Beneath the Veil

Beneath the Veil

Chapter 4
Author: Frosty the Orc Princess
Codes: Aragorn, Legolas, Elrond, Eowyn, Gimli, OC, AU
Rated: NC-17
Summary: After Frodo and Sam fail their mission, Aragorn takes over. Can he handle the power of the ring?
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. If I did, I would be rich, and I most certainly am not rich. :(


*

Aragorn sat on the edge of a partition that offered an unobstructed view of the horses' barn. He pursed his lips and stared at the wooden building, not really seeing it. The smell of manure caused him to rub at his nose e few few minutes.

Lost in his thoughts, he did not hear Eowyn approach. He noticed, though, when she sat down beside him. "My uncle tells me the elves are here to go with you to Mordor," she said, her blue eyes misty, as they always seemed to be. "Will you be leaving soon?"

Narrowing his eyes, Aragorn blinked thoughtfully. "I do not know," he said, clenching his hand softly. "Not for a few days, at least."

Eowyn looked down at his hand, which he moved as though sifting dirt or flour. Her shoulders tensed when she realized what he must be holding. "And the ring?" she said, looking back up, "Is it becoming stronger?"

His gray eyes looked over her face without care. "I don't know," he replied, turning back to look at the barn. He shook his head softly.

Licking her lips, Eowyn considered asking him again, but she decided against it when she saw Legolas approaching. She frowned when she noticed another with him.

He looked concerned, but Legolas' voice didn't betray him. "Lady Eowyn," he said, "Allow me to introduce Lady Amarie. She is here from Lothlorien. Amarie," he said, smiling at the elf, "This is Eowyn, niece of King Theoden."

They exchanged pleasantries, but Amarie found herself distracted by the human on her left. His thumb rubbed over something in his hand, something that she immediately knew must be the ring. When she looked up from his hand, Aragorn's wer were upon her. She quickly averted hers to Legolas.

"What did Elrond say?" asked Legolas, not noticing Amarie's distraction.

Aragorn stood, and Eowyn followed suit. His eyes grazed over Amarie, and she was acutely aware when he pocketed the ring. "I am surprised at you, Legolas," he said, smiling, "Discussing this in front of one of those loyal to Lord Elrond? Very unlike you."

Legolas frowned and cast a glance to Amarie. "I have spent time with Amarie, and believe her to be trustworthy. Would you have her leave?"

Aragorn's eyes widened in innocence. "Not at all," he said, regarding Amarie once more. "My concern was only for you, Legolas."

The elf was clearly unhappy with Aragorn's words, but he did not progress with his questions. "Then please, confess to us what Elrond has said."

Aragorn took a deep breath and shook his head. "No," he said, "Not now. I need to think about this first."

Legolas, looking disappointed and irritated, pursed his lips. "Will you not tell us anything? We are as much involved in this as you are."

The human's eyes slid to Amarie, looking at her mildly, then back to Legolas. He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and smiled. "Do not worry," he said, "All will become evident soon. I ask of you, please allow me some time to process what he has told me before I inform you."

Sighing, the elf nodded. Aragorn clapped his shoulder and grinned. "You realize Gimli and I will not leave you alone until you tell us, right?" he smirked.

"I do," replied Aragorn. "If you'll excuse me, I had a very early morning and am quite hungry. Eowyn," he said, holding out his arm, "Will you join me?"

Eowyn smiled and took his arm, and they left, saying their goodbyes to the elves. When they were gone, Legolas' good humour disappeared.

"He is erratic," he said, watching Aragorn and Eowyn climb the hall stairs in the distance. "It was unusual for him not to tell us what happened."

Amarie cast her eyes to the ground. She had noticed how defensive Aragorn had been with her. And how interested. "It was probably me," she said, looking up at Legolas, "He would not want to speak ill of Elrond while I am present."

Legolas shook his head. "I told him you could be trusted. It is unlike him not to believe me."

Smiling softly, Amarie leaned towards him. "Well, to be honest, it's not as if we know each other all that well, either. We only just met."

Legolas' blue eyes searched hers, then a small smile creased his lips. "Indeed. It has only been hours, hasn't it?" He turned away and looked back at the hall. "Seems longer."

"Yes," she replied quietly, "It certainly does."

*

Amarie tucked her dark hair behind her ears as they wind blew it around her face. The sun had lowered, and the glow of the moon was the only light illuminating the mountains around Edoras. She took a deep breath of the clear air and exhaled heavily. The day had been long.

Turning on her heel, she made her way towards her rooms. It was late, and though she was not tired, there was no one else about. She had spent most of the day with Legolas, and with Gimli, and now both were talking with the King. It made her happy, knowing she had made friends with those she would be travelling with.

Most of them, anyways.

And to a point. Amarie clasped her hands behind her back and frowned. She didn't like not being honest with them. If it were her choice, she would have been truthful from the beginning, and accepted whatever reaction they would have had. Elrond, though, was insistent. And she could not say no to him.

