A/N: Good Evening!
I am so so sorry for the delay! I have been mega busy! I have a job interview Monday to be on a course to better my job prospects and pay!
And unfortunately, the little demon known as 'Writer's Block' has been a constant companion of mine for a while. Anyway, I had a sit down and a LOTR marathon and reread the three books, and so I have renewed ideas and inspiration! Yay!
Thank you to all new followers and favourites, you will be mentioned in the next chapter, as I feel I have left this chapter for far too long!
This story will be updated in the next fortnight - a Promise.
There, it's in writing now! haha!
R&R!
xYruniwyliox
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Palantir
Ailith pulled a stormy grey dress from her trunk and began to dress. She managed to get her hair into one long, neat braid, with curls protruding here and there, a few framing her thin face, causing her eyes to flash, a contrast of summer and fire. She tied the gown in place, with a green underskirt. With a flourish and a small twirl, she decided she was ready, and moved to the door. She opened it, to come face to face with Legolas. Her smile brightened.
"Mae Govannen, my Prince," she smiled with a low bow. His expression relaxed and a lazy grin graced his handsome features. "Mae Govannen, fair heart of mine," he replied, pressing a kiss to her hand as he bowed to her. He offered her his arm. "I believe the feast awaits us." He said softly. Ailith nodded and placed her hand in the crook of his arm. He led her towards the hall of the King, where Théoden stood. Men stood in rows, at their benches and tables, each one holding a goblet. One was soon passed into both Ailith's and Legolas' hands.
King Théoden made a speech about the evil of the lands of Rohan. How it devoured not only lands, but families, homes, and souls. He mentioned Grima, and though many expressions of distaste were found on several faces, Théoden defended him as a man of Rohan who was blackmailed and threatened and curdled into a creature of darkness. He talked of how the coming of the White Wizard himself should be seen as an omen. An omen that good will triumph over evil, even with odds that seem to be against them.
"And though we live and survive and move on, we must never forget the cost. The fathers and sons and brothers who lay down their lives for this. For us. Hail the Victorious Dead!" he called. The room echoed with a phenomenal shudder as the voice of everyone present – men, women, servants, the two elves, the Hobbits and every creature with the gift of speech – cried out – "HAIL!" and drank deep from their goblets and mugs. Soon, the King began to walk among his guests as music and dancing began. Wenches began moving around the tables, sitting in the laps of rowdy drinking men, while Ailith sat, contentedly drinking her eighth mug of ale, a sly smile on her face as she watched Éomer drag Legolas over to a table where Gimli loudly declared he was going to put the 'pointy-eared princeling' in his place with a good and Dwarf-ly Drinking match. Grinning, she watched as Éomer rattled off the rules as a bewildered Legolas raised his eyebrows. Her emerald eyes glinting with mischief, she watched as the Dwarf began consuming tankard after tankard of ale, with her prince matching him drink for drink.
Gracefully she stood, and wove between dancers and drunkards, and stood smugly beside Éomer. "The Dwarf does not realise that your kind cannot be inebriated from the ale of men?" he questioned her. She threw her head back and laughed, the sound like a tinkling bell as she shook her head. "I think not." She began. She turned her gaze to Legolas, her entire expression softening. "You really love him don't you?" the prince of Rohan asked.
Ailith turned her curious gaze to him and bit her lip. "I do. I have known him for more than five decades. As merely an acquaintance. We bantered, and we both care a great deal for Estel," she explained, turning her gaze to search for her foster brother.
"We finally realised our feelings in the woods of Loríen. He pursued me, but I did not think myself good enough for him." She stated, somewhat sadly. Éomer began to protest, but Ailith calmed him. "Hush, brother of mine," she smiled. "I suffered from poor spirits, I believe. I am merely half an elf. My mother was an elleth, but my father was like Gandalf," she indicated the White Wizard, who smoked his pipe with a fond smile as he regarded Merry and Pippin.
"I did not think myself of the same status as the Prince of Mirkwood." She bit her lip to stop from laughing at the Dwarf who was talking of hairy women. He belched, and Ailith cringed. "But one cannot fight feelings. I daresay one day, you will find someone who you burn for." Her blonde companion nodded pensively, before returning his concentration to the drinking pair. Onlookers cheered for either of them to drink more, and faster. Legolas' worried gaze caught her own and she raised an eyebrow curiously.
"I feel something," he began, lowering his empty tankard and raising his other hand. "A slight tingling in my fingers." His brows quirked as his beautiful eyes searched Ailith's amused face for answers. She bit her lip to keep from laughing as he carried on. "I think it's affecting me," he worried. Gimli guffawed before loudly declaring "What did I say!"
