The Perils of Fangorn
by SkyFire
For disclaimer, see part 1.
Save the whales?? Save the plotbunnies!! *g* Leave a review!
*****
The Perils of Fangorn
by SkyFire
Part 7
Aragorn was quite relieved when she returned to her room after supper to find a good set of
riding-clothes laid out for her, as well as a good set of shining mail from Theoden's own
armoury. At least Eomer's revenge didn't extend to forcing her to ride in a dress and
sidesaddle!
Aware that they were making a very early start the next day, she quickly checked to make sure
that her things were all packed and ready before taking off the fancy clothes she wore and
dressing in a simple nightshirt, climbing into bed and quickly falling asleep.
She was awakened not long after by Legolas, who wore a similar nightshirt, covered by a velvet
robe.
"Hsst! Aragorn! Awaken!" Legolas hissed, shaking the other by the shoulder.
"Mmmph?" the human asked eloquently before coming fully awake and sitting up in bed. She could
see the other in the light of the moon as it poured in through the window. "Legolas?" She could
see the Elf's distress clearly in the moonlight. "What's wrong?"
"Aragorn, I... I want to ask a favor of you," Legolas said hesitantly. "I wish that I could
complete this Quest with you and the others, but I fear that I am dying, and-"
"Dying?" Aragorn said harshly. She grabbed ahold of the Elf by the shoulders. "What do you
mean, you are dying? You were fine this evening!"
"Yes, I was. I do not know why this is happening. A short while ago, maybe a half of an hour, I
was awakened by pain," Legolas said, one long-fingered hand rubbing at her abdomen. "After a
little while, the pain eased slightly, but now there is blood.... Perhaps, once the Quest is
finished, you could send word of me to my father in Mirkwood.... Aragorn? Aragorn, stop
laughing. I am dying, and you are laughing?" Legolas frowned, hurt.
Aragorn wiped at her streaming eyes, her laughter trailing off into chuckles. "Legolas, you
surprise me sometimes. Do you mean to tell me that in all your centuries of life, you have never
heard of a woman's moon-cycles?" He chuckled. "You are not dying, my friend."
"No?" Legolas asked, relieved, though still upset at being laughed at. "But I am bleeding!"
"Yes," Aragorn said, grinning. "And it will continue for *days*."
"No," Legolas said, eyes wide in horror.
"Yes," came the reply. Aragorn released her hold on the Elf, then got up out of bed and pulled
on a robe, cinching it at her waist. "Let's go see the Healers here. I never even though that
this might happen."
"This might happen to you as well," Legolas realized. Somehow, knowing that someone else would
suffer the same ordeal made the suffering and embarrassment somewhat less acute.
The floor was chill against their feet as they left the Ranger's room, then walked to the
Healers', having to go outside and cross maybe twenty feet of dewy grass to get to the Healers'
building.
Soon, they left to return to their rooms, each with a small bag of supplies, each with the memory
of the Healer's short, terse lesson.
The day dawned bright and sunny, and found the Riders already many miles from the Golden Hall of
Meduseld.
Gimli rode behind Eomer, speaking to him of Lothlorien and the beauty of the Lady Galadriel.
Aragorn, happily dressed in her new, fitting, men's clothing, rode at the head of the group,
speaking with Theoden and Gandalf.
Legolas rode behind them, sitting her horse in silent misery. How could women bear this every
month, she wondered. The memory of the sight of her own blood made her shiver, a feeling of
distaste coursing through her. She'd seen her own blood before, been wounded and bandaged her
own wounds. Blood had never bothered her before, but somehow this was different, more personal.
Miserable.
"Legolas!" Gandalf called. "You have the keenest eyes of all here. Can you see anything away
yonder toward Isengard?" He pointed.
Legolas looked in the indicated direction, shading her eyes with her hand. She could see a
darkness there, with many great moving shapes in it, and it moved, flowing down from the hills.
She told this to Gandalf, then retreated back into silence and misery, and kept to herself even
when they pitched camp that evening.
The afternoon of the next day they encountered a weary horseman who had clearly seen battle. He
warned them of Saruman's orcs, his Uruk-Hai, who had fought the Riders at the Fords of Isen and
were even now pursuing them toward Helm's Deep.
And so Gandalf left them, riding away with all haste on an unexplained errand, even as Theoden
led the rest quickly to the support of those at Helm's Deep.
TBC...
So. Am I twisted or am I? *g*
Plotbunnies and authors both love reviews, so click the button and leave one! *g*
by SkyFire
For disclaimer, see part 1.
