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Blood Pact	By : kint Category: +Third Age > General Views: 1526 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Blood Pact
- -Chapter Two- -
Aragorn.
She�d learned his name to be. Born to Arathorn and Gilrean, just as her mother had been. He was a ranger, from the North, hailing from a land she�d never before heard of.
He said he�d travelled all the realms Middle-earth had to offer, though he did admit to embellishing some of his stories. But only a little bit. Adrie found him to be quite like her mother, which surprised her very little.
The younger children in the village always looked up to their older siblings, following them, copying them, worshipping them. She couldn�t help but try to imagine him and her mother as young children, playing and learning together, Aragorn constantly on her tail, yearning to be like his older sister.
The thought warmed and saddened her heart. No doubt they had likely been close. Not having a sibling to miss, herself, she could never know the pain she now saw on this man�s face, but knew in her heart how horrible it must have been to him. She missed her mother, loved her, and cursed the Valar for taking her.

It was why Adrie chose to take this man, Aragorn, her uncle, to visit her mother�s grave. Though she wouldn�t dare admit it, this was what she needed, too. Even if it was only in her mind, visiting her mother�s grave made her feel as if she were going to her mother herself.

Adrie was silent as they approached the small glade by the river, and, picking up on her silence, Aragorn was the same. They�d been walking for some time, now, with hardly a word spent. It was appropriate, neither minded the absence of conversation, as after all, there really was nothing to be said.

He must have known the sight of the grave when they came within seeing distance of it, for his gait stiffened, and his breath became a little more uneasy.
There was a small grove of trees and plants by the river where the valleys ran short and started to become flat grasslands. The glade within these trees was where Adrie had chosen for her mother to be put to rest. It was obvious that the plains were not somewhere her mother truly belonged. It was during the short times Adrie was taken by her mother outside their small village, to small forests and other places, that she learned her mother had always had a liking of the true wild. Her mother never mentioned it, but Adrie found it to be a blatant fact.
The small graveyard kept by the villagers did not seem the right place to bury her mother, so instead chose this place. The others in the village accepted and understood her decision; many agreed with her as well.

The grave itself was a simple mound, fit into the clearing, grass thick and light green in color grown a top it, a sign of the years that had passed. There was a small stone plaque inlayed into the ground at the base of the mound, crude but caringly fashioned to display her mother�s name. All around, there were flowers, fresh and wilting, lain down by either herself or her neighbours in the village.
Adrie paused at the entrance into the glade, and Aragorn did, too, as he took in the sight of his sister�s grave. It could not have been an easy thing for him to bear, Adrie knew this. The expression on his face betrayed him true feelings, too. She watched in silence as he slowly took the few steps forward before kneeling at the foot of the grave, bowing his head in prayer and respect.

Slowly, Adrie made her way forward as well, lowering herself onto her knees before the grave as well. Still, no words were spoken even as she remained there, and eventually bowed her head, too praying. The birds chirped softly, and the waters of the river trickled lightly. The leaves on the trees were beginning to turn brown in the late autumn months. A shiver went up Adrie�s back, as she realized her mother�s presence around them. She opened her eyes as a breeze came through the glade, Aragorn suddenly opening his eyes and looking about as well.

�She may have passed,� Adrie broke the silence, speaking softly, and pausing to meet Aragorn�s gaze, �But I don�t think she�s ever really left me.�
He gave her a sweet smile. �Knowing my sister, I wouldn�t think so,� he mused.
Adrie let her gaze once again drop to the plaque bearing her mother�s name. The sorrow that had so ardently overtaken her those years ago still felt fresh in her heart. It took all the strength she had to keep going on when her mother died, and now she was so tired being on her own. She looked up to Aragorn, hoping that maybe, her uncle would take her away from it all.

She shook her head briefly, dismissing her thoughts and cursing herself for thinking so foolishly.

Her attention was again caught as she noticed him moving then, beyond the simple action of breathing. She watched him with minute fascination as he reached forward, laying a flower down on the base of the burial mound, just beneath the stone plaque.

Adrie studied the flower for only a moment, before a smile came to her features. �Hmm, that one was her favourite,� she said quietly, realizing he must have taken it from the small garden by her house without her noticing.

Looking down at her, Aragorn smiled back at her. �I know,� he replied with a light and proud jest.

