AN: IF YOU ARE JUST COMING TO READ THE NEW CHAPTER, STOP NOW! I'VE REWRITTEN THE STORY! I'm sorry, but there are a lot of things added to the other chapters and I don't know if everything will flow well if you don't read the updated versions.
Part, the Second
Things Unleashed
Nearing the city of Edoras, Kagome looked over to Aragorn and addressed him for the first time since he'd teased her about her sleeping arrangements. It didn't help that Legolas didn't find anything embarrassing about the situation at all. In fact, he seemed quite pleased. Stupid Elf.
"Like déjà vu, huh?" she asked.
He sighed, but was glad she was speaking to him again. "Yes, and once more we come to go to war."
The group entered the city seeing the sorrowful faces of the villagers.
"There is more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli mumbled from his place in front of Gandalf.
Kagome smiled and looked up at a spot of white. Éowyn, shieldmaiden of Rohan, stood at the pinnacle of the city, watching the riders. The miko glanced to Aragorn, and saw him looking at the woman as well.
"I wager that is the White Lady of Rohan Éowyn, Théoden's niece," she stated, and saw Gandalf nod. When she looked back, Éowyn was gone.
Dismounting, Kagome held Kirara and followed the men up the stairs to the king's manor. At the top, they were met with the king's guard.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Gríma Wormtongue."
Gandalf's brows rose, but he nodded to the others. Kagome reluctantly handed a guard her bow, quiver and katana. Catching his arm, she turned her eyes to him, their vivid blue boring into the man.
"I will be back for these and they will be exactly as I left them, right?" she growled.
The man stuttered his agreement and stumbled away with her weapons. The group looked at her, amused, and watched as she shrugged. Legolas noted that she hadn't given up her hidden blades, making him smile.
"Your staff," the captain said to Gandalf.
The wizard looked surprised for a moment. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asked weakly, leaning on it.
The captain conceded and let them pass, with Gandalf holding Legolas' arm for support walking. Kagome smiled and walked into the hall beside Aragorn.
"I love it when he does his Jedi mind tricks," she whispered.
Aragorn gave her a sideways look and decided not to comment. He didn't understand half the things that came out of her mouth. Besides, it looked as if some of the guards were going to be trouble.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King," Gandalf announced, walking toward the throne where a withered, aged Théoden sat. A pale faced man sat at his feet on the stairs and watched with heavy-lidded eyes and Éowyn stood clad in white, behind the throne of the king.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" the king wheezed.
"A just question, my liege," Gríma, Théoden's advisor, oozed as he unfolded from his place and then stalked toward the group. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer and his harlot choose to appear. Láthspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
Kagome's brows shot up at his insult, looking at him and then Legolas in disbelief. The Elf's jaw had clenched, but relaxed when he met her eyes. She mouthed 'harlot?' to him, the corners of her mouth twitching.
"Be silent," Gandalf commanded, angry with the man and his insults. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm."
Gríma screeched in fury as he saw what Gandalf was holding. "His staff," the advisor whined, backing away. "I told you to take the wizard's staff."
The rough men stalking the hall leapt at the Fellowship. Kagome was vaguely startled when Legolas stepped between her and one of the attackers, hitting him in the face.
"Théoden, son of Thengel," Gandalf called, walking toward the king, "too long have you sat in the Shadows."
Gimli saw Gríma moving from the place he'd been thrown and leapt to put a foot in his chest. "I would stay still if I were you," the Dwarf growled.
Kagome watched as her friends subdued the attackers swiftly, not giving her the chance to fight at all. Her eyes widened when Legolas elbowed one of the remaining ones in the face. That was actually pretty hot.
"Hearken to me!" Gandalf cried, "I release you from the spell."
Théoden laughed at Gandalf's attempt. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey," the king said in Saruman's voice.
Kagome grinned and looked down at Kirara. "I love this part."
Gandalf threw off his grey cloak, revealing his white robes that Galadriel had clad him in. "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," he stated, raising his white staff and pointing it at the king.
