Disclaimer: Check Chapter one.
To my Reviewers from the last chapter:
theparanoideone: The magic gets even better later on, let me assure you. :D Much much better. Thanks for your support.
Aramer: Oh, the guy in white is . . . gotcha! I can't tell, it would ruin the big surprise. :D It's cool tho, I promise.
Doyle: :D Your support is always welcome! Thanx!!!!
And again, if anybody has shirtless Orlando pics send the links to me in your reviews or email them to me at allora26@yahoo.ca I looooooooooove Orlando Bloom and Billy Boyd. :D
Four days later (as nothing worth mentioning happened in the days before) Honora suddenly stopped in her pace. Her face paled and she leaped from the back of Anarvende before Legolas could even ask what was wrong. She put her ear to the ground, much like Aragorn had done when hunting the Uruk-Hai who had taken Merry and Pippin.
"It cannot be!" She cried.
"What has happened?" Legolas asked in concern.
"They have taken the tunnels of old! I did not even consider them taking those roads! Long have they been abandoned. Hurry, we must ride to Rohan, the end of the tunnel is in the mountains beyond Edoras. The roads beneath the world have not been used in ages but they may still be passable." She cried and leaped back onto Anarvende and turned to the west, instead of the south back to Minas Tirith. "We can travel westward from here, cross the Great River near the Mouths of the Entwash and take the road back to my home in Firien Wood. From there we can travel on the road to Edoras and then past into the mountains. You will turn back to Minas Tirith to tell Lord Aragorn of my whereabouts once we reach Edoras."
"Very well, My Lady." Legolas said and turned Arod westward.
They traveled fast with little rest for many days afterward until they could see where the Mouths of the Entwash veered away from the Great River. They paused and the horses stamped their feet at the loud sound of the rushing water. The Falls of Rauros were not much further to the North and the water was still very turbulent.
"How do we cross?" Legolas asked.
"How well are you at swimming, Meldo?" (Friend) She asked in return as she dismounted Anarvende and began to wade into the Great River.
"Have you gone mad? The water is too turbulent and, even supposing we do cross safely, what are we to do with the horses? It is a long walk to Edoras, believe me, I know." Legolas called after her, dismounting Arod.
"Horses can swim." She said with a laugh. Legolas smiled at the sound, it was the same as the laugh he had heard in his vision, a truly happy sound. "The water is turbulent here, yes, but it is not deep. If you can keep your legs about you, you should be able to walk across. The horses will manage." She said and continued to wade into the rushing water. Anarvende followed without order into the river, following her master wherever she was bidden.
Legolas sighed and began to lead his nervous stallion towards the water. Arod reared back and shook his mane proudly, refusing to enter the river. Honora turned at the sound of the stallions loud neigh and waded back to help Legolas with his struggling horse. Anarvende still waded through the rushing water, only focussed on reaching the other side.
Honora stroked Arods neck comfortingly, murmuring encouragements into the angry beasts ear. Slowly but surely Honora got the strong stallion into the rushing water, making sure to plant her feet securely in each step so as not to lose her balance and get pulled down under the water and swept away. Honora and Legolas sat down on the western shore of the river for a rest as the horses tried to shake themselves dry.
"We have gone with little rest for many days now, lets rest for a few hours here? I can hear the beasts travelling in the tunnels, they are going slow, believing no one has knowledge of their presence. We are ahead of them, they cannot surface to use faster roads until they reach the mountains beyond Edoras. We will follow the Mering Stream and tomorrow we will reach my home, but we cannot linger there, I am not welcome. The road crosses through there and we may receive some aid from the few friends I have left there." Honora said as she lay back on the river bank, closing her eyes.
"Should I stand watch? Or are you going to go for another midnight journey?" Legolas asked sarcastically.
"Nay, Legolas, go to sleep. And even should I choose to go on a journey in the night, I will not go far so as to worry your maternal instincts." She said in the same tone. He smacked her playfully and lay back with his arms beneath his head, watching as the sun began to set over the horizon.
Honora turned her head and watched as he half-closed his eyes, falling into reverie. She stared at the way the colors of the setting sun reflecting across his resplendent face, the oranges and reds. She watched him for a long time, the sun had set and the sky had gone dark and still she watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed in and out. Finally she made up her mind. She scrambled over to his side and cautiously placed her head on his shoulder and put an arm across his chest.
