I had a fun weekend writing for my other story, but I figured I should actually get to the humor part of my story so you get a taste of where this is actually going. So here it is, part 2. Love to hear your reviews. Enjoy!
Gwailin returned to Minas Tirith with Gandalf, dropping the hobbits at the infirmary to recover from their ordeal. She then flew up to the mountaintop, where what was left of her company rested.
"So few of us are still here," Gwailin said, looking around at the six elves who remained, then looking at the eagles, all of which had sustained injuries. Calimacar was badly wounded, and would probably not live through the night. That left five eagles, but two had sustained damage to their wings that would take time to heal before they could fly any distance again.
"We laid the bodies over there," Ettelea said, indicating a flat surface where the bodies of the fallen eagles and elves lay. Gwailin nodded, and as darkness fell, they burned their deceased friends.
"They all fought gallantly. Now, let us go down to the citadel and find some food and drink."
The elves climbed down from the mountaintop, entering Minas Tirith from above before seeking out the Citadel kitchen. They brought out plates of food and barrels of wine, and settled in a quiet spot in the gardens.
It was here that Legolas came upon them, hearing their laughter and songs from a long way off. He entered the clearing, a serious look on his face.
"Good evening, Prince Legolas," Gwailin said with a smile. "Would you care to join us?"
"No thank you," he said, the look in his eyes obviously showing that he thought their revelry was inappropriate.
"You think us callous for celebrating after so many lives were lost today," she said, not asking a question. "We prefer to celebrate the lives of those who died than to mourn their departure. They are gone and we cannot change that. But we can show our love by remembering the good times. Oh, do you all remember in training, when Maite tried showing off and fell off his mount into the sea? He washed up on the beach, spitting salt water and pulling crabs from his hair?"
"I do remember that!" Melhir said, laughing loudly. "He was trying to do some kind of spiral, wasn't he? Did he ever succeed?"
"I don't think so," Ettelea said with a smile. "He kept trying for a long time though."
"Well I will leave you to it then," Legolas said, turning to leave. The Kindi had forgotten he was there.
"If you change your mind, feel free to join us," Gwailin said with a grin, watching him leave.
They continued laughing and joking for some time. After they had all consumed a significant amount of wine, Ettelea turned to Gwailin.
"So Princess, what are your thoughts on our resident elven prince?"
"I think he is stuffy and serious," she said casually, laughing as Lainos tried to catch a grape in his mouth that Melhir threw at him.
"Good looking?"
"Perhaps," Gwailin said, turning to look at the other elleth, a grin on her face. "How flustered do you think he'd get if I started flirting with him?"
"He's a prince, he's probably used to it."
"You can do better," Lainos said, leaning back on his hands. "I thought you and Firverior were together."
"Nah, he's just a friend," Gwailin said, waving her hand dismissively. "I just think I could have a lot of fun tormenting Legolas."
"I dare you to kiss him," Ettelea declared. "Full on the lips."
"I will!" Gwailin said with a laugh. "Right before we leave. Leave him wanting more."
"Poor guy," Hiramar said, shaking his head.
"Are you saying that I am a bad kisser?" Gwailin said, faking offense.
"How should I know?" Hiramir said with a shrug. "But I pity any guy who has you after him."
"Hey!" Gwailin said, throwing a biscuit at him. "What are you trying to say?"
"You leave a string of broken hearts behind you, that's for sure. Your father thinks you will never settle down."
"What's wrong with that?" Gwailin said, taking a swig of wine. "Can you see me settling down?"
"I think that would be scarier than facing off against a Nazgul," Irima interjected from her spot a short way away as she leaned against a tree.
"I actually have to agree with you," Gwailin said as the other elves laughed. "It's far too fun going around breaking hearts, as you put it, Hiramir."
"It's a good thing you're a princess, or you would probably have be run out of the city long ago."
"Yeah, yeah," Gwailin said, rolling her eyes.
The Kindi stayed in Gondor for a month while the eagles and elves recovered from their injuries. They mostly kept to themselves, but were a merry bunch, helping out around the city when they were needed, lifting the spirits of the injured soldiers by play jokes on some of them, or performing small concerts in the gardens. Ettelea and Hiramir sang beautiful duets, while Melhir played the harp and Lainos played a lute. Everyone was surprised when Irima, who intimidated many of the men, produced a flute and played for them. Gwailin stayed out of it, watching and laughing, poking fun at her comrades. She could play many instruments, but chose to focus her energy on more physical activities, so had not brought an instrument with her.
Several times over that month, Gwailin ran into Legolas. She would smile and bow, make some flowery statement that was both flattering and insulting, then continue on her way. Once, when Ettelea was with her, the other elleth started giggling madly as soon as they passed, which made Legolas stare at them until they disappeared around the corner. Gwailin burst out laughing as soon as they were out of earshot. She found this game highly amusing.