"Amarie."

Stopping abruptly, she craned her neck down a dark hall and saw a form stepping out of one of the rooms. Starting down the hall, she recognized who it was.

"Aragorn," she said, the narrowed her eyes, "Do you need something?"

His eyes were clear and mellow. "May I speak with you?" he asked, "It is about our mission. About what Elrond told me."

"Of course," she said, raising her eyebrows. When he stepped aside, she entered his room. "May I ask what he told you, exactly?"

Aragorn closed the door quietly behind her. He motioned for her to take a seat, and he did so himself. "He told me everything," he said, leaning back in a wooden chair. "The real reason you and Haldir are to accompany me."

"Good," she said, nodding softly. The peaceful orange glow in the room from the firelight cast shadows upon Aragorn's face, making his expression hard to read. From his voice, though, Amarie thought he sounded perfectly normal.

Legolas, though, seemed to think Aragorn was being affected often by the ring. Amarie chose to remain wary. "I did not speak of it to Legolas," he continued, "Because I wanted to talk to you about it first."

Amarie, perched on the edge of her chair, blinked calmly. "What about Haldir?"

The expression on Aragorn's face flickered to one of surprise before settling on dawning realization. "Oh," he replied, smiling, "I am to speak with him tomorrow. You happened this way, so I thought we could talk now."

Amarie knit her brow, but did not ask how he knew she was passing by. "I understand," she said, raising her chin up, "Please continue with what you were saying."

His smiled broadened. "The ring," he said, quickly producing it from his pocket, "I wish to talk about it."

When she saw the small, gold band in his palm, Amarie felt a cold shudder move through her body. The glow of the room caused it to sparkle, and every muscle she had, tensed. Still, though, she leaned forward just slightly, her eyes upon it.

"What do you want to talk about?" she asked breathlessly, finally moving her eyes up to his.

Aragorn slid forward on his chair and leaned towards Amarie. "You are the expert," he said quietly, moving his hand out towards her, "Tell me about it."

Amarie clenched her jaw as she looked back down at the ring. It was so close, she swore she could almost feel it. "What do you want to know?"

"I want you to tell me," he whispered, reaching out and taking her hand, "What it feels like when you hold it."

As though burned, Amarie jerked her hand away from Aragorn and shot up from her chair. "You would have me hold it?" she asked, her voice strained, "Why?"

Aragorn stood up as well, looking down on her with easy eyes. "If you are to succeed in your mission," he said, holding the ring in the tips of his fingers, "You should know if you can handle it."

Amarie licked her lips as he held the ring up to her face. She could not deny she was tempted. "Elrond was explicit in his instructions that we are not to touch the ring unless you cannot handle it any longer." Her voice trembled as she spoke, as she felt ever nerve in her body heighten.

"He told me that as well," he replied, taking her hand once again. She did not pull back. She shook as he smoothed open her palm and held it up. "But I am the one who holds the ring, not he."

Biting her lip, Amarie swallowed heavily and stared at the gold band. She couldn't take her eyes off it. Would it really be so terrible, to hold it once?

Aragorn very softly laid the ring upon her palm. It was warm, she noticed, and heavier than it looked. He let go of her hand as she gently pulled it back, bringing the ring closer to her face. "It's beautiful," she breathed, raising her other hand and running her finger along its rim.

Aragorn's eyes watched her closely. She could feel his sight upon her every movement. "How do you feel?" he asked, his voice low.

She took the ring between her fingers and gently rolled it around, wanting to feel every smooth edge. "I feel fine," she muttered, not really paying attention. It took her a moment to focus when Aragorn smoothed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up.

Amarie gazed at him, her eyes a little hazy. The room was so warm. "It is a terrible burden, this ring," he said, his blue eyes wide and so very close to hers, "Now that you have held it, we are bonded with the weight of it." Amarie felt herself nodding and her eyelids becoming heavy. "I trust you with this, Lady Amarie, as you must trust me."

His large hand enveloped her smaller one as he closed her palm on the ring. It felt almost as if it was growing with heat. "I trust you," she murmured. At that moment, she felt nothing but what he wanted.

"That's what I like to hear," he said, smiling, as he opened her hand once again and removed the ring, placing it on a small wooden table. Amarie watched it, her chest tightening with the need to pick it up again. To hold it like it was her own. Aragorn's hand moved her face to face him. "You must not lie to me, Amarie," he said, leaning close, "I need your full trust in order for this mission to succeed. Do I have it?"

Amarie blinked gently, her eyes darting off to the side to try to see the ring. He did not let her face go. "You have it. I promise you."

His eyes softened then. "We need to be strong," he continued, "The ring wants us to care for it. We need to prove to it that we are stronger than it is. Will you help me with that?"

"Yes," she breathed, licking her lips.

