Sorry it took so long to update, I've been really busy with schoolwork. Thanks so much for everyone for people who have been interviewing this story is up to 180 reviews two away from becoming my highest reviewed story! Anyways enjoy this next chapter.
Eowyn looked to Alanna as though trying to figure out what to do, luckily Alanna answered for her.
"I am Alanna, Legolas is in the hall…" she said with slight hesitation. The elf did not reply to what she had to say but instead walked past the two women towards the hall where the Fellowship now sat. Legolas stood quickly when he noticed the elf that was followed by Alanna and Eowyn enter into the hall.
"What are you doing here, Nendir?" He said with a glare, even though it was one of his elder brothers who had come to visit him he knew the visit was not a friendly one.
Nendir replied in elvish also with a glare "I could ask you the same thing, Legolas. I hear news you are betrothed to a mortal. Father, wishes you to end this nonsense and come home"
"Your news is old, brother. Alanna is not by betrothed she is my wife." Said Legolas in common so that everyone could get an idea as to what Nendir had said.
"I think I would be best if we talked in private." Said Nendir still in elvish Alanna could tell by the strain in his voice he was doing his best to remain calm.
"Whatever you wish to say to me it can be said in front of all of them. Also you are being rude by speaking in a language not everyone knows."
"Like your mortal wife." Scoffed Nendir in elvish.
"No, I understand you perfectly." She said in elvish with near perfect pronunciation. Her arms were crossed and she had decided a few moments ago she did not like Legolas brother, even if he was technically her brother in-law now.
Nendir turned his attention and anger towards her now that she had spoken. "Do you not realize what you have done? By having him marry you, you have condemned his to a slow and painful death. You will wither and you will die and by having to watch these events occur the pain will be too great and he will fade into shadow."
"It is my life I will do with it what I will. Do not blame her for she made me realize that a moment of the happiness she brings in my life is worth more than an eternity without it!" Said Legolas rounding on his brother and actually raising his voice to the tone of a yell something he rarely ever did. He noticed his brother's words had hurt Alanna greatly.
"Or so you think. I have heard many things about with women which you travel with. She is known to no one and comes from a land unknown to all. I am surprised you so easily gave your trust to her, for all you know she is some sort of witch and your actions are not your own." Said Nendir looking between Alanna and Legolas with suspicion.
"She is known by both Galadriel and Lord Elrond and they have put their trust in her. I think it wise to not question their wisdom." Said Haldir joining the conversation.
"This matter is not of your concern. This is a family matter and there is talk of talking away your crown, the people would not want someone who represents them to be so foolish as to marry a mortal." Said Nendir, first addressing Haldir and then turning to Legolas once more.
"I think you have over stayed your welcome, brother." Said Legolas icily.
"Theoden King has already given me permission to stay here as long as I need; you have not the authority to make me leave."
"Then what do you need to stay here for?"
"I have much to discuss with you brother."
"Perhaps you were right and this is better discussed in private." Said Legolas realizing his brother had no intention of leaving until all of this was sorted out. Nendir agreed with him and the two left to a different part of the hall to talk. Eowyn went back into the kitchen to check on breakfast and Alanna plopped down at the table among the Fellowship with a sigh. She barely touched her food and mostly poked at it until she decided to excuse herself and leave to go for a walk. Aragorn decided to go and check on her and found her sitting on the stone steps just outside the hall, looking out at all of Rohan.
"Nendir's right you know, by loving him and he loving me in return I've condemned Legolas to death." She said sadness in her tone.
"Alanna…" Said Aragorn sitting down to join her but she interrupted him before he could say more.
"No you understand what I mean better than anyone. How can we live with the fact that we will eventually cause the ones we love to die?"
Aragorn let out a sigh. "If I remember correctly Legolas said that he would much rather spend a moment of happiness with you than a lifetime without. He made the choice to love you; there is no fault or blame about this for either of you. It just is."
"Aragorn you will make a great king one day." Said Alanna looking over at her friend with smile.
"What makes you say that?" He said looking at her with interest.
"You understand people and you know how to bring them hope even at times when they see none." Said Alanna before getting up and leaving Aragorn now deep in thought. She assumed Legolas would still be talking to his brother and decided to go to their room to get some rest. She drifted off to sleep rather quickly and woke a few hours later when she heard the door bang open. She had seen Legolas angry before but when she noticed the fire behind his eyes she knew something had really upset him.
"I am sorry I woke you." He said taking a seat on the end of their bed.
"No, it is alright." She said sitting up in bed and scooting forward so she was closer to him. "I take it things did not go well with your brother?"
"Not in the slightest. However he will be staying her for a few days before he returns to tell my father to us and we will see what happens from there." He said with a sigh. "But it matters not, for I am the luckiest person in the world as of yesterday." He said looking over at her with a smile.
"Do know what will happen when your father finds out?" Said Alanna knowing the subject was still bothering him.
"I have some ideas…Alanna I really do not wish to talk about this. We have not even been married a day and we have already been interrupted with thoughts of war and family issues. Could we not instead just enjoy each other's company for awhile?"
