Quick Note: Someone commented on how Shield Maidens were supposed to be
respected and everything because they had been trained to fight in times of
crisis. But since this story is movie-canon, I am going based on the part
of TTT where Eowyn asks to stay and fight on the road to Helms Deep but
Theoden makes her go on, presumably because she is a woman. I am using that
as the basis for my claim.
Elvish translations (*) are at the end of the chapter.
Disclaimer: Ha you seriously think I'm making money? Donations are welcome though! Maybe if I get some money I'll get a new computer so I can post faster!
-:- -:- -:-
They came towards her at full force. She braced herself for the blow, sword firmly in hand. The Uruks reared their ugly heads, issuing bellows and grunts deep from within their chests. Eowyn almost smiled at them, but they came down on the Riders of Rohan at precisely that moment.
She lifted her sword and stabbed it deep into the neck of the Uruk closest to her. Eowyn grimaced in pleasure as the hideous creature moaned in agony and fell to the ground. She kicked and spit on it then moved on to her next victim.
Eowyn worked quickly and silently, destroying anything in her path. The men of Rohan ceased their fighting to watch her, for she was glowing with power and determination. Even the Uruks stopped for a moment to gaze upon the beautiful sight.
Her hair was matted with blood and mud, and her dress was torn into ruins. Her angelic white skin was covered with dirt, but she still looked as beautiful as the break of dawn. Legolas lost his breath, no longer paying any attention the battle raging on beside him.
Eowyn looked up and caught the Elf Prince's eye. They stared into each other's irises for one long moment, forgetting that they were on Middle Earth, and thinking instead that they were in the most beautiful portion of the next life.
But the moment ended as quickly as it had begun. All the love, and understanding, and compassion faded away. Eowyn held the gaze a split- second longer, and in that one moment the entire course of the future was changed.
An arrow sent by a dying Uruk sped towards her through the field of mangled bodies. Legolas caught sight of this too late, although he dove to protect the lady. Not understanding the Elf's sudden urgency, Eowyn turned to see where his stare was headed, and was hit straight in the chest by the rogue arrow.
Comprehension dawned in her eyes, just as Legolas reached her. He grasped her falling hand, holding it tight to his chest. She murmured one last thing before falling into unconsciousness.
"Unad nuithatha i nîr e-guren nalú aderthad vîn, meleth nîn."*
-:- -:- -:-
The world around him slowed, and time felt as if it had stopped completely. Legolas cradled the hurt woman in his lap. All of his senses faltered, all that mattered was Eowyn. He had never felt this way about anyone or anything before.
Aragorn, searching wildly for his best friend and the one he let go, came dashing to Legolas' side. The battle was waning, and the Men of Rohan were victorious. Gimli was with Gandalf, searching through the dead bodies and helping the wounded. The remaining Uruks either killed themselves or ran off alone into the wooded areas. But Legolas was aware of none of this.
The Ranger skidded to a stop beside the Elf and the Lady, falling to his knees. His hands, covered with dirt and grime, reached up to touch Eowyn's matted hair. "What happened?" he asked quietly, "Is she alive?"
"Barely," croaked Legolas, hardly getting the words out, "She hangs onto life by a thread and by the strength of her own will. But I fear that the pain is taking over. She grows weaker with each passing minute."
"We must get help," Aragorn said, "Theoden! Your niece is hurt! We must tend to her or else her life will be lost!"
Theoden looked up from where he and Eomer were easing the passing of one man. Eomer's face clouded over and he ran to his sister's side. "Sister," he said, holding her pale hand, clutching onto it for dear life, "Sister, come back to me. Do not leave the world, for it is not your time. Your true duty has not yet been fulfilled." His eyes looked up as he gazed into Legolas' shining face. Eomer's eyes were filled with tears, the unshed tears of an angry warrior. "If it comes to it, Master Elf, please ease her passing."
