Author's Notes: Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I haven't written in like fifteen
million years, but this chapter will make up for it!! I guess I've just
been really busy or something.Anyways please review! I hope you guys don't
totally hate me for not posting in such a long time!
If the words are between these symbols , imagine they are in Elvish. //|| means they are thoughts!
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to Tolkien!
And, without further delay, the second chapter in Facing it Together. . .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Two- Returns and Regrets
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eowyn found that it was hard to breathe, and that her ankles were so weak she could barely stand. This state of incapability both angered her and surprised her. As a shield maiden of Rohan, she prided herself on being a woman able to withstand the blows of swords and the sting of arrows. Very rarely had something gotten past her fierce determination.
Yet, one kiss from this man, no elf, was enough to cause her to go into a state of shock. One kiss caused her to forget all the pain of death and to instead feel as if she was floating on the clouds.
Consciously drawing in a deep breath, Eowyn braced herself and tried to stand. She would have fallen, if not for the strong pair of arms that pulled her to her feet.
"Eowyn, sister-daughter, what ails you?" asked Theoden, King of Rohan, and Eowyn's uncle.
The shield maiden of Rohan shook her head. "Nothing, sir. I am merely weary with sorrow."
The face of the wizened king was guilty. "I am sorry, Eowyn. We could not bring the Heir of Gondor's throne back to you. We could not find the body."
Hope rose through Eowyn's chest. "Maybe then, uncle, he is not dead."
Theoden looked at his niece strictly. "No, sister-daughter. He is dead. His life was taken by the fierce river that flows at the bottom of the rugged cliff. He fell over the edge."
Dismay grasped the woman's heart. "And no one tried to help him?!" she asked, angry and amazed, "Not even his friends?"
"We did not know he fell until the battle was over. A dying Uruk was threatened by the Elf Warrior Legolas, and eventually admitted what happened to the man. Legolas looked as if he could jump in after Aragorn, to desperately find him. I'm sure he would have, if not for the urgency of the situation, and the need of his skills." Theoden's voice trailed off.
//Legolas,\\ thought Eowyn, //I should have known he would be the one to want to help Aragorn. . .\\
Eowyn spoke her mind. "How did the Elf and the Dwarf handle his death?"
Theoden's look was grim. "Gimli, the dwarf, talked endlessly to Legolas about many things. But Legolas remained silent. I fear for him. Their company has lost many, including the Steward of Gondor, Boromir. For a time they believed Gandalf to be lost. And four other of their friends are missing."
Eowyn made a mental note to ask Legolas about this later. "Thank you, Uncle. I shall retire now."
Theoden smiled at his niece. "Will you reach your chambers safely, sister- daughter?"
Eowyn nodded. "I shall be fine." She rose shakily and walked off in the direction of her rooms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Eowyn awoke to sunlight streaming through her room's one window. //How terrible,\\ she thought, //that the day after one of our time's greatest heroes dies, it is beautiful out.\\
She dressed in a comfortable dress, and hid a dagger underneath it. She pulled half of her hair back, off her face, and prepared to go down to breakfast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eowyn found that she was late to breakfast, and the only seat left just happened to be next to Legolas. She shyly walked up and sat down on his left, the dwarf on his right.
Legolas looked sideways at her, and managed a small smile. Eowyn felt her skin turn red, and smiled self-consciously back, while staring down at the bowl of porridge placed in front of her.
"Attention," King Theoden called. The long table silenced. Eowyn surveyed the scene, she was obviously the only woman, and was receiving strange looks from many of the men.
"It has been made plainly obvious that Sarumon wishes war upon Rohan. It is plainly obvious that we must rise to this threat, and prepare to defend our people." Theoden's words sparked interest in many.
Eowyn remained quiet, observing Legolas' reaction. His facial expression had not yet changed, but his eyes had darkened ever so slightly.
Theoden bowed his head. "I only wish that Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the Throne of Gondor was here. He himself was a great warrior or so I've been told by his friends, Gimli of the Lonely Mountain and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. He would have been an excellent person to have on my counsel."
All the heads at the table bowed for a moment, in remembrance of the great man. Abruptly, Legolas stood up, and spoke. "Excuse, Lord Theoden. I must leave." He turned on his heel and fled the room, causing snickers from the men of Rohan.
Eowyn glanced at the men, then after Legolas. She rose as well, then nodded at her uncle and fled after the elf.
Gimli laughed heartily. "Seems my friend Legolas has captured the fancy of your niece, Theoden King."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Legolas, wait! Eowyn called out in Elvish.
The elf stopped his frantic pacing of the corridors. He turned and faced the Lady of Rohan. Yes, Eowyn. What is it?
Why did you leave breakfast so quickly?
The food was not to my liking.
Eowyn glared at him. Do not jest, sir Elf. I will ask you again. Why did you leave breakfast so quickly?
Legolas sighed, and switched back to Common tongue. He glanced around uneasily. "Can we talk somewhere else?"
Eowyn nodded. "Let's go to my quarters. I still have some time before I am supposed to be on healing duty."