"Honora? What are you doing?" He asked, instantly opening his eyes and trying to sit up. She pushed him back down and put a finger to his lips.
"My clothes are still wet and the night is becoming chill." She said quietly, inwardly wincing at the untruth as she told it.
Legolas nodded and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer to him in an attempt to give her greater warmth. If he had tried to tell anyone that he was unaffected by her nearness it would have been a lie. He could feel the peaceful exhale of her breath against his cheek and her hand was drawn into a fist, clutching the cloth of his shirt. She smelt of the river, the smell reminded him of Rivendell and the many falls that surrounded Elronds realm.
He sighed and closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would claim him soon, before he did what the being in white had forbid him, and kissed her. Sleep, though, would not claim him, nor could he fall into reverie. He could feel her body pressed against his and every now and then her leg would twitch, drawing closer to his own.
Finally an hour before dawn, he fell asleep, but his dreams were haunted, he could not lose sight of powerful violet eyes and a playful smile that, now that he had seen, could not get enough of.
He woke when he felt her shift, one of her legs coming over his so that it was in an almost erotic position. He looked down and found that she too was waking. She looked down at her position and immediately withdrew, blushing vibrantly.
Legolas looked on with a smirk, "There is no need to blush, Meldo, you were cold and I was only happy to offer you warmth."
"You speak ungallantly, but I know you are. You would do nothing to offend or compromise my integrity." She said with conviction as she got to her feet.
"Then you do not know what had gone through my mind, but you are right, I did not harm your virtue." He said, getting to his own feet. "Merely thought of it."
She glared at him playfully, thinking his comment as jest. But when he did not reply in jest her smile faded. "You would not even think of such things." She said, trying more to comfort herself at such news, than to find a truth to it.
Legolas smiled sadly and brushed a hand against her cheek, " You have not need to fear me, we are not for each other."
She nodded slightly and turned her back to him, reaching into her pack she pulled out two pieces of dried meat. She tossed one to him and called to Anarvende and Arod to come.
They rode for many hours and once more crossed a smaller river, one of the Mouths of the Entwash, and followed along the Mering Stream until they reached the outskirts of a gloomy forest. Honora stopped and dismounted, standing still before the forest.
"I have not been back here since my exile. I can feel a tension in these woods, things have changed much." She said quietly, almost to herself.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked. "We can go around if you wish." He suggested.
"No, there is something I must get here before we can continue. I have put it off too long already and I fear the power of it keeps growing stronger and harder to wield." She said and started into the woods on foot, leading Anarvende. Legolas followed her lead and dismounted Arod, leading him into the woods.
They had travelled for only ten minutes into the forest when they were confronted with the border guards bows. Honora raised her hands in an gesture of peace and Legolas did the same, carefully noting the number and position of each guard, should they need to become foe. The odds were six to one, not quite as good as they could hope for.
"I recognize you, My Lady, you are not welcome in Holraldir's Realm." The lead guard said, stepping forward.
"Tirno, tulin mi sere." (Tirno, I come in peace.) Honora said quietly as she bowed to him.
"Whether you come in peace or come in aggression, I cannot allow you to enter these woods. To me, you will always be the Princess of our people, but I dare not invite the wrath of your father. You must understand." Tirno said with regret.
"Then will you, personally, gather for me what I have come for?" She asked. "I trust no other in this realm."
Tirno sighed, "What is it you have come for, My Lady?"
"Under the great tree in Eastern Park I have hidden something, now I come back for it. You must not open the box you will find, but bring it straight to me." Honora ordered. "I will be waiting in the outskirts, and if you can offer refreshments to my companion it would be much appreciated."
Tirno nodded to one of his guards and he quietly escorted Legolas away while Tirno himself turned in the direction of the Eastern Park. Honora jumped onto Anarvende's back and rode out of Firien wood.
An hour later, the sound of dual hoofbeat's made her turn back to the forest as she watched Tirno and Legolas riding towards her. Under Tirno's arm was a decorative pearl box with onyx engravings almost two feet long.
He nodded to her and handed over the box, she could tell from the dirt still upon the latch that it had not been opened. "I thank you, My Friend, this means much." She said gratefully. "I fear I have taken you from your post too long. We will meet again, Tirno, and I will not be barred from my homeland when that time comes."
Tirno nodded in understanding and rode back into the forest, leaving Honora and Legolas alone once more. She put the box into her pack, without looking inside, and they continued on their journey.
