Journey’s End

Chapter 40

The Fellowship Reunited

I drowsily blinked awake as the pale morning sun shone on my face. With a slight smile, I realised that I was back in my bed in the Houses of Healing, only this time I was wrapped in considerably more bandages. I sat up and realised that I was not alone. Aragorn sat in a chair at my bedside, holding my hand as he slept. The stab of raw emotion I felt as it looked at him surprised me, until I remembered that he had kissed me… It definitely hadn’t been a dream; I had the scars to prove it!

Did this mean that he also had feelings for me? It almost seemed too much to hope for, and with a sigh I remembered that we still couldn’t be together, even if he did return my feelings, because he was going to be King (if he wasn’t already, I had no idea how long I had slept for) and I was just perfectly average me…

To distract myself from these depressing thoughts, I began to pull at the various bandages that covered me with my free hand, so as not to disturb Aragorn, and tossing them to the foot of my bed. It was slightly awkward, considering that my free arm was in a sling, but I managed. I didn’t even remember receiving half the cuts and bruises I found, but most of them were healing well. My shoulder gave me little bother, although I did feel one or two twinges of pain, but it seemed alright.

I heard Aragorn yawn beside me and I turned to see him blink awake.

“Rana?” He murmured, staring at me. I smiled at him as he sat up.

“Good morning.” I mumbled. “How long have I been asleep?” He thought for a moment before replying.

“Two days.”

I nodded and looked towards the door as it creaked open.

“We heard voices, can we come in?” I smiled as Pippin poked his head around the door, closely followed by Merry.

“Of course.” I murmured as they dashed into the room as someone began yelling outside.

“For goodness sake! I turn my back for one minute and you two are disobeying-”

I didn’t hear the rest of Gimli’s rant as he entered the room as I was laughing so much. I hadn’t laughed in a long time, and it felt nice.

“I’m sure they aren’t doing any harm, Gimli.” Legolas said as he entered the room, he then looked at Aragorn. “Aragorn, Faramir is waiting to speak with you.”

My face fell as Aragorn nodded and stood, but I continued to cling to his hand.

“I’ll try to return quickly.” He murmured, gently brushing my fringe out of my face. I nodded and slowly released his hand as he walked out of the room. As soon as he was gone Merry and Pippin leapt at me.

“We wanted to come see you but-”

“Aragorn wouldn’t let us come in and-”

“He said you needed to rest-”

“Hold on!” I cried, as their voices merged into one continuous babble. They stopped talking and sat at the end of my bed. “What’s going on?”

“They became impatient waiting for you to wake.” Legolas smiled.

“Sorry…” I murmured, ducking my head, and then I remembered something. “Is Aragorn King yet?” I asked. Legolas shook his head.

“He refused to be crowned until you woke. He has barely left your bedside since you were brought here.”

I blushed and looked down at my bed, feeling everyone’s eyes on me.

“Have I missed anything important?” I asked quietly.

“Frodo and Sam are back.” Legolas answered.

“Really? That’s fantastic!” I smiled. “Are they alright?”

“Sam woke up yesterday, but Frodo’s still asleep.” Pippin replied.

It began to dawn on me that the quest was over. The ring was destroyed, Sauron was defeated. We had done what we had set out to do, and I had kept my promise to Boromir. Gondor had not fallen, nor will it fall now that a King will once again be on the throne.

My thoughts were interrupted as a servant walked in, bearing a pile of clothing.

“These have been sent for the lady, with regards from Lord Aragorn.” They muttered, setting the clothes on a table and bowing before leaving.

I sighed and began to climb out of bed.

“Do you fell well enough to leave your bed?” Legolas asked.

“I’m perfectly fine.” I muttered, gingerly removing the sling that supported my arm.

“I’m hungry.” Mumbled Pippin.

“Gimli, can you take the Hobbits to go find some food?” Legolas asked his friend.

“Aye, come along you two.” The dwarf said, ushering the Hobbits out of the room. I smiled weakly at Legolas as the room became quiet once more.

“How are things with Aragorn?”

His question startled me, and caught me completely off guard.

“I…I don’t know what you mean.” I stammered, blushing as I leafed through the pile of clothes.

“Rana, I know what I saw outside the Black Gate.”

Great… There were witnesses. That was all I needed.

“I don’t think it meant anything.” I muttered, slipping behind a screen to change into my new clothes.

“It obviously meant something to you.”

His statement made my freeze where I stood, before I regained my composure and pulled the navy shirt over my head.

“It can never come to anything.” I half-whispered, fighting back tears as I pulled on a dark grey tunic over my shirt and breeches and stepped back into the room. I was beginning to doubt that Aragorn might return my feelings; he may have only kissed me because he thought we were both going to die.

Legolas saw my depressed state and walked to my side and hugged me.

“I’m sure everything will work out.” He comforted me. I didn’t see how it could. From my point of view, there was no way were everyone could be happy. And I would rather be unhappy than cause pain to anyone else.

I looked up when I heard a soft knock on the door, and a familiar face looked in.

“Sam!” I cried happily as Legolas released me and I ran to embrace the Hobbit.

“Miss Rana! You’re awake!” He smiled as I hugged him. “I just came to tell you that Mister Frodo looks like he’s about to wake up.” I nodded and stepped back as Legolas approached my side.

Sam led us to a quiet room not far from mine, and I found Merry, Pippin and Gimli already waiting outside.

“How is he?” I asked.

“Still asleep.” Merry mumbled. I nodded and leant against one of the white walls. We waited in silence for a few moments, until we heard laughter. Merry and Pippin instantly burst into the room, laughing as they went. I could hear Gandalf and Frodo inside, and Gimli followed them in. Legolas waited a moment before entering, just as Aragorn dashed to my side.

“He just woke up.” I murmured, filling him in. He moved to go into the room and saw me hesitate behind him. He held out his hand for me, and without thinking, I took it and allowed him to lead me into the room.

The atmosphere of joy was overwhelming. Laugher filled the air as the three Hobbits gleefully hugged each other on the bed. Frodo was covered in small scratches, but he looked happy. I smiled as he spotted Aragorn and myself, and then his eyes rested on something behind us. I didn’t have to turn to know it was Sam.

I looked around the room and smiled.

The Fellowship of the Ring was reunited, but not complete. Ten of us had set out from Rivendell, nine stood in this room… Aragorn seemed to sense what I was thinking, and squeezed my hand comfortingly.

I smiled a little as saw the joyful faces of my friends surrounding me. This was how things should be.