"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
Eleniel's dream was filled with these words as she slept. Her mind cleared of everything else except those words, wondering what it was that the Valar wanted from her. There was a flash of light before she found herself sprawled across the floor.
"Can't they for once just let me land on my feet?" She grumbled under her breath, wondering if the Valar liked seeing her trip and being sprawled on floors. Looking around, she found herself in Rivendell, the corridors empty of any type of life. She attempted to call out to Elrond wondering if the Elf Lord would be in her dream but for some reason, she knew that she would not find him there.
Without knowing it, she found herself walking, her feet seeming to have a mind of its own. She gazed around at the beautiful scenery, not having been in Rivendell for a long time, since it was founded actually. Pulling herself from the beauty of Imladris, she found herself in a dark room, a single light shone brightly down on something in the centre on a sort of pedestal. Eleniel did not look at anything else, her eyes only for the thing on the pedestal or she would have noticed the artwork singed and painted into the stone, depicting the story of the First War and Isildur.
Once in the centre of the room, she gasped in surprise looking upon the object on the pedestal. Her eyes widened upon seeing the shards of Narsil, her mind finally understanding what the Valar wanted of her. Eleniel heard the words, the poem she now knew was about Aragorn said aloud as she bowed to the powerful object in front of her, feeling its power connect intensely with her own as if to show that it recognised her and awaited for her to come for it in Imladris.
She guiltily thought of her love in Helms Deep who was no doubt preparing for battle, knowing that she would not see him as soon as she had anticipated, she sighed. Just wait a little longer for me, meleth nin.
Then she woke, immediately preparing for a different journey to what she thought.
Aragorn startled awake from his short nap, his body covered in sweat. He had heard a sweet, familiar voice speak, 'Just wait a little longer for me, meleth nin' the voice said. Eleniel his mind thought when he heard those words play over and over again. Deciding that he wouldn't be getting anymore rest, he got up, left his room and walked down one of the many corridors to outside. He found the rest of the Fellowship sat there, each of them smoking a pipe as they nervously spoke amongst themselves, the anxiety of battle catching up to them.
He approached them quietly before plopping down beside Gimli. They greeted him and he nodded back before pulling his own pipe out and lighting it, letting his own thoughts run wild. Aragorn's eyes fall upon a confused looking child with a sword. He stood before approaching the boy of maybe 14 and spoke loudly to him. "Give me your sword." He said, the startled boy looked at Aragorn in awe and his approaching companions before hastily passing his sword over reverently to the Ranger.
Aragorn spoke, asking him a question, "What is your name?"
"Haleth, son of Háma, my lords." The Fellowship immediately felt sympathy for the boy and his family especially his mother. To lose your husband and now to have to watch your son fight in a battle he was clearly not trained for must be heart wrenching.
Haleth looked at the men, his eyes holding the fear he felt. The fear that all of them felt really. "The men, they speak amongst themselves. Each of them say that we will not last even the night. This battle is hopeless."
The Fellowship grew angry at his words, each of them shook their heads sharply at the boy. Aragorn swings the boys sword experimentally, admiring it before finally looking at Haleth. "This is a fine sword Haleth, son of Háma. Do not let the men's words resonate with you. A man without hope in battle is a dead man walking. There is always hope." Aragorn laid his hand on the boys shoulder in comfort, the others repeating the action before walking off to the armoury together.
They were walking through the courtyard to get to the armoury when they heard a woman's voice calling out to them, more specifically Aragorn. He nodded for the others to go on without him.
"My Lord Aragorn, they wish to send me to the caves like a common woman." Èowyn called out to him as she ran over to his still form, the others having kept walking to the armoury giving them a moment to talk.
"That is an honourable charge," He told her while she simply scoffed at his words.
Èowyn sneered at the very thought of staying in the caves. She thought that Aragorn would have understood her need. "To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return. What renown is there in that?"
Aragorn shook his head at her words before replying, "My lady, a time may come for valor without renown. Who then will your people look to in the last defense?"
"You are a strong woman and if we are to fall tonight, you shall lead your people. Do not leave them without someone to turn to." He tried to reason with her but Èowyn was stubborn and would not heed his words. She still demanded to fight at his side to which he replied that he did not have the power to command it of her.
