Author's Note: Heeey! Jeez, I've never seen so many reviews in my life ;). This chapter's quite short, only because I've been working a lot and Harry Potter's out xD! I swear, the next one will be longer :D. Read & Review, I don't bite. Much ;D.
Thanks to;
fictionfreak156
Azura Soul Reaver
aliben
Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967
justiceintheworldofhp-yearight
LittleMissDreamer7
ConnorTemple4evaneva
LabyrinthLover
SammPaglia
Inotia
Thirteen: The Rohirrim
The sky was a deep red with the rise of the sun. Legolas stopped running suddenly and Rae looked at him before her eyes fell on the sky.
"A red sun rises," he said softly, almost to himself. "Blood has been spilled this night." Rae stomach churned as Legolas looked her in the eyes. He held out his hand for her and she grasped it, finding comfort in the small gesture.
"Amelia's strong," he said quietly. "She'll keep the hobbits safe. We'll find them, Rae. I know it." Rae nodded. Legolas sped onwards, still clutching Rae's hand.
They caught up with Aragorn and Gimli. Aragorn was examining some tracks on the ground, kneeling in front of them. Rae's head snapped forward, as did Legolas', the sound of horses filling the hair. Aragorn sped behind some nearby rocks, Gimli, Legolas and Rae following just in time to avoid being trampled by at least a hundred horses with riders.
Their armour was deep red and gold and they were holding spears, many were carrying a flag with a horse on it; the flag of Rohan. As the horses sped past them, Aragorn turned to his companions, a look of surprise on his face. As soon as the last of the riders had past, he stepped out from his hiding place, Legolas, Rae and Gimli quick to follow.
"Riders of Rohan!" Aragorn called. "What news from the Mark?"
The rider at the head of the herd of riders raised his spear and they galloped back. Rae edged closer to Legolas, her hand gripping his tighter as the riders completely surrounded them. Spears were pointed at them from every direction. A rider on a dappled grey horse rode through the men, stopping only when he was right in front of the group.
"What business does an Elf, an Elleth, a man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?" He questioned. "Speak quickly!"
Rae gazed up at the rider curiously, only to find his eyes already on her. She tensed and stepped behind Legolas slightly. Legolas, realising what was happening, stood in front of her protectively, glaring up at the rider. Gimli, resting on his axe, spoke.
"Give me your name, horse-master, and I shall give you mine." The rider dismounted and looked down at Gimli, though in disgust or amusement, Rae could not tell.
"I would cut off your head, Dwarf," he growled, "if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Before Rae could comprehend what was happening, Legolas' hand had left hers and he had drawn his bow, knocked an arrow and was swiftly pointing it at the rider. The spears around them grew closer and Rae pressed herself closer to Legolas.
"You would die before your stroke fell," he hissed. Aragorn stepped in between Legolas and the rider, gently pushing Legolas' bow down. Legolas, though reluctantly, placed the bow and arrow back in his quiver.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Aragorn said. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin-" he gestured to the Dwarf "-Legolas of the Woodland Realm and Rae of Lothlórien." Rae stepped out from behind Legolas timidly so she was standing beside him again. She was surprised that Aragorn had introduced her as being from Lothlórien but remembered that he had probably heard that her parents lived there and assumed that was where she would be from now. The Riders eyes were on her again and mutters were heard throughout the crowd around them. Aragorn continued, "We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your king."
The rider looked saddened for a moment before he hesitantly spoke.
"Théoden no longer recognises friend from foe," the rider said, motioning to have the spears lifted from around them. "Not even his own kin. I am Éomer, son of Éomund." His eyes fell on Rae again and she looked away, gingerly placing a hand on Legolas' arm when she felt him tense.
"Uuma dela," Rae whispered.
"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands," Éomer continued. "My company are those loyal to Rohan and for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere, his spies slip past our nets."
"We are no spies," Aragorn told him. "We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain. They have taken three of our friends hostage."
Éomer looked back into the riders, as if looking for something. He hesitated before talking again.
