Aravan {A Lord of the Rings Story}

F•O•U•R•T•E•E•N

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long! It was a crazy week! :P Hope you guys enjoy! <3

F•O•U•R•T•E•E•N

The journey back to Edoras was not so unsettling as the trip to Isengard had been. Artanis was convinced that Merry and Pippin had something to do with that. Despite the horrible scene that they had just witnessed, they went along laughing and telling joyful and humorous stories. Artanis found herself engrossed in every word that they said despite the darkness that lingered inside of her.

‘What about you, Artanis?’ they asked after awhile. ‘Have you any stories of your old home?’

She frowned. ‘I cannot remember my old home.’

Pippin gave her a quizzical look. ‘How is it that you cannot remember your home?’

‘My personal history is a little confusing,’ she apologized, giving a small smile.

‘I like confusing,’ Merry commented excitedly. Aragorn gave him a strange look. He rolled his eyes in return. ‘I meant that I don’t exactly mind confusing; I’ll try to figure it out. Just the fact that you can’t remember is intriguing. Please, if you are willing, I would love to hear your story.’

‘I second that!’ Pippin cut in.

Artanis smiled. ‘I will do my best.’

And so, she launched into a copious tale of the things that she could remember: she told them of waking up in Chetwood with Blue (whom she revealed to be Pallando), of her journeys with him through Bree and Tharbad and Dunland and Fangorn Forest, of his fall on the way to Lothlórien, and of her arrival in Edoras. She told them of her dreams and visions (but not all the details, knowing that some things would be better left unsaid), and of her encounters with the creatures of Middle Earth. When she finished, she couldn’t help but laugh at their intrigued faces. Both hobbits’ mouths were hanging open and their eyes were so wide, they looked as if they could pop out of their skulls at any moment.

‘So when you said you couldn’t remember, you really couldn’t remember!’ Pippin commented.

She nodded. ‘Besides the few images that I see while I sleep, I have no recollection or connection to my life previous to being cursed. And I fear that until I reach Lothlórien, I will not be able to form any answers to my vast list of questions.’

Pippin reached over and placed a comforting hand on her arm.

‘If there’s anything we can do to help, please, tell us,’ he said sincerely, looking up at her with concern in his watery, green eyes. Artanis felt a surge of new love for the both of them wash over her, and she took both their hands in hers.

‘Being yourselves is helping me,’ she replied, smiling. ‘Just keep on being you.’

They nodded vigorously. ‘That’s what we’re good at!’ Merry exclaimed.

Artanis laughed. ‘Yes; yes, you truly are!’

They laughed and, after some prompting from Artanis, continued on in their storytelling. While they talked, Artanis listened, wanting to get away from thoughts of Blue that might make her sad. She desperately wanted to be happy. After all, she was with her new friends, and she was on the way back to her temporary home, where Éowyn was. There was no reason for her not to be happy. But something inside of her would just not allow it. She frowned to herself, pondering why that might be. But no answers came to her.