Chapter 12 ~ The Hunt

Fuineth had attended one or two hunts in Rivendell and, growing up in Rohan, was a skilled horsewoman and so was looking forward to this immensely. As the guests gathered outside the halls with their horses Fuineth immediately noticed Lord Faramir was here as well as some of his men and that pleased her. She was glad that things were well enough between the elf and man that one could visit the other as friends once more.

She was already mounted when Lord Legolas, in simple dress and his bow and quiver slung over his shoulders, came over to her and stood beside her gently patting Dunnwair's neck.

"She will get a good run today, my lady."

"Yes indeed, my lord, and Arod also."

He smiled, then noticed she had no bow or quiver. "You do not have a bow with you, my lady?"

She laughed softly and a little shyly. "My lord, I am a terrible shot. I fear I would be more of a danger to my fellow riders than the hart were I to try and bring it down. That would even be the case were I stood still upon the ground and not riding on a horse."

Legolas laughed out loud. "Well, my lady, if that is the case, you are right to leave the shooting to us archers." She grinned.

Elrohir had joined them, and bowed towards Fuineth. "My lady. You are looking forward to the hunt?"

"Yes indeed, my lord Elrohir, very much. It is some time since I last joined one. Last year in Rivendell I think it must have been."

Elrohir smiled, "Yes I too am looking forward to this." He turned to Legolas. "It makes a change, does it not, after so many years when we did not have the time to spare for such enjoyments?"

Legolas smiled broadly, "Yes indeed, my friend. Yes indeed."

Shouts and cries indicated the hounds had arrived, six in all. They were fine beasts, nearly half the height of some of the horses, and trained to sniff out, not butcher. They would lead the riders on the chase, but it was the elves themselves that would kill the hart if they could: and if not they with their skill with bow and eyesight sharp, then who indeed? Then there would be a great feast tonight and dancing.

Legolas and Elrohir bowed to Fuineth and nimbly mounted their steeds.

A horn was blown, and so it began.

Much of it was leisurely at first: walking or trotting through the forest waiting for the hounds to pick up a scent. After a mile or so the hounds started to bay and the pace quickened. Dunnwair was fast but used to more open country and Fuineth sometimes lost sight of the main group of riders amongst the trees.

As they neared their goal, everyone spread out slightly. Each elf, bow now in hand, was hoping for the opportunity to be the one to bring down the deer that would be their meal this night.

The hunt moved on to a countryside where the trees were more sparse and Fuineth found that the main riders were now some way ahead of her and to her left within the eaves of the forest but she was simply enjoying being able to ride, hard and fast, over a long distance for once. It thrilled her to feel the wind on her face, her horse striding underneath her, and the power and speed making her feel alive in a way like nothing else she knew.

All of a sudden Dunnwair tripped and fell forwards, throwing her rider far over her head so that Fuineth landed awkwardly on the ground.

Legolas, aware that she had become slightly separated from the main group, had been keeping an eye on her and saw Dunnwair stumble and Fuineth fall. Without a second thought he had shouted to Arod and the horse had wheeled and galloped off at speed towards her while Legolas kept his eye fixed upon the figure still lying prone upon the ground. He could feel his heart in his mouth, his pulse thumping against his temple, and it did not abate when, as he neared her at last, the figure finally began to move and stagger towards her horse.

For several minutes Fuineth could not move she was so badly winded. Then, gasping for breath, she managed to struggle to her feet and went over to Dunnwair, now standing near her, snorting quietly. She could see a nasty gash on the horse's front right leg a hand's span above her fetlock. Now she looked about her she could see what had caused the fall: a small hole in the ground with a rock just above it and blood covering the rock where it had caught the horse as she had stumbled forward. She attempted to stem the flow of blood with her hand, looking about her in desperation to find something she could use to stop it. Nothing but grass and trees, no large leafed plants or any herb that she recognised that she could use.

Even as she lifted up her skirts to reach her undershift, and tore a strip from the bottom, she heard the hooves behind her. She turned to see Arod, ridden at speed towards her.

"Lady Fuineth, are you alright?!" and there was a soft thud as he jumped off Arod's back before the horse had even stopped moving. The concern was clear upon Legolas's face, there was a tremor in his voice and he seemed to be breathing faster than usual. He came straight towards her as he spoke, half running, and held her by her arms looking into her face for any signs of pain or distress.

"I am fine, my lord, do not concern yourself. But Dunnwair is injured."

She knelt to start tying the bandage onto Dunnwair's leg and he bent with her, "Let me see."

She indicated the wound and Legolas nodded. "Don't put on the bandage just yet. I will find something to staunch the bleeding."

She nodded, pressing her hand once more against the horse's leg, all the time murmuring to her, comforting her, and reaching her other hand up to stroke Dunnwair's nose.

