Daughter of the highest (LOTR fanfic)

Chapter 8

I awoke from the abyss of my nightmares to a room glowing with white, but I had to shut my eyes to prevent me from becoming temporarily blind.

After a few tries I finally could keep my eyes open long enough to examine my scenario, and I was very confused.

I was in a private healing room in Minas Tirith that was encapsulated in light, even though my last memories of consciousness were spent being beaten down against the Nazgul.

Maybe this was a dream. or maybe I was dead, though I couldn't tell which one would be better.

I slipped out of my bed, now having a firmer grip on reality, and walked feebily to the window, just then noticing I wore the identical dress that I made, but there were no blood stains.

Outside the birds were singing, and the warm breeze smelled of flowers, but it gave no comfort to the sadness lurking within me.

I felt weak and fatigued, resting my hand on the windowsill for support. There was a mirror on the other side of the door and when I saw myself I nearly gasped.

My skin was a pasty pale, my hair lifeless and stringy, and my eyes had lost their elven glow, and what was staring back at me was empty and solemn.

A knock at the door startled me as my thoughts were not in the present.

"Um, come in." I said rather uncertainly.

Aragorn strode in, wearing a nice tunic and pressed trousers, his hair combed and face washed.

Maybe I am dreaming.

"Am I mortal?" I asked shakily, not bothering with any formal greeting or small talk.

"Not entirely." Aragorn replied gravely. "You are almost mortal but your years are still with you."

Great. I can live forever but with no call to the sea. Nice one Manwe.

"What happened?" I questioned furrowing my eyebrows.

"Well apparently the Ring Wraith had no further use for you, so it left you on the ground." He answered. "I healed you before we went to destroy Sauron."

"So you did do it." I remarked quietly. "Was the battle won?"

He nodded. "Goodbye." He said as he began to exit the door, but then he paused right under the doorframe.

"What is it Estel?" I sighed.

"Just one question." Aragorn replied quietly.

"Yes?" I questioned anxiously.

"I have been meaning to ask you this for a long while......" He began, turning around.

"Oh, just spit it out!" I exclaimed, highly annoyed.

"Before you joined the Rangers you had a family, a home, and you were constantly surrounded by people who love you for nearly 2,000 years. A perfect life as a princess that many less fortunate people dream of having.

"And what goes with my name says, not all those who wander are lost, and all the Rangers agree. So with everything you had to lose, why did you desert your happy life for one that is occupied by homeless orphans?" Aragorn asked carefully reciting his words as if he had been practicing.

"Perfection is too easy." I replied simply with no further explanation.

"No," He said, shaking his head. "that's not it."

I sighed, accepting defeat. "You want the truth?"

"The truth."

I paused for a moment, unsure of where to begin. "Have you ever thought that maybe I wander because I am trying to be lost? Lost from my problems, my kingdom, and my title?