"The Uruk's are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night." Rae felt herself going pale but she found herself unable to speak the words she needed to. Legolas gripped her hand again, silently telling her he was there if she needed him. "However," Éomer continued, "we did pick up someone… strange."
He gestured to the riders behind him and silently they parted, another horse making its way towards them. The rider didn't seem too happy about having to come forward but it wasn't the rider that caught Rae's attention. There was someone sitting in front of him, looking exhausted and beaten up. There was a cut on her forehead and there looked to be some swelling on her cheek and the side of her head. As she dismounted, Rae couldn't handle the waiting.
"Amelia!" She cried, rushing forward.
Amelia was caught completely off guard by the shout and seemed disoriented. As Rae made to go to her, Legolas caught her, noticing the look Éomer was sending her. Amelia looked towards the group of them and, finally clearing her mind, recognised them. Her eyes examined them one by one before she ran to them.
"Rae!" She exclaimed, pulling her sister from Legolas and engulfing her in a hug. Rae reluctantly released herself from Legolas' grip, embracing her sister. Amelia pulled away and looked at the members of the Fellowship.
"Aragorn," Amelia sighed as she headed to him. Aragorn pulled her into a tight embrace, glad to find she was safe. Rae, feeling slightly put out by the fact Amelia hugged Aragorn for longer than she did her, remembered that Aragorn had to put up with Amelia for two years. The two most likely had a strong bond.
"Gimli," Amelia said, nodding to the Dwarf. Her gaze landed on Legolas before she nodded. "…Legolas."
"Amelia," was his reply. "I'm glad to see your safe."
"You haven't done anything with Rae, have you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Rae made to intervene but Amelia was too quick. "If you have, I will not hesitate to keep the promise I made in Rivendell. You know the one."
Rae turned back to Éomer and smiled softly, noticing his gaze never wavered from Amelia. She stepped forward, bringing his attention to her.
"Did you see two hobbits?" She questioned. There were murmurs as she spoke, and various comments about how she looked. She pulled her cloak closer to her, suddenly self conscious of herself.
"They would be small," Aragorn added. "Only children to your eyes." Éomer shook his head slowly.
"We left none alive," he said at last. Amelia's face dropped, her eyes filled with tears. She started muttering to herself and shaking her head. "We piled the carcasses and burned them," he continued.
Sure enough, behind him, in the distance, smoke was rising steadily, birds of prey circling. Rae was at a loss for words.
"Dead?" Gimli gasped in disbelief. Rae turned back to Legolas, her expression mournful.
"I am sorry," Éomer said. He turned behind him and whistled. "Hasufel, Arod, Dreyne!" He called. Three horses came forward, two stallions and a mare. There was a stallion the colour of chocolate, large and strong, and the other was a creamy white. The mare, strangely, was black as night, with a white diamond on her head and white socks. Rae found it strange that the mare was the only horse of that colour in the Rohirrim.
"May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters," Éomer continued. His eyes fell on Amelia again and she smiled in return.
"Lord Éomer," she said, stepping towards him. "Thank you for saving me." The horse-lord nodded.
"It was my pleasure, Lady… Amelia?" Amelia nodded, smiling. "Lady Amelia," he confirmed, testing the name on his tongue. "Perhaps we will meet again. I would very much like to get to know you more. Farewell."
Éomer turned to his horse, leaving a breathless Amelia still standing looking at the spot he had been standing only moments before. He mounted and turned to them.
"Look for your friends," he said, "but do not trust hope. It has forsaken these lands." He began to ride away, yelling to his men, "We ride north!"
As the group watched the Rohirrim disappear, Rae turned to the black mare, Dreyne. She seemed uneasy with being left behind. Rae softly placed a hand on her neck softly and the mare turned to her gracefully, surveying her with one eye.
"Legolas," Rae said softly. She turned to him, keeping her hand on Dreyne's long neck. "Will you help me?" Legolas nodded silently in understanding and proceeded to help her take the bridle and saddle off Dreyne, knowing full well she preferred to ride bare backed.
