Run It Back Again (Part 2)

Chapter 34

*Era's Pov-

"We have to move the people of Rohan to safety..." I frowned as I tilted my head at Aragorn.

"Then we move them to a safer location. But, why does this require council with me?" Gandalf looked over at me.

"We need to know if you can make the journey, Era... After all, it was you who helped get you all out of Lothloria together. It was you who healed Boromir and tracked down the pack of Orcs. It's you who's been spending every ounce of energy you have to protect everyone, and we're concerned for your well-being." I raised an eyebrow at him as I looked between him and Aragorn.

"Something tells me there's more to it than you're letting on..." Aragorn sighed and nodded.

"We have a theory on where Skyrena is, Era, and we want to make sure the enemy doesn't get you." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Where do you think she is?" He swallowed hard.

"We have reasons to believe she's being sent to Mordor. Which means..." Gandalf cut him off.

"You would be safe here for a few days, and, should you choose to stay, you could head for Mordor after you regain your strength. However, going to Mordor yourself would be treacherous. You could be discovered and taken to face the same fate your mother may face." I swallowed hard as he continued. "We thought it was only fair to tell you and let you decide. However, we do hope you'll choose to come with us." I looked between Father and Boromir, who both exchanged looks, and nodded.

"You need my help..." I looked towards King Theoden. "I will travel with the people of Rohan and help defend them until they have reached a safer destination. After that, I will choose whether to go or stay based on the circumstances we face when we get there." He smiled and nodded at me.

"Sounds fair enough, given the lack of time to decide." He looked at Father. "I do hope you and your men will travel with us as well. We may need your help as well." Father smiled and nodded.

"We'd be happy to." I smiled a little.

"Era..." I turned and saw Fili coming right towards me and smiled.

"Fili." He stopped and pulled me into a hug.

"We've missed you..." There was something about him that didn't seem right. I frowned as I looked at him.

"I missed you, too." He released me and stepped back a bit.

"Look, Era..." He sighed and looked down. "With the whole thing about me being your suitor..." He looked me in the eye. "I asked Uncle if I could marry you. It's all I've wanted for years now. And... I understand if you're mad at me now, but I want you to know that I still want to be there for you, even if I don't get to spend the rest of my life with you." I swallowed hard and started to speak, but I heard someone behind me. Turning, I saw Boromir, just standing there, staring at us. I looked between the two of them.

"Boromir..." He cut me off.

"This is the suitor you ran from...?" Fili puffed his chest out indignantly.

"She ran so she could clear her mind, human. And, don't forget..." He shot Boromir a look of disgust. "You're the human who tried to kill her in Rivendell." Boromir glared at him as I stepped between the two of them.

"Guys, no..." However, neither listened. Boromir crossed his arms.

"I also am the one she loves." Fili froze, staring at Boromir in horror as my heart dropped into my stomach.

"What... was... that?" He turned to face me. "Is that true, Era, or is he just saying that?" Based on the hurt sound in his voice, he wanted it to be a lie. I swallowed hard and looked between the two of them.

"I don't know!" With that, I took off.

*Thorin's Pov-

As we started our journey, I got the impression that something was bothering Era. She was avoiding Fili and Kili and was spending almost as little time with the human called Boromir. I knew something was going on and chose to speak with her about it.

"Is everything okay, Era?" She looked over at me and shook her head.

"I don't know..." I raised an eyebrow at her.

"What is it, Era?" When she didn't respond, I reached over and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Era, I may be your father, but I can also be your friend when you need one. If someone hurt you, just tell me, and I'll take care off them. If something's bothering you, I'm a shoulder you can cry on. All you have to do is tell me, and I'll do what I can to help you." That must have worked because she promptly burst into tears, shaking her head.

"Nothing's okay, Father..." She told me between sobs all that had happened on her journey between her and the human, ending with an arguement Boromir and Fili almost had before we left Eldoras. When she finished, she looked at me. "Worst part is..." She shook her head. "I don't know what to do." I silently thanked Middle Earth I was male and not female as I carefully thought about my answer.

"I'm sad to say that I can't tell you what to do..." She wiped her eyes as I smiled at her. "But, I can advise you to do what you feel is right, even if it takes you some time to figure it out." She sniffed and nodded.

"That seems to be all I can do anymore..." She shook her head. "Why can't I ever have it easy?" I shook my head.

"No one has it easy." She frowned at me.

"You and Mother did... All it took was a few years to finally get up the nerves to ask her to marry you, and things came around perfectly." She sighed, taking another deep breath. "Why didn't I just stay at Erebor? Then, things would have been just as easy..." I shook my head.

"I don't want easy... I want what's best for you, Era. As should anyone who truly loves and cares about you." She sniffed and nodded.

"Thanks, Father..."