Disclaimer: Check Chapter One :D
Check out my new story, The Estelara; The Morning Hope. I've got the first chapter up now. Check the bottom of this chapter for a quick sort of summary of it :D
Reviews:
Ling: Sorry you don't like that but it's already written and I'm not going back to edit it again. He wants to do her, why wouldn't he say something like that? lol. :p Thanks for your review.
Nelinde: Thanx for your compliments. I'll make sure to keep my chapters updated. :D
theparanoidone: LOL!!! It's a secret! :p your just gonna have to wait to find out. :D Please keep reading though. I think in the next chapter or two though you find out. :D
They rode upon Edoras a week later, Honora marveled at the beauty of the sight before her. The city stood upon a hill, the golden roofs of the houses showed in brilliant contrast against the mountain ranges behind.
"Do we stop in Edoras, or continue to the mountains?" Legolas asked.
"We will stop in Edoras if we are welcome. I have only ever travelled through these lands, never to its capital." Honora said as they cantered towards the city's gates.
"We will be welcome, I know Eomer." Legolas said quietly as they rode through the gates and into the city. They rode to the House of Eorl and dismounted their horses.
"I hope you are right, I could use rest in a bed." Honora said quietly as they, side by side, walked up the steps to the main hall.
"We come to Eomer King, I am an old friend of his." Legolas said to a guard who was standing next to the door.
"I have no quarrel of your entrance, for I do remember your presence at the Battle of Helms Deep and your valour and courage will forever be remembered by our people." The guard said and waved them into the Hall.
Legolas nodded gratefully to him and they continued into the Hall. They walked slowly towards the thrown where they could see a figure hunched over some parchments.
"Hail Eomer King!" Legolas cried, giving his friend a bright smile. Eomer looked up from his work and smiled brightly at the familiar face.
"Legolas!" Eomer cried, getting up from his seat to greet him. "What brings you back to Edoras? And who is your companion?"
It was then that Legolas noticed that Honora had drawn the hood of her cloak up so that it shrouded her face and she had bowed her head. He watched as violet eyes met grey and recognition instantly arrived in both.
"It's you!" Eomer cried, pulling off the hood of her cloak to get a better look at her face.
"And you." She said politely, giving a short curtsey. "You did not speak of your royal blood when we met." He had escorted her through Rohan some years before, not believing a woman should travel alone in such times.
"I was banished at that time, it did not come to be spoken of." Eomer said happily as he drew her into an embrace.
A flash of the being in white came before Legolas' eyes and he saw the being smiling at the action of Eomer. Legolas blinked and looked at the two, trying to see some kind of future between them but could see none. He was a Man, she was an Elf, such relationships rarely worked, Aragorn and Arwen were one of the few.
"Are you alright, Legolas?" Honora asked at his expression.
"I am fine, Honora." Legolas replied.
"Good!" Eomer said, "Now, perhaps, you would wish to share with me what brings you to Rohan?"
After Eomer had led them to a table in the Hall, Honora related to him their tale of the demons using the tunnels of the old world which surface just beyond Edoras. Honora watched as his face paled.
"We . . . we will march to Helms Deep. We will hold there." Eomer said in shock.
"And do what? Fire useless arrows at them?" Honora asked.
"What would you have me do, My Lady?" He asked.
"You would not appreciate what you would have me do, and would banish me as Lord Aragorn would. But the next best option would be, if you are determined to fight, fight as one with Gondor. Take your people, evacuate them from Edoras and take them to Minas Tirith, for Lord Aragorn too is planning on a fight, and after the battles recently fought, both forces are relatively weak." Honora said hesitantly.
"Run like cowards to Gondor? While these beasts trample and destroy Edoras?" Eomer demanded.
"Edoras will be destroyed whether you stay or you go! You cannot defeat this evil. Ride to Minas Tirith, Rohan is a land or horses, spare all that can and let as many people as can ride to Minas Tirith. Those left without horses can travel in horse drawn wagons and carriages. Please, Eomer, I would not see the horse lords destroyed." She pleaded.
"As you speak, they will be destroyed no matter what we do. Yet you would have me run to Gondor, flee from my own lands, to die on anothers!" Eomer yelled.
Honora bowed her head, "There is a hope at Minas Tirith, Mithrandir. . . Gandalf is currently staying there. He may be able to help. He defeated the Balrog in Moria." She said quietly.
