His Queen

Chapter 19 - Kitra

Kitra stirred from her slumber and found herself no longer on the cold, unforgiving mountain but rather approaching the ominous mines of Moria. At first, she was met with the faint sounds of footsteps and murmurs in the distance. The steady beat of a heart thumped against her ear as she realized someone was carrying her. She could also detect the distinct smell of Aragorn, a mix of sweat and dirt, but oddly enough it brought her comfort.

As she slowly regained full consciousness, she nuzzled further into his chest, signaling that she was awake. "How long have I been out?" she whispered softly, not wanting to alert anyone else to her awakening.

"About half a day. We have reached the walls of Moria," Aragorn whispered back. Kitra could feel him preparing to set her down, but she clung onto his tunic tightly, not yet ready to be separated from his warmth and protection.

The word "don't" escaped her lips in a soft whine, the sound barely audible over the pounding of her heart. Her legs trembled beneath her, unsteady and unreliable after the recent ordeal. She couldn't even trust them to hold her up just yet. With a gentle chuckle, he readjusted her weight in his arms, his touch comforting and reassuring.

"I was worried you weren't going to wake up," he admitted quietly, his voice laced with concern. "You need to be careful with your body. You can't keep pushing yourself so hard." His scolding tone was met with a pang of guilt in her chest - she had caused him to worry about her well-being.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she turned to look up at him, feeling small and vulnerable in his arms. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

The towering walls of Moria rose before them, casting a looming shadow in the faint moonlight. Gimli gasped in awe at the sight and explained to her that they only needed to get around a pool of water to reach the entrance of the mines.

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," he said, tapping his ax on the stone wall. The loud ringing of metal echoed into the night, adding an eerie feeling to their surroundings.

Gandalf chimed in with a piece of information, "Yes, Gimli! Even their own masters cannot find them if their secrets are forgotten!" She could sense Gimli's scowl at Gandalf's words.

As they made their way to the other side of the water, Alana quietly approached Aragorn. Her heart raced in anticipation as she stood beside him, her cousin Kitra joining them with a smile and a teasing remark for the wizard.

The air was thick with excitement and tension as they prepared to enter the mysterious halls of Moria. The ancient stones seemed to hum with secrets and danger, sending chills down Kitra's spine.

"Good to see you are still with us," Gandalf's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, though his attention was on Kitra and Aragorn. He gently placed Kitra back on her feet after carrying her across the water, and she couldn't help but wobble for a moment from the sudden change. Aragorn's strong hand steadied her, and she looked up at him with a grateful smile.

"I'm alright," she reassured Gandalf as she regained her balance. Aragorn kept his arm around her waist, his protective presence comforting and reassuring. With one last look at her, he hesitantly let go of her and joined Gandalf ahead.

"You're looking for the Ithildin veins, are you not?"

Alana's voice cut through the tranquil moment, her excitement palpable as she spoke. Kitra couldn't help but chuckle at her cousin's eagerness. They had poured over countless books and articles on dwarf culture and secrets, and this was one of Alana's favorites.

"Ah yes, the elusive Ithildin veins," Gandalf replied, his aged hands running along the rough surface of the mountain wall. His eyes were fixed on a spot just out of reach.