I've never been much good at these kinds of scenes, so bear with me

Chapter 27

Legolas POV

Soon the Grand Hall was filled with the laughing and chattering of the people of Rohan and their elven guests. Legolas chatted with Haldir and Aragorn in fast elvish, discussing moments of battle while the dwarf delighted the children of Rohan of tales of the mines back home.

Aragorn looked at Haldir's arm where a bandage was wrapped tightly.

"Haldir, how did you come to earn that?" he asked motioning to the arm. Haldir looked down before looking grimly at his two friends.

"I must admit, I was caught unawares. I could have very much died, i was so careless," Haldir admitted, his face drawing a morbid look. Legolas raised his eyebrows in surprise. In his many years of knowing Haldir, never before had he seen his friend so grim. "Had it not been for the Lady Elahir and her wolf I would not be standing here to tell of the tale."

Legolas looked to Aragorn who nodded, his face of understanding and sympathy. He patted Haldir on the shoulder, encouraging him to continue.

"She is quite the warrior, and her bowmanship is astonishing for one so young." His face began to brighten and a look of slight mischief appeared. "Why, I think she would challenge even you, young prince."

Aragorn and Legolas laughed, but Haldir gave only a light chuckle as he continued.

"I do not jest. She saved me from a position on the ground from a distance so far I had no idea it was her. Not to mention she was injured herself," he explained.

Aragorn and Legolas glanced sideways in surprise. "Well, Haldir, my friend, we are glad that she did. Who would we chide on our visits to Lothlorien if you were not here," Aragorn joked, clapping Haldir on the shoulder once more, as did Legolas.

The doors to the Grand Hall opened and trumpets sounded. The three friends were joined by Gimli and Gandalf as the general Gamling made the announcement.

"His Royal Highness, King Theoden of Rohan and the Lady Eowyn." They walked in, Lady Eowyn a little behind the King, his arm was in a sling and his crown back atop his head. The room bowed to the King as he passed, Theoden smiled happily, to see his people had survived must have made his heart swell with pride.

He noticed the companions to the side of the banquet hall and bowed his head in their direction. They too in turn returned the gesture.

As Theoden and Eowyn walked to the high table, the companions began to murmur amongst each other, discussing what lay before them.

Legolas heard the faintest of footfalls, the distinct sound of ladies shoes on an elven foot stopping in the doorway. The hall began to hush again as the companions turned to look to the entranceway.

There stood Elahir with Tithen Lum alongside her, her hair pulled back by golden threads and decorated with morning spray, her hair shining through with the rich brown and golden tones. She wore a red and gold gown, made of the finest elven fabric that moved as if blown by an invisible breeze and sent shimmers throughout the dress. He saw for the first time in full her olive complexion, reminiscent of a smooth caramel, contrasted the colours of the dress, clean and almost twinkling. It was evident from her body that living in the Fangorn Forest had meant she had seen more work than most elves. She was toned and more muscular than most elleth.

Tithen Lum's fur also shone, fluffier than normal, obviously she had never been bathed with soap before as she seemed a little miffed. Murmurs slowly filled the hall as they slowly walked in.

Legolas noted her eyes were still dark amber.

"Tarien," Legolas breathed as she and Tithen Lum stopped before them.

Elahir raised an elegant eyebrow. "Not a word," she muttered, holding her chin high and her jaw set. Gimli laughed loudly and heartily at this, causing Elahir to smile widely. Legolas paid him no mind.

"Milady, you shine as bright as if the morning star lived upon the land," Haldir took her hand and kissed her knuckles once more.

Elahir's cheeks went pink and she pressed her lips together in a thin line. "Hannon le," she murmured bowing her head graciously.

Aragorn bowed his head in greeting. "You look lovely," he complimented simply with a warm smile. She smiled back gratefully.

Legolas caught himself staring at her and looked past her for a moment but then his eyes were drawn back to where she stood looking down at Tithen Lum, patting her friend. He narrowed his eyes at her and moved closer, she looked up in surprise and saw the dark look on his face.

