ARAGORN rested his ear against a rock. He could hear the faint thunder of a hundred footsteps running with haste. He closed his eyes and tried to calculate in his head how far apart they were from the object of their pursuit.
They were now on a slightly rocky mountain with grass here and there. The air was slightly thin where they were from up high making them pant a bit harder to breathe. The view was absolutely breathtaking with the plains and forests below them and neighbouring green mountains close by and a gushing waterfall falling down to a flowing river, the same waterfall from where they previously were from, far across them. It was a beautiful painting of nature consisting of blue and green and a bit of grey from the rocks.
On any other day, Lou would have paused to take a selfie but now wasn't really the time when they were breathing heavily and looked extremely haggard. The sun's heat rained down on them and Aragorn with his closed eyes could see red from its brightness. That red soon disappeared as Lou's shadow covered him.
"So?" She asked, her hair in a pony tail lightly bounced as she put her jog to a stop.
"Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent" Aragorn told her. He then turned to the others behind him. "Hurry!" He shouted then continued running with Lou close behind him. Hot at her heels was Felina. Not far behind was Legolas. Legolas paused for a bit and turned back to see if Gimli was still there like he usually did every once in a while. The dwarf with his short legs could barely keep up with them who had longer legs thus longer strides. Felina would sometimes levitate him so he wouldn't fall behind but she could only do it for so long because she had to save her energy.
"Come on Gimli!" Legolas called out. The dwarf huffed and puffed trying his best to catch up. He paused for a small moment trying to catch his breath. He rested his hands on his knees and slight bent over.
"Three days and nights pursuit. No food! No rest! No sign of our quarry, but what bare rock can tell!" The dwarf grumbled before going to catch up once more.
They ran and ran and ran nonstop atop the mountain ridge. The Uruks definitely were hastening their footsteps. They knew they were being followed. They went up and down hills, ran on top of rocky mountains, their feet always in constant motion. They sometimes crisscossed in their paths jumping from one high rock to the other and ran in zigzag to avoid obstacles on their way. That and the blaring hot sun threatening to fry them alive along with them barely stopping to eat or drink was enough to be disorienting. Still they thought of their friends Merry and Pippin and wonder what those terrible Uruks might be doing to them. They couldn't stop. They had to save them.
Soon they took the trek down the mountain, which was a lot easier than going up since gravity was in favor of them and hastened their footsteps downward. The only thing left to do was control their speed and make sure they don't trip. A part of the trek down was terribly rocky with jagged edges that could cut through your skin. Huge rocks were in abundance in all different areas and there was barely anything to hold on to. To make things even better, the way was steep.
Pretty much every one had a bit of a struggle except for Legolas who was light on his feet and Felina whose feet were stuck to the steep mountain side yet not falling down from imbalance because of her telekinesis. She then flew all the way down to the foot of the mountain first and made sure the others wouldn't trip or fall and quickened their footsteps. Despite that, Legolas somehow still manages to lose his footing for a bit when he was near the bottom and goes falling down and almost collided with Felina had she not held her arms out to catch him. She had her hands on his torso steadying him and their eyes met when they realize how close they were to each other. Felina slightly tensed at that.
Legolas shot her a shy smile putting distance between them seeing she was uncomfortable. He mentally reprimanded himself for being clumsy. A great way to impress the princess really, being a bit of a klutz. "Sorry" he said.
Felina smiled back at him helping him regain his footing. "No worries"
When the rest reached the bottom, Lou, who now had several cuts on her hands for nonhesitantly holding onto the sharp rocks glared at Felina whose hands remained clean and smooth. Felina merely smirked at Lou.
Before they continued to run again, Lou kicked and swept Felina off her feet. Felina would have fallen face first to the ground if it wasn't for her powers. She maintained her smirk and said "Jealous much?"
Lou scowled at her and replied "Stupid half elf"
They continued their nonstop marathon and eventually came upon vast plains and a wide grassy crevice before late afternoon. Lou stopped her jog when Aragorn bent down to pick something from the grown half covered in the weeds. It was the emerald green leaf pendant they all had on the cloaks they received from Lothlorien. Legolas and Felina catch up with them. Aragorn shows them the fallen pendant before tucking it away in his pocket.
"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall" Aragorn said.
"They may yet be alive" Legolas replied with his voice full of hope.
Lou nodded agreeing with Legolas. "They are smart Hobbits. One of them must have removed the pendant and dropped it on purpose knowing we would find it if we were going in the right direction"
"Less than a day ahead of us" Aragorn says before going to run again with the others close behind him. "Come!"
Just then, they heard a slight commotion behind them and glanced whilst running to see Gimli rolling down a rock and falling flat on his stomach lying on the grass for a while trying to gasp for air.
Legolas turns back to call out to Gimli. "Come on Gimli! We're gaining on them!" He shouted.
Gimli staggered to his feet and grumbled once more. "I am wasted on cross country! We dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!"
