Chapter 8
The Bonding of Elf and Human
Madai awoke an hour later, with Aragorn, Legolas, and her uncle Eomer standing around her. She was on a soft bed, a great contrast to the ground which she had landed on. The three had been talking, perhaps of her, but when she woke they all looked at her and were silent. "Madai!" gasped Aragorn, and bent down and hugged her, crying into her shoulder. Madai noticed that there was a large amount of dressing around her chest, and that her hands and arms were stained red with blood. She tried to sit up, but decided against it when she felt an immense stab of pain in her chest. Eomer looked on her with pride. "I take back the things I have said, and the attitude I had upon our meeting. You did not deserve it. You are not a little girl, and I looked upon you wrongly. I would be proud to rule the East with you, Madai." He said, and Madai could not help but smile in return. "What you did for the elf children was brave beyond belief." Said Legolas. "I do not know anyone so brave that would help little children when their own life was at stake. Nor would any woman do it, save it were her own children." Madai could feel herself flush and quickly tried to hide it. Aragorn said, with some regret in his voice, "We must return to the battlefield. There are many wounded soldiers, which are in need of our help. Come Eomer." He bent and hugged Madai aging, and they left. She slept with dark dreams the rest of the day, and when light came aging, she awoke, feeling rested but slightly gloomy. Legolas fed her some lembas, a delectable wafer of mallorn-leaf, which Legolas said came directly from Lothlorien, the Golden Wood of Galadriel. She was able to eat three before she felt satiated. Then she and Legolas talked for a while, and she told him all that happened from when the battle began. Legolas was silent through her account, and when she had finished, he said: "The children told me how you fought to save them. It was a very brave deed, and very exceptional for a first-time competitor, especially with an Elven sword. I greatly wish to teach you to use a bow and arrow, and see how you would fare with another elf weapon." he said. "Well, I think I would like that very much." She answered, accepting his kind offer with much gratitude. "Well then, tomorrow morning, if you feel well enough to walk, I shall take you to the gardens and teach you." He said. "But for now rest yourself. You won't be well enough if you do not gain your strength." He said, and left the room. Madai dozed off and on through the day, too excited to really sleep. Then she remembered her father, and that her was wounded, and called for Legolas and asked of him. "He's fine. Only a small wound, though he will not be able to walk aptly for quite some time. I shall bring you dinner in a little while. But just get yourself rested up." He kissed her hand and exited the room. The next morning, Legolas helped her out of bed. He brought her a wardrobe of a comfortable fitting dress with a pair of strange looking boots, but even more comfortable as the dress. When she asked him about them, he told her that they were of elf attire, and that they wore them when they wished not to leave tracks. "You can do as much as walk on the surface of snow if you wish." He said.. She put them on, and started to walk, but stopped out of her amazement. She felt as light as a feather! It was a wonderful feeling, though a little daunting. They walked out to the gardens together, and through the gardens to a little grove with a small stream running through it. Madai was surprised; she had some how never found this place before. Madai asked where Aragorn had gone, and Legolas told her that he went to check upon Arwen and Eowyn and explain what has happened. Madai looked disappointed by the news. "Don't worry. He will be back soon. Before the next battle." Legolas said.. Legolas taught her how to draw the arrow and place it in the bow before he taught anything else. They practiced that for a while until she was almost as fast as Legolas himself. Then she learned to shoot, though at first she did poorly, she improved greatly. Her aim was accomplished, and she was as quick as a sly fox running from hounds. She was almost as competent as Legolas, and she practiced for days until she felt she could get no better. At the end of the day, she thanked Legolas immensely for his skilled training. For a moment she paused, lost for words, and then found that it was getting quite late. "I better go. To see if Aragorn has returned yet, that is." She said, and ran off. She even felt faster in the elf boots he gave her, which she never found out he had given her his own.
The Bonding of Elf and Human
Madai awoke an hour later, with Aragorn, Legolas, and her uncle Eomer standing around her. She was on a soft bed, a great contrast to the ground which she had landed on. The three had been talking, perhaps of her, but when she woke they all looked at her and were silent. "Madai!" gasped Aragorn, and bent down and hugged her, crying into her shoulder. Madai noticed that there was a large amount of dressing around her chest, and that her hands and arms were stained red with blood. She tried to sit up, but decided against it when she felt an immense stab of pain in her chest. Eomer looked on her with pride. "I take back the things I have said, and the attitude I had upon our meeting. You did not deserve it. You are not a little girl, and I looked upon you wrongly. I would be proud to rule the East with you, Madai." He said, and Madai could not help but smile in return. "What you did for the elf children was brave beyond belief." Said Legolas. "I do not know anyone so brave that would help little children when their own life was at stake. Nor would any woman do it, save it were her own children." Madai could feel herself flush and quickly tried to hide it. Aragorn said, with some regret in his voice, "We must return to the battlefield. There are many wounded soldiers, which are in need of our help. Come Eomer." He bent and hugged Madai aging, and they left. She slept with dark dreams the rest of the day, and when light came aging, she awoke, feeling rested but slightly gloomy. Legolas fed her some lembas, a delectable wafer of mallorn-leaf, which Legolas said came directly from Lothlorien, the Golden Wood of Galadriel. She was able to eat three before she felt satiated. Then she and Legolas talked for a while, and she told him all that happened from when the battle began. Legolas was silent through her account, and when she had finished, he said: "The children told me how you fought to save them. It was a very brave deed, and very exceptional for a first-time competitor, especially with an Elven sword. I greatly wish to teach you to use a bow and arrow, and see how you would fare with another elf weapon." he said. "Well, I think I would like that very much." She answered, accepting his kind offer with much gratitude. "Well then, tomorrow morning, if you feel well enough to walk, I shall take you to the gardens and teach you." He said. "But for now rest yourself. You won't be well enough if you do not gain your strength." He said, and left the room. Madai dozed off and on through the day, too excited to really sleep. Then she remembered her father, and that her was wounded, and called for Legolas and asked of him. "He's fine. Only a small wound, though he will not be able to walk aptly for quite some time. I shall bring you dinner in a little while. But just get yourself rested up." He kissed her hand and exited the room. The next morning, Legolas helped her out of bed. He brought her a wardrobe of a comfortable fitting dress with a pair of strange looking boots, but even more comfortable as the dress. When she asked him about them, he told her that they were of elf attire, and that they wore them when they wished not to leave tracks. "You can do as much as walk on the surface of snow if you wish." He said.. She put them on, and started to walk, but stopped out of her amazement. She felt as light as a feather! It was a wonderful feeling, though a little daunting. They walked out to the gardens together, and through the gardens to a little grove with a small stream running through it. Madai was surprised; she had some how never found this place before. Madai asked where Aragorn had gone, and Legolas told her that he went to check upon Arwen and Eowyn and explain what has happened. Madai looked disappointed by the news. "Don't worry. He will be back soon. Before the next battle." Legolas said.. Legolas taught her how to draw the arrow and place it in the bow before he taught anything else. They practiced that for a while until she was almost as fast as Legolas himself. Then she learned to shoot, though at first she did poorly, she improved greatly. Her aim was accomplished, and she was as quick as a sly fox running from hounds. She was almost as competent as Legolas, and she practiced for days until she felt she could get no better. At the end of the day, she thanked Legolas immensely for his skilled training. For a moment she paused, lost for words, and then found that it was getting quite late. "I better go. To see if Aragorn has returned yet, that is." She said, and ran off. She even felt faster in the elf boots he gave her, which she never found out he had given her his own.