A year after the war, Faramir dies of a strange illness. Eowyn is distraught, but Queen Arwen suggests a visit to the elf colony in Ithilien to find herself again. But does Eowyn find more than she bargained for? (Legolas/Eowyn)
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor do I claim any characters or profits from them!!
'To Love Again'
Chapter 2: 'Shield-maiden'
It had been a week since that night in the woods. She assumed she had come into the elf colony considering the one taking care of her was of such. He was kind and gentle yet he seemed displaced with her. Each time he came into her room he smiled, but it almost seemed eerie. Today, however he had not come and she took this to her advantage. Moving to the edge of the bed she stood, feeling slightly dizzy. Steadying herself she moved to a large window and gazed out, her breath catching in her throat. Laid out before her was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. The land was lush and green and filled with much plant life. Trees of many kinds loomed over small gardens and pools. Turning to her right she caught sight of large white glorious homes, only to be seen of in dreams. She watched as Mythril beings moved here and there, chatting to one another in another tongue, calm and peaceful. Eowyn moved to sit on the ledge watching the wonders displayed before her. It was almost like an untouchable Eden.
"My Lady, you are up," a voice came from behind. "How are you feeling?"
Eowyn turned to the elf a small smile on her face. "I am well, thank-you." Turning back to the window she took in a small breath watching a group of white horses move through a large open meadow. "This place is like a dream. Can it even be real? My eyes see it, my heart is pulled to it, yet I feel if I move it will all disappear from me."
"It is very real my lady," the elf said moving to the window with her. "Welcome to Ithilien, home of the Elves."
Aragorn's connection with the elves was unfathomable. But to send her to such a place was something she would never had expected. And then, she remembered it…the letter. She remained silent and then turned to move from the window and back to her bed.
"Perhaps you wish to rest some more Lady?"
"No. No I have something that needs delivered, yet…" she turned to the elf that had followed behind her. "Yet I am unsure of whom it's intended is. I do not read elfish script as well as Lord Aragorn." She pulled the letter from her bag and handed it to the elf beside her. For a moment he looked over the entitled script and handed it back to her.
"This letter is intended for my master, and must be given by no other but by your own hand," he said moving to the door. "If my lady is feeling up to it, I shall take you to him now."
"Yes, please take me to him," she agreed grabbing a green velvet robe from the foot of her bed and wrapping it around herself.
The brown haired elf nodded and moved to the door. "Please follow me."
They moved down long halls filled with elfish art and sculptures. She marveled at them all, taking in the history and the wisdom they seemed to emanate. Moving out into the courtyard she followed silently realizing that "this master" was not home. Moving from the white houses they moved through the trees and past lavished gardens before quickly coming to an abrupt halt. "This is where I leave you my lady," he said bowing to her slightly. "The one you seek it just beyond those trees." He turned from her and moved slowly back the way they came.
"Thank you," Eowyn said slightly confused but continuing forward. Slowly she moved through the trees and came upon a wooden gazebo, entwined in vines and flowers. A shimmering creek flowed before it and with it stood a small stone bridge. Weeping willows surrounded the area, a scent she could not place moving through the air. She moved to the bridge taking a step upon it before she was startled by a twig snapping. Left from the gazebo and large doe stood, her fawn to her right. Eowyn smiled and moved closer, but the doe would allow no more space between them as she took off into the woods, her fawn in tow.
"Do not worry, she runs from all, including myself." Eowyn turned to watch as a young man with long blonde hair moved from behind a tree.
She gasped instantly recognizing the elf before her. But it had been so long… She had thought he had gone to explore Fangorn forest, as well as the Glittering caves of Helms Deep with Gimli.
"Welcome Lady of Ithilien," He said, moving towards her with such grace only he could possess; his eyes intense and his blonde hair blowing lightly in the wind.
"My Prince and Lord Legolas," Eowyn said bowing lowly before the elf.
He smiled but motioned for her to stand with him. She stood, but for some reason could not raise her eyes to meet his. "And what could the Lady of Ithilien possibly be doing here?"
Gathering her courage she raised her head, her eyes finding his. "King Aragorn has sent me here as a request," she said offering the letter up to the elf before her. He contemplated her a moment before taking the letter from her hand. He opened it quickly turning his back on her as he read for a moment pacing back and forth before her.
"Legolas my dear friend I hope you are well. I have a request of you and your people for I have no where else to turn. Since the passing of Captain Faramir our Lady has found no peace or strength within her own broken heart. I am sending her into your care in hopes that it will do her well, and bring her back from this path of darkness that captures her spirit. I know it is a large request, but I know if anyone can do so, it is you. Be well my friend. Aragorn"
His eyes seemed to fill with something she could not place and then he was before her again; his expression changed and somewhat calculating.
