My King: An Aragorn Love Story

Chapter 2: The Unexpected

I wake from my slumber to someone shaking me and I open my eyes, grabbing the arm of another in alarm.
"Hey hey, you're alright," a deep soothing voice speaks, and my eyes connect with beautiful grey ones. "It wasn't a dream?" I whisper, and he regards me with confusion. I look away to see the same room and hobbits from what I thought had to have been a dream, but in reality, wasn't. I thought I would merely wake up in my bed again, hoping what I saw and felt was real...but I am far from my bed and even my world. There's nothing to convince me that where I am isn't real. That I'm not really here.... I am in Middle Earth, and now I believe it wholeheartedly.
I come out of my thoughts when I notice Aragorn's hands are still grasping my shoulders, and I direct my eyes back onto his face which is in a close proximity to mine. I realize his eyes hadn't left me and I feel a butterfly flutter within my stomach. The feeling comes to a short end though when he removes his hands and steps back with a stern face.
"It's time to go," he says, and I rise slowly from the chair feeling the stiffness in my muscles before replying in a raspy voice, "Alright."
He turns away and walks over to the hobbits where words begin to exchange. My attention moves solely onto myself as I reach my hands up toward the ceiling releasing a big long yawn and then lean over stretching my side for a satisfying moment before doing the same to the other side. I then proceed to shift my hips forward whilst leaning backwards getting a good stretch and then bend over in the opposite direction placing my palms onto the ground. I stay there for a moment feeling the pleasurable stretch within my hamstrings before slowly rounding up to standing where I inhale deeply as I reach my hands up and look toward the ceiling, then breathe a long exhale out as I lower my arms with control. I smile feeing both physically and mentally ready for the day.
I turn around and halt abruptly as I suddenly become aware of all male eyes upon me. And the Will.i.am/Britney Spears lyrics "All eyes on us" from Scream And Shout took on a whole new meaning.
"Is Octavia coming with us?" Pippin asks.
"Of course not. Why would she?" Merry answers, and I look over to them with a frown. I open my mouth to speak, but Aragorn does instead. "She is coming with us as she's in need of Gandalf as well," he says in a manner that's not up for discussion.
"You're looking for Gandalf too?" Sam asks me, and I nod.
The Hobbits are more welcoming after that - if not already with their naturally kind nature, but Frodo still shows doubt and uncertainty.
We head out after breakfast with supplies and the pony Bill whom I gave loving pats to as I relished the authentic feel of his coat. It'll take us almost a week before we reach Rivendell. The longest and undoubtably farthest I've ever traveled on foot, but I'm hoping with all the hours I spend on my feet at the restaurant every day, it won't be too bad. If only we had horses.
Bree is nothing but an outline behind us as we trek through the changing terrain with Aragorn in the lead, pulling alongside Bill and I close behind as the hobbits follow in tow. I rest my gaze upon Aragorn admiring the way he carries himself with confidence and fearlessness. He's even more handsome in person.... A sudden thought comes to me and I find it extremely humorous. The male has succeeded in impressing the female with his skills. I'm enthralled by him.
"Where are you taking us?" Frodo calls out.
"Into the wild," both Aragorn and I answer in sync. I quickly realize my mistake of what I just did when he swiftly looks back and gazes at me with an unreadable expression for a lingering second before turning away. I release a breath I didn't know I was holding and mentally scold myself. That was not very smart of me. I don't want to draw more attention to myself than there already is merely by being here, because technically...I shouldn't be.
As we continue on, I go deep into thought about the future and how to proceed in figuring out how I got here and why now. It's highly unlikely to be from a wish upon a star or any other absurd activities. I laugh internally at the ridiculous theory. No, it must be something else. But what?!
"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" Merry suddenly questions in what I'm sure he'd thought was a hushed voice, but I can hear him very clearly and I'm positive Aragorn can too.
"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer...and feel fouler," Frodo replies, and I bite my lip in order to stop myself from giggling as I know Aragorn can hear every word they're saying.
"He's foul enough," Merry retorts, and I briefly catch Aragorn tilt his head slightly down to the side.
"We have no choice but to trust him," Frodo finishes.
"But where is he leading us?" Sam queries, and that's when Aragorn speaks out in a definite voice, "To Rivendell Master Gamgee. To the house of Elrond."
This time I can't stop the laugh as I look back seeing the hobbits with shock upon their faces. How embarrassing.... I jog up to Aragorn still in a fit of laughter and he turns toward me with his eyes smiling as I fall into step with him.
"What amuses you my lady?" he asks.
I come out of my joyous state and answer with delight, "Their faces when they realized you heard every word they said, mirrored a deer caught in the headlights."
"Caught in the what?" he responds, now confused.
"Oh it's just a saying where I'm from," I answer quickly. "Meaning a look when someone is stunned."
He nods in understanding and then asks, "And where are you from my lady?"
"Octavia," I remind him, and then look ahead in thought. What do I say? I finally reply, "I come from a faraway land."
He regards me with inquisitive eyes, but doesn't say anything else. I sigh. "I was brought here somehow in some way and I'm trying to find out why, as well as how to get back home. I'm hoping Gandalf or Lord Elrond will have answers for me."
"Your attire is different to what is normal in Middle Earth which made me suspect you were not from here the moment I had laid my eyes upon you back in The Prancing Pony," he says, and I look down at my mucky clothes. I hope when we reach Rivendell I can get a change of clothing. Something more along the line of normal here. Would I be given a dress to wear? Or perhaps an outfit more suitable for traveling. I choose the latter.
"You're right," I answer, maneuvering around an obstacle within our path. "Do you think it'd bother them if I asked the Elves if they would be willing to gift me with proper wardrobe?"
"No," he immediately replies, and extends his hand out to help me along a particular rough part of the terrain. "The courtesy of the Elves are well known and they will not hesitate to provide you with your necessities." He then smiles. "Don't worry, I have faith you'll find what you need once we reach Rivendell."
After a little bit, the terrain becomes smooth again where he lets go of me and I instantly miss the feel of his warm and slightly rough hand as it gently guided me over small obstacles. The feeling quickly leaves me though when the true severity of our situation becomes that much more real in my mind. As we speak, nine Ringwraiths are currently hunting us. Well, Frodo actually.
"What do we do, now that the One Ring has been revealed?" I ask, coming to a stop.
Aragon halts in his steps and fully turns around to fix his gaze upon me, his expression now stern. I probably shouldn't have said that for it now arises new questions on how I knew about the ring in the first place.
"Lord Elrond will know," is all he says, before turning his back and continuing forward.
I inhale deeply, pausing momentarily before resuming onward. A quietness breaks out. Even the hobbit's loud conversations have now reduced down to a few words every so often, and I can perceive that Aragorn wouldn't be much of a participant right now. I don't like the silence, and so I resolve it by singing softly to myself.