Thirty-Five: Hope and Prophesies
A/N: Okay, since everybody freaking YELLED at me, because they all thought she loved Eomer, when she SHOULD be loving Legolas … all's fair in love and war. Enjoy and be surprised. ^_^ Hey, Sierra, thanks for the insight. I didn't know that mellonim was the female form. I thought "mellon" was friend, and "mellonim" was like my friend. But oh well. I don't know Sindarin except for a few choice words and phrases that I've picked up around ff.net. Oh, and Phoenix--I know perfectly well that elves can die of heartbreak, well informed of that, but thanks anyway. Thanks to all of my reviewers, and I hope that this chapter warrants a biscuit and a pat on the head … maybe a scratch behind the ears … ha ha ha. Just kidding. Enjoy!
…
"I love you … like a brother, Eomer," Aila finished, bowing her heads and looking at her knees. "I am sorry, but it cannot be anything more than that. Oh, Eomer, I am the Light Bearer and destined to fall in love with an elf. I'm sorry that it has to be this way." Eomer nodded dejectedly and let go of her hand, looking also to his knees. She lifted her head and saw the anguish on his face. Falling to her knees on the ground, she placed her hands on his knees and looked desperately up into his face. Even though Legolas felt rivalry between himself and Eomer, his heart shattered when he saw her vain attempts to cheer him again. There was hope for Legolas after all, even if it was still minimal. There was hope.
"Eomer," she began, speaking softly. Legolas had never heard her talk so sweetly, with such feeling and depth to it. "I wish it wasn't this way, but it is. You will return to Rohan and reign long as its king, leading the Rohirrim to greatness. This, I know, Eomer," she said, pulling her hands from his knees and enveloping his face, pulling his chin up to look into his eyes. Her brown eyes softened as she looked up into his face, his blonde hair waving slightly in the small breeze. "This I know. You will find happiness and love, mellonim, dearest of friends."
"Who is it then?" asked Eomer suddenly, cold hate flashed across his etched features.
"Who is who?" asked Aila, confused but glad to be out of the sad moment.
"Who do you put before me?"
"I put no one before you …" she trailed, not knowing exactly what to say.
"An elf you said? So it's Legolas? I thought it was so …" His face sobered once more and tears welled in his deep eyes.
"Legolas? What about Legolas?"
"You love him."
"I do not," she said defiantly, more harsh than she had meant, but she was sick of everybody thinking she was in love with Legolas, but she didn't know why. Hidden close by in the bushes, Legolas almost choked, to hear so plainly from her mouth … She did not love him. She would never love him. Wild thoughts raced through his mind and he fought the urge to leave and submerse himself in his sudden depression, but some hidden will was keeping him rooted to the spot.
"You do not?"
"I …" stuttered Aila. "I didn't mean it like that. I don't know."
"How did you mean it?"
"I don't know." Still crouching in the bushes, Legolas felt the feeling of morose fade into a hardly tangible emotion, but still it remained. She did not love him. Standing up, looking down at Aila from his lofty height, as she remained crouching on the floor, head bowed, Eomer turned and walked away, disappointed and depressed.
"I will always love you, Lady Aila," he said as he walked away.
"You won't," she whispered to his retreating back, re-seating herself upon the bench, tears streaming down her face unchecked. "You won't," she repeated. "Why," she said after a length, calming down enough to stifle her tears, "why must everything in my life now revolve around love? Never have I had to pay much attention to it. People who love are fickle, jumping from one love to another, never staying long enough to truly feel what they are doing. Love is illogical and stupid! It only causes pain!" she said to herself, anger flaming through her. A few feet away, Legolas fought the urge to go to her, to calm her nerves. To show her that love was far from fickle. That love healed pain and was the most logical thing on the face of the earth.
Just as he was about to subside to his urge and go to her, he saw her stand up and smooth the tears away from her face, running fingers through her untamed hair. She started to walk away from the dais, staring down at the ground. She walked past him, not noticing he was there, but as if some invisible hand had turned her head, her chin shot up and she met Legolas' eyes where he wasn't hidden by the bushes.
Surprise and confusion set upon her face before her face settled to show no emotion. Legolas stood up and started to move towards her, but her eyes narrowed disbelievingly and she started to turn away.
"Aila," said Legolas weakly, but she turned on her heel and sprinted away from him. He knew that he easily could have caught her, but he also knew that this wasn't the time to talk to her. She had quite a few things to sort out.
…
"Aragorn," said Aila breathlessly as she ended her sprint in the hall of the King of Gondor. Aragorn raised his eyebrows, quite amused, at her and gestured for her to continue. "When can I travel back to Rivendell to go home?" The King sighed before her replied.
