Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR
Wrapping Things Up for LDawgg
She turned around. Legolas was sitting on a barrel, polishing his bow. He looked in her direction, then back at his bow. "The final count: 63," he announced proudly.
She smirked. "63, huh? Well I guess that's not too bad."
"How many did you get?" he said, disappointed at her tone.
"68," she said with her hands on her hips.
He frowned. "I think we shall have to have a rematch."
"Legolas, I can't sleep. What should I do?"
"Is it the visions again?" he asked seriously.
She nodded. "I think I should just stop sleeping altogether."
"I thought you told Aragorn that the visions had stopped."
"He wouldn't have let me fight if he knew. You're not gonna tell him, are you?" She looked miserable when she asked him this, and he felt his heart sink. He could still remember the one in Fangorn Forest, and shuddered to think of what would happen if Sauron presented himself again to the girl.
He sighed. "I suppose I cannot if your heart tells you to continue fighting. But you must say something to Gandalf. He is more powerful than I."
She turned around and watched the sunset. Legolas was a really good guy, and so was Aragorn. And Gandalf, she had missed him so much. She had the time now to go and really see what was going on between Eowyn and Aragorn. Plus, she really needed to change and wash off, maybe fix her hair.
As she turned to leave, she remembered something. "Legolas?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but when all of this ends I think we should get married."
He looked at her, not completely able to apprehend the sentence. "My lady?"
"You heard me. In fact, I'd highly recommend that course of action. Hey, I'll see you later. We're going to Isengard in the morning, right?"
Legolas nodded, still confused. She waved. "Ta!"
Not fully aware of what she'd just said to him, she decided to seek out some water so that she could make herself a bath. Ugh. Orc blood was all over her outfit, her hair was greasy. And she was probably in dire need of deodorant. She wondered if anyone shaved here on Middle Earth. Elves didn't seem to have any facial hair.
She sought out Eowyn and together they looked for a dress that she could wear. She thought long and hard about what she was going to say to Eowyn, and decided to get it over with.
"Eowyn, you're really glad that Aragorn's back aren't you?" she asked.
Eowyn looked at her unsurely as she pulled a dress out of a basket of clothes. "Of course, I am happy for all of the fighters that survived this great peril."
"Well I know that, but I mean, well…you really care for Aragorn, don't you?"
"My lady, I do not think such personal matters should be discussed," Eowyn said dismissively. She looked down. "I know. I know that it is merely a dream. But that's all I have known since I was a little girl. Nothing but dreams…" she broke into a sob and ran away, stuffing the dress in Laura's arms.
Laura felt so awful for what she had just said. She had just stuck her nose where it absolutely did not belong, and now she'd hurt Eowyn. She just didn't want to see the poor woman get hurt. But maybe that was what she had to keep her going. Just a fool's hope like that. She shook her head. "Laura, you idiot." She owed Eowyn a huge apology.
"Ah, much better," she said contentedly as she slipped on her dress. It was a little worn, but nothing to complain about. She let her hair fall down over her shoulders since it was rarely ever this clean. She wanted to show off, showing that she wasn't some tomboy who was covered in dirt and bruises so far. She carefully wrapped her leg wound and went down the candle lit hallways. She had to find Eowyn and apologize to her.
She was sitting on some steps, just below one of the many statues outside. It was a clear night, not too chilly because it was no longer raining. Laura's bare feet made a soft noise when they hit the pavement, and Eowyn slightly turned her head.
Laura sat down next to her. "Eowyn, I'm so sorry. It is none of my business what's going on between you and Aragorn, or you and anyone else for that matter. I mean, what do I know? I'm just a sixteen-year-old girl."
Eowyn smiled sadly. "In times such as these, one must hold onto the only hopes and dreams they have."
"I know, I realized that."
"What are your hopes for the future?"
"Well, I guess I just want to go home. I want to see my sister again. I want to learn more about my people."
"Lord Aragorn told me you are an Elf. Your people are sailing to Valinor, are they not?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot. I'm still new to all of this."
Eowyn laughed. "It's hard to believe you came here such a short time ago and are already willing to fight for us. You must've seen a lot of war in your time to be so eager to defeat Sauron."
"My time? How old do you think I am? I'm sixteen. In human years. 365 days."
"You are? But you cannot be so young? And you are fighting with the Rohirrim? Surely there is some mistake."
"Hey, don't look at me. It was Gandalf's idea that I come with them until I find some place safe. But when I did, I didn't want to stay. I could never let Frodo down by watching everything happen. I can't not fight."
Eowyn nodded. "We see eye to eye on that."
"I think we may see eye to eye on more than just that." She inched a little closer to Eowyn, lowering her voice. "I need some womanly intuition. How do you think Legolas feels towards me?"
Eowyn laughed, long and loud. Laura had not heard anyone laugh like this in quite some time since the Hobbits were gone from the Fellowship. Eowyn calmed down. "I do not know for certain, for I haven't much contact with Elves. But I can tell that he is very fond of you, my lady."
"Sweet. I told him we should get married."
"You what? Were you serious?"
"Of course not! But I don't know if he understood or not. He's a bit on the uh, uptight side." Eowyn let out another laugh.
They looked up as they felt a presence lingering behind them. It was Legolas. Stifling another laugh, Eowyn stood up. "If you will excuse me my lady…my lord," she said, nodding to Legolas.
Laura grinned. She was dead tired, sore, confused as all ever as to what role she still had to play, but she felt wonderful. "Hey, Leggy. Can I call you Leggy? Do you mind?"
He remained standing as she looked up at him. "You may call me whatever you wish, my lady," he replied.
"Don't take such a formal tone with me. What about L-Dawgg? L to the Eggy-"
Legolas put his hand up to stop her. She nodded and motioned for him to sit next to her. Poor Legolas. He was way too serious. He'd never understand her. But he was such a heartthrob. Wait a second, she was past that phase. Legolas was more than just eye candy on Middle-earth. He was risking his very life to be with Aragorn, to save the Hobbits, and to protect her. She took a breath. She had a feeling she would be having these moments more often.
"Hey, Legolas…I know what you're trying to do for my father on top of being loyal to Gandalf and Aragorn. And I may be really hard to deal with sometimes, and I may seem really ungrateful, but I do appreciate what you're doing."
"My lady-" he began, then cleared his throat. "Laura, I do not think you have a full understanding. I am not doing this for you father."
"What?" she said, blushing. He was protecting her without being under oath? But she'd been so difficult and rebellious so far. Not to mention extremely rude to him in most instances. (well, not rude, but rather casual AKA rude in those times) She hesitated on her next question.
"Uhm, are we friends, by any chance?" she braced herself for a resounding "no."
"Of course," Legolas said immediately.
"Oh. Okay," she said, taken aback.
"Did you hope we weren't? You are a member of the Fellowship, after all."
"I know that but well, I haven't exactly been polite to you…I mean, I can lose my temper and become a real jerk-"
He cut her off. "Laura, actions speak louder than words. You must remember that." He stood up and helped her to her feet. "Now sleep, you must not have any of those visions of Sauron. Aragorn will not allow you to come any further with us if he finds out."
Stay Tuned for next installment: Finding a Place for Herself