TBC
To my Reviewers from the last chapter:
theparanoideone: The magic gets even better later on, let me assure you. :D Much much better. Thanks for your support.
Aramer: Oh, the guy in white is . . . gotcha! I can't tell, it would ruin the big surprise. :D It's cool tho, I promise.
Doyle: :D Your support is always welcome! Thanx!!!!
And again, if anybody has shirtless Orlando pics send the links to me in your reviews or email them to me at allora26@yahoo.ca I looooooooooove Orlando Bloom and Billy Boyd. :D
Four days later (as nothing worth mentioning happened in the days before) Honora suddenly stopped in her pace. Her face paled and she leaped from the back of Anarvende before Legolas could even ask what was wrong. She put her ear to the ground, much like Aragorn had done when hunting the Uruk-Hai who had taken Merry and Pippin.
"It cannot be!" She cried.
"What has happened?" Legolas asked in concern.
"They have taken the tunnels of old! I did not even consider them taking those roads! Long have they been abandoned. Hurry, we must ride to Rohan, the end of the tunnel is in the mountains beyond Edoras. The roads beneath the world have not been used in ages but they may still be passable." She cried and leaped back onto Anarvende and turned to the west, instead of the south back to Minas Tirith. "We can travel westward from here, cross the Great River near the Mouths of the Entwash and take the road back to my home in Firien Wood. From there we can travel on the road to Edoras and then past into the mountains. You will turn back to Minas Tirith to tell Lord Aragorn of my whereabouts once we reach Edoras."
"Very well, My Lady." Legolas said and turned Arod westward.
They traveled fast with little rest for many days afterward until they could see where the Mouths of the Entwash veered away from the Great River. They paused and the horses stamped their feet at the loud sound of the rushing water. The Falls of Rauros were not much further to the North and the water was still very turbulent.
"How do we cross?" Legolas asked.
"How well are you at swimming, Meldo?" (Friend) She asked in return as she dismounted Anarvende and began to wade into the Great River.
"Have you gone mad? The water is too turbulent and, even supposing we do cross safely, what are we to do with the horses? It is a long walk to Edoras, believe me, I know." Legolas called after her, dismounting Arod.
"Horses can swim." She said with a laugh. Legolas smiled at the sound, it was the same as the laugh he had heard in his vision, a truly happy sound. "The water is turbulent here, yes, but it is not deep. If you can keep your legs about you, you should be able to walk across. The horses will manage." She said and continued to wade into the rushing water. Anarvende followed without order into the river, following her master wherever she was bidden.
Legolas sighed and began to lead his nervous stallion towards the water. Arod reared back and shook his mane proudly, refusing to enter the river. Honora turned at the sound of the stallions loud neigh and waded back to help Legolas with his struggling horse. Anarvende still waded through the rushing water, only focussed on reaching the other side.
Honora stroked Arods neck comfortingly, murmuring encouragements into the angry beasts ear. Slowly but surely Honora got the strong stallion into the rushing water, making sure to plant her feet securely in each step so as not to lose her balance and get pulled down under the water and swept away. Honora and Legolas sat down on the western shore of the river for a rest as the horses tried to shake themselves dry.
"We have gone with little rest for many days now, lets rest for a few hours here? I can hear the beasts travelling in the tunnels, they are going slow, believing no one has knowledge of their presence. We are ahead of them, they cannot surface to use faster roads until they reach the mountains beyond Edoras. We will follow the Mering Stream and tomorrow we will reach my home, but we cannot linger there, I am not welcome. The road crosses through there and we may receive some aid from the few friends I have left there." Honora said as she lay back on the river bank, closing her eyes.
"Should I stand watch? Or are you going to go for another midnight journey?" Legolas asked sarcastically.
"Nay, Legolas, go to sleep. And even should I choose to go on a journey in the night, I will not go far so as to worry your maternal instincts." She said in the same tone. He smacked her playfully and lay back with his arms beneath his head, watching as the sun began to set over the horizon.
Honora turned her head and watched as he half-closed his eyes, falling into reverie. She stared at the way the colors of the setting sun reflecting across his resplendent face, the oranges and reds. She watched him for a long time, the sun had set and the sky had gone dark and still she watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed in and out. Finally she made up her mind. She scrambled over to his side and cautiously placed her head on his shoulder and put an arm across his chest.
