Suddenly, I'm feeling very generous. So I leave you guys with TWO chapters today. Like them?
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After the morning meal, Eomer came to Legolas and offered his hand. "I'm indebted to you, master elf. I thank you for saving my sister's virtue."
Legolas stared at the man's strong hand, unsure and undecided. Aragorn and Gimli looked on with a slight anxiety in their eyes. They knew of the elf's immense discomfort with humans. For Legolas to readily accept Eomer's offered hand will mean a mark of his recovery.
Eomer frowned to see the elf so still and silent. He was about to retract his hand when Legolas slowly reached up and grip it. The elf simply nodded without saying a word.
Eomer had sharp eyes, and he could see the simple gesture of shaking hands was giving pain to the elf. Not the physical kind of pain, but something that went very much deeper and unseen.
For the great deed that Legolas had done for his sister, Eomer vowed on that moment forward to repay the elf by erasing that pain forever. He was also offering Legolas a friendship…if the elf would accept it, that is.
Legolas smiled a little when they released hands. See, Legolas? That wasn't so bad. Not all human that touch you will grab you and force themselves upon you! He was slightly amused at his own silliness.
"I'm glad to be of help to your sister, Eomer," Legolas softly replied. Then he shrugged sheepishly. "I'm sorry about the…you know…the arrow that I pointed at your face before."
Eomer laughed. "If I wasn't so startled then, I might have been very amazed at your speed! You move like lightning!"
"He didn't move like lightning, boy. It was you who moved like a snail!" Gimli suddenly interrupted.
Eomer whirled at the dwarf and was flabbergasted to see him grinning. Then the man understood. It was the dwarf's way to offer his friendship; by trading insults. Staring down at the dwarf, Eomer spoke, "So you said. But need I remind you that you still need to stand on a chair in order for you to look directly into my eyes and repeat those words to my face."
There was a tense long silence as the man and dwarf glared at each other.
Then the dwarf broke into a chortle that progressed into loud boisterous laughter. Eomer also joined in. Aragorn and Legolas couldn't help but sigh in relief.
Eomer turned to Legolas. "I'm glad you didn't raise that bow and shoot at me just now!" he said, pointing at Legolas' weapons that he had just retrieved.
Legolas smiled weakly. "I almost did. Almost."
Then they all joined the rest of Rohan high officers into Meduseld hall where Theoden had already taken his seat. The king was conversing quietly with Gandalf who was also seated nearby. Waiting upon the king was lady Eowyn who sat on a low stool on his right.
"Ah, do take your seats, gentlemen," Gandalf said. "There is a matter of big importance that we need to discuss with extreme urgency."
After they all had settled, the wizard calmly looked at their faces one by one then he turned to Theoden. The king slightly nodded, giving his consent for the wizard to start.
Gandalf took a deep breath before he spoke, "With Grima gone from Edoras and the trance on you lifted, Saruman no longer has control over Rohan. But here lies a greater peril than the poison and lies that Grima had weaved into your dreams, Theoden. The enemy grows strong and by expelling Saruman's evil voice from your head, he will definitely strike back. Now that he can't control you, he will destroy Rohan…and every one of you."
Instantly, there were lots of murmurings in the hall amid several cries of alarm.
"Is he coming here?"
"What are we going to do? Are we to fight them?"
"You said the enemy grows strong. Will we be able to fight them?"
"Doom hangs still, but there is hope," Gandalf said in a much louder voice to be heard above the din.
Theoden looked straight into Gandalf's eyes. The king was still in deep sorrow for the lost of his son, but his people needed him now. He didn't have time for long grieving. "What is our hope, Gandalf? What do you suggest?"
They all grew quiet and listened intently to the wizard's next words.
"Every man that can ride should be sent west at once to Isengard. Firstly we must destroy the threat of Saruman while we have time before it reach us," said Gandalf. "Meanwhile, the rest of your people like the women, children and the old should head for the refuges that you have in the mountains."
Theoden's eyes widened. "The Helm's Deep? It will really come to that, my friend?"
"Edoras is vulnerable now. It is no longer safe. You need a stronger fort to fight the enemy. What better place for that purpose than Helm's Deep." Gandalf looked at the rest of them. "Take provision but do not delay or burden yourselves with treasures. Your life is more important."
The wizard then stood and his face grew grim. "The men of Rohan must ride forth today, for there was no time to waste."
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Legolas was alone in Edoras armory, looking for fresh arrows to equip his quiver when Eowyn approached him. He was not actually surprise to see her now as he had seen the way she glanced at him several times before in the hall.
Aragorn and Gimli had already gone out to help arrange the men of Rohan that would ride west that day. The armory was almost empty, as they had taken the needed weapons to fight with the enemy. Tense atmosphere was in the air as women and children prepared themselves for their journey to Helm's Deep. It was said that Eowyn was going to lead her people there.