Lou chuckles at this and Felina gives a very small smile and shakes her head. They emerge from the crevice and have a short climb atop a rocky hill. They stopped on the very top taking in the view. From their height they could see vast fields of green, valleys and from afar there were mountains shrouded in the mist, and a few more rocky hills like the one they were on.
"Rohan" Aragorn said. "Home of the horse lords" he then squinted his eyes. "There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets its will against us"
As one having the best eyesight out of all of them, Legolas went forward and perched atop a slightly taller hill a bit far away from them. "Legolas!" Aragorn called to him. "What do your elf eyes see?"
"The Uruks turn Northeast!" He shouted back at them "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!"
"Saruman" Aragorn whispered under his breath.
"He must think that either Merry or Pippin have the ring with them" Felina concluded. "We can't waste any time"
She raised her hands with her open palms facing the skies and levitate herself along with the others. Lou looked at her queerly. "What are you doing Felina?" She asked.
Felina merely gave a small smirk. "Buckle up"
"There are no bloody seatbe- AAAAHHHH!" Lou screamed as she suddenly felt herself being rushed forward in the air, the wind blowing back her hair. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli also gave small yelps of surprise not really expecting to be flying all of the sudden. They merely hovered just above the fields and soared past with great speed.
"WOAH!" Lou shouted in excitement like a kid on Christmas. "This is amazing!"
Gimli sighed in relief of having the opportunity to rest his legs. "Couldn't have done this earlier lass?" He said. Felina merely laughed him off.
Flying and feeling almost weightless was one sensation they had to get used to whilst it all felt normal to Felina. She twirled in the air and relished on the feel of the wind on her face. It was this feeling she had often craved for. It was this feeling she often missed and it was this feeling and sense of euphoria she would get every time she literally lifted herself from the ground. The feeling of freedom. Not bound by gravity, just able to soar higher and the sky's the only limit.
Legolas stared at her and saw in her eyes the intense determination to keep up with the Uruks. It was obvious from her body language that she was tired not really having slept, or eaten that much which is why she reserved her powers to save her energy.
Yet she pushed herself a bit further knowing her friends were in danger and he admired that about her. She would do anything for the people who are loyal to her and have her loyalty in return. No need to even say the word and she would risk it all for you. It was just a matter of showing her that you are worth her efforts. That you are worth all the risks she took.
Felina turned to catch Legolas staring at her. Legolas turned red in the face but she thought nothing of it and just sent him a tired smile as they sailed on in the air. They flew into the sunset and later nightfall came. The sky was painted dark blue with an orange pinkish hue left at the edges as the sun slowly disappeared. Soon as the sun went to sleep Felina as well could feel the energy slowly draining from her body. She was beginning to see black spots and her eyelids began to feel droopy.
Still she slapped herself in her head and pushed on. She was fighting to stay awake and not drop unconscious thinking of Merry and Pippin. She pushed and pushed on in their flight making them go as fast as they could. She began to sweat and breathe heavily, taking in large gulps air. Her body and mind especially felt seriously fatigued. Spikes were poking in her mind and it felt like she was having a bad migraine. That usually happened when her powers were beginning to tire her out.
Lou squints her eyes at Felina seeing her almost drop down then catching herself again. Still Felina forced herself. Lou sighed.
"Alright that's it. STOP FELINA!" She shouted and it echoed across the fields.
Felina stopped and dropped them down safely on the ground. They all look at Lou in confusion. "What?" Felina asked her. Lou gave Felina an intense glare. "We're stopping for the night. I saw you almost drop midflight. You're tired and overusing your powers" Lou answered.
Felina glared right back at Lou. "I'm not tired I'm fine. We're catching up. A few more minutes in flight we could catch them"
"You're no use to us half dead. You need to rest right now" Lou retorted with a hand on her hip and her chin up high.
Felina stared her down. "You know I can just use my telepathy, hypnotize you and convince you we should move on right?"
The three men exchanged looks bewildered. "The lass can do that?" Gimli gasped.
Lou chuckled and stepped toward Felina. "Yes indeed you can. But let me guess. Your head hurts too much for that right now doesn't it?" She replied smacking Felina on the back of her head.
Felina winced and gave a small yelp of pain. That definitely did not help ease the blaring headache. She felt like her skull was about to be ripped apart and Lou definitely wasn't helping. She bent down and held her head in her hands.
Legolas rushed to her and bent down to her level cupping her cheeks in his hands. "Felina are you alright?" Felina doesn't answer and just growls saying "Dammit Lou" just about ready to murder her friend.
Legolas turns to Lou. "I don't think you should have done that"
Lou just shrugged and said "No regrets. It's what true best friends do. Painfully point out their friend's plain stupidity. And Felina, thinking she can go on is straight up stupid. We are camping here and that's final"
"No" Felina stubbornly argued. "They will have a headstart. We can't give them that"
She stood up straight and Legolas removed his hands from her cheeks. Legolas looked at her with concern. She was becoming pale and she breathed heavily with sweat trickling down her forehead.
"Felina, Lou is right. You must rest. It is for your own good. You cannot hurt yourself like this" he said.
