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When I Needed You *

By: Aewnaur
folder Lord of the Rings Movies › Het - Male/Female
Rating: Adult ++
Chapters: 9
Views: 3,167
Reviews: 1
Recommended: 0
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Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings book series and movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
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Beginning Again

Chapter Three: Beginning Again

Where, where were you
When I needed you most
When I needed a friend
~Erasure~

The next weeks flew by for Renee. It seemed that her elven senses where developing and now it was almost second nature to be able to hear the heartbeat of a rabbit one hundred meters away. She didn’t tire as easily as she had before and often it was Strider who needed the rest. He had talked while they walked which surprised her. She didn‘t speak much but managed to do it more than once a day and even hold up her end of a conversation or two.

Aragorn had sharpened her sword just like he promised and they had spared several times, he was amazed at her form but she did need some practice. He said fighting the orcs and Uruk-Hai would be vastly different than sparing with a human. They spoke of herbs and medicines, of the differences in the plants of their two worlds. He seemed to accept that she was not from Middle-earth easily.

One night while they camped at a small stream just deep enough to cover her hips, she asked if he minded if she bathed. She hadn’t brought any soap with her but luckily he was willing to share. After washing her hair several times and returning to camp so he could bath she realized that she didn’t even have a brush with her.

“Aragorn,” she started when he returned.

“Yes Renee,” he sat across from her about to light his pipe.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a brush or a comb that you would be willing to share would you?”

He laughed at her blush. Her hair had not become tangled or even messed during their journey but now that it had been washed it was snarled and actually looked really bad.

“That is elvish hair for you! My brothers have the same problem when we are traveling together. It stays fine until washed. Not to worry though, I do indeed have a comb that you may use. Though with those tangles you might need help.”

He fished around in his pack for a moment before walking around to stand behind her. He began the long tedious process of combing out her hair. It was so long that it pooled on the ground when she sat.

“Would you like for me to braid it for you? I grew up with the elves and have braided many times,” he asked softly. They had grown quite fond of each other in the last weeks. He had told her much of Arwen and their love. So there was no awkwardness between them at the intimacy of the gesture.

“Yes please, I never have been able to braid my own hair,” she sounded a little despondent. He frowned, she was unlike the elves he was used to, she sounded young, too young to be on her own.

“Renee, if you don’t mind me asking. How old are you?”

“I don’t mind, I’m not old enough to mind yet!” she laughed. “I’m fifteen,” she could feel his hand stop pulling her hair. “Is that a problem?”

“You are so young,” he was thinking of the attack. “How came you to be alone here in Middle-earth? You still have not said.”

Renee took a deep breath and started her tale. “Well, after my father,” she trailed off for a moment, she had not meant to reveal that to him. She cleared her throat and started over.

“After the attack, I decided to run away. I took off through the woods behind my house, and after walking for two days I decided to take a nap. When I woke up, I was here.”

“You,” he swallowed hard. “Are you saying that your father is the one who attacked you?” his voice was harsh.

“I, yes.” she hung her head in shame. She knew it wasn’t her fault but she still felt like she should have been able to stop him.

Aragorn moved around to kneel in front of her, the hair in his hands forgotten and dropped. He gently raised her head so she would look him in the eyes.

“Never hang your head in shame. There is no shame in being overpowered by an animal, for that is what he is. An animal. Elf or man it does not matter. He was larger than you, yes?” he waited for her nod.

“My father is the one who trained me in fighting. But you must understand that in my world, I was not an elf. I was human until I came here. No elf did this.”

“You really are a stranger here then,” Aragorn pulled his small dagger from his boot and cut the palm of his left hand, then offered her the knife. She knew what he was about and was amazed. She took the knife and noticed that her hands were shaking, but she managed to pull of her glove and slice open her palm.

“I claim you as sister. Renee, Aewnaur, daughter of Arathorn. Risen from the ashes of your old life to embrace new life,” he clasped their hands together.