He turned his drunken gaze to Ailith, and wagged a stubby finger in her direction. "He can't hold his liquor!" he laughed, before collapsing to the floor, in a drunken stupor. Legolas moved from regarding the Dwarf to stand beside Ailith. He gently wove his fingers through hers, and turned to the onlookers. "Game over." He stated, before pulling Ailith with him. He grabbed something on his way, and tugged her out the door.
They stood outside, watching the merriment inside, as they shyly avoided eye contact. "How fare your wounds?" he asked, turning his golden head to look at her. Ailith spluttered, a little ungracefully, as she was pulled in by his azure gaze. He truly was magnificent. Athletic and tall, the epitome of a prince, with his regal braids pulling his hair of spun gold from his face, and the starlight causing his silvery tunic to glitter. He was breath-taking. Ailith managed a soft nod. "I feel no pain. They are all healed." She smiled. He approached her and took both her hands in his.
"My lady," he began softly, his features calm and quiet in the evening sky. He glanced upwards, as though for inspiration. "I know not whether we will win this war, everything seems so uncertain now that the fellowship has divided, we, here, and Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mordor, but…" he trailed off, and Ailith stepped forward, taking one of her hands, and cupping his cheek.
"Fear not, my Prince," she smiled ruefully. "My heart tells me they are well. You must not worry for things you have no control over. Now is the time to focus on things that will come to pass before you." She reached behind her neck, and once more placed the crystal in his hands.
"I would not last if I should lose you." She breathed, her heart pumped in her chest, as she closed his fingers over the precious bundle. "As Arwen has gifted my brother with her pendant, let this be a token of how much I care for you." She breathed, her gaze wandering to the window, wistfully as the memory of Arwen's decision came to the forefront of her mind. She balked, seeing her brother accept a drink from Éowyn, his gaze never leaving hers, and she recognised the look on the young woman's face all too well. It was the expression she wore when gazing at her Prince.
Legolas nodded once, and gently caressed her lips with his own. The kiss was soft, and slow, and Legolas closed the distance between them, pulling her flush against him, as her hands wound around his neck. She gently tied the crystal around the Prince's neck, and kissed his cheek.
"Glad to see someone is happy," came a smug voice from the doorway. Ailith groaned. "Good evening, brother," she whined. Legolas kissed her knuckles, and graciously allowed her some time with her brother.
"I feel like we have not talked in a while." He said. Ailith nodded once. "I agree. It seems we have much to discuss." Aragorn stepped from the shadows, and moved to his surrogate-sisters' side. He gingerly sat on the stone patio, and began pulling his pipe from his pocket, along with the tobacco leaf that accompanied it.
With a great sigh, Ailith dropped beside him. "Estel, you know how I hate it when you smoke that infernal leaf," she hissed. Estel merely smiled, and prepared his pipe. "Then tell me, dear gwaleth, so as to distract yourself from my unseemly habit. What is it that we must discuss?"
"You know what it is," she shot back, her gaze now as cold as the snow on the mountain the fellowship had dared cross. Estel turned his head sharply to regard Ailith. Her curls swayed in the soft breeze, but the look she gave him was as hard as granite. He furrowed his brow, determined to figure out what it was that had irked her so much, but drew a blank.
"I know nothing of what it might be sister, I am afraid you may have to re-enlighten me."
She harrumphed, and turned to stare at the skies. "When you left me, when you departed from Loríen, I was devastated. Not only because you left, but because a part of me was forcibly taken along with you. After I finally accepted my feelings for him, Legolas took a piece of my heart, wherever you went. I finally understood what it was Arwen meant when she spoke of her feelings for you. I can promise you this – you have bid her to sail, but Arwen has not left these lands. I can still sense her essence here." Ailith said, her eyes glazing over with unshed tears.
"How she would weep if she saw how little her token meant to you." She added, coldly.
Aragorn's eyes widened, and he grabbed his sister, pulling her up to stand, his hands gripping her upper arms tightly. "How DARE you!" He almost shouted in her face. "And what do you believe has happened to make you think thus?" he demanded harshly.
Ailith turned her firm gaze to him, meeting his cold visage with a steely look of her own. Her curls began to spring free of her braid as she was jostled, but she paid it no mind. "The way you behave with the White Lady. I have been here for many years, Estel. I helped raise the royal family here. I know her heart, and she has firmly placed you in it." Ailith stood her ground. Aragorn shook his head.
"This is folly, Ailith. You fancy yourself in love, that you concoct it in every pair you meet! Grow up!" He shook her then, and Ailith faltered. Aragorn had never treated her like this before, and she grew enraged. She tore herself from his grasp.