Èowyn responded to his words, "You do not command the others to stay! They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. Because they love you." Aragorn sighed, his eyes looking over her face before settling on his pendant.
"Èowyn, why have you come? What is it that you truly ask of me?"
"Do you truly not know? Even after the words which I have spoken?," she asked him gently, her hopeful eyes staring up at the Ranger.
Aragorn sighed softly before stepping forward and grasping her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. Hers showing the love and deep affection she felt for him and his showing only pity and sympathy. In that moment, Èowyn knew that her feelings were not returned. "I have wished you joy and happiness since I saw you, Èowyn but I cannot give you what you seek," her sad gaze fixed upon the pendant around his neck before meeting his eyes again.
"Your companion, the Lady from Lothlórien, she is the one whom you love?" Èowyn asked him tentatively, her heart and feelings crushed when she received a nod of confirmation from him.
"She is dead, is she not?," she received another nod from the Ranger. "Yet even in the event of her death, she still holds your heart?" The Ranger met her teary eyes with his own full of sympathy for her hurt feelings before he nodded.
The Ranger tentatively wiped her tears away before speaking, "In another life, maybe I would have been able to give you what you ask of me but, she owns all of me and will always. I only wish for you to find a love as strong as mine where even death does not lessen your feelings Èowyn. I am sorry for causing you distress and sadness but it shall pass," He told her, his fingers still wiping her tears away. "You will find happiness with someone one day."
Èowyn sighed deeply, her cheeks wet with tears before curtsying and marching away from him. Aragorn truly did wish her much happiness but he knew that as long as Eleniel owned his heart, he could not give Èowyn the love and affection that she so rightly deserved. Sighing in exasperation, he walked off to the armoury. The others were there but none asked after what Èowyn wanted and instead distracted him of talk about the battle and other things.
He was listening to Legolas, Boromir and Gimli make bets about who would have the most kills in the upcoming battle when they heard a horn like noise go off. "That is no orc horn." Legolas said to the group before they all ran off down the hallways and pass the other soldiers that were milling around.
Once in the courtyard, they were met with a sight. Stood there was at least one thousand Elven soldiers, each stood as they faced to their left, looking as if they were waiting for someone. Out of the middle of group appeared a tall, blonde haired Elf. One which they all recognised.
Haldir.
"How is this possible?" Théoden King asked no one in particular, they watched as he slowly walked down the steps to meet the Elf captain of the Galadhrim.
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell and the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together." Haldir smiled at the King before nodding to his soldiers who all lowered their bows and shields in unison.
"We come to honour that allegiance." The men of Rohan stared in awe at the Elves, many of them having not seen one in their lifetime.
The Fellowship rushed down the steps to greet the Elf, each of them giving their friend a hug except Gimli of course because he wouldn't be caught dead hugging a leaf eater, which surprised the Elf greatly. "You are most welcome amongst us." Aragorn said to the Elf, his countenance appearing more hopeful and happy now with the addition of the elves amongst the army.
Haldir smiled brightly at the group even at Gimli. His eyes flickered towards the jewel nestled around the Rangers neck, his eyes seeming to brighten even more. If only they knew he thought.
Still no reunion and it looks like it won't be any time soon lol. Anyways hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm trying to cut down the length of my chapters because honestly, if I kept writing 3000 words per chapter, this book would be finished in about 4 more chapters lol Also as you can see, I have also changed things like when Èowyn confesses her feelings to Aragorn which happens later in the third film but I kinda just wanted her to get her heart broken now and move on lol. I will be doing that a lot actually. Changing things, adding things, not having things (i.e. Legolas and Aragorn argument) which wasn't included because they don't need to have drama amongst themselves when there's a whole damn army of Uruk-hai, a traitorous Wizard and a Dark Lord that wants to kill them. Anyways hope you enjoyed, I think I'll write one more Eleniel and Aragorn chapter before checking in with my Hobbits and the rest of the Fellowship so you might not be getting the reunion for awhile haha. I also do not have a publishing schedule so you might get three chapters in a week or you might get no chapters in a whole month lol.
Hope you enjoyed x