"I will honor Lord Aragorn's request, but I also suggest you do as well," he said, eyes boring into hers.
She felt as though her breath was caught in her throat. She had seen those eyes somewhere…But she could not place them; those electric blue eyes that seemed to pierce through her and into her very soul. Catching her breath she turned her back to him, a cold shiver running down her spine. "I shall honor the request of my King and Queen," she said clutching the velvet closer to her trying to gather warmth from its thick material. "I am a servant to my King and to his wishes. I am in your care my Lord."
Legolas studied her for a moment. "Very well, I will hold you to that." Eowyn nodded and turned from him, though she could feel his eyes still boring into her back. "Aragorn has trusted me to keep watch of you, so it will be done." He moved away from her and over the stone bridge and to the woods. "Come."
Eowyn glanced up and nodded following the Elf back to the colony.
"You will be moved to chambers that better suit you," Legolas stated waving to a passing elf and her daughter. "The healing room is no place for the Lady of Ithilien. I will have my attendant prepare a room for you that better fits your stature."
"Please do not call me that…" she whispered stopping in her tracks her eyes glaring menacingly at the ground beneath her; almost if accusingly. "That is not who I am…That is not my name."
"The title is yours, Lady," Legolas said stopping and turning to her. "It is..."
"It is…something of the past and only that," Eowyn said eyes turning up to him. And for the second time in his life Legolas witnessed the hurt and pain in her eyes. "Faramir was to be ruling prince of Ithilien and I his wife and lady. But that is but a dream of something long since past. There is no Lady of Ithilien. Only a shield-maiden of Rohan stands before you now."
Legolas said nothing and turned his back to her. Her pain and suffering was causing him much trouble. Not since Faramir's death had he felt anything so strong and heart wrenching. Human emotions were truly a force to be reckoned with. "Very well…shield-maiden of Rohan…Follow me."
Hearing it upon his lips stabbed at her heart, yet she welcomed back her old title and the new pain that came with it. She was no longer to be the Lady of Ithilien. Closing her eyes she followed the Elf Prince to her new destination.
He sat in silence, his eyes watching the Doe and the fawn graze before him. He had found her in the trap of an orc, her fawn only a few feet away. He had saved her and her baby and brought her to this safe haven. Yet, even though he had been kind to her and had spared her life, she refused to come to him as all the other woodland creatures did. On sight she would take off her fawn constant at her side.
He sat in the gazebo, shielded from her view. Every now and then she was raise her head sensing him, but would go back to her grazing. The war that had come and gone had made many creatures like such. Many whom enjoyed the company of the elves no longer lingered in their presence. He had founded this colony in Ithilien to restore what had been damaged. And so far, the progress was paying off. The elves that had remained behind had migrated to Ithilien to live in peace. Mortal men and women also came to visit these calming lands to peace of mind. Yet, not all here was peaceful.
"Such pain you hold deep in your heart; a deep and painful air you hold around you…" Standing, the doe instantly caught his attention and took off. "As the deer is weary from its journey so are you. Trust is something you must learn once again."
Aragorn had given him a task to help the shield-maiden, yet even Legolas was unsure if there was much he could do. Elves were known to be able for their medicine and their healings, yet… what could be done for a heart that needed so much mending? What kind of medicine was there? Sighing inwardly, he moved to the wooden railing of the gazebo resting his hands on the finely sanded wood. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so unsure about something. Perhaps when he had but been a child… Shaking his head he glanced up to the woods before him, the wind blowing gently through his hair. "I'm… I'm not sure I can attend to the task before me…How can I do something of which I do not fully understand the problem?"
The wind suddenly picked up drawing his attention to the woods his blue eyes gazing upon a lone white figure moving towards him gracefully.
"You could have just asked you know…"
It was coming and she could not stop it. Turning, she ran; ran for her life like she had never run before. Yet it was gaining on her and she felt as though her heart was going to burst from her chest. Running through the woods she could hear it gaining on her, its heavy footsteps pounding the ground beneath her. Moving out of the woods she stopped short stopping just before a large canyon. Rubble fell at her feet and she watched the rock fall to what seemed an endless bottomless pit. A branch snapping brought her back and she turned around to see a dark figure moving towards her clad in black, a long sword drawn. Backing up she could feel her heels at the edge of the canyon, no place to turn.
"Who are you, I demand to know!" Eowyn yelled, the wind whipping her hair in every which way.
The figure said nothing but continued towards her extending its hand at her.
