Chapter 6 ~ Aftermath

She did the best she could to wipe her eyes and walk unhurriedly past the guards in the corridor, though they no doubt heard her sobs catching in her throat as she left the room.

As soon as she rounded a corner she ran. Ran all the way to her chambers and threw herself on her bed sobbing.

After a little while she could feel it passing. She lay there quietly, staring at the wall, as the tears dried on her face. All she could see in her mind's eye was the image of that tall, proud back turned away from her, the hands clenched on the sill with a vice-like grip, the head bowed with the forehead against the glass and tears splashing down onto the window frame.

Just then there was a faint knock on her door.

She came back to reality. She had no idea how long she had lain there, staring into nothingness. She sat up, worrying now as to who it might be, and smoothed her hair and wiped her eyes as best she could, well aware she was in no fit state to receive visitors.

Again a knock, and this time a gentle voice calling her name.

Queen Undomiel.

She hastened to the door. "Forgive my tardiness in answering, your highness."

Arwen pushed the door shut and smiled. "There is no need to be so formal with me, Fuineth. Your father was a friend of my husband's as is your brother after him, and you have stayed often in my father's house. Please. Consider me your friend."

Fuineth nodded, too touched by her graciousness to respond with more than a murmured, "Le hannon, your highness."

"Come, let us sit." Arwen indicated a low bench in front of a window that looked over the gardens. They sat side by side, Fuineth with her head bowed and the Queen regarding her with a gentle smile on her face. "I came to see that you were alright. I was concerned at your distress, my dear, though it was entirely understandable."

Fuineth smiled gratefully. "You have my thanks for your kindness. I assure you I am well." She paused. "I am more concerned for Lord Legolas." Her voice caught in her throat slightly but she continued quietly, "It must have been far worse an ordeal for him, I am certain."

Arwen nodded, "Your consideration and compassion for his sake are moving indeed, my dear. You need not worry: he is more angry than hurt. For your sake as much as his own especially now he knows the full story, though I think he had already guessed in large part what may have occurred between you and Lady Eowyn. I must be honest with you and tell you what I have learnt today has distressed and angered me much also." She paused regarding Fuineth for a few moments. "You know, Fuineth, it takes much for a mortal to earn his respect and affection."

Fuineth looked at her, the surprise evident in her eyes.

"Surely you knew that he thinks highly of you?"

"I.. well.. he called me his friend, which I was deeply touched by, but in truth we have spoken little and know each other less in many respects."

She stopped, but Arwen did not respond suspecting there was more to come. Fuineth continued quietly, "He has shown me great kindness, not least of all in his promise to me to protect my brother during the War. He has always been courteous and warm in his treatment of me, and I hope I have been able to return that in a manner befitting his station."

A beat.

"I do consider him a friend, though I hope it is not presumptuous of me to do so."

"Not at all," Arwen responded kindly, "You have earned his trust and loyalty in your treatment of him. You have also earned mine and the King's by your actions. It is rare indeed to find one, other than a fellow elf, who would have had such compassion and understanding, unlooked for and unbidden, in such a situation. It is difficult, for those who do not know us, to understand us at times." Fuineth nodded but remained silent.

Arwen smiled and, in an attempt to break the mood, then asked, her eyes twinkling mischieviously, "Tell me, how did your brother know such things?"

Fuineth caught her look and smiled conspiratorially. "I think you may have already guessed, your highness."

Arwen laughed. "Yes, I think I may. He is betrothed now is he not? To the sister of one of the Captains?"

"Yes," said Fuineth simply.

"I am surprised he did not fall in love before now," mused the Queen, thinking no doubt on how he might have learnt such things.

Fuineth laughed, "He has ever been one to wander free. It is the Ranger in his blood I suspect. Never happier than when he is on a horse and on the road. I wonder how he will take to married life, I fear it may not suit him."

Arwen smiled then. "You forget, perhaps, that I am married to a Ranger, and he has suited to married life very well."

