standard disclaimers apply.
~~--~~*~~--~~
artemis-chan: i don't think i even know what to make of adele being theoden's daughter. but then again think of what the series would have been like for boromir at least if tolkien would have went on ahead with making boromir a wife like his original plans.
alynna lis eachann: yeah, didn't we ALL see it coming?
rosethorn: yeah, yeah, you know you get the credit! ALL the credit. thanks for the betaing, and i hope you enjoy this chapter. not that you ahven't read it anyway..... or all of them for that matter, lol.
for everyone else, thanks for the reviews, and i hope you enjoy this chapter, as i put a lot of work into it. and the rest of the fic will be done soon, so review if you want faster updates!
~~--~~*~~--~~ Chapter Three: Afternoon Melodies and Dreams ~~--~~*~~--~~
The weeks after Talen's first awakening were very frustrating for him as he was not allowed to leave his bed for fear of disturbing any unseen injuries. He was sure that the only wounds he had were those upon his chest, but he was the guest in their home and would not disreguard their wishes.
To help pass the time, he spent much of his day in the company of Adele. They had become great friends as she took care of him since she was building upon her healing skills that had almost been forgotten with her leaving of Edoras.
The men of the house did not visit as often as the women, although it was not unheard of for Aidan or Airsyn to be found in Talen's room telling him tales of their hunting adventures, or stories from when they were younger.
Amiens was different.
From the beginning he had not been happy about having a stranger in the house. Being so disconnected from the outside world had made him somewhat of a recluse, from what Talen could gather, although sometimes the twins let a little more of their father's personal side in their stories.
Amiens did not matter all that much to Talen, even if he was the master of the house. It was Adele that he found most interesting. Of course, she was beautiful to his eyes. There had not been many women in his lifetime he had been fortunate enough to see with hair that shone like the sun, red mixed with gold. Her eyes made him think of the of fields that he could recall from memory, even if he was not sure of their location. She had captured his attention.
Talen was halfway into an afternoon nap when Adele came into his room with a basket hanging from her arm. She wore a pale blue sundress and her hair pulled up into a tight knot. This was not her usual attire for sitting around the house.
"I have a surprise for you," she announced as she set the basket down on his bedside table.
"A surprise? Should I be frightened?" he asked playfully, pushing himself up.
"I spoke with Sesile and she thought it all right to take you outside today."
Talen smiled broadly. He could not remember the last time he had been outside, although he was sure it wasn't a pleasant experience. Those thoughts were not readily available to him, though, and being kept inside for much longer was sure to make him crazy.
"That sounds wonderful. I should very much like to venture outside, if only for a moment," Talen replied.
"A moment surely is not long enough?" Adele asked as she sat on the side of the bed. "I had hoped to keep you outside for lunch. Maybe longer if it is all right with you."
"Yes, it will be fine."
Adele smiled and stood up, giving her hand to Talen as he swung his feet off of the bed and onto the floor. The wounds on his chest still ached and he could feel them tightening as he stretched his muscles.
"Can you stand on your own?" Adele asked.
"Yes, I think so."
Talen placed a hand on the table and pulled himself to a standing position, his legs unsteady with not having walked in so long. He began to sway until Adele caught him, her arm wrapped around his waist.
"You are much taller than I had thought," she said as she handed him the basket that held their lunch.
"And you are much shorter."
Talen took a step forward slowly, unsure of how his legs would react to the weight that was being pressed upon them. After several moments he took another step, testing things out like a child learning to walk.
"I never thought walking could be this hard," he said.
"You will learn again soon enough."
After much faltering, they found themselves outside and in the garden not far from the house. Not wanting to take him any further, Adele laid out their picnic near the rose bushes.
As she worked on setting everything out, Amiens watched from a window inside the house. Sesile had told him that Talen would be well enough to go outside soon, but he did not expect the man would need as much assistance as he did. There surely was no need for Talen to have his arm wrapped around Adele in the manner that he did....
Sesile came up behind her husband and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"They will be fine, Amiens," she said. "It's the first time he's been outside since he got here, so let him enjoy it."
