So Sayeth the King

Chapter 3

The following nightfall came quicker than Thora had expected. Her things were packed and Aragorn had taken the liberty of sneaking them to his room, as well as preparing her horse in the stables. With the shadows as her ally, she slipped through the halls to Aragorn's chambers.

"Are you ready?" Aragorn asked, handing her appropriate travelling clothes for her to change into.

"Yes, is Delmaria ready?" Thora replied disappearing behind the screen to change.

"Saddled and waiting in the stables."

Thora reappeared dressed in a dark blue riding coat over a brown corset and silver under shirt, and brown riding pants. 

"If you leave now, you should reach the mountain pass at Ergion in three days, from there it's a four days ride to Erebor." Aragorn said as he made his way to the open window.

As he moved to climb out, Thora placed her hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Come with me."

Aragorn held her hand and smiled sadly, "I cannot, I must go north with the Rangers. Besides, this path is yours to follow and yours alone." He pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then turned and climbed down the wall with Thora in tow.

They waited quietly in the cover of the trees and bushes for the sentry to pass on his rounds before darting across the grounds to the stables. In the furthest stall a grey roan mare waited saddled and chewing on hay mindlessly. Her ears perked and she snorted and nickered at Thora's appearance.

"Hello sweet Delmaria. Are you ready?" Thora slid the bridle over the mare's head and lead her from the stall.

An anxious silence over came Thora and Aragorn, neither wanting to be the first to say goodbye. Aragorn reached for his belt and pulled out a curved dagger and held it out to her.

"Take this, so no matter how far apart we are, I will always be at your side to protect you."

Thora carefully took the blade from Aragorn and tucked it in her sword belt. She threw her arms around his neck and they held one another with all their strength, the dark thought of not seeing the other again lingering in the back of their minds. 

"Not a day will pass that I will not think of you." Thora whispered, she hid her face in the curve of his neck, the light stubble scratched comfortingly at her cheek.

"Nor I." Aragorn pulled her back and held her face delicately in his calloused hands, "I love you."

The sincerity in his grey eyes drew Thora's lips to his is a desperate passion. "And I love you." Her words were swallowed in their kiss, but every bit of meaning and truth were heard.

"You have to go," Aragorn urged their lips wet and redder than normal.

Thora swung onto Delmaria's back with ease, she took these last few moments to memories the details of Aragorn's face. If the worst should happen, she wanted to be sure that she could remember every detail of his face in her last moments.

"Ride hard, trust your instincts, and never doubt yourself for a moment." Aragorn squeezed her hand, finding it hard to let go. "Now go."

Thora gave a short nod and urged Delmaria, the mare surged like a river and bolted out of the stables and out of Rivendell faster that the winds. Aragorn watched the dust settle for a few moments, wondering when he would see her again.

But what neither of them knew, is that it would be many years before they would see each other again. For their duty's to their heart, came second to the duty's they hold. 

------------------------

Arwen clutched a letter in her hand, one that spoke of love, family, duty and destiny. The many things her daughter always believed in.

"You expected this?"

Arwen sighed, "From the moment her father arrived. She is his daughter."

"I shall prepare a squadron and go with them myself and bring her home."

"No!" Arwen denied, her own father halting in place. "I know what you have seen, there is a chance that she may die, but there is hope that she will survive this, if the man I love and his family are to survive then she must go to them. You saw this yourself. I have kept her from the world for too long, father. There is a path she is destined to follow, you know this as well as I, but if she is to follow it, then I must let her go."

Elrond released a sigh and moved to his daughter's side. He knew in his heart that if the sons of Durin were to survive the coming war, Thora would have to fight at their side.