Legolas looked at her, puzzled. Why had they ridden alone towards Mordor if it was Gandalf that was their hope? Then he remembered her speaking of how he did not know of her power. Why would she lie to Eomer?
"Gandalf can stop this evil?" Eomer asked.
"Perhaps." She replied, still not meeting his eyes.
Eomer hesitated for a moment, thinking carefully over his options. He could stay and die, or he could flee to Gondor and have a small chance of survival. "We will ride to Gondor." He finally said, he turned to his messengers, "Spread the word. I want us ready to leave by first light tomorrow."
The dawn crept slowly over the horizon and, as Eomer had hoped, all was ready. All were either on horseback or in a horse drawn carriage and they began their journey. The going was slow and the women and children were reluctant to leave their homes once more, but three days later, they reached the outskirts of Firien Wood.
"I cannot enter these woods much further." Honora said quietly to Eomer. They, and Legolas all rode side by side at the head of the line.
"Why can you not enter these woods?" Eomer asked with concern.
"This is the home from where I was banished. I am not welcome here." She answered. As she spoke the caught the sight of many bows up in the trees drawn tight and ready to shoot. "Sere! Mme tulu mi sere!"(Peace! We come in peace!) She cried.
The arrows did not fire but were kept in place and ready at command. A rider on a white horse rode towards them and Honora rode forth to meet him. Eomer and Legolas followed unbidden.
"Man umea tyar Rohan ana nornoro?" (What evil causes Rohan to run?) He asked, feeling no love for the Edain before him.
" Umea pella elye tuo, nan ente uin roita elye, Numenyahera" (Evil beyond your strength, but they do not hunt you, Numenyahera) Honora replied and bowed her head.
"Elye nar nuhta." (You are not allowed to continue.) Numenyahera said angrily.
"Va, nan Firi mere na auta tere." (I will not, but these Men wish to pass through.) Honora replied.
"So be it." Numenyahera said, turning his mount around and riding back into the depths of the forest. "Two days." He called behind his back.
Eomer had sat in silence during their conversation, not knowing any elvish, he did not know of what had been spoken, Legolas, however, did. He watched in anger as the guard had looked her over admiringly, taking no heed of her bloodline. Who was he to think that he was worthy of looking upon her so? If he, a Prince, was not worthy, why would a simple border guard think he was?
He turned to look at her face but she had not noticed, she was looking to the trees, counting the archers above. He laughed inwardly at the irony of their stance. Eomer, on her left, totally oblivious to the fact that the Being in White had chosen him for Honora, and he on her right, loving her yet not able to.
Honora turned her horse around to face the people of Rohan. "People of Rohan! You are entering the Realm of Holraldir of the Elves. He looks upon Men with scorn, so watch your behavior and keep your children close. There is an escort of at least three dozen archers in the trees above, they will not hesitate to slay you." She called to the people.
Then she turned to Eomer and leaned close. "You have two days to get through this forest. After that they will open fire on your people, you are unwelcome guests. If you follow this road and keep with a pace slightly quicker than that of which we have been travelling so far, you should be able to make it to the other side by tomorrows eve. Respect the nature in this realm, treat every tree as though it was a man, they will not tolerate tree chopping."
"I understand, but where will you go?" Eomer asked quietly.
"I will go around Firien Wood and ride to Minas Tirith to prepare them for the boarding of Rohan. Then I will ride back and meet you somewhere on the road beyond." She replied.
"People of Rohan! We must quicken our pace, we only have two days to get through this forest." Eomer called to his people, they immediately began to move forward, wanting to get out of this forest where they were constantly in the aim of many elvish bows.
Honora stood and watched, the people riding around her in their rush to travel onward. Legolas silently turned his horse, accepting his rejection in stride. He would not show his jealously because she had chosen to speak a goodbye to Eomer rather than him.
"Legolas!" He heard her call, and then the sound of Anarvende coming up beside him.
He turned to her with a puzzled look, "Yes, My Lady?" He asked.
She smiled mischievously and leaned toward him, placing a hand upon his chest to steady herself, and then she gave him a sweet kiss. "Watch over them, Melda." (Beloved) Then she turned her horse and galloped away without even looking back.
