Fan Fiction ❯ The quick and the dead ❯ Scream for me ( Chapter 4 )

 

Authors note: You asked why I don't write in Japanese the answer is that I love a good challenge and English is challenging to me.

 

Aragon followed Kennonomoi down the corridor with long comfortable strides. For the moment the young woman ignored his presence in favor of studying the city around her. A tiny smile quirked at his lips when Aragorn saw her barely veiled awe. The girl had more mood swings than dragon whose treasure had been stolen. One moment `Bee' was playful, witty, and cynical. The next moment she's brooding, sarcastic, and down right dangerous. This thought made the ranger frown deeply.

 

`What happened to you' he asked mentally

 

Kennonomoi however was trying to remember where exactly was her room. When she'd run out Kennonomoi hadn't stop to take notes. The idea that Elrond and Gandalf were still there made Kennonomoi more than a little bit uneasy. Though she would never admit it aloud, the old man and the elf crept her out. After a few minutes more of silence Espada could no longer take to quiet anymore.

 

“So stride where you come from”?

 

The question caught Aragorn off guard. He hadn't expected Kennonomoi to speak at all.

 

“I am a ranger from the north Bee but I was raised among these halls”

 

Kennonomoi tilted her head to the side indicating for him to continue.

 

“After my father died my mother came here for healing and protection she passed through shadow soon after in grief and lord Elrond adopted me”

 

Espada felt an unfamiliar clenching in her heart. Though she knew exactly what emotion was fighting its way into her heart, Kennonomoi didn't dare identify the emotion. Jealousy was just not befitting of her character. So instead she merely nodded her understanding.

 

“And what of you Bee? You must have some interesting family”

 

Kennonomoi clenched her jaw and gave a tight-lipped smile.

 

“That's putting it mildly,” she stated dryly.

 

Aragorn said nothing. They stayed in a relatively tense silence till they found their way to Kennonomoi's room. Espada crossed the threshold with a silent sigh of relief when she did not see either the elf lord or the gray wizard. She unceremoniously dropped onto her bed back first and stretched across it like a cat. Aragorn slid a chair next to her bed and sat upon it observing her carefully before he spoke.

 

“What is your family like Bee”?

 

Again he watched silently as her orange eyes seemed to become blazing amber so brilliant with an inner fire but cold at the same time. She stretched further along the bed trying to seem casual and uncaring. But the chieftain of the Dunedain could see passed her false ruse, the girl was in pain.

 

“That would depend greatly stride on your definition of family”

 

“What do you mean” the ranger's eyes narrowed

 

Kennonomoi was stalling.

 

She snorted, “family, they are the people you trust not only with just your life but your heart, you care more for them than yourself, and would give anything for their happiness right”?

 

“Yes, that is what family is even if your not blood” replied Aragorn slowly

 

A bitter smile curved at her lips. The look sent chills down the ranger's spine.

 

“Well then that answers your question, I have no family Strider I trust no one with my heart and couldn't give a less of a damn about caring”

 

Aragorn tried not to flinch when Kennonomoi crawled over to him and laid her head in his lap. The almost affectionate gesture belied the cool ruthlessness of her nature. But the Elrond's adoptive son found himself stroking her hair soothingly fending off imaginary tears from her hauntingly beautiful eyes.

 

`Like a brother' he thought in mild shock

 

Looking into the girl's eyes Aragorn could truly imagine her being his sister, his equal. Yet it would be him chase her nightmares and tears away and see her as she truly was and except it. This child was more than she portrayed. And for some reason the ranger thought he was probably the only one here able to see this. With that in mind the ranger tried to set his new `little sister' at ease.

 

“You have family Bee, your definition is merely different from mine”

 

Kennonomoi closed her eyes.

 

“Oh? And what is my definition of family”

 

“Only you know that”

 

Kennonomoi sighed in exasperation but thought about what the would be king was asking her.

 

`What is family to me'? She asked herself

 

After a few moments of deliberation the young brawler was finally able to answer. She opened her eyes and stared into Aragorn's silver gaze.

 

“Scream for me”

 

Said ranger raised an eyebrow in question.

 

“My family has to hate me just as easily as they could love me otherwise they wouldn't be my family”.

 

“I need someone who can share my sorrow just as easily as they could share my happiness to have my tears, my pain, and when my time comes to die they will scream for me”.

 

Aragorn pulled her into his lap fully and hugged her fiercely.

 

“Have you no one in your home that will scream for you Bee”?

 

She stiffened.

 

“My father doesn't know me, my brothers lost their ability to do such a thing seeing as it was beaten out of them, my mother is a bitter woman too consumed by her hate for my father to scream for me, and eldest brother Irvin is already dead, so no I have no one”.

 

Again Aragorn stroked her thick hair letting the pain and promise show his gaze.

 

“Then I shall scream for you Bee”

 

For a moment she said nothing

 

Then, “ Kennonomoi, my name is Kennonomoi Espada”

 

Aragorn smiled.

 

“I am Aragorn son of Arathorn Kennonomoi daughter of Espada”

 

At this Espada smirked. Her dark humor danced in her orange gaze.

 

“Then should the day ever come son of Arathorn I shall scream for you”