"I was wondering when that question was going to come up. You may leave as soon as you wish."
"Tomorrow?" she asked, wondering what had caused her to want to leave so early. Suddenly, a memory of Eomer flashed across her mind and she realized why she felt so forced to go.
"I can arrange it," replied the king sadly. "You shall travel forth to Rivendell with Prince Legolas, who will travel through Rivendell before turning to his own Mirkwood realm. Tomorrow, an hour before the sun rises in the sky be ready to leave, and I will provide horses and provisions for your travels." Tears enveloped Aila's eyes for the third time that day, throwing formalities to the wind, she rushed to Aragorn and hugged him upon his throne.
"I'll miss you Aragorn. I promise I'll come to visit you often, I promise!" He returned her hug.
"I will miss you, as well, Aila. As will Arwen, I'm sure. Could you do me a favor, though? When you reach Rivendell, inform them of the defeat of Sauron, relay the events to them and tell Arwen to hasten to Minas Tirith."
"I will surely do that for you, mellonim," she replied, smiling at him and pulling away. As she left she heard Aragorn call a messenger to find Legolas and inform him that he was leaving the following day.
…
A maid was gently shaking Aila awake the next morning, the sun far from rising. At first she just groaned and rolled away, fingering the bandages that were still tightly bound around her waist. She remembered with a jolt that this was the day she was leaving and she jumped up from the bed, but immediately slowed down again as she realized she was leaving everyone in middle earth behind. She could visit, though, and it wouldn't be too bad. What slowed her heart the most was that she was traveling with Legolas. How could she face him? After what she had said and done.
"I wish I wasn't so confused," she mumbled as she dressed in her worn traveling clothes that she had donned during the majority of the journey with the Fellowship. Frodo had yet to show up on Aragorn's doorstep, but she didn't want to be there when he came. She doubted she could handle all the celebrations and joyous occasions. Sitting down for a moment and writing a hurried letter, telling Frodo how much she would miss him and how proud she was of him for his bravery. She signed the letter and handed it to the maid, telling her to give it to King Aragorn so that he could in turn give the letter to Frodo when he returned.
She threw a few odds and ends into a pack and slung it across her shoulders, alongside her quiver. On her hips she clasped her sword-belt and adjusted her scabbard. Slinging her bow upon the quiver, she pushed the door open and walked to the stables of Minas Tirith. The stable-hand had been informed of her needs and he provided her with the horse she had been given by the Rohirrim, the one that she had ridden to the battle, Geo. She noticed that Arod, Legolas' horse, was pawing and snuffling anxiously as well, groomed and ready to go. Leading her horse, she walked back to the Great Hall, where she was to find Aragorn.
Upon arriving, she found that there was a large reception for her. Aragorn raised his eyebrows in amusement.
"I thought you would have been here earlier," he remarked.
"I stopped to get my horse," she replied emotionless. He nodded and gestured a couple of servants forward, who carried packs upon packs of provisions.
"To thank you for your aid in the wars of Gondor, we give two travelers provisions and horses for their journey. In the packs you can find food and changes of clothing, as well as other objects you may find useful. May the Valar go with you on your journeys." Nodding, Aila realized suddenly that Legolas was standing beside her, tall and distant, never taking his eyes from King Elessar's face.
Gimli, Gandalf, Eomer, and Faramir were among those to see them off. Eowyn, supported heavily by Faramir, was there as well. There were many painful good-byes for Aila, but she assured everybody that she would visit often for long bouts of time.
The sun was rising and Aragorn said that the two should probably start off, since their journey to Rivendell would be a long road. Nodding, saddened but anxious to be home again, Aila followed Legolas, grabbing her horse's reigns as he went to the stables to get Arod. Servants followed them with their packs and loaded the horses. Aila frowned as she watched them.
"That is too much to split between two horses and then add ourselves."
"Could we have another horse?" Legolas asked the stable-hand, but the man shook his head.
"There are none to spare, sir." Sighing, Legolas started to smooth his hair, looking from Aila to the horses. Frustrated as well, Aila quietly began to unload Arod's back and put the various packs onto Geo's sturdy frame. Legolas watched her quizzically and she blew those imaginary bangs from her forehead once more.
"We can both ride on Arod, and Geo will take the packs, if that's all right with you?" Silently, Legolas nodded, pulling a length of rope from one of the stable walls. He tied Geo's reigns to Arod's so that the horse could not run away while they were traveling. Satisfied that the knot was tight and wouldn't come out, Legolas looked up to see that Aila had already finished loading the packs on Geo's back, and was waiting for him to mount Arod.