Legolas nodded, and followed Eowyn to her chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eowyn closed the door after them. She beckoned to a chair and told Legolas to sit. She herself sat perched on the edge of her bed. "Now, Legolas, tell me what is ailing you?"
The elf took a deep breath, and began to speak. "A long time ago, I realized that my bond with Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar of Rivendell and Aragorn's love, allowed us to communicate telepathically, even over long distances. It was because of this that we mistook our growing friendship for love, and because of that we agreed to be engaged by our fathers."
Eowyn searched his face for answers. "I am not sure I understand."
"I told Arwen telepathically that I did not think Aragorn would be coming home. She didn't answer, so I figured that she could not hear me, that the distance was too great. Then, this morning, at breakfast, I received her reply. She told me that Aragorn is alive. I should not doubt her claim, but I confess to be very doubtful." Legolas sighed again.
Eowyn beckoned him to sit next to her on the bed. He complied, and she hugged him as soon as he was settled. "I hope, for all of our sake, that Aragorn is alive."
Legolas nodded, "I agree with you, Lady of Rohan. Oh, and I do apologize for last night, if you find my actions improper."
Eowyn stared at him. "Nay, nay, fair elf! I found your actions most enjoyable, if truth be told." She smiled shyly into his beautiful face.
"Really?" asked Legolas.
Eowyn nodded, not sure what to say. It turns out, she did not need to speak, for soon her lips were covered with Legolas'.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that day, Eowyn was caring for many of the sick and wounded in Helm's Deep. She had finished tending one old man's wounds, and found herself catching Legolas' eye across the room.
One look from him told her something. Aragorn had come home. She drew in a sharp breath, and turned to tend to another woman. She heard a cry of excitement outside, and saw Gimli of the Lonely Mountain rush outside.
All grew quiet, as even the children silenced their cries, as if they knew that something important was about to occur. Eowyn felt her heart race. She would be seeing Aragorn again, Aragorn who had captured her fancy long before his Elven companion.
The doors slammed open, and there stood Aragorn, looking, despite his clear state of dirtiness and disarray, like the king he should be. He walked, head down through the crowd of anxious people, and almost collided with Legolas, who stood in front of the doors that Aragorn wanted to go through.
Legolas looked his best friend directly in the eye, and said, in Elvish, You're late.
Aragorn opened his mouth, but Legolas cut him off again. "You look terrible," he said in Common.
The two best friends stood there, staring at each other, until they both started to laugh. Aragorn clapped a hand on Legolas' shoulder. Legolas looked him in the eye, and then pressed the Evenstar into his palm. The two shared a glance, then smiled once again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Whew! I enjoyed writing that!! Please, please review!! I want to know what you think!
~Coco
If the words are between these symbols , imagine they are in Elvish. //|| means they are thoughts!
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to Tolkien!
And, without further delay, the second chapter in Facing it Together. . .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Two- Returns and Regrets
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eowyn found that it was hard to breathe, and that her ankles were so weak she could barely stand. This state of incapability both angered her and surprised her. As a shield maiden of Rohan, she prided herself on being a woman able to withstand the blows of swords and the sting of arrows. Very rarely had something gotten past her fierce determination.
Yet, one kiss from this man, no elf, was enough to cause her to go into a state of shock. One kiss caused her to forget all the pain of death and to instead feel as if she was floating on the clouds.
Consciously drawing in a deep breath, Eowyn braced herself and tried to stand. She would have fallen, if not for the strong pair of arms that pulled her to her feet.
"Eowyn, sister-daughter, what ails you?" asked Theoden, King of Rohan, and Eowyn's uncle.
The shield maiden of Rohan shook her head. "Nothing, sir. I am merely weary with sorrow."
The face of the wizened king was guilty. "I am sorry, Eowyn. We could not bring the Heir of Gondor's throne back to you. We could not find the body."
Hope rose through Eowyn's chest. "Maybe then, uncle, he is not dead."
Theoden looked at his niece strictly. "No, sister-daughter. He is dead. His life was taken by the fierce river that flows at the bottom of the rugged cliff. He fell over the edge."
Dismay grasped the woman's heart. "And no one tried to help him?!" she asked, angry and amazed, "Not even his friends?"
"We did not know he fell until the battle was over. A dying Uruk was threatened by the Elf Warrior Legolas, and eventually admitted what happened to the man. Legolas looked as if he could jump in after Aragorn, to desperately find him. I'm sure he would have, if not for the urgency of the situation, and the need of his skills." Theoden's voice trailed off.
//Legolas,\\ thought Eowyn, //I should have known he would be the one to want to help Aragorn. . .\\
Eowyn spoke her mind. "How did the Elf and the Dwarf handle his death?"
Theoden's look was grim. "Gimli, the dwarf, talked endlessly to Legolas about many things. But Legolas remained silent. I fear for him. Their company has lost many, including the Steward of Gondor, Boromir. For a time they believed Gandalf to be lost. And four other of their friends are missing."
Eowyn made a mental note to ask Legolas about this later. "Thank you, Uncle. I shall retire now."
Theoden smiled at his niece. "Will you reach your chambers safely, sister- daughter?"