Several weeks into their stay, Gwailin began feeling restless. Tracking down her companions, she found Ettelea and Hiramir wandering the halls of the Citadel.
"Good morning, Gwailin," Hiramir said smiling at the elleth.
"Good morning, my friends," Gwailin replied cheerfully. "You are not busy, are you?"
"Not at the moment, why?" Ettelea asked suspiciously.
"I don't know about you two, but I am going to go crazy if I have to spend another minute in this marble prison. You wouldn't be willing to go flying for a bit, would you?"
"Not at all," Hiramir said, watching the princess carefully. "Provided that is all you intend to do."
"Why Hiramir, whatever do you mean?" Gwailin said, feigning hurt.
"You always have an ulterior motive, Princess. You wouldn't happen to be trying to use this opportunity to show off in front of Prince Legolas, would you?"
"I am offended you would think me so shallow," Gwailin said, clutching her heart.
Hiramir just rolled his eyes as Ettelea grinned. "Why on earth would I do such a thing?"
"You want nothing more than to get the poor elf's attention so you can scar him for life."
"Scar him?" Gwailin asked, dropping her act of innocence for genuine surprise. "How am I going to scar him?"
"You are going to break his heart over a dare."
"Oh please, he is not going to get a broken heart over me. It is clear he finds me little more than an irritating pest flitting about the place. I just need to make sure our month here is not wasted and I make it a memorable one for the humorless prince."
"Very well. I will fly with you, but don't expect me to participate in any of your death-defying stunts."
Death-defying stunts were exactly what Gwailin had in mind. She grinned broadly as she stood on the battlements, hands on her hips as she looked out over the city, Osgiliath in the distance. To her left stood Ettelea, Hiramir off to her right. Gwailin had suggested an air-show of sorts primarily because she knew Prince Legolas was enjoying the afternoon sun with his dwarf friend by the White Tree.
"Are you sure you don't want a flying lesson?" she called over her shoulder, looking at the blonde elf sitting next to the tree.
"No thank you," he called back, not looking around at her. Gwailin shrugged, pulling her leather helmet over her head. Without warning, she did a swan dive off the battlements.
She wished she could see the reactions on the faces of those around the garden as she disappeared over the side of the Citadel. Instead, as she plummeted headfirst towards the city below, she saw a mass of feathers appear beneath her. Grinning, she reached out and grabbed the leather saddle, pulling herself into the seat as Pannaran opened his wings, pulling out of the dive and starting to climb into the sky once more. As they passed the battlements, Ettelea and Hiramir leapt off, landing on their mounts, flying close behind Pannaran as the eagle spiraled straight up until they reached several hundred feet, the wind buffeting the elves as they began flying in intricate patterns through the air.
"Ready Pan?" Gwailin asked as they glided over the city. With her elven eyes, the princess looked down to see who was watching. She felt immense satisfaction to see many people in the streets pointing towards the sky. There were a handful of guards that had abandoned their posts, going to the battlements to get a better view. She was most pleased to see that although he had not left his seat, Prince Legolas was watching her circle the Citadel.
With a deep breath, Gwailin hoisted knees up under her torso, hands still on the edge of the saddle. Shifting her feet, she got a grip with her boots on the leather beneath her, and extended her legs, letting go of the saddle. Knees still bent, she let out a whoop as she stood in the saddle, surfing on the eagle's back as he glided around the city. Even when he began spiraling forward, she did not lose her footing.
"Here we go!" she said to Pannaran, shouting against the wind. She extended her legs suddenly, leaping from his back, back-flipping off the saddle. Her adrenaline was pumping as she began plummeting once more towards the ground. But she had only gone a hundred feet, still far above the city, when Pannaran flew under her once more, catching her neatly in the seat.
"Have you cheated death enough yet?" Ettelea called, flying next to her, a grin on her face. Hiramir was gliding not far away, shaking his head at the antics of the princess.
"Never!" Gwailin called back, smirking at the other elleth. "Want to try some slaloms?"
"Right behind you!" Ettelea said, coming in behind Gwailin as the princess urged the giant eagle down towards the city. There were screams of fright as the two eagles dove towards the crowds, but they pulled up just before impacting with the streets, and the two began weaving back and forth between the towers. People were sent screaming out of their way as they flew inches above the streets and battlements, before climbing once more straight up past the citadel.
Pannaran headed back towards the garden, the White Tree coming into view as Gwailin thought she'd try one more trick. The plan was to try leaping off the Pannaran's back as he slowed near the tree and doing a forward roll into a standing position. Unfortunately, it didn't go so smoothly. She dismounted fine, but she had more momentum than she expected, and did a somersault into a heap instead. Concerned guards came rushing towards her, but she just took off her helmet as she lie flat on her back on the ground and began laughing loudly, still sprawled on the ground.
