Part Three: The Ring Goes South
Ararûn stood some distance behind Arwen and the others. His silvery blue eyes filled with tears that he feared to shed. He wanted to call out to his parents not to go, not to desert him. The pain in his heart at the thought of not seeing either or both of them again, was almost too much for him to bear.
"Ada! Amme!" he whimpered softly to the wind as his father and mother disappeared through the courtyard's gate following the little Hobbit. He saw his father's hand resting protectively on the small of his mother's back as he guided her before him. His father glanced back, his blue eyes locking on his son's. He tried to hide his distress, but his father knew.
Legolas gazed steadily at his son. :You must hold on to hope, ion-nîn.: his mind whispered, not knowing whether his son had the same mental abilities as Ithilin. He chuckled as surprise flashed across the boy's face. He was a lot like his mother.
:Ada?: came the young elf's tentative voice in his mind, :Can you hear me?:
:Yes, ion-nîn.:
:Can you hear Amme?:
:Always.: He chuckled because at that moment Ithilin was humming the courting song in the back of his head.
:Even when you were gone?:
:Nay, little one. The distance was far too great.: Disappointment flooded through the link at his words. Apparently, Ararûn hoped he could keep in contact with one or both of them. :But that doesn't mean that I did not think of her often.:
:Oh.:
:Never doubt that we love you, little prince. Even if we are far away.:
:I won't, Ada. I promise.:
* * *
Just over a fortnight later, they reached Hollin. Aragorn seemed restless. His silver eyes warily scanning their surroundings for the slightest hint of danger.
Ithilin often found herself sleeping between the ranger and her mate. Tonight was no different until Boromir woke Legolas for his watch. The human waited until the elf was out of sight to pin her beneath his weight.
"Scream and I will hurt you, my lady." The human whispered in her ear, his filthy hand pressing against her mouth.
Startled, Ithilin's breath quickened. Panic rose in her throat as Boromir's free hand began unhooking the catches of her jerkin and cupped the mound of her breast. She shivered as she felt the man's tongue bath the slight point of her ear. Why was he doing this?
She swallowed, her frightened eyes darting to where Aragorn lay sound asleep. How could she wake him? If she mind called to Legolas, it would be too late for him to do anything, even with his elven reflexes.
:ARAGORN!: Her mind called frantically, :LEGOLAS!:
Aragorn sat bolt upright as Legolas shot past him, throwing Boromir to the ground. The elf had drawn one of his knives, effectively pinning the human to the dirt.
"Touch her again, human," he snarled in the common tongue making sure that Boromir understood him, "and you will wish you had stayed in Gondor."
"I meant her no harm, master elf."
"Then why were you straddled over her, Boromir." Aragorn asked, holding the trembling she-elf to him protectively. "I can't imagine what could have possessed you to do something like this?"
"I wasn't going to hurt her. I swear."
"Then why were you trying to undress her?" The prince's eyes flashed dangerously, pressing the knife into the soft flesh of the man's throat.
Boromir squirmed, trying to avoid the sharp tip. He had grown tired of Ithilin's playful banter with Aragorn and Legolas. She even teased the old wizard. Aragorn and Legolas even had the gall to teach her to use a sword. She was a woman. She was meant to pleasure a man, not fight along side them. Women did not have the strength to fight. They didn't have the capacity for knowledge that men had. This was men's work. Keeping home and hearth waiting and birthing children was the work of women.
"She is a woman." He said, as if that said it all.
"So." The ranger and the elf chorused.
"She has no place here. She is no warrior. Her place is at home birthing babies."
Legolas gave an audible growl, as his dagger bit into the human's skin. "She has born a child, foolish man. She has fought a harder and longer battle then we now face. I swear, if I see you so much as look at her wrong I will slit your throat."
"Sîdh, Legolas. She is not hurt."
Reluctantly, the prince let Boromir up.
"Forgive me, my lady." The human apologized, stepping toward her. However, the elf prince blocked his path. "but you are a woman. Not only that, you still seem to need the protection of a man."
Ithilin broke from Aragorn's protective embrace and grabbed up her sword. The rune encrusted steel shimmered in the moonlight as she drew it from its sheath.
"This false image of women that you have ends now, human," she spat darkly.
Legolas and Aragorn both moved away from her, knowing full well what she was capable of. She was angry. Boromir had to learn the hard way that elf women were very different from human women.
"Draw you sword, son of Gondor."
"What?" he chuckled in disbelief. "You think you can fight me, little one?"
"Yes. I'm going to beat this stupid notion about women out of your head by way of you arse, if necessary." She replied dryly, drawing snickers from her mate and the ranger.
"I don't think so, my lady." He turned and walked away only to find himself walking headlong into Gandalf.
"Going somewhere?" the wizard asked.
"To sleep."
"With a challenge hanging over you. Braver men than you could not sleep thus."
Aragorn's and Legolas' laughter made his ears burn. He would not fight this woman. It was insane. She needed to be taught her place, but not like this. He had no desire to hurt her.
