A/N: I recieved some lovely reviews for the previous chapter, which made me really happy :) I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, only my original characters.
The Road That You Go
Chapter 13
When I wake up the next morning, I'm lying in one of the tents. Éowyn is sleeping across the tent, and I sit up gingerly. I remember nothing after falling asleep in Legolas' arms last night, so I have no idea how long I've been sleeping in here.
As I exit the tent, I find the camp busy with activities. People are running around everywhere getting things together so we can be on our way. I spot Gimli eating breakfast, and make my way over to him. I'm starving.
"Good morning, Gimli," I say cheerily.
"You are in a pleasant mood this morning, Julia," he answers, taking a bit from his bread.
"I am. I had a good night's sleep."
I reach for some bread and fruit, which is on the menu this morning. There's also some strange looking meat, but I don't feel adventurous enough to try it. When I'm almost finished eating, Éowyn emerges from the tent. She looks tired, and when our eyes meet I give her a small smile. I hope we can at least be civil with each other, it doesn't feel good that she dislikes me.
Soon after that it's once again time to start moving. I'm still walking, Arod's reins firmly in my hand. Legolas falls in step next to me, pausing on his way to the front-line to scout for dangers.
"Aragorn told me about your birthday," he smiles. "Why did you not tell anybody?"
"I didn't even realize!" I defend myself. "I had no idea what date it was, so I didn't even think about it."
As I look at him, I'm struck again by beautiful he is. The sun is catching the light in his hair, making it look like liquid gold. I realize I'm staring, and try to make it less obvious. By the larger smile now occupying his lips, I'm not entirely sure I succeeded. I blush, and look down at my feet. I suddenly feel his hand in mine, and something being put around my wrist. I flex my wrist, and see an intricately plaited bracelet, made of brown and tan leather. I look up at Legolas, and he's watching my reaction.
"It's beautiful. You shouldn't have..."
"It would please me if you were to accept it," he says. How can I argue with that? I can't, so I smile and thank him again. He replies in the Elvish hand movement thing, and then goes to the front of the caravan. I look after him, fingering the bracelet. He's really making it hard for me to continue like this.
"What do you think I should do?" I ask Arod. He snorts, shaking his head and covering my sleeve in drool. I laugh. "Thanks, that's really helpful advice."
I move a bit faster, trying to catch up to the front of the caravan. I try to tell myself it's not so that I can see Legolas, even though that would be lying to myself. I fall in step with Éowyn, who is also walking. I feel like I should say something to her, and I rack my brain trying to find something suitable.
"If you need help with anything when we're in Helm's Deep, I'll be happy to do whatever is needed," I finally say, and the look she gives me is actually one of gratitude. Huh. Maybe she's warming up to me. One can only hope.
Looking up, I see Aragorn racing down the hills towards us. I frown. He looks frantic. The words that come out of his mouth confirms this. "Wargs! We're under attack!"
Fear grips my heart. Wargs. That sounds much, much worse than Orcs. Somehow in all the panic, I manage to calm a very nervous Arod down enough to help Gimli up on his back, and send him forward. Théoden barks out orders, and I decide then and there that I will help Éowyn with whatever she needs. I start to try to gather people to the lower grounds, where Éowyn is shouting at them to go. My head whips around, and my eyes meet Aragorn's for second before he rides off with the others.
"Stay together!" I yell out to the people of Rohan. A big lump sets itself deep in my stomach. I don't like this.
It's at least three or four hours before I lay eyes on the imperial stone fortress that towers before us in the distance. Helm's Deep. Many of the refugees cry out in relief and joy as it comes into sight. I barely hear their voices at all. The only thing I have felt since the battle is worry over my friends, and Legolas. There hasn't been any word of the battle, so we can do nothing but wait.
I can't enjoy all the splendour around me as we walk into the fortress, my mind is elsewhere. There are hundreds of people in the massive stone corridors, but none of their faces stick in my mind. I feel lost, forlorn, now that I'm parted from Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn. They have become my family, and I don't feel safe when they're not around. I look to Éowyn, who is wearing a similar look on her face.
