New update! I do not own LotR! This is a filler chapter :) I plan to go beyond the end of the third movie and I'm excited! Thanks to those who have reviewed, read, and added this fic to favorites and alerts! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Twenty
"What horses brought her up here?" Vivian asked the soldier. She wanted to get up, but it was strange without the use of her right arm.
"They are still outside if you wish to see for yourself," the soldier said.
With Legolas' help, Vivian walked out of the citadel and came rushing back in. Legolas tried to keep up, but she was adamant.
"Vivian," Legolas called, following her back into the Houses of Healing.
"Firestorm and Firefoot came back for her! I can't believe they did," Vivian said and Éomer turned around to meet Vivian's gaze.
"Firefoot, my horse, escaped the stables?" Éomer inquired and Vivian nodded quickly.
"They are still outside the doors. The soldiers are trying to call for a stable hand to return them," Vivian explained and Éomer finally gazed at Rowan. Her armor was being stripped away and her tunic was covered in scarlet blood. Her right leg was also bloody and the healer ripped the pant leg to get to the wound.
Vivian winced at the damage Rowan had received. While the healer was trying to work, Rowan groaned in pain and cried out as the healer applied a salve to her leg. The healer retrieved two other people to hold Rowan down and Éomer watched Vivian's expression. Her eyebrows were knit together in worry.
"Oh, Rowan," Vivian muttered and turned away to look at Éomer.
"Lord Aragorn should arrive shortly. The sword she was stabbed with in the stomach had poison and it must be drawn out," the healer told Vivian, only causing Vivian to worry even more for Rowan.
"I will retrieve him," Legolas offered and left the healing room.
When Legolas returned with Aragorn, the soon-to-be King of Gondor immediately went about healing Rowan's wounds. She began to breathe normally when Aragorn stepped away. Slowly, Rowan opened her eyes and she looked at Vivian. Then, as if she felt faint, her eyes closed once again.
"She needs rest," Aragorn advised, gazing at Vivian.
The healer ordered that Rowan be taken to a private room and Vivian was directed to another room to rest. As the girls parted ways, Éomer returned to his sister's side. Éowyn was also being taken to a private room and silently insisted that Éomer didn't have to sit with her. She wanted to sleep. Appeasing his sister's wish, he decided to watch over Rowan.
Éomer sat at Rowan's bedside. Éowyn had finally woken from resting and was able to move around. If Rowan didn't wake, Éomer blamed himself for not requesting that she stay behind, but that didn't stop Éowyn from coming. After watching Rowan for a while, Éomer stood up from the chair and stretched. The healer had insisted that he remove his bloody armor before entering and he was in a new change of clothing. Soon, though, he would return to his room and put his armor back on.
Rowan suddenly twitched and Éomer moved closer. She then grumbled something and turned. Relief washed over Éomer. Just as Éomer was about to inform Éowyn, the door opened to reveal Vivian.
"This is Rowan's room, right?" Vivian asked her cheeks red from crying.
"She is waking up," Éomer said happily.
Vivian rushed past Éomer and stood at Rowan's bedside. Ignoring the fact that Rowan was injured, Vivian shook Rowan's shoulder and Rowan's eyes opened.
"Thank God!" Vivian said with relief and hugged Rowan tightly with her good arm.
"Not too tight," Rowan forewarned and sat upright.
As Rowan sat up, she gazed at Éomer in the doorway.
"You've been here the whole time…well, most of it," Rowan assumed.
Éomer merely nodded.
"Is Éowyn alright? I could have stopped her, but…it was either Éowyn injured and Vivian dead or Éowyn injured and Vivian alive. I wasn't going to let either of them die," Rowan explained, but caught sight of Vivian's arm in a sling. She eyed Vivian harshly.
"I fell and a sword cut through my arm," Vivian muttered and Rowan started to laugh, but stopped quickly upon realizing it hurt.
"I fell on a sword," Rowan said with look of embarrassment on her face.
"You weren't injured by an orc?" Éomer asked, taking a few steps into the room.
Rowan shook her head.
"Leave it to me to fall on a stray sword," Rowan said to Vivian and the girls giggled, as much as Rowan could.
"Firestorm and Firefoot brought you back. Legolas and Gimli couldn't find you after the battle, but here you are," Vivian stated optimistically.
"I've got to give those horses some attention…when I can get up and move," Rowan reminded herself.
"You won't be able to move for a few days at the most," Vivian reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll probably walk around tonight," Rowan insisted and Vivian rolled her eyes.
"I must tell my sister you are awake. She was worried for you," Éomer said and exited the room, giving the girls some time alone.
Vivian sat down on the side of Rowan's bed and smiled.
"He spent a long time in here. Legolas told me this was your room and then said that Éomer hadn't come out in a while," Vivian explained.
"You make it sound like a much bigger deal than it is," Rowan pointed out and pursed her lips.
"Éomer likes you, I assure you. He was surprised that Firefoot came to your aid, but I'm pretty sure he was glad it was Firefoot and Firestorm. I don't think it's a coincidence that your horses are siblings." Rowan shook her head in disbelief.
