn many things." Eadrid stared at the dying flames, the blackened coal. "Things that are whispered when they think no one is listening. Whispers of a Dark Lord and a time of war."

Aragorn raised his brows, then finally nodded, confirming for Eadrid that what she heard was indeed true.

"And why, may I ask, do you have the company of four Hobbits?"

"I am taking them to Rivendell," he said without looking up at her.

Eadrid nodded, and finally threw Aragorn his bag she still held, then began to walk away from the camp.

"That is all you wanted?" Aragorn called after her.

Eadrid did not turn around as she said, "That is all I needed."

"Come with us, to Rivendell. Do not continue your journey without meaning, Eadrid. Find a purpose, where you can rid of Roha-"

"Do not," Eadrid stopped him, turning around. "Speak of that place."

"Come with us," he urged as he stood and walked to her.

"Well, you are right." Eadrid scoffed. "My life does lack meaning, doesn't it?"

Aragorn held his hand up. "That is not what I meant-"

"But it is true..." She paused and thought for a moment. Eadrid could leave, and continue her journey through Middle Earth, with nothing ahead of her, only her past she desperately tried to run away from. Or, go to Rivendell with an old acquaintance, even for a short time. 

Eadrid finally sighed. "Fine, I will come with you. I am eager for a deeper journey," she admitted. But even as she said this, it was as if the words had come out without her meaning to say them. As if some power drew the words out of her itself.

Eadrid set her things down, sitting near where the hobbits lay. 

Aragorn nodded and pulled out his pipe, sitting across from her once again.