Eowyn nodded. "I shall be fine." She rose shakily and walked off in the direction of her rooms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Eowyn awoke to sunlight streaming through her room's one window. //How terrible,\\ she thought, //that the day after one of our time's greatest heroes dies, it is beautiful out.\\
She dressed in a comfortable dress, and hid a dagger underneath it. She pulled half of her hair back, off her face, and prepared to go down to breakfast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eowyn found that she was late to breakfast, and the only seat left just happened to be next to Legolas. She shyly walked up and sat down on his left, the dwarf on his right.
Legolas looked sideways at her, and managed a small smile. Eowyn felt her skin turn red, and smiled self-consciously back, while staring down at the bowl of porridge placed in front of her.
"Attention," King Theoden called. The long table silenced. Eowyn surveyed the scene, she was obviously the only woman, and was receiving strange looks from many of the men.
"It has been made plainly obvious that Sarumon wishes war upon Rohan. It is plainly obvious that we must rise to this threat, and prepare to defend our people." Theoden's words sparked interest in many.
Eowyn remained quiet, observing Legolas' reaction. His facial expression had not yet changed, but his eyes had darkened ever so slightly.
Theoden bowed his head. "I only wish that Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the Throne of Gondor was here. He himself was a great warrior or so I've been told by his friends, Gimli of the Lonely Mountain and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. He would have been an excellent person to have on my counsel."
All the heads at the table bowed for a moment, in remembrance of the great man. Abruptly, Legolas stood up, and spoke. "Excuse, Lord Theoden. I must leave." He turned on his heel and fled the room, causing snickers from the men of Rohan.
Eowyn glanced at the men, then after Legolas. She rose as well, then nodded at her uncle and fled after the elf.
Gimli laughed heartily. "Seems my friend Legolas has captured the fancy of your niece, Theoden King."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Legolas, wait! Eowyn called out in Elvish.
The elf stopped his frantic pacing of the corridors. He turned and faced the Lady of Rohan. Yes, Eowyn. What is it?
Why did you leave breakfast so quickly?
The food was not to my liking.
Eowyn glared at him. Do not jest, sir Elf. I will ask you again. Why did you leave breakfast so quickly?
Legolas sighed, and switched back to Common tongue. He glanced around uneasily. "Can we talk somewhere else?"
Eowyn nodded. "Let's go to my quarters. I still have some time before I am supposed to be on healing duty."
Legolas nodded, and followed Eowyn to her chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eowyn closed the door after them. She beckoned to a chair and told Legolas to sit. She herself sat perched on the edge of her bed. "Now, Legolas, tell me what is ailing you?"
The elf took a deep breath, and began to speak. "A long time ago, I realized that my bond with Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar of Rivendell and Aragorn's love, allowed us to communicate telepathically, even over long distances. It was because of this that we mistook our growing friendship for love, and because of that we agreed to be engaged by our fathers."
Eowyn searched his face for answers. "I am not sure I understand."
"I told Arwen telepathically that I did not think Aragorn would be coming home. She didn't answer, so I figured that she could not hear me, that the distance was too great. Then, this morning, at breakfast, I received her reply. She told me that Aragorn is alive. I should not doubt her claim, but I confess to be very doubtful." Legolas sighed again.
Eowyn beckoned him to sit next to her on the bed. He complied, and she hugged him as soon as he was settled. "I hope, for all of our sake, that Aragorn is alive."
Legolas nodded, "I agree with you, Lady of Rohan. Oh, and I do apologize for last night, if you find my actions improper."
Eowyn stared at him. "Nay, nay, fair elf! I found your actions most enjoyable, if truth be told." She smiled shyly into his beautiful face.
"Really?" asked Legolas.
Eowyn nodded, not sure what to say. It turns out, she did not need to speak, for soon her lips were covered with Legolas'.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that day, Eowyn was caring for many of the sick and wounded in Helm's Deep. She had finished tending one old man's wounds, and found herself catching Legolas' eye across the room.
One look from him told her something. Aragorn had come home. She drew in a sharp breath, and turned to tend to another woman. She heard a cry of excitement outside, and saw Gimli of the Lonely Mountain rush outside.
All grew quiet, as even the children silenced their cries, as if they knew that something important was about to occur. Eowyn felt her heart race. She would be seeing Aragorn again, Aragorn who had captured her fancy long before his Elven companion.
The doors slammed open, and there stood Aragorn, looking, despite his clear state of dirtiness and disarray, like the king he should be. He walked, head down through the crowd of anxious people, and almost collided with Legolas, who stood in front of the doors that Aragorn wanted to go through.
Legolas looked his best friend directly in the eye, and said, in Elvish, You're late.
Aragorn opened his mouth, but Legolas cut him off again. "You look terrible," he said in Common.
The two best friends stood there, staring at each other, until they both started to laugh. Aragorn clapped a hand on Legolas' shoulder. Legolas looked him in the eye, and then pressed the Evenstar into his palm. The two shared a glance, then smiled once again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Whew! I enjoyed writing that!! Please, please review!! I want to know what you think!
~Coco