AN: Sorry I didn't do my planned update- my writing time became time to get my Father's Day gift ready, and then I got roped into cleaning for a party (A house that hasn't been cleaned it some twenty odd years…yuck!)… It took wayyyy more time than I thought it would… ugh. Anywho, finally set aside some time to type, and here you guys go. On a different note, I NOW HAVE MY OWN WEBSITE! So, yeah, took some doing, but DragonsChild.96 Fanfiction is officially its own website! I'll have a link on my profile so please go check it out! Moving on, thank you to all my wonderful reviewers; Glitter Poisoned My Blood, angel897 (X2), sailingsuperstar2016, YunaNeko, katniss12, Carla Mikaelson, PurpleFairy11, Purple 'N' Blue Wings, and ccgnme. You guys are great!

~DragonsChild.96, finally givin' what was asked.

Chapter 9: Decisions of the Future and a Song of Sadness

(Bella's POV)

I sat upon the bed in the room I had been given many years ago, my eyes leaking tears of sorrow and pain. I took a shuddering breath and stood, making my way over to the small chest positioned at the foot of the bed. I sighed before opening the chest and digging through it- pulling out a black dress… Black. The colour of mourning. More tears leaked from my eyes as I fingered the dress' embroidery. Théodred, son of Théoden, heir to the throne of Rohan was dead. My brave, strong, stubborn pupil was dead… and it was Grima Wormtongue's fault. I stood, dropping the dress, and covered my mouth with one of my hands, containing the sobs that escaped me in my anguish- my other hand holding me stead by grasping one of the bed posts.

I remembered the Prince as a child, his inquisitive nature was actually the reason I took him under my wing and began training him- he was the main reason I commanded so much respect throughout the kingdom, and why I had come to love Rohan almost as much as Imaldris. He taught me so much, though I was the tutor, about being in the world of Men as opposed to the Regal and distant air of the Elves. My father said they- the people of Rohan- had corrupted me, though his tone was always a mixture of amusement and love when he made the remark. He also said that I was truly as much a member of their world as my home. A true example of "Half-Elven". I suppose that's why I've always been so open with my feelings.

My knees soon gave out and I ended up on the floor once again, my left hand still covering my mouth but the right had caught me as I fell, protecting my knees slightly. I took several shuddering breaths, trying to calm my mind and ease my sorrow, but they only gave me more energy to cry with. I curled into a tight ball, my arms reaching about my legs and my face buried in between my knees to smother the sound of my hiccupping sobs. Eventually, I exhausted myself and I fell into a dreamless sleep.

"-la?" My head ached, the price of crying myself to sleep.

"-ella?" Someone was gently shaking me; they were asking me something…?

"Bella?" I opened my eyes, the bright light shocking my eyes and forcing me into wakefulness.

"What's wrong?" I asked, still trying to figure out who had woken me and for what reason.

The light shrunk; its brightness turning into a candle flame before my eyes. I blinked, trying to focus on the hand holding the small candelabrum, "Legolas?" I questioned, my eyes still adjusting, "Is that you?" I glanced about the room, looking out the window beside my bed, only to realize I wasn't on the bed. "Where am I?" I asked both myself and my husband.

"You're in your room." He answered, reaching out to cup my cheek, "What possessed you to sleep on the floor?"

I looked at him, my mind still sluggish from sleep, "I- I was looking for something…" I glanced about and caught sight of a small heap on the floor, and my mind began racing, "Théodred!" I exclaimed, tears returning to my eyes, "He's dead!" I pulled Legolas forward, putting my face to his chest and curling my arms about his shoulders. I shook with tears, whimpering into Legolas' shirt as he wrapped his arm around me and whispered soothing words into my ear.

"I'm sorry." He finally said, and I pulled back from him, wiping the tears from my face.

I shook my head, "You had nothing to do with his death, and there was nothing we could've done to prevent it." I shuddered, "I just miss him…" I stood; my legs shaky and my footsteps uneven as I walked to the window. It was dark out, the moon not even making an appearance to shed the smallest amount of light. "He was very much what I hoped my own children would be like." I admitted, unsure if my husband even heard me, my voice was so quiet. "He was so strong and brave… but he was quite like me- you couldn't talk him out of anything once he'd set his mind to it…" I laughed slightly, remembering the arguments we had had over his ridiculous adventures.

I was startled when I felt arms around me, I leaned back into them, and soaking in the warmth and protection they offered me. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to feel weak and vulnerable for once, to let myself be taken care of.

"We will one day have a child, and with your teachings, he or she will be just as brave and wonderful as you are." He whispered into my ear.

I smiled, "So you plan to have children?" I asked.

I felt him nod behind me, "As many as possible, an Elleth just like her mother would be perfect." He responded.

"And an Ellon as annoying his father." I joked, his chest rumbling against my back in laughter. I pictured our children behind my closed eyelids, wondering if they would have his golden locks, or my own dark ones. I sighed, "But in the future, when we have destroyed the curse upon this land, and peace returns once more." I insisted, "I will not bring a child into this darkness." A tear fell from my eye as I remembered Théodred's broken body.

I turned slowly, so that I was facing my husband, opening my eyes and taking in his prefect features. I bit my lip, "Make love to me…" I whispered, standing on my toes to reach his ear, "Remind me that there is still some shred of goodness in the world." I felt him shiver under my hands, and he didn't say a word as he turned his head and gave me a loving kiss.

