Hi all! Sorry for not updating sooner.too many plot bunnies, not enough time to write them down! Only one this time.I would like to post two at a time (both sides of each scene.) but part two isn't done yet, and I wanted to post something so you wouldn't thing I'd forgotten about it! I've switched the order for this one, starting with Leggy rather than Eowyn. His muse just came first. *shrug* Well, enjoy, and I'll try to get Eowyn posted soon. (like, tonight)

-Melanye

Watching

For days we rode towards the Eastfold, to a gathering of the Rohirrim from all over the kingdom. We arrived at the edge of the mountains soon enough, but the nagging feeling of dread would not leave me. Something told me we needed to hurry...something is happening, or is about to happen. I've been on edge for the past week, and it's becoming unbearable.

We stopped to make camp near one of the mountains - the Dimholt. It is a haunted place. I didn't need to hear the stories to know that, I could feel it as we approached, the air is thick with it- even the men sense it. I can't wait to leave this place, but something tells me it is my doom to stay, or go further into it, confront it. I wonder if anyone else feels it too.

The night passed quietly, and I stood outside on watch as usual. I do sleep occasionally, either after a particularly trying day or simply to feel the sense of freedom and peace that it brings, but this night my senses would not let me find that rest. I don't think I would even if I could. Now is not the time for sleeping, when war is brewing and evil is so near. I stand alone, letting Aragorn and Gimli and the others rest and regain their strength for the next phase. It was here, lost in my thoughts, peering into the endless dark of night and overlooking all the camps beyond, that she came.

I heard her immediately as she stepped from her tent, but gave no sign that I had. I knew what was behind me - there was no threat in that direction, and so felt no need to turn until I heard the footsteps approaching my position. They stopped several feet behind me and all fell silent again.

"You should be sleeping," I said. I heard the almost imperceptible shuffle of bare feet on stone.

"I can't." Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, so quiet, yet I hear it as if she were standing next to me. She's afraid, I hear a voice say. The faint tone of fear had colored her speech and I feel the slight pang of worry in my heart. I turn and suppress a gasp as I do. She is standing several feet away from me as I'd guessed, dressed in a flowing white sleeping gown with a white robe over top of it. Her hair was loose and danced lightly in the slight breeze. For a moment, just a moment, she seems to glow in the moonlight. I have to resist the urge to touch her.

"You fear for your family," I say instead. Bright ocean eyes were hid from me as she lowered her head and nodded. Suddenly the worry in my heart turned to guilt as I watched her turn away, desperately trying to suppress her tears. Unable to talk myself out of it I quickly cross the distance between us and reached out to her.

Peace, pure peace filled me as my arms encircled her. She turned into my embrace and buried her face in my chest, clutching my tunic as she cried. I'd never heard such a beautiful, heartbreaking sound. I wanted to tell her that everything would be alright, that it would all work for the best, but I had no such words of encouragement and hope. The truth was, I never expected to see my home again. I followed Aragorn into impossible situations, my heart never wavering, expecting to die defending him. The fact that I had made it this far told me that somehow, the Valar still watched out for the firstborn. They do care what happens to us. I wanted desperately to be able to tell her this, to pass on some part of the peace I felt at the acceptance of my role, but could not believe that she would understand.

"Shhh," I tried to sooth her tears. "I know things look dark," I said. Then I paused, not sure how to continue my thought. Things were dark. There was nothing else to add. I paused, stroking her hair for such a long time that she looked up at me again with big hopeful eyes, begging me to tell her that everything would be fine. Instead I let her go and draped an arm across her shoulders in a sudden inspiration. I directed her gaze to the heavens and pointed.

"You see?" I began, "the stars still shine, and the moon still waxes and wanes in its proper course." I let my arm fall to my side as I reached my point, and as I spoke it, even I was comforted. "As long as the sun rises and the stars fill the night sky, evil has not yet won. Illuvatar will not abandon his children to shadow." I lowered my head at the revelation, new hope inside my heart at my own words. I gave her one last short hug before stepping back, and she smiled through her drying tears and bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you, Master-Elf," she said, "You have given me hope." I felt a smile work it's way onto my face at her formality and shook my head.

"Nay, lady," I replied. "My name is Legolas." She lowered her head again in another quick bow before turning and quickly walking back to her tent. I turned back to the stars to resume my watch.