Amiens turned and glared at Sesile, knowing that she was right, but not willing to admit it. He left the room abruptly, leaving his wife to stare out the window that he had previously occupied.
"What have you brought to eat?" Talen asked as he watched Adele open the basket.
She set a cloth napkin upon the blanket beneath them and unfolded it to reveal some bread and cheese. A couple of apples were pulled out of the basket as well as a knife to cut them.
"I wasn't sure about what to bring. Sesile has been feeding you soup nearly this whole time. She always was over careful," Adele said as she picked up a piece of bread, breaking it in half.
"Not that your cousin's soup is not good, one becomes very tiresome of the same thing day after day."
Talen reached over and picked up a piece of cheese.
"And speaking of your cousin, she is watching us through the window," Talen said with a laugh.
Adele looked up and waved to Sesile, who waved back before disappearing into the house somewhere.
Talen reached over and took the knife and an apple, cutting it in several pieces, handing one to Adele before eating a piece himself.
"I appreciate you doing this for me," he said with a grin.
"I'm glad. I knew by the way you looked at the window that you wanted out of the house."
"Was it that obvious?"
"Who wouldn't want out of the house? The same surroundings become quite dull after a period of time."
"You speak as if you know from experience."
Adele looked to the west at the distant mountains thoughtfully for a few moments. She turned and smiled at Talen.
"I have been here for far too long. It is good of my cousins to take me in, but I should much like to return to Edoras."
"When I am well enough to be on my own, it would be my wish to take you back."
"My cousins would not have it. My father would not have it. At least not until it is safe."
"When it is, then."
"I would like that very much."
There was a comfortable silence as the two enjoyed their food together in the early afternoon, the breeze blowing softly around them. Being outside was a bit more freedom for Talen, although only a small portion since he was still not physically able to move around without aid.
After they had finished eating Talen laid down on his back and looked up at the clouds passing overhead. He let out a contented sigh and closed his eyes. Soon after he heard soft singing near his ear.
Opening his eyes he looked over to see that Adele too had laid down and was softly singing, to herself or him, he was not sure. But he did not care, as her singing was beautiful. It was in a language that he could not understand.
"What do you sing of?" he asked softly. "For I cannot understand it."
Adele looked over at him and smiled.
"It is in Rohirric. I sing of the wind and the plains; of summers riding horses and nights of stargazing. Nothing specific, just something I created in my head."
"Keep singing."
Adele nodded and closed her eyes, her soft melody lulling Talen into the dreamworld.
~~--~~*~~--~~
Talen opened his eyes to a dim light coming from the moon and stars, and probably to torchlight nearby. No longer was he in the Rohan with Adele and her family, but in a place strange, yet familiar to his eyes.
A large painting depicting the fall of Sauron in the Great War of the Ring hung on a wall nearby. Isildur held his sword high to the dark lord. Talen observed this painting before turning to see a statue and the shards of a sword. There was also a man nearby with a book in his hands. He looked so familiar....
~~--~~*~~--~~
Talen opened his eyes to the feel of a hand touching his shoulder. He looked up and met a pair of smiling green eyes.
"You have been asleep for a few hours, Talen. Rain draws near and I do not wish for you to drown in your slumber. Wake so we can go inside."
Talen nodded and sat up, shaking the drowsiness from himself. He allowed Adele to help him to a standing position which he held on his own while she packed the remnants of their afternoon back into the basket. While she did this, he decided to try a few steps on his own, which went well.
"Are you that desperate to walk on your own?" Adele asked.
"I do not wish to be a burden upon your arm as I am sure my weight exceeds that of your own by much."
"I do not think you a burden. It's a nice thing to be needed."
"Is it? Then I shall not deny you the pleasure, as my balance seems to be less than adequate right now."
Adele laughed and put her arm around his waist, steadying him as they walked back to the house. Yet, she could not deny that her smile was not only from being needed, but from having him that close to her as they walked.
~~--~~*~~--~~
REVIEWNESS!!!