Within a few minutes he had returned with some leaves and was holding his water sac. He crouched beside her and moved her hand away. He washed the wound and then laid his hand on it and muttered some words in elvish, then he tore and bruised the leaves slightly, forming a sort of compress, and pressed it against the cut. Dunnwair whinnied slightly and moved back – clearly it stung whatever it was. Legolas reached up with one hand to touch her neck, and spoke to her, calming her, and reassuring her that it would hurt only briefly, and that what he was doing would help her. Dunnwair stilled.

"Now we can bandage her," said Legolas. He kept the leaves in place over the wound while Fuineth wrapped the strip of cloth around it.

At last they were finished, and she stood, stroking Dunnwair's neck and talking to her softly. Legolas stood on Dunnwair's other side and patted her. "She will heal quickly enough, won't you girl? It was not so serious a cut."

Fuineth nodded, "It could have been far worse," and she then moved away to show him the rock stained with Dunnwair's blood. "That's what tripped her. She caught one foot in the hole and was cut as she fell against the rock. She is fortunate she didn't break her leg."

Legolas nodded, and then looked at Fuineth once more. "And you, my lady, are you sure you are unhurt? I saw you fall, and you did not get up immediately. That is why I left the hunt."

She smiled at him now, "I was winded a little, that was all. I thank you for your concern, my lord. I am quite unharmed, if a little shaken perhaps. It is part of riding to fall, is it not? Although .." she hesitated, laughing softly, and looked at him, her eyes smiling, "I don't suppose elves do fall off their horses that often."

He laughed quietly, as much in relief as anything else, "No indeed, not unless they have drunk too deeply from their cups and even then it is rare." He caught her eye and said more softly, trying to reassure her that even an elf can fail, "I did fall when I was younger, as an elfling. Before you gain experience it is the way of things: by your mistakes you learn." She nodded.

Legolas held out his water sac once more so that they might rinse the blood and leaf stains from their hands. He stood close to her and poured the water for her as she rubbed her hands together under its flow, and then she did the same for him.

As she did so, Fuineth gasped as a realisation hit her, "The hunt! I cannot hear them. They must be some way off by now. We shall never catch them."

He smiled, "I have a pretty shrewd idea of the direction they were going. Besides, you might not hear them still, my lady, but I do."

She grinned, "Well then, what are we waiting for?" Then she stopped. "But Dunnwair... I cannot ride her like this. I had best return my lord. You go; you can catch them and enjoy your ride."

He shook his head, "No indeed, my lady. If you think I am going to let you ride back to my halls unescorted then you mistake me, truly you do." He looked stern as he spoke but his eyes were gentle.

"But the hunt my lord, and you are the host..."

He shook his head, "You will not deter me in this. My mind is set. Once I decide upon a thing I will not be moved."

She could well believe it. She had seen this side of him to some extent in Rohan, and her brother had told her much of his strength and power as a warrior.

She suddenly realised she was staring at him as he raised an eyebrow and looked at her questioningly.

"Well, my lady? Shall we go?"

She nodded, turned to Dunnwair and swiftly climbed up into the saddle once more.

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They turned their charges and headed back, side by side, towards the halls at a walking pace. After a few moments Fuineth spoke, "Thankyou, my lord. I am grateful."

He smiled, "Not at all, my lady, it was nothing. Truly."

"I am sorry you will miss the hunt."

"Please, do not concern yourself. I have had a good ride, nonetheless, and my main concern is that you are safe and that your horse is not seriously injured." He looked at her, his face serious, "Compared to that the hunt is not important."

She felt his gaze intense upon her, but did not look up and merely nodded. They lapsed once more into silence.

After a little while Legolas spoke, "She was going at some speed when she tripped."

"You could see me, my lord?"

"But of course. I saw you had got somewhat separated from the group, and watched to make sure you were following. That is how I saw you fall."

Something in his voice made her look at him as he said the last few words, but his face betrayed nothing.

As they rode Legolas began to tell her of the country they were riding through, pointing out plants or features in the landscape around them. He told her their names in Westron and Sindarin, and she dutifully repeated them, allowing him to correct her pronunciation of the elvish if needs be.

After some little while she noticed Dunnwair was tiring. Her leg was clearly paining her. She pulled the reins and halted. Legolas continued on ahead till she called him, and he turned to see her dismounting from the saddle.

"My lady? Is anything amiss?" He rode back to her.

"Dunnwair is tiring. I can feel her stride is changed: she is limping and that leg is paining her. I should never have ridden her. She needs to rest a little, and then I shall walk her back."

He nodded. "Very good, my lady, of course," and he quickly jumped down from Arod's back.

They led their horses to a small clearing on the edge of the trees and there let the horses graze a little. Fuineth sat on a piece of higher ground and surveyed the landscape, visible through the thinning trees, before her. She could hear Legolas murmuring and turned to see him once more crouched before Dunnwair, his hand on her leg, muttering words of healing. He stood, patted Dunnwair on the neck and said some words into her ear. The horse snorted and moved her head as if she understood what was said to her.