"Ladies first," he smiled at her and she scowled mockingly. She put her foot into the stirrup and swung onto the horse's back, in the back half of the saddle, so that Legolas could sit in front of her and steer the horse. Nodding thanks to the stable-hand, Legolas swung effortlessly onto Arod's back, pulling the reigns so that Arod began to trot toward the gates.
Sudden drowse overwhelmed Aila and she leaned against Legolas' back as they trotted away from the grand city of Gondor.
"I'm sorry Legolas," she said to him, yawning slightly against the rays of the new risen sun. "I didn't mean any of it."
"I know," said Legolas, conscious of her arms wrapped lightly around him, her hands resting where his lap would be if he wasn't astride a horse. "I understand and I am sorry for the way I behaved as well." Aila nodded, still yawning into his back.
"I guess I didn't get enough sleep last night," she laughed sleepily, glad that she and Legolas were back on friendly terms.
"Then sleep now. For as long as you like. The first day of our journey I would like to push on quite far. Sleep now."
…
When Aila woke up, she drowsily saw that they were passing through the somewhat familiar territory of Rohan. She yawned for a moment, marveling at how far they had come before she realized how hot she was, sweat collecting on her brow, she could feel the sun burning into her skin. Hunger also rumbled in her stomach and she readjusted her hands in front of Legolas, so that cool air ran through them, cooling the perspiration that had clung there as well.
"I'm hungry," she said weakly, making a face as the horrible metallic taste in her mouth that one gets when one hasn't eaten in a long time. Wordlessly, Legolas pulled the horses to a stop and they gratefully halted, breathing hard through their nostrils and bent their necks to graze. Leaping off, Legolas pulled her off with him as she hung limply, tired but starving and unwilling to fall back asleep. The sun beat against her skin, lulling her and willing her to sleep, but she knew the deadly slumber.
Legolas handed her a skin of water and she drank some greedily, glad of the cool water down her throat. She foraged through the packs and found some food for herself as well as Legolas and handed it to him.
"We've come far," she remarked, more to herself.
"I kept the horses at a gallop for most of the day. It's afternoon now, and I think we should stay awhile and allow them rest, before we push on once more to find a more suitable place for night."
"Ugh," Aila said, wiping her forehead. "It's so hot, and there's absolutely no shade …" she gazed around at the plains that surrounded them, treeless and barren, only dry grass and sparse green bushes.
"That can't be helped," Legolas replied apologetically. He scanned the horizon with his keen elven eyes and his face brightened. "There is a grove of trees a few miles out, that I'm sure you cannot see. Would it bother the horses if we went over there? So they could have some shade as well?"
"Oh, please," said Aila, breathing deeply to cool herself down. "Let's go, it's so hot out here, I'm going to roast to death. Who thought spring could be so hot?" Nodding, he pulled her up into the saddle in front of him.
The oppressive heat continued throughout the first half of their journey. They passed the tumbled tower of Isengard and the southern half of the Mountains. Weeks they traveled, and everyday Aila became even more anxious to get back to her time. When they were only a few days' ride from Rivendell, Aila was rummaging through her own pack, shifting through the oddments that she had packed, looking for nothing in particular, but falling back to the memories that she was so anxious to leave behind. A pensive silence was held when she discovered a scroll of paper.
Legolas was away grazing the horses and gathering water and she was leaning against one of the sparse trees that dotted the land. The sun was still in the sky, but it was fading quickly, and a reddish hue had conquered the sky, dimming the light and casting beautiful orange rays down onto the brown earth. Carefully she unrolled the parchment, wondering how she had even come into possession of something so old and brittle.
Through all Ages of Elven-kind will pass
Through Time and Mirror, the Light Bearer comes
Prophetic specter through the looking glass
From airy word and dign'ty, love is shunned
Elven Prince come save the a-lighted heart
Through these lovers' deeds, all Elves are rescued
Save thy love's heart from evil's poisoned dart
Thy musings no long remain miscued
Bearer of Light shall break the dark decree
The One Ring to rule them, in Darkness bind
Give birth to the Child, and Light shall set Free
Power unaccounted, Walker of Mind
The Child and the Light will lead all true Elves
Home to safety from this Earth's great perils.
She read her prophecy over and over, her fingers running lightly over the flowing script, marveling that it was written in the common tongue, rather than high elven. The ink has run slightly, and the paper was crackery and old, several millennia old, she was sure. Everything seemed to fall together. It mentioned that she was a Mind Walker, it mentioned the mirror, it talked about coming from another time.