He smiled and leaned closer to her face. She could feel his warm breath. "Trust me," he whispered, before gently taking her full lips in his own and kissing her. Amarie closed her eyes against the contact, falling back against the wall as he cupped her face in his hands.

Aragorn's mouth was warm and insistent, and when he ran his tongue carefully along her lower lip she opened her mouth immediately, allowing him entry. His soft tongue searched her mouth completely, and she caressed his with her own. It was deep and pleasuring, and she could feel his warmth against her. Amarie's mind was distracted, though, and Aragorn could sense it.

Pulling away, he looked into her eyes and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "Don't allow it to interfere," he said, referring to the ring, "It will not control us."

Amarie nodded quickly, then moved in to kiss him again. He allowed and encouraged it, sending his hands back through her hair as she ran hers up his chest. Aragorn bit at her lips, intensifying their encounter, and Amarie moaned out his name.

He grinned broadly, separating from her lips and lifting her over to the bed. Laying her down on it, he crawled over her and attacked her mouth again, bruising her lips in the heat of passion.

Aragorn moved his mouth down along her jaw and to her neck, biting at the sensitive skin, while his fingers worked at her clothes. He was swift in his undoing of her top, opening it and baring her chest. Leaving her throat, he placed his lips upon her breats, sucking and kissing heatedly while she arched into his touch.

When he had had his fill, he raised his head up and kissed her lips again, his hand playing at her chest. Amarie moaned softly into his mouth as she tried to remove his own clothing. He would have none of it, promptly grabbing her wrists and pinning them to the bed.

"Not yet," he said, smiling, "You just lie still."

Amarie swallowed as he released her hands and drew himself up. His fingers quickly undid her pants and slid them down her legs, along with the fabric of her underwear. When she was bare to him, his eyes skimmed over the skin in front of him in lust.

She looked up at him expectantly, waiting for him to remove his clothing, so when he moved her hand to her abdomen and slid it down towards her pelvis she tensed. His fingers quickly invaded her body, and Amarie gasped in surprise. A dark smile flitted across Aragorn's face.

Aragorn leaned over her body as she bit her lip. "Like that?" he breathed as his fingers began a steady thrust. Amarie closed her eyes and nodded, tightening her legs around his hand. She could feel his warm breath upon her face as he watched her. "And this?" he asked, alternating his touch to rub where she was most sensitive. Amarie opened her eyes and gripped the bedsheets, trying to keep from crying out.

His warm lips caught up hers and kissed her softly as he slowed his movements. Amarie shuddered slightly when he removed his hand, but he only smiled, pushing her dark hair away from her face. "Are you ready for me?" he asked, his eyes mild. She nodded, but he wanted her to speak. "Tell me."

"I want you," she whispered, and he quickly obliged, undoing his pants and crawling over her body. Sitting up, he drew her hips upward and entered her in a single sharp thrust.

Amarie groaned out in pain and pleasure as Aragorn hissed in a breath and closed his eyes. He leaned over her and thrust again, as Amarie snaked her arms around his still-clothed body and sunk her fingernails into his shoulders.

"That's a good girl," he said, opening his eyes to watch her torment. Each time he thrust it was hard and sharp, intent on winning a whimper or moan from her. "I want to hear you," he said, running his hand down her hip, "Show me how much you want it."

Amarie couldn't hold it in, so she moaned in pleasure as his thrusts began to quicken in pace. He seemed to like that, lowering his face to her lips and biting softly, tasting her cries.

The pleasure in her body quickly spread as she curled her legs around his hips. Aragorn groaned in response, dropping his head as he rolled into her again and again, wanting to achieve their climax. Soon, Amarie met her release, throwing her head back and crying out. Aragorn followed suit.

The room was heavy with heat and sweat as they lied there together. Aragorn groaned as he pulled out of her worn body and rolled to her side, running a hand through his wet hair. "Fuck," he growled, doing up his pants and rolling his head to the side to look at her. His eyes grazed her body appreciatively. Sitting up, he leaned over her body and licked at her lips, kissing her deeply, then got up off the bed.

Amarie sat up and frowned, curling her legs into her body. She watched as he crossed the room and picked up the gold ring that had never left her mind. Turning, he smiled and pocketed it. "I am going out for a few minutes," he said, "Be gone before I get back."

Without another word, Aragorn opened the door and left the room. The room suddenly felt a lot cooler than it had just minutes earlier. "Shit," Amarie breathed, gathering her clothes and dressing. Smoothing back her hair, she left the same way Aragorn did.

The halls were dark and empty, and she could hear no footfalls. Still, though, she tread lightly to her room, not wanting to wake anyone. Once inside her room, she closed the door softly and looked around. There was no warmth here, no glow. Everything was hard and cold. She was having trouble processing what had happened, so she laid upon her bed and closed her eyes, hoping for sleep. She would worry about things in the morning.

*

TBC