We stayed in South Ithilien and continued to render humanitarian aid to other Gondorian settlements. This was still frontier country; and the Haradrim/Easterling/Orc forces were very much still in the area. Legolas and Eowyn assisted me faithfully; both were skilled healers already. Eowyn and I were already determined to start the Arda Amazon tribe, but we would do that in the fullness of time. For now they would stay at my side; and I was glad for that. The gods were ever with me; but my middle earth companions were already in my heart too.
We were tirelessly working in another hamlet when we saw a wounded/slashed rider enter the settlement. Everyone grew fearful. Eowyn's Rohirrim blade was ready in her shield maiden hands; Legolas ever so with his Olympian bow. I moved to stand before them with fists clenched but otherwise unarmed. The horse hadn't been wounded, strangely enough. "What manner of beast would attack a man like that?" said Eowyn. The rider appeared to be a random human civilian. He groaned and fell off his horse. Eowyn's question hadn't been unobservant. Legolas frowned in puzzlement; but even he didn't have an answer.
I walked up to the rider. Eowyn said, "Diana, be careful!" I gave her a small smile. She then remembered my power and gave a small nod. I knelt by the rider and checked out his wounds. I knew instantly what had caused them. They sensed my concern and were around me moments later. "Diana, what is it?" said Legolas. "The Cheetah did this. She's one of my nemeses." "Cheetah?" said Eowyn. "Yes; a powerful feline demon enthralled to my war god brother. She's his most deadly agent." "Why would she did this? It's so...senseless." Of course I knew the answer. "To send a message. She's coming for us. She intends to havoc the frontier." "Why?" I scoffed. "Because she can. She'll do it to get at me; to get at us." I would always be the pejorative "pretty princess" to her; that would never change.
That made only partial sensed to them but total sense to me. It was likely brother had sensed Aphie's vision of possible love between the three of us. He'd always wanted me for himself. "Can we save him?" said Eowyn. The rider gave his last breath then/there. "Cheetah had kept him alive just long enough to let us know that she was coming for us." As I touched the dead man's shoulder I sensed powerful magic there... Familiar magic... "Hecate..." "Who?" "The Greek goddess of magic. She's very formidable; she too is enthralled to my brother." "What do we do?" That was a good question. But I knew the answer to this too; it was a reason I was glad I hadn't tried to initiate anything intimate with my companions yet.
"This is like fighting demons." I sighed and stood. "This is going to get much worse." I looked at them. "I want you both with me...but you may need to seek cover when the time comes." "Our place is beside you Diana," said Legolas; Eowyn nodded. I sighed and walked over to them. They secured their weapons; I took a hand of theirs into mine. I looked at each of them longingly; they did so of me as well. It was only now that I came to understand the greater truth behind sister Aphie's vision to me...
I wasn't meant to avoid love with them; I was meant to embrace it. It was this embracing of the greatest thing of all that would help to keep evil things at bay. The idea then came to me. "Let's take care of this body and get this settlement squared away...and then take things from there." They still didn't have a full idea what I had in mind but it didn't matter. They readily helped me do what needed doing. The inhabitants were a little scared but not as much knowing that we were there.
When the time came I took them out into the nearby woods. We would just go far enough; the settlers wouldn't go too far with what was moving around; hunting the unwary. Cheetah was more dangerous than any balrog. Plus she could keep coming back at will.
They were more than tempted to ask what was up; but they would know very shortly what would be up indeed... I faced them from being in the lead position...and undressed in front of them. They were shocked but not; and the more I went with it the less shocked they became; a growing desire from both of them replaced this. Without words they did the same. Soon enough in the middle of the wild we were in each other's arms. I led it; I started it. The vision said it had to be me that did such; and do such I would. There was always a danger in building intimate bonds in times like this, but love was the one thing brother could never beat.
We made love most of that night. Our warrior stamina - elf Rohirrim and Olympian was more than enough to make it last; to keep it passionate and intense. It was a primal sex we three shared during the act itself; but emotional, and spiritual, bonds between us would be strengthened immeasurably as a result in the long term. Aphie blessed our union through my patron Athena; I could feel it. I thanked both of my sisters in distant Mount Olympus.
My fear of having/making this intimacy work was surpassed by the increased strength that only love could bring. We would have a bond that rivaled/surpassed the ring fellowship in time. As we finally slept in each other's spent arms I vowed to let no harm come to them. I hadn't expected this to happen so fast...but it had. Now it was fact. Everything here would change yet again.