Legolas stared after her in shock, his jaw hung open and his eyes were wide. He heard jovial laughter behind him. He turned and found Eomer sitting on his mount, laughing at him. He quickly closed his mouth and rode to his friends side.
"You should not laugh, My Lord, one day she will be yours." Legolas replied.
"Mine? You think that I could tame a maiden as wild as she? I have enough to deal with my sister!" Eomer asked in jest.
"It is not of taming, but of love. I would not wish to see her broken. And for your question, I do not, but someone does. Apparently I am not worthy of her bloodline, but he seems to like you just fine." Legolas said.
"And who is this man?" Eomer asked, still believing it jest.
"I do not know. He appeared to me when I courted her and was angry, yet he appeared again when you two embraced at our arrival and he seemed to be quite joyous." Legolas said. "A being dressed in pure white, with the beard of a Dwarve and the face of a Man, yet the ears and tresses of an Elf and the robes and staff of a Wizard. A crown on golden leaves."
Eomer stared at him a moment, myths and lore flowing through his mind. Yet he decided to say nothing of his suspicion until he was sure. They rode on side by side and eventually made their way back to the front of the line.
Honora galloped away but her heart was beating faster than that of the hoofbeat's coming from Anarvende's feet. What had she been thinking? She had kissed Legolas, in front of all those people. And still she felt no shame! What was she becoming? Her request had not been answered so that usually meant no. It wasn't fair to Legolas to become more involved.
She sighed and urged Anarvende faster, even now she missed him and she had only been away from him for moments. It was taking more of her will than she wanted to admit to keep from turning around and riding back to him.
"Your destiny is with Men." She heard a voice within her head. She refused even to acknowledge the voice, willing herself that it was not true.
Days later she rode up to the gates of Minas Tirith. The sky was bright and the city seemed even busier than usual. The banners of the seven stars around a white tree flapped rapidly in the wind, and the leaves of the forest beyond the city rustled loudly.
"My Lady! Where have you been?" The guard cried.
"I bring news from the Riddermark!" She cried, "You must take this message to King Elessar; the evil comes from the west, Rohan has evacuated and is on their way to seek refuge in Minas Tirith. They would be only happy to join you in battle once more."
"What evil comes, My Lady?" The sentry asked.
"King Elessar will know of what I speak." She answered.
"Open the gate!" A loud voice cried from the far side, she did not need to see him to know it was her master, Lord Aragorn.
The gates swung open and she watched silently as Aragorn rode towards her on the back of a large brown stallion. His hair was ruffled and messed and she could tell from the marks beneath his eyes that he had not had sleep for many nights.
"Legolas has not returned? Where is he? How does he fare?" Aragorn demanded.
"Legolas rides at the side of Eomer King of Rohan. When I left their company three days ago they were entering Firien Wood. He fares quite well." She said, answering each of his questions.
"Are you so selfish that you would bring him to his doom? You said to me those beasts could not be slain by bow or sword, yet still you requested his company?" Aragorn demanded in anger, now that he was sure his friend had not perished.
"I would have had it that he stayed in Minas Tirith by your side, My Lord! I did not ask for him to accompany me, but instead he insisted. He would not let me leave the stables until I agreed." Honora snapped back in anger. "Ready Minas Tirith for Rohan, My Lord. We will meet again once they arrive."
Then she turned Anarvende around and galloped away in anger. How dare he assume that she would willingly put Legolas in danger! He had no comprehension of the worry she felt for him even at this moment! How did she know they had gotten through the forest in time?
Legolas and Eomer rode together in comfortable silence. Legolas wondered idly where Honora was at that moment, though he already knew. She was riding around Firien Wood, probably on the same trail they had used when travelling to Rohan. She had only been gone a few hours so he did not expect for her to be past the far side of the woods yet, no matter how fast Anarvende could run. The trail was rocky and unstable.
He looked up at the darkening sky and sighed, he was surely going to be lonely tonight. During his travels with Honora there had been much jest, but now, in the crown of Rohan, who were once more fleeing from their homes, all was somber. Suddenly he heard shouts of alarm from above in the trees. He paused his horse and could see the branches above shaking from the hasty movements of the Elves above.
"Whats happening?" Eomer asked.
