Maeve of Sylvania

This begins at Rivendell as Frodo is recovering from the Nazgul wound, and prior to the Council.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a start, Aragorn awoke. He had nodded off again while studying in Elrond's library. The weeks of being on the road in this dangerous time were beginning to take their toll. It would be best to make use of the days in Rivendell to rest and prepare for whatever adventure awaited. His weariness and concern had already caused him to be off his guard when Arwen had come upon him gathering kingsfoil. Thank the Valar that it had been her and not an enemy, or even merely someone who would have made a fool of him.

"What's this? A Ranger caught off his guard?"

The words echoed in his mind, mocking him. He had come close to failing in his duty to protect the hobbits and safeguard the One Ring. How could he trust himself to do what was needed if he could not even .......it was not entirely his fault...the foolish hobbits had lighted the fire which had drawn the Ringwraiths....Blast that Peregrin Took! Even so, he should have been prepared. It was as he feared...the weakness in his blood as Isildur's heir would doom them all! He was not fit to rule, despite what Arwen believed.

Arwen...beautiful Arwen....she is all that is good and strong, a true leader. He would not allow her to throw her life away for him! He was not worthy of her or her love...Elrond was right to frown upon their relationship; he saw that Aragorn could only bring her pain and grief.

The sound of running footsteps broke into Aragorn's thoughts. He jumped to his feet with his sword at the ready. There was a crash and a jumble of curly heads and hairy feet came into view. In their excitement, Merry and Pippin had tripped down the set of stairs at the entrance to the library. As they untangled themselves they explained their haste.

"Strider, you've got to come! There's food such as I've never seen in my life! Cream and jellies and jams and sweets and cakes and berries and biscuits ....and....and...carrots ....mushrooms.... PINTS!!" The hobbits gasped with delight.

"Aye, my friends, Rivendell does it's best to make guests feel welcome," Aragorn replied as he helped steady the hobbits. It would be good to relax and get his mind off things even if just for one evening. "Let me lead the way, and mind your step!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Much later that night, Aragorn stumbled into his room and crashed onto the bed. Drowsily removing his boots and other uncomfortable clothing, he stretched out on the cool clean linen. Ensuring that his sword was still at hand, he settled in for what would be his best night's sleep in ages.
Or so he thought. As he drifted into that twilight between sleep and wakefulness, again those words taunted him.... 'a Ranger...off guard...' Yet this time it was not the voice of Arwen, but that of one far in Aragorn's past....