Last Act of Love (Sequel to The Last One)

Prologue

Horse hooves thumped vigorously against the rough terrain of the Wild. Ruive rode hard, the harsh wind cut at her face and tossed her hair around violently. The reason for her haste, was there was an orphaned boy waiting on her to be there for him at Rivendell. And she would not abandon him, she would not break the promise she made to the man she owed so much. 

Alagos' hooves clacked across the stone bridge that led to Rivendell's courtyard. Awaiting her arrival at the top of the stairs was Lindir, a sympathetic and sombre look on his face. Ruive did not wait for Alagos to stop before she swung her leg over the front of her saddle and jumped off her feet barely touching the ground before she bounded up to Lindir.

"Where is he?" Ruive panted.

Lindir did not need to ask to know of whom she spoke. He simply gesture with his arm, sweeping it out behind him to where Elrond stood beside a small dark haired boy. Ruive heaved a breath and bolted the rest of the way up the stairs and across the courtyard, skidding to a halt in front of a small stair case that lead to the balcony where Elrond and the boy waited in silence.

Ruive looked from Elrond, silently telling him that she got the letter, to the five year old boy that huddle by his leg. How he looked like his father; thick, messing dark hair that hung over his stormy grey eyes. Eyes that were so full of fear and sadness.

"Oh Aragorn." She breathed, tears brimming in her eyes as Aragorn met her's.

His lip quivered as his eyes glistened with tears.

"Ru!" He cried leaping forward into her arms.

Ruive dropped to her knees as she cradled the boy she promised to protect in her arms, his small frame shaking with silently sobs, his tears falling on her neck. 

"Shh, shh, shh. You're alright little lad, I've got you." She soothed, pressing a kiss to his hair.

"P-promise you won't go, Ru. I don't want you to go." Aragorn whimpered.

"I swear to you, Aragorn. I'm not going anywhere."

10 years later...

The sound of wood against wood echoed through the serenity of Rivendell. The sound resonated from the training yards where a 15 year old Aragorn swung a wooden training sword against Ruive's. 

"Move your feet." She instructed, easily stepping around Aragorn's inexperience attacks.

 He nodded and moved his feet with his attacks and blocks.

"Better."

Aragorn's training continued, now better that he was moving more fluently. Of course he was nowhere near the skill of Ruive, but he was improving. His attacks were becoming a pattern which Ruive picked up on, she spun around his sword and tapped him on the rear with her wooden sword.

"Oww! What was that for?" 

"Don't fight in routines, don't use patterns. Routines and patterns get you killed. Keep your opponent on their toes." Ruive said tapping her sword against his.

Aragorn huffed and nodded, the urge to rest overcoming him. Ruive grinned down at him being a few inches taller than him yet. She reached out and ruffled his mop of black hair.

"Come on, I'm getting hungry." Ruive sad putting the training sword away.

Aragorn beamed and pumped his fist. All the training had really worked up his appetite, so right now he was starving. Aragorn put away his sword and jogged after Ruive, coming along side her and nudging her with his shoulder. Ruive smirked down at him and nudged him back, similar games a regular occurrence between the two. Since Ruive returned to Rivendell, she had become an older sister to Aragorn, teaching him everything she knew so that he would one day become king and unite the kingdoms of men.