Disclaimer: I do not own anything that Tolkien created. Ithilwen is my own character. Enjoy!
Sorry for the lack of update. I know it's been a little bit. I had a lot going on lately. I'll try and be more regular with the story. I can't promise anything though. Work is SUPER busy and at times I hit a block. I'm hoping once I get this one out I'll have more thoughts flowing. Here's chapter 3. I hope you enjoy!
I have to say...thank you so much for the reviews, follows, favorites, everything! I greatly appreciate them all. It makes me smile when I see the email symbol on my phone. Thank you so much! :)
Author's Note: Some of the events in the movie have been altered to fit the story.
Life Forged
Chapter 3
Author's Note: Ok...this chapter SUCKS! But I wanted to get through this small part and move on. I've been wanting to update for so long, but I've been stuck on it. After this chapter things should get so much better. I hope! :) This is just a filler chapter. Ithilwen and Legolas will have their confrontation very soon. Possibly in the next chapter.
Ithilwen knew she was unconscious, and while she was she was thinking back to times in her past.
"Ithilwen, come in and clean up, supper is ready," her mother called from out the front door of their small home. Ithiwlen turned from where she was, next to the barn, tending to her father's horse. She took great pride in caring for her father's horse while he was at home on leave from his duties in Gondor.
"I'll be there soon," she called back as she put the brush down. She turned to the beautiful brown horse and stroked his head, "I'll be back after supper to continue caring for you, I promise," she said before running off to the house. She quickly washed up and joined her parents for supper.
"Did you wash up properly?" her mother asked with a small smirk on her face as she set the food down on the table.
"Yes ma'am," she smiled. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't get away."
"Its alright my dear. Your father appreciates the care and attention you give that horse while he's home," she said as she joined them at the table.
"I do appreciate it my dear, greatly. You're doing a wonderful job helping me care for him," her father agreed with a smile on his face.
"I feel like we have this connection. We're connected somehow. I was petting him yesterday and it was almost as if I could see his journey from the other day, the wind flowing through his hair. It was the oddest thing. It was probably me just day dreaming," she laughed as she turned to look out the window at the horse.
Her mother and father both looked at each other with a certain look. It wasn't sadness or happiness either, it was fear. They knew things about her that she didn't even know about herself and what she told them made them fear for her well being.
Ithilwen's mother was beginning to become increasingly worried about her daughter. She knew that this beautiful woman that has grown up before her eyes wasn't truly her daughter, but she would always love her and care for her as her own. Seeing her grow from a baby, into the small toddler and little girl. She then saw her begin to transform into a young woman.
She was getting closer to the age when her life would forever change and she needed to know what she was and how her life was going to lead her down another path. Even though she knew Ithilwen needed to know she just couldn't bring herself to talk to her, because she knew deep down it would crush her.
As she thought about the life her daughter would have she saw Ithilwen running towards the house from the window she stood in front of. Something wasn't right. She could see the distraught look on her daughters face and knew something had happened.
Moments later Ithilwen was in the door and running towards her, "Oh my dear," she said as she heard her cries being muffled against her shoulder. "What is the matter?" she asked as she ran her hand through her daughter's hair.
Ithilwen tried to stop her tears as she hiccuped from the crying, "I was in town and a couple of boys were picking on me. I pushed one of them and thought I saw something. I told him if he didn't stop picking on me I would tell his mother he kissed Elizabeth behind his barn. He got mad and pushed me down onto the ground, and then they laughed at me."
"Oh sweetheart," she said soothingly as she held her. "Don't let what they say bother you."
"But they were so mean mama. They didn't care. They wanted to be mean," she cried.
"I know my dear, but you're stronger than they are. Don't let them get to you. You're a strong young lady. You're better than they are," she told her confidently.
Ithilwen pulled away and looked at her mother, tears still slowly flowing down her cheeks. "But what I said was true. I saw something, he did kiss Elizabeth. I don't know how I saw it, but it was the truth."
"I believe you my dear." She held her close to her as she thought about what Ithilwen just said, knowing that more clues were there signaling to her change, to her becoming a woman, and to her be in danger.
She wasn't waking up and that worried Legolas. He held her close to him hoping she would stir or open her eyes for just a moment, but she wasn't.
Legolas looked down upon her body as she laid in his arms. He didn't even pay attention to what transpired between Aragorn and the Rohirrim man. He didn't care about that. He didn't want to worry about that. He wanted to worry about the woman lying in his arms. The woman he loves. He never thought he'd love someone in his lifetime. No one seemed to push him towards marriage and the possibility of taking over the throne from his father. Did they expect him to continue without an heir? Did they expect him not to take the throne? He didn't know what others were expecting of him. At one time he would have turned it down, but if he had her by his side he'd rule until he sailed into the west.
As he looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms he thought about his future more and more. The future they would have together. He wanted her to make it through this. He wanted her to be safe, but the longer the journey took, the harder she suffered. Every time he saw her hurt it broke his heart just a little bit more.
Legolas thought back to everything that's transpired between him and Ithilwen. He thought about the dream he had the other day before they left Lothlorien.
Legolas was standing in a forest. He knew it was Mirkwood just by the feel of the trees, the smell in the air, and the overwhelming sensation of home that he had as he stood there. He looked around at the lush green trees, the beautiful grass carpeting the forest floor, and listened to the blissful sounds of nature.