"I do not know. Ready your men, I will go see what has caused this alarm." Legolas said as he dismounted Arod and ran over to a tree. He looked back and saw Eomer calling to his captains, preparing them for any sort of conflict that might arise.
Legolas turned back to the tree and put his ear to it's trunk. It was angered, and spoke of the coming of foul elves. He turned back to Eomer, "Orcs!" He cried and scrambled up the tree to get a view of their numbers.
"How many, Legolas?" He heard Eomer call from the base of the tree. He hesitated for a moment, not believing that that large of a number could be organized without the help of a greater power.
"One thousand strong." Legolas called. " We have no fortress to hide our women and children in this time, give everyone a weapon, women, children, everyone! I'm going ahead to take some with my arrows."He leapt from branch to branch towards the army of Orcs and readied his bow.
"Outsider! We can handle our own battles, we do not need your help!" One of the other Elves called to him.
"You have at least one thousand Orcs coming to your doorstep, you need all the help you can get!" Legolas cried back and released an arrow into the throat of one of the nearest Orcs. The creature cried out and fell to the ground. The battle had begun.
Honora stopped in the middle of the road, looking hopelessly around, the people of Rohan were nowhere to be seen. She slid from Anarvende's back, to her knees in the forming puddles on the road. A storm was coming, but she cared not. Her beloved had not made it through the forest. There were no tracks coming from the west. She would have expected them to have been closer to Minas Tirith than the place of where she stood, yet they were not.
Tears came unbidden to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, wrenching sobs came from her lips as she thought of Legolas' demise. Why? Why had not Illuvatar spared him? If she could go back she would not have become involved with him at all, if only he could be spared.
Hours of crying later, she slipped into a grief-stricken reverie, lost between the sleeping and waking worlds. Unaware, her hands carved out his name in the mud below her in the quenyan alphabet. Her father would not go unpunished for this deed.
TBC
AN: Ooooh so sad. Poor widdle Honora. Anyways, I've got another story up and being posted, it's called The Estelara; The Morning Hope and it's about Galadriel's daughter falling in love with Haldir but then when he dies and stuff she gets all sad and Eomer loves her and stuff. But that doesn't happen until further in on the story. But read it please! And oh yeah . . .
Read and review people, read and review.
Check out my new story, The Estelara; The Morning Hope. I've got the first chapter up now. Check the bottom of this chapter for a quick sort of summary of it :D
Reviews:
Ling: Sorry you don't like that but it's already written and I'm not going back to edit it again. He wants to do her, why wouldn't he say something like that? lol. :p Thanks for your review.
Nelinde: Thanx for your compliments. I'll make sure to keep my chapters updated. :D
theparanoidone: LOL!!! It's a secret! :p your just gonna have to wait to find out. :D Please keep reading though. I think in the next chapter or two though you find out. :D
They rode upon Edoras a week later, Honora marveled at the beauty of the sight before her. The city stood upon a hill, the golden roofs of the houses showed in brilliant contrast against the mountain ranges behind.
"Do we stop in Edoras, or continue to the mountains?" Legolas asked.
"We will stop in Edoras if we are welcome. I have only ever travelled through these lands, never to its capital." Honora said as they cantered towards the city's gates.
"We will be welcome, I know Eomer." Legolas said quietly as they rode through the gates and into the city. They rode to the House of Eorl and dismounted their horses.
"I hope you are right, I could use rest in a bed." Honora said quietly as they, side by side, walked up the steps to the main hall.
"We come to Eomer King, I am an old friend of his." Legolas said to a guard who was standing next to the door.
"I have no quarrel of your entrance, for I do remember your presence at the Battle of Helms Deep and your valour and courage will forever be remembered by our people." The guard said and waved them into the Hall.
Legolas nodded gratefully to him and they continued into the Hall. They walked slowly towards the thrown where they could see a figure hunched over some parchments.
"Hail Eomer King!" Legolas cried, giving his friend a bright smile. Eomer looked up from his work and smiled brightly at the familiar face.
"Legolas!" Eomer cried, getting up from his seat to greet him. "What brings you back to Edoras? And who is your companion?"
It was then that Legolas noticed that Honora had drawn the hood of her cloak up so that it shrouded her face and she had bowed her head. He watched as violet eyes met grey and recognition instantly arrived in both.
"It's you!" Eomer cried, pulling off the hood of her cloak to get a better look at her face.