How could she doubt after all of that? One thing left her heart unsettled, it still talked about love, and she still knew she wasn't capable of it. And besides, she realized that she didn't know any elven princes, not to her memory, anyway.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Legolas coming back with the horses and found herself stuffing the roll of frail paper back into her pack. The sun had faded below the horizon and was vainly thrusting its last few purple rays across the sky, in feeble attempts to reign over the day for a little while longer, but it was hopeless, for the moon was already peaking her tyrannical head from over one of the distant mountains, shedding her own silvery, pale light upon the earth, smiling benevolently, overtaking the powerless sun.
She laid down her bedroll and lay awake for a long time, watching the stars twinkle feebly overheard, overpowering yet still they seemed to struggle against the light of the moon. Aila had always disliked the moon. It had no light of its own, but simply reflected the light of the sun that reached helplessly around the world. Like it was twisting the sun's power to its own personal use. It seemed tyrannical and like those people who make big friends to protect them, always backing the biggest bully on the playground.
"I can't sleep," she announced, sitting up on her bedroll. She pulled the blanket off of her, and jumped into the cool night air. Legolas turned his head to her where he had been sitting keeping watch. "I'll keep watch, you should get some sleep."
"Aila," Legolas began, about to say that he was an elf and needed no sleep, but she came and sat next to him.
"You have been keeping watch this entire trip, it's my turn. If you won't go to sleep, then I'll just sit here and keep watch with you," she said stubbornly, turning her face away from his. From the corner of her eye, she saw him laugh silently. He slipped down from the rock so that he sat upon the ground, his back resting against the stone. Making no move to go to sleep, he sat there with his bright blue eyes open, forever searching the horizons.
After a while, Aila could tell that his breathing had slowed and that he was halfway in the dream-world, resting. She yawned slightly, but corrected herself and pinned her eyes forcefully open, turning around constantly to watch behind them as well, even though she didn't expect any fell creatures to be traveling abroad so recently after their defeat.
The road was taken up again the next day and Aila felt her sleepless night finally catching up with her when the sun reached its high seat at noon. She slumped forward heavily into Legolas' back and her arms hung lightly around his waist. Sleep overtook her for about an hour, and Legolas pushed the horse on farther. However, her hands were much too loose and she began to fall, still asleep, from the side of the horse.
Legolas felt her weight shift behind him and instinct told him that she was tumbling from the horse in her sleep. She would get fatally injured, if not immediately killed if she fell, after hitting the ground and being trotted on by the enormous horse. Letting go of the reigns for a moment, he twisted around and pulled her in front of him, so that she faced him and was seated in the front of the saddle.
Aila's eyes fluttered open, but she was too tired to make any protest and put her head to Legolas' chest and fell back to sleep. The elf's hands were held loosely around the reigns, but his elbows held Aila close to him. In her sleep, Aila shifted, pulling her legs up from the horse's side and wrapping them around Legolas, so that she sat cross-legged on the horse, with Legolas between her legs.
He shifted uncomfortably for a moment, but was afraid of waking her up, so he pressed the horses on. Aila slept for a few more hours, and woke up while the sun was setting. Legolas continued to drive the horses on, anxious to be back in Rivendell, but reluctant because he knew the sooner they arrived, the sooner Aila would be leaving.
Leaning against him, Aila knew that she should move, so that she sat behind him again, but she felt like it was against her will to move, or against his will. Suddenly, she had this sudden overwhelming of some weird feeling, and she felt herself engulfed in Legolas' aura, as she always was, but now it seemed so much stronger than it normally was. Calm and blue, shaded with yellow of wisdom, throbbing green loyalty, shot with sparks of red passion, his aura was so overwhelming when she was around him and she wondered what her own aura was like. Turquoise for leadership, but black around the edges, giving away her misconceptions and misgivings. Streaked with golden intelligence, orange with humor. She fell asleep against his chest just as he decided to stop for rest. They had come to a thin covering of trees, out skirting Rivendell.
…
A/N: Okay, well, they're headed back to Rivendell and we're heading towards the beginning of the endings. I think I might as well post both. I'll post the first one I wrote before I post the other, so there you go. Now that I think about it, I should have had her convince herself that she was in love with Eomer, have a demonic little child, be totally unhappy, and that watch as the elves are destroyed … but that would be kind of sucky wouldn't it? Oh well. Enjoy.
Reviews Always Welcome, from 9am-9pm, 9 hours a day, 9 days a week, 9 weeks a month, 9 months a year. (ha ha ha, funny funny.)