"You are leading her on! That is neither fair on her, nor is it loyal to the apparent love of your life. Tell me, do you wear her trinket just for show? Or do you still have any feeling for the elleth who has given up her very immortality to be with you?" she yelled. She sensed the presence of two others in the shadows, but could not care less. Aragorn moved to her again and gripped her throat. "Have a care how you speak. Gwaleth. Remember, you are not my sister by blood. You merely hold that title so you think you can interfere. As for Éowyn – I am not leading her on. She shows me kindness and I offer the same to her." He stated.
Ailith once more pulled from his grasp, and slapped his face with all her might. A female she may be, but sh had centuries of fighting experience, and her slap managed to turn Aragorn's head. "If I really mean so little to you then, I shall not stay here a moment longer." She seethed, before wheeling around and storming through the party. He could hear those present protest at her shoving past them. Finally, she disappeared down the coridoor and out of sight.
The two shadows made themselves known.
"It seems our sister made our dilemma known to us, Ro." Came Elladan's sage voice.
"Aye, I had wondered whether Estel's esteem for our sister still existed, after watching him with the white Lady of Rohan." Elrohir added.
"Seems she had the right idea when dealing with his stubborn attitude," Elladan said, shaking his head.
"That was badly done, Estel. If anyone on this earth loves you as much as Arwen does, it's Ailith. She helped Adar raise you, and she coddled you and comforted you when you were sad. She patched you up when we were too rough or got you into a mess. And you threw it in her face." Elrohir sighed, sadly.
"But- I – but, she…oh, what have I done?" he mumbled, his hand finding his stinging cheek.
Ailith sobbed into Legolas' chest, as he gently rubbed her arms. She had managed to return to her room swiftly, and had changed into a nightgown, still fuming at Aragorn's harsh words, when the sort knocking of her door drew her attention. She swung open the door to see the worried expression on the Prince's face, and suddenly, the dam broke and the tears burst forth. The epitome of honourable, he had guided her back, to sit on her bed, and gently sat beside her, allowing her to rant and sob, as he wrapped his arms around her. "I am sure he did not mean it, melleth nîn," he soothed. He gently played with her hair and dried her tears as fast as they came. Ailith and Legolas discussed everything and nothing, until the sounds of the party died out. Once the outside was bathed in a peaceful silence, Legolas stood and offered her his hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked, softly.
"To see the stars, melleth nîn," he smiled softly. She grabbed her cloak and wrapped it around herself, before joining hands with him and the pair slowly strolled to the stone parapet outside the golden hall of Meduseld.
They stood, hand in hand, like statues of marble as they gazed at the stars. Ailith managed to cool the rage and distress in her blood, and embrace the tranquillity that came with being in the Prince's presence. Her green eyes regarded the magnitude of stars before her, drinking in the majesty of the cosmos. They must have stood there for more than an hour, when the prince's voice disturbed her thoughts with his simple caring nature. "Does this please you?" he asked softly. She nodded, and shivered, stepping closer to his body. He pulled her hood up, along with his own, and wrapped his cloak around her, placing his arm around her waist.
Another presence joined them shortly after, and the smell of musk, forest and pipe smoke allowed her to know, instinctively who it was. Aragorn. She closed her eyes and lay her head on Legolas shoulder, drinking in the peace, before she knew it would be shattered. The silence was broken, but not by Aragorn. Ailith opened her eyes as Legolas spoke softly.
"The stars are veiled." Legolas breathed. "There is a darkness coming."
"I am sorry, Ailith," breathed Aragorn. "I was ashamed, and I took my shame out on you. You have always been more than just a sister to me. Do you forgive me?" he asked, gently touching her shoulder. Legolas shot him a serious look. Ailith turned her gaze to him. Her eyes showed the hurt she had endured, and Aragorn's heart almost broke.
"You hurt me, in the worst way imaginable. You were not honourable. But you are my brother, and I will always love you, and forgive you." She breathed. She waited until his gaze locked onto hers, before allowing a smile to grace her lips. He immediately embraced her, when he felt her gasp, and stiffen.
"Ailith?" he asked. He pulled back to look at her, and felt his face drain of blood. Her eyes – her beautiful green eyes had rolled back into her head, and she begn convulsing in his arms. He glanced up at the Prince who had a hand on Ailith's shaking shoulder, but whose glance was fixed on the hall. Legolas leaned forward and scooped Ailith from Aragorn's embrace, and cradled her to his frame, before looking Aragorn in the eyes and stating simply; "he is here."
