Hope in the Darkness

Hope in the Darkness Part 15

The first thing she becomes aware of is a warmth that she wasn't expecting, she remembered of course being hurt, she remembered being in the caves and so she couldn't understand why she was so warm. Then the pain, a dull ache which quickly becomes much stronger as her senses return to her and her eyes flutter open a hiss of pain escaping through already gritted teeth.

"I'm here melamin, you must stay still," the voice is hushed and urgent and yet it sounds like the most incredible thing she had ever heard and for a second all pain is forgotten as breathes a sigh of relief. He is safe. He is alive and he sounds well, if a little concerned.

"Aragorn," she murmurs and she can almost hear his smile as she says his name,

"I am here Medui, I am here," he replies as he shifts closer to her, as close as he can possibly get without pulling her into his arms as he so wished to do but knew he couldn't.

"Did we win? Did we... tell me everyone is safe," she asks as she opens her eyes fully and turns her head slightly to study his face in an effort to find some answers.

"We are okay, Gandalf came just in time and we won," he smiles and though he looks weary and battle worn he also looks happy that the members of the fellowship had survived.

"And Haldir?" she asks hesitantly and he nods his face becoming slightly more serious as he does so.

"He is well and preparing transport of the elves as we speak," he says before sighing heavily, "why did you do it Medui? Why did you leave the caves to fight? he asks and she tenses slightly having known this question was coming and dreading it slightly.

"I had to," she says after a moment before wincing again as pain and exhaustion washes over her once more.

Both Aragorn and Meduineth know that the conversation is far from over but he decides to let it go for now because she is wounded and despite his frustration at her for leaving the safety of the caves his love and concern for her outshone everything else and she was for too exhausted to worry about anything other than trying to sleep and make this pain go away. For hours he sits by her side while she sleeps fitfully, Haldir returns with the healer and leaves elvish medicine with Aragorn before travelling back to his home. After the first night they carefully move her to one of the rooms where Aragorn takes up his vigil once more by her bedside.

"We must be leaving soon my friend," Gandalf's voice startles Aragorn out of his doze and he turns to see Gandalf standing just inside the doorway.

"I cannot leave her, you cannot ask me..." he starts in an almost panicked voice unable to comprehend how the old wizard could even think of asking him to leave her when she is so gravely ill.

"She will be well, I too have spoken to Haldir, her wound is healing quickly with the elvish medicine and Lady Eowyn has vowed to keep watch over her on the journey back to Edoras but we must make haste to Isenguard," Gandalf's voice is firm and brokers no argument but just looking at her pale and vulnerable face tears at Aragorn's heart.

"I cannot..." he begins again, his voice hoarse and defeated and Gandalf lets out a heavy sigh and sits in a chair by the fireplace of the room as he watches over the two of them for a moment.

"She would tell you to come with us and laugh at you for being so over protective of her," he says eventually and Aragorn chuckles slightly as he looks down at her and nods his head.

"Yes I suppose she would, I just do not like to leave her, I came so close to losing her when she fell, I... I am not sure I could survive it," he admits knowing that he could trust Gandalf with his inner most thoughts and feelings almost as much as he trusted Meduineth.