�She said that they don�t grow in these parts naturally,� Adrie went on, gazing on the flower again, �She tried so hard to grow them, and now I keep them alive the best I can. I know why they would not grow here, this land is so harsh, so unforgiving that nothing wants to grow here. They�re such delicate things, so beautiful, I couldn�t even begin to imagine the place these things are from.�
Aragorn let out a short laugh. �Aye, it is true, the place the niphredil � that is what they�re called � hails from is a truly beautiful and wonderful place. It is the land your father is from,� he explained to her, noticing her reaction to the mentioning of her father, �I think that is why she loved this particular blossom so.�
Adrie sighed, again letting the silence fall between them. �It must be horrible,� she said, her tone solemn and cold, �Learning of her death like this . . .never getting to say goodbye.�
�I am,� Aragorn admitted, �Sadness is the least of what I feel. I thought I�d come to find the two of you here together, not only you. I am not only sad for myself, but for you as well, Adrie. I�m sad that you�ve lived so long on you own without anyone to care for you.�
�I have done quite alright on my own,� she responded quickly, seeking to reassure him, �I am glad for your concern, but I should not be a cause for it.�
�You really are like your mother, Adrie,� he mused briefly.
Smiling momentarily at his words, she quickly went on. �I never knew I had an uncle, honestly, and certainly no other family other than small mentions of my father,� she told him thoughtfully. She paused in her speech, and a thought suddenly came to her head. �Did the two of you have any other siblings? Are you married? Do I have any cousins? What about my father�s family?�
Aragorn couldn�t help but laugh at her enthusiasm as he placed his hand on her shoulder. �Calm down, my girl,� he said, still laughing, �You will be told everything in time.�
Adrie smiled, hanging her head in embarrassment. Her sorrow was great, but the joy she felt at finding family she never knew she had was even greater still. She exhaled heavily, turning her attentions once again to her mother�s grave. �She was missed when she passed,� she told him, wanting to know this information, �All the villagers, everyone, was involved in her funeral. They all went to great lengths to commemorate her passing. It was the first time I�d ever seen a Rohirric funeral.�
He nodded, a small, reminiscent smile playing on his feature �She was always a good, kind woman. I�m not surprised your village was affected so,� he said, �The time we spent together in our youth was wonderful � but far too short-lived.�
�What happened?� Adrie asked, concern in her voice and on her face, �I mean, how did it come to this? Why did we have to come all the way out here, away from everybody? Why couldn�t we have lived with you and whoever else. I know Mum had a past somewhere, she told me parts about it, but never why she left and took me here.�
The ranger simply smiled at her, smiling sadly, though knowingly, before dismissing the topic altogether. �So you think you could let your uncle stay with you a while?�
She knew his motives even as he spoke, but could not help but feel her heart swell at the idea of him staying with her. �I just found long lost family and you think I�m just going to leave you to the wolves? Who do you think raised me?�
Again, he laughed, knowing just how true her words were. �I suppose you�re right,� he said thoughtfully, before turning back to his sister�s grave one last time. �Lissen ar� maska�lalaith tenn� lye omentuva. Quel esta.�
Adrie watched him and listened to his speech with a certain awe. There had been time when her mother had uttered words of such a language, but she�d never learned any of these words, or what that language was. Perhaps that would another thing she could learn from this man. He simply seemed like the type of person to look up to, and she briefly wondered if she ever had before. He did seem familiar to her, and it wasn�t just his surprising resemblance to her mother.
Aragorn plucked a flower from the burial mound, a white one that Adrie recognized immediately. �Well, some things do wish to grow here,� he said with a look in her direction, �You just have to find them.�
�Simbelmyne only grow on the graves of the dead,� Adrie replied with a distant tone, �They are not like those niphredils.�

He smiled at her childish surliness. �No, but they are a flower all the same,� he countered, climbing to his feet and offering her his hand, �And should be appreciated as such.�

With only a moment�s hesitation, Adrie accepted his assistance and climbed to her feet also. It was hard for her to deny, this man�s wisdom was nearly unmatchable, and the warmth he presented her with, so very familiar to her. A sudden flash of memory passed quickly through her mind, leaving her previously sullen face with a light smile on her face. �I think I remember you,� she said, the smile in her voice as well.

Aragorn raised a disbelieving eyebrow at her. �Really?� he inquired, evidently unable to trust her claim.
Understanding his doubt, she nodded slowly and continued carefully. �Barely, but I do,� Adrie explained, �From when I was really young . . .when we were still living where ever it was we were living before we came to this place.�
Aragorn smiled pleasantly at her revelation, but she could see the concern he sought to mask. �Do you have many memories like that?�

It was this time Adrie�s turn to raise her eyebrow at her uncle. �How many memories do you have from your infancy?�
�I suppose,� he admitted with defeat as he rolled his eyes at her smarting remark, leading her from the glade with a gentle hand on her back.
The sun was long set behind the western hills, and Aragorn was quite aware of the many dangers the land held. And though she may have known or believed it herself, these were dangers that Adrie was quite unready to face.