"And you." She said politely, giving a short curtsey. "You did not speak of your royal blood when we met." He had escorted her through Rohan some years before, not believing a woman should travel alone in such times.
"I was banished at that time, it did not come to be spoken of." Eomer said happily as he drew her into an embrace.
A flash of the being in white came before Legolas' eyes and he saw the being smiling at the action of Eomer. Legolas blinked and looked at the two, trying to see some kind of future between them but could see none. He was a Man, she was an Elf, such relationships rarely worked, Aragorn and Arwen were one of the few.
"Are you alright, Legolas?" Honora asked at his expression.
"I am fine, Honora." Legolas replied.
"Good!" Eomer said, "Now, perhaps, you would wish to share with me what brings you to Rohan?"
After Eomer had led them to a table in the Hall, Honora related to him their tale of the demons using the tunnels of the old world which surface just beyond Edoras. Honora watched as his face paled.
"We . . . we will march to Helms Deep. We will hold there." Eomer said in shock.
"And do what? Fire useless arrows at them?" Honora asked.
"What would you have me do, My Lady?" He asked.
"You would not appreciate what you would have me do, and would banish me as Lord Aragorn would. But the next best option would be, if you are determined to fight, fight as one with Gondor. Take your people, evacuate them from Edoras and take them to Minas Tirith, for Lord Aragorn too is planning on a fight, and after the battles recently fought, both forces are relatively weak." Honora said hesitantly.
"Run like cowards to Gondor? While these beasts trample and destroy Edoras?" Eomer demanded.
"Edoras will be destroyed whether you stay or you go! You cannot defeat this evil. Ride to Minas Tirith, Rohan is a land or horses, spare all that can and let as many people as can ride to Minas Tirith. Those left without horses can travel in horse drawn wagons and carriages. Please, Eomer, I would not see the horse lords destroyed." She pleaded.
"As you speak, they will be destroyed no matter what we do. Yet you would have me run to Gondor, flee from my own lands, to die on anothers!" Eomer yelled.
Honora bowed her head, "There is a hope at Minas Tirith, Mithrandir. . . Gandalf is currently staying there. He may be able to help. He defeated the Balrog in Moria." She said quietly.
Legolas looked at her, puzzled. Why had they ridden alone towards Mordor if it was Gandalf that was their hope? Then he remembered her speaking of how he did not know of her power. Why would she lie to Eomer?
"Gandalf can stop this evil?" Eomer asked.
"Perhaps." She replied, still not meeting his eyes.
Eomer hesitated for a moment, thinking carefully over his options. He could stay and die, or he could flee to Gondor and have a small chance of survival. "We will ride to Gondor." He finally said, he turned to his messengers, "Spread the word. I want us ready to leave by first light tomorrow."
The dawn crept slowly over the horizon and, as Eomer had hoped, all was ready. All were either on horseback or in a horse drawn carriage and they began their journey. The going was slow and the women and children were reluctant to leave their homes once more, but three days later, they reached the outskirts of Firien Wood.
"I cannot enter these woods much further." Honora said quietly to Eomer. They, and Legolas all rode side by side at the head of the line.
"Why can you not enter these woods?" Eomer asked with concern.
"This is the home from where I was banished. I am not welcome here." She answered. As she spoke the caught the sight of many bows up in the trees drawn tight and ready to shoot. "Sere! Mme tulu mi sere!"(Peace! We come in peace!) She cried.
The arrows did not fire but were kept in place and ready at command. A rider on a white horse rode towards them and Honora rode forth to meet him. Eomer and Legolas followed unbidden.
"Man umea tyar Rohan ana nornoro?" (What evil causes Rohan to run?) He asked, feeling no love for the Edain before him.
" Umea pella elye tuo, nan ente uin roita elye, Numenyahera" (Evil beyond your strength, but they do not hunt you, Numenyahera) Honora replied and bowed her head.
"Elye nar nuhta." (You are not allowed to continue.) Numenyahera said angrily.
"Va, nan Firi mere na auta tere." (I will not, but these Men wish to pass through.) Honora replied.
"So be it." Numenyahera said, turning his mount around and riding back into the depths of the forest. "Two days." He called behind his back.
