Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings or any of its characters. I only own Leûra, Aearion, Undûme, Cassiopeia, Balanidhren, Aefaradien and any other original characters – so no stealing. However, I don't own Cuiviénen. That place belongs to J. R. R. Tolkien, but the stories of it in Chapter 1 and 2 are all mine.
Chapter 45: The Host of the Eldar
f"Where is he?" I look up from attaching gauntlets to my wrists to see Legolas. I don't even jump anymore when he approaches. My hearing is, at last, healed. Thank Valar. "You went after him when I did not. Where is he?"
"He needed time to think, Legolas, so I left him to think." He looks disappointed with his head hanging low. He is always so melancholy, dwelling on things he should not worry about so much. "But…if I had to guess, he would be back in the armory." I offer him a smile, which he returns, his attitude perking up immediately.
Before I even know what's happening, Legolas kisses my cheek once again and takes off out of my room. Letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, I go back to work on my gauntlets. Why does he do that? How does he do that? My skin tingles again, I can feel my pulse race and I can't seem to stop thinking about him and his smile.
I leave my room and head down the halls towards the armory. Hopefully, Aragorn has come to his senses and forgiven Legolas. Legolas…Wait a moment. Do I…? Well, he is rather…and he does seem to…No, it's not possible. I don't love Legolas, and he certainly doesn't love me. I walk down the stairs of the armory to see Aragorn smile at Legolas.
"Ú-moe edamed, Legolas," he assures him, both of them smiling at one another. Aragorn looks over Legolas' shoulder to me, and nods, silently thanking me. Legolas turns to see what Aragorn was looking at then smiles at me as I join them. "Are you ready, mellon nîn?"
"As I'll ever be," I say easily, releasing a shaky breath. Both of them place a hand on my shoulders and squeeze comfortingly. "I feel foolish saying that I am afraid."
"You would be foolish to say that you are not," Aragorn comments with a smile. We suddenly hear a door open and Gimli enters the room, wearing armor that is far too long for him. Where on earth did he get that?
"If we had time, I'd get this adjusted." The armor suddenly falls to the ground around his feet, and I have to place a hand over my mouth to keep myself from laughing. "It's a little tight across the chest." I smile at the Dwarf and look to Legolas and Aragorn who are smiling as well.
"Even in times of war, Gimli, you are ever amusing," I tell him. He laughs at this but stops abruptly when the sound of a horn is heard from outside. That cannot be Saruman's army! They could not have gotten here so fast!
"That is no Orc horn," Legolas exclaims and we rush out of the armory. Not an Orc horn? Some good news at last. But, if not the Army of Isengard, who? I can hear one of the guards shouting for someone to send for the king and to open the gate. I can hear the gates open and the marching of feet, but who are these warriors that come to our aid? Briefly, I hear Théoden ask how this is possible. How is what possible!
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell." I know that voice, but it can't be. My feet quicken at the sound of his voice and we see Haldir with an army of Elves behind him. "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together." I can't help but smile proudly as the four of us rush down the stairs to greet Haldir, who smiles when he sees us. "We come to honor that allegiance."
"Mae govannen, Haldir," Aragorn exclaims, standing before the Elf a moment before hugging him tightly. Haldir, a little surprised, returns the gesture with a smile of his own. Aragorn pulls back and pats the Elf's shoulders. "You are most welcome." Legolas moves down the stairs, moving past Aragorn who's moved to stand by Théoden, and embraces Haldir. Haldir looks up to see me moving towards him and I hug him as well. My dreams were wrong; he is alive. I move to stand behind him, Legolas doing the same with a proud smile.
"We are proud to fight alongside men, once more," Haldir tells Théoden, Aragorn beaming at the bewildered king as the Army of Elves turn and lower their bows and shields in unison. All Théoden can do is nod dumbly, completely in awe.
"I need to speak with you," I whisper into Haldir's ear and he nods. He orders Legolas to take charge of the Elves until he returns and we walk toward the look out tower. Looking back a moment, I see Legolas with a frown. He almost looks disappointed. Perhaps he does…no, no! He doesn't! "Sut naa lle?" I ask as we look over the dark plains. I can already hear the army coming closer.
"Amin naa quel, hannon lle. Ar lle?" he replies with some confusion at my concerned tone.