�Adrie,� the ranger broke the silence as they walked, a question begging to be answered finally surfacing.
�Yes?� she responded without delay.

Aragorn fought for what he believed to be the right words, but soon found that there were none for what his intentions were. �What did your mother tell you about your father?�
Adrie was most definitely surprised by this question. Her posture stiffened and became ridged as she continued to walk along side him. �He was a good man,� she said at last, �And died when I was very young . . .shortly before we came here. She said I look much like him, that I have his eyes.� The girl paused in her speech, the slight reverie seeming to disturb her slightly. A moment passed silently, and she looked back up at him. �Why do you ask?�
He shook his head dismissively at her, wishing to discard the subject before his niece delved to deeply into realms she would wish not too.�It�s nothing.�
However, he found that she was not so easily fooled.

�You have something to tell me, don�t you?� It was not a question, but a statement. And it was not an accusatory one either.
Aragorn turned to her, smiling woefully at her. She truly was her mother�s daughter, and he knew that he would have to divulge her past to her. Eventually.
�I have a lot to tell you.�
* * * * *
They reached her home before the wolves began howling.
Both figured that a small meal was in order. The two of them were famished, and Aragorn knew it to be the perfect opportunity to finally get to speak to her properly. As they ate the small but ample serving of bread, preserves and Adrie�s share of her regular hunt, he listened to her stories of her life here on the Horselords� plains. She talked mostly of her hunting skills, how they�d proved to be more than useful in supplying her and her village with fresh meat. Skills that she had no doubt learned from her mother.

Adrie went on about the harshness of the plains� climate, and that though she�d lived there for longer than she could remember, it was still foreboding to even her. The villagers were all nice to her, Aragorn was glad to hear, and they took care of her when she needed it.

He foresaw the question before she asked it, likely before she even thought of it. It was simply the nature of their meeting and their more recent conversation.
�What drew you to come seek us out?�
Aragorn paused in silence and Adrie waited patient and eagerly, yearning for this answer more than any other. She knew it was more than simply a strange coincidence.

�Well, I certainly could not let my sister and my niece stay isolated out here for ever, now could I?� he jested with a light smile, even though he knew this would satiate her curiosity. The expression she gave him amusingly confirmed his suspicions, and he sighed as he elaborated with a more serious note. �It is lucky I came to look for the two of you. I could not have left you here on your own for much longer.�
�My life here is fine,� she informed him immediately, and coldly. He was not surprised that she took offense. �Sure, there are the winters, the famines, and whatever else, but I�m tough, a survivor. And I�m not alone. I�ve just finished telling you that my neighbours more than willingly help me; even when I don�t need them to!�
Aragorn put his hands up in surrender. �Adrie, calm down!� he said at once, �I meant you or your neighbours no offence!� Again, he paused in his speech. �And I am glad for their help toward you, but their are some things. . .things that not even they could help you escape.�
Any anger that she still had quickly drained from her, and was soon replaced by cold trepidation. �What do you mean by that. . . ?� she asked with wary and shaken words.
He realized too late that his words could have only served to frighten her. There was little doubt in Aragorn�s mind that he would have to give her a slightly more enlightened explanation than he�d originally intended for the time.
�Your mother and I,� Aragorn began, carefully, still thinking on his words, �We were both raised in Imaldris � an Elven city, on the western border of the Misty Mountains, north of here.�
Adrie was silent and speechless, gazing at her uncle in awe, her food sitting forgotten in front of her. This was the first she�d heard of any detailing of her mother�s past, and just how colourful it was! Adrie had only ever heard stories and folk legends of the elves. Almost everything from the villagers, and very little from her mother. She�d had her suspicions that her mother had known much more that she�d ever let on; but for it to be such a fact . . . Adrie was simply astonished.
Aragorn took note of her reaction, but said nothing as he continued on. �Our father died when I was quite young as well, so our mother took us to live there, and keep us safe.� He paused then, as if unsure as to how he was to carry on, �We were, and still are, heirs to the man, Isildur � have you heard of him?�
Slowly, Adrie shook her head. Her mind was too frozen in shock to say anything of any real importance. Heritage was something her mother avoided speaking of with a passion, to both Adrie herself, and any of the townsfolk who dared raise the question.
�There are those who want to hurt us � kill us � for such a heritage,� he continued on ominously, staring into the slowly dying fire as he spoke, �For years, I have had to run to avoid such a fate. Your mother was no different either.�
�Is this why they are dead, then?� Adrie asked hesitantly, her voice hardly above a whisper, �My parents? This heritage you speak of?�
Sighing, Aragorn shook his head grimly. �No,� he replied, �I am merely telling you this to give you an understanding of why we lived with the elves, and know their ways in such the manner that we do. Their magic kept us safe, in regards to our heritage. Your parents were victims to a different fate.� Aragorn paused, noticing the changing expressions upon his niece�s face. As he�d both hoped and feared, she was beginning to understand. �Adrie, the deaths of your parents were no accidents. They were killed.�
Silence plagued the small space for far too long. The dying fire crackled, and the wind howled against the side of the small house. Neither spoke, hardly bothering to breathe as they stared into unknown space.

