Chapter 18: The Fortress

                                    

                                          
Song: "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane 
                          
****** 
                          
When Baldor arrived at the mountain fortress, he scared a few people as he landed outside the front gate, too big to fit inside the fortress. 
                          
I slid off his back, then reached up and helped Aragorn down. He looked absolutely green. 
                          
I smiled a little and lifted a hand to his forehead. "Don't like heights, darling?"
                          
His brown eyes looked up to meet mine, his cheeks going slightly red as he said, "N-No. I don't think I'll ever get used to that." 
                          
Baldor sat on his back legs, looking almost like a dog with wings- if dogs were giant scaled beasts with wings and horns. "Well, you have all eternity to get used to it now." 
                          
A soldier came running out with a knapsack and dropped it with a clank in front of him. I took Aragorn's hand and we went inside, Legolas and Gimli waiting at the gates with Draco, Eowyn, and Theoden to greet Aragron. 
                          
Suddenly, a soldier came up to me and bowed his head. "Lady Imara. I have an urgent matter to discuss with you. If you could follow me, it would be greatly appreciated." 
                          
The others stopped talking and looked at me with puzzled expressions. "Um, can I ask what this is about?" My grip tightened on the pommel of my sword. 
                          
"She wouldn't say, my lady, only that she wished to speak to you and only you. She has a great concern." The soldier replied. 
                          
Draco looked at the man suspiciously. "Is it a noblewoman, sir, that she has authority to send you to find Imara?" 
                          
"No, my lord, but she said that the lady Imara is the only one she'd speak to. She also said to tell you, my lady, that the sun still shines. I am not sure what that means, but- my lady?" 
                          
I felt like the world had suddenly spun much to fast and I felt dizzy. I looked at him, my eyes filling with tears. "T-Take me to her. Now. Please." 
                          
"Imara, what is-" Draco began but I turned to him and rested my hands on his shoulders. 
                          
"I need you to stay here, alright? I'll be right back. All of you stay here. Don't follow me. It's ok. I know who it is. I'll be right back." I kissed his forehead. "And don't say a word to your father about this." 
                          
I then turned to the soldier and nodded. He bowed to Draco and Theoden, then led me off into the forest. We weaved through people and passageways to the back of the fortress and an entrance to a cave. He led me to a private room and knocked once, then slowly opened the door. 
                          
"My lady, I have found the lady Imara as you requested." The soldier said and I stepped into the room behind him, my heart beating so fast it hurt and I felt like I was going to be sick. 
                          
A frail woman sat on a bed, crates of supplies and what seemed to be a safe haven, a place of escape, built up and sustained for years. Two centuries to be exact. She stood up and moved the long blonde hair from her green eyes, the scars covering her arms and face standing out, pale and pink. A few more curved up around the collar of her dress. She was skinny, but not unhealthy. She was pale, but not sickly. She was as beautiful as I remembered her. 
                          
She smiled at me, her green eyes filling with tears. "Hello, Imara. You haven't changed a bit." Arielle said and took a cautious step towards me. 
                          
I choked on a sob. "Y-You're alive?" I gasped and took  a shaky step forward and she ran forward and hugged me tightly, my arms coming around her and she dropped her head onto my shoulder, shaking all over.