"I think I could manage that." She said with a smirk.
88888888888
Nendir stayed with them for two days and mostly spent time around Legolas and Haldir which meant Alanna was around him a lot more than she particularly wanted to be. Nendir had seemed to have decided that he was not longer really angry with his brother and that all blame for the current situation now fell on Alanna. He did not directly insult her for that would anger Legolas but often made snide remarks about her that were really starting to get on her nerves.
At the moment the entire group was seated around the table once again eating a morning meal. No one really talked and there was uncomfortable tensions around the table broken only by the Galad-Nell which Alanna had let roam free. Currently they were floating above the table but every once in awhile one of them would swoop down and whizzing past Nendir ear so quickly he did not realize they were causing his sudden annoyance. Legolas who sat across from Nendir however noticed this as well as the smirk of satisfaction on his wife's face next to him.
"Can someone pass me a roll?" Said Alanna noticing the basket of bread was on the end of the table closer to Haldir and she did not which to reach across to get it. She had asked in common and Haldir just looked at her with a raised eyebrow. In an effort to get her to practice elvish more Haldir refused to speak with her unless it was in elvish. She rolled her eyes and then asked again in elvish and he passed her the rolls.
"That was almost acceptable." Said Nendir flinching only a moment after because of the Galad-Nell. Alanna looked ready to retort but Haldir interrupted her by saying. "I thought her pronunciation was perfectly acceptable, but then again I have been around the Lady of the Wood more and she speaks elvish much more purely then most of us do these days."
This caused Nendir to be quiet for he was not about to argue with someone so close to someone so important. He did however finally notice the source of what had been bothering him all breakfast.
"Will you tell them to stop doing that?" He said glaring over at Alanna.
"Tell who to stop doing what?" Said Alanna feigning innocence but there was a bite to her words when she said "I'm sorry I'm confused after all I am just a foolish mortal, how do I know anything about anything."
"Alanna…" Said Legolas in a warning tone. Although he did not like the way his brother had been treating her at times he had at least hoped she would be a bigger person and let it go like she did most things, however this did not seem to be the case. He had voiced to her earlier that he hoped she and Nendir would at least learn to be civil towards one another, but Nendir was leaving this afternoon so it was likely this would not happen anytime soon. Alanna respected his wishes however and told the Galad-Nell to leave Nendir alone.
Nendir left shortly after breakfast and you could tell the Fellowship was all slightly more at ease. Merry was the first to speak after he had left.
"He really seemed to hate you." He said to Alanna in regards to Nendir.
"Yes, he did." Said Alanna with you sigh. "Well at least we still have your parents to look forward to." She said voice dripping with sarcasm.
"We are still at war, maybe we will both die and then we will not have to." Said Legolas who was standing beside her with a wry smile.
"Would it really be that bad where death is better?" She said with a laugh.
"You don't know my father." He said with a laugh though Alanna had a feeling all jesting aside he was probably fairly serious about how angry his father would be.
88888888888
Over a week had passed and there was still no news from Gondor and you could tell this was making the Fellowship uneasy. The thought of war weighted heavily on people's minds though other thoughts were troubling some of the members of the Fellowship just as equally. Legolas was just happy his brother had left for he was able to calm down about many of the issues that had been bought up to him, he realized he would most likely lose his crown and be banished from his homeland but he had become better friends with Haldir so he knew he and Alanna at least had a place in Lothlorien should they need one. He had not told Alanna about this but he did not want her to be troubled with such information for he knew she would blame herself for it.
Alanna had been on his mind a lot lately, mostly because of what he noticed a few days ago. He doubted anyone else had even noticed and assumed even Alanna herself had not yet noticed. At the moment they were sitting at the breakfast table as he looked over at her once again. The Galad-Nell where floating idly around her and making their soft bell like noises, glowing brighter than they ever had before, but they were connected to her so it was understandable. She noticed him staring and her intently. He had been doing this the past couple of days and although he looked at her often it was more than usual and was beginning to make her start to worry.
"Are you sure nothing is the matter? You seem a little out of it."
"Out of it?" He said confused by the phrase, this happened from time to time for Alanna used certain expressions from her homeland he was not familiar with.
"Like you mind is elsewhere. You keep staring at me and I wonder if perhaps you heard something that had given you cause for worry." She said thinking that perhaps something his brother had said awhile ago was still bothering him.
"With the impending war I always have cause to worry about you." He said with a sigh.
"I know." She said nodding in understanding. She then realized she had promised to help Eowyn in the stables and finished the rest of her breakfast quickly before giving her husband a kiss and departing from the table. She had been trying her best to keep herself busy this past week or so in order to keep her mind off the Battle of Minas Tirith which would soon be approaching. She had lost track of time but had a feeling it was only a matter of days before the beacons would be lit.
Legolas still sat at the table and was about to get up when Haldir joined him.
"I do not know if you have noticed but Alanna seems to have a certain…glow about her these past few days." Said Haldir conversationally but speaking in elvish rather than common. He usually only did this when he did not want others to overhear them, it these instances Legolas would also speak elvish.
