Long
Awaited Thee
Main
Characters: Aragorn,
Éowyn
Rating: R
Pairings: Aragorn/Éowyn
Genre: AU/Romance
Length: Short story
Summary: Aragorn
has to go through the Paths of the Dead. But before he leaves, he
must tell something to Éowyn, White Lady of Rohan.
A/N:
This story was written for Eowyn,
who asked me a Aragorn/Éowyn story which could have taken
place if Tolkien had followed his first draft.
~***~
The
night was silent. Aragorn laid in the bed hastily prepared for him
by the Lady Éowyn. He knew he needed all his strength to
face the Paths of the Dead, but he could not find sleep. His earlier
confrontation with the Lady of Rohan had upsetted him more than
he would admit.
He could still see her proud figure clad in white as she stood before
him, her chin high and her eyes fiery. She had asked to go with
him, to ride beside him through all the perils he had to face. And
he had refused.
“I
say to you, lady: Stay! For you have no errand in the South.”
he had declared.
And
there she had responded, her voice steady, although he had perceived
the light tremor behind its coolness. “Neither have those
who go with thee. They go only because they would not be parted
from thee – because they love thee.” And she had
disappeared, without giving him the opportunity to answer.
Because
they love thee. She had said the words he longed to hear since
he had met her, even if it was implied. She had confessed she had
feelings for him and he rejoyced at the thought. But it was a dark
hour for all Middle-Earth and he feared his own feelings. He did
not want her to suffer needlessly if he were to fail. He could not
bear to even imagine her beautiful face stricken with grief because
of him.
Frustrated,
the ranger decided to have a walk to calm the tension building within
him. He silently left his chambers and wandered within the halls,
trying to ease his mind. He knew he had done the right thing. He
would not let the woman he loved go into danger. He would never
forgive himself if something happened to her.
Aragorn
stopped dead in his tracks as he recognized the figure looking at
the sky a few meters away from him. She was still clothed in white
material and her golden hair glimmered under the pale light of the
moon. She looked both strong and fragile at this moment, her grey
eyes lost in the immensity of the heavens above her. Aragorn did
not dare to move but felt at the same time the urge to take her
in his arms. There was no more denying. His feelings for the Rohirric
woman were deep and true ever since he had seen her behind her uncle's
throne.
Éowyn
suddenly turned around, sensing a presence and eyes of steel locked
with brown's. A fleeting moment where Aragorn could read the turmoil
of emotions which troubled the young woman. Pain, worry, sadness
were present but there was something else, something which make
her look softer and it was directed only at him.
“Lord
Aragorn” she greeted him with a nod of her head. “You
have trouble finding rest also, have you not ? The Great Shadow
is coming upon us. War is at hand and it may be the last days of
Men”
Aragorn
was surprised to hear so much bitterness in her tone. He knew he
had hurt her by refusing her request but he did not want her to
fall into despair and to slowly fade rotten by anger and helplessness.
He tentatively got closer to her slender form and put a rassuring
hand on her shoulder.
“You
should not grieve for something that is yet to come” he said,
gently trailing his hand at the base of her neck. “The path
ahead of us is still full of possibilities.”
Éowyn
tensed under his light touch and Aragorn smiled lightly, enjoying
the warm skin under his calloussed fingers.
“You
are speaking of possibilies when you have already set yours. And
you would not allow me to choose mine“
Her
voice was still a bit harsh but the Dúnadan delighted in
the sharp intake of breath she took when he lightly touched her
waist with his other hand. He put her head on her shoulder and breathed
in her ear :
“Éowyn,
the darkness is not upon us. And as I'm standing here with you,
I can hardly believe such evil even exists.“
He
tightened the grip he had on her waist and turned her around. She
wordlessly complied and let her hands wander on his shoulders. The
light caress was enough for Aragorn. He looked once again in the
grey pools of the beautiful woman and leaned in to kiss her. He
touched her lips lightly at first, a light pressure to allow her
refusal. But one of her hands sneaked under his head and increased
the touch. Her mouth opened and the ranger took what she offered,
engaging in a soft battle between their tongues. When they pulled
apart in need for air, Éowyn took Aragorn's hand and dragged
him along with her, stopping at her chamber's door.
Aragorn
was about to speak but he was silenced by her finger on his lips.
Her eyes were shinning even in the soft darkness and she said, her
voice barely above a whisper:
“No
one knows what the future will hold. Long have I awaited thee, Aragorn
son of Arathorn, and I will take what the present is offering me“
He
followed her inside the room and everything seemed to suddenly go
in slow motion. Heated kisses and soft caresses, clothes pulled
off in haste and then the wonderful feeling on skin on skin. Aragorn
marveled in her body as he made love to her in the intimacy of her
quarters. She was everything he had always hoped for and now she
was his. No matter what dangers would lay on the road he had to
take, he knew he would overcome them all, to return to the woman
he loved. This woman who was looking at him with mirth in her eyes,
her golden hair making a halo on the mattress. And as they reached
bliss together, he sealed his promise.
Aragorn
woke up at the first rays of sun and found himself alone in the
bed. Panicked, he glanced around to be greeted by the most unexpected
view. Éowyn, clad in mail and hair tied back, was trying
a cloak.
“I
am to go with you“ she said simply. “For I will follow
you to the end my love”
Aragorn
wanted to protest but knew better. He swifty prepared for the journey
to come. It was clear that his lover would follow him whatever he
would say. He smiled. He may be on the Paths of the Dead, but he
was not alone.
THE
END |