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Rated M for violence and sexual encounters
Disclaimer: The characters all belong to the master Tolkien and this is only being written for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours. No money or profit involved
A Cage of a Different Kind
Chapter 10
Eomer had been thrilled to find Eowyn healthy upon his return. He had not been as thrilled with her constant vigilance over Legolas. His first inclination had been to revert back to his former behavior and try to exert his will over his sister but he could not forget his regret and anxiety when Eowyn had lain ill. So he did his best to control his temper. He had also noticed the attention that Faramir was giving his sister and when the son of the former steward had come to speak on Eowyn's behalf, that had given him an idea. Catching up with Faramir one day he had broached the subject of Eowyn and had been heartened by the warm response. He had continued to cultivate a friendship with him and finally he took an opportunity and boldly asked Faramir what his intentions were towards his sister.
"What do you mean?" Faramir was taken aback by the question.
"You and she have gotten quite close. Are you planning on asking for her hand in marriage?" Eomer asked.
"She is in love with Legolas, she would not accept even if that was my wish." Faramir stammered.
"The elf may not ever wake up. Even if he does, his family will never allow him to marry her. I will never allow her to marry him." Eomer stated staring at Faramir.
Faramir was distinctly uncomfortable with this conversation but his heart could not stop the excitement welling up. "I care very much for your sister and if there was any chance of her agreeing, I would gladly make her my wife." The words left his mouth before he could even think twice and he tried to get a hold of himself. He knew Eowyn well enough to know that she would not be told what to do. "Still, if both families were dead set against their union, why shouldn't he make his feelings known?"
A smile spread across Eomer's face. This is exactly what he wanted to hear. An alliance with Gondor would only strengthen Rohan and Faramir was much more to his taste than any elf, even a prince. "I willingly give my permission and blessings. I will speak to my sister and the King with all haste. Do not fear my lord, your betrothal will be announced soon." "Now on to the next step!" Eomer thought with excitement.
Faramir could not wipe the smile off his face, so why did he suddenly feel so nervous?
Aragorn shook his head as he left his steward to find more "suitable" quarters for Legolas. Thranduil had insisted he be moved to larger quarters so he could stay by his son's side comfortably. Aragorn sighed regretting his decision to come back to speak with Legolas' father without the support of Elrond. He knew that his friend would have been very unhappy if he had been awake, for pretense had never been a part Legolas' personality. Aragorn sighed out loud, he just wanted to make the King of Mirkwood as happy as he could. Perhaps Thranduil could discern why his son was still ailing for all others had failed so far.
He was startled from his thoughts by the voice of the King.
"Who was that woman sitting with Legolas this morning?" Thranduil asked almost as an after thought.
"That was Eowyn. She is the sister of the new King of Rohan." Aragorn responded with caution, knowing where this conversation was probably going.
"She is mortal." He continued with distain. Suddenly he stopped and turned his full attention onto the now distinctly uncomfortable ranger. "She does not have designs on my son I would hope!"
"Ah, your Majesty, I am not the one to speak to what their relationship may be. I do know that Legolas found much comfort through the last few difficult months with her and she with him. She has not left his side for more than a few hours since he was brought here."
"I do not wish to have her around any longer. Find something else for her to do." He said dismissively. "Obviously, she is not doing him any good. He should be up and around by now, not laying there as near to death as he was weeks ago!"
"Thranduil, you cannot possibly blame Legolas' condition on Eowyn. She is nothing but..." Aragorn's anger was barely suppressed as he tried to talk some sense into the prejudiced elf before him but Legolas' father interrupted him.
"You heard me Aragorn. I will not be gainsaid." He whirled around and spoke briefly to two of his guards who took up residence outside the door of Legolas' room.
Thranduil resumed his vigil by his son's bed, effectively dismissing Aragorn.
The soon to be king just shook his head as he went to find Eowyn and soften this latest blow.
