Witch's Blood

When the sun set and night came, we set up a camp in the tall grass. Gimli fell fast asleep next to the fire and Legolas fell asleep beside him.

My father watched the fiery sky in the distance, an effect of Sauron's ever watchful eye. I moved next to him and watched the horizon as well.

"I should have explained the prophecy to you. The Witch of Red and the many armies. I should have prepared you for more," my father said. "I was paranoid, you see. I did not want anyone to use you or harm you." I did not reply. "You know now, that I am not your real father, but please also know that I care for you and love you like a father." I turned my head and smiled at him.

"I know," I said. "But father...I love Aragorn. I've loved him since the day I met him. Is there any way that we can be together?" My father shrugged his shoulders.

"Be the first," he said.

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When the sun rose, we rode down Rohan, a kingdom of men falling because of Saruman and his poisonous tricks on the king.

"Be careful with what you say and do," my father warned us. "Do not look for welcome here." The poor village was small. The houses were run down and their crops were dry.

"Be very careful around the one they call Grima," Aragorn whispered to me. I nodded at him and we continued to the kingdom's wall built around the village. The gates were open and we rode our horses to the poor village. We left our horses tied by the gates and walked up the hill to the castle.

The townsfolk looked at us with their unhappy faces and whispered to their families. I could feel the dark magic there. It made me feel cold and scared. I left Aragorn's side to help a child pick up her bag of apples. She fearfully looked at me as I placed a few apples in the bag. "It's alright," I whispered. The girl snatched the bag and ran off. I turned to see my father, Gimli and Legolas moving closer to the castle. Aragorn had slowed his walking so I could catch up. My hand brushed what was a small dead tree and it immediately grew leaves and up a few inches.

"That's a witch!" A peasant shouted and pointed at me. "She made that tree grow!" Everyone stared at me.

"A witch's blood will cure the king!" Another shouted.

"Rowan," Aragorn hissed.

"Get her!" A man dressed in armor grabbed me by the hair and pulled me onto the ground. My head hit the dirt and I dizzily looked for Aragorn. The man dragged me in the dirt behind the houses and then threw me over his shoulder. All while the peasants chanted and marched up the hill. Gandalf, Gimli, and Legolas soon lost me and Aragorn in the crowd and rushed to the castle to beat the chanting peasants.

I was brought into the castle through a side door. "Sir!" The man in armor shouted. "This woman was in the village...we think she's a witch."

A man with pale yellow skin and dark bags under his eyes looked at me curiously. He pushed my hair out of my face and then traced my forearm with his finger. He stopped at my wrist and closed his eyes. Then he chuckled as he quickly reopened them. "A witch indeed," he said.

"Her blood can be used to cure the king," a servant said.

"Of, um, of course!" Grima stuttered. "Find me a knife!"

I was dragged on the floor in front of an old man who sat on a throne. His skin was incredibly pale and his eyes were bloodshot. His white hair sat in tangles on his head. A force of wind pushed the guard who held me away from me and then I quickly jumped to my feet. But then Grima pointed his finger at me and I was forced onto the ground again. I found myself unable to move.