Disclaimer: None of Tolkien's characters belong to me.
CityofAngel: Worry not about that Grima. He has little importance in the story. Thanks for all the reviews! You're the best. =)
Jen Littlebottom: Mysterious knowledge indeed. Lovelier than Arwen? Whatever gave you the impression that she was 'lovelier than Arwen'? And when was she sent to Middle Earth to 'protect' Arwen?
Let's just say Celebrian was delirious, and had no knowledge of what she did. Note she was healed in body, but not in mind and spirit.
I am not going to answer the next question.
And I KNOW it is Sindarin, 'twas a mistake, I apologize. And I have not exactly been studying languages, so if I am not wrong they were conversing in Westron?
Sorry, if I have made many grammatical errors, I will try not to do so in the future.
güggali mit bröötlätä härdöpfäl: Oh dear, I hoped you did not get the wrong idea. I was definitely not implying that it was offensive. Many thanks for your encouragement though.
Jess: Thanks a lot!
Chapter 15
For a moment he thought he was seeing a vision, a vision of loveliness. A lady in silver on a gray mare, gliding perfectly over the grass. It was as if she existed in harmony with the horse. Her golden hair blew out, liberated of restraint, her cloak streaming out behind.
He was completely captivated.
"Legolas! Who is it you see?" Aragorn's voice shook him out of his stupor.
"A rider, clad in silver upon a gray horse which is of kin to Shadowfax," he answered.
They rode on, till Legolas' jaw dropped when he realized whom it was.
At first the others took no heed of the rider, but the two Meara horses, Shadowfax and Phillifax. So grand a pair they made. One pure white, the other gray. They nuzzled each other with their noses as a form of greeting, their affection for the other was obvious.
"Lady Evariel, why are you here, and where is Lady Undomiel?" Gandalf spoke, finally acknowledging her.
She told them the full story of the journey after Gandalf left them. She certainly was pleased to chance upon them again.
Legolas muttered an expletive Gimli did not think he capable of, as his eyes flashed in fury at the thought of those Uruk Hai's foul hands on Ariel. And felt extremely jealous when he knew Eomer was the one who saved her, yet grateful to this man at the same time. Twas' confusing, the way he kept having contradicting thoughts
"Arwen is well, and has reached Imladris safely." She said for Aragorn's benefit, and he relaxed visibly. It was amazing what love can do to a person, Ariel mused, as she observed him.
But her gaze rested on Legolas the most, and vice versa. Their eyes locked, and time seemed to come to a standstill. Till Gandalf asked her how the situation at Edoras was. Ariel tore her gaze away reluctantly to reply.
"An evil counselor has somehow managed to deceive the king into imprisoning a good man. Eomer should not be in prison. I doubt verily would you find welcome at Edoras, for the king also seems to be overpowered by will and mind by Wormtongue."
Again Legolas immediately began feeling mistrustful towards Eomer. Why did she come to his defense so quickly? But immortality taught him not to look at the surface, and he soon saw it was only another of Ariel's traits. Wanting to wipe out injustice as much as she could.
"It is as I have feared, then. Come! Much haste is needed." With that Gandalf rode away, closely followed by Aragorn.
"Legolas! If you will quit gawking at the Lady!" Gimli snorted, causing Legolas to feign indifference.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And so the entrance at the gate was barred. But Eowyn, seeing Ariel, and understood instantly who the strangers were, gave them leave to enter.
Her gaze lingered much on Aragorn, much to Ariel's wonder.
Up the slope they climbed, and the people of Edoras murmured within themselves at the newcomers, each wondering greatly at them. Seldom were there any visitors from afar, mayhap except the time Boromir came. But he, at least was expected.
At the doors of Meduseld, the guards demanded their weapons surrendered. There, Gandalf managed to keep his staff.
"Foolishness! Prudence is one thing, but discourtesy is another. I am old and surely you will not part an old man from his stick?"
The door warden eyed the staff warily, but let the matter be.
"Loath am I to enter, for this matter concerns me not." Ariel told them. "I shall await outside." But the real reason she did not go in was because she could not bear the thought of being parted from her mother's bow.
It was not a long wait, but soon the doors were thrown open, and out stepped an old man, though anyone could see he had been high and proud in his youth, and old age would definitely not hinder him from doing great deeds.
"Breathe the free air again! Said Gandalf. And to a creature sprawled and cowering on the floor, both hands on the head, he said, " Be gone! Spy of Saruman!"
"Mercy! Lord!" whined Wormtongue. "Do not send faithful Grima away!"
"You have but a choice. To ride with me to battle and prove yourself, or go whither you will. But if we ever meet again, I will not be as merciful!"
Baring his teeth like a trapped hound, Wormtongue hissed and spat at the King's feet. Then he fled out of Edoras on a black horse.
Eomer, having been freed gazed in wonder at the King
"It is a joy to see you return to your own."