Hours later a very worried Eowyn was wandering the corridors looking for her love. Suddenly she spotted some elves in Mirkwood colors. "Why had they moved him and why were they guarding the door to his chamber?" She wondered as she made her way purposefully down the hallway. Aragorn intercepted her just in time.
"Eowyn, come with me, we need to speak." he said keeping his voice low, he took her by the elbow and swung her back around, heading back the way she had come.
"What are you doing Aragorn? I need to be with Legolas." she exclaimed in bewilderment, trying to disengage her arm from the persistent ranger.
"Not now Eowyn. I don't know if Legolas ever told you much about his father, but he is not the easiest elf to get along with and since Legolas' condition remains unchanged...he has been even worse."
"I just want to sit with him surely that is not a problem?"
"Under normal circumstances, no, that would not be a problem. Unfortunately, these are not normal circumstances."
"But I must be there when he awakens Aragorn?" Eowyn pleaded.
"I am so sorry Eowyn but that is just not possible right now." Aragorn looked at her apprehensively, expecting the blowup.
Just then, Faramir came around the corner, his face lighting up upon seeing Eowyn.
"Faramir." Aragorn said with relief, noting the man's pleasure at seeing Eowyn and hoping the distraction would save him. "Please take Eowyn down to the dining hall. It has been days since she has had a decent meal."
Both parties looked stunned by the statement but Faramir seemed to recover the quickest.
"Of course my lord." He replied with a slight bow of respect.
"Aragorn, I have no intention…." Eowyn started saying.
"Then make sure she gets to her chamber and gets a good night's sleep. She needs to be fresh for tomorrow's festivities." Aragorn continued.
"I will do my best," he answered as look of doubt shaded his handsome face. "But as you well know, my Lady does what she pleases.
"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and right now, I wish to see Legolas." Eowyn demanded nearly stomping her foot in annoyance.
"I have no doubt of that my lady, but I ask you in all sincerity, as a friend, please do as I have requested. I cannot handle any more stress right now. Have pity on me." Aragorn pleaded, using his best puppy dog eyes and hoping she would not simple ignore him.
Eowyn started to say no, then hesitated, looking at the poor man. He had always had a disheveled appearance but right now he looked absolutely harried and exhausted. "Can I really refuse his simple request in the light of all that he is dealing with at the moment?" She drew herself up to her full height and finally took Faramir's arm. "Since you put it that way Aragorn, I shall comply with your wishes. I have not seen Lord Faramir for far too long and it will be nice to catch up with him."
Faramir's face broke into a wide smile at that.
"But please, promise me that you will let me know if there is any change in Legolas' condition."
"You have my word Eowyn." Aragorn bowed slightly as he rushed off, pleased that he had avoided the situation for a short while.
Eowyn allowed Faramir to guide her to the dining hall where they shared a pleasant meal, catching each other up on the current happenings of the castle. With the coronation but a day away, there was much going on.
Eomer happened by and had a hard time hiding his delight at seeing the two of them together. "It was about time she left that elf's side." he thought. "Now to talk to Aragorn."
Eomer caught up with the soon to be King later that afternoon. "Perhaps the preparations for tomorrow will distract him and work to my advantage." he thought as he begged for a few minutes of Aragorn's time.
"If you can make it quick" Aragorn responded to Eomer's query.
"I need to get your approval on a marriage proposal for Eowyn." Eomer began.
"What are you talking about? Do we really need to discuss that now?" Aragorn frowned, puzzled and wondering where this was going.
"Faramir wishes to have her hand in marriage and I wish him to have it." Eomer said.
"That is all well and good, but what does Eowyn wish?"
Just then, one of the stewards came up and pulled Aragorn aside for a moment.
Eomer smiled, pleased by the distraction. When Aragorn turned back to him, he continued.
"They get along quite well and have gotten to know each other intimately during their recovery."
Aragorn raised his eyebrows. "Intimately eh, but I thought she cared for Legolas"
"She does, but we all know that his father will never approve a marriage between them, neither will I for that matter. It is best this way. Rohan will forge a strong alliance with Gondor. This match will strengthen both lands."
