Aleana and Aragorn

Chapter 36

***Aragorn POV***

Bright white light blinds me, making it hard for me to open my eyes. After a few attempts I am able to and I look into blue cerulean eyes. It is Lady Galadriel and she is holding out her hand to me. 

"Come Aragorn, you must save her. Time is running out for her," she says, "may the grace of the Valar protect you."

I slowly reach up and grasp her hand. As soon as I do so I wake up to a horse nibbling on my nose. I look to see it is Brego, and he kneels down, allowing me to grasp his mane and pull myself onto him. 

Everything hurt, especially my shoulder and I look to see it is bleeding. I sway on Brego as he carries me towards Helm's Deep, Lady Galadriel's voice resonating in my mind. 

...

I ride over a hill on Brego, stopping when I hear stamping. Horrified, I look to see a massive army marching towards Helms Deep. With one last glance, I turn and gallop off, riding until I finally reach Helms Deep. I enter the gates and trot through the crowds, hearing them call out that I was alive. I dismount my horse and hear Gimli before I see him.

"Where is he? Where is her? Get out of the way! I'm going to kill him," Gimli pushes through the crowd and I look at him with a smile, "you are the luckiest,the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew. Bless you, laddie." 

He moves forward and hugs me. I look down at him. 

"Gimli, where is the king," I ask and he nods in the direction of the hall. I nod a thanks to him and turn, walking towards the hall when suddenly Legolas appears before me. 

"Le abdollen [you're late]," I raise an eyebrow at him as he looks me over, "you look terrible."

I can't help but laugh. Suddenly he stops and holds out Aleana's necklace to me. I take it, the light of Valinor shining, and look to Legolas. 

"Hannon le [thank you]," I whisper, putting it around my neck, "where is she?"

"She has locked herself away in the far west, in one of the abandoned chambers of Helms Deep. There is evil there Aragorn, the others dare not even get close. Gimli and myself ventured there, but she refuses to answer. There is grief in her for your loss, but also guilt for she holds herself in fault for the words passed between the two of you in Rohan. Sauron will use this against her. Go to her Aragorn, save her before it is too late. For I fear, if she is lost to us today, she will be lost to us forever."

I nod before turning around and running towards where Legolas had pointed. I felt the evil before I saw the chamber. From what I could see, it was small and circular, perhaps a bar of some sort. The door was wooden and rotting. I try to turn the knob, but it is locked, so I do the next best thing. Using all of my strength, I crash into the door, easily breaking through as it was old and worn. 

I stumble, righting myself and looking up to see a wide-eyed Aleana staring at me, her eyes orange and not the hazel I knew. I step towards her, but she moves back, shaking her head left to right and whispering no continuously. 

"Do not show me these visions. He is not real," she cries, most likely talking to Sauron, "make it go away!"

"I am real Aleana, I am here, alive. Please believe me," I step towards her

"NO," she throws her hands in front of her sending me flying back at the powerful blast that leaves her hands. I quickly recover though, picking myself to my feet. When I look to Aleana once more, her eyes have returned to normal, but there is shock and guilt in them. 

"What have I done," she whispers, looking to me with tears. 

***Aleana POV***

When he came through that door, I thought it was a vision Sauron had conjured. So using the black magic, I had blasted him away, meaning to have the vision disappear. But he had only flown back and I realized it was actually Aragorn. He was alive...and I had just hurt him. 

"What have I done," I whisper, unable to stop the guilty tears falling from my eyes. 

"Nothing Aleana," he moves towards me and I shuffle back, until my back hits the wall. 

"No, stay away. I hurt you. I hurt you," I cry, but he doesn't heed my words, continuing to move forward.

"Please stay away. I'm so sorry. I don't want to hurt you."

Suddenly he is right in front of me, having ran the last few steps and taking my face in his hands. He looked straight into my eyes, his emotions clear in his. There was guilt, worry, pain, and most of all love. I was surprised to find no remorse or anger or disdain. 

"You can never hurt me Aleana. It is I who should apologize. My words were cruel, my actions worst. I promised I would love you and yet it was you who loved me. I was the one to hurt you. I should have helped you, stood by you, yet I let you get hurt by Sauron. I left you alone to battle him in your mind. It is I who must say sorry, for not loving you how you deserve."

My eyes well up and I let out a sob, releasing all the pent up emotions in my heart. I throw my arms around his neck as his weave around my waist, pulling me to him. I do not know how long we stand there in each other's arms, Aragorn allowing me to cry my heart out. 

When my sobs finally quiet, he pulls back slightly, making me look to him. I see tears in his eyes as well and I wipe one away that falls. He wipes away mine and I finally smile up at him.

"I love you Aleana, I love you so much. And if you can forgive me, please allow me to continue to love you and love me just as much in return."

"I could never not love you, Aragorn, no matter what I have to go through. I will always love you," I whisper before leaning up and placing my lips on his. He takes no moment to kiss me back, need, passion, and love between us both. But then he pulls away, too quickly for my liking and I look up at him confused. 

"I must go speak with the King, trouble is coming our way," he says, "will you accompany me?"

"I am never letting you out of my sight again, Aragorn," I reply and he smiles at me, placing his forehead against mine, before kissing me once more and then taking my hand and leading me to the hall. 

A/n:  A little short chapter, but at least they made up! Woohoo!!!

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