“I claim you as brother. Estel, Aragorn son of Arathorn. You have truly given me hope for new life,” Renee was crying when she felt a tingle go through her hand. They both looked down at their joined hands, they were glowing.

Renee released his hand and looked at her palm, the cut was healed, only a thin silver scar remained. But now at the base of her thumb there was a mark that looked like a leafless tree. When Aragorn saw the mark on her hand he looked at his own. The cut was healed and at the base of his thumb was the outline of a bird in flight. They smiled at one another.

“I think the Valar approve!” he laughed.

“Yes, I think you’re right. What does Aewnaur mean?”

“Fire bird. We do not have this phoenix legend here, but you do remind me of the myth you spoke of.”

“Wow, is that elvish?”

“Yes Sindarin elvish. There are several dialects but that is the one most used. I will have to teach it to you. But for now let me finish your hair, so we can get some sleep. If we travel hard we can be in Bree in two days.”

“Mm, a hot meal and a real bed. That will be lovely. Do you think I can get some new gloves there? I don’t think mine will last much longer,” she really didn’t want to go into the Prancing Pony without her gloves.

“Yes we should, I’ll get you some leather ones that won’t wear out so easy,” he replied as he started braiding her hair again. The act was making him feel very brotherly. He was actually enjoying taking care of her. Fifteen, he mused, amazing!

“Aragorn, I just realized. I don’t have any money. I don’t even know what I will do to earn money. In my world I am still a student in school, my parents paid for everything. What am I going to do? How will I live?” Okay Renee, don’t panic, don’t panic. You’ll think of something.

Aragorn laughed. “You’ve touched me, and I know your foresight. You know who and what I am. Now I am your brother. You don’t have to worry about such things. Beyond that even, in Rivendell the elves take care of their own. Lord Elrond is a great and trusted leader, your step father now.”

She felt silly for bringing it up but better now than in Bree when asked to pay for her gloves.

“Right, sorry I wasn’t thinking.”

“Don’t apologize. This all must be very overwhelming for you. There now, your all finished. Your hair is very beautiful it rivals that of the Evenstar’s,” He patted her back as he made his way back to his side of the campfire.

“Now I suggest you get some sleep. This close to Bree I don’t think we need to keep a watch and we can both get some rest.”

*

Two days running later about mid day they came to the gate at Bree. An old man by the name of Harry stopped them to ask their business and Renee was doubly glad Strider had insisted she take his spare cloak. The man looked them over hard but let Strider through as his name was known in these parts as someone to not mess around with. The name Strider was whispered ahead of them as they walked through town. Renee doubted that Aragorn, call him Strider, she chided herself, could hear them but with the image he projected he probably counted on people knowing who he was.

He took her straight away to the Prancing Pony Inn and booked them a room. The tavern was already full of drinking men and making her nervous. After whispering to the bar tender Butterbur, Strider led her back out into the street.

“Now lets see about getting you some proper clothing and new gloves,” he said as he led her down the wooden sidewalk.

Several fun hours later Strider had still not been able to talk her into even one dress. Instead he had bought her two different pairs of gloves. One pair barely covered the palms of her hands and were made from fairly thin soft leather. He promised that even though they were thin they would not wear through. The second pair were soft leather also but came up nearly to her elbows.

As they settled into their room Butterbur brought up a tray of food and they ate quietly. Then being the fifteen year old female that she is, Renee tried on and modeled all of her new clothes. Three pairs of leather leggings much like the ones Strider wore, leather knee boots, and three long sleeved shirts, grey, brown and black.

Renee was so excited she threw her old clothes into the fire and watched happily as they burned. The only things she kept was her sports bra and all of her panties. Luckily for her she had packed extras. As she was repacking her bag she had a horrible thought. Oh lord and she only had Strider there to ask. She smirked as she thought of the opportune time to ask her question. She waited until he took a drink of his ale.

“I’ve been here almost a month, right Strider.”

“Not quite why?”

Wait for it Renee, she thought as she watched him. Timing is every thing. There perfect.