Aragorn thought for a moment, his conversation earlier with Thranduil fresh in his mind. Perhaps it would be best for Legolas and Eowyn to stop this before anyone got hurt. "You have made a sound argument but I wish Eowyn to have her heart's desire, not what we desire for her."
"Then you approve of this match if Eowyn agrees?" Eomer asked, a sly smile appearing on his face.
Again Aragorn was pulled away for a moment. He turned and called back over his shoulder as he rushed off. "Yes, you have my approval."
"By order of the High King" Eomer thought, well pleased by his latest accomplishment. Things were working out just as he wanted and now he needed to move on to the next phase for the elf king could be the key to his plan's success.
Thranduil had not left his son's side for the last few hours. His best healers had worked over Legolas trying to find the reason for his lack of healing.
"It was a very severe wound my lord, and there seems to be a potent poison at work as well. I have given him a stimulant to see if he will awaken." said Brenan, the head healer from Mirkwood.
"That will not harm him, will it?" Thranduil demanded.
"I do not think so my lord. We need to get some clues, perhaps Legolas himself can shed some light on the problem" Brenan replied. "What harm can we do at this point your majesty?"
Thranduil sadly agreed and softly shook Legolas. "Return to us ion nin. We need to talk."
Legolas started to grow restless and Thranduil kept talking to him, begging him to wake up.
Legolas struggled towards consciousness, his pain increasing with each moment.
"Ada?" a weak raspy voice said from the bed followed by coughing.
"Quick! Get him some water." Thranduil ordered as he took his ailing son in his arms.
"Ada, ahhh!" he gasped from the pain. He looked around in a daze. "Where am I? Where is Eowyn? Are Aragorn and Gimli okay?" Legolas questioned as he took a few sips of water to ease his parched throat.
"Legolas, you are back in Gondor, Aragorn and Gimli are fine. In fact, Aragorn's coronation is tomorrow." Thranduil answered, carefully avoiding any mention of Eowyn.
"What? Have I been asleep? How long? Ai!" a hiss of pain once again escaped from his lips as he attempted to rise. His hand flew to his stomach and he gasped as he was gently laid back down by his father. "I remember shooting the troll. Then I think there was a huge eagle. Aragorn must have brought me here..." and Eowyn was being held by Faramir." he thought to himself. "Was I dreaming?"
"Is that why you are here Ada, Aragorn's coronation?" Legolas asked weakly, his eyelids beginning to close. The darkness beckoned to him once again and Legolas' weary body wanted to escape the burning pain.
"That and you ion nin." Thranduil responded. "but we can discuss that later. Right now we need to know how you feel."
"Fine" He said softly as his eyelids slid shut again. "Please find Eowyn Ada."
Thranduil pretended not to have heard his son's request. "Please, do not attempt to hide anything. You have been unconscious these past two weeks and your wound is not healing. We need to find out why!"
"Two weeks!" Legolas started fully awake and suddenly felt ill. He could not suppress the nausea rising from his stomach. His father quickly rolled him on his side, a basin was shoved under his chin and he cried out in pain as he heaved what little was in his stomach.
Thranduil rubbed his back as he continued to dry heave. Finally he was able to ease him back onto his back and calm him.
Tears ran down the sides of his face. "I don't feel well Ada." he said, sounding much like the young elfling Thranduil remembered.
Brenan leaned down and gently began asking Legolas about his symptoms. "Do you feel a burning sensation anywhere? Is the pain more of an ache or needles and pins? The questioning went on until Legolas could not keep his eyes open any longer. Finally he fell into darkness once again.
"That gives me a little something to go on." Brenan said. "I really think we need to get him back to Mirkwood. There are some books there that I think will shed some light on this. I also don't think this stone monstrosity is helping him any. He needs nature, trees..." his voice trailed off.
"I agree Brenan. I will make the arrangements. Do you think he will be able to survive the trip? Thranduil asked worriedly.
"What do we have to lose?" Beran replied sadly.