AAHH!!! I just saw The Two Towers and it was even better than the first one, IMHO. And, if I may say so myself, Faromir is very cute indeed…but never fear! Legolas is hot as ever… ;)
And keep in mind- The Rohirrim are not banished yet because Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn are not there yet! It happens AFTER they get there! (I think)
~Chapter Two
The wedding was set two weeks from that day. There was no time for the usual formalities in these times of crisis and warfare. The next few days were long, with me constantly at Théodred's side. Three days after his arrival he led me to the stables.
"Pick one," he said, grinning. I walked down the long aisle that ran the length of the stable, looking into the stalls. Beautiful horses peered out at me, with iron plates bolted to the doors with strange names engraved into them. Finally I reached an empty stall, the only one in the place. I ran my fingers over the engraving.
"Shadowfax?" I asked. Théodred sighed.
"He was one of our best horses," he said dejectedly. "The Rider stole him."
"The Rider?" I asked.
"Some say he was a wizard once," Théodred said. "I wouldn't know."
I ran my hand over the stall door and continued walking. Unconsciously Théodred took my hand and I decided to let it go. As each day passed I felt less awkward around this strange man, and even found myself looking forward to seeing him as the dawn broke in the east.
I looked into one of the stalls and inhaled sharply. The most beautiful horse I had ever seen stood there. It was not in the shape or the color of the horse, but simply in the way it moved and the fire that burned in his eyes. Théodred saw where I looked and grinned. "That's Flame," he said. "You see, the fire"-
"In his eyes," I murmured, my gaze fixed on the horse. Théodred squeezed my hand and threw the bridle he held onto a hook in the wall.
"Who needs those?" he said, peering down the hall to make sure no one saw. "Come on."
Laughing, I swung onto the horse as Théodred led his own out of its stall. He jabbed it gently in the side with the heel of his boot and the horse took off at a gallop. Flame followed, his feet pounding on the dirt floor of the stable until we were out in the open air. The wind whipped my hair about as we flew over the green rolling countryside. I laughed unconsciously, joyously, as we rode up and down the sides of the mountains. Their peaks towered above us and pierced the clouds, rising into nothingness.
We stopped once we reached a flat plain. Théodred laughed and spread his arm over the countryside. "Your kingdom, milady," he said jokingly. I grinned and studied the horizon. The mountains rose in the distance, fencing in the broad fields.
"Théodred," I said, "it's beautiful!"
"It's Rohan," he said, looking at me with a funny look. I laughed and kicked Flame gently. He took off across the plains. I heard Théodred laugh as his own horse burst into life, chasing Flame across the fields. The horses raced and I watched as the countryside flew by. Edoras soon rose on the horizon and Théodred reined his horse in.
"Whew," he said with a smile. I grinned back as the horses walked towards the city. Soon we reached the gate and were let back in by the guards. Flame cantered up the street and found his way into the stall. I swung his door shut gently and slid the iron bolt into place. Flame whinnied and kicked the door. I laughed as Théodred balanced a few sugar cubes on the top of the door of the stall. I followed him out of the stables and into the bright sunshine. I could see the whole of Rohan from the hill. It was beautiful, in a different way then my home. It had its own beauty. Suddenly I was willing to give Rivendell another chance. I was overcome by a longing to see faraway places, to find my own adventure. There was such conviction in my gaze that Théodred was startled when he met my gaze.
"Is something wrong, Niphredil?" he asked.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "Nothing is wrong.
"Théodred!" a voice called from inside. It was Éowyn. She came out of Meduseld and stood on the stairs. "Come on, its time for the evening meal," she said; now addressing me also. "Where did you go?" she asked.
"We just rode," Théodred said.
"Go on," she told her cousin, beckoning towards the table. "I must speak to Niphredil for a moment.
"Is everything all right?" she asked me as soon as Théodred was out of earshot.
"Yes," I said, surprised at the question. "Why?"
"You look happy," said Éowyn, smiling. "That's a good thing," she hurried on. "It's just that you've been looking so down these past few days."
I sighed, remembering Legolas. My heart sank. Being away from that for a few hours had been so good. Now, I supposed, I had to face reality once more.
"I don't know what to do, Éowyn!" I sobbed, overcome with misery. "I wish this had never happened. I wish everything would be all right. I don't know if I want to marry Legolas or Théodred or just kill myself and get it over with." I leaned against my friend and she hugged me comfortingly. She sighed.
"I don't know either, Niphredil," she said honestly. I felt foolish suddenly and gently pulled away. Sighing, I walked with Éowyn to the dinner table. The realization came upon me then, that this was not going to solve itself. I resignedly sat down, thinking of my predicament. Words floated across my mind as I dazedly ate across from Théodred-
Tiro! El eria e môrI lir en êl luitha uren
Aníron…
Look! A star rises out of the darkness The song of the star enchants my heart
I desire…
What do I desire? I thought, looking across the table at Théodred. I don't even know who I am anymore…how do I figure out what I want?
Night fell outside Meduseld, pulling the last rays of hope from my heart down with the dying sun.
Mornie utúlië…
