The White Armoured Shifter. [The Hobbit FF-ThorinxOcxAragorn Love Story]

4. Many Meetings.

Third person's point of view.

Ayrn arrived tired and panting at the gates of Rivendell. Elrond had met her and Aragorn and the Elf Lord rushed Frodo into a healing chamber, but before he left he turned to Aragorn and handed him a thick blanket, he wondered what it was for but the answer came to him in the form of Ayrn shifting back and collapsing behind Aragorn, hearing her collapse he turned and wrapped her up,

Lindir coming to help them, lead Aragorn to a room set up for Ayrn. He had scooped her up into his arms and carried her as she fell asleep in his arms, "Don't worry, Ayrn. I got you." Aragorn said against her temple, she shivered but didn't say anything.

*** 

Frodo is lying in a vast bed when he wakes, "Where am I?" he asks before opening his eyes, "You are in the house of Elrond. And it is ten o'clock in the morning, on October the twenty-fourth, if you want to know." the familiar voice of Gandalf the Grey answers, Frodo wakes up fully. "Gandalf!" Frodo cheers with a smile, Gandalf is seated on Frodo's bed, smoking his pipe. The bedroom opens on to a beautiful garden. 

The noise of falling water is mixed with bird song. Leaves are gently falling. "Yes... I'm here. And you're lucky to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit!" Gandalf praises, "What happened, Gandalf? Why didn't you meet us?" Frodo asks remembering what had happened, "Oh I'm sorry Frodo... I was delayed."

***

Gandalf's thoughts returns to the time he spent trapped on Isengard. At the top of the tower, Saruman is using his powers to flip Gandalf about. He then dangles him over the edge of Orthanc. "Friendship with Saruman is not lightly thrown aside. One ill turn deserves another. It is over! Embrace the power of the Ring... or embrace your own destruction!" Saruman says darkly. 

Gandalf lies at full stretch, completely at Saruman's mercy. A tiny white moth flutters across between them. Gandalf observes it as Saruman continues to taunt him. Saruman hurls Gandalf back towards the platform. Gandalf slowly raises himself as the shadowy form of an eagle appears in the background, "There is only one Lord of the Ring! Only one who can bend it to his will. And he... does... not... share... power!"

The eagle screeches. Gandalf leaps off the Tower of Orthanc and lands on the eagle's back. "So you have chosen... death."Saruman says as he watches Gandalf escape. Gwaihir flies over the mountains, bearing Gandalf to safety. 

***

Back in Frodo's room, Frodo calls to Gandalf when he sees the older man is deep in thought, "Gandalf? What is it?" Gandalf smiles slightly to hide the experience, "Nothing, Frodo." Frodo looks like he wants to ask more but Sam enters the room and rushes to Frodo's side, clasping his hand in joy. This thoroughly distracts Frodo from Gandalf. "Frodo! Frodo!" Sam says happily, "Sam!" Frodo says back just as happy, 

"Bless you, you're awake!" Sam cheers, Frodo laughs. "Sam has hardly left your side." Gandalf commented, "We were that worried about you, weren't we Mister Gandalf?" Sam says, "By the skills of Lord Elrond, you're beginning to mend." Gandalf says as Elrond enters the room and smiles down at Frodo, "Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins."

***

Rivendell sits high above a gorge which is thick with pines and deciduous shrubs. Delicate, lacy waterfalls trace their way down to the river below. A stone bridge spans the chasm as a cloaked rider upon a white horse plods towards the house. In the gardens, Frodo is reunited with his friends. Frodo spots a familiar figure sitting on a stone seat, reading from a large Red Book. "Bilbo!" Frodo cheers, 

Bilbo looks aged and frail. He leans heavily upon a staff as he gets up to greet Frodo. "Hello, Frodo my lad!" Bilbo says and readies himself for a hug, "Bilbo!" Frodo says then hugs him, "Oh!" Bilbo gasps, he's frailer than last the younger Baggins had seen him and he isn't to being so careful with his now elderly uncle, 

***

Frodo reads aloud from Bilbo's book. "'There and Back Again: A Hobbit's Tale by Bilbo Baggins.'" then leafs through the book, "This is wonderful!" Bilbo sits heavily and points at the book, "I meant to go back... wander the paths of Mirkwood... visit Laketown... see the Lonely Mountain again. But age it seems, has finally caught up with me." he says as he gives Frodo a sad smile. Frodo stops to look at the map of the Shire.

"I miss the Shire. I spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else... off with you on one of your adventures! My own adventure turned out to be quite different. I'm not like you, Bilbo." Frodo says. Bilbo pats Frodo's cheek, "My dear boy."

***

On the balcony, Sam is trying to pack his bags. "Now what have I forgotten?" Sam says to himself, "Packed already?" Frodo asks showing up and startling his friend, "No harm in being prepared." Sam counters, "I thought you wanted to see the Elves, Sam." Frodo argues softly, "I do!" Sam says back, "More than anything." Frodo quotes, "I did! It's just... we did what Gandalf wanted didn't we?" Sam says while moving closer to Frodo. 

"We got the Ring this far to Rivendell and then I thought, seein' as how you're on the mend, we'd be off soon. Off home." Sam finishes and Frodo nods, "You're right Sam. We did what we set out to do." Frodo shows the Ring on his palm, "The Ring will be safe in Rivendell. I am ready to go home."

***

Ayrn is sitting in one of the many courtyards in Rivendell and is taking in the sunlight and the fall warmth, "There you are," Aragorn said showing up in an arch finally finding Ayrn, looking at him she smiled slightly and moved so he could sit next to her. He had changed out of his Ranger gear and was dressed in a tunic of storm grey velvet, and black trousers, his feet were tucked into calf-high boots of soft leather, 

"Sorry, I just couldn't stay in bed anymore," she said as he sat, "It's fine, I probably should have left you alone to relax and regain your strength," he said back about to get up and leave but her hand catching his sleeve stopped him, sitting back down she leaned against his shoulder and her eyes closed, "I apologize if I pushed you too hard, when we were running from the Black Riders," Aragorn said softly, 

Ayrn shook her head slightly, "No, we needed to run, I just forgot how much faster those horses were compared to Wargs," Aragorn smiled slightly and leaned his head against Ayrn's, "Did you see Bilbo?" he asked and she nodded, "Yes, but he was with Frodo so I decided to wait," she said sitting up to stretch and stand, "I feel like going for a run, care to join me?" she said turning to him, 

Smiling he chuckled, "I would love to," he said and got up to follow her. Smiling, Ayrn started sprinting, starting slow until she was almost a blur, clothing disappearing, features changing until all that was left was a tall muscular horse with a twisting horn pushing out from her forehead, laughing Aragorn ran alongside her before his speed wasn't enough to keep up and he had to jump onto her back so she could run for the both of them.

Racing harmlessly right past Gandalf and Elrond the two males smiled, "She looks better since I last saw her," Gandalf said, "Yes, much better since she's started travelling with the young ranger," Elrond commented, "Not to mention Aragorn looks better too," Gandalf nodded, "I wonder how it will all end for them." Gandalf mused and Elrond nodded,