I gave myself over to him, letting him take control of our motions as he backed me to the bed, the back of my knees touching it and I fell backwards into the soft sheets. His lips slowly ventured away from mine, and he made his way down my throat, licking and gently biting ever piece of skin he came across. I lay back, inching myself up onto the bed so that my body was fully supported. I moaned lowly in my chest as he reached my breasts and slowly trailed his mouth across them. I didn't even notice as he unlaced my bodice, my clothing almost seeming to vanish he was so precise and gentle with his motions.

I jolted slightly when he took a nipple into his mouth, sucking at it like a babe. My hands went to his head, lacing into his hair as I held him to me breast. He moved over, going for the other nipple as his hand trailed down my stomach, making small designs and patterns as he went.

I let go of his hair, my own hands venturing down his face and across his broad shoulders. I pulled him up, kissing him deeply when he was once again in front of me. I moved my hands down his back, before pulling them back and lightly dragging them across his ribcage. I lost myself in the kiss for a moment, until I reached the laces for his tunic. I pulled against them, forcing them open, and soon pushing it off of him. He moved his arms back so that it could be removed, before helping me with his undershirt. I kissed his neck, biting it as he had mine when he suddenly moved- turning us so that I was sitting on his lap on the bed's edge.

He pushed me back, and for moment I thought I was being rejected until I realized he was pulling one of my legs up upon his knee. I watched as he kissed down my covered leg before he slowly slid my boot off. He repeated the process with the other leg, lips kissing my knee as he let me place each now bare foot back upon the floor. I took a step back, smirking before I bent and slowly slipped off my leggings. I kicked them away and kneeled, reaching forward to place my hands on his thighs. I glanced up into his dark eyes, watching his lustful gaze. I inched forward, dragging my hands up his legs so that I could catch hold of his own leather leggings. I untied them and pulled them off, stopping once I had reached his shoes, and quickly unlacing those as well. We were both completely bare.

I stood, making my way onto his lap and seating myself upon his thighs. I leaned forward to kiss him, my heat meeting his hardness as I kissed him. I lifted myself, just allowing myself to gently brush over his heated member as I smiled into the kiss. He growled, obviously disliking the delay. I rocked slightly, making him shuddered in desire as I slammed forward suddenly, making us both moan at the feeling. His hands were on my hips as I moved in a slow bouncing motion, trying to give us both the most pleasure possible. He laid back and let me take control, watching me with heavy-lidded eyes. I pushed myself up and forward in the same moment, crying out as he hit a place inside me that shook me with pleasure. I repeated this twice more, before my body gave out I felt both myself and him release in completion. Legolas moved us slightly, pulling us into the bed and dragging covers over us as we both let dreams take us.

Tears trailed down my face as I watched the pallbearers carry Théodred's body toward the raised grave. I stood next Éowyn, our hands clasped to support one another. Whilst I was not as close to her as I was my cousin, I still knew she needed a loving hand and voice in this dark hour. The people of Edoras were gathered around us, the women at the forefront.

I reached out with the others, taking the body from the guards and helping the other women to place it into the tomb. I glanced to my side and saw Éowyn's broken face, her voice sadder than any when she began the song of mourning, I knew that even those who did not speak the language could feel her pain, though I had picked it up- learning from Théodred in our long hours working together.

"An evil death has set forth this noble warrior." She sang, her voice breaking on almost every word.

"A song shall sing sorrowing minstrels,

In Meduseld that he is no more,

To his lord dearest and kinsmen most beloved.

An evil death…"

She trailed off, the stone doors of the tomb made a harsh sound as they closed.

The people slowly paid their respects as they trailed away. I bent down before the door, placing a kiss upon my hand and then pressing it to the door. I bowed my head, before determinedly standing. I shook my head and wiped the tears from my face. The time for mourning was done, and though I would miss him, I knew he was safer away from the pains and sufferings of the world.

I nodded my head, accepting my decision. I turned, facing the open plains of Rohan. I felt a hand upon my shoulder; I looked beside me and saw Théoden's drawn face. He reached forward, plucking a single white flower from his son's burial mound. He twisted the flower between his fingers, "Simbelmynë." He commented, looking at the blossom as if it held the answer to the all his troubles within its delicate petals, "Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebearers." He glanced over to Gandalf, where he was standing a little ways off, "Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas that these evil days should me mine. The young perish, and the old linger. That I should see the last days of my house." His voice was bitter with resentment and regret.

Gandalf reassured him before I could, "Théodred's death was not of your making."

The king just shook his head, "No parent should have to bury their child." He started to weep. I gathered him to me, wrapping one of my arms around his waist and using the other to pull his arm across my shoulders.

"He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the halls of your fathers." Gandalf insisted and I smiled at the wizard as I slowly set the king down so that he could sit with his son for a while. I heard Gandalf's whispering voice behind me, in Rohirric, "Be-thou well. Go-thou, Théodred, go-thou."

I backed away, about to venture back to the hall when I caught a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned, staring in confusion at the moving speck in the distance, before gasping in surprise as I realized what it was. I began to run towards the horse and two children, my feet only moving faster as one of the children fell and the other cried out in alarm.

My panic brought me to them quickly and I immediately took hold of the horse's reigns, stopping its motions, and then turning the fallen child. I let go of the horse and walked forward, gathering the young boy in my arms. I turned back to the other child- an even younger girl, and grabbed the horse's bridle with the hand which was looped beneath the boy's legs.

"My name is Bella." I told the girl, "I'll take you safety." The girl's eyes showed her thankfulness before she too passed out upon the horse's back.

AN: So yeah, go check out my website, hope you're happy with this chapter 'cause it was a pain to write! Oh, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Review to inspire more!