“Do elves have monthly flows?”

Score one for the girl! She could have sworn that ale came out of his nose! She rolled on the bed laughing. Oh that was priceless!

“Renee!” he coughed. “I don’t think I am the person you should have asked!”

“Why not? You’re my brother now and if they do then I need to think about that now so I can get some supplies. I mean can you imagine being on top of Amon Sul, the wraiths are after Frodo and I say. Oh wait, give me a moment please I just started my monthly. I can just see the Wraith Kings face now, all bug eyed and decayed, but a blush from here to Mordor,” she couldn’t help it she knew she was probably giving away too much information but the image was too funny not to be shared.

Aragorn was in shock. Did she realize what she had just said. He knew the image was funny but the thought of the wraiths trapping them on Weathertop was dampening his humor.

“Renee, what are you saying? They catch us on Weathertop?”

She finally got herself under control at his serious tone. She hated that she knew so much of what was going to happen. Between the books, the movie and her gift she could really cause trouble for the fellowship.

“It scares me, Strider. Yes, I know what will happen. Bad things will happen. Some I can prevent, but if I do, then other things, good things, might not happen further on down the line. Do you understand? But this one thing I can stop. Frodo will have his friends Sam, Pippin, and Merry with him when he comes. We will take them with us. The wraiths will catch up to us on Weathertop, the wraith king will stab Frodo with a Morgul blade. That is what you call it, I don’t know what that is, but that is what you name it. This is a wound that Frodo will never recover from. And as far as I can see into the future, not having this wound should only make his life easier. Something’s have to happen, but not this I think.”
She couldn’t believe she has said all that. She would have to be more careful in the future. If she changed too much the whole outcome of the war might be changed.

Aragorn sat there stunned, smoking his pipe and staring out the window. Why had the Valar sent this girl to him? They had placed her right in his path and graced their blood bond. What should he do. Let this tragedy happen because she had seen the outcome of the war was good even with this or risk changing the outcome and preventing it. Oh how he wished Gandalf or Elrond were near. Such burdens were for the wise not some ranger from the north.

Renee laid on the soft bed and started humming softly to herself. She was comfortable but now bored. She sighed.

“Would it bother you if I sing? It bothered my dad, he always told me to shut up so I understand if you need quiet to think,” she whispered.

“No muinthel, sing all you want,” he was interested in her singing voice and in the songs from her world.

Renee relaxed on the bed and closed her eyes. One thing that had always soothed her nerves besides karate was singing, but she had never done much of it in front of anyone. She kept her voice low, just loud enough to carry across the room and choose one of her newest favorites. Dolly Parton, could probably sing in a bucket and sound great.

She's been there, God knows, she's been there
She has seen and done it all
She's a woman, she know how to
Dish it out or take it all
Her heart's as soft as feathers
Still she weathers stormy skies
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies
A kaleidoscope of colors
You can toss her around and round
You can keep her in you vision
But you'll never keep her down
She's a lover, she's a mother
She's a friend and she's a wife
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies
Gentle as the sweet magnolia
Strong as steel, her faith and pride
She's an everlasting shoulder
She's the leaning post of life
She hurts deep and when she weeps
She's just as fragile as a child
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies
She's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies
Oh, bless her, lord
She's an eagle when she flies
~


Renee put all of her emotions behind that song, it came out more like she was singing the blues than country but she didn’t care. She moved on to another song, barely noticing that she was crying.

Aragorn was stunned at the depth of emotion he could hear from one so young. It made him sad to think that a fifteen year old girl had seen enough of life to be able to put enough emotional inflections in just the right spots. That she understood the song and it’s meaning made his heart ache. His respect for her just kept growing, and to think the Valar gave her to him. He might not understand or know everything about her or the Valar’s reasons but he knew that this was his heart sister and he loved her, just as he knew his love for Arwen was pure.

tbc...


~Eagle when she flies, Dolly Parton
~Muinthel, sister
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