Ahh-Chew: Hey guys! Thanks to all the reviewers for their comments and opinions. Also, many thanks to my beta for checking my last few chapters of this story. So, here comes the hard part. Alex and Legolas are starting to realize that they feel for each other more than just friends. But as always – something gets in the way.
WARNINGS: I do realize that some of my words seem to come together in the middle of a sentence. They usually end up looking like this: "inthe" or "receivinggold" – trust me, on the preview thing on this site, they aren't there! I can't fix them if I can't see them, sorry in advance!
DISCLAIMER: Come on! You should really know this by now, my friends.
Chapter 9: Trying Times in Edoras
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What an episode that was. Alex awoke the next morning to the sound of people mumbling and muttering outside her door or at least down the hall. At first everyone's words seemed to slur together, but as she came into a more aware state of consciousness, she could separate the voices to that of Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn. Alex slid from the covers of her bed and tip-toed over to the door and pressed her now pointed ear against it.
"Aragorn, I do not think it wise to have Alex come with us." That was Legolas' voice. Come with them? Where in Middle-Earth were they going to go now? And why shouldn't she come – she had followed them this far, hadn't she?
"That decision is not yours to make, Elf." Alex inwardly groaned. Gimli only used that tone and name for Legolas when he was particularly pissed about something.
"Legolas, we cannot leave her behind. She has followed us this far – what is to stop her now?" Whoa, that was cool. It was like Aragorn could read her mind. Well, it was good to know that he was on her side – on whatever they were fighting over.
"It is not safe. I do not want her in unnecessary danger." Why was Legolas so intent on keeping her behind? What could be so dangerous that she couldn't handle?
"Danger? Elf, she has been in danger every day since our departure from Rivendell." Gimli hissed.
"I want her to stay here. Aragorn, do you not understand?" Legolas said pleaded. Alex heard a sigh, and she guessed that it came from a very frustrated and tired Aragorn.
"I do understand, my friend. But Gimli speaks the truth – it is not our decision." Aragorn said tiredly.
"Besides, who is to say that this place will be safe for long?" Gimli questioned. "If we leave her here and she were to come to harm – then what, Elf?" Alex frowned as she continued to listen. Why were they so keen on this subject?
"I – I…" Legolas didn't even finish as his voice trailed off. Gimli grunted and Aragorn sighed.
"She is safer with us. She would think it a betrayal if I were to leave her." Gimli grunted out. Alex smiled gently; Gimli knew her well. She would think of it as a betrayal if he were to leave suddenly without her.
"Yes, she cares deeply for Gimli. Another reason she would want to follow us. Even to the bloodiest of battles." Aragorn answered. Alex heard footsteps, and by the sound of the light footfall, she could tell they were Aragorn's and slowly they faded away. Silence cast over the remaining two, Alex had the feeling they were glaring at each other.
"Why do you want her to stay so badly, Elf?" Gimli questioned softly. It was a while before Legolas answered.
"I want to ensure her safety." Legolas muttered.
Alex heard a gruff sigh come from Gimli before he answered, "As do we all. She is very precious to us." Alex shut her eyes and placed a hand over her mouth to keep from making any noise. Something like that from Gimli – especially said in front of Legolas – was something to cherish.
"Surely that cannot be the only reason." Gimli questioned.
"It is not." Legolas answered quickly.
Alex heard as Gimli shifted his weight, his chain-mail chimed with the movement, "What is your other reason?"
"I care for her. She is my kin – I want her to see the best of this world – not the dark side." Legolas answered after a few moments of silence. Alex pulled away from the door slightly. Why was Legolas so intent on not only keeping her safe, but also the wanting her to see this world? It wasn't like she wasn't going to see it after this war.
That was it.
He thought she wasn't going to make it through the war. He was afraid that she was going to die in this world without seeing it or exploring its wonders. Alex smiled and pulled away from the door completely. She turned and returned to her bed. She'd wait until they were gone. Maybe another half of an hour or so before making an appearance.
