Le Melin, Beloved Consort (Aragorn)

Chapter Seven, the Woes of the Fellowship

Chapter Seven, Woes of the Fellowship

"Make for the shore, we'll rest for the night and carry on at day break." Aragorn ordered as the paddled to the western shore where they'd rest of the night. Aragorn frowned as he saw Calén passed out with exhaustion against his chest, he was seriously worried about his beloved. Once they were in the shallows of the river everyone climbed out of the boats, (except Calén who was asleep in the boat) and pushed them on to the shore and tied them down so they wouldn't drift off during the night. While the offers left to gather wood for the fire the others set up their bedrolls and prepared what they were having for dinner, Aragorn carefully lifted Calén into his arms carrying him to the bedroll that would be closest to the fire and laying him down on it.

"Aragorn? What is wrong with the wee lad?" Gimli asked concerned, shocking them slightly as the gruff dwarf was coming round to Elves befriending Calén and having a competitive friendship with Legolas. Aragorn looked up from where he was mesmerising Calén's face moving his raven hair out of his face. Sighing Aragorn ran his hand down his face sitting down to face his friends but made sure Calén was in his line of sight. He felt older than his eighty-two nearly eighty-three years of age like he was from the normal race of men and was suddenly feeling his age. "The Evenstar is leaving him." said Aragorn his voice hoarse.

"What does that mean?" Merry asked confused. Seeing his friend was in no fit state to explain anything Legolas decided to spare him that pain. "It means he's becoming mortal. He chose Aragorn over an immortal life which is why he's suddenly so tired and cold he needs to be kept warm at all times." Legolas explained gently. "Like in the story you told us Aragorn." Frodo realised his eyes wide feeling sorry for his friends. Aragorn nodded his head tears sliding down his face in rivers. "He's also dying." Aragorn choked on the last word as if a knife had just been thrust through his gut.

"How?" Gimli asked with a tremble to his voice he cared about the little elfling he was kind and gracious just like his mother. "Lady Galadriel. She told me that his life is tied to the Ring. As Sauron's power grows Calén grows weaker if we do not destroy the ring and soon I will loose him forever." Aragorn cried in anguish his beloved couldn't die he would not let it happen he couldn't live without him and he wasn't planning on starting now he promised him he's take to see the sea and anywhere else he wanted to go and he would be damned if that didn't happen.

"Then we will do all that we can to get that accursed Ring to Mount Doom and cast it into the fire. He will not die Aragorn this I promise you." Boromir swore, Calén had changed him helped him see the error of his ways helped him see that ring would not help him or his people but condemned them to death. He'd placed a spell on his mind that would keep the ring out as long as he wanted it out and he wanted it out with every fibre of his being. He would admit that since meeting Calén everyone was much closer than before he'd brought them all together and he would do is all to ensure his King would still have his Consort by the end of this.

Everyone else made sounds of agreement as none of them wished to see Calén die he was their friend, their younger brother who'd brought them all together brought them all closer and now they had something even more to fight for as one of their own would perish if Sauron lasted much longer and they were not going to see that happen if they had a say in it. "Get some rest Aragorn I'll take the first watch." Legolas assured. "No arguments you know if Calén sees you haven't slept he'll only blame himself you need your rest as much as he does so sleep." He says sternly when Aragorn opened his mouth to argue. Nodding his head in acquiescence Aragorn settled down next to Calén pulling him into his arms and holding him close. "Thank you my friend." Making sure the blanket fully covered Calén Aragorn finally settled down to sleep.

"Does that happen often?" Pipin asked curiously but there was a hint of worry in his voice, he like all of them loved Calén like a brother and he couldn't bare to see him die it would break him just like it would if Merry, Frodo or Sam died. "Does what happen often?" Legolas asked confused as he discreetly wiped away his tears. "Do elves really lose the Evenstar?"
"Yes Pippin. If they decide that something is more important and they want to be with that someone or something the Evenstar will leave them and eventually they will become mortal."
"They don't...they don't die from become mortal do they?" Sam asked worriedly looking over where Aragorn had Calén wrapped in his arms.

"Sometimes they do or someone will latch onto their fading Evenstar to drain their power like Sauron is doing but I have no doubt that Calén will survive he's always been stubborn and done the impossible." Legolas said with a small laugh though it did nothing to lighten the heavy and somber mood. "Poor Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn their only son dying all because of the ring." said Frodo his voice filled with guilt.
"He's not their only child they had a daughter who married Lord Elrond they had three children together before Orcs killed her. Arwen was the youngest of all elves there was no other elf younger then her let alone a elfling that is until Calén. He's brought life back into everyone's lives brought everyone closer, I know no one would let him go without a fight. He wouldn't go without a fight even if this is first time out of Lothlórien he's a fighter he won't let this take him in sure of it."

They descended into silence for a while no one speaking just taking in all that had happened in the last couple of hours let alone days that us until Legolas spoke again. "All of you go to bed and get some sleep we have a long journey tomorrow starting at day break if we want to get anywhere on this venture. Do not think on what has been said this night Calén would not want you to dwell upon it just try and get some sleep." He said firmly as he stood to walk around the camp making sure there was no one watching them other than Gollumn though he made sure he didn't come any closer as the others drifted off into a restless sleep.