Fuineth could see the laughter in her eyes, "Yes, my Queen, but he is a King with responsibilities, not a young man with too much time on his hands and far more energy than he knows what to do with."

Arwen laughed out loud. "She must be something indeed, this woman, to have tamed such a one."

"She is, indeed. I met her the day we arrived in Minas Tirith. She reminded me of my mother in many respects: a woman who knows her mind, a strong character like many Gondorians, but gentle and good-natured with it. I imagine that is something of what attracts her to him. I love her dearly already, I must confess. Truly I am happy for them both."

Arwen smiled, "I am glad. And I know the King will be glad to have your brother more often here with us in Gondor. And what of you, Fuineth? Do you have no suitors? I shall be amazed if you tell me 'no', such a one as pretty as you."

Fuineth flushed now. "There were one or two in Rohan, but I never felt truly at peace there, and was loath to let their advances come to aught. I always wanted to go north, and I have only been there a little while, and mostly amongst your brethren."

Arwen smiled. "You are still young, my dear. It will happen when it is right for it to do so, have no fear."

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Arwen then let her know what had been decided. It was clear that the visit could not continue as planned. Lord Faramir himself was too upset to think of having guests, and the Lady Eowyn would not leave her chambers. Lord Legolas still had some business to conclude in Osgiliath but would leave that evening for Ithilien. It would cause undue comment if the King and Queen were to leave earlier than planned.

"But I quite understand if you wish to return to Minas Tirith straight away," Arwen had said to Fuineth.

"Tùveren alone would think it odd that I travel without him or else you and the King for company," had been her reply.

Arwen nodded, "Of course. Well we shall wait for his return in a few days time then. It may be that we shall all return together, but if not we can easily find some excuse for you to leave with your brother for Minas Tirith straight away."

Fuineth thanked her.

So it was that later, once the Queen had left her in her chambers and had had some food sent up to it for her, Fuineth decided she needed some air. It was cold and fresh, it being barely mid-winter, but there was no snow this year in Gondor. She thought of home, now in the North, where it snowed every year, indeed even in Rohan it seemed to snow more often than here. She had wrapped a shawl around herself, sent her dishes to the kitchens with the food barely touched, and stepped outside of the house of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, and into the gardens behind it.

The house was stood on a promontory above the river and the garden sloped gently down towards the Anduin with avenues of trees. She was amazed at how quickly things had re-established themselves. The skill of the elves of Ithilien, she did not doubt. Her brother had told her of the near destruction of Osgiliath even before the War. Much of the city still lay in ruins, but the Lord Faramir and the King were working hard together to return it to something of its' former glory. A golden age of Gondor was blooming once more, it would seem.

She smiled, hugged the shawl a little tighter round her shoulders, and headed off down the hill, not hurriedly, but enjoying the air and being free of the house and the oppressive atmosphere she now felt there.

As she neared the river she could see there was a group of trees and bushes near the bank and she moved towards them thinking to screen herself from the house and give herself some time to try and forget the day's events if only for a little while.

And then she saw him: sitting with his back against the trunk of a tree, staring out across the slow, grey river to the Eastern bank and towards his realm.

She started, unsure of how to proceed. She certainly did not want to intrude, and so she turned to leave the way she had come but as she did so he spoke, though his eyes did not leave the river, "Do not leave on my account, my lady."

She stopped, turning slowly back towards him. "I do not wish to intrude, my lord. Let me leave you to the fresh air and your thoughts."

His head turned to her and he smiled gently, though a little sadly it seemed to her, "Please. I would be glad of your company." Then he stood. "Would you walk with me a little while, Lady Fuineth?"

She inclined her head, "If my lord so wishes. Of course."

He waited for her to join him and then began a slow walk along the riverbank and away from the house.

They were silent for some time. Then he spoke, quietly, not looking at her, "I am sorry you had to go through that earlier. I would not have had that happen for the world."

