Another update! Yay! I do not own LotR :D Thanks to those who read, review, and add this fic to alerts and favorites! This one is shorter than the last one, but I hope you enjoy anyway!
Chapter Twenty-Six
Vivian woke up slowly the next morning and stretched, relishing the fact that she was sleeping in a comfortable bed. She yawned and got up after a few minutes. A maid entered the room and placed a gown on her dresser and left quickly before Vivian had time to speak. Vivian got up from the bed and walked over to the gown. It was white and the stitching was a golden color. She smiled and decided to wear it.
As soon as Vivian was dressed and ready, she exited her room and walked into the throne room. Aragorn and Arwen were sitting together, talking privately. At a nearby table, Rowan and Éomer were playing chess. As Vivian watched, she could tell that Rowan was stumped by the look on her face. She let out a breath and narrowed her eyes at Éomer.
"I'm terrible at chess!" Rowan cried dramatically and Vivian couldn't help but stifle a giggle.
"You need more practice," Éomer assured her and Rowan swiped her arm across the board. It startled Éomer, but then he smiled at her antics. She was always going to be a sore loser.
Legolas approached Vivian and smiled at her.
"I have a bone to pick with you, elf," Vivian said, narrowing her eyes to make her seem menacing.
"A bone?" Legolas inquired, a bit worried about Vivian's phrasing.
"I mean, I need to talk to you…about what happened last night," Vivian elaborated. Legolas nodded.
They stopped outside of the citadel. Vivian stopped to look at Legolas. She dared to wonder why he felt so strongly for her.
"Why did you kiss me?" Vivian asked.
"I feel bound to you, Vivian. I have not felt a connection like ours before. An elf is bound to one person their whole life and I know it's you," Legolas said strongly and Vivian was speechless.
"I…don't want to believe it, but somehow I feel some sort of connection to you as well. I thought you'd end up marrying an elf from Mirkwood," Vivian said and then looked at her feet. If Legolas were to marry Vivian, he would have to give up his immortality and quite possibly the throne.
"You look so sad," Legolas observed and lifted her chin.
"I don't want you to have to forsake your immortality for me. I'm just a common human," Vivian pointed out.
"I love you, Vivian…and I do not think I could love anyone else the way that I love you," Legolas stated and moved his hand to caress Vivian's cheek. His hand dropped to her neck and he kissed her lightly, at first, and then Vivian kissed him back. Vivian's heart was racing by the time they broke the kiss.
"I don't think we should tell Rowan. She'll make a big deal out of it and we'll fight again," Vivian explained and Legolas agreed.
The two returned to the citadel and Rowan was sitting with Arwen while Aragorn and Éomer spoke. The two women were smiling and nodding, but Vivian could tell that Rowan was bored. Vivian sat down beside Rowan suddenly and greeted Arwen.
"Where have you been? I went to see if you were in your room, but it was empty. Where were you?" Rowan demanded.
"I was walking around outside," Vivian lied.
Arwen distracted Vivian and Rowan was left to amuse herself. She grabbed an apple and began to bounce it off her bicep as she extended her arm. Vivian turned to Rowan and started laughing.
"I'm bored out of my mind, V. What do you want me to do?" Rowan demanded, annoyed by Vivian's laughter.
"I don't know," Vivian said after she stopped laughing.
"Well, I forgot to tell you that I'm heading back to Rohan tomorrow," Rowan said and Vivian was taken back. So Soon?
"When was this decided?" Vivian asked.
"Éomer said he was heading back last night and asked if I wanted to go with him. I said yes because I figured that you and Legolas should spend some time together here," Rowan explained.
"Actually, Aragorn has decided that he will accompany us to Rohan and anyone may join us. We are burying my uncle," Éomer cut in and Rowan smiled. He came up with a solution to Rowan's nightmare.
"I'd love to come," Vivian said with a smile.
Rowan sighed as Éomer sat down next to her. She had been trying to figure out a way for Vivian to travel with a large group of people who were skilled. Last night, she brainstormed with Éomer and he promised that he would figure something out.
"You look worried," Éomer noticed and Rowan turned to meet his gaze.
"I was just thinking. Thank you for helping," Rowan said and kissed Éomer's cheek.
Out of the corner of her eye, Vivian watched the conversation between Rowan and Éomer. Something happened last night between them, but she wasn't sure. Legolas entered the room suddenly and Vivian smiled at him as he passed. He nodded to Vivian and approached Aragorn. In Vivian's opinion, everyone was discussing the new position of Middle Earth. Aragorn wanted protection for the Shire and other domains and he was scheming with Éomer about the trading that would take place between Gondor and Rohan.