"Draw it. NOW!" she growled.
"Go easy on him, Ithilin. I think Elladan is still nursing his wounded pride after your last sparring session." Aragorn laughed, his silvery eyes dancing with mirth.
Boromir unsheathed his sword and held it at the ready. He watched the little she-elf circle him, her blade dangling loosely in her hand.
"You going to bail her out if she get herself in trouble?" the younger human asked the ranger.
"She won't need me to, Boromir. If she can best my brothers, she'll have no problem with you."
"She hasn't just bested them, Strider." The prince chuckled as he watched his mate feint at the young captain. "She took on all three of us and beat us soundly. I think I still have a bruise from that."
Metal clanged against metal. Ithilin was holding her own against Boromir. Legolas enjoyed watching her. She had the grace and style of a dancer and the ruthlessness of a warrior. It wasn't long before they were locked hilt to hilt. Legolas smiled. He knew what her next move was.
"Give up, little one?" The human said breathlessly.
"Nope." She smirked, turning into him. Keeping their blades locked, she hooked one leg behind his knees and yanked his feet out from under him. Boromir toppled to the ground as she spun free. A smug grin crossed her face as she place a booted foot on the man's chest and tapped his chin with the tip of her sword. "Do you?"
The look of surprise on Boromir's face completely undid the ranger and the prince. Both were laughing so hard, that they were holding each other up.
"You've made your point." He said, slapping her blade away from his face.
"Have I?" she said her blue eyes sparkling in the starlight. "Have you learned that I am not as helpless as the women of Gondor.?"
"I have, my lady." Boromir answered sullenly. He had been bested by a woman and it didn't sit well. The elf and Aragorn were never going to let him live this down. The heat of his embarrassment flushed his cheeks as their laughter rang in his ears.
"Have you also learned that I am not here for the pleasure of men?" her voice was low and angry. She had heard his thoughts. "I am not a toy. I please a man if I choose to, Boromir son of Denethor. You may be use to human women giving you what you want, but I am elf. I am not like the fragile human lap dogs that you are use to."
Boromir's jaw dropped. Never, in all his years, had a woman spoke thus to him.
"I think you've bitten off a little more than you can chew, Boromir." Aragorn's voice belied his mirth, eventhough his face was an unreadable mask.
"No. A lot more, Strider." The elf laughed in the gray tongue, "She's fiery. She'll be able to keep him in his place."
"I hope so, mellon-nîn. For your sake"
Legolas gazed steadily at his friend. "I do not fear him. I only fear what she will do if he takes this any farther."
Ararûn stood some distance behind Arwen and the others. His silvery blue eyes filled with tears that he feared to shed. He wanted to call out to his parents not to go, not to desert him. The pain in his heart at the thought of not seeing either or both of them again, was almost too much for him to bear.
"Ada! Amme!" he whimpered softly to the wind as his father and mother disappeared through the courtyard's gate following the little Hobbit. He saw his father's hand resting protectively on the small of his mother's back as he guided her before him. His father glanced back, his blue eyes locking on his son's. He tried to hide his distress, but his father knew.
Legolas gazed steadily at his son. :You must hold on to hope, ion-nîn.: his mind whispered, not knowing whether his son had the same mental abilities as Ithilin. He chuckled as surprise flashed across the boy's face. He was a lot like his mother.
:Ada?: came the young elf's tentative voice in his mind, :Can you hear me?:
:Yes, ion-nîn.:
:Can you hear Amme?:
:Always.: He chuckled because at that moment Ithilin was humming the courting song in the back of his head.
:Even when you were gone?:
:Nay, little one. The distance was far too great.: Disappointment flooded through the link at his words. Apparently, Ararûn hoped he could keep in contact with one or both of them. :But that doesn't mean that I did not think of her often.:
:Oh.:
:Never doubt that we love you, little prince. Even if we are far away.:
:I won't, Ada. I promise.:
* * *
Just over a fortnight later, they reached Hollin. Aragorn seemed restless. His silver eyes warily scanning their surroundings for the slightest hint of danger.
Ithilin often found herself sleeping between the ranger and her mate. Tonight was no different until Boromir woke Legolas for his watch. The human waited until the elf was out of sight to pin her beneath his weight.
"Scream and I will hurt you, my lady." The human whispered in her ear, his filthy hand pressing against her mouth.
Startled, Ithilin's breath quickened. Panic rose in her throat as Boromir's free hand began unhooking the catches of her jerkin and cupped the mound of her breast. She shivered as she felt the man's tongue bath the slight point of her ear. Why was he doing this?
She swallowed, her frightened eyes darting to where Aragorn lay sound asleep. How could she wake him? If she mind called to Legolas, it would be too late for him to do anything, even with his elven reflexes.
:ARAGORN!: Her mind called frantically, :LEGOLAS!:
Aragorn sat bolt upright as Legolas shot past him, throwing Boromir to the ground. The elf had drawn one of his knives, effectively pinning the human to the dirt.