"Stay back! Don't come any closer!"
For a moment the figure stopped, almost studying her before once again advancing. Raising its arm Eowyn screamed, dodging the blade as it came down.
"Stop!" she cried dodging another blow, this time however tripping on jagged rock and stumbling off the edge. Feet dangling into the abyss Eowyn found herself gripping the edge for dear life. "I beg you! Stop this madness!"
"You wish it to end...?" the cloaked figure asked raising its sword again. "Then die… Die and end this suffering that blackens your heart." The figure raised a hand to its hood and slowly pulled it off, releasing long blonde curly locks framing a pale face. Eowyn gasped as she stared into the light blue eyes of herself. "Too long have we suffered…Why not end this pain now? Why not end it all and free ourselves from this wretched world. That is what you want, isn't it?" She lowered her sword and knelt down to Eowyn reaching out her hand. "Come to me… Let us end it all… Come…I know you wish for nothing more…"
"I do not wish it …" Eowyn cried tears welling in her eyes. "I do not wish to die…"
"Do not lie to yourself my Lady… You have wished for nothing more since your beloved went on to be with his fathers. All the wickedness you have spoke into the darkness…All the terrors in your very heart… There is nothing left for us here… Let us go together to find him."
"Not like this…" Eowyn whispered, biting her lower lip. "No! Not like this!" Anger pulsing through her, she slapped the hand before her away, slipping further off the edge.
A tear ran down the woman's cheek before her, a look of sorrow crossing her pale features. Withdrawing her hand and standing, she gripped the sword and raised it again. "There is no other way… Die now…"
The sword came down and Eowyn released the stone falling into the canyon. "HELP ME!" Falling… falling… falling… falling…
"Help me!" Eowyn cried jerking from a deep sleep. "Someone help me! Oh God someone please!" Raising a clammy hand in desperation, she felt a strong yet warm hand grasp her own tightly, and pulling her close. "Don't let me fall! Please don't let me fall!" Her body shook uncontrollably and her grip tightened. "Please…I don't want to die…"
"Lady Eowyn, waken now... Waken from this nightmare!"
His voice was stern yet gentle. Glancing up to the one before her she found her eyes fixed upon two shining blue orbs, staring back at her, a look of question and slight discomfort within them. Quickly he looked away from her, but stroked her hair softly offering what comfort he could give. She felt her body begin to calm, as she broke down into soft sobs. "I can't do this anymore…I can't… I can't bare this loss anymore. The toll on my heart is tearing me in two. It's…oh God…What am I going to do...?"
Legolas said nothing yet continued to stroke her hair lightly, hoping he was in some way helping. He wasn't used to human emotions and hadn't had many dealings with them since his time in the fellowship. But what he did know was that human emotions, especially a woman's were very delicate. And he wasn't about ready to go and do anything he would regret. Taking in a long heavy sigh he pulled away from her, hands gripping her shoulders. "For now… Rest."
"I can no more close my eyes, then see the darkness that dwells within my very heart," Eowyn whispered her small hands grasping the front of his robes. "It haunts me; even in my waking hours I find no peace of mind. A shadow is upon me that keeps a hold of very my very soul."
His hands moved from her shoulders to hers, pulling them from his front and holding them in his. "Then it is time to heal your soul shield-maiden of Rohan. No one can do this but you. I can help you along the way, but only you can break the shackles that hold you against your own will. For now though…" He pushed her back keeping her hands in his; his warmth spreading through her like warm liquid fire. Head falling back to its pillow, he released her hands, and moved one to her forehead and the other back to her shoulder. "Sleep."
"But I…"
"No more now… Sleep."
And then she heard it; a sweet melody filling the room. And instantly she felt her body relax and calm. Her nerves seemed to go limp and her eyes grow heavy. Glancing up at the Elf Prince she watched him sing his song, his face filled with such passion and grace. Never on earth had she heard such a sweet and harmonious tune. It was like an angel had come down from the heavens. His voice was nor low or high; nor old or young. It was perfect. She could feel her eyes begin to grow heavy and she sighed for the first time in content. She hadn't felt so relaxed in what seemed like ages. "You won't go will you…?" she asked eyes closing was utter exhaustion.
"Until you no longer need me…I will stay."
He continued his song long after the shield maiden had drifted off to sleep. He sang his endearments to the stars, the moon, the trees and all life about him. For all was precious in life, and he was going to make sure that she, the shield-maiden of Rohan understood.
Muwah! It's a little different from the first chapter… BUT… there is a reason behind it. Hope you enjoyed chapter 2! Please R/R!!
P.S. Thanks for the reviews!! )
