Chapter Nine
The moon was overhead, even though the branches of the trees hid the glowing rays from the travelers. There was no wind, no movement of the trees or the grass. Complete peace.
Gurgling and cooing broke the silence. Aragorn had started a small fire, but cut no living wood, for fear of the old folk tales. "We will need to start for Rohan tomorrow, for a threat has been clouding over them for some time. They will need all the help they can get," Gandalf said; his voice low and resonate. Aragorn looked to Gandalf with surprise, and then looked to Maeg who cuddled her babe in her arms, smiles and giggles coming from her pale face.
Aragorn stood from his kneeling position and lightly took Gandalf by the arm and led him from the site, out of ear-shot. "What about Maegraukowen? And the babe? We cannot move them so soon, you should know this," Aragorn muttered urgently, his eyes clouding over with concern. Gandalf sighed and let his head drop. He was silent for a moment before he lifted his head and opened his eyes slowly. "We have no choice, we must move quickly, or we will be too late," Gandalf said, his voice filled with urgency. "What do you mean?" "War is coming to Rohan, and I fear it will be soon," Gandalf began, putting his hand on Aragorn's rigid shoulder. "We must hurry and get there before the Enemy does."
Aragorn stared at Gandalf before Gandalf nodded and left his side, leaving him standing speechless and alone. Aragorn turned around to see Gandalf whispering to the babe and laughing. His heart hurt as he looked upon the small babe, the blonde curls sitting softly upon the smooth forehead, the smile sweet and innocent.
He pinched his eyes closed and turned away from the sight. My love.why did I send thee away? As I look upon this child, I see your eyes.your smile.your immortal soul.but you are sailing.sailing away from me.and my love.
Aragorn's thoughts were interrupted by a light hand resting on his shoulder. He turned, even though he knew who it was. "What is it, Legolas?" he asked, blinking back the threatening tears. Legolas looked into his face, and he seemed to understand what was going on inside Aragorn's soul, for he spoke softly. "Do not worry; Frodo will finish what he has begun," "Of course he will; he's the strongest man I've ever known," Aragorn said lightly. Legolas grinned, his eyes alight. "But he is no man; he is but a hobbit,"
Aragorn laughed, releasing his anxiety and smiled gratefully at Legolas. He then put his hand on Legolas' shoulder, shaking it slightly with brotherly love. "I would not have made it this far without you," Aragorn said hoarsely. Legolas smiled sardonically. "Of course you wouldn't have, Men are weak!"
The night went on as Gandalf told Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn of his narrow escape from the deadly abyss in the Mountain of Moria. His story was filled with whispers as he spoke of the Balrog and how he smote it upon the mountain.
Maeg heard little of what was being said, for her body was weary and sore. The babe that lay upon her breast slept soundly, bringing tears to her eyes at this miracle. "Gwythilian.yes, that is what I shall call you my darling," Maeg whispered in her baby girl's hair, a single tear sliding down her cheek and landing upon the blond hair.
Maeg wrapped the cloth more tightly about Gwythilian, and she gently laid her head on the ground, her lids becoming heavy.
The morning sun shone brightly upon them as they stepped from the gloom of the forest.
The horses walked slowly, their hooves leaving imprints in the ground. Maeg sat proudly upon Hasufel, Gimli strutting behind her. Legolas walked beside her, holding the reigns as Maeg held Gwythilian.
The sun was warm on their backs, bringing comfort and hope to their weary hearts as they trudged on.
Maeg looked from the sleeping face of Gwythilian to Legolas, who walked silently beside her. She cleared her throat softly, bringing his attention to her. "What is it?" Legolas inquired, his soft brows curving slowly. Maeg smiled. "I wanted to thank you for saving my child.my only remembrance of my.thank you!" Maeg stuttered, tears filling her eyes, a lump rising in her throat causing her to leave her sentence hanging.
Legolas nodded his head and smiled, understanding her feelings as she brought the babe to her chest and laid her chin upon its head.
They stopped suddenly as Gandalf walked out to the golden fields of grass. He whistled, the sound echoing off the trees and into the distance.
Maeg squinted at him, confused, but not for long, for a strong, white horse leapt over a hill and sprinted towards them, its mane flowing in the wind. "How beautiful." Maeg muttered, her eyes wide in awe. Legolas muttered something, but she could not hear. "There," Gandalf said proudly, stroking the beast's neck affectionately. "We ride!"
And off they went, Legolas riding behind Maeg, Gimli riding behind Aragorn, somewhat put-out. The horses flew across the plains, the grass flowing about the horses' legs as they leapt through them towards the city of Edoras.
***A/N: Tada! Here is another chapter, sorry it took a little while, but Christmas and everything kinda took my attention for a while. But I'm back! Please review!!!!