"Touch her again, human," he snarled in the common tongue making sure that Boromir understood him, "and you will wish you had stayed in Gondor."
"I meant her no harm, master elf."
"Then why were you straddled over her, Boromir." Aragorn asked, holding the trembling she-elf to him protectively. "I can't imagine what could have possessed you to do something like this?"
"I wasn't going to hurt her. I swear."
"Then why were you trying to undress her?" The prince's eyes flashed dangerously, pressing the knife into the soft flesh of the man's throat.
Boromir squirmed, trying to avoid the sharp tip. He had grown tired of Ithilin's playful banter with Aragorn and Legolas. She even teased the old wizard. Aragorn and Legolas even had the gall to teach her to use a sword. She was a woman. She was meant to pleasure a man, not fight along side them. Women did not have the strength to fight. They didn't have the capacity for knowledge that men had. This was men's work. Keeping home and hearth waiting and birthing children was the work of women.
"She is a woman." He said, as if that said it all.
"So." The ranger and the elf chorused.
"She has no place here. She is no warrior. Her place is at home birthing babies."
Legolas gave an audible growl, as his dagger bit into the human's skin. "She has born a child, foolish man. She has fought a harder and longer battle then we now face. I swear, if I see you so much as look at her wrong I will slit your throat."
"Sîdh, Legolas. She is not hurt."
Reluctantly, the prince let Boromir up.
"Forgive me, my lady." The human apologized, stepping toward her. However, the elf prince blocked his path. "but you are a woman. Not only that, you still seem to need the protection of a man."
Ithilin broke from Aragorn's protective embrace and grabbed up her sword. The rune encrusted steel shimmered in the moonlight as she drew it from its sheath.
"This false image of women that you have ends now, human," she spat darkly.
Legolas and Aragorn both moved away from her, knowing full well what she was capable of. She was angry. Boromir had to learn the hard way that elf women were very different from human women.
"Draw you sword, son of Gondor."
"What?" he chuckled in disbelief. "You think you can fight me, little one?"
"Yes. I'm going to beat this stupid notion about women out of your head by way of you arse, if necessary." She replied dryly, drawing snickers from her mate and the ranger.
"I don't think so, my lady." He turned and walked away only to find himself walking headlong into Gandalf.
"Going somewhere?" the wizard asked.
"To sleep."
"With a challenge hanging over you. Braver men than you could not sleep thus."
Aragorn's and Legolas' laughter made his ears burn. He would not fight this woman. It was insane. She needed to be taught her place, but not like this. He had no desire to hurt her.
"Draw it. NOW!" she growled.
"Go easy on him, Ithilin. I think Elladan is still nursing his wounded pride after your last sparring session." Aragorn laughed, his silvery eyes dancing with mirth.
Boromir unsheathed his sword and held it at the ready. He watched the little she-elf circle him, her blade dangling loosely in her hand.
"You going to bail her out if she get herself in trouble?" the younger human asked the ranger.
"She won't need me to, Boromir. If she can best my brothers, she'll have no problem with you."
"She hasn't just bested them, Strider." The prince chuckled as he watched his mate feint at the young captain. "She took on all three of us and beat us soundly. I think I still have a bruise from that."
Metal clanged against metal. Ithilin was holding her own against Boromir. Legolas enjoyed watching her. She had the grace and style of a dancer and the ruthlessness of a warrior. It wasn't long before they were locked hilt to hilt. Legolas smiled. He knew what her next move was.
"Give up, little one?" The human said breathlessly.
"Nope." She smirked, turning into him. Keeping their blades locked, she hooked one leg behind his knees and yanked his feet out from under him. Boromir toppled to the ground as she spun free. A smug grin crossed her face as she place a booted foot on the man's chest and tapped his chin with the tip of her sword. "Do you?"
The look of surprise on Boromir's face completely undid the ranger and the prince. Both were laughing so hard, that they were holding each other up.
"You've made your point." He said, slapping her blade away from his face.
"Have I?" she said her blue eyes sparkling in the starlight. "Have you learned that I am not as helpless as the women of Gondor.?"
"I have, my lady." Boromir answered sullenly. He had been bested by a woman and it didn't sit well. The elf and Aragorn were never going to let him live this down. The heat of his embarrassment flushed his cheeks as their laughter rang in his ears.
"Have you also learned that I am not here for the pleasure of men?" her voice was low and angry. She had heard his thoughts. "I am not a toy. I please a man if I choose to, Boromir son of Denethor. You may be use to human women giving you what you want, but I am elf. I am not like the fragile human lap dogs that you are use to."
Boromir's jaw dropped. Never, in all his years, had a woman spoke thus to him.
"I think you've bitten off a little more than you can chew, Boromir." Aragorn's voice belied his mirth, eventhough his face was an unreadable mask.
"No. A lot more, Strider." The elf laughed in the gray tongue, "She's fiery. She'll be able to keep him in his place."
"I hope so, mellon-nîn. For your sake"
Legolas gazed steadily at his friend. "I do not fear him. I only fear what she will do if he takes this any farther."