"What can I do to help?" I ask. I need to do something to keep busy. If I stop, I'll think. If I think, I'll go crazy.
Éowyn gives me the task to organize clothing and bedding, which is to be taken to the caves. I do my chores mechanically. It feels like I do it for hours, folding until my brain can't handle it any more. Suddenly I hear the clatter of several horse's hooves on the stone floor.
"Make way for Théoden! Make way for the King!" A guard shouts.
With my heart in my throat, I rush through the corridors in the direction of the sounds. I arrive right after Éowyn, almost crashing into her body.
My eyes do a quick search amongst the men. I see Gimli, looking sad but unhurt. The knot in my stomach lessens slightly. Then I see Legolas, and I breathe a sigh of relief as the knot in my stomach dissolves. He's alive! Our eyes meet, and I nearly gasp. The normally sparkling eyes are dull and lifeless, but when he looks at me a small spark returns in them. He tries to smile, but it comes out more like a grimace.
I hear Éowyn ask for Aragorn, and my heart sinks. Where's Aragorn? I look from Gimli, his words not making any sense, to Legolas as he dismounts. The heartbroken look on his face is answer enough. I cover my mouth with my hand, and quench a sob. I stumble forwards into Legolas' arms. He holds me tightly, and I bury my face in his chest.
"Is it true?" I mumble, knowing he can hear me. I get no verbal response, just a slight tightening of his embrace. Why do people I care about keep dying? First Gandalf, then Boromir, and now Aragorn. I am so tired of war, of death.
"It's going to be all right," I hear Legolas' voice in my ear. "Hold on to me."
I wrap my arms around his middle, and feel him lift me up. Where we're going, I have no idea. I keep my eyes closed until I felt myself being put down on a wooden crate. His arms disappears from around me, and when I look up, he's sitting on his knees in front of me.
"What happened?" My voice is emotionless. I can't even cry any more.
"He went over a cliff, and into the river below. I wish I could say there is a chance, but I cannot lie to you." He takes my hands, which are in my lap, between his own, caressing them softly. I look down at our hands; his pale and my slightly tanner ones. The words Aragorn spoke to me yesterday in the camp runs through my head. I deserve to be happy. So does Legolas. Right now neither one of us is happy. I can't keep worrying about Legolas' immortal status. This is war, and today has only proven that you can't be sure of anything.
"Tell me you love me," my voice is soft. I need to hear the words. It won't be real until I do.
Legolas squeezes my hands tighter, and leans in towards me slightly. "I love you, Julia."
My heart lightens, like a huge weight has been lifted off it. I feel my lips widen in a smile. I pull my hands from his and watch his face fall for a second before I launch myself in his arms. He falls back, arms going around my body to steady my weight. I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, my fingers tangling into his silky hair.
"I love you," I whisper, my lips near his ear.
He pulls his head back to look at me, brow slightly furrowed. "I thought you didn't feel the same way," he says, his tone disbelieving.
"I do, God help me, I do. You look me by surprise, I had no idea you felt like that about me. Then I was afraid to say anything because of Arwen and Aragorn, but he spoke to me yesterday and I knew I had to tell you. I'm rambling, I should stop."
I feel my face flush with colour. Legolas smiles slightly, and his hand comes up to stroke my cheek. His eyes drop to my lips, and I forget how to breathe. Slowly his face comes closer to mine, and I can see grey flecks of colour in his eyes. He hesitates for less than a second, and then his lips are touching mine. My eyes close, my arms tighten around his neck, and I moan. Our kiss deepens, our mouths opening, and I press my body closer to his. My hands slides down to clasp his face, and when my fingers touches the tops of his pointed ears, he groans. I rise up on my knees, and press my body closer to his. I need to feel him, I need to know he's really here.
When breathing is becoming an issue, I detach myself from him reluctantly, burrowing my face in the crook of his neck. I don't want to go back to the real world, I just want to stay in here with Legolas.
"We should go back," he says softly.
I shake my head, trying to crawl closer to him. "No. Can't we just stay here?"