Legolas let out a sigh and said also in elvish "Yes, I have noticed."
"Well at least we know your wedding night was fruitful." At which point Legolas just glared at him and Haldir asked another question. "Do you think she knows?"
"If she did she is hiding her knowledge well however it is still very earlier she will probably not notice until she is later."
"What will you do when war comes? Usually our kind does not have to face such issues because we know it is unsafe to try to bring a child into this world during times of war, I don't mean to scold you I'm merely making a statement."
"Well she is not going into battle that is certain." Said Legolas firmly.
"I could escort her to Lothlorien, she would be safer there."
"If she will let you. I doubt she will want to be far from everyone. If we do go to war she could stay in the camp, I know you swore to protect her and it would be a great favor to me if you stayed behind and did just that."
"I would be glad to." Said Haldir with a nod of understanding. Legolas knew his wife better than anyone and if he thought this was best, Haldir would agree to it. Aragorn who had just entered the hall noticed the two elves sitting at the table conversing and had overheard the last part of their conversation.
"Are you trying to keep Alanna for going to war? She will not like that, Legolas." Said Aragorn remembering the couple's earlier agreement at Helm's Deep. He had come over to join the conversation.
"It is not just for her own good but for other's as well. She carries a child, Aragorn. Surly you have noticed, you have spend enough time in Rivendell to recognize the light of the Edhel?"
"I thought I saw the light of the elf the other day but I thought perhaps it was just the Galad-Nell." Said Aragorn realizing his friend had been right, there was a certain glow about Alanna that was not seen in humans, it was a sort of essence that only could be seen around elves. "Does she know?"
"It has only been about a week. I doubt she has."
"And now I understand why you have been distance these past few days my friend, you have a lot more to lose." Said Aragorn putting hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, but it also means I have a lot more to fight for." Said the elf with a look of determination on his face. Aragorn just nodded before leaving the hall to stand on the lookout post. He hoped that Gandalf would light the beacons soon for they were running out of time before Sauron's armies would reach the city.
Meanwhile Eowyn and Alanna were in the stables tending to the horse, along with Merry who just shifted his feet around in the hay looking bored out of his mind.
"So, you say he just keeps staring at you?"
"Yeah, I keep thinking there is something wrong but he won't tell me. Perhaps he is worried about what his family will think of me. I mean his brother didn't like me at all. Do you think he regrets getting married to me?"
"No certainly not. If he can only give his heart to one person he would be very careful in who he chooses. If you chose you then he will be happy with his choice forever. He's probably just worried about losing you in the war."
"Yes, I suppose. Hey are you still planning to ride into battle when the war does come?"
"Wait you're going to fight in the war? Can I come?" Said Merry finally joining in the conversation now that it had shifting to something more interesting than Alanna's love life.
"If you want to I don't see why not?" said Alanna with a shrug.
"Well it's usually I don't get to go to battle because I am too small."
"Merry, you have a strong sprit you would do fine in battle, regardless of how tall you are." Said Alanna with a reassuring smile.
"Hey, I just remembered you left your knapsack in my room you probably will want that soon because I noticed you had linens in there." Said Eowyn changing the subject once again.
"Right…thanks." Said Alanna her mind suddenly beginning to add certain things in her mind.
"What do you need linens for?" Said Merry confused.
"For a certain monthly visitor." Said Alanna not wanting to elaborate more, for it was a certain monthly visitor she not thought about for some time. "Eowyn what day did I arrive here?"
"It's been nearly three weeks since your party arrived…" Said Eowyn brow knitted in confusion. She had not realized they had been here so long, but with Helm's Deep and all days moved quickly as she watched Alanna count something on her fingers.
"Wait who's visiting?" Said Merry still confused. Eowyn just waved a hand at him in a never mind sort of motion.
"Alanna, why do you ask?" Said Eowyn with concern.
"No reason I just lost track of time." Said Alanna with a shrug, she realized she was a few days late but this was nothing to be too worried about.
"You don't think your…"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I mean it would be too early to tell right? I mean we had tests in my world that could within the first 6-8 days, if I had one of those and I happened to become pregnant on my wedding night it would have been about 8 days ago so then we would be able to find out for sure if…" Said Alanna being to think about all of this information. "Actually do you know what? I'm probably not, just forget, I asked."
"Perhaps just to be safe you should not go into battle." Said Eowyn.
"Yes, do you think the war will happen soon?" Said Alanna asking Eowyn however her answer was given instead by Aragorn shouting for outside. "The beacon's are lit." Eowyn, Alanna and Merry, went towards where Aragorn had just run by heading up to the main hall. Before they went inside Alanna pulled Merry aside. "Not a word of what you heard Eowyn and I discussing do I make myself clear, Merry?"
"Right, I'm still not exactly sure what I heard." He said looking a little confused.
"It's probably for the best then, come we shall see what is to happen. War is upon us whether we like it or not."
Well there you go another chapter. Don't forget to review. I will probably have a new chapter by Monday but I still would like to hear your feedback.