She could not speak, and felt if she did she would break into sobs once more.

"Please know that you did nothing wrong.. that night.."

He was faltering as he spoke and, not stopping her step, she said barely above a whisper, "Please, my lord, you need not speak of it. I think I guess what you would say." She saw him nod and they fell silent once more.

Then he stopped. She turned to see he was looking at her and with such compassion, anger and pain in his eyes that she could hardly bear to look at him, "I am sorry too that you had to suffer on my account at the hands of the Lady Eowyn. I suspected as much, but to hear it.."

She turned away. "It was not your fault, my lord, nor a situation of your own making. I had my choice, and my decision. I knew full well what would happen as a consequence of my actions." She turned back to him, a fire in her eyes, "but I may tell you, my lord, I would do the same again today in an instant if I had cause."

The calm surety of the manner in which she spoke belied the fury she still felt, though the tremor in her voice told him clearly enough. He was at a loss. All he could do was nod, once, acknowledging not simply her words but the sentiment that he clearly heard within them and the flash he saw in her eye. He had sensed it at times when she had spoken earlier, the words wrung out of her in sobs: that anger, that same fury that he himself felt also.

Her head was bowed once more and she was speaking in a faint voice, "What was done to you, my Lord, was beyond cruelty and even if I had not been dismissed I would not have stayed. Had it not been for the War or the distance I must needs travel I would not have let my brother persuade me to turn back."

He knew she was crying once more, and he stepped towards her, and held one shoulder just at the top of her arm and, in a voice even more gentle than his touch, he murmured, "Please, my lady, don't. Please. I am moved beyond words that you allowed yourself to be thrown from the place you had spent most of your life rather than speak of what had happened. You could have spoken and you could have attempted to defend yourself, but you did not. And I thank you for that. Truly I am in your debt."

She shook her head, "No, indeed. It would not have been right for me to have spoken and made public what even I should never have known, my Lord, indeed what should never have happened. It would have simply added to your pain if I had done so. I could never think of doing such a thing and adding to your suffering. I only spoke today because I had no choice though it pained me much to have to do so in your presence."

Then she looked at him, silent tears on her face. He desperately wanted to hold her in his arms, to ease her pain, but knew it was impossible. Such an action would not be proper, and could too easily have been misunderstood.

She saw something of the tenderness in his gaze, and turned, wiping her eyes. "Forgive me, my Lord."

"There is nothing to forgive. You must know that I bear no ill-will or shame towards you, indeed it is the very opposite. What you did was amongst the kindest acts anyone has shown me."

He took both her shoulders, again as gently as a breeze, and turned her to face him. "Know that you will always have my respect and friendship, Lady Fuineth."

She smiled, hesitantly, and looked up into his eyes for a moment, "And you mine, Lord Legolas."

They fell to walking once more, but lighter now, it seemed to her, less burdened and more at ease with each other.

"You are an extraordinary woman, my lady," he was laughing gently now.

"How so, my lord?" she smiled.

He shook his head. "I am not sure I have ever met a woman like you. Elf- maidens, certainly, but never a woman like you."

She looked at him sideways, an intrigued look on her face, but he would say nothing more.

After a little while he took his leave of her, saying he had some business that he needed to attend to. "Thank you for your company, my lady. It has gladdened my heart to have had the opportunity to talk with you a little." He paused, "You know that I leave for Ithilien this evening?"

"Yes, my lord, the Queen told me."

"Did she now?" and she wondered at the glint in his eye.

"She came to my chambers after . . . to see that I was well. It was very kind of her."

"I am glad she did." He stopped and looked at her. "I would have come myself, but I was not sure you would want to see me," he said gently. The hurt in her eyes was evident. "Forgive me, my lady. What I meant is that, given what had just occurred, it may have been too . . . You might have felt . . ."

Her eyes had softened and she smiled. She knew what he was trying to say. "You need not have worried, my lord, I would have been too concerned about your possible discomfort to think of myself."