Theoden murmured a small prayer under his lips for the death of his niece. Legolas stood up very quickly and angrily, still holding Eowyn's body in his arms. "You cannot just condemn her to death! She has not passed into Shadow yet. The Light still claims her soul!"
"Legolas," said Theoden sternly, "She is dying. We must all accept this fact and move on with heavy hearts." He stepped closer to the Elf, so only Legolas could hear his words. "I must be strong for my people, Master Elf. I cannot bear emotion. She was my niece, closer to me than my own son. My blood runs through her veins. I do not want to bury her, anymore than I wanted to bury my son." He raised his voice so all could hear. "We have no time to nurse the wounded. We must move on, we must make our way to Gondor. Only by doing that can we save the fate of Middle Earth."
Legolas glanced helplessly around him. Gandalf caught his eye, and nodded solemnly. Legolas raised his chin and turned his level gaze to Theoden. "Move on ahead. I will stay here and nurse the Shield Maiden back to health. I will come join you when she is healed."
The King stared at him. "You are a valuable asset to our riders, Legolas of Mirkwood. Do not think that I would like to see my niece better, but I must consider the safety of my people. Come with us and fight for the freedom of Middle Earth. If we win, your people will be safe as well."
"My people are leaving these shores, Theoden of Rohan. No matter what the outcome of the battle, the Elves will leave. It is my choice to stay here with the Shield Maiden and nurse her back to health. It does not affect my future, but it does affect hers. It is not Eowyn's time to fade from the Earth yet. She has much more work to do yet in life."
Legolas only caught the stunned gazes on the faces of the Rohirrm, before turning defiantly with Eowyn's body in his arms. He caught Aragorn's eye, and was pleased to see the Ranger nodding acceptingly at him. Gandalf was also smiling happily, and Gimli looked as if he was about to burst into tears.
Theoden sighed angrily. "Gather your weapons, men. We are moving on."
-:- -:- -:-
Night had fallen upon them quickly. Legolas had used all of his woodland knowledge to collect herbs that would help to heal the Shield Maiden. He had brewed an ancient Elvish potion that made the extracting of the arrow painless for Eowyn. The wound was fairly deep, and she began to bleed heavily as soon as the arrowhead left her body. Legolas had cut a part of his tunic into shreds to make a bandage for the woman.
That night Legolas sang a beautiful Elvish hymn the woman. As he lay down to sleep next to her, he gazed up at the stars, and felt content for the first time in his life.
-:- -:- -:-
The smell of something delicious greeted her nostrils. As she tried to get up from the soft bed she was in, she found that her limbs would not cooperate. She tried to open her eyelids, but found the same problem.
"Eowyn? Are you awake?" The familiar voice echoed through her brain, and she finally opened her eyes.
A bed of soft leaves surrounded her. Her golden hair lay in tangles all around her face. There was blood seeped through the front of her dress. Her sword was missing from her side, as was the dagger that she kept hidden on her person.
"What happened? Where am I?" Her voice was little more than a croak, and amnesia seemed to take her over.
"We are somewhere on the road to Gondor. You were injured by a party of Uruks that ambushed us on the way. Your uncle and the rest of the men of Rohan have moved on ahead. I stayed behind to nurse you back to health." Legolas' shining face peered down onto her in a concerned fashion.
Eowyn tried out her arms again, and found some of their strength returning. As she tried to prop herself up into a sitting position, Legolas rushed over to help her, but she waved him off. "I shall do this myself."
With a concentrated effort she was finally able to sit upright. Legolas handed her a small bowl of stew. "While you were sleeping," he said in an over-excited voice, "I was able to whittle us some dishes. They are nothing fancy of course, but they do the job well enough." He looked at her anxiously. "I hope this is alright. This stew was always my favorite as a young elf-ling."
She smiled, and accepted the bowl graciously. "I am sure it will be delicious." She took the first bite, and was happily surprised to find that cooking was another one of Legolas' many hidden talents. They ate in companionable silence for a few moments, before he asked her how she was feeling.