Legolas laughs softly, and gently pulls back to look at me. His eyes has lost that dull look. "I wish that too, meleth nín, but we cannot linger."
"What did you call me?" I ask, not able to hide the large smile on my face.
"Meleth nín. It means my love."
My heart swells. I can't help myself, I lean forwards and capture his lips with mine. It's a short kiss though, and when I look around I become aware for the first time of the room we're in. It seems to be a storage room of some sort; there's all kinds of things in here, from blankets and shields to ladders.
Rapid knocking is heard on the door, and I try to compose myself while Legolas opens the door. A Rohan soldier stands there, and his face turns red when he comes face to face with the Elven archer. I stand up from my position on the floor, brushing off the dirt from my knees and making sure my hair doesn't stick out in odd directions. While the soldier walks into the room and starts to pull out whatever it is he needs, Legolas and I slip out the door. There's still a lot of people around everywhere, and I long for solitude. The sun has gone down, and soon it will be dark. I need to find Éowyn, find out what happens now. I turn to Legolas, and open my mouth to say something, but no words come out. A small smile plays on his lips, and he squeezed my hand in his own.
"I'll find you later," I say. "I should go help Éowyn."
"Be careful," are his parting words. I resist the urge to skip down the stone pathway. I'm a grown woman, I should not act like that. There's also the death of Aragorn weighing on my mind. If possible, I feel worse than I did when Gandalf fell in Moria. I've known Aragorn longer, and I love him like a brother.
I find Éowyn down in the caves, and I only need to take one look at her red rimmed eyes to know that she's been crying. I want to say something comforting, but I don't know what words will bring her comfort. Instead I give what I hope is a comforting looking smile before I ask what I can do to help. As it turns out, everyone is getting ready to sleep. Silently, Éowyn leads me up from the caves and to a small room just off a narrow hallway. The bed is no more than a cot with a straw mattress, but I'm so tired it doesn't really matter. Éowyn leaves a shift I can sleep in before leaving the room.
Putting the shift down on the bed, I stand in the middle of the room for a few moments. I should go find Legolas. I hope he doesn't have to stand guard or something like that. I need him. I leave my cloak in the room, and then go on a search for the blond Elf. While I'm searching, I try to retrace my steps mentally so I'll find my way back later.
After reaching dead ends a few times, I finally come to the right place. However, my face goes beet red when I realize I've just walked into one of the sleeping rooms for the soldiers. Luckily, everyone is fully dressed, albeit looking weirdly at me as I stand in the doorway. Gimli is amongst them, and he too looks curiously at me. I breathe a huge sigh of relief when I spot Legolas making his way towards me. We say nothing as he places a hand on my back and guides me out of the room. The door closes, and I let out a nervous laugh.
"That was uncomfortable." I take his hand off my back, entwining our fingers. I feel much calmer now that he's here. "Do you have to stand guard or something like that tonight?"
Legolas shakes his head. "Nay, I am not required by the King until the morrow."
"Good, follow me." Still clasping his hand in mine, I start walking up to where I think my room is located. I have to stop a few times to think of the way, trying to ignoring his amused grin, but it's not too long before we're inside and I'm bolting the door behind us. You can never be too careful.
Once I've bolted the door, I realize something. I'm locked in a room with Legolas, with no obligations until the morning. I blush. "I don't want to be alone tonight. Could you just hold me?"
"Yes," is his simple reply, said in an almost whisper.
My fingers work to remove the plait from my hair, and again as I comb the tresses out. I don't change into the shift, instead I put it on a chair standing close to the door. Once I'm done, I climb onto the cot. Like I predicted, it's not comfortable by a long shot, but when Legolas climbs in next to me and pulls me close to his chest, I forget that I'm uncomfortable. I don't want to fall asleep yet, so instead I talk.
We must have been awake for hours; talking about how he grew up in Mirkwood, his mother who sailed to the Undying Lands centuries ago, and more about my life in London. Only when I can't keep my eyes open do we stop, and he begins singing an Elvish lullaby. I curl up closer to him, and silently wish we could stay like this forever.
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