Everyone soon tired of sitting in the hall, so Aragorn and Arwen decided to walk around Minas Tirith. Vivian guided Legolas away, so Rowan sat with Éomer and watched as the servants cleared everything around them. Vivian took Legolas to the armory and demanded a lesson in archery.
"Are you sure you wish me to teach you?" Legolas asked, retrieving a bow for Vivian to use.
"You're the best archer I know and I wanted to learn from the best," Vivian explained as Legolas gave her the Gondorian bow.
"This isn't the best bow I can acquire, but it will do. Now, you need to learn how to position the arrow," Legolas began and showed Vivian the proper way.
Rowan grinned as she placed what she perceived as the "Queen" in front of the "King" piece. Éomer shook his head as she did so.
"I win!" Rowan roared and giggled.
"So you did," Éomer muttered.
"Did you let me win…because it was so sweet if you did? I know I'm awful at chess," Rowan pointed out, growing serious.
"What makes you think that I would do such a thing?" Éomer inquired and Rowan bit her lip to hide her grin.
Vivian came rushing into the citadel with a look of worry across her face.
"I might have…injured Legolas," Vivian stated and bit her lip.
"What happened?" Éomer inquired, standing up.
"What did you do, V?" Rowan demanded, standing as well.
"Legolas was trying to teach me how to shook an arrow and I…might have shot an arrow through his arm," Vivian said innocently. Rowan was utterly shocked. How could Legolas let Vivian injure him?
Éomer exchanged a glance with Rowan and walked up to Vivian.
"Where is he?" Éomer inquired.
"He's on the training grounds where the targets are set up. I wanted him to teach me archery…and I guess I'm not good at it," Vivian said with a shrug. Éomer left to help Legolas while Rowan folded her arms across her chest.
When Éomer returned, he was by himself. Vivian ran up to him and demanded the whereabouts of Legolas.
"I took him to the Houses of Healing. It isn't a severe injury. He will live," Éomer assured her. Vivian sighed with relief and then ran outside to see Legolas.
"I have no idea how Legolas could have managed to let Vivian do that," Rowan said, shaking her head.
"The elf said it was an accident and that Vivian took him by surprise. He loves her dearly, I can see," Éomer noted, smiling at Rowan.
Aragorn returned from his walk with Arwen and wanted to discuss something with Éomer. That left Rowan alone, so she decided to go to the training grounds and decapitate a few dummies. She retrieved her swords and knives first.
Vivian was returning from the Houses of Healing when she noticed Rowan on the training grounds. She was executing moves with her swords that caused Vivian to blink. After a few seconds of Vivian watching, Rowan switched to her knives and started throwing them at the dummy. Vivian walked down to greet Rowan and narrowly missed an oncoming knife.
"Oh, sorry Viv, I didn't mean to attack you just then," Rowan said mindlessly and grabbed the knives that were embedded in the dummy.
"Weren't you just with Éomer?" Vivian wondered.
"Aragorn had to talk business with him again, so I came down here. Now, let's see your archery skills," Rowan said and Vivian narrowed her eyes.
"Are you trying to be funny?" Vivian demanded. She was not happy that Rowan was making fun of her.
"No, I'm being completely serious. I'll bet you're better than I am," Rowan said, challenging her best friend.
The girls set up in front of different targets with bows in hand. Vivian stuck her tongue out at Rowan and released her arrow quickly. It hit one of the outside rings of the bull's eye and Rowan smiled. She released hers and it barely made it. Rowan eyed the arrow and took out another. The next time, it hit an inner ring. Vivian gawked at Rowan's arrow and let out a frustrated breath.
"You lied to me! I thought you were worse than me," Vivian cried.
"Try it again, but this time you should aim for the center," Rowan advised. Vivian did as her best friend suggested and it hit a ring much closer to the center.
"I did it!" Vivian said happily and jumped up and down.
"I watched a few people practice in Rohan, but I didn't want to pick up a bow on Pelennor. I didn't have confidence in my shot," Rowan explained with a shrug and put the bow back where she found it.
"Well, you must have some sort of knack for archery," Vivian pointed out.
"I don't have a keen fashion sense like you and I'm afraid of caves," Rowan countered.
"Yes, well, I'm afraid of spiders," Vivian said, folding her arms across her chest.
"You are aware that Mirkwood was infested with spiders…and that it's possible that there are still spiders?" Rowan asked and laughed when Vivian's eyes widened.
Yes, now you know what Vivian is afraid of! I'm not trying to make Rowan into a Mary-Sue, but if she appears so let me know because I will fix it :) ALSO I might need suggestions on where to take the LegolasxVivian relationship. Review or message me if you would like something specific to happen :D