"The horses like me, is all," Rowan assured her.
"Oh, I discovered something while we sailed to Gondor. I know exactly why we're here. Sauron was trying to manipulate us. He thought by digging through your brain, he could find something that he could use to win this war," Vivian explained.
"Why didn't he get into your brain? Why was I the only one who suffered?" Rowan demanded, folding her arms across her chest.
"I guess you have more information…and you were the one who told Gandalf that we know what happens," Vivian realized.
"Oh, right. Well, damn, I guess it's my own fault," Rowan said with a shrug.
"Yes, it is your fault," Vivian confirmed.
"There's a walking stick on the corner. Can you get it for me?" Rowan asked, changing the subject.
As directed, Vivian walked over to the corner of the room and grabbed the piece of wood. Rowan took it and stood up slowly. Vivian helped Rowan to the door and they walked down the hall. As the girls walked around, they gazed at the beautiful carvings in the stone. Soon, they had traveled to the throne room and Aragorn was speaking with Gandalf.
"You should be resting," Aragorn scolded Rowan.
"I heal quickly," Rowan replied with a shrug. She was still sore, but that wouldn't stop her.
"You should rest, Rowan," Gandalf said less harshly.
"When are we going to march on the Black Gate?" Rowan asked outright. Aragorn looked shocked and Gandalf exchanged a look with Aragorn.
"We have not even begun to discuss that," Gandalf said, masking his shock.
"Whoops, I'm sorry. I guess I might be a bit ahead of things," Rowan said, receiving a look from Vivian.
"I'll take her back to her room. She definitely isn't getting up any time soon," Vivian assured them and led Rowan out of the throne room.
When they were far enough, Vivian let go of Rowan and placed her good hand on her hip.
"You really need to understand that you can't just give everything away!" Vivian said as Rowan rolled her eyes.
"They're going to give Frodo more time anyway. It's the only way," Rowan tried to make her point.
"It doesn't matter. You said that you weren't going to alter the course of events and I agreed. Row, we need to be careful," Vivian cautioned.
"Ok, I'm sorry. I got lost in the moment. I think perhaps I should get some sleep before I talk to anyone else. If they meet in the throne room, wake me up immediately. I want to be there," Rowan said to Vivian and she nodded.
"I'll wake you up," Vivian assured her and took Rowan back to her room.
Once Vivian had returned Rowan to her room, she decided to visit Éowyn. Of course, Vivian had no idea where that was, so she went in search of Legolas. To Vivian's dismay, he couldn't be found either. So, Vivian decided to give up the search. She would get lost if she tried too hard.
Legolas walked down the corridor and instantly noticed Vivian. Her injured arm was in a sling and her golden hair was tangled. Even if her state of disarray, she still looked beautiful. Vivian didn't notice Legolas until she bumped right into him.
"I was looking for you," they both said at the same time.
"Well, I want to visit Éowyn and I have no idea where her room is," Vivian said quickly.
"It is this way," Legolas said and led Vivian to a room down the hall.
When opening the door, Vivian noticed Éomer speaking with his sister. Vivian was about to leave, but Éowyn saw her. Legolas left them alone and walked to the throne room.
"Vivian, it is good to see you well." Vivian turned around and smiled at the two siblings.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I can leave if you want to talk privately," Vivian suggested, but Éomer shook his head.
"You are most welcome to stay. Besides, I want to hear of Rowan. My brother says she is awake," Éowyn mentioned.
"She is awake and she insisted that we walk around, but Aragorn and Gandalf told her she needed to rest, so I helped her back to her room. Her leg still hurts, it seems," Vivian explained.
"She will be well soon. Nothing will stop her," Éowyn figured and Vivian laughed.
"She is quite stubborn….and told me that if Aragorn calls a meeting for whatever reason, I had to wake her up so she could go," Vivian added.
"I do believe I heard the elf speak of Lord Aragorn devising something," Éomer mentioned.
"You should go in search of information, brother," Éowyn advised. Éomer got up from his chair and nodded before leaving the two women.
Vivian took a seat in Éomer's chair and smiled at Éowyn.
"My brother worries for Rowan. He did tell me that Firefoot and Firestorm rescued her from Pelennor," Éowyn recalled.
"Firestorm loves Rowan to death. Rowan is lucky that she isn't dead," Vivian said, lost in her own thoughts.
"You are a good friend to her," Éowyn said in assurance.
"Rowan hasn't had the best life, but it hasn't been the worst. The fact that she is overshadowed by her brother always weighs on her mind. I haven't seen her so peaceful and relaxed in a very long time. Middle Earth has done her good. She was only partially peaceful the day we left our world. Her parents were gone, as was her brother. I do think they miss her, though. She just didn't see their love," Vivian explained.
"My brother does care for her greatly," Éowyn pointed out, causing Vivian to grin.
"I know and I've told her countless times. I think she doesn't want to believe it," Vivian figured with a thoughtful look on her face.
"She will come to realize it very soon. My brother is not subtle," Éowyn stated with a smile.