[Crystal Heart]

Crystal smiled at the prospect of the new title of General.

"So you will be leaving us to go back to Rohan as well?" Crystal asked. She admitted that she was sad to see it happen. She had become very close to her. She was such a breath of fresh air. A part of her new life.

Crystal knew that she was sad for General Dorian's death. Dorian had always been kind to her for some odd reason. She had always been around him. His death wouldn't be a complete cause for celebration.

But for Crystal it was. The one man that caused her pain, the one man that caused her fear, the one man that caused her grief was finally gone from this world. She had never felt any type of love for her father. He had beaten her and hurt her so savagely that she had wished for his death many times. She had been running from him for years and had finally found one place where she was loved once again.

She had been loved in Rohan by Arty and her mother, but after their death there hadn't been any reason to stay. She had fled shortly after and had lead a life of danger and fear. Then she had come to the Shire and into the Green Dragon Inn.

Her life had changed the night she had decided to stop in for something warm to eat. She had been sick then, almost on the brink of death. She barely had enough coins for the food or for the room that sweet Aman had offered. She had sat upon the stool and believed that she would be dead before the night was through. Then she had met Angry Brandybuck.

His eyes, his face, his words had caused her to hold on. She had gotten to know him and had held on to the fact that she had fallen in love once again. A fact that she now cherished. She had almost succumbed to death, but had held on. Hama had helped her through and Angry's warm hand in hers and his gentle face had kept her holding on to the small ray of life that she had maintained.

Angry had taken her home, had given her a warm bed to sleep in. She remembered that morning as if it were still happening to her.

She had woken up in the hobbit's home with a smile. She hadn't rested in such a way in all of her life. She had gotten up and had walked past the closed door of Angry's room. She had decided to make breakfast for his kindness.

She had made eggs and he had come into the kitchen. She had felt that the scene was so right, so natural. They talked over breakfast, both blushing profusely.

They talked about his parents. Angry wasn't sure if they would agree. Crystal hadn't minded. She said she would keep hope until there was no hope to hold on to.

He had left her shortly after that. He had gone to his parents. She had stayed and kept the house orderly. She felt like an anxious wife who awaited her husband.

She looked over at Angry and smiled softly. Her life was finally wonderful.