After far too long a while, Adrie slowly began to nod.

�I know . . .� she said quietly, surprising Aragorn with both her actions and words, �I saw it, you know.� She looked up to meet his gaze. �We all thought it to be some rogue warrior, wandering from the evil realms of the east.�
Aragorn now found himself to be astounded beyond all words.

Sighing, Adrie went on. �It is not uncommon you see,� she continued, her voice beginning to crack with the pain of her memories, �But usually, it is the soldiers of our land who meet untimely fates . . .not our . . .not my mother.� She stopped abruptly, hanging her head, and wiping the unwanted tears away.

He wished that he could stop her now, let her weep, and comfort her. Unfortunately, that was not the task at hand. Important matters had to be seen to.

�Adrie,� Aragorn spoke, breaking the thick silence, �You are not safe here; you have to leave this place.� He paused momentarily, analysing her reaction. She did not look at him, and said nothing. She stared into the fire, trying desperately to comprehend the situation she was facing. She did not react, so he continued, �You are not prepared to face the dangers ahead of you. If you stay with me, you may yet stand a chance.�
Slowly, the girl turned her gaze from the fire to him. �You mean I won�t live . . .if I stay here?�
�Yes,� Aragorn replied honestly and grimly, �That is what I mean.�
Adrie felt as if she wanted to weep. There was little left for her in this village. Work, for ever being a burden on her neighbours, perhaps some farfetched marriage agreement should she be lucky, but even more than that, this village was the only connection she had to her mother. The only life she�d ever known with her.
Leaving all of this behind meant leaving everything she had with her mother behind, and Adrie was not sure if she had quite the strength to do that.

Slowly, the girl began to nod, as if hesitantly coming to terms with all that her uncle spoke. �Where are we to go?� she asked him quietly, trying not to disturb her own emotions.

�Somewhere safe,� he responded with moderate haste, �Somewhere far from here.�
Adrie frowned at the man�s vague answer. He may have been her uncle, but she�d known him less than the evening. She was not about to leave with him without any real answers. �I am not about to embark on a journey to some ambiguous place! If - �
�Listen!� he interrupted, effectively silencing her angry words, �You must trust me, Adrie.� Aragorn took her wrist and fixed her strongly with his gaze. �I cannot entrust every detail to you. Not yet. Believe me, it could mean your life.�
She met his gaze with as much strength as she could muster. Truth be told, she was frightened, terrified even. Though she did not want to be so foolish, she was beginning to trust this man, and in her heart, she felt that she could. He was her family, the only family she knew she had. The thought of leaving her the village saddened and intimidated her, but the thought of meeting and knowing her family thrilled her to no end. In her heart, the decision was obvious, it was her head that was making her doubt.

�You are sure that not leaving would be unsafe?� she questioned him slowly and carefully.

He nodded. �It is unwise, and I could not allow myself to leave you here.�
Again, Adrie met Aragorn�s gaze. So there was decision for her. He was going to take her with him whether she agreed or not. This man really was like her mother.

She adverted her gaze and tore her wrist from his grasp, reclining back into her chair and into herself. �When are we leaving?� she asked, not looking at him.

Trying his hardest not to smile, Aragorn, too, reclined in his seat. �On the morrow,� he told her, �The sooner we leave, the better it will be.�
Adrie smiled, trying her hardest to hide it, but knew that he�d seen regardless. She no longer was alone, without guidance or without protection. She looked back up to her uncle, genuinely glad that he was there.
�I best be getting to bed, then.�
He smiled back.
�You best.�
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Blood Pact