As Gandalf warred with Saruman for Théoden's mind, Éowyn rushed to catch the king's arm. She stumbled back when the seemingly frail man shook her off.
"If I go," Saruman threatened from Théoden, "Théoden dies."
The wizard scoffed. "You did not kill me, you will not kill him."
"Rohan is mine!" he shrieked, rising to lunge at Gandalf.
Gandalf struck his forehead, "Be gone!" he commanded, throwing Saruman's yoke off of the king.
Éowyn rushed to her uncle's side again as he slumped forward.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf stated as Théoden stood and took his sword from the guard.
Once the weight of the weapon was in his hands, Théoden's clear eyes cut to the cowering Gríma. The next thing Kagome knew, the king had snatched up his former advisor and thrown him headlong out the doors and down the many steps of the manor. Kirara purred her approval from her place on her mistress' shoulders as the group emerged from the hall. Kagome watched dispassionately as Théoden confronted his poisoner and Aragorn stopped the king from killing the cowering man.
Before Gríma could flee, Kagome's voice halted him. Her eyes were so vibrantly blue that he could see the color even from his place so far below her. "Gríma, Wormtongue, to leave today is death. Saruman will offer no comfort and you will still die by those you've betrayed."
The man stared at her for a long moment before setting his face. "Witch whore!" he screamed, turning to run out of the city.
Kagome's intensity faded as Legolas cupped her elbow with his hand. They watched as the people of Rohan bowed to their renewed king. The miko leaned against Legolas and stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. He bent slightly to accommodate her-there was a foot of distance between her head and his.
"Should I be offended or flattered that it was Gandalf he picked me to whore for?"
Legolas choked and pulled back a little to stare at her in shock. Seeing her mischievous eyes, his own narrowed.
"The fool is fortunate he kept his tongue, with remarks such as that," he growled, the sound startling coming from the normally calm Elf.
Kagome raised her eyes to his and fought back a shiver at the look in them. "I can fight my own battles."
"Aye," he agreed, his lips brushing the shell of her ear when he answered her, "but you shan't fight them alone, Tirelen."
"Where is Théodred?" Théoden's voice interrupted them. "Where is my son?"
…..
Kagome walked with the funeral procession as the Rohirrim bore the king's son to his tomb. Éowyn sang a grief-stricken death song as they slammed the door to the tomb shut. Exchanging a look with Gandalf, the miko nodded and made her way back to Théoden's home for rest. Gandalf stayed behind as the king was left alone.
The Fellowship retrieved their weapons, bathed and changed into fresh clothes before making their way to the Golden Hall of Meduseld for food. Kagome smiled at her friends as she took her place beside Gimli, across from Aragorn and Legolas.
"In the happenings, I've forgotten to ask," Aragorn began after breaking his bread. "How did you come to know Éomer, Kagome?"
The miko swallowed her pork and then sipped her drink before answering. "I came across him after an Uruk attack several years ago. He and the small group of men with him were badly injured. I healed them and then watched over them during the night, when they had all but passed out from their exhaustion. Since then, I've run into him a few times. He's a very loyal man to those he loves and to his people."
The group accepted this and finished their meal. Kirara happily chewed on the bones Gimli gave her as he accepted a second plate from the servants. Legolas had moved behind Kagome, plaiting her hair with ease as conversation lagged and the group's weariness caught up to them.
"Some news draws near," the Elf murmured, bringing them to alertness once more.
Éowyn entered the room, still clothed in her funeral garb as Théoden and Gandalf also returned. Two small children were with them. Kagome covered her mouth and felt Legolas place a hand at on her shoulder. What the children told was horrible. The Westfold had been attacked and had fallen. Éowyn quickly called for food as Kagome moved to heal the children of their ailments. Getting them settled at a table, the women placed soup before them and encouraged them to eat.
The miko clenched her jaw as she moved back to Legolas' side before she could run off to hunt the Wild Men down herself.
"They had no warning," Éowyn said to Théoden as he sat on his throne with Gandalf at his right. "They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go."
Gandalf was intent as he looked to the king. "This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron."
