AN 1: I read the review that the pace is a little slow. first thanks for the thought. I do like constructive comments and I will try to incorporate them however in this case I need to take it slow as I need to give you readers an insight into Ginny's healing process. I also need to give Ginny the time to heal so that I can finish this story as the most romantic Legolas/Ginny fanfic I have ever seen.
AN 2: While I'm posting this I'm already way ahead with the chapters. I'm so far into it that I wonder how many of my readers will appreciate slowly build up lemons? shall I keep it chaste and smut free or shall I slowly build up the physical part of love as well? Let me know what you would like.
Please review….
25. Of men and Women.
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool but an honest fool he remains" Gandalf sighed as he recounted the story of what happened with the Palantir. "He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith."
Ginny glanced at Aragorn. His face was pale and shock was still edged into his face.
"His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth" Ginny saw Aragorn nodded. She saw he was slowly growing into the realization that he was a king and that there was nothing he could do to change that. It was his fate and his responsibility. "Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still. Strength enough, perhaps, to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle Earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the throne of men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit Rohan must be ready for war." Gandalf finished.
Ginny thought it was very harsh of the wizard to ask from Théoden to sacrifice his men so shortly after they won the battle for Helm's Deep. The men needed rest and time to spend with their families to regain their strength and moral. However Ginny had found out the hard way that war doesn't wait for you to be ready.
"Tell me! Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" The king asked.
"I will go." Aragorn said as he glared at Théoden.
"No." Gandalf argued.
"They must be warned!"
"They will be." Gandalf spoke loudly before leaning towards Aragorn telling him something that Ginny couldn't completely hear. "Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith and I wont be going alone." Gandalf spoke out loud again. Ginny saw his eyes rested on Pippin. The small Hobbit flinched in fear as he noticed the look as well.
"Gandalf!" Ginny spoke up as the wizard walked away. She reached his side and whispered to him, "It's cruel to take the hobbit. He knows he has done wrong, you shouldn't punish him further by taking him away from his friends."
"I know Ginerva but I do not have another choice. Sauron will think that Pippin has the ring. It makes only sense to take him with me. We have to ensure that he attacks Minas Tirith, that city has the best defenses. There we might have a chance."
"So you take an innocent Hobbit with you as bait?" She asked sharply.
"I don't see any other way. We can't have his army come here. Gondor won't answer a call for aid from Rohan and Rohan is in no state to protect itself." Gandalf sighed.
"Then take me with you. At least there are two of us to watch out for him." She argued as they walked. Gandalf suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.
"No, Ginerva, you must stay with Théoden and Éomer. Protect the royal house of Rohan."
Ginny glanced at Aragorn and Legolas for a second. She knew that Gandalf had whispered to Aragorn about a different path. She had heard a few words. That path was not the road the Rohan army would take. How could she protect her friends and fight with them when she was supposed to protect the king?
"Aragorn has another path he must follow." Gandalf confirmed her suspicion. "One he will know when he sees it. Legolas and Gimli will follow him but you, young Istar, your path is with the King of the Horses right now. Make sure he survives." Ginny raised an eyebrow in question. "At the very least Théoden listens to you and your council. Prevent him from making stupid mistakes."
She sighed and nodded. There was no use wasting time to argue with a wizard. They were too stubborn anyway.
"Alright." She sighed. "But keep an eye on him. Pippin is too innocent to understand this war."
"I know, Ginevra and I will. You too be careful. Keep an eye on the king and his family."
Ginny nodded and let the wizard pass. She shook her head as she watched the young hobbit trying to catch up with the wizard. Poor Pippin wouldn't be so innocent anymore next time she saw him. She just hoped it wouldn't break his spirit.
Together with Merry and Aragorn she watched as Gandalf and Pippin raced away over the fields of Rohan. Lost in her thoughts she didn't hear what Merry and Aragorn were talking about. She worried about the little hobbit that was moving further and further away from them. She wondered what on earth had possessed the council to agree to taking four Hobbits away from their home and place a burden on them that no war-hardened warrior could carry.