~~--~~*~~--~~
artemis-chan: i don't think i even know what to make of adele being theoden's daughter. but then again think of what the series would have been like for boromir at least if tolkien would have went on ahead with making boromir a wife like his original plans.
alynna lis eachann: yeah, didn't we ALL see it coming?
rosethorn: yeah, yeah, you know you get the credit! ALL the credit. thanks for the betaing, and i hope you enjoy this chapter. not that you ahven't read it anyway..... or all of them for that matter, lol.
for everyone else, thanks for the reviews, and i hope you enjoy this chapter, as i put a lot of work into it. and the rest of the fic will be done soon, so review if you want faster updates!
~~--~~*~~--~~ Chapter Three: Afternoon Melodies and Dreams ~~--~~*~~--~~
The weeks after Talen's first awakening were very frustrating for him as he was not allowed to leave his bed for fear of disturbing any unseen injuries. He was sure that the only wounds he had were those upon his chest, but he was the guest in their home and would not disreguard their wishes.
To help pass the time, he spent much of his day in the company of Adele. They had become great friends as she took care of him since she was building upon her healing skills that had almost been forgotten with her leaving of Edoras.
The men of the house did not visit as often as the women, although it was not unheard of for Aidan or Airsyn to be found in Talen's room telling him tales of their hunting adventures, or stories from when they were younger.
Amiens was different.
From the beginning he had not been happy about having a stranger in the house. Being so disconnected from the outside world had made him somewhat of a recluse, from what Talen could gather, although sometimes the twins let a little more of their father's personal side in their stories.
Amiens did not matter all that much to Talen, even if he was the master of the house. It was Adele that he found most interesting. Of course, she was beautiful to his eyes. There had not been many women in his lifetime he had been fortunate enough to see with hair that shone like the sun, red mixed with gold. Her eyes made him think of the of fields that he could recall from memory, even if he was not sure of their location. She had captured his attention.
Talen was halfway into an afternoon nap when Adele came into his room with a basket hanging from her arm. She wore a pale blue sundress and her hair pulled up into a tight knot. This was not her usual attire for sitting around the house.
"I have a surprise for you," she announced as she set the basket down on his bedside table.
"A surprise? Should I be frightened?" he asked playfully, pushing himself up.
"I spoke with Sesile and she thought it all right to take you outside today."
Talen smiled broadly. He could not remember the last time he had been outside, although he was sure it wasn't a pleasant experience. Those thoughts were not readily available to him, though, and being kept inside for much longer was sure to make him crazy.
"That sounds wonderful. I should very much like to venture outside, if only for a moment," Talen replied.
"A moment surely is not long enough?" Adele asked as she sat on the side of the bed. "I had hoped to keep you outside for lunch. Maybe longer if it is all right with you."
"Yes, it will be fine."
Adele smiled and stood up, giving her hand to Talen as he swung his feet off of the bed and onto the floor. The wounds on his chest still ached and he could feel them tightening as he stretched his muscles.
"Can you stand on your own?" Adele asked.
"Yes, I think so."
Talen placed a hand on the table and pulled himself to a standing position, his legs unsteady with not having walked in so long. He began to sway until Adele caught him, her arm wrapped around his waist.
"You are much taller than I had thought," she said as she handed him the basket that held their lunch.
"And you are much shorter."
Talen took a step forward slowly, unsure of how his legs would react to the weight that was being pressed upon them. After several moments he took another step, testing things out like a child learning to walk.
"I never thought walking could be this hard," he said.
"You will learn again soon enough."
After much faltering, they found themselves outside and in the garden not far from the house. Not wanting to take him any further, Adele laid out their picnic near the rose bushes.
As she worked on setting everything out, Amiens watched from a window inside the house. Sesile had told him that Talen would be well enough to go outside soon, but he did not expect the man would need as much assistance as he did. There surely was no need for Talen to have his arm wrapped around Adele in the manner that he did....
Sesile came up behind her husband and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"They will be fine, Amiens," she said. "It's the first time he's been outside since he got here, so let him enjoy it."