"My body has not yet returned to its full strength, but I shall be fine. The wound left no lasting damage." She smiled a bit self-consciously at him. "I must express my gratitude towards you. It was very kind of you to stay and nurse me back to health. I would surely have died if you had not."
He looked at her very earnestly. "I told you I could not bear to see anything happen to you. Or did you not hear me. I could not tell over the din of the coming battle." There was something about the expression on his face that made her heart flutter. To disguise her blush, Eowyn glanced back down at her half-eaten dish of stew.
Legolas glanced away as well, a spot of color on his cheeks. "Forgive me, milady," he said formally, "That was inappropriate of me to say."
They sat that way for some time, stealing glances at the other when they thought he or she was not looking. Night had fallen, and the stars were shining brightly against the black sky. Eowyn shivered somewhat from where she sat with her back to the crackling flames.
"Are you cold, milady?" Legolas asked politely, but Eowyn could detect an undertone of concerned curiosity.
"Nay, I will be fine," she replied coolly. They stared at each other for a moment longer, before Legolas became very fascinated with the dancing red flames in the fire pit. "When are we going to rejoin the others?" Eowyn finally asked.
"As soon as I have determined that your injury has healed, and you are fit to travel quickly."
A hot flash of anger surged through her body. "I am no weakling to be watched over. I may be a woman but I am not a maiden in distress. I am perfectly capable of determining whether or not we are able to leave. I assure you, Master Elf, that we can set out tomorrow, and I shall be able to make the entire journey."
"I meant no offense," came the cool and easy reply, "I was merely suggesting that you might not be completely healed at this time. Your wound was deep, milady, and I do not wish for you to come to more harm."
"Well you certainly offended me!" Eowyn exclaimed angrily, settling back down into the soft bed of leaves. "We leave at first light tomorrow morning."
Legolas stared at her. "For someone so beautiful, your temper is an ugly as an Uruk."
There were several moments of dead silence, as Legolas looked around sheepishly, and Eowyn went from looking furious to blushing in the firelight. "Do you really think I am beautiful?" she asked softly.
The Elf sighed, not knowing how to describe her beauty. "There is somewhat of a fire within you. All who see you can recognize it. It is. . . captivating."
"I have long heard that I am beautiful, though I could never see it. But to hear it from the lips of a creature as stunning as you brings new light to the words. I may be beautiful, Master Elf, but you are enchanting." She shivered again as the words passed from her lips.
"All elves are beautiful," he responded smoothly, "But I assure you that even the stars have nothing compared to the light that shines from within you."
Something about his tone scared her. She stared into his eyes for several long moments, before breaking the gaze and twisting around in her bed of leaves, so that her back faced him. She heard his sigh and clearing of the throat.
"Milady," he began unsurely, "You said something before you passed into unconsciousness. Do you remember what it was?"
"Nay, I do not remember saying anything," came the cold reply. Legolas winced in the firelight, though Eowyn did not see it.
"It was whispered in Elvish. It was beautiful. Do you remember saying that at all? Do you even speak Elvish?"
"No, to both questions. What did it mean?" Eowyn twisted around curiously to look the Elf in the eye.
"It was nothing," he sighed, "Merely a few words strung together."
Eowyn thought she could detect sadness in his mechanical tone, but said nothing of it. There was something in the Elf's eyes that made her heart break, but she did not press the matter further. Legolas got up from his seat, and got his long knives out of their sheaths. He began to sharpen them furiously. After many minutes of watching him, he finally spoke again.
"We leave at first light tomorrow."
-:- -:- -:-
Unad nuithatha i nîr e-guren nalú aderthad vîn: Nothing will stop the weeping of my heart until our reunion.
Meleth nîn: My love
Author's Note: Thank you so much for your reviews! They were really great, and I especially appreciate the constructive criticism. If you like the story, please tell me! If you think it needs improvement, go ahead and say it! Just no flames, please.