A/N: Okay, since everybody freaking YELLED at me, because they all thought she loved Eomer, when she SHOULD be loving Legolas … all's fair in love and war. Enjoy and be surprised. ^_^ Hey, Sierra, thanks for the insight. I didn't know that mellonim was the female form. I thought "mellon" was friend, and "mellonim" was like my friend. But oh well. I don't know Sindarin except for a few choice words and phrases that I've picked up around ff.net. Oh, and Phoenix--I know perfectly well that elves can die of heartbreak, well informed of that, but thanks anyway. Thanks to all of my reviewers, and I hope that this chapter warrants a biscuit and a pat on the head … maybe a scratch behind the ears … ha ha ha. Just kidding. Enjoy!
…
"I love you … like a brother, Eomer," Aila finished, bowing her heads and looking at her knees. "I am sorry, but it cannot be anything more than that. Oh, Eomer, I am the Light Bearer and destined to fall in love with an elf. I'm sorry that it has to be this way." Eomer nodded dejectedly and let go of her hand, looking also to his knees. She lifted her head and saw the anguish on his face. Falling to her knees on the ground, she placed her hands on his knees and looked desperately up into his face. Even though Legolas felt rivalry between himself and Eomer, his heart shattered when he saw her vain attempts to cheer him again. There was hope for Legolas after all, even if it was still minimal. There was hope.
"Eomer," she began, speaking softly. Legolas had never heard her talk so sweetly, with such feeling and depth to it. "I wish it wasn't this way, but it is. You will return to Rohan and reign long as its king, leading the Rohirrim to greatness. This, I know, Eomer," she said, pulling her hands from his knees and enveloping his face, pulling his chin up to look into his eyes. Her brown eyes softened as she looked up into his face, his blonde hair waving slightly in the small breeze. "This I know. You will find happiness and love, mellonim, dearest of friends."
"Who is it then?" asked Eomer suddenly, cold hate flashed across his etched features.
"Who is who?" asked Aila, confused but glad to be out of the sad moment.
"Who do you put before me?"
"I put no one before you …" she trailed, not knowing exactly what to say.
"An elf you said? So it's Legolas? I thought it was so …" His face sobered once more and tears welled in his deep eyes.
"Legolas? What about Legolas?"
"You love him."
"I do not," she said defiantly, more harsh than she had meant, but she was sick of everybody thinking she was in love with Legolas, but she didn't know why. Hidden close by in the bushes, Legolas almost choked, to hear so plainly from her mouth … She did not love him. She would never love him. Wild thoughts raced through his mind and he fought the urge to leave and submerse himself in his sudden depression, but some hidden will was keeping him rooted to the spot.
"You do not?"
"I …" stuttered Aila. "I didn't mean it like that. I don't know."
"How did you mean it?"
"I don't know." Still crouching in the bushes, Legolas felt the feeling of morose fade into a hardly tangible emotion, but still it remained. She did not love him. Standing up, looking down at Aila from his lofty height, as she remained crouching on the floor, head bowed, Eomer turned and walked away, disappointed and depressed.
"I will always love you, Lady Aila," he said as he walked away.
"You won't," she whispered to his retreating back, re-seating herself upon the bench, tears streaming down her face unchecked. "You won't," she repeated. "Why," she said after a length, calming down enough to stifle her tears, "why must everything in my life now revolve around love? Never have I had to pay much attention to it. People who love are fickle, jumping from one love to another, never staying long enough to truly feel what they are doing. Love is illogical and stupid! It only causes pain!" she said to herself, anger flaming through her. A few feet away, Legolas fought the urge to go to her, to calm her nerves. To show her that love was far from fickle. That love healed pain and was the most logical thing on the face of the earth.
Just as he was about to subside to his urge and go to her, he saw her stand up and smooth the tears away from her face, running fingers through her untamed hair. She started to walk away from the dais, staring down at the ground. She walked past him, not noticing he was there, but as if some invisible hand had turned her head, her chin shot up and she met Legolas' eyes where he wasn't hidden by the bushes.
Surprise and confusion set upon her face before her face settled to show no emotion. Legolas stood up and started to move towards her, but her eyes narrowed disbelievingly and she started to turn away.
"Aila," said Legolas weakly, but she turned on her heel and sprinted away from him. He knew that he easily could have caught her, but he also knew that this wasn't the time to talk to her. She had quite a few things to sort out.
…
"Aragorn," said Aila breathlessly as she ended her sprint in the hall of the King of Gondor. Aragorn raised his eyebrows, quite amused, at her and gestured for her to continue. "When can I travel back to Rivendell to go home?" The King sighed before her replied.
