AN: Sorry for the late update. Been kinda busy in the RW. Hope you like this new chapter...the last two should not be far behind. Thank you all for reviewing and sticking with me this far! You mean the world to me *huggles*

Following

I managed to get an hour's sleep before nervousness and fear again woke me. I lay in my bed, staring at the fabric ceiling above me for a long time, thinking about Legolas' warm arms around me, trying to recall what it had felt like. Never had I known such peace, such love from another. My heart beat faster just at the thought of seeing him again.

After several moments, I finally get out of bed, finally admitting that I would never be able to sleep soundly so close to the mountain. Dawn would not be far off and so I dressed and headed again to the mess tent.

As I lit the fires and began to prepare for morning meal I saw a dark cloaked figure pass by the door of the tent. With a frown I peer out to the darkness, but see nothing save for the figure climbing aboard its white horse and departing. As he rode away I see the unmistakable glint of silver clothes as the wind tossed the cloak about. Silver – only elves wear such clothes.

I turn my gaze to where he had come from and see Aragorn leaving the royal tent, lost in thought. Immediately feeling the need to know what was going on I follow him, cornering him as he began ladening his horse with his things. As I come closer I realize what he's doing – he's leaving. Leaving us. What had the cloaked rider said to him? Where does he go? Then another thought occurs to me, causing my step to falter.

Where he goes, Legolas will follow.

I force myself to push away the sorrow the realization causes me and walk closer to confront the Dunedan. He looks up as I approach, and I see him sigh, as if realizing he'd been caught doing something forbidden. I take a breath and step beside him.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask. His mouth moves as if in answer, but no sound comes from him, and I continue my protesting. "The war lies to the east. You cannot leave on the eve of battle. You cannot abandon the men."

"Eowyn...." he steps closer to me but I back away slightly. I will not allow him to sooth my fears...he must be made to see reason.

"We need you here," I continue, but as the words escape my mouth they sound more like pleading than entreating. He shakes his head and again moves closer.

"We need help. We cannot defeat the darkness with so small an army." I open my mouth to protest, but he raises his hand to silence me. "Help lies in the mountain, if the Heir of Isildur would seek it. I cannot go by another road."

"Then neither can I," I hear myself say. A look of shock passes quickly over his face which is quickly replaced with cold, stern eyes.

"No," he says immediately, "Your people need you, and it is far too dangerous to challenge the cursed in the mountain. You must stay here." Again I try to protest but his eyes tell me to be silent. Heat rises in my face and I walk away, afraid of becoming more upset with him.

Angerly I stalk through the camp, back to where I had been preparing the meal. Thoughts chase each other through my head. Angry thoughts, crazy thoughts. The idea that I should follow him, or hinder him somehow is most prominent. I continue my dark ranting silently when suddenly I am stopped by a hand clamped around my arm. I turn in surprise and gasp when I am confronted by sea-blue eyes.

"Eowyn," he says. I stare at him for what feels like hours, but was really only a few seconds. His eyes narrowed in concern and I realize how I must look to him.

"Legolas...I- I'm sorry," was all I could say. I'm not sure what I'm sorry for, but apologize anyway.

"What's wrong?" he asks, "you seem angry." At first I don't want to say, desiring only to look into those eyes and drown in their sea. Then at once Aragorn's words come back to me and the anger returns.

"Aragorn is planning on going through the mountain!" I say. "He won't let me go with him. He said it's too dangerous." I feel the heat again rise in my cheeks, although whether it was from my own words, or the way the elf was looking at me I can't say.

"But it is," he says softly. His voice is like honey but as the words register in my brain it only serves to fuel the fire in my heart.

"But..." I stammer, "I thought you, of all would understand!" I am about to continue when he takes my arm and leads me behind the nearest tent.

"I do," he says, softer, his voice like a lover's caress. "You must understand how dangerous this is, though. You are the Shieldmaiden of Rohan, Eowyn, your life is important to your people." I look down, unable to bear those eyes any longer, but he raises my chin with his finger. "Eowyn," he says. I watch with interest as he looks around us for any who may overhear before leaning in close to me. "There are other battles that must be fought."

At first his words did not make sense to me, as I am left reeling from the sensation of his breath on my ear. I suppress a shiver as I try to understand the hidden message. Then the realization hits me – he is not like the others. He would not patronize me by saying I am too weak to fight. In his land the she-elves fight just as ruthlessly as the warriors. Slowly my heart begins to beat faster as I realize that this is a call to battle. The mere idea that he approves of my need to help sends hope to my heart until I feel it would burst from excitement. My face must have shown my understanding, for he nods to me and leaves me alone.

Suddenly my mind is working furiously, trying to find a way to follow my heart. How could I ride out to battle without being noticed? I begin walking back to my tent, plotting my escape, when I see a soldier sitting by a dying fire, half asleep. He is in full armor and as I watch I realize I do not recognize him. I know every soldier in this army, at least on sight, but I cannot see who this is. Suddenly a spark of inspiration wells up inside me.

'If I can't tell who it is...neither can Eomer...or Uncle.'

A slow smile spreads on my face. They will not deny my rights this time. I will not be left behind again.