Next chapter should be up within the next few days, depending on how much schoolwork I have.
.x. Moonlit Tears .o.
Elvish translations (*) are at the end of the chapter.
Disclaimer: Ha you seriously think I'm making money? Donations are welcome though! Maybe if I get some money I'll get a new computer so I can post faster!
-:- -:- -:-
They came towards her at full force. She braced herself for the blow, sword firmly in hand. The Uruks reared their ugly heads, issuing bellows and grunts deep from within their chests. Eowyn almost smiled at them, but they came down on the Riders of Rohan at precisely that moment.
She lifted her sword and stabbed it deep into the neck of the Uruk closest to her. Eowyn grimaced in pleasure as the hideous creature moaned in agony and fell to the ground. She kicked and spit on it then moved on to her next victim.
Eowyn worked quickly and silently, destroying anything in her path. The men of Rohan ceased their fighting to watch her, for she was glowing with power and determination. Even the Uruks stopped for a moment to gaze upon the beautiful sight.
Her hair was matted with blood and mud, and her dress was torn into ruins. Her angelic white skin was covered with dirt, but she still looked as beautiful as the break of dawn. Legolas lost his breath, no longer paying any attention the battle raging on beside him.
Eowyn looked up and caught the Elf Prince's eye. They stared into each other's irises for one long moment, forgetting that they were on Middle Earth, and thinking instead that they were in the most beautiful portion of the next life.
But the moment ended as quickly as it had begun. All the love, and understanding, and compassion faded away. Eowyn held the gaze a split- second longer, and in that one moment the entire course of the future was changed.
An arrow sent by a dying Uruk sped towards her through the field of mangled bodies. Legolas caught sight of this too late, although he dove to protect the lady. Not understanding the Elf's sudden urgency, Eowyn turned to see where his stare was headed, and was hit straight in the chest by the rogue arrow.
Comprehension dawned in her eyes, just as Legolas reached her. He grasped her falling hand, holding it tight to his chest. She murmured one last thing before falling into unconsciousness.
"Unad nuithatha i nîr e-guren nalú aderthad vîn, meleth nîn."*
-:- -:- -:-
The world around him slowed, and time felt as if it had stopped completely. Legolas cradled the hurt woman in his lap. All of his senses faltered, all that mattered was Eowyn. He had never felt this way about anyone or anything before.
Aragorn, searching wildly for his best friend and the one he let go, came dashing to Legolas' side. The battle was waning, and the Men of Rohan were victorious. Gimli was with Gandalf, searching through the dead bodies and helping the wounded. The remaining Uruks either killed themselves or ran off alone into the wooded areas. But Legolas was aware of none of this.
The Ranger skidded to a stop beside the Elf and the Lady, falling to his knees. His hands, covered with dirt and grime, reached up to touch Eowyn's matted hair. "What happened?" he asked quietly, "Is she alive?"
"Barely," croaked Legolas, hardly getting the words out, "She hangs onto life by a thread and by the strength of her own will. But I fear that the pain is taking over. She grows weaker with each passing minute."
"We must get help," Aragorn said, "Theoden! Your niece is hurt! We must tend to her or else her life will be lost!"
Theoden looked up from where he and Eomer were easing the passing of one man. Eomer's face clouded over and he ran to his sister's side. "Sister," he said, holding her pale hand, clutching onto it for dear life, "Sister, come back to me. Do not leave the world, for it is not your time. Your true duty has not yet been fulfilled." His eyes looked up as he gazed into Legolas' shining face. Eomer's eyes were filled with tears, the unshed tears of an angry warrior. "If it comes to it, Master Elf, please ease her passing."
Theoden murmured a small prayer under his lips for the death of his niece. Legolas stood up very quickly and angrily, still holding Eowyn's body in his arms. "You cannot just condemn her to death! She has not passed into Shadow yet. The Light still claims her soul!"