Amiens turned and glared at Sesile, knowing that she was right, but not willing to admit it. He left the room abruptly, leaving his wife to stare out the window that he had previously occupied.
"What have you brought to eat?" Talen asked as he watched Adele open the basket.
She set a cloth napkin upon the blanket beneath them and unfolded it to reveal some bread and cheese. A couple of apples were pulled out of the basket as well as a knife to cut them.
"I wasn't sure about what to bring. Sesile has been feeding you soup nearly this whole time. She always was over careful," Adele said as she picked up a piece of bread, breaking it in half.
"Not that your cousin's soup is not good, one becomes very tiresome of the same thing day after day."
Talen reached over and picked up a piece of cheese.
"And speaking of your cousin, she is watching us through the window," Talen said with a laugh.
Adele looked up and waved to Sesile, who waved back before disappearing into the house somewhere.
Talen reached over and took the knife and an apple, cutting it in several pieces, handing one to Adele before eating a piece himself.
"I appreciate you doing this for me," he said with a grin.
"I'm glad. I knew by the way you looked at the window that you wanted out of the house."
"Was it that obvious?"
"Who wouldn't want out of the house? The same surroundings become quite dull after a period of time."
"You speak as if you know from experience."
Adele looked to the west at the distant mountains thoughtfully for a few moments. She turned and smiled at Talen.
"I have been here for far too long. It is good of my cousins to take me in, but I should much like to return to Edoras."
"When I am well enough to be on my own, it would be my wish to take you back."
"My cousins would not have it. My father would not have it. At least not until it is safe."
"When it is, then."
"I would like that very much."
There was a comfortable silence as the two enjoyed their food together in the early afternoon, the breeze blowing softly around them. Being outside was a bit more freedom for Talen, although only a small portion since he was still not physically able to move around without aid.
After they had finished eating Talen laid down on his back and looked up at the clouds passing overhead. He let out a contented sigh and closed his eyes. Soon after he heard soft singing near his ear.
Opening his eyes he looked over to see that Adele too had laid down and was softly singing, to herself or him, he was not sure. But he did not care, as her singing was beautiful. It was in a language that he could not understand.
"What do you sing of?" he asked softly. "For I cannot understand it."
Adele looked over at him and smiled.
"It is in Rohirric. I sing of the wind and the plains; of summers riding horses and nights of stargazing. Nothing specific, just something I created in my head."
"Keep singing."
Adele nodded and closed her eyes, her soft melody lulling Talen into the dreamworld.
~~--~~*~~--~~
Talen opened his eyes to a dim light coming from the moon and stars, and probably to torchlight nearby. No longer was he in the Rohan with Adele and her family, but in a place strange, yet familiar to his eyes.
A large painting depicting the fall of Sauron in the Great War of the Ring hung on a wall nearby. Isildur held his sword high to the dark lord. Talen observed this painting before turning to see a statue and the shards of a sword. There was also a man nearby with a book in his hands. He looked so familiar....
~~--~~*~~--~~
Talen opened his eyes to the feel of a hand touching his shoulder. He looked up and met a pair of smiling green eyes.
"You have been asleep for a few hours, Talen. Rain draws near and I do not wish for you to drown in your slumber. Wake so we can go inside."
Talen nodded and sat up, shaking the drowsiness from himself. He allowed Adele to help him to a standing position which he held on his own while she packed the remnants of their afternoon back into the basket. While she did this, he decided to try a few steps on his own, which went well.
"Are you that desperate to walk on your own?" Adele asked.
"I do not wish to be a burden upon your arm as I am sure my weight exceeds that of your own by much."
"I do not think you a burden. It's a nice thing to be needed."
"Is it? Then I shall not deny you the pleasure, as my balance seems to be less than adequate right now."
Adele laughed and put her arm around his waist, steadying him as they walked back to the house. Yet, she could not deny that her smile was not only from being needed, but from having him that close to her as they walked.
~~--~~*~~--~~
REVIEWNESS!!!