Eomer had sat in silence during their conversation, not knowing any elvish, he did not know of what had been spoken, Legolas, however, did. He watched in anger as the guard had looked her over admiringly, taking no heed of her bloodline. Who was he to think that he was worthy of looking upon her so? If he, a Prince, was not worthy, why would a simple border guard think he was?
He turned to look at her face but she had not noticed, she was looking to the trees, counting the archers above. He laughed inwardly at the irony of their stance. Eomer, on her left, totally oblivious to the fact that the Being in White had chosen him for Honora, and he on her right, loving her yet not able to.
Honora turned her horse around to face the people of Rohan. "People of Rohan! You are entering the Realm of Holraldir of the Elves. He looks upon Men with scorn, so watch your behavior and keep your children close. There is an escort of at least three dozen archers in the trees above, they will not hesitate to slay you." She called to the people.
Then she turned to Eomer and leaned close. "You have two days to get through this forest. After that they will open fire on your people, you are unwelcome guests. If you follow this road and keep with a pace slightly quicker than that of which we have been travelling so far, you should be able to make it to the other side by tomorrows eve. Respect the nature in this realm, treat every tree as though it was a man, they will not tolerate tree chopping."
"I understand, but where will you go?" Eomer asked quietly.
"I will go around Firien Wood and ride to Minas Tirith to prepare them for the boarding of Rohan. Then I will ride back and meet you somewhere on the road beyond." She replied.
"People of Rohan! We must quicken our pace, we only have two days to get through this forest." Eomer called to his people, they immediately began to move forward, wanting to get out of this forest where they were constantly in the aim of many elvish bows.
Honora stood and watched, the people riding around her in their rush to travel onward. Legolas silently turned his horse, accepting his rejection in stride. He would not show his jealously because she had chosen to speak a goodbye to Eomer rather than him.
"Legolas!" He heard her call, and then the sound of Anarvende coming up beside him.
He turned to her with a puzzled look, "Yes, My Lady?" He asked.
She smiled mischievously and leaned toward him, placing a hand upon his chest to steady herself, and then she gave him a sweet kiss. "Watch over them, Melda." (Beloved) Then she turned her horse and galloped away without even looking back.
Legolas stared after her in shock, his jaw hung open and his eyes were wide. He heard jovial laughter behind him. He turned and found Eomer sitting on his mount, laughing at him. He quickly closed his mouth and rode to his friends side.
"You should not laugh, My Lord, one day she will be yours." Legolas replied.
"Mine? You think that I could tame a maiden as wild as she? I have enough to deal with my sister!" Eomer asked in jest.
"It is not of taming, but of love. I would not wish to see her broken. And for your question, I do not, but someone does. Apparently I am not worthy of her bloodline, but he seems to like you just fine." Legolas said.
"And who is this man?" Eomer asked, still believing it jest.
"I do not know. He appeared to me when I courted her and was angry, yet he appeared again when you two embraced at our arrival and he seemed to be quite joyous." Legolas said. "A being dressed in pure white, with the beard of a Dwarve and the face of a Man, yet the ears and tresses of an Elf and the robes and staff of a Wizard. A crown on golden leaves."
Eomer stared at him a moment, myths and lore flowing through his mind. Yet he decided to say nothing of his suspicion until he was sure. They rode on side by side and eventually made their way back to the front of the line.
Honora galloped away but her heart was beating faster than that of the hoofbeat's coming from Anarvende's feet. What had she been thinking? She had kissed Legolas, in front of all those people. And still she felt no shame! What was she becoming? Her request had not been answered so that usually meant no. It wasn't fair to Legolas to become more involved.
She sighed and urged Anarvende faster, even now she missed him and she had only been away from him for moments. It was taking more of her will than she wanted to admit to keep from turning around and riding back to him.
"Your destiny is with Men." She heard a voice within her head. She refused even to acknowledge the voice, willing herself that it was not true.
Days later she rode up to the gates of Minas Tirith. The sky was bright and the city seemed even busier than usual. The banners of the seven stars around a white tree flapped rapidly in the wind, and the leaves of the forest beyond the city rustled loudly.
"My Lady! Where have you been?" The guard cried.
"I bring news from the Riddermark!" She cried, "You must take this message to King Elessar; the evil comes from the west, Rohan has evacuated and is on their way to seek refuge in Minas Tirith. They would be only happy to join you in battle once more."