"Legolas," said Theoden sternly, "She is dying. We must all accept this fact and move on with heavy hearts." He stepped closer to the Elf, so only Legolas could hear his words. "I must be strong for my people, Master Elf. I cannot bear emotion. She was my niece, closer to me than my own son. My blood runs through her veins. I do not want to bury her, anymore than I wanted to bury my son." He raised his voice so all could hear. "We have no time to nurse the wounded. We must move on, we must make our way to Gondor. Only by doing that can we save the fate of Middle Earth."
Legolas glanced helplessly around him. Gandalf caught his eye, and nodded solemnly. Legolas raised his chin and turned his level gaze to Theoden. "Move on ahead. I will stay here and nurse the Shield Maiden back to health. I will come join you when she is healed."
The King stared at him. "You are a valuable asset to our riders, Legolas of Mirkwood. Do not think that I would like to see my niece better, but I must consider the safety of my people. Come with us and fight for the freedom of Middle Earth. If we win, your people will be safe as well."
"My people are leaving these shores, Theoden of Rohan. No matter what the outcome of the battle, the Elves will leave. It is my choice to stay here with the Shield Maiden and nurse her back to health. It does not affect my future, but it does affect hers. It is not Eowyn's time to fade from the Earth yet. She has much more work to do yet in life."
Legolas only caught the stunned gazes on the faces of the Rohirrm, before turning defiantly with Eowyn's body in his arms. He caught Aragorn's eye, and was pleased to see the Ranger nodding acceptingly at him. Gandalf was also smiling happily, and Gimli looked as if he was about to burst into tears.
Theoden sighed angrily. "Gather your weapons, men. We are moving on."
-:- -:- -:-
Night had fallen upon them quickly. Legolas had used all of his woodland knowledge to collect herbs that would help to heal the Shield Maiden. He had brewed an ancient Elvish potion that made the extracting of the arrow painless for Eowyn. The wound was fairly deep, and she began to bleed heavily as soon as the arrowhead left her body. Legolas had cut a part of his tunic into shreds to make a bandage for the woman.
That night Legolas sang a beautiful Elvish hymn the woman. As he lay down to sleep next to her, he gazed up at the stars, and felt content for the first time in his life.
-:- -:- -:-
The smell of something delicious greeted her nostrils. As she tried to get up from the soft bed she was in, she found that her limbs would not cooperate. She tried to open her eyelids, but found the same problem.
"Eowyn? Are you awake?" The familiar voice echoed through her brain, and she finally opened her eyes.
A bed of soft leaves surrounded her. Her golden hair lay in tangles all around her face. There was blood seeped through the front of her dress. Her sword was missing from her side, as was the dagger that she kept hidden on her person.
"What happened? Where am I?" Her voice was little more than a croak, and amnesia seemed to take her over.
"We are somewhere on the road to Gondor. You were injured by a party of Uruks that ambushed us on the way. Your uncle and the rest of the men of Rohan have moved on ahead. I stayed behind to nurse you back to health." Legolas' shining face peered down onto her in a concerned fashion.
Eowyn tried out her arms again, and found some of their strength returning. As she tried to prop herself up into a sitting position, Legolas rushed over to help her, but she waved him off. "I shall do this myself."
With a concentrated effort she was finally able to sit upright. Legolas handed her a small bowl of stew. "While you were sleeping," he said in an over-excited voice, "I was able to whittle us some dishes. They are nothing fancy of course, but they do the job well enough." He looked at her anxiously. "I hope this is alright. This stew was always my favorite as a young elf-ling."
She smiled, and accepted the bowl graciously. "I am sure it will be delicious." She took the first bite, and was happily surprised to find that cooking was another one of Legolas' many hidden talents. They ate in companionable silence for a few moments, before he asked her how she was feeling.