"I was wondering when that question was going to come up. You may leave as soon as you wish."
"Tomorrow?" she asked, wondering what had caused her to want to leave so early. Suddenly, a memory of Eomer flashed across her mind and she realized why she felt so forced to go.
"I can arrange it," replied the king sadly. "You shall travel forth to Rivendell with Prince Legolas, who will travel through Rivendell before turning to his own Mirkwood realm. Tomorrow, an hour before the sun rises in the sky be ready to leave, and I will provide horses and provisions for your travels." Tears enveloped Aila's eyes for the third time that day, throwing formalities to the wind, she rushed to Aragorn and hugged him upon his throne.
"I'll miss you Aragorn. I promise I'll come to visit you often, I promise!" He returned her hug.
"I will miss you, as well, Aila. As will Arwen, I'm sure. Could you do me a favor, though? When you reach Rivendell, inform them of the defeat of Sauron, relay the events to them and tell Arwen to hasten to Minas Tirith."
"I will surely do that for you, mellonim," she replied, smiling at him and pulling away. As she left she heard Aragorn call a messenger to find Legolas and inform him that he was leaving the following day.
…
A maid was gently shaking Aila awake the next morning, the sun far from rising. At first she just groaned and rolled away, fingering the bandages that were still tightly bound around her waist. She remembered with a jolt that this was the day she was leaving and she jumped up from the bed, but immediately slowed down again as she realized she was leaving everyone in middle earth behind. She could visit, though, and it wouldn't be too bad. What slowed her heart the most was that she was traveling with Legolas. How could she face him? After what she had said and done.
"I wish I wasn't so confused," she mumbled as she dressed in her worn traveling clothes that she had donned during the majority of the journey with the Fellowship. Frodo had yet to show up on Aragorn's doorstep, but she didn't want to be there when he came. She doubted she could handle all the celebrations and joyous occasions. Sitting down for a moment and writing a hurried letter, telling Frodo how much she would miss him and how proud she was of him for his bravery. She signed the letter and handed it to the maid, telling her to give it to King Aragorn so that he could in turn give the letter to Frodo when he returned.
She threw a few odds and ends into a pack and slung it across her shoulders, alongside her quiver. On her hips she clasped her sword-belt and adjusted her scabbard. Slinging her bow upon the quiver, she pushed the door open and walked to the stables of Minas Tirith. The stable-hand had been informed of her needs and he provided her with the horse she had been given by the Rohirrim, the one that she had ridden to the battle, Geo. She noticed that Arod, Legolas' horse, was pawing and snuffling anxiously as well, groomed and ready to go. Leading her horse, she walked back to the Great Hall, where she was to find Aragorn.
Upon arriving, she found that there was a large reception for her. Aragorn raised his eyebrows in amusement.
"I thought you would have been here earlier," he remarked.
"I stopped to get my horse," she replied emotionless. He nodded and gestured a couple of servants forward, who carried packs upon packs of provisions.
"To thank you for your aid in the wars of Gondor, we give two travelers provisions and horses for their journey. In the packs you can find food and changes of clothing, as well as other objects you may find useful. May the Valar go with you on your journeys." Nodding, Aila realized suddenly that Legolas was standing beside her, tall and distant, never taking his eyes from King Elessar's face.
Gimli, Gandalf, Eomer, and Faramir were among those to see them off. Eowyn, supported heavily by Faramir, was there as well. There were many painful good-byes for Aila, but she assured everybody that she would visit often for long bouts of time.
The sun was rising and Aragorn said that the two should probably start off, since their journey to Rivendell would be a long road. Nodding, saddened but anxious to be home again, Aila followed Legolas, grabbing her horse's reigns as he went to the stables to get Arod. Servants followed them with their packs and loaded the horses. Aila frowned as she watched them.
"That is too much to split between two horses and then add ourselves."
"Could we have another horse?" Legolas asked the stable-hand, but the man shook his head.
"There are none to spare, sir." Sighing, Legolas started to smooth his hair, looking from Aila to the horses. Frustrated as well, Aila quietly began to unload Arod's back and put the various packs onto Geo's sturdy frame. Legolas watched her quizzically and she blew those imaginary bangs from her forehead once more.
"We can both ride on Arod, and Geo will take the packs, if that's all right with you?" Silently, Legolas nodded, pulling a length of rope from one of the stable walls. He tied Geo's reigns to Arod's so that the horse could not run away while they were traveling. Satisfied that the knot was tight and wouldn't come out, Legolas looked up to see that Aila had already finished loading the packs on Geo's back, and was waiting for him to mount Arod.