-
Well, it wasn't exactly a half of an hour when she finally came out of her room, but boredom started to get the best of her. She pulled on a shimmering, light baby blue dress that didn't cover her shoulders as much as she liked. Her sleeves ended a little past her hands with her ring and necklace glinting in the light. She slipped from her room unnoticed and walked out of the Hall unnoticed.
Well – no – that was a lie. As Alex passed the Hall, Gandalf and King Theoden spotted her. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli had their backs to her, and she motioned to Gandalf and Theoden to keep quiet. Gandalf smiled and leaned over to Theoden, who chuckled as if Gandalf had told him something amusing.
She waved her thanks and dashed out of the Hall before one of the guys got the sudden urge to turn around and look. Not that she didn't enjoy the guys' company, but there were times when a woman like herself needed some time off from the men in her life. At first, she wandered around the little village. She waved in greeting to the villagers, but they turned away from her or ignored her as she passed.
Must've been the damn ears.
Waving to the soldiers she spotted, she continued her trek around the place. They – weirdly enough – waved back enthusiastically, she smiled at them. Honestly, men were so weird. A wave or a smile from a woman and they thought she was interested. She quickly moved away from them and found herself at the stables.
"It is you." Alex blinked and turned her attention to the little boy at her side. Barely reaching her forearm, he was small but looked to be around the age of eleven or twelve at least. Dirt and spots of mud covered his skin here and there. He had big blue eyes, dirty blond hair, and the fifth cutest face she had ever seen. Next to her hobbits, of course. She smiled down at him and he blushed and bowed to her.
"Forgive me, milady. I did not mean to be rude – I just – I have never laid eyes on elven kind before." He stuttered. Alex chuckled and patted his head. Then she touched his chin and pulled his face up, his blush even more evident. Why couldn't her world have boys like this, with manners and respect?
"And who are you, my fine young man?" Alex asked gently. His eyes widened slightly and his blush faded as he finally regained control of his motor skills.
"Tarem, son of Tarius." He replied.
"Tarem, that's a nice name. What are you doing here, Tarem?" Alex questioned. Tarem motioned to the horse behind him. She looked up at the horse. The poor thing was blind in one eye, having it colored a pale blue like her dress, and scarred all over his face. His deep red coat was shining and glinting in the light coming in from the windows in the stables. She smiled and reached for his nose. The horse seemed to stand taller and held an air of pride as Alex patted his nose.
"You are amazing, milady." Tarem whispered from behind her. She turned to look at him and offered him a crooked smile.
"Why's that?" Tarem came up and touched the horse's neck from over the little door that kept the horse back.
"He has not allowed anyone to pet him since the death of my father." Alex's hand stopped in mid stroke. She smiled sadly and turned to Tarem, her hand once again patting the horse's nose.
"I'm sorry, when did he die?" Tarem turned to his horse with a grim look.
"A few months ago. He was cut down by orcs, the same fate as Prince Theodred." Alex nodded in understanding. Tarem pulled back and stepped into the stable, retrieving a brush and offering it to her.
"Would you like to comb him, milady? He seems to enjoy your touch." Alex smiled brightly and took the offered brush. She stepped around Tarem, placed the brush on the horse's shoulders, and pulled back to his rear end. Tarem watched for a while, probably to make sure the horse didn't attack. When he was satisfied that it wouldn't, he jumped up and took a seat behind her, on the wall separating the horses.
"What is your name, milady?" Alex nearly smacked her forehead when she realized that she hadn't told Tarem her name.
"It's Alexandria. And none of that lady stuff." Alex said sternly. Tarem chuckled.
"If it is not rude to question, Alexandria, but that other elf that came with you – is he your husband?" Alex snorted and dropped her head onto the horse's back while trying to control her laughter lest she started having a snorting fit. Once she controlled it she lifted her head up and glanced at Tarem.
"No, Tarem. He isn't." Tarem nodded his head and asked no more.
Alex went around to the other side of the horse, "What's his name?" Tarem looked up.
"He is named Calcifer." Alex smiled and turned to Calcifer, patting his face.