He started walking slowly trying to figure out where he was. It didn't take him long. He wasn't far from where his family dwelt. There was a stream not far from his home that he would frequent and this was the way to that very stream. He walked slowly breathing in the air that made him smile. There were reasons why he loved this place, but reasons why he couldn't see himself living here. He knew there were choices that needed to be made.
He slowly walked closer towards the stream. The closer he got the more sound he heard. He wasn't sure who it was or what it was. He instinctively reached for his bow and arrow and realized he wasn't armed at all. He looked down and noticed he was in one of his nicer uniforms that he would wear in his father's presents.
The noises got a little bit louder and he headed closer to the stream. He heard laughing. A woman and a small child. His brows lowered in confusion as he crept closer. He got near a tree and stood half way behind it. What he saw surprised him and entranced him.
Legolas saw a woman standing near the water with her back to him and a small boy with blonde hair playing in the water. He was very young, but was full of life. He had a smile as bright as the sun and eyes as blues as...his.
He continued to watch the scene in front of him. The boy was enjoying the splash, feel, and joy of being in the water. He would splash, try and catch fish, pick up and throw several rocks. It was as if this was his first time in the stream. He couldn't help but smile as he watched the little boy.
While he watched the little boy the woman turned and his mouth fell open. It was Ithilwen. She was looking right at him with a smile on her face. "Legolas. Come join us," she called to him. As soon as the little boy heard her speak he stopped and looked, "Ada!" he yelled happily as he waved Legolas over.
That little boy was his son. He was in complete awe at what he was seeing. He then turned and looked at Ithilwen. She was amazingly beautiful, just as she always was. His love for her was even stronger now. As his eyes traveled down her body he saw that she was heavily pregnant again and he couldn't help but let his grin spread even more. This was his family, this was their home, this was his future.
Legolas opened his eyes and looked down at his love laying in his arms. In such a short amount of time he'd fallen for her and he wasn't sure how it happened. He wasn't one to think about falling in love or finding someone to share his life with. He knew things weren't going to be the same once she woke up. He couldn't forget what he saw with her and Boromir, but that still hadn't stopped his feelings that were growing for her.
After more disappointment and an unexpected surprise they were headed to Edoras with an extra companion. The day was full of surprises now. They got Ithilwen back and now Gandalf had returned.
Ithilwen felt herself stir awake as she laid down. She could feel her body laying down on something relatively soft. It was way better than the ground she had been laying on the past couple of days. Her mind than wandered back to what had happened the past few days. The fear...the hobbits...the pain. Her body was scared now in several more places. She didn't have anything to protect her anymore. The orcs were all around her, surrounding her, drooling over her, torturing her.
She whimpered in her sleep as the nightmares started to haunt her. The pain and fear that was inflicted on her as she traveled with the orc pack. Then her thoughts went to the nightmares that Sauron implemented in her mind as well. The love for Legolas was taken and tainted by force and pain. Then their growing love and happiness she wanted to share with her father was taken away so easily.
The more she became conscious the more pain she felt in her body, "Help," she got out in a whisper. Was he around? Was he the one that found her? Was he even searching for her? The last time they saw each other before she was taken he was angry with her. He had come upon her and Boromir at the wrong time. She knew Boromir wasn't himself and she was trying to help him. A few tears slipped from her eyes as the heart crushing look on his face flashed in her mind.
"Help...someone," she got out as she tried opening her eyes.
"Shhh...its ok my lady. Rest," a feminine voice came through the fog as she felt a small hand touch her arm gently.
"You're alright. Don't try and move to much. You're still healing from your injuries."
She turned her head back and forth as her eyes tried to open some more, "Where am I?" Her voice was groggy and she hurt.
"You're in Rohan. I'm Eowyn, niece of the King. I'll be right here caring for you my lady. Don't worry. You're in good hands," she explained with a small smile.
Ithilwen was finally able to open her eyes completely. She saw a young woman with beautiful red hair in front of her. She then looked around the room, taking in her surroundings. "I'm sorry it isn't much, but it will be what you need to help you rest."
"Thank you," she said quietly. "Who...uhhhh...who saved me?"
Eowyn looked down at her with a smile, "You came in with a group of travelers. A man, a wizard, a dwarf, and an elf."
Ithilwen turned and looked at Eowyn in shock. "Are they still here?"
"Yes my lady. They are staying here and are in council with the King," Eowyn answered as she got up and walked to the other side of the room. She got a cloth wet and came over to dab Ithilwen's head.
Ithilwen laid there and thought of Legolas. Her eyes welled with tears as she thought of the anger and hurt on his face. She couldn't face him. She couldn't face the rejection and anger towards her.
"My lady? Are you well?" Eowyn asked with worry on her voice.
"Yes...thank you," she told her softly as she closed her eyes a moment. "I'd really like to start moving around if possible, possibly wash up."
Eowyn gave her a caring smile, "Of course. Let me get the bath set up and I will help you." She got up and stepped out of the room.
Ithilwen turned her head to the side away from the door as she slightly cried to herself. How could she get herself into this? How could she face continuing this journey with Legolas after what she has done?