"Ladies first," he smiled at her and she scowled mockingly. She put her foot into the stirrup and swung onto the horse's back, in the back half of the saddle, so that Legolas could sit in front of her and steer the horse. Nodding thanks to the stable-hand, Legolas swung effortlessly onto Arod's back, pulling the reigns so that Arod began to trot toward the gates.
Sudden drowse overwhelmed Aila and she leaned against Legolas' back as they trotted away from the grand city of Gondor.
"I'm sorry Legolas," she said to him, yawning slightly against the rays of the new risen sun. "I didn't mean any of it."
"I know," said Legolas, conscious of her arms wrapped lightly around him, her hands resting where his lap would be if he wasn't astride a horse. "I understand and I am sorry for the way I behaved as well." Aila nodded, still yawning into his back.
"I guess I didn't get enough sleep last night," she laughed sleepily, glad that she and Legolas were back on friendly terms.
"Then sleep now. For as long as you like. The first day of our journey I would like to push on quite far. Sleep now."
…
When Aila woke up, she drowsily saw that they were passing through the somewhat familiar territory of Rohan. She yawned for a moment, marveling at how far they had come before she realized how hot she was, sweat collecting on her brow, she could feel the sun burning into her skin. Hunger also rumbled in her stomach and she readjusted her hands in front of Legolas, so that cool air ran through them, cooling the perspiration that had clung there as well.
"I'm hungry," she said weakly, making a face as the horrible metallic taste in her mouth that one gets when one hasn't eaten in a long time. Wordlessly, Legolas pulled the horses to a stop and they gratefully halted, breathing hard through their nostrils and bent their necks to graze. Leaping off, Legolas pulled her off with him as she hung limply, tired but starving and unwilling to fall back asleep. The sun beat against her skin, lulling her and willing her to sleep, but she knew the deadly slumber.
Legolas handed her a skin of water and she drank some greedily, glad of the cool water down her throat. She foraged through the packs and found some food for herself as well as Legolas and handed it to him.
"We've come far," she remarked, more to herself.
"I kept the horses at a gallop for most of the day. It's afternoon now, and I think we should stay awhile and allow them rest, before we push on once more to find a more suitable place for night."
"Ugh," Aila said, wiping her forehead. "It's so hot, and there's absolutely no shade …" she gazed around at the plains that surrounded them, treeless and barren, only dry grass and sparse green bushes.
"That can't be helped," Legolas replied apologetically. He scanned the horizon with his keen elven eyes and his face brightened. "There is a grove of trees a few miles out, that I'm sure you cannot see. Would it bother the horses if we went over there? So they could have some shade as well?"
"Oh, please," said Aila, breathing deeply to cool herself down. "Let's go, it's so hot out here, I'm going to roast to death. Who thought spring could be so hot?" Nodding, he pulled her up into the saddle in front of him.
The oppressive heat continued throughout the first half of their journey. They passed the tumbled tower of Isengard and the southern half of the Mountains. Weeks they traveled, and everyday Aila became even more anxious to get back to her time. When they were only a few days' ride from Rivendell, Aila was rummaging through her own pack, shifting through the oddments that she had packed, looking for nothing in particular, but falling back to the memories that she was so anxious to leave behind. A pensive silence was held when she discovered a scroll of paper.
Legolas was away grazing the horses and gathering water and she was leaning against one of the sparse trees that dotted the land. The sun was still in the sky, but it was fading quickly, and a reddish hue had conquered the sky, dimming the light and casting beautiful orange rays down onto the brown earth. Carefully she unrolled the parchment, wondering how she had even come into possession of something so old and brittle.
Through all Ages of Elven-kind will pass
Through Time and Mirror, the Light Bearer comes
Prophetic specter through the looking glass
From airy word and dign'ty, love is shunned
Elven Prince come save the a-lighted heart
Through these lovers' deeds, all Elves are rescued
Save thy love's heart from evil's poisoned dart
Thy musings no long remain miscued
Bearer of Light shall break the dark decree
The One Ring to rule them, in Darkness bind
Give birth to the Child, and Light shall set Free
Power unaccounted, Walker of Mind
The Child and the Light will lead all true Elves
Home to safety from this Earth's great perils.
She read her prophecy over and over, her fingers running lightly over the flowing script, marveling that it was written in the common tongue, rather than high elven. The ink has run slightly, and the paper was crackery and old, several millennia old, she was sure. Everything seemed to fall together. It mentioned that she was a Mind Walker, it mentioned the mirror, it talked about coming from another time.
