Achilles toe


Ever since coming to Middle Earth Elle had come to truly realise the meaning of leaving at first light. It felt like the moment the sun crested over the distant mountains the whole of Edoras was ready to leave. More than slightly groggy at the early hour Elle couldn't help but smile to herself. The memory of her brother telling her they needed to be up early the next day rang through her mind.

'The crack of noon!' He had said. The small laugh that escaped her sounded strangled. She was perched on the edge of her cot with her head in her hands. It was only after a moment did she realise her hands were being dripped on by a silent stream of tears. The fast pace that everything had taken since embarking upon her quest had given her little chance to think. About her family, about her life before and about the life she would never be able to return to. She wondered what her mother, brother and sister had done when they had discovered her 'accident'. It was strange to think that in England she technically had been dead for over two months.

"Eircassiel. Lle desiel?" She heard from a gentle voice stood in the doorway behind her. Slowly her head rose and turned to look at the slender figure that seemed to glow in the morning light. For a moment she was struck dumb by the sheer beauty of him, she knew she probably should have thought handsome but that was not the word that came to mind. What was wrong with her? Her emotions were all over the place and she had only been awake for five minutes!

"Mani naa ta?" He asked as he rushed over to her and took her hands in his. Concern was etched in his smooth skin as his azure eyes levelled with hers and stared as if he could discern everything from her eyes.

"I err, stubbed my toe." She answered lamely as she swiped the tears from her cheeks while her other hand was still held gently within his. His slender brow raised in suspicion.

"A cave troll breaks your bones and you make no sound, yet a small impact to your foot brings you to tears?" He stated sceptically.

"I guess it's just my Achilles toe." She shrugged before standing to pull her tunic on over her under shirt.

"I do not understand." Legolas stood and observed as she pottered around gathering the last of her few belongings. Elle paused to glance up at him before she turned back to place the last of her things into her pack and then pulled on her boots. Of course he wouldn't understand the reference; Middle Earth didn't have any stories of the Greek myths.

"Never mind, I'm ready now, shall we go?" She asked with a slightly forced light tone before she walked past him and towards the stables.


The refugees had been traveling for several hours. Aragorn had been riding beside Théoden, Gimli with Éowyn and Legolas had stayed very close to Elle. He seemed to be keeping a close eye on her after the conversation they had had that morning. Elle had remained mostly oblivious to this as she had been concentrating on riding the horse that the Rohirrin's had granted her for the journey. She had been elated at the prospect of not having to ride with someone else like a chaperone.

The mare was lovely; she was a shiny chestnut colour and had a gentle disposition towards her new rider. Éowyn had said that her name was Eterien. She was not a particularly fast horse but her pace was steady and the ride was smooth. Not as smooth as riding in a car but Elle had become used to it very quickly.

Unexpectedly Gimli bolted past her upon his horse before falling to the ground in a heap only moments later. The quick form of Éowyn was soon beside him laughing openly. Giggles bubbled up in Elle at the sight of the dwarf making excuses as he stood himself up.

"It is good to see you laugh again." Legolas said as he rode beside her.

"I didn't realise it had been so long that you would notice." Elle shrugged as they continued.

"Of course I would notice. The sound is quite pleasant." He said nonchalantly with a smirk at the edge of his lips.

"W-well, I'll be sure to do it more often then." She stumbled over her quip as she once again thanked Varda that her vessel didn't blush easily.


After a long day of switching between riding and walking, the large group had settled down for the night in several small camps, all within sight of each other. The night was bright and clear of clouds and the crescent moon shone softly upon the travellers. Despite the darkness of the situation the people seemed to in good spirits. The fires crackled, pots of food bubbled, ale was drunk and stories were told of heroes and kings. Deep bellows of laughter and soft giggles chimed throughout the camp. It seemed that although Gandalf had been against their flight the people of Rohan had faith in the decision of their king and felt they would be safe behind the strong walls of their fortress.