He nodded, smiling, "You are too kind, my lady, but you also must not worry on my account."

They had reached an understanding, then. They stood there for a moment, smiling at the common ground they had reached between them.

Then, apologising but he was already late, he turned and left. As he reached the top of the slope near the house, he turned again, smiled, and was gone.

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Later that evening, Fuineth was sat in the Hall with some of the other guests staying in Osgiliath when a figure appeared in the doorway. He was dressed in simple Silvan greens and browns for his journey.

Aragorn, seated at one end with the Queen, looked up. "Legolas! You are leaving?"

Legolas nodded, "I just came to say farewell."

He noticed Fuineth sitting to one side and smiled while she nodded in return. He carried on to the end of the hall, took the Queen's hand and they spoke in their own tongue for some moments. He would have made a lengthy farewell to Aragorn but he said he would accompany his friend to his horse and see him off alongside the Lord Faramir.

As the two came back down the hall Legolas touched the king's arm and murmured something to him. Aragorn nodded and continued to the door, but Legolas stopped and came over to where Fuineth was sitting.

"My lady," he said, bowing slightly.

She held out her hand for him and he took it, brushing her hand softly with his lips. "I needs must be off, Lady Fuineth," he said as he straightened, but he did not drop her hand immediately and instead let it linger a little while in his fingers though he was not entirely conscious of his doing so.

She nodded, "Of course, my lord. You cannot stay, and nor would I save I must wait for my brother."

"And then you will return to Minas Tirith?"

"Yes, my lord."

"And then?"

"I do not know, my lord. It may be that my brother will take me back to Arnor. As yet he still has business to attend to here in the South, so I may be here till Spring I believe."

"Indeed?" He was pleased at this news and he smiled more broadly and she could see his eyes gleam a little. "Then you must come once more to Ithilien, if he will permit. And this time.." he looked at her, an eyebrow arched in mock seriousness, though the eyes danced, ".. you must do me the honour of staying at the halls rather than let me learn of your visit too late to offer you my hospitality."

He was softly laughing now and she smiled with him, her eyes bright, "But of course, my lord. I would gladly accept such a generous offer."

That settled it.

He bowed again, taking her hand once more to kiss it while he held her eyes and murmured, "Then I look forward to meeting you again soon. Navaer, hiril nín."

She nodded, still smiling, and could feel herself flushing from the intensity of his gaze. Then he turned and was gone, following the King out to the courtyard.

As she sat there, still feeling her face flushed and smiling at the pleasure of seeing him once more, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see the face of Arwen. "Come with me," was all she said.

She led the way through the corridors and up a flight of stairs to the first floor. There, halfway along a passage, was a window with a balustrade that overlooked the courtyard. Fuineth could see three horses there. Two elf lords whom she recognised as being Legolas' stewards were already sat upon two of them, while the third awaited its rider. No doubt that was Arod, the gift to Lord Legolas from King Eomer of the Rohan. Just below her she could see Lord Legolas, King Elessar and Lord Faramir. Faramir and Legolas seemed a little stiff with each other, not quite able to look the other in the eye, but cordial enough. She prayed that all might be well between them one day. They were, or had been, close friends.

It was only as Legolas finally turned towards his horse and mounted swiftly, and Fuineth saw the Queen come out into the courtyard and join her husband, that she realised Arwen had not stayed with her. She watched as the elves turned their steeds with a mere word and walked them to the gate. The two stewards went through first, but then Legolas turned as he came to the gate lifting his hand to those in the courtyard.

Then, to her astonishment, as though he had known she would be there, he looked straight at the window where she was sat, smiled, and held up his hand to her also. Then he turned to follow the others out of the gate.

le hannon = I thank thee navaer = farewell hiril nín =my lady

Note: I have no idea if Legolas kept Arod after the War of the Ring, but for the purposes of this story he did as he was gifted to him by Eomer.