To everyone that hasn't figured it out yet *cough* whoever reviewed and said that they didn't like the plot *cough*- THIS IS A FLUFFY FIC!!! Okay? If you don't like it don't read it! It's not that hard!
And any "historical" inaccuracies that might appear in this chapter, I'm sorry! I've forgotten every small detail that happened in the book/movie so point them out NICELY if you will.
AND, I had ANOTHER dream about Legolas! And, right when we started kissing *yes* kissing---my alarm clock went off!!! Doesn't life suck? Anyway, I'm beginning to think I need a life out of this site @_@ I mean, I'm having dreams about the guy…
Here's the chappy already.
~Chapter Five
"Melamin," Théodred murmured, "what's the matter?"
How many times had I heard Legolas say those beautiful words to me? My love, what's the matter? I could hear his beautiful, caring voice in my ear and his breath on my cheek as I looked into my husband's eyes.
"Nothing," I lied again, wiping my hand across my eyes. "Just thinking…about my family," I said, saving my face. "I miss them terribly."
Théodred smiled. "Is that all?" he said, hugging me and then sliding off the bed. "That can be fixed. As soon as we get a chance, I'll take you to Lothlorien myself. But," he continued, his brow creasing, "that might not be for quite a while. I'm sorry, darling, but the darkness in the East is ever growing and I don't know when I might be spared…but I promise," he said, smiling.
"Thank you, Théodred," I said, sniffling and grabbing my handkerchief from my bedside table. Even though I was not weeping for my family, I did miss them very much already and the thing I desired most in my heart- besides Legolas- was to see the Golden Wood again, and to run along the flowers of the name that I bore.
~~~
I dreamt that night of the day I last looked in the mirror. I saw the images replay in my mind in a nightmarish sequence. A blurry white figure looked back at me from the front of the room but I could not see its face.
I woke, drenched in sweat. I ran my hand through my hair as I realized what I had seen in the mirror- that had been me, in my wedding gown. I had foreseen my own wedding and I had not even realized it.
It had been fate after all.
~~~
I trailed down the halls of Meduseld, running my hands along the walls. Voices reached me.
"Father! Why did you banish the Rohirrim? By doing that you are dooming Rohan!" It was Théodred, arguing with his father. I debated whether to stay and eavesdrop or to leave. I did not know that the Rohirrim had been banished.
The talking went on in low voices, and then in shouts for a while. I recognized Gandalf's voice, saying something about banishing someone. I stood in the middle of the hallway, the wind blowing in through the open windows. The wood was thick and I had to strain to hear sometimes.
Then there was silence. I pushed the door open with my foot. The open door shed light on the hall of Meduseld. Théoden sat on his throne.
"Théoden!" I said, crouching at my father-in-law's feet. "You look so much better!" all the lines on the Lord's face were gone, and his skin was glowing. His eyes were young again as he smiled at me.
"Yes, my dear, and I feel much better also," he said. "Grima has been banished. He was being controlled by Saruman."
The White Wizard! I whistled under my breath and took a look around the Hall. Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn stood in the shadows, Gandalf in front of them. I swallowed nervously when I saw Legolas and looked away, for all I could see in the darkness was his black eyes and the feather tips of his bow, and he looked angry indeed.
~~~
"Don't send me away!" Éowyn begged. I stood beside her, my hands open to Théoden in a pleading gesture.
"Éowyn," Théoden said firmly, "you must go to Helm's Deep with the rest of the woman and children. You are not a warrior, my girl," he said, his tone softening slightly. "You must find your place in the city. I cannot let you ride with the Rohirrim!" he said. "Understand!" he paused as he searched his niece's gaze. "I cannot let you fight."
Éowyn winced. Théoden looked pained. "You must go pack, my girls," he said. "Pack only what you need, for you must carry what you bring."
Éowyn closed her eyes in a pained gesture, but nodded and walked to her room. I followed her. "Uuma dela, Éowyn," I said, trying to console my friend.
"I don't speak Elvish," she said mournfully.
"Don't worry," I repeated in the Common Tongue. "Everything will be alright."
"No," Éowyn said softly, leaving no room for argument. I said nothing. Éowyn knew what she wanted.
~~~
"Don't be frightened, Niphredil," Théoden said, wrapping me in his strong arms. I cried softly into his leather vest. He traced the outline of my cheek with his finger and wiped away the tears, and then his lips met mine. I closed my eyes and let them linger. Finally he pulled away.
"Just go to Helm's Deep. Stay with Éowyn. Her and the rest of the women will show you around."
"I can take care of myself," I murmured, remembering the days that my quiver was constantly slung over my shoulder and my bow was always in hand. The calluses had faded, and my hands were that of my mother.
"Goodbye, Théodred," I whispered, kissing him once more. Then I wandered back to my room and picked up the satchel that I had packed. Éowyn and I walked down to the gathering outside the city gates. I retrieved my bow when the guard wasn't looking and slipped it into my pack.
The crowd took off when the sun was high in the sky, in a quickened, panicked state. No Rohirrim could be spared to guard us from whatever roamed the wild, so boys mounted mules and rode on the outside of the group, acting like men.
Boys that had to be men- what were we coming too?
~~~
The smells of fear and many bodies in a small space collided unpleasantly and assaulted my nose as I entered the mostly filled fortress of Helm's Deep. Burly guards stood at the doors, their arms crossed over their leather-covered armor.
I followed Éowyn to a small room set aside for nobility. I felt a small sense of relief when I saw that I wouldn't have to sleep on the stairs like so many others, but then I felt bad of the thought. I went out into the main part of the fortress and looked around for a little while. People reserved their spaces for themselves by throwing their bags down and spacing them apart. Little children ran around, irritating their mothers, who had frightened glints in their eyes.
There was an aura of doom on the fortress, and it could not be escaped.