Kagome nodded, her blue eyes deep, before addressing Théoden. "Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."
He studied her as she spoke. "You have Seen something?"
Aragorn shook his head at her and looked to the king. "You have 2,000 good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."
Théoden stood and moved to the middle of the room. "They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us."
Gandalf rose from his seat and stepped down, opening his mouth to speak. Théoden beat him to it.
"I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
Aragorn took his pipe from his mouth. "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not."
The monarch turned with narrowed eyes. "When last I looked," he said lowly, "Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
Kagome tensed with awareness as a path she wished to avoid suddenly drew her reluctant feet. "Then, what is your decision?"
…..
The Fellowship followed Gandalf as he stormed through the crowd the next day.
"Helm's Deep," the wizard grumbled.
"They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight," Gimli grumped, agreeing. "Who will defend them if not their king?"
Aragorn sighed as they entered the stable. "He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people."
Kagome stroked Kirara. "Helm's Deep has saved them in the past," she admitted. "However, there is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap."
Gandalf snorted, moving to Shadowfax. "He thinks he's leading them to safety, what they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will, but I fear for him." He looked back to his friends. "I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold."
"They will hold," the Ranger promised.
"With luck," the wizard said, atop Shadowfax, "my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east."
Kagome met his eyes and then looked away.
"Do not let that burden weigh your heart, Kagome."
She nodded and watched as her friend rode hard on Shadowfax, turning him north. Later, in the stable, the miko stood with Legolas as he brushed Arod and watched as Aragorn calmed the fallen prince's horse. Kirara and Gimli had wandered off, both disliking the horses.
The Elf turned to see what she was studying and the two observed the scene of Éowyn coming to talk to Aragorn.
"Oh, boy," Kagome said softly, to her companion. "That's not good."
Legolas looked down at her. "What concerns you?"
"Éowyn is interested. I can see it in her eyes and her body language."
The Elf looked back and cocked his head to the side. After a moment, he saw what she did and arched a brow.
"He is lucky she is but a child. Arwen Undómiel is not lightly cast aside."
Kagome chuckled and turned her eyes back to his fair face. "Is Aragorn not but a child to you as well, Legolas of the Woodland Realm?"
He smiled at her, his face soft. "Perhaps he is. What does that mean for you?"
"That I'm old enough to know better, but experienced enough to handle the challenge, Elf-boy."
Throwing his head back, he laughed heartily. Holding his hand out, palm up toward her, a green flame of power flared to life, dancing on his skin. Kagome watched his eyes as they twinkled with the blatant challenge. Holding her chin up haughtily, she raised her hand and lit her pink powers in her palm. Then, she covered his palm with her own-their powers swirling together greedily. Legolas never looked away, holding her eyes even as their powers swelled to encompass both of them and then pulsed outward. The seal on her True Self trembled at the pulse and Legolas' silver eyes were taunting, daring her with something she knew would consume her.
A throat clearing snapped them back to reality. Looking over, they saw Aragorn standing at the end of the stall, watching them with a small blush on his face. Their powers had brushed him, which had prompted his embarrassment when he felt the intensity. Calmly, Kagome removed her palm and then arched a brow at Legolas.
"I am no child," she said with a sniff of her dainty nose before sweeping from the stables.
Legolas grinned and then looked at the other man. "Yes?" he asked.
Aragorn chuckled, his blush fading. "You are asking for trouble, my friend."
"I am fully looking forward to it."
The men shared a look before moving back toward the manor. Legolas caught sight of Kagome as she climbed the stairs and couldn't help but admire her from behind.
Aragorn shook his head. "A lot of trouble," he reiterated, when he saw what his friend was looking at.
Legolas grinned again. "She's worth it." His smile faded a bit when he looked back at the heir. "Remember where your loyalty lays, Aragorn."
The Ranger's face showed his confusion at that. Legolas gestured to the jewel that hung from the heir's shirt. Aragorn's face cleared as he clasped the gift.
"Arwen has sailed for the Undying Lands."