Elle sat upon a grassy mound a little away from a circle of men who loudly sat beside their fire. A bed roll was laid out beneath her allowing her the comfort of not having grass and mud stained breaches. Her boots were laid on the grass beside her so her bare feet were sprawled on the soft grass. Slowly she untied the braid that bound her hair and sighed happily as it fell loosely around her shoulders.

A gentle breeze danced past her, bringing with it a smell that should have been food but seemed to have something not quite right. Turning she noticed Éowyn striding towards her with a steaming pot, plates and a ladle in her hands.

"Good evening Lady Eircassiel." She said brightly to which Elle reflected with her smile. "Have you eaten yet?" She asked hopefully gesturing towards the steaming stew.

"Unfortunately, Éowyn I ate after we made camp." Elle apologised hoping she wouldn't have to eat the mostly raw gloopy liquid. "Why not offer Aragorn some?" She hinted not so subtly causing the war maiden to blush slightly.

"I think it would be unwise." She mumbled with her eyes fixed upon a particularly interesting blade of grass.

"Why?" She asked casually as she lay down with her arms folded behind her head.

"He does not see me, as he sees no woman. It is clear for all that his heart is promised to another." Éowyn said with a faraway look that seemed to clear when she realised how much she had said.

"And here I thought you were the kind of woman to fight for what she wants, or is the sword hidden in your saddle just for show?" She teased the woman while keeping a close eye on her reactions.

"H-how did you know about that?" Her confusion evident.

"I have eyes." Elle quipped as Éowyn seemed to tense at the prospect of what else she had noticed. "I noticed when to packed your saddle." She elaborated, causing the blonde to relax slightly.

"Surely you would not counsel me to pursue him?" She said surprised at the hints the elleth had been giving.

"I would counsel you follow your instincts." Elle said as she pulled a rock out from beneath the bedroll before lying back down on the fabric. Éowyn looked wistfully over at the silhouetted figure of the ranger before she spoke again.

"Are you sure it is wise?" She asked still unsure.

"I'm an elf we're all about wisdom." Elle smiled before Éowyn nodded and headed in the direction of the ranger. After a moment of relative silence an apple dropped into her lap before Legolas sat down beside her.

"Do you not know of his love for Arwen?" He asked before taking a bite from his own apple. Elle picked hers up and held it for a moment before she answered.

"Yes. I know about it."

"Then why lead the poor woman to heartbreak?" He asked clearly confused by her actions.

"Because it leads to her finding the glory she dreams of and the happiness she desires." Elle shrugged before taking a small bite from the fruit. She was glad of it as she hadn't actually eaten since the morning.

"This is another mystery you will not unveil." He stated more then asked to which she nodded. "Will you ever allow me to understand you?"

"Perhaps. Although you may not like it when you do." She murmured unsure how he would take the truth about her. Would he accept her or would the lies be too much for their friendship to survive? She wasn't even really an elf!

"Will you not let me be the one to decide?" When she looked up at him her heart melted, he had the biggest puppy eyes she had ever seen. Surely that was cheating! Quickly she stood up to avoid seeing the look again.

"It's not really my choice." She mumbled before striding away, barefooted, to find less difficult company.

Soon she found herself sat around a large fire pit with Gimli, Háma, Gamling and three other men she did not know the names of. Each were experienced soldiers and were considerably less cheery about the situation that the common folk were. When she had sat with them they had been talking about various military successes but seemed to feel it was a topic unfit for a female.

"Please, I went up against a cave troll. Your stories will not disturb me." She told them as she took a sip of ale which at that moment she discovered she did not like. After a moment she gulped down the sip of the vile liquid and put the offending drink down on the grass to never be drunk again.

"I recall you being more of a target during that fight, Lass." Gimli chuckled into his own frothy beverage causing the other warriors to laugh as well.