"Your wounds," he hissed harshly, looking at her cheek. Gandalf moved forward to look too. "It has disappeared!" Gandalf grabbed her arm and inspected it carefully, prodding it here and there, making her wince. Tithen Lum growled and curled her lip, baring her teeth at the wizard.

Gandalf swung his staff and tapped the Lycan on the head and gave it a stern look. It withdrew its teeth back inside its lips and stepped back behind its master.

"What did you do?" he pressed in a mere whisper.

"Nothing, i felt them tingling when I bathed and then they itched, so I removed the bandages after bathing and all my injuries were gone," she answered meekly, frightened by the looks on the man and elves faces that surrounded her.

"Do they still hurt?" Aragorn asked with kindness, rather than suspicion.

She nodded slightly. "Slight pain lingers where the abrasions and cuts have gone, but nothing more than a dull ache," she explained. "Unless of course you are the Lady Eowyn and decide to poke me with her nail."

Gandalf looked from her arm to her face, before releasing her arm. She withdrew it and held it with her other hand.

Legolas felt guilty upon seeing the withdrawn look on Elahir's face, perhaps he had reacted too harshly. He had not met any elves able to heal themselves so quickly and it surprised him greatly.

"It would seem you have other abilities, Elahir, we still have much to learn about what you are bringing to this war. I daresay, you have much to learn on how to control these abilities of yours as well," Gandalf murmured so only the companions could hear him. Elahir nodded once in understanding.

Elahir POV

They sat at the high table with Theoden, Eomer and Eowyn, enjoying the feast that had been provided for them. All around the hall, the people of Rohan talked jovially or danced to the music that played to celebrate the great battle they had won. Merry and Pippin were dancing a tune from the shire, much to the delight of the people.

"One day, they'll write a song about you, Lady Elahir," Eowyn gushed as they clapped at the dancers on the floor.

"Aye!" Gimli agreed, raising his stern of mead, his cheeks slightly pink. "They will sing of how ye is not only beautiful, but can take off an Urak-Hai's head with but one swing of your sword!"

Elahir went pink in the face and scoffed. "It will stand to nothing against the songs they will sing of how you launched off the wall to save Aragorn!" Elahir rebuked, Eowyn turned to look at the dwarf in surprise.

"You did not?" she exclaimed. The dwarf went a bit pinker, although it would be hard to say if it was from the embarrassment or from the mead.

"Aye, I may have" he admitted sheepishly. Gandalf laughed at this. Dwarves were not fond of having their feet off the ground at the best of times.

"I will admit, Gimli, from my position on my stomach, it looked like you had lost your mind!" Elahir and Gimli laughed together at the notion.

"You say that like it was uncommon to find you there," Gandalf spoke up leaning forward to look at her pointedly. "But I recall a certain young elleth spent a lot of time on her stomach during her sword training."

Elahir narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, before she pulled a face at Gandalf which sent another roar of laughter through the table. Elahir took some meat from a plate in front of her and looked back at Tithen Lum who sat up eagerly. She held it back for her to take from her hand, which she did ever so gently.

"And you, fair Elahir, I hear you saved the great captain of the elven army?" Theoden asked, leaning towards her, Eowyn turned to look at Elahir with wide eyes of admiration.

"I don't know if I would call it that, your majesty," she hesitated biting her lip.

"That is exactly what I would have called it," Aragorn interjected, Haldir nodding beside her pointedly. She scowled and rolled her eyes, earning a laugh from the ranger.

"My dear, such prowess is nothing to talk down of, you should be singing that from the roof tops! Not often is it that the fine captain finds himself owing favour to a beautiful, young elleth," Aragorn joked. Haldir elbowed him causing more laughter among the top table. Elahir smiled sheepishly, her face going pink, but remained quiet. She wasn't used to all the attention, or for the word 'beautiful' to be directed at her. It made her uncomfortable and she was unsure how to respond.

