The Dark Within (Book One)

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I lay on my back on the soft mattress. The others snore softly or breathe heavily. Rest does not seem to come to me. I sigh and quietly get up. I walk out of the makeshift tent and down the soft path. I walk to the small fountain that looks like it's full of starlight.

'Eleris.' I hear the voice in my mind again. The darkness start to seep into me.

'What do you want?' I ask it.

'That's no way to speak to a friend.' It says with a sinister chuckle.

'You are no friend to me.' I say. It chuckles again.

'You are strong willed.' The voice whispers. 'You do not even feel a pull to the ring.' I look over to Frodo who sleeps peacefully in the tent. The ring hangs around his neck. I feel no need, no want, to take it for my own.

'I do not want the evil or power that the ring possesses.' I tell the voice.

'Do not lie to me little one.' It hisses with anger.

'I tell no lie to you.' I respond, honestly.

'The ring of power has corrupted even the purest and strongest of men.' I feel it's confusion. 'You are in no way pure, mercenary. You have done great evil in your past.' Memories flood through my mind. For a long time I did things and as long as I got paid I didn't ask questions. I killed many people, I stole, I spied, I burned down houses and farms.

'I am just as confused as you are.' I tell the voice. It hisses at me. 'What are you?' I ask it.

'I am who I am.' It says. That's confusing.

'What do you want?' The voice is quiet.

'One of them will try to take it.' The voice whispers. 'One of them will give in to the corruption.'

'Who?' I ask the voice.

"Eleris?" I jump a little. I turn and see Aragorn standing close by. "What are you doing up?" He asks me. The presence and the voice disappear.

"Oh I couldn't sleep." I say. "I saw this fountain before and I was enchanted by the way the water looks like it's a pool of starlight. Like I could scoop up the water and the stars would come with." He sits down beside me as I gently glide my hand through the water.

"So you and Boromir seem to be on good terms." He says, I inwardly cringe thinking of what Aragorn had to witness.

"Boromir and I have a long past together." I say. "We used to be... together. In a way."

"What happened?" He asks me.

"I happened, well the Raven happened I guess." I say. He waits for me to continue. "I did many jobs for his father, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. He paid well so it didn't matter how I was treated. But that's how I met Boromir. Then a few months later Denethor came to me and he told me I was to stop seeing his son or he wouldn't hire me anymore and would make sure no one, in all of Gondor, would hire me. He told me that I had become a distraction to Boromir. Boromir needed to focus on his duties and he couldn't do that if he was always running around with me." I chuckle humourlessly. "So I went to him and told him that we couldn't see each other anymore. I told him it had become too much of a distraction for me and that it didn't mean anything. He was angry and hurt, reasonably. But that day I chose the Raven over him. I never stopped choosing the Raven until I saw you and the hobbits at the prancing pony." He gently takes my hand in his. "I don't know what it was but suddenly I wanted to do something for somebody else. Something that didn't financially benefit me in any way. Maybe it was you, maybe you also being of the Dúnedain made me want to help you."

"So you suspected I was one of the Dúnedain?" Aragorn asks me. I nod my head.

"Yes." I say. "As soon as we started talking I felt it. So how old are you?" He smiles.

"Eighty seven." He says. "How old are you?"

"Seventy six." I tell him. I yawn. "I think I might be able to get some rest tonight after all." I say with a slight laugh. Aragorn still gently holds my hand. So as he stands he pulls me up as well.

"Do you love him?" Aragorn asks me. I know who he is talking about. I think for a moment, looking back to the tent at him sleeping peacefully.

"I think maybe once I did." I tell him. "Now? I don't think so. And I know he could never truly love me again, even if he knew the truth." Aragorn pulls me in and gently lays a soft kiss on my forehead. He pulls back and looks me in the eyes.

"You'll be alright yes?" He asks and I nod my head. He smiles at me and we go back to the tent. I climb back into the bed. I give one last look to Aragorn before turning and facing Boromir. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't let him go. I would've had to leave Gondor, but would he have come with me? I don't think so. He wouldn't abandon his home, his family, his city just for some woman. I sigh quietly and pull the blanket over me, falling fast asleep.