Legolas arched a brow. "Did she? Are you certain of that? The light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane."
Aragorn watched as his friend disappeared into the hall, presumably to find Gimli and make sure the Dwarf wasn't insulting anyone's horses. Later, as he was passing the great hall, he saw Éowyn practicing with her blade. Unable to help himself, he brought his dagger up to meet her sword when she turned.
"You have some skill with a blade," he noted.
Éowyn stalked over to the trunk standing open and shoved the sword into its sheath. "Women of this country learned long ago: those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain."
Aragorn cocked his head to the side and watched her. "What do you fear, my lady?"
The White Lady lifted her head and studied him. "A cage," she finally stated. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
The Ranger sheathed his dagger and looked at her with bafflement. "You're a daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that would be your fate."
He turned to leave, passing Kagome in the doorway. Éowyn's eyes found the shorter woman standing there, watching her as she stroked her cat's head. Her blue eyes bore into Éowyn's own, making the woman flinch. The cat mewed and climbed up to sit on her shoulder, her two tails twitching as she, too, stared at the maiden. Éowyn shivered and returned to her preparations. That woman gave her a cold feeling, as if she looked at her and knew all of her darkest secrets. She also had a hold over Aragorn that left a bad feeling in her stomach. Éowyn wondered what their relationship was. When next she looked, Kagome was gone.
…..
On their journey to Helm's Deep, it was slow going. Kagome and Legolas scouted ahead most of the time. When the group made camp to eat, she and Kirara watched from a high ledge as Éowyn moved toward Aragorn carrying stew. Legolas moved to sit beside her on a soft patch of grass under a slender tree.
"She is persistent," he noted, following her gaze.
Kagome nodded and accepted the stew he offered her. "Thanks. She's just lost and looking for a way to help. However, the path she yearns for is not hers to take. This," she said, motioning to where Éowyn was talking to Aragorn, "will only end in her heartbreak."
Legolas eyed her somberly. "It reminds you of your past."
"Yes, it does, and there's nothing I can do about it. She'll believe herself in love with him, when it is only hero worship and lust."
"You could talk with her."
"I could," she admitted, "but I'm afraid she'll have to learn on her own. Maybe I'm wrong and it will resolve itself." Her eyes turned inward. "Well, it'll be interesting, at least."
The Elf looked from their friend and then back to her and furrowed his brows. "Painful is the word I would use. Unrequited love is bleak."
Kagome smiled and leaned against him, stretching her legs out. Setting her soup aside, she tugged on the end of his hair. "Yes, it is," she agreed, her fingers curling in the nearly white tresses.
Fair features slackened in contentment at her actions and familiar weight of her leaning against him. She pulled at the tip of his ear teasingly before dropping her hands. Eyes dancing, he wrapped a hand around her neck and bent until his mouth brushed her own pointed ear.
"Tirelen-Nín, nature is where the Firstborn are most at ease. Do you truly wish to test me here?"
Swallowing, Kagome shifted just enough to meet his darkened eyes. The heat in them had her insides clenching in anticipation and her breath coming in shorter bursts. The possessive addition to her name should have chafed at her, but strangely didn't. No one had ever attached it to her; Glorfindel calling her 'my rose' and never 'my Kagome' or 'my Vanwaien'. That Legolas would feel it his right to do so, well, it sent unwanted thoughts straight to the apex of her thighs.
"I thought Elves had the fortitude of the earth," she murmured in response. "So little an action is a test to a prince of Greenwood?"
Where her words came from, she couldn't say, but she wanted to bite off her tongue as soon as she'd spoken. What the Hell? What happened to be alright with their fuzzy non-definitive relationship? She'd been fine with ignoring the hard questions that still lay unanswered between them. Despite his vow and her melding of their powers on the river, they hadn't really settled anything.
His True Self flared in response, curling around her at the challenge she'd issued. He wondered if she knew how blue her eyes turned on the rare occasions she was focused solely on him with all her being. It was the only time he ever saw that shade emerge in them.
"The breath in your body tests me even; sliding silently into you and away and feeding your light."