Theoden turned to Eowyn. "My dear, why is it you are not yet dancing? It is very unlike you," he said to his neice.

"My apologies, my lord. I was enjoying the stories of Elahir far too much!" She quickly got to her feet and walked the distance to Aragorn. "Come ,my lord, you would not deny me a dance partner would you?" Aragorn smiled warmly and happily stood and walked to the floor with the fair lady of Rohan.

Elahir watched as they twirled, bowed and frolicked around the floor so gracefully with the other dancers. Even Aragorn, who whenever she watched him fight would flinch at how severe every one of his movements were, seemed very light of foot here. She herself had never danced before, she found the movements delightful to watch and wondered if they were as delightful to partake in. She smiled at the beaming face of Eowyn as she swung around with the help of Aragorn.

It was as she smiled that she became aware, someone was watching her. She could feel eyes staring at her. She looked around the room, focusing out the noise of her companions at the table and sought out the eyes, she soon found them.

Legolas was watching her from the end of the table, his eyes bright blue, tried to read her, she thought. She looked back down at her plate quickly.

oOOo

Legolas POV

"Young Prince! Why is it you have not chosen a lovely maiden to dance with yet? There are a plenty here who would gladly accept a dance of you," Haldir teased, noticing Legolas had not joined in the conversation. Legolas looked surprised and looked at Haldir.

"I am too tired to dance," he answered with a warm grin and a shake of his head.

"What is this? The tireless Prince of Woodland Realm, too tired to take a dance?" Haldir teased further. Legolas looked to Haldir and shot him a look. "Your glares won't work on me, Legolas." Haldir shot him a cheeky grin before patting him on the shoulder and taking to the floor to request a dance of a fair maiden already there.

Legolas smiled as he watched the Marchwarden lead her around the floor in a quick step. He looked up to see Elahir also watching Haldir, as he dipped his partner low, earning him a round of applause.

Legolas watched as Theoden leaned over to chat to her, making her smile warmly and look back to him and respond. Legolas turned back to watch the dance as Aragorn and Haldir took on new partners, as a young man walked to the table and stood before Elahir.

"My lady, might I request a dance of you?" he asked, his voice shaky at best.

Legolas could see the veins on his neck pulsate. He was nervous. 'Rightly so, lad,' he thought to himself with a smirk touching his lips. He watched as she stiffened before shaking her head and mumbling something back.

"Elahir! Why do you not dance when requested?" Theoden rumbled as the young man withdrew to the laughs of his friends. She shrugged meekly and looked to the plate in front of her, as if she had been reprimanded harshly.

"I doubt you'd have too many opportunities or dance partners in Fangorn forest, I suppose," Gimli defended her lightly, between mouthfuls of food.

Theoden looked back to Elahir shrugged and nodded once. "Ah you poor girl, no lady should live her life having never experienced dance! Eowyn!" he called to his neice who stopped mid partner change. "Take poor Elahir down there and show her the joys of dancing!"

Poor Elahir looked mortified. "Oh no, thank you, your majesty, but I am fine and quite content to watch, I assure you," she tried to object. Legolas couldn't help but try and stifle a small laugh. He had never seen her look so petrified before, not even in battle.

Theoden held up a hand and pointed to Eowyn. "No, no fair maiden should miss out on such an important aspect of life!" Eowyn ran up and dragged her back to the floor showing her the steps slowly, while others danced around them.

Legolas smiled when he saw her face slowly begin to loosen as she quickly picked up the steps, as he expected she would. Soon, Eowyn was able to pass her on to dance with Haldir, who led her around the hall in a quick step. She laughed and smiled as Haldir passed her onto Aragorn. The vast difference in their ability showed, even though Aragorn had learnt to dance from elves, Elahir's grace and balance outshone him. Even for one who had only just learnt the dance two minutes before.

Thank god that's over!

Krayzee