To Catch a Shadow

Vanya was about to suggest to Kara that she leave when she suddenly heard a horrible crashing sound coming from the warehouse. As she looked over her eyes took in the form of an all black figure moving towards Aragorn. Despite the heat from the fire Vanya felt her entire body go icy cold. The dread in the pit of her stomach began to grow. She knew she would need to help Aragorn fight this creature.

"Go Kara! Run!" she commanded to the young girl. She quickly picked up her bow and nocked an arrow. She stepped in front of Aragorn and pointed her bow at the black figure. "You want him? You'll have to go through me!"

The Nazgul turned its hooded head and looked at the elf. It sneered and gave Aragorn one final glance before it turned and stepped toward her.

“Very well Elf...you shall die first,” It hissed. Aragorn felt his chest go numb but somehow...somehow he urged his legs to move and his body to stem into action as he considered what to do. These ‘things’ lived thousands of years. He might as well be a child with a toy sword up against it. But he did remember something. A way to defeat it now that it appeared to ignore him. As pieces of the warehouse smoldered nearby he sheathed his blade and stepped over to pick up one of the boards that continued to burn on one end. He tore a scrap of his cloak and wrapped it around the end of the board.

The nazgul moved toward Vanya without haste. Its dark gaze petrified Kara who seemed to shudder and she was completely unable to move. “She Elf, you too are just another dog I get to kill!” It said in its horrible, screeching voice. Like a viper it attacked.

Vanya's entire body felt like a solid block of ice. She couldn't move and her insides felt cold...so cold. She desperately tried to will her body to move, but she remained frozen to the spot. In that moment she realized that her time had finally come. She had been hoping for more time with the man she loved more than anything in this world, but her fate was to die so he could live on and become the great King she knew he was destined to be. His life would be difficult and lonely at times, but somewhere out there the woman he was already bonded to would appear and change his entire world for the better. She had done her part. She had put him on a path to becoming the best man and fighter he could be. He would continue to learn and grow until he was finally ready to sit upon that throne. She would die knowing she had experienced something pure and real...his love.

She didn't even feel the blade as it slipped into her stomach. Everything around her seemed to slow and become muddled. Though her body felt frozen the blade within her felt as hot as fire. She looked into the black emptiness where the evil being's face should be and refused to scream or show any sign of weakness...

With a loud cry Aragorn flung the flaming board onto the Nazgul as its blade pierced into his beloved Vanya. WIthin moments the creatures clothes and even its skin caught fire and it screeched an ear-piercing screech as it dropped its sword and fled. Aragorn had a mind to chase it and even took a step after it before he heard Vanya moan and he turned and flung himself toward her. He came onto his knees and lifted her up. He pressed down on the wound but he knew a mortal wound when he saw one and winced as he held her in his arms.

“I...you’re going to be alright Vanya…” He lied as he tried to keep his face passive. “Im here now, Im with you Vanya...Im always with you,” He murmured as the gravity of what was happening filled the air around them. She was going to die and there was nothing...nothing at all he could do about it. His eyes welled up with unshed tears and he brushed her hair from her face. “I...I love you Vanya...I’ve always loved you,” He said softly though he continued to apply pressure to her wound. He didn’t know what else to do.

The blade made a sickening sound as the creature pulled it from her body. She hadn't realized the blade had been holding her upright until it was gone and she collapsed down first onto her knees and then onto her back. She heard Aragorn's cry and looked up to see the Nazgul suddenly engulfed in flames. She didn't look down at the wound. She couldn't force herself to do it, although she felt her warm blood flowing quickly from it and pooling on the ground beneath her. Now she felt the pain and it was overwhelming. However, the feeling of pain slowly faded as the face of her beloved came into her view. She felt his strong arms around her, cradling her dying body.

"You've never...been a very...good liar," she said shakily with a small smile as he tried to tell her she was going to be alright. She knew her time was going to be short as she felt the darkness already closing in around her. "You...have made me...so happy Aragorn. My life...was dark until you...entered into it." Tears were in her eyes and began to slip down her cheeks. She managed to lift up an arm to cup his face with her hand. She lovingly caressed his cheek as she looked deeply into his eyes. "I...will always be...with you if...you keep me in...your heart. I love you."

She kept her eyes on his until the very last moment. Her body slowly went limp in his arms and her breathing slowed to a stop. Her eyes slowly closed and then did not reopen.

For a time, Aragorn did not know how long, he held Vanya to him as the flames from the warehouse consumed it. Behind them timbers and metal fell as they no longer had the strength to hold up the ceiling as it caved in on itself. Kara could only watch as Vanya died and she could not hold back the sobs that wracked through her. Aragorn did not cry outwardly for Vanya. But part of his heart died inside when he felt her take her last breath.

“No…” Was all that he said.

Days later near a line of trees that marked the graves of her mother and father, Aragorn set down the last stone atop the final resting place of his beloved Vanya. It took all of his faculties not to weep right then but his resolve was bolstered by the fact that he knew she wouldn’t want him to. He had many trials ahead of him still and her death only marked one of many that he would need to endure. But oh how difficult it was not to break down. With a heavy heart he finally stood and looked down upon the stones.

“Goodbye Vanya...I love you,” He murmured then touched his fingers to his head in reverence. He mounted his horse that had hers tethered to his saddle then kicked him into motion. He did not look back...