"Amin naa quel vithel," I reply and we stop speaking as a group of Men pass. Where they go, I know not but they're not my concern. Looking up at Haldir, I can see the concern he has towards me. I must look as I feel, terrified, for him to look at me like that. "I've missed you, mellon nîn."
"And I you, but I see my fears were in vain."
My brow furrowed in confusion as I ask, "What do you mean "fears"?"
"The Lady told me that you would face a great danger. I feared that you had perished." I balk. Why would Galadriel say I am going to die? If she said that…am I? Oh, Valar, I think my stomachs dropped out again. Maybe I shouldn't be fighting.
"I have faced many things since I left Lórien, death has been one of them," I tell him with a wavering voice, my mind drifting to Boromir. I can't even look at him anyway more so I turn to stare at the darkness.
"What other sorts of things have you faced?" I want to laugh as I think back to the days after we left the safety of Lórien.
"As I said, I have faced many things."
"And you have survived. I have no doubt that you will survive this night as well." That's a comfort. I only wish I could be so confident as I was earlier. Maybe I will survive this battle, but will Haldir? My dream…
Rain pours down on Elves and Men as they battle an army of Uruks and Orcs. Haldir kills a great many of them that tried to surround him. He looks around, hearing his name being called. Aragorn comes into view, telling him to order the retreat. Haldir opens his mouth the speak, but is silent as he feels excruciating pain in his back. He looks down and sees an enemy sword potruding through his chest. The pain leaves as he falls to his knees, his eyes trailing over all of his fallen comrades. He hears Aragorn, sounding garbled and distant, then more pain as his body shakes forward. The pain passes, cold settles in and he falls back into the arms of Aragorn as he closes his eyes...
"As will you, Haldir. As will you," I tell him confidently, looking back at him with a smile. "Come, we should join the others at our posts. The battle will begin soon." I take one last look at the plains and I can see the army approach in an endless line, looking like a snake. As we walk on, I am grabbed by my arm by a man. I turn to see Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli with rather somber expressions on their faces. "What is wrong?"
"We think it would be best if you stayed with the women," Aragorn states, and its like all of the air has been punched from my lungs. "It would be safer for you."
"Now?" I gasp, looking at Haldir, who is also confused. "After all of the preparations we've made together, you want me to hide?" I question incredulously, staring at each of them in turn.
"Not hide, lass, protect the women with Lady Èowyn ," Gimli offers kindly. Valar, he really has changed! "In case our forces do not manage to hold of the enemy, we want someone we know for sure who can hold her own to protect the women if we cannot."
"That is a stupid plan, and you all know it," I argue angrily. "Even if you and the other men do not last the night, and the enemy somehow manages to break in here, how would you like me to fend them off, alone?"
"Told you that wouldn't work," Gimli mutters and walks away, making me stare at my other two friends pointedly.
"The truth," I demand, my regal nature coming back to me. "Now." I watch as Legolas and Aragorn share a look, and the latter sighs quietly.
"The King does not want you fighting," he states, and I stare at him, aghast. "He says it is not the place of a woman to fight in this battle."
"He is right," Legolas states, forcing my glare unto himself. "You have fought much in these lands, but your only real battle experience has been with the Fellowship. You deserve a good rest."
"I thought we went over this. How is sitting in the darkness of a cave with whimpering women and children, listening to the marching of Saruman's army through the walls, the shouts and screams of men suppose to relax me, comfort me?" I ask, and both look as though they want to apologize, but I don't give them the chance. I mean, how dare they! They might as well say I can't fight as good as them because I am a woman! "Don't! I will go, and I will protect them. But, when this battle is over, if either of you are still alive, watch your backs very carefully. A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas."
A/N: Please, no one kill me for making Leûra not allowed to fight. Honestly, it's for the best because, one, the whole battle in her POV was giving me a lot of trouble, and, two, would Théoden honestly let a complete female stranger fight in a battle that he wouldn't let his own niece fight? I don't think so. Don't worry though, the battle is to be written to the best of my ability with Leûra's new surroundings. Hope you like it!
Translations:
Ú-moe edamed, Legolas: There is nothing to forgive, Legolas
Sut naa lle?: How are you?
Amin naa quel, hannon lle. Ar lle?: I am well, thank you. And you?
Amin naa quel vithel: I am well also
A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas: Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none
P.S.: Four pages total.