How could she doubt after all of that? One thing left her heart unsettled, it still talked about love, and she still knew she wasn't capable of it. And besides, she realized that she didn't know any elven princes, not to her memory, anyway.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Legolas coming back with the horses and found herself stuffing the roll of frail paper back into her pack. The sun had faded below the horizon and was vainly thrusting its last few purple rays across the sky, in feeble attempts to reign over the day for a little while longer, but it was hopeless, for the moon was already peaking her tyrannical head from over one of the distant mountains, shedding her own silvery, pale light upon the earth, smiling benevolently, overtaking the powerless sun.
She laid down her bedroll and lay awake for a long time, watching the stars twinkle feebly overheard, overpowering yet still they seemed to struggle against the light of the moon. Aila had always disliked the moon. It had no light of its own, but simply reflected the light of the sun that reached helplessly around the world. Like it was twisting the sun's power to its own personal use. It seemed tyrannical and like those people who make big friends to protect them, always backing the biggest bully on the playground.
"I can't sleep," she announced, sitting up on her bedroll. She pulled the blanket off of her, and jumped into the cool night air. Legolas turned his head to her where he had been sitting keeping watch. "I'll keep watch, you should get some sleep."
"Aila," Legolas began, about to say that he was an elf and needed no sleep, but she came and sat next to him.
"You have been keeping watch this entire trip, it's my turn. If you won't go to sleep, then I'll just sit here and keep watch with you," she said stubbornly, turning her face away from his. From the corner of her eye, she saw him laugh silently. He slipped down from the rock so that he sat upon the ground, his back resting against the stone. Making no move to go to sleep, he sat there with his bright blue eyes open, forever searching the horizons.
After a while, Aila could tell that his breathing had slowed and that he was halfway in the dream-world, resting. She yawned slightly, but corrected herself and pinned her eyes forcefully open, turning around constantly to watch behind them as well, even though she didn't expect any fell creatures to be traveling abroad so recently after their defeat.
The road was taken up again the next day and Aila felt her sleepless night finally catching up with her when the sun reached its high seat at noon. She slumped forward heavily into Legolas' back and her arms hung lightly around his waist. Sleep overtook her for about an hour, and Legolas pushed the horse on farther. However, her hands were much too loose and she began to fall, still asleep, from the side of the horse.
Legolas felt her weight shift behind him and instinct told him that she was tumbling from the horse in her sleep. She would get fatally injured, if not immediately killed if she fell, after hitting the ground and being trotted on by the enormous horse. Letting go of the reigns for a moment, he twisted around and pulled her in front of him, so that she faced him and was seated in the front of the saddle.
Aila's eyes fluttered open, but she was too tired to make any protest and put her head to Legolas' chest and fell back to sleep. The elf's hands were held loosely around the reigns, but his elbows held Aila close to him. In her sleep, Aila shifted, pulling her legs up from the horse's side and wrapping them around Legolas, so that she sat cross-legged on the horse, with Legolas between her legs.
He shifted uncomfortably for a moment, but was afraid of waking her up, so he pressed the horses on. Aila slept for a few more hours, and woke up while the sun was setting. Legolas continued to drive the horses on, anxious to be back in Rivendell, but reluctant because he knew the sooner they arrived, the sooner Aila would be leaving.
Leaning against him, Aila knew that she should move, so that she sat behind him again, but she felt like it was against her will to move, or against his will. Suddenly, she had this sudden overwhelming of some weird feeling, and she felt herself engulfed in Legolas' aura, as she always was, but now it seemed so much stronger than it normally was. Calm and blue, shaded with yellow of wisdom, throbbing green loyalty, shot with sparks of red passion, his aura was so overwhelming when she was around him and she wondered what her own aura was like. Turquoise for leadership, but black around the edges, giving away her misconceptions and misgivings. Streaked with golden intelligence, orange with humor. She fell asleep against his chest just as he decided to stop for rest. They had come to a thin covering of trees, out skirting Rivendell.
…
A/N: Okay, well, they're headed back to Rivendell and we're heading towards the beginning of the endings. I think I might as well post both. I'll post the first one I wrote before I post the other, so there you go. Now that I think about it, I should have had her convince herself that she was in love with Eomer, have a demonic little child, be totally unhappy, and that watch as the elves are destroyed … but that would be kind of sucky wouldn't it? Oh well. Enjoy.
Reviews Always Welcome, from 9am-9pm, 9 hours a day, 9 days a week, 9 weeks a month, 9 months a year. (ha ha ha, funny funny.)