Aleana and Aragorn

Chapter 10

***Aragorn POV***

I rouse them in the morning and the hobbits grab their knapsacks. Aleana was already ready, her weapons strapped to her body and her hood drawn. 

"Come now hobbits, let's get some breakfast in you," she says smiling and I can't help but smile as well. We head down and have breakfast before I lead them out of Bree and into the gloomy, overgrown forest. The hobbits walked behind me and Aleana behind them. 

"Where are you taking us," Frodo asks.

"Into the wild," I reply without turning around. 

"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf," Merry asks, whispering to Frodo, though I hear it. 

"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer and feel fouler," Frodo answers.

"He's foul enough," Merry tries to whisper, but I hear nonetheless and sigh.

"Merry, hold your tongue," Aleana suddenly scolds, anger evident in her voice, "do not be so quick to judge someone and place them in the same circle as the enemy." 

"We have no choice but to trust him,"Frodo says, trying to calm Aleana.

"I told you that you can trust him, do you not trust me," I hear Aleana ask, anger still there.

"It's not that Aleana, we trust you, but he could have just called himself Strider to gain our trust," Merry answers.

"Very well, I will not ask you to trust in him, but if you trust in me, I ask that you drop this now," she states, clearly not pleased. 

I look slightly back to see them all nodding at Aleana and her looking down at them in disappointment. Her eyes come up to meet mine and she gives me a quick smile and I nod a thanks before I turn away.

"But where is he leading us," Sam asks. Before Aleana can speak up, I answer.

"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee...to the house of Elrond."

***Aleana POV***

Sam looks excited at the thought of meeting the elves and I can't help but smile, the anger dissipating. I look up, my eyes trained on the back of Aragorn's head. Every time my eyes met his, my heart would beat uncontrollably and a blush would rise on my cheeks. He awoke feelings in me that I had never felt before and in all honesty I did not know what was happening to me. 

He continues leading us through the gloom of the forest as the hobbits talk with each other in hushed whispers. Aragorn would stop every now and then to make sure the path was right. I stayed in the back, making sure to protect the hobbits if harm came our way.

We finally make it through the forest and out into windswept moors. The hobbits suddenly stop in front of me, causing myself to halt, as I look at them curiously when they begin unstrapping their knapsacks. 

"Gentlemen, we do not stop until nightfall," Aragorn turns and looks at them.

"What about breakfast," Pippin asks.

"You've already had it," Aragorn answers and I smile to myself for I knew where this was going.

"We've had one, yes...but what about second breakfast?"

I can't help the laugh that slips from my lips and Aragorn looks up at me in question before turning away, shaking his head. 

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip," Merry answers as Aragorn walks off and the hobbits move again. 

"What about Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon tea, dinner...he knows about them, doesn't he," Pippin asks, sounding truly dejected. 

"I wouldn't count on it," Merry says just as an apple is thrown at him. He deftly catches it. Another is thrown straight at Pippin and I pluck it from the air before it catches him on the forehead. He looks up, the same goofy smile on his face and I drop the apple in his hand before moving through them and up to Aragorn. He looks to me, holding out an apple.

"Would you like one Aleana."

"No thank you," I answer and he nods and takes a bite instead. 

Rain falls mercilessly and we trudge through it. I look back to the hobbits and they look tired, hungry and miserable. My heart aches and because I wasn't paying attention, I trip in the dense swampland, but a hand around my upper arm keeps the ground away from my face. I look up to see Aragorn has caught me. He pulls me up, steadying me and with a nod continues down our path.

Night comes when we are at Midgewater and I stop Aragorn.

"Let us rest now Strider, we need food and sleep," he nods and the hobbits quickly start a fire and set food. After eating, they lay down and immediately fall asleep. I walk around, pulling blankets over them when I hear Aragorn singing. 

Tinuviel elvanui,
Elleth alfirin ethelhael
O hon ring finnil fuinui
A renc gelebrin thiliol

[Tinuviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her night-dark hair,
And arms like silver glimmering.]

Frodo awakens at Strider's song and I look down to him, although I am standing farther away, near Pippin. 

"Who is she," Frodo asks, "this woman you sing of?"

Aragorn turns, momentarily startled. When he notices it is only Frodo, he relaxes, not seeing myself. He speaks as if the tale is personal to him.

"'Tis the Lady of Luthien. The Elf-maiden who gave her love to Beren, a mortal."

"What happened to her," Frodo asks.

"She died," Strider sighs, "get some sleep Frodo."

Frodo nods and lays back down, falling asleep. I watch as Aragorn turns back to his vigil and looks up at the moon. I move towards him, taking a seat beside him. He turns to me quickly, once again startles and I see his eyes are brimming with tears. He relaxes, taking note it is only I and casting his glance back to the moon. I tear my eyes from him, watching the moon as well.

"Who is this elf you love?" I see his head whip to face mine in surprise at my question, but I don't turn to meet his gaze. After a few seconds he looks back to the moon.

"Lady Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond."

"She is indeed most beautiful and kind."

"But, I am not sure if I truly love her," his voice a barely whisper and I look at him curiously. 

"You cry for her. Tears do not fall so idly from the eyes of men unless they carry deep emotion."

"I do cry for her for I do not wish she abandon her immortality for the likes of me."

"Well that is her love for you, and she has all right to do so if she wishes. The heart is strange, especially when in love."

"But it is just that, there was another for her while I was away. We never made a promise before I left to be a Ranger, but she was together with another, one of her own kind. When she heard I was heading back, she left him, but what if she loved him?"

"Is it your love for her that you question, or her's for you?"

"I do not know. Perhaps both. She is most fair, but within me I do not feel what I had felt when we first fell in love. I do not want to keep her bound to me when she could find truer love elsewhere, somewhere that would not require her to live only one lifetime."

"I cannot tell you your feelings, but I will tell you this. If you love her and truly do so, don't let go, for it is love that we must hold on to in all the darkness of the world. But love can become dark as well if not true, so if you do not love her, you must let her know so that she may move on and so that you can as well."

He finally meets my eyes, tears still evident in his eyes, but not falling. He nods, a small, but sad smile playing on his lips. 

"Get some sleep Strider. Tonight I keep watch," he yawns and nods, moving to his blanket on the ground, surprisingly not arguing. 

I look back to the moon, sighing into the night sky. As I sat there, I tried not to think of how my heart had ached at the mention of Aragorn loving another. 

A/n: Hey guys? I really like this chapter!! I hope you liked it as well!

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