"That was incredibly graceful," Hiramir said, landing on the nearby battlements and climbing off, removing his helmet and shaking his head as he looked at her.
"I guess I need to practice that one some more," she said, looking up at Pannaran who had alighted on the battlements. "What do you think Pan?" The eagle just gave her a long look before shaking out his feathers, starting to preen himself.
"I know," she said, putting her head back with a sigh. "I deserved that."
"Are you alright?" Ettelea asked, coming up to her and holding out her hand, trying not to laugh, though her face was covered with a broad grin.
"Well nothing is broken, though I expect I will have some nice bruises from that one," Gwailin said, taking the elleth's outstretched hand and standing up. "What a rush."
"I think you should try that one on a softer surface next time," Ettelea said, finally letting out a soft laugh as Gwailin brushed her loose hair out of her face, flipping her braid over her shoulder.
"Those landings get me every time," Gwailin said, pulling her gloves off as she started walking back past the White Tree. "Apart from the last part, what did you think of the show?"
Legolas looked up at her as she paused next to him, a smug grin on her face.
"Honestly, I wasn't really paying attention," he said dismissively. This just made Gwailin smile wider.
"Come on, you thought it was amazing," she said, punching him on the shoulder, earning a glare from the prince. "Admit it."
"I really don't have strong feelings about it at all," he said, turning away from her. "I think perhaps you enjoy near-death experiences a little too much, but that is not my concern."
"I saw you slide down that oliphaunt trunk during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Don't tell me you don't like some thrills in your life."
"That was a matter of necessity," Legolas said, looking back at her with a frown, though she noticed the dwarf shake his head and roll his eyes. "Not for thrills."
"If you say so," she said, winking at him before strutting away towards the door into the Citadel.
When the Kindi made to leave, Gandalf tried to persuade them to stay, at least until Aragorn's coronation.
"My apologies, but we must return to Mirkwood and regroup with our companions who remained there. It has been a pleasure, and we are glad we could be of use. May you have a long and prosperous reign, Lord Aragorn."
"We are grateful for your aid," Aragorn replied, bowing his head in acknowledgement. "You are most welcome if you come this way again."
"Thank you," Gwailin said, bowing low. As she stood, she noticed Ettelea grinning at her from the battlements. Ettelea jerked her head subtly to the side. Gwailin looked around and noticed Legolas standing off to the side. Grinning, she walked over to him, bowing low again.
"I will let your father know you are safe, Prince Legolas. I do hope to see you again, but if not…" She took that opportunity to grab the front of his tunic and pull him down to her, as she planted a kiss on his lips. Letting go and backing up, she bowed elegantly again before running towards the battlements and hopping up onto Pannaran, flying out over Pelennor, followed closely by her companions.
Legolas stood there blinking for a moment, not quite sure what had just happened. His expression made Gimli break out in hearty laughter.
Legolas returned to his father's halls many months later, after traveling with Gimli for a while around Gondor and Rohan. He was about to bring up his idea for bring elves to the Ithilien when his father cut him off.
"So, what did you think of Princess Gwailin?" Thranduil asked, watching his son carefully over his wine goblet. Legolas had been home for a less than a week, and they had just sat down for their first dinner together.
"Excuse me?" Legolas asked, taken aback. He had not been expecting such a question from his father.
"I was wondering what your impression was of Princess Gwailin while you were in Gondor."
"Well," Legolas said slowly, trying to find the words that would be best to describe the princess in a diplomatic manner. "She was a very capable warrior," was all he could come up with.
"That is it? Be honest with me, Legolas."
"Well then, I think she is a little too reckless, bold, and rather foolish," Legolas said with a scowl. "I don't understand what concern she is of mine."
"She is a cheerful individual," the king said thoughtfully. "But I wouldn't call her foolish. Reckless, yes. She seemed very fond of dangerous activities. She wanted to try cliff jumping at Erebor. She seemed fascinated with it after they flew over. What influences you to call her bold?"
"She lacks the propriety associated with her station, and lacks respect for others' station as well," Legolas said, looking down at his plate.
"What did she do to illicit such a strong feeling from you?" Thranduil asked, rather amused by his son's characterization. He could tell Legolas did not really want to talk about it.
"She thought it was amusing to kiss me before she left Minas Tirith," Legolas said, frowning, his annoyance evident. The king actually laughed at this.
"Only you would be offended by a kiss," he said, watching his son's scowl deepen.
"Surely it was not that bad."
"No," Legolas admitted, thinking back. "But it was inappropriate."
"So there is no chance there is a wedding in your future?" Thranduil asked, amused at the angry look on his son's face. "She really is a lovely individual."
"There is no chance whatsoever that I will consent to marry Princess Gwailin," Legolas said with the air of finality. Thranduil didn't press the issue, but his smile didn't fade.