G&L&G&L&G&L&G&L&G&L
It was about an hour later that she realized that the others had already left and that she was alone. The cold wind swept through the fields and made her shiver. She turned and walked back to the great hall still thinking about everything that had happened.
She had been brought to Middle Earth for a reason and Gandalf's instructions had been clear, take care of the royal family and the people of Rohan. Apparently they would be important to the future of Middle Earth. She was to follow them into battle and make sure they came through alive. That meant that she needed to prepare for battle.
Remembering how they had prepared for the battle of Hogwarts she started to for plans in her head. She would need healing potions, lots of them. She would need a way to carry them into battle and ensure their vassals didn't break.
She would need to find a way to carry all necessities with her. All potions, foods, water, bandages and clothes needed to be carried. Not only for her but also for every men. She would ask Èowyn for ideas. For herself a backpack and a small potion pouch would be enough.
She reached into her pocket and found the shrunken form of her book. She enlarged it and flipped through the pages. She would need to study the advanced magicks that were described in this book and she would need many more sword fighting lessons. She couldn't use magic endlessly and there would be need for healing magic after the battle. So she would need to use as little as magic during the battle as possible.
When she entered the golden hall she found Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas having lunch. King Théoden and his court were nowhere in sight.
"Aragorn?"
"Yes, Ginny?"
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
"What do you need?"
"Many more sword fighting lessons." She said as she picked up an apple and took a bite.
Aragorn looked torn and shook his head.
"Ginny, this war is no place for you. You have done enough already at Helm's Deep…"
"DAMMIT ARAGORN!" Ginny growled loudly.
"No, Ginny. Please listen, you can stay here. Stay safe!" Aragorn said. "Stay with the other women and away from the fight."
"DAMN YOU!" Ginny roared. "You want me to stay here? You want me to just wait patiently while you, somebody I thought was my friend, let himself get killed! HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT ME!"
"Ginny, women in Middle Earth just don't mingle in battle. It wouldn't be strange for you to stay behind either."
"THAT'S BECAUSE OF STUPID SEXISTIC BASTARDS LIKE YOU! And they get you as a king, I feel bloody sorry for this country!"
"Lass…" Gimli started.
"You know, I thought you all were my friends. I started to care for you all and I thought you all cared for me as well. I thought you all know me well enough to know that I will fight for my friends but apparently I'm nothing more than a weak and stupid sex toy for you all to do with as you please. Only good for baring children and cook a meal. Apparently you forget that I already saved quite a few lives in this world not to mention the battles I fought before that or the tortures I endured. With out me half of the men would have been dead because of poison and fever! But fine deal with it yourself! Get yourselves killed." Ginny stated. Seeing red with anger she turned on the spot and apparated away.
She didn't go far, she wouldn't have known where to apparate to. So she reappeared just outside the gate of Edoras and walked towards a small rock formation where she could sit down and cry.
She wasn't sure what hurt more; loosing friends to death or feeling betrayed by those who she thought were her friends. She had honestly thought that they valued her skill and presence. They had been so happy with her healing skills and using her magic to save her but now she just felt used.
Everything was made worse by the fact that she very clearly remembered Harry telling her the same thing. He didn't want her in battle either. She remembered the agonizing days of waiting for any sign of live from Harry, Ron and Hermione. It had been worse torture then anything the Carrows could have ever thrown at her.
After the first fifteen minutes of uncontrollable crying she calmed a bit and heard her name being called. Apparently the traitors were looking for her. She didn't reply and tried to compose herself, it didn't work as her heart ached.
She just felt so betrayed by them. She had come to respect them and care for them. Especially after the battle for Helm's Deep. Had they not fought together? Had they not looked out for each other? Had she not saved many during the battle with her magic?
It was Hogwarts all over again. 'You are too young Ginny.' 'You are not skilled enough, Ginny.' 'I'm older so I'm decided you should stay at home, Ginny'. ' You are too innocent to be in battle, Ginny.'