"I heard that elves were all fierce warriors." Put in the man sat opposite her. "Like that elf Queen in Lórien. My mother's father told tales of her in shining armour commanding armies and fighting the forces of Morgoth in the first age. She-"

"The sorceress did not fight." Interrupted the second man "She knew the battle was futile and awaited the fury of the Valar to-" At this point the men began to argue amongst one another for several minutes.

"Nothing but stories and rumour." Murmured the third who seemed unmovable in his belief women should not fight. Elle's sigh was auditable, she had wanted to escape difficult conversations but it seemed she had stumbled into another.

"I guess we'll find out at Helm's Deep."


Once again the camp was packed away and prepared to leave within an hour of the sun rising over the mountains. That morning when Elle woke she was not overcome with the loss of her family. It had been when she had gone to bed the previous night when it occurred to her that she was glad her family was not in Middle Earth with her. The danger and darkness that permeated that land would have been too much to bear if she was also worrying about the safety of her siblings or mother.

Her spirits were relatively high at the revelation when she went to saddle Eterien. She was also pleased when the mare had nuzzled her affectionately while Elle had been fastening the bridle. It was when she was cooing and fussing over the horse that the presence of Éowyn went unnoticed for several minutes.

"It seems Eterien had become quite taken with you." The shield maiden observed causing Elle to turn and finally acknowledge her presence.

"Oh. Hey Éowyn." She greeted with a large smile. "I think it's just because she's a big softy." Elle cooed again before she took the reins and made to begin walking with the group, with Éowyn at her side. "So, how did the stew go down with Aragorn?"

"He liked it." She beamed with pride while internally Elle praised his politeness and acting skills.

"I am glad of that then. So why are you walking with me and not him, might I ask." Elle inquired as innocently as she could, causing Éowyn to blush.

"I wanted to see how you faired with Eterien." She said as casually as she could.

"Here I thought you were wanting to gossip about the angle of his stubble." The elleth laughed at the slightly confused expression of the woman. "Go on, I'm sure he'd enjoy your company." She gestured towards the Dúnedain who was leading his own mount a little ahead of them. After a moment Éowyn nodded and lead her own horse ahead to where the man was.


Several hours had passed and Elle had been walking alongside Gimli. Legolas was at the head of the caravan and hadn't spoken to her since the previous night. Aragorn and Éowyn, Elle had noticed, had been walking and talking together in good spirits for the majority of the day's journey.

"-but the sound of cleaving the head of an orc is truly only satisfying when performed with an axe." The dwarf concluded seemingly convinced he had proven the axe was the most effective weapon.

"Yeah, the best…" Elle murmured distracted. The group had only one final push before they reached their destination. She was sure that the trip wasn't supposed to go so smoothly. It took her a moment to remember what was supposed to go wrong and then she watched as Gamling and Háma rode ahead of the group and disappeared behind a high rise of earth.

"You alright lass?" Asked Gimli in his thick brogue. She didn't answer as she hurried into Eterien's saddle and drew one of her swords while her other hand held the reigns tightly. "What are you d-" Was all he could say before wild shouts were heard from behind the high rise.

"Wargs! We're under attack!" Aragorn shouted as he ran towards the people, suddenly chaos spread through the villagers as they screamed and panicked.

"All riders to the head of the column!" Ordered Théoden as he tried to get his people to safety. Elle urged Eterien towards the vicious growls but Elle could tell she wasn't too keen on the idea. After a moment of coaxing they were racing forward with the other warriors towards the impending tide of orc and warg.

"Elf! Go back to the women and children!" She heard someone yell but pointedly ignored as they stampeded with swords drawn. They thundered towards Legolas before he did some crazy gymnastics to get on Gimli's horse and then the two forces clashed.