Legolas came to where Fuineth sat. She smiled, "Le hannon, hir nín." He acknowledged her thanks, smiling, and sat next to her, his legs out in front of him and his hands supporting his weight behind him.

"The hobbits passed some leagues North of here on their way to Mordor," he said suddenly.

"Really?"

He pointed, "About four leagues in that direction was where they were captured by the Lord Faramir."

She nodded. The deeds of the Fellowship were well known as it was but her brother had also learnt much from both Aragorn and Legolas, indeed from the hobbits themselves while they stayed in Minas Tirith, that he in turn had related to his sister. "It is so strange to think how much the world has changed since those times."

"Indeed, my lady."

She was silent for a while, and then, "The end of much more than just the evil in the land, is that not so, my lord?"

He looked at her, sadness in his eyes, "Indeed. As much was said in Rivendell when the Council was held. Much will be lost, indeed is already lost, that was good and beautiful."

She nodded, "It is for that reason the King and Queen may travel North before the summer, as I am sure you know."

Legolas said nothing. He well knew that Elrond was planning to travel West in the autumn, and that Galadriel, Gandalf, Bilbo and Frodo, as well as many others, would go with him. Middle Earth was on the brink of something sad and irrevocable, indeed it had already begun, and he knew that one day he too would leave. Ever since he had heard that fateful scream from the sea, since his heart was moved in a way he had never imagined possible, that yearning had never left him just as the Lady Galadriel had said it never would.

Fuineth looked at him as he stared ahead and could see his eyes glistening with tears.

After a moment he shook his head, as if to drive away the melancholy.

"I think she will be rested enough, my lady. Perhaps we should continue?"

He stood and held out his hand for her to help her up, which she took with a smile and murmured thanks.

She walked over to Dunnwair and went to take hold of the reins to lead her when Legolas took hold of them instead.

"Let me, my lady. Arod has no bridle, nor does he need to be led. Let me lead her and you shall walk beside me."

As those grey-green eyes looked into her own they were still bright from the tears that had been there just now, but there was something else there also. Something she could not quite describe, but it moved her even though she knew not why. It seemed a minute before either broke their gaze or moved, though it was but a few seconds, but something passed between them then that neither understood and yet it was something always hoped for.

She smiled her thanks and moved aside to let him lead Dunnwair. And so they walked, talking quietly from time to time or else silently enjoying each other's presence without others around to disturb them, him leading the brown mare with Lady Fuineth by his side and Arod following behind them.

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When they finally arrived at the halls, many of those on the hunt had already returned. Elladan and Haldir came over to them as they came into view.

"There you are! We were about to send someone out to find you. What happened?"

Elladan was saying, "Last I saw of you, Legolas, you were turning your horse about and charging back the way we had come. What were you about?"

"Lady Fuineth fell; her horse was injured. We have had to walk back and also let her mare rest once."

They looked at Fuineth, clearly concerned. "Are you injured, my lady?" asked Haldir.

"I thank you, I am quite unharmed. Dunnwair was cut in her fall, but it is not so serious. I am only sorry Lord Legolas missed the hunt on my account."

Haldir, grinning, opened his mouth to say something but then thought better of it on seeing the look Legolas flashed at him. A quip at Legolas's expense in front of the lady concerned was, perhaps, not such a good idea.

An elf had come forward to take Dunnwair from Legolas while Fuineth had turned to start untacking her. The elf stopped her, saying kindly, "Please, my lady, take some refreshment. I can deal with this."

Fuineth looked uncertainly at Legolas. She was tired after such a lengthy walk back, it was true, but she did not want to leave Dunnwair till she knew she was settled.

Legolas understood. "Come, my lady. We shall take her to the stables and have her wound tended to, and then I insist you take some refreshment."

She smiled, relieved, and followed him as he led Dunnwair away. Haldir and Elladan watched them go, exchanged a glance, and then returned to the refreshment tent with huge grins on their faces.

It was already afternoon and the last of the hunters had returned. Orophin had brought the hart down and it was now being prepared and roasted for the feast that night. After Dunnwair was tended to Legolas led Fuineth back to the awning set up for the hunters to take some food and drink after their exertions. Arwen, Gwenneth and Lady Mirriel came up to them, concerned that she was well after what Haldir had told them. She assured them she was uninjured just a little tired. She was seated and fussed over and given food and drink, but all she wanted to do was retire to her chambers and rest a little.

Lord Legolas, now moving amongst his guests asking if the hunt had gone well, glanced at her now and then. He could see she was tired and was concerned she may have hurt herself more than she would admit.

Ai Elbereth, when he had seen her fall and then not move...

He tried to push the thought out of his mind, but he knew something had changed that day. In that moment when he had asked Arod to turn and gallop without a second thought in his head other than her and in the distress he had felt when she had not got up for those few long minutes, he had known. And it terrified him.