Felina opens her mouth to argue but Legolas cut her off before she could say anything. "Besides I see the Uruks stopping as well. All we need to do is start running again before they do. We are already close enough"
Aragorn just nodded. "We camp here. Though I do not think a fire would be advisable. We are out in the open and our enemies might see us. Get some rest, I will be taking the first watch" he instructed.
Felina sighed and relented. "Fine. But I told you Lou I'm not tired"
Lou rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say"
Felina took a few steps to retrieve her pack, staggering a bit on the way. She didn't last 5 more footsteps when her body suddenly went limp and began to fall to the ground. Luckily, Legolas was there to catch her once more.
Lou facepalmed "I'm not tired she said. I can go on, she said"
Legolas stared at her unconscious form in concern and gently set her down on the ground. He made her pack into a makeshift pillow and removed his cloak covering her with it. Lou stares at him with narrowed eyes feeling something brewing inside Legolas for her friend.
"Will she be alright?" Legolas asked.
"She'll be just fine don't worry. She's just tired for running straight for three days, no sleep, no water, or food. She's physically depleted and she just made it worse by pushing herself to use her powers. This happens sometimes. I remember after the battle of New York where she used her powers like a telekinetic beast. She slept a whole day after that" Lou assured him.
The night got darker and the stars more visible. They all sat down close to each other and ate some lembas bread and drank a ton of their water. After their stomachs had been filled they didn't hesitate to plop down and get some rest save for Aragorn who was taking the first watch. Lou went over to Aragorn sitting down beside him. She saw he was deep in thought. She didn't need to guess.
"Is it Boromir?" She asked.
Aragorn merely sighed and bowed his head. "He called me his king, Lou. Those were his last words and the last words of a dying man are one of the truest words he will ever speak" he sighed. Lou listened intently.
"My father and his father and many generations before him had been awaiting for the opportune moment to claim the throne of Gondor. Very few of us Rangers are left. My father has long been gone and whether to take the throne or not is upon me. The question is, will the people accept a mere ranger as their king?" Aragorn looked up to Lou with a bit of uncertainty in his eyes.
Lou intertwined their fingers, grasping his hand tightly in hers. "You are more than just a mere ranger Aragorn. You are a noble leader. You're practically born to be one. I've seen how you've led us since Gandalf had gone and honestly I can't ask for anyone better to take the reins. They would be fools to not accept you as king. I mean, you're amazing! And that compliment is coming from a Stark so don't take that lightly" she joked pointing a finger at him.
Aragorn shakes his head with a smile at this. "I am deeply honored then Miss Stark" he said.
Lou smiled widely at him. "Seriously though, you will make a great king. Boromir saw that. And I can see that as well. Still, the choice is yours. But whatever you choose, I promise I will be with you. Every step of the way"
"Are you certain that you will be here?" Aragorn asks her with his eyebrows furrowed
Lou frowned along with him in confusion. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"There is still yet a chance you may return to your home"
Lou nodded. "I know that. Galadriel explained to me and Felina the next morning after my freaking out. She said its just well hidden" she then tilted her head. "Wait a sec. Are you worrying I might leave and never come back?"
Aragorn didn't answer. Merely nodded his head. Lou sighed.
"Look, Aragorn, I don't know the way back neither does Galadriel. And if Galadriel can't find the way back I'm sure no one else ever could. Since I don't know the way back I don't think I'd be going anywhere any time soon" she said.
"But what if you found the path? Even by fate or chance?" Aragorn retorted. "Wouldn't you want to go back? You always told me of that place you grew up with your parents. Paris, was it? Wouldn't you miss it? Wouldn't you like to go back home?"
"If I didn't know better I'd think you want to send me off and get rid of me" Lou joked but kept a serious face.
"That's not what I-" Aragorn was cut off by Lou removing her hand from his and playfully punching him in the shoulder.
"I'm messing with you!" She said laughing hard. Aragorn couldn't help but laugh along. Soon their laughter died down and it became serious once more.
"You still haven't answered my questions" he reminded. Lou sighed heavily. She nodded and looked to the stars. "Well the answer is yes. I do miss my world. I do miss Paris. And if by dumb luck I find the way back to my world I would go"
Aragorn lowered his head in sadness. He knew this was coming. But what Lou said next shocked him.
"I would probably go back just to tell them I'm fine and not dead. That they don't need to worry about me. I would like to say goodbye properly. But then I would come right back to Middle Earth if the gateway to our worlds does open both ways"
"But what about your home? And Paris?" Aragorn asked.
Lou laughed and held his hand once more. "Idiot" she said. "You are my home. I don't need Paris. My home is wherever you are. I feel safe and happy with you. And with you is where I intend to stay. Forever"
Aragorn smiled widely as she rested her forehead against his. He placed a hand on her cheek and pulled her in for a short sweet kiss. "I love you" he said full of sincerity. Lou pecked his lips once more. "I love you too"
"Rest melamin. I will watch over you"
Lou laid her head on his lap and slept on her side. She could feel herself slowly disappear to dreamland as Aragorn gently stroked her dark locks.