"My body has not yet returned to its full strength, but I shall be fine. The wound left no lasting damage." She smiled a bit self-consciously at him. "I must express my gratitude towards you. It was very kind of you to stay and nurse me back to health. I would surely have died if you had not."
He looked at her very earnestly. "I told you I could not bear to see anything happen to you. Or did you not hear me. I could not tell over the din of the coming battle." There was something about the expression on his face that made her heart flutter. To disguise her blush, Eowyn glanced back down at her half-eaten dish of stew.
Legolas glanced away as well, a spot of color on his cheeks. "Forgive me, milady," he said formally, "That was inappropriate of me to say."
They sat that way for some time, stealing glances at the other when they thought he or she was not looking. Night had fallen, and the stars were shining brightly against the black sky. Eowyn shivered somewhat from where she sat with her back to the crackling flames.
"Are you cold, milady?" Legolas asked politely, but Eowyn could detect an undertone of concerned curiosity.
"Nay, I will be fine," she replied coolly. They stared at each other for a moment longer, before Legolas became very fascinated with the dancing red flames in the fire pit. "When are we going to rejoin the others?" Eowyn finally asked.
"As soon as I have determined that your injury has healed, and you are fit to travel quickly."
A hot flash of anger surged through her body. "I am no weakling to be watched over. I may be a woman but I am not a maiden in distress. I am perfectly capable of determining whether or not we are able to leave. I assure you, Master Elf, that we can set out tomorrow, and I shall be able to make the entire journey."
"I meant no offense," came the cool and easy reply, "I was merely suggesting that you might not be completely healed at this time. Your wound was deep, milady, and I do not wish for you to come to more harm."
"Well you certainly offended me!" Eowyn exclaimed angrily, settling back down into the soft bed of leaves. "We leave at first light tomorrow morning."
Legolas stared at her. "For someone so beautiful, your temper is an ugly as an Uruk."
There were several moments of dead silence, as Legolas looked around sheepishly, and Eowyn went from looking furious to blushing in the firelight. "Do you really think I am beautiful?" she asked softly.
The Elf sighed, not knowing how to describe her beauty. "There is somewhat of a fire within you. All who see you can recognize it. It is. . . captivating."
"I have long heard that I am beautiful, though I could never see it. But to hear it from the lips of a creature as stunning as you brings new light to the words. I may be beautiful, Master Elf, but you are enchanting." She shivered again as the words passed from her lips.
"All elves are beautiful," he responded smoothly, "But I assure you that even the stars have nothing compared to the light that shines from within you."
Something about his tone scared her. She stared into his eyes for several long moments, before breaking the gaze and twisting around in her bed of leaves, so that her back faced him. She heard his sigh and clearing of the throat.
"Milady," he began unsurely, "You said something before you passed into unconsciousness. Do you remember what it was?"
"Nay, I do not remember saying anything," came the cold reply. Legolas winced in the firelight, though Eowyn did not see it.
"It was whispered in Elvish. It was beautiful. Do you remember saying that at all? Do you even speak Elvish?"
"No, to both questions. What did it mean?" Eowyn twisted around curiously to look the Elf in the eye.
"It was nothing," he sighed, "Merely a few words strung together."
Eowyn thought she could detect sadness in his mechanical tone, but said nothing of it. There was something in the Elf's eyes that made her heart break, but she did not press the matter further. Legolas got up from his seat, and got his long knives out of their sheaths. He began to sharpen them furiously. After many minutes of watching him, he finally spoke again.
"We leave at first light tomorrow."
-:- -:- -:-
Unad nuithatha i nîr e-guren nalú aderthad vîn: Nothing will stop the weeping of my heart until our reunion.
Meleth nîn: My love
Author's Note: Thank you so much for your reviews! They were really great, and I especially appreciate the constructive criticism. If you like the story, please tell me! If you think it needs improvement, go ahead and say it! Just no flames, please.
Next chapter should be up within the next few days, depending on how much schoolwork I have.
.x. Moonlit Tears .o.