Elle was plunged into a world of clashing swords, growls, blood and death. She had to admit she was a little out of her depth fighting on her horse. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind she was pulled from the saddle with a thump onto the blood stained grass. Quickly she pulled out her second sword before Eterien fled from the fray. Then the orc that had unsaddled her raced forward with battle fury in his beady black eyes. Just as she raised her swords to defend herself the creature fell dead at her feet with a golden arrow protruding from his back. She glanced a proud smirk from Legolas before they were both distracted with battle.

She was unsure how long she had fought for but it felt like forever and a moment at the same time. As she pulled her blade from the thick fur of a fallen warg she looked up to see they had won and the last of the wargs and their riders were either fleeing or being finished off by the surviving warriors. Elle breathed out shakily when she realised the battle had ended. Her blades were dark with thick orc blood dripping slowly into the grass that had become a mixture of black, red and green. After managing to clean the muck from her swords she sheathed them and went to find out where Eterien had fled.

The mere was stood amongst a group of other horses that had abandoned their riders in fear and each seemed to be on edge. Slowly she approached, cooing as she walked to calm the nerves of the poor mustang. Taking the reins she lead the horse back towards the battle field to find her friends. Her gaze caught sight of Legolas, Gimli and Théoden stood near the edge of a cliff. After mentioning to a passing warrior where the horses were gathered she made her way over to her companions.

"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." At the king's words Legolas looked away from the ravine and stared at him incredulously. He put a comforting hand upon the elf's shoulder with sadness etched in his face. "Come."

It was then Elle realised what had happened. Aragorn had fallen into the river below. The males looked sadly down at the raging water that had claimed their friend. She had no idea what to say. Elle knew he would be fine, he would return dramatically announcing doom to all.

"Legolas… Gimli…" She paused as they both looked up at her slowly, eyes full of pain "we have to go…" Elle almost whispered, her voice seemingly crushed by the weight of their sorrow. Ever so slowly they nodded in agreement and made their way to their mounts.

The ride to helm's deep was sluggish and quiet save for the groans of the wounded they had been carefully attached to makeshift stretchered and lashed to horses. The losses of the fight seemed to be a heavy cloud of despair that hung low around the returning warriors.

Mountains seemed to crop up around them, looming eerily before the thick stone walls of Helm's Deep came into sight. As they drew closer she could see the bustle of the villagers that had made it safely into the protective walls and the joy they expressed then she saw the return of the warriors.

The thundering of hooves upon the cobbled bridge echoed around them as the relieved faces of the villagers greeted them while Gamling bellowed at them to move. The warriors transporting the wounded broke away to get their comrades seen to while Théoden, Gamling, Legolas, Gimli and Elle all carried on ahead towards the main hall. When they finally came to a halt a flash of blonde hair sped towards her king. Elle found it difficult to look at the woman as she dismounted from Eterien. When Gimli finally gave her he news she looked like she had taken a physical blow. Éowyn's piercing blues eyes found Elle's before she fled into the dark hall.

Quietly Elle helped move supplies into the cave. She wanted to keep busy and avoid the broken looks Éowyn couldn't help but throw at her. Elle felt so guilty for encouraging a relationship she knew would never happen but she knew deep down it would lead to her happily ever after with Faramir. Two hours had passed before Elle had been told to rest after the battle she had taken part in. But the fortress was so packed with people she couldn't find anywhere quiet enough for her to sleep. After a further ten minutes of searching for a quiet place she stumbled upon a small dark room with only a small slit of a window allowing pale streams of light into the room. It took only a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dark and then she realised the room wasn't empty. At the back of the room a figure was slumped against the corner and after a moment she realised he was weeping… and it was Legolas.


Lle desiel? - Are you ready?

Mani naa ta? - What is it?

Eterien – Honey, in Rohirrim (apparently.)

So! Today is the one year anniversary of embarking upon this story! Yes! This is the longest story i have ever written and have managed to stick to! In celebration I have done an anniversary picture and written the longest chapter ever! (My second longest now that i think about it) so please review and let me know your views on the story. :) The link to the picture is on my profile.