It took you ages to get to sleep last night." Valia spoke to the Princess who had just arrived in the stables at noon the next day. "Yea. Something happened in the castle. It was disturbing. Wait, how did you know it took me a long time to get to sleep?" Mae looked startled. Valia grinned and moved towards her. "There isn't much I don't know about you." She whispered. "You took to that male from Rohan didn't you? Yea, I watched you watching him." Mae didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything.
Valia circled the Princess a few times. "You looked very pretty in your dress." She hissed. "Thank you." Mae muttered. She didn't think she liked this girl much. "Now," Valia stated and took a seat on a bale of hay. "Down to business." Mae sat opposite her on another bale. "Have you spoken to the King." Valia asked. Mae didn't answer straight away. She seemed to go into a dream state in which she remembered the look on her fathers face when she'd asked him to think about it for awhile. Why, why had she chosen to ask him then. After a wonderful evening with him. The only she had had in a long time. She cursed herself bitterly. "I asked him, and he is thinking about it. We, if we do get to fight, won't be in the archer group, we will learn to sword fight on a trial basis. I told him this and also that I know enough females willing to give it a go to make a full group and I know of a swords man who will teach us. If we get good enough he will let us continue to fight permanently." Mae sighed. Valia nodded. "Then I will meet you back here after you have eaten tonight." She stood. "You can tell me his decision then." She turned to run from the stables and into the bushes. "Wait!" Mae demanded. "How do you know that I will know tonight?" she asked. "Well that's when he usually makes announcements." Valia herself looked confused. "Well, yea, but.." Mae trailed off. "I told you Princess, I know almost everything there is to know." Valia grinned and ran off. Everything? Mae thought.
Aragorn stood beside the silent Legolas who had been watching the same piece of bush all morning. "Legolas.." Aragorn sighed. "Life is like an arrow in flight." Legolas whispered. "It can spiral out of control, but with skill and mastery it can become graceful and enjoyable." He turned to Aragorn. "How can I be skilled if I have no bow?" Legolas turned back to the bush. It didn't seem like a question that had an answer so Aragorn left him to mourn alone.
Valia knew that Legolas could sense her, but this time she had stayed up in a tree, far enough from him so that he could not see her. He looked more hurt than she had imagined he would. Almost like he had lost all feeling. She almost felt sorry for him. Why!? She cursed herself and slunk off to catch something to eat.
Dinner that night was an awkward situation. Legolas didn't eat or talk, Éomer never looked up from his plate and King Thranduil kept staring at Mae. It got to the point where Mae couldn't stand it any longer. "Have you come to a decision father?" she asked. The King coughed. "I have." Aragorn and Éomer became involved, but Legolas didn't seem to care at all. The King sighed. "I have decided that on a trial basis, it should be fine."
Mae jumped up, ran to her father and hugged him tightly. "Oh thank you father." "Yea yea, eat your dinner." He muttered. "What's this?" Aragorn asked. "Female fighters." Mae grinned, taking her seat once more. "Female fighters!" He hissed. "That is unheard of! This had better not get back to my city or there will be riots. And I'm afraid I do not agree that woman should fight." "It will not get back to your city." King Thranduil assured him. Mae glanced at Éomer, she could not wipe the smile off of her face!
She met Valia that night also. "He said yes!" Mae grinned. "Good!" Valia stated. "When do we start?" Mae stood and began stroking her brothers' horse, Asfaloth. "When ever we want, but we only have 2 months in which we have to become perfect swords fighters, all of the group, we have to organise everything and the news must not get out of the city."
"Done!" Valia demanded. "We will start tomorrow." She jumped up. "Oh and would you tell your brother for me that if he were to take his bow to the lady of the wood then she would fix it for him!"
Mae walked back to her room, deep in thought. She walked over to a window seat and sat down, gazing out at the stars. She was interrupted when she heard a familiar voice humming. ''Oh, hello. I didn't think anyone would be here.'' Éomer blushed as he rounded the corner and realised Mae had heard his little routine. Mae giggled. ''Yeah, I figured that.'' She shifted uncomfortably, painfully aware of Éomer's watchful gaze." Congratulations on winning your fathers word.." Éomer smiled, stepping slowly into Mae's room. ''Yeah, I've no idea if we will succeed though.'' Mae smiled. Eomer took a seat beside her. "Your brother, Legolas. I don't think he even heard the news." "I grieves me to see Leggie like this." Mae's smile left her face at the thought of her brother. ''Leggie? He lets you get away with that? He would have an absolute fit if one of us tried to call him that!'' Eomer laughed. ''Yeah, well, I'm his sister, I get special privileges. Plus I'm a princess. You've got to respect that!'' Mae stuck her nose in the air. ''Oh, of course Madame! Well, I would be honoured to be your faithful servant as long as you see fit to keep me!'' Eomer made an over exaggerated bow.
'' Oh, such delusions of grandeur, my kind sir! You would never do as a servant, far to scrawny. And that haircut, got to go!'' Mae ordered mockingly. ''Your words sting my heart like that of a swords blade, m'lady! Though I do suppose it was rather foolish of me to ever think I could be of service to one so fair as thee.'' Eomer got down on one knee and kissed Mae's hand softly. ''It is my one wish, though, that I may yet get to spend a night in the fair princesses' quarters?'' Mae didn't speak, but continued to look stunned as Eomer took her face in his hands and slowly lowered her down until her lips met his. Mae shut her eyes and relaxed, deciding this wasn't too bad after all, even if he was one of her brothers' mangy friends! Eomer broke the kiss and looked into Mae's eyes searchingly. Mae stared back. Eomer took this as a good sign and ushered Mae towards her room. They paused outside the doors and Eomer took the chance to kiss Mae once more. They pushed open the doors and headed across the room to Mae's bed, tripping over the rug as they went. Eomer lay Mae down and stroked her flowing hair lovingly. ''You're beautiful, you know.'' He whispered. ''You're not too bad yourself.'' Mae whispered back. Eomer ran his hand around to the back of Mae's dress and started fiddling with the zip. ''Wait!'' Mae gasped as she sat bolt upright. ''Are you alright?'' Eomer asked, plainly confused. ''Yes...I just...I think you should go.'' Mae did her dress back up properly and opened the doors, beckoning Eomer to leave. ''I...I don't understand. Everything was going so well. I thought you liked me?'' ''I, just please leave.'' Mae pushed Eomer out of the doors and closed them behind him.
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Ok hope your enjoying it please R and R. There is about another 5 chapters to come