"What a fierce name. You must be a brave horse." Alex whispered to him. Calcifer neighed and clicked his hooves on the ground. Alex looked up to see an elderly woman standing on the other side of the stable door. Alex was silent and still as the woman's eyes roamed over her. Judging her.
"Who are you, my lady?" Alex smiled faintly at the sound of the woman's voice. It was old sounding, and cracked every so often. The woman's face wasn't overly wrinkled, but enough to give Alex the sense of 'grandma.'
"I am Alexandria of Lothlorien. I take it you are Tarem's grandmother?" Alex questioned gently as she started to brush Calcifer's coat once again. The woman laughed and nodded her head. Alex watched as the woman waved her hand, and Tarem jumped from his seat and stood by her side.
Alex acted as if she couldn't hear what they were whispering as the woman whispered to Tarem, "Tell King Theoden's elven guest that we have found his companion." Alex did her best to hold back her laughter. Legolas was looking for her. She could see it now: his dashing around frantically in search of his missing 'companion.'
Tarem scurried away, and the woman turned her attention back to Alex, "You heard." The woman stated with a grin as she filled Calcifer's bucket of water.
"I did. I'm sorry." Alex answered sheepishly. The woman waved it away and smiled.
"I am not like my grandson. I have had the pleasure of meeting elves. Wonderful creatures, you are." Alex smiled and thanked the woman as she went about her chores for Calcifer, leaving Alex to groom him in peace. Once that was done, she set down the last bail of hay and bid Alex a fond farewell.
"Wait!" The woman turned with a tired smile to Alex and waited patiently for her to continue.
"What's your name?" Alex asked.
"I am Maril, Lady Alexandria." Alex nodded in thanks and watched as Maril made her way back to her home. Tarem followed shortly after speaking to his grandmother, this time low enough for Alex not to hear. Tarem nodded his head at his grandmother and walked back toward Alex, a smile on his face.
"Alexandria, my grandmother has offered you a gift." Tarem said happily. Alex looked up from Calcifer's red coat and nodded for Tarem to continue.
"She wishes for you to have Calcifer." Alex dropped her brush and looked at Tarem in shock.
"What? Why? Surely this horse is way too important to give up. She barely knows me." Alex argued. Tarem smiled sadly and patted Calcifer's thick neck.
"Aye, that is all true, but what is important to us is his happiness. He has seen enough of war; he deserves a new good life." Tarem said sternly. Alex stared at Tarem as his hands ran over Calcifer's broad neck on both sides. Tarem smiled up at the horse's good eye.
"You are an elf, there is no one better whom to give him to." Tarem said. His gaze not wavering from Calcifer's, "He is loyal, and strong. He is a good horse. Take care of him. Farewell, Lady Alexandria." And with one final pat on Calcifer's nose, Tarem disappeared from the stables, leaving Alex with her new horse. Alex's thoughts twisted in her head as she bent down to retrieve the comb and continued combing Calcifer. Why give her the horse? What was so trusting about her that would make a mother give up her son's horse?
Exactly. Her son's horse. Her dead son's horse.
Maril didn't want something around that would renew the pain of losing her son. And if she were to guess, Tarem probably looked a lot like his father. That made the memory all the more painful when her grandson rode the horse. Well then, she might as well cherish this gift. Eowyn had told her Rohirrim literally worshipped their horses, and to give away a prized one – that was like receiving riches to these people.
"There you are, my friend." Alex was startled out of her thoughts as Legolas rushed into the stables. Alex snorted and whispered to Calcifer softly, "This is the one you should worry about." Calcifer neighed and snorted as Legolas came near them. Legolas smiled at Calcifer and turned his attention to Alex, leaning on the little door of Calcifer's stable.
"What are you doing here?" Legolas questioned. Alex snickered as a few of the villagers slipped by with confused looks. Alex continued her brushing on the other side of Calcifer, having a better view of Legolas.
"I'm grooming my new horse. He was given to me as a gift from one of the villagers." Alex answered quickly. Legolas nodded in understanding and patted Calcifer's nose.
"What is his name, my kin?" Legolas said softly. Alex smiled; she didn't know what it was, but whenever Legolas used a name like that when addressing her – it made falling in love with him that much quicker.