When there task was done, Legolas threw the items on the ground, turning to Arod, the white stallion. Gimli followed him, though looked slightly disgruntled at having to ride a horse with Legolas. Amelia slowly made her way over to Rae, a small smile on her face as she sheathed Lote en' Arvandor.
"Are you alright?" Rae asked, eying the swelling on Amelia's head. She nodded.
"It can wait," was her reply. Then, "Did you have to take off the saddle? I don't want to ride bareback."
"You'll ride bareback or not at all," Rae snapped.
Amelia began to argue and, the stress of the nights away from each other surfaced. The two began yelling at each other and only stopped when Aragorn pulled Amelia away. Rae huffed angrily, arms crossed over her chest. Then, her actions caught up with her and she realised all that had happened. The sooner we find Merry and Pippin, she thought, the better. I don't think I want another argument with Amelia. And over something so trivial as well!
As it was, Amelia rode with Aragorn, Legolas with Gimli and Rae by herself. They were able to cover more ground with the horses, thankfully, and reached the burning Uruk-Hai corpses by noon. Rae directed Dreyne closer to the burning corpses, covering her mouth and nose with her hand. When she noticed the others dismounted, she copied, hurrying over to Gimli as he dug through the bodies.
She thought it was a hopeless task until he pulled out a belt that could only fit a hobbits. Rae choked on her breath and turned away, tears in her eyes.
"It's one of their wee belts," she heard Gimli say as the others approached. Feeling Legolas' hand on her arm, Rae faced him, the first of her tears trailing down her cheek. Legolas opened his arms for her and she leant into his embrace, her tears staining the front of his tunic. He held her close as she looked to the horizon.
"Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath," he whispered.
Amelia watched the two elves embrace silently. She couldn't deny that she wished she had someone to hold her like that, preferably a tall, muscular, blond-haired horse-lord… She sighed. There had definitely been a small attraction towards the horse-lord, she had to admit, but it was unlikely that she would see him again despite his hopes. Sadly, Amelia watched Aragorn kick a nearby helmet and fall to his knees, screaming in anguish and rage.
"We failed them," Gimli said softly, still clutching the belt.
Aragorn slammed his fists on the ground as Amelia slowly made her way to him, her mind struggling to come up with an appropriate sentence. She couldn't deny that this was her fault. If she hadn't lost them the night before… She shook her head, dispelling the tears before they could form.
"Aragorn, I…" her words died in her throat as she heard him mutter to himself.
"… A hobbit lay here… and another," he said. Amelia froze.
Aragorn continued forward, still on his hands and knees. By now, Legolas and Rae had joined them, Gimli coming towards them as Aragorn spoke.
"They crawled," he revealed as he stood. "Their hands were bound." Aragorn bent to the ground and picked up a stray piece of rope, "Their bonds were cut." He continued forward and his four companions followed. "They ran over here… they were followed." Rae wiped her tears and clutched Legolas' hand, as if afraid he would suddenly disappear from her side.
They followed Aragorn to the edge of the forest in front of them and Rae felt Legolas tense.
"The tracks lead away from the battle," Aragorn said. The five of them stopped in front of the forest, hesitating. Rae gazed up at the sheer size of some of the trees, suddenly feeling very intimidated. Aragorn continued, "And into Fangorn Forest."
"Fangorn?" Gimli questioned.
"What madness drove them in there?" Amelia said, eyes wide. Amelia looked at Gimli and both shared a shocked look, before Aragorn began to walk into the trees.
Gimli and Amelia paused, looking to Legolas for guidance. The two elves travelling with them shared a long glance before following the ranger. Amelia swallowed and took a few tentative steps into Fangorn.
"Ah, get over yourself," she muttered. "They're just trees, what can they do?" As if listening to her, a loud groaning sound rang through the area she was in and she jumped, pace quickening to catch up with Legolas and Rae, Gimli running after her.
Elvish Translations.
"Uuma dela," - Don't Worry
"Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath," - May They Find Peace in Death