"What evil comes, My Lady?" The sentry asked.
"King Elessar will know of what I speak." She answered.
"Open the gate!" A loud voice cried from the far side, she did not need to see him to know it was her master, Lord Aragorn.
The gates swung open and she watched silently as Aragorn rode towards her on the back of a large brown stallion. His hair was ruffled and messed and she could tell from the marks beneath his eyes that he had not had sleep for many nights.
"Legolas has not returned? Where is he? How does he fare?" Aragorn demanded.
"Legolas rides at the side of Eomer King of Rohan. When I left their company three days ago they were entering Firien Wood. He fares quite well." She said, answering each of his questions.
"Are you so selfish that you would bring him to his doom? You said to me those beasts could not be slain by bow or sword, yet still you requested his company?" Aragorn demanded in anger, now that he was sure his friend had not perished.
"I would have had it that he stayed in Minas Tirith by your side, My Lord! I did not ask for him to accompany me, but instead he insisted. He would not let me leave the stables until I agreed." Honora snapped back in anger. "Ready Minas Tirith for Rohan, My Lord. We will meet again once they arrive."
Then she turned Anarvende around and galloped away in anger. How dare he assume that she would willingly put Legolas in danger! He had no comprehension of the worry she felt for him even at this moment! How did she know they had gotten through the forest in time?
Legolas and Eomer rode together in comfortable silence. Legolas wondered idly where Honora was at that moment, though he already knew. She was riding around Firien Wood, probably on the same trail they had used when travelling to Rohan. She had only been gone a few hours so he did not expect for her to be past the far side of the woods yet, no matter how fast Anarvende could run. The trail was rocky and unstable.
He looked up at the darkening sky and sighed, he was surely going to be lonely tonight. During his travels with Honora there had been much jest, but now, in the crown of Rohan, who were once more fleeing from their homes, all was somber. Suddenly he heard shouts of alarm from above in the trees. He paused his horse and could see the branches above shaking from the hasty movements of the Elves above.
"Whats happening?" Eomer asked.
"I do not know. Ready your men, I will go see what has caused this alarm." Legolas said as he dismounted Arod and ran over to a tree. He looked back and saw Eomer calling to his captains, preparing them for any sort of conflict that might arise.
Legolas turned back to the tree and put his ear to it's trunk. It was angered, and spoke of the coming of foul elves. He turned back to Eomer, "Orcs!" He cried and scrambled up the tree to get a view of their numbers.
"How many, Legolas?" He heard Eomer call from the base of the tree. He hesitated for a moment, not believing that that large of a number could be organized without the help of a greater power.
"One thousand strong." Legolas called. " We have no fortress to hide our women and children in this time, give everyone a weapon, women, children, everyone! I'm going ahead to take some with my arrows."He leapt from branch to branch towards the army of Orcs and readied his bow.
"Outsider! We can handle our own battles, we do not need your help!" One of the other Elves called to him.
"You have at least one thousand Orcs coming to your doorstep, you need all the help you can get!" Legolas cried back and released an arrow into the throat of one of the nearest Orcs. The creature cried out and fell to the ground. The battle had begun.
Honora stopped in the middle of the road, looking hopelessly around, the people of Rohan were nowhere to be seen. She slid from Anarvende's back, to her knees in the forming puddles on the road. A storm was coming, but she cared not. Her beloved had not made it through the forest. There were no tracks coming from the west. She would have expected them to have been closer to Minas Tirith than the place of where she stood, yet they were not.
Tears came unbidden to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, wrenching sobs came from her lips as she thought of Legolas' demise. Why? Why had not Illuvatar spared him? If she could go back she would not have become involved with him at all, if only he could be spared.
Hours of crying later, she slipped into a grief-stricken reverie, lost between the sleeping and waking worlds. Unaware, her hands carved out his name in the mud below her in the quenyan alphabet. Her father would not go unpunished for this deed.
TBC
AN: Ooooh so sad. Poor widdle Honora. Anyways, I've got another story up and being posted, it's called The Estelara; The Morning Hope and it's about Galadriel's daughter falling in love with Haldir but then when he dies and stuff she gets all sad and Eomer loves her and stuff. But that doesn't happen until further in on the story. But read it please! And oh yeah . . .
Read and review people, read and review.