"He's named Calcifer. It's probably because of his red coat." Legolas nodded his head as Alex finally set the brush down. Calcifer neighed happily and affectionately nudged her on the shoulder. She chuckled and stepped out of the stable, now taking a stand next to Legolas and watched as Calcifer ate.
"Can you help me? Take care of him, I mean. I've never owned a horse before." Alex admitted sheepishly. Legolas grinned and nodded his head in agreement. Calcifer snorted and touched his nose to Legolas' chest, a happy greeting.
"They say you were looking for me." Alex stated. Legolas cleared his throat, making her snort in amusement. Legolas glared at her playfully down from his height.
"I was. You were not in your room." Alex laughed.
"You can't keep me locked away forever, you know. I have to get hurt once and a while." Alex said jokingly. Legolas' look was anything but joking as he looked down at her. He offered his arm silently, and she accepted, patting Calcifer farewell on his nose. Legolas walked her out of the stables and away from the eyes of the villagers. He led her up the Golden Hall stairs but not inside. Instead he steered off to the side, the edge overlooking the plains of Rohan.
And there they stood. Until finally Legolas spoke up, "Why must you insist on getting hurt?" He whispered. Why was she getting the sense of déjà vu? Oh – that's right. This was just like the time in Lothlorien, when they were overlooking the archers.
"I don't insist on it, but it happens when I travel with a group like ours." She answered. She noticed that his arm was still wrapped around hers in a strong hold. He wasn't letting go anytime soon.
"Alex…I spoke with Aragorn and Gimli –"
"I know – I heard you." Legolas looked at her briefly before turning back to the plains.
"Then you know of what we spoke of." He said stiffly. Alex nodded her head.
"Yes, and I wonder why. Why do you want to leave me behind?" Legolas sighed heavily.
"I wish to keep you safe. Is that too strong of a request?" Legolas said turning to her. She glanced at him but faced the plains.
"For me it is. You know that if you left me behind –"
"You would follow – I know that." He finished for her; he smiled softly and touched her face. She finally turned to face him. "You would not stay – even if we asked it of you?" He whispered. She growled quietly. Why was he trying to get rid of her? Why was he so keen on making sure she wasn't hurt? Didn't he understand that no matter where she was she would be in danger?
"Why would you ask me something like that?" She whispered to him. He smoothed his hands over her cheeks, under her chin, and over her eyebrows before answering.
"I do not want to lose you so soon. Not when this world remains a mystery to you." Again with the whole thing about seeing the world before she died in some horrible accident or in battle. She hated this. Why did he have to treat her like she was made of glass?
"I will see this world, Legolas. When I have done my part in this war." She answered strongly. "Why must you treat me like I'm incapable of handling my own share? I'm not weak, Legolas!" Alex said fiercely. Legolas' face twitched ever so slightly.
Legolas pulled her hands up to his lips and kissed them softly, his apology, "I know you are not. You are the fieriest woman I have met. Your strength is not only in body – but your mind as well. Forgive me." He whispered, kissing her hands again.
"I only wish to have you see this world with me. I have much to discover also." He whispered. With that he kissed her forehead, bid her farewell, and walked away. She glared out into the plains and kicked a loose stone on the floor.
What the hell was his problem?
-
She stood out there for a few more minutes, just to avoid having another confrontation with Legolas. It was like every conversation they had always ended up stopping abruptly because one of them would become angry. It was times like these when she would hate Legolas very much.
That was when Gimli came into play.
She wandered around the Hall in search of Gimli and found him sitting at one of the tables with Aragorn, smoking his pipe. Legolas – thankfully – was no where in sight. She quickly walked over to them as one of the soldiers in the Hall started walking to her. She sighed in relief once she made it over to Aragorn and Gimli without any incident.
She sat down next to Gimli, facing Aragorn and gently laid her head on the table top. Gimli chuckled.
"What troubles you now, lassie?" Gimli asked. Alex lifted her head and placed it on top of her arms for comfort. Damn wooden table.
"Legolas." She answered.