"Honora? What are you doing?" He asked, instantly opening his eyes and trying to sit up. She pushed him back down and put a finger to his lips.
"My clothes are still wet and the night is becoming chill." She said quietly, inwardly wincing at the untruth as she told it.
Legolas nodded and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer to him in an attempt to give her greater warmth. If he had tried to tell anyone that he was unaffected by her nearness it would have been a lie. He could feel the peaceful exhale of her breath against his cheek and her hand was drawn into a fist, clutching the cloth of his shirt. She smelt of the river, the smell reminded him of Rivendell and the many falls that surrounded Elronds realm.
He sighed and closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would claim him soon, before he did what the being in white had forbid him, and kissed her. Sleep, though, would not claim him, nor could he fall into reverie. He could feel her body pressed against his and every now and then her leg would twitch, drawing closer to his own.
Finally an hour before dawn, he fell asleep, but his dreams were haunted, he could not lose sight of powerful violet eyes and a playful smile that, now that he had seen, could not get enough of.
He woke when he felt her shift, one of her legs coming over his so that it was in an almost erotic position. He looked down and found that she too was waking. She looked down at her position and immediately withdrew, blushing vibrantly.
Legolas looked on with a smirk, "There is no need to blush, Meldo, you were cold and I was only happy to offer you warmth."
"You speak ungallantly, but I know you are. You would do nothing to offend or compromise my integrity." She said with conviction as she got to her feet.
"Then you do not know what had gone through my mind, but you are right, I did not harm your virtue." He said, getting to his own feet. "Merely thought of it."
She glared at him playfully, thinking his comment as jest. But when he did not reply in jest her smile faded. "You would not even think of such things." She said, trying more to comfort herself at such news, than to find a truth to it.
Legolas smiled sadly and brushed a hand against her cheek, " You have not need to fear me, we are not for each other."
She nodded slightly and turned her back to him, reaching into her pack she pulled out two pieces of dried meat. She tossed one to him and called to Anarvende and Arod to come.
They rode for many hours and once more crossed a smaller river, one of the Mouths of the Entwash, and followed along the Mering Stream until they reached the outskirts of a gloomy forest. Honora stopped and dismounted, standing still before the forest.
"I have not been back here since my exile. I can feel a tension in these woods, things have changed much." She said quietly, almost to herself.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked. "We can go around if you wish." He suggested.
"No, there is something I must get here before we can continue. I have put it off too long already and I fear the power of it keeps growing stronger and harder to wield." She said and started into the woods on foot, leading Anarvende. Legolas followed her lead and dismounted Arod, leading him into the woods.
They had travelled for only ten minutes into the forest when they were confronted with the border guards bows. Honora raised her hands in an gesture of peace and Legolas did the same, carefully noting the number and position of each guard, should they need to become foe. The odds were six to one, not quite as good as they could hope for.
"I recognize you, My Lady, you are not welcome in Holraldir's Realm." The lead guard said, stepping forward.
"Tirno, tulin mi sere." (Tirno, I come in peace.) Honora said quietly as she bowed to him.
"Whether you come in peace or come in aggression, I cannot allow you to enter these woods. To me, you will always be the Princess of our people, but I dare not invite the wrath of your father. You must understand." Tirno said with regret.
"Then will you, personally, gather for me what I have come for?" She asked. "I trust no other in this realm."
Tirno sighed, "What is it you have come for, My Lady?"
"Under the great tree in Eastern Park I have hidden something, now I come back for it. You must not open the box you will find, but bring it straight to me." Honora ordered. "I will be waiting in the outskirts, and if you can offer refreshments to my companion it would be much appreciated."
Tirno nodded to one of his guards and he quietly escorted Legolas away while Tirno himself turned in the direction of the Eastern Park. Honora jumped onto Anarvende's back and rode out of Firien wood.
An hour later, the sound of dual hoofbeat's made her turn back to the forest as she watched Tirno and Legolas riding towards her. Under Tirno's arm was a decorative pearl box with onyx engravings almost two feet long.
He nodded to her and handed over the box, she could tell from the dirt still upon the latch that it had not been opened. "I thank you, My Friend, this means much." She said gratefully. "I fear I have taken you from your post too long. We will meet again, Tirno, and I will not be barred from my homeland when that time comes."
Tirno nodded in understanding and rode back into the forest, leaving Honora and Legolas alone once more. She put the box into her pack, without looking inside, and they continued on their journey.
TBC