Save the whales?? Save the plotbunnies!! *g* Leave a review!
*****
The Perils of Fangorn
by SkyFire
Part 7
Aragorn was quite relieved when she returned to her room after supper to find a good set of
riding-clothes laid out for her, as well as a good set of shining mail from Theoden's own
armoury. At least Eomer's revenge didn't extend to forcing her to ride in a dress and
sidesaddle!
Aware that they were making a very early start the next day, she quickly checked to make sure
that her things were all packed and ready before taking off the fancy clothes she wore and
dressing in a simple nightshirt, climbing into bed and quickly falling asleep.
She was awakened not long after by Legolas, who wore a similar nightshirt, covered by a velvet
robe.
"Hsst! Aragorn! Awaken!" Legolas hissed, shaking the other by the shoulder.
"Mmmph?" the human asked eloquently before coming fully awake and sitting up in bed. She could
see the other in the light of the moon as it poured in through the window. "Legolas?" She could
see the Elf's distress clearly in the moonlight. "What's wrong?"
"Aragorn, I... I want to ask a favor of you," Legolas said hesitantly. "I wish that I could
complete this Quest with you and the others, but I fear that I am dying, and-"
"Dying?" Aragorn said harshly. She grabbed ahold of the Elf by the shoulders. "What do you
mean, you are dying? You were fine this evening!"
"Yes, I was. I do not know why this is happening. A short while ago, maybe a half of an hour, I
was awakened by pain," Legolas said, one long-fingered hand rubbing at her abdomen. "After a
little while, the pain eased slightly, but now there is blood.... Perhaps, once the Quest is
finished, you could send word of me to my father in Mirkwood.... Aragorn? Aragorn, stop
laughing. I am dying, and you are laughing?" Legolas frowned, hurt.
Aragorn wiped at her streaming eyes, her laughter trailing off into chuckles. "Legolas, you
surprise me sometimes. Do you mean to tell me that in all your centuries of life, you have never
heard of a woman's moon-cycles?" He chuckled. "You are not dying, my friend."
"No?" Legolas asked, relieved, though still upset at being laughed at. "But I am bleeding!"
"Yes," Aragorn said, grinning. "And it will continue for *days*."
"No," Legolas said, eyes wide in horror.
"Yes," came the reply. Aragorn released her hold on the Elf, then got up out of bed and pulled
on a robe, cinching it at her waist. "Let's go see the Healers here. I never even though that
this might happen."
"This might happen to you as well," Legolas realized. Somehow, knowing that someone else would
suffer the same ordeal made the suffering and embarrassment somewhat less acute.
The floor was chill against their feet as they left the Ranger's room, then walked to the
Healers', having to go outside and cross maybe twenty feet of dewy grass to get to the Healers'
building.
Soon, they left to return to their rooms, each with a small bag of supplies, each with the memory
of the Healer's short, terse lesson.
The day dawned bright and sunny, and found the Riders already many miles from the Golden Hall of
Meduseld.
Gimli rode behind Eomer, speaking to him of Lothlorien and the beauty of the Lady Galadriel.
Aragorn, happily dressed in her new, fitting, men's clothing, rode at the head of the group,
speaking with Theoden and Gandalf.
Legolas rode behind them, sitting her horse in silent misery. How could women bear this every
month, she wondered. The memory of the sight of her own blood made her shiver, a feeling of
distaste coursing through her. She'd seen her own blood before, been wounded and bandaged her
own wounds. Blood had never bothered her before, but somehow this was different, more personal.
Miserable.
"Legolas!" Gandalf called. "You have the keenest eyes of all here. Can you see anything away
yonder toward Isengard?" He pointed.
Legolas looked in the indicated direction, shading her eyes with her hand. She could see a
darkness there, with many great moving shapes in it, and it moved, flowing down from the hills.
She told this to Gandalf, then retreated back into silence and misery, and kept to herself even
when they pitched camp that evening.
The afternoon of the next day they encountered a weary horseman who had clearly seen battle. He
warned them of Saruman's orcs, his Uruk-Hai, who had fought the Riders at the Fords of Isen and
were even now pursuing them toward Helm's Deep.
And so Gandalf left them, riding away with all haste on an unexplained errand, even as Theoden
led the rest quickly to the support of those at Helm's Deep.
TBC...
So. Am I twisted or am I? *g*
Plotbunnies and authors both love reviews, so click the button and leave one! *g*