"What has he done to you now?" Aragorn asked, pulling away his pipe. Alex sighed and pulled out her hair from the braid it was in, it started to feel really heavy. Once that was done, she glanced at Aragorn.
"He's only asked me to stay behind." Gimli growled, but Alex patted his shoulder before he could do anything. Like dismember a certain elf.
"Did you answer?" Aragorn pressed. Alex nodded her head as best she could.
"I said that he knew if I was left behind I would only follow some other way." Alex answered tiredly.
"I knew you would say that." Gimli grunted with pride. Alex smiled faintly. She turned to Aragorn with a frown.
"Why does he want to leave me behind so badly? I know he cares for me; I see it every time he looks at me." Alex couldn't tell what it was when Gimli and Aragorn shared a look. That couldn't be any good.
"Aye, lassie, he does care. Enough so that your safety is all that matters to him now." Gimli grunted. Aragorn nodded his head.
"One must wonder how much he really does care." Alex snorted and turned up to point an accusing finger at Aragorn.
"I don't like the way any of those statements sounded, my friends." She said with a bit of sarcasm. Aragorn smiled, and Gimli grunted beside her.
"Dense woman." Gimli whispered. Alex turned on him.
"I heard that, you know." Alex smiled brightly at him.
"Well, you are. Do you not see it?" Alex blinked and turned to Aragorn.
"I don't think I want to see it with the way you guys portray it." Alex muttered.
"Ask him yourself." Alex nodded and was going to lie back down when he continued, "Now." Alex shot up and turned around following Aragorn's gaze. And there he was, standing behind them. Her elven kin.
Legolas.
-
Legolas nodded to her as she pulled away from Aragorn and Gimli. She smiled faintly as she followed him towards her room. She glanced out of the windows to see that evening was giving way to night. She sighed and glanced at Legolas' back. What would this conversation lead to? Would she be able to tell him she was falling in love with him? Or would he tell her off for talking about his feeling behind his back?
"Alex?" Once again, Legolas started Alex out of her thoughts asthey stopped in front of her bedroom door. He held the door open, but she stood her ground and looked up at him. His eyes were dark, and his face was tight. He was probably pissed at them. At her. Alex held his gaze nonetheless.
"What is it you want to say to me?" Legolas asked stiffly. Alex felt as if the roles were turned on her. Wasn't she the one that was supposed to be mad? Wasn't she the one to be stiff and eager to leave the other's presence? Alex dropped her gaze to the ground and fingered her necklace.
Could she do it?
Could she tell him how she felt? Could she pass on her necklace to him, or would that be too dangerous? What would happen if he rejected her? Would she die of grief like Gandalf said? What if he didn't care for her that way and only wanted her safety because she was a friend. Because she was a woman.
That was it.
He didn't love her. He only cared for her because she was a woman. He thought she couldn't take care of herself. He thought she needed protecting. Hadn't she told him that she wasn't weak? She could certainly handle her own on a battle field. Alex clutched her necklace and glared up at Legolas.
"I don't have anything to say – thank you. Goodnight!" She hissed as she walked into her room, shutting the door roughly. She pulled off her dress and pulled on her sleeping gown. The nerve of some men!
"Alex?" Legolas voice floated in through the door. She debated whether or not to answer.
"What?" She finally said.
"Do not be angered." Legolas muttered. Alex snorted
"That's a strong request, Legolas." Alex growled. Legolas sighed.
"My mind was clouded with anger. Do not hold it against me, Alex." Legolas growled back.
"You and me both." Alex sighed and touched her forehead, "Now's not a good time to talk with us angry at each other. It'll only lead to shouting." Alex reasoned. Another sigh sounded from the other side of the room. Silence cast itself over her room as she finally loosened up and slipped into bed.
"…Forgive me. Goodnight, my kin." His footsteps faded away.
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Ahh-Chew: Argh, I hate this chapter. Too much of people being angry and frustrated, really not my style, but this was needed. So now what? What will happen between Alex and Legolas? Will she say anything? Or will she keep her thoughts to herself? I guess you'll just have to wait.
Review!
Laterz!
Ahh-Chew.