"Come, my guests, let us take such refreshment as haste allows."
They passed back into the hall, and sat at the table with Eomer and the King while Eowyn waited on them.
"Lady, I did not see you with the company, whither did you come from?' Theoden asked Ariel.
"My lord, she was captured by the band of orcs Eomer pursued and he rescued her. She is friend to Gandalf and company." Eowyn explained.
Ariel suddenly remembered with a start.
"Gandalf! Did you meet the hobbits? For I fear I sent them needlessly into the perils of Fangorn."
"Rest assured they are well under the care of a friend." He said no more, and Ariel stopped worrying. Any friend of Gandalf could be trusted.
Gandalf, Aragorn, Eomer and Theoden discussed the plans for Rohan. It was not known if Saruman had really bred an army to invade Rohan, but it was confirmed he instigated the wild men to aid him in his cause by trickery. For villages up north had been plundered and the people terrorized. It was but a taste of the terror Saruman was about to unleash on them, Gandalf warned.
Theoden decided to move the people to Helm's Deep. His main concern was not the war, but the people's safety. He declined open war, though Aragorn told him it was upon him whether he wished it or not.
Dosen't he realize, that fleeing would only prolong the inevitable? Ariel felt herself getting annoyed at Theoden, but she did not say so.
"Shadowfax I gladly give to you, Gandalf, for your help and counsel." Theoden willingly gifted.
Ariel wished Phillifax could be given to her too, but that would be asking for too much. She has done nothing whatsoever to help in any way. While deep in thought, she was suddenly aware of someone's gaze upon her.
Looking up, she immediately regretted it. The way he looked at her was enough to stagger and bring her to her knees.
Why now? She asked herself silently. Why in the midst of war and battle, why? For Legolas, was slowly reaching for her heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He found her in the hall, admiring the paintings and banners. She was staring at a banner of a man, being thrown of his horse, and biting her lip as her brows furrowed. Even that little action appealed to him.
"Care for a duel?" He blurted out.
'For the love of Eru, why did I say that?' He thought, for he wanted not to hurt Ariel in any way and hoped she would decline.
Unfortunately, Ariel took all challenges seriously. Drawing out her blades, she turned to face him.
"Care to wager who wins?" Ariel asked.
"Fine with me. Rather unlikely, but what happens if you win?" Legolas asked, amusement evident on his fair face.
Looking insulted, Ariel answered. "We shall see about that. Most probably I get you to teach me more battle moves. And if you win?"
"Then you will have to do anything I ask." He drawled out.
Ariel stared at him suspiciously, but believed he would not do anything to hurt her, so agreed.
He had let his guard down, underestimating his opponent. Blades clashed, and the duel started, Her first attack took him by surprise, and he barely warded it off when she attacked again. He did his best not to hurt her, and soon he spotted her weakness, thus it finally ended with Ariel disarmed, Legolas pinning her under him.
Heat radiated from his body, and thrice Ariel tried to push him off, but stopped halfway.
"You should not leave your side exposed and open to attack." He said.
"I admit defeat, you win. What is it you want me to do?"
"Why didn't you travel back to Imladris at once? It is safer there."
"You know very well why. I desire adventure like you do, and battle, and…and…will you please get off me?"
"And? And because you wish still to be near me?" He asked half teasingly, half seriously, deliberately ignoring her question.
"You place too much importance on yourself, you arrogant elf." Ariel just realized what he said was true, and it shocked her deeply. It was unnerving, the way he gazed at her with those gray blue eyes of his.
Flames from the fire reflected from her silver eyes. Why, they were tinged with violet, Legolas noted with interest. She felt so damn soft beneath him.
He traced her jaw with a finger, Ariel shivered as she felt the cool caress.
"Lle naa vanima" You are beautiful
Aragorn had been observing the duel right from the start. A duel between two elves was elegant, and he might go as far as to say it was beautiful. The blades met in harmony and the two elves moved gracefully. It was more of a dance, than a fight. But when he saw Legolas on top of Ariel, he started to leave, thinking it was not right to intrude, but then he remembered there were pressing matters at hand that were more important than Legolas' and Ariel's "duel".
A throat was cleared politely, and Ariel, blushing to a deep red, saw it was Aragorn, who had just entered from the side.
Legolas hastened to get off her, and Ariel picked up her blades and sheathed them, flaming with much embarrassment, she turned to Aragorn.
With a somewhat amused yet tinged with envy voice, Aragorn asked," Legolas, Gandalf has gone on an errand he would not say, but we need to discuss plans for battle, though I did not intend to interrupt anything." He ended, while throwing Ariel a meaningful glance.
"We were discussing the…ah…the weather." Ariel said to Aragorn in a bid to explain herself.
She shot a glare towards the other elf, as if to say ' this is all your fault' but he only gave her a devastating smile in return.
"Yea, indeed, the weather was an interesting topic to discuss wasn't it?"