The moon was overhead, even though the branches of the trees hid the glowing rays from the travelers. There was no wind, no movement of the trees or the grass. Complete peace.
Gurgling and cooing broke the silence. Aragorn had started a small fire, but cut no living wood, for fear of the old folk tales. "We will need to start for Rohan tomorrow, for a threat has been clouding over them for some time. They will need all the help they can get," Gandalf said; his voice low and resonate. Aragorn looked to Gandalf with surprise, and then looked to Maeg who cuddled her babe in her arms, smiles and giggles coming from her pale face.
Aragorn stood from his kneeling position and lightly took Gandalf by the arm and led him from the site, out of ear-shot. "What about Maegraukowen? And the babe? We cannot move them so soon, you should know this," Aragorn muttered urgently, his eyes clouding over with concern. Gandalf sighed and let his head drop. He was silent for a moment before he lifted his head and opened his eyes slowly. "We have no choice, we must move quickly, or we will be too late," Gandalf said, his voice filled with urgency. "What do you mean?" "War is coming to Rohan, and I fear it will be soon," Gandalf began, putting his hand on Aragorn's rigid shoulder. "We must hurry and get there before the Enemy does."
Aragorn stared at Gandalf before Gandalf nodded and left his side, leaving him standing speechless and alone. Aragorn turned around to see Gandalf whispering to the babe and laughing. His heart hurt as he looked upon the small babe, the blonde curls sitting softly upon the smooth forehead, the smile sweet and innocent.
He pinched his eyes closed and turned away from the sight. My love.why did I send thee away? As I look upon this child, I see your eyes.your smile.your immortal soul.but you are sailing.sailing away from me.and my love.
Aragorn's thoughts were interrupted by a light hand resting on his shoulder. He turned, even though he knew who it was. "What is it, Legolas?" he asked, blinking back the threatening tears. Legolas looked into his face, and he seemed to understand what was going on inside Aragorn's soul, for he spoke softly. "Do not worry; Frodo will finish what he has begun," "Of course he will; he's the strongest man I've ever known," Aragorn said lightly. Legolas grinned, his eyes alight. "But he is no man; he is but a hobbit,"
Aragorn laughed, releasing his anxiety and smiled gratefully at Legolas. He then put his hand on Legolas' shoulder, shaking it slightly with brotherly love. "I would not have made it this far without you," Aragorn said hoarsely. Legolas smiled sardonically. "Of course you wouldn't have, Men are weak!"
The night went on as Gandalf told Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn of his narrow escape from the deadly abyss in the Mountain of Moria. His story was filled with whispers as he spoke of the Balrog and how he smote it upon the mountain.
Maeg heard little of what was being said, for her body was weary and sore. The babe that lay upon her breast slept soundly, bringing tears to her eyes at this miracle. "Gwythilian.yes, that is what I shall call you my darling," Maeg whispered in her baby girl's hair, a single tear sliding down her cheek and landing upon the blond hair.
Maeg wrapped the cloth more tightly about Gwythilian, and she gently laid her head on the ground, her lids becoming heavy.
The morning sun shone brightly upon them as they stepped from the gloom of the forest.
The horses walked slowly, their hooves leaving imprints in the ground. Maeg sat proudly upon Hasufel, Gimli strutting behind her. Legolas walked beside her, holding the reigns as Maeg held Gwythilian.
The sun was warm on their backs, bringing comfort and hope to their weary hearts as they trudged on.
Maeg looked from the sleeping face of Gwythilian to Legolas, who walked silently beside her. She cleared her throat softly, bringing his attention to her. "What is it?" Legolas inquired, his soft brows curving slowly. Maeg smiled. "I wanted to thank you for saving my child.my only remembrance of my.thank you!" Maeg stuttered, tears filling her eyes, a lump rising in her throat causing her to leave her sentence hanging.
Legolas nodded his head and smiled, understanding her feelings as she brought the babe to her chest and laid her chin upon its head.
They stopped suddenly as Gandalf walked out to the golden fields of grass. He whistled, the sound echoing off the trees and into the distance.
Maeg squinted at him, confused, but not for long, for a strong, white horse leapt over a hill and sprinted towards them, its mane flowing in the wind. "How beautiful." Maeg muttered, her eyes wide in awe. Legolas muttered something, but she could not hear. "There," Gandalf said proudly, stroking the beast's neck affectionately. "We ride!"
And off they went, Legolas riding behind Maeg, Gimli riding behind Aragorn, somewhat put-out. The horses flew across the plains, the grass flowing about the horses' legs as they leapt through them towards the city of Edoras.
***A/N: Tada! Here is another chapter, sorry it took a little while, but Christmas and everything kinda took my attention for a while. But I'm back! Please review!!!!