Colours

Aragorn becomes a History Teacher

I sit at the window beside Aragorn as we listen to the ringwraiths discover our ruse. The hobbits stir from their sleep, awakened by the shrieks.

Frodo stands and approaches Aragorn, "What are they?"

"They were once men," is Aragorn's solemn reply. He glances quickly at Frodo before turning to look out the window again. "Great kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them Nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will."

He turns to look back at the hobbits, his face blurred by the fire light, and continues, "They are the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring ... drawn to the power of the One ... They will never stop hunting you."

Interrupting his history lesson, I say to him quietly, "You should let them sleep, we have a long way to go tomorrow."

'You're right. Off to bed with you now hobbits," Aragorn replies, beckoning them back to sleep, "Anarielle will keep watch, you will be well protected."

~~

I follow the hobbits through the woods stumbling over occasional sticks and rocks as I help Sam lead the pony. We've been walking for about an hour or two before any of the hobbits even spoke.

It was Frodo who spoke up first, "Where are you taking us?"

"Into the wild," comes Aragorn's reply. He's never been one to elaborate much.

The hobbits begin to discuss their suspicions as Aragorn turns the corner, they seem to have forgotten that I am still here.

"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf? What of Anarielle? She has given us no reason to trust her."

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

"He's foul enough"

I giggle a little at Merry's words. He always comes off a little strong to strangers, even if he can be a real softy at times.

"We have no choice but to trust them."

"But where are you leading us?" Sam finally asks, turning to look at me as he asks the question.

"Ahh .. Umm .. To," I mutter out, feeling my heart rate quicken at being spoken to.

Aragorn turns back to look at the hobbits, "To Rivendell, Master Gamgee ... to the house of Elrond."

Sam turns excitedly to the pony, "Did you hear that, Bill? Rivendell! We're going to see the elves!"

I giggle again, wondering what he would do if he knew I was also an elf. I stop though and look down when I notice Sam looking at me.

"You don't talk much do you?" he asks me.

I shake my head, my heart racing. Am I breathing faster. I don't think so. Okay. Just focus. Breath in. Breath out. What is he saying?

"I got a cousin who doesn't talk much either. She gets nervous around new people, it's no problem. Everyone just sort of knows it by know. She's amazing once you get to know her. Do you like to cook? I like to cook, potatoes are my favourite..."

He just keeps talking on and on and I smile. He seems really sweet and I start to relax and listen to him tell me his favourite recipes.

~~

Eventually tiring of our conversation Merry had caught up to Pippin and started a conversation with him as I lead the pony.

Suddenly, the hobbits all stopped and unstrapped their knapsacks, pulling out pots and pans and food. Clearing my throat I caught Aragorn's attention and gestured to the hobbits.

"Gentleman, we do not stop until nightfall," he tells the hobbits as they all turn to look at him with what I think is shock on their faces.

"What about breakfast?" one of them asks, I think it's Pippin.

'You've already had it," Aragorn states. Clearly he hasn't been well versed in hobbit behaviours.

I laugh at the hobbit's reply, "We've had one, yes ... what about second breakfast?"

Aragorn just turns his head and walks away, as the hobbits all turn to look at me.

"Do you know about second breakfast?" the same hobbit from before asks me.

"Yes, but I don't believe Aragorn does," I reply. Did that sound okay? Oh, no! I bet they think I was poking fun at them. I reach my hands up to tug my hood further onto my head when I hear something hit one of the hobbits in the head.

"Pippin!" comes an exasperated cry.

Seeing a darker grey blur come towards me I catch it before it can hit me and then I bring it into the shadow of my cloak to see what it is. An apple, hmm. So, Aragorn is growing a soft spot for the hobbits.

~~

There is a full moon in the sky tonight as I keep watch from a rock a little ways away from the campsite. I sigh softly to myself in sympathy for Aragorn as he sings by the fire.

Tinúviel elvanui,

Elleth alfirin ethelhael

O hon ring finnil fuinui

A renc gelebrin thiliol.

I hear Frodo's voice interrupt his singing, "Who is she? This women you sing of?"

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

You can hear in his voice how personal this song is to him. I turn to look at the pair by the fire as I here Frodo ask another question.

"What happened to her?"

"She died," Aragorn says, sighing as he turns to look at the hobbit, "Get some sleep, Frodo."

Frodo goes to lay down as I walk over to sit by Aragorn with my back to the fire. We sit in silence for a while as Aragorn looks towards the moon, his eye brimming with tears.

Eventually, I break the silence and place my hand on his leg, "Why do you deny yourself happiness so? It is clear you both love each other and you both deserve it. As my people always used to say 'A life lived and lost with love is better than a life lived forever with no love at all'. Rest, Aragorn. I feel you will need your sleep for the coming days."