The voices of her mother, father and Harry still echoed through her mind as she remembered.
She had no idea of how long she sat there staring out over Rohan when the footsteps got closer and she saw a shadow appear next to her.
"Ginny?"
She looked up to see Aragorn standing next to her. He met her eyes and she knew they only conveyed hurt.
"Oh, Ginevra." Aragorn sighed and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so sorry."
She struggled a bit against his hold but she couldn't deny that she felt comforted and cared for in his arms.
"I didn't mean it like that. I would never think of women as only good for baring children and cooking. You know that I don't think like that. The woman I love would roast me above a fire if I would truly believe that." He chuckled darkly.
Legolas appeared next to them and immediately took her hand in his. His touch soothed her further.
"I also know that you are skilled and experienced enough to come with us. I only meant for you to be safe. You have been through so much already, in your world and in this world, that it would be unfair of us to expect more from you. I was only suggesting for you to stay here and stay out of the war this time. I was never questioning your abilities or a woman's usefulness in a battle. Where I was raised the women had the same training as the men. Many were more lethal then any orc I have seen. I just worry about what this next battle will do to you."
She sighed and relaxed a bit. The pain she had felt from what she had thought to be a betrayal from her new friends slowly eased away. She realized that maybe she had overreacted and let her temper get in the way. Aragorn let go of her and before she could sit down she was immediately pulled into Legolas's arms.
She took a deep breath and looked up at Aragorn.
"I guess I overreacted." Ginny sighed. "I have a bad temper that often runs away from me. I have already face so many questioning thoughts from the men here about my abilities in battle that it just got too much. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry as well for not making myself clear." Aragorn said.
Ginny shook her head and decided to tell the truth.
"Your offer for me to stay behind is kind, Aragorn but there are quite a few reasons why that can't happen." Ginny started. "For one, I have done it once before. I was told to stay out of the war before. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Waiting day after day for news to knew your friends are alive but also hoping that you hear nothing so that it can't be bad new. I don't think I would be able to survive the uncertainty again. Not knowing if those I care for would be coming back alive would kill me. I did it once and I can't live through that again. Secondly, like it or not, you all need my healing skills. Even if you win the battle many will be injured and I can make a huge difference there, even with only providing potions. And lastly, staying here is not my path. Before he left, Gandalf told me about his vision of the battle. He told me that my path would be with the king and making sure that the royal family of Rohan gets through this. I know that he told you about the path you have to take. Either way they both lead into battle. That's why I need you to train me. I don't have unlimited amounts of magic, if my healing skills are needed after the battle I have to safe up as much magic as I can. So I need to be able to fight with a sword, bow or knives."
"I can understand your reasoning. I will teach you the best I can for the time we have."
"I also need Legolas to help me with gathering herbs and brew potions. His knowledge of nature will be helpful. I'm going to brew a shitload of potions to help us deal with the wounded."
Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other for a second. To Ginny it was a testament as to how well the two knew each other to have these silent conversations.
"Of course I will help." Legolas said.
"We have at least four days until Gandalf makes it to Gondor then another day until he can get the beacons lit, if the Steward agrees. It should be plenty of time to make you at least decent with a sword."
Ginny nodded and was already thinking about which potions she could make in such a short time. Essence of dittany, burn pastes, blood replenishing potions, fever stopping potions, pain relieve potions and wound cleaning paste were all things she could brew up in a day. Potions to remove poisons would take a little longer and would only be useful when the poison was compatible to the potion, perhaps she could make one batch just in case.
"How much time will you need with your potions?" Legolas asked.
"Uhm… At least four hours a day, so a complete morning or afternoon. Some potions have to shimmer for a while so I can start them in the morning and then see to them after the training. I also want two hours for studying of magic."
"So that leaves for a morning or afternoon of sword training. That should be enough to teach you the basics." Aragorn said. "What do you say? We train till dinner time today and then from tomorrow we will take every afternoon to train until we ride out."
"That sounds like a plan." Ginny sighed.