And that was somewhat funny, she thought distantly, as he'd completely stolen her ability to perform the action. The arousal that swept through her sweetened the power zinging to him from under her skin. The slow smile that pulled his lips should have made her want to hit him. Should have definitely not made her thigh muscles clench in an effort to keep from shifting with want.
"You have a silver tongue, Legolas Greenleaf," she managed.
A wicked look flickered across his face before his features settled into something very serious. Steel grey captured blue and held them as he breathed words that caressed her lips in a mockery of a kiss.
"When you give yourself to me, it won't be on a ledge within eyesight of a legion of Men. I'll trace the glow of Eärendil over your skin and merge the light of my True Self with yours forever, Tirelen-Nín. Such beauty I could not share with another."
A dark red hue filled her cheeks at the emotion his words invoked. He had reassured her in a way that left no room for her to doubt him or his intentions. If Galadriel's words were true, unless she survived this quest, Legolas wouldn't find anyone else. She was his other half and he was simply waiting for a sign from her that she accepted that.
Pleased and frightened beyond measure, she bit her lip. Deliberately, she ducked her head enough to tuck it under his chin and then pressed her nose to the tip of where his collarbone was. Legolas went very still, realizing what she was doing. Few female Elves walked the path of a warrior, but those that did had a set of etiquette all their own. For one of those females to press herself so to a male, she was allowing his sword to be the stronger of the two. She was allowing him a position of honor as no other male would have with her.
Legolas swallowed and slowly touched the back of her head, moving his until his cheek was against hers. It was as deliberate as her move and was the answer she'd sought.
Looking back at the camp, Kagome resumed her place leaning against him, the conversation passing for the time being. The Elf merely held her to his side, understanding her need to pull away and process what she'd just allowed.
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
He laughed: the request so foreign to what had just happened between them that it startled him. "You want to eavesdrop?"
She nodded shamelessly. "Yep, and don't act so above it. I know you're listening."
Grinning, he began to tell her about the conversation, green power soothing away the remaining tension in her slight frame.
Down at the camp, Éowyn was smiling hopefully at Aragorn. "My uncle told me a strange thing. He said that you and Kagome rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But, he must be mistaken."
Aragorn sighed. "King Théoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time."
Éowyn's eyes widened as she dropped to her knees before him. "Then you must be at least sixty. Seventy?" she stared at him in disbelief. "You cannot be eighty!"
"Eighty seven," the Ranger relented.
Standing, realization stole over the woman's features. "You are one of the Dúnedain, a descendent of Númenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race had passed into legend."
Turning his head, he stared at the ground. "There are few of us left. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago."
Éowyn saddened. "I'm sorry." Looking up, she saw Kagome and Legolas standing upon a ledge some ways ahead. Curiously, and wanting some answers, she broached the topic. "And how did you meet Kagome? She is a strange Elf."
Aragorn smiled. "I met her when I was but a child. Make no mistake, though, Kagome is no Elf."
"She cannot be human."
"She is and she is much older than anyone here, save for Legolas." Aragorn looked to his friends and saw Kagome give him a rude gesture. He couldn't help but smile at her audacity. It faded when he turned back to the golden haired woman before him.
"Why does she go to battle?"
Aragorn arched a brow. "Kagome's skill in battle is great. I would not be foolish enough to keep her from it; both from a tactile stand point and from the fact that I doubt I would succeed. I have only as much authority over her as she allows." He studied Éowyn a while, watching her as she stared at the other woman. "Do not envy that which you are ignorant of, my lady."
They fell silent after that.
Legolas looked at Kagome with amusement. "I believe she's jealous of you."
Kagome's eyes widened in realization before she scrunched up her nose. "Gross, Aragorn is seriously like my brother."
Chuckling, he motioned for them to resume their journey.
"I don't think it is simply your relationship with Aragorn that she's envious of."
The miko's eyes darkened. "I know, and she should listen to Aragorn on that matter. Now, come on. Something's tugging at my senses."
He followed, his light a steady feeling of home at her back.