"I haven't thank you for coming to my rescue yesterday, master elf," Eowyn said tentatively when Legolas finally looked straight at her.
Legolas bowed his head. "Just call me Legolas, my lady."
"Then thank you, Legolas. I'm indebted to you."
The elf shook his head. "You owe me nothing, my lady."
"Call me, Eowyn. I don't care much for this decorum, either." She then bit her lips when Legolas did not reply, only looked down at the floor. "So, you got all you need?"
"Yes. My quiver is now full with your fine arrows. I find them very well made and I'm sure that they will not fail me in my target."
"I'm glad to hear that." She came closer and picked the bow that Legolas had placed on a stone table in the middle of the room. "This is yours?"
Smiling, Legolas nodded. "It's a gift from Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. Have you heard of her?"
Her eyes widened. "Lady Galadriel? The powerful elven lady that some call the Sorcerer of the Golden Wood? Is she as beautiful as they said?"
"Indeed she is. Her skin is as pale as pink rose and her eyes as bright as the stars, and the full moon smiles happily upon her fair face. Alas, I'm not very good at singing her praises. My words could not justify her magnificent beauty, but you can ask more of my friend Gimli for he is greatly infatuated with her!"
"But it seems that you are also enamored by the lady," Eowyn said, suddenly feeling oddly jealous of his fondness of Galadriel. "Are you in love with her?"
"In love?" Legolas was quite startled, then he burst up laughing. "Her husband will laugh his head off when he heard this! No, Eowyn. Lady Galadriel is more like a mother to me. Yes, I love her, like a son would his mother."
She didn't reply for she was so entranced with the beautiful features of the elf warrior who was still smiling in front of her. A deep dimple had just appeared on his right cheek and his silver eyes shone brilliantly with merriment. All of a sudden, her throat went dry and her mind blanked completely that she couldn't form a word that would not make her look silly.
"Well, err…" She cleared her throat. Remembering the bow in her hands, she looked up at him for consent. "May I? Test the string, I mean."
Legolas nodded. "Go ahead."
"I've never held such a long bow before," she said, pulling the string to her shoulder as she aimed at an imaginary target. "I hope I'm doing this right."
Legolas moved forward and adjusted her bent right elbow. As she trembled at his touch, Eowyn prayed that he was oblivious to it.
But Legolas was an elf. He had felt her slight tremor. Yet, he said nothing about it. "What kind of weapon that are you used to?"
"Sword and spear," she replied, a little breathless. "My brother had taught me the skill of the blades since I was ten."
"Then you are well prepared to lead your people to Helm's Deep."
Eowyn closed her eyes when she felt his lips very near to her right ear. And that voice, so mesmerizing as its owner that she couldn't think straight. She lowered the bow and turned around abruptly. Staring at the enchanting face of the elf that she never saw on her own humankind, Eowyn rose herself slowly on her toe and touched his lips with hers.
Legolas' head lowered down on its own accord, caught in the throes of unasked passion and desire. Eowyn was obviously a very beautiful lady, even by elven standard. There was an air of innocence and strength surrounding her that made him quite attracted to her. Her pale blue eyes were so serene and soothing to his tormented soul, and the touch of her long fingers on his neck were like a balm that calmed down the wildly throbbing pulse there.
A bell of warning was ringing loud in his head. Then he realized what it meant. Nara!
Valar! What am I doing? Gasping, he pulled away from her. "Forgive me, my lady. I just can't. My heart belongs to someone else."
She touched her lips and looked down at her feet, assailed by shame and disappointment. Taking a deep breath, she asked softly, "She loves you, this someone else?"
"Yes." Legolas was looking anywhere but at her, feeling guilty and quite mortified of what had transpired just now.
"And do you love her?" her soft voice came again.
"Very. We are betrothed to each other. We plan to build a family when I return home. If I returned home, that is."
There was a long awkward silence afterwards.
Then she held up his bow to him. "Then I pray that you return safely to her."
He took the bow and gripped hard at the beautifully crafted wood like it was a lifeline. "Thank you."
"Safe journey, Legolas."
A little reluctant to leave her looking so miserable like that, Legolas had to hardened his heart to say next, "Safe journey to you too…Eowyn."
Eowyn didn't look up even when the elf had left the armory. Her feelings were in a jumble; disappointment, embarrassment and longing all rolled into one. She had never felt like this before. Was this sudden yearning for the elf just a silly crush that would go away with time? Or was it something more?
And why does my heart bleed so?
TBC…
Okay. I know you guys are going to give your views about that Leggy/Eowyn scene! Be nice when you killed me!!!