(A.N. Yet another time shift. We've now moved almost a year after Haldir's death. Again, thank you so much for the reviews. It gives me something to read and ponder. Enjoy the latest installment.)
Clad in her cloak and on her pitch horse Talaras, she rode up the road to Edoras. It was late and many had already gone to sleep. One light flickered in the top of the Golden Hall. Someone was waiting for her.
She stabled Tally and walked into the hall. A sword came flying toward her and she blocked it in one swift movement. She flicked her wrist and disarmed her opponent.
"Warm the welcome, in the hall of Theoden king," she said, pulling back her hood. Aragorn sheathed his sword.
"We cannot be too careful. These times are dark, darkened still by the White Wizard's agents," he said.
"I know. Where do you think I have come from? It was not a walk in Fangorn," she said.
"What business have you in Isengard?" he asked, as they walked to the living quarters of the hall.
"Very little. We must watch Saruman as he watches us. His army is destroyed. It will take months to rebuild what he lost at Helm's Deep," she said.
"How many months?"
"Long enough to make it to Mordor," she said.
"One problem. We have no idea where Frodo and Sam are," he said.
"Leave that to me. Hobbits are not hard to find when one knows where to look," she said.
"I'm sure," he said. "I'm going to sleep now. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes," she replied. He left Iasyn standing in the corridor, looking out the window toward Mordor.
"I see you..."
She noiselessly walked down the corridor to her room. As she turned the corner, she nearly slammed into Legolas.
"Still up?" she said.
"There is too much disturbance. I cannot rest," he said.
"I feel nothing," she said.
"That's my point. The air is still. When is the last time you remember the air being this still?" he asked.
"I can never recall it being this still," she replied. He didn't reply. He was looking into her eyes.
"You're in great pain," he said. "Something is hurting you deep inside."
"There is nothing wrong," she said, looking away.
"You may be able to fool yourself, but you can't fool me," he said.
"It is not something I wish to discuss. Even if it were, you would not understand," she said, brushing past him.
"It's your father. You persist in mourning him, even after nearly a year," he said. She turned and fixed her eyes on his.
"What do you know of my grief? You did not watch your father slaughtered by monsters while you could do nothing. You know nothing of how I feel," she snapped.
"I don't know your pain, but I know you. You don't give up easily. It makes you a strong warrior and a wise person, but it has the potential to destroy you. Let him go. You are doing him no good now," he said. Iasyn took a few steps closer to Legolas and inclined her chin.
"Leave me to my ways. I don't need you telling me how to live my life," she said.
"Don't be so afraid of living differently. One day, you will find another that will capture your devotion. You have seen it," he told her.
"One day, not this day," she said. He leaned his forehead against hers.
"Im meleth le, Iasyn," he said.
"Naamarie," she said and stormed off down the corridor, tears streaming down her hot cheeks.
Aragorn ambled groggily into the main hall early the next morning. As he yawned, he spotted Iasyn looking out the doors. He walked up behind her.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Look," she said. He looked up and out the doors. The horizon was red.
"A red dawn," he said.
"Something catastrophic happened last night. Something of great evil. Probably Saruman's Uruk-hai," she said.
"The Riders were out last night, were they not?" Aragorn asked.
"They were on the North side. This is to the South, toward Isengard," she said.
"There's no smoke," he said, looking around her shoulder.
"There has never been a day since Saruman betrayed us that smoke hasn't billowed from his city," she said.
"I know. Something's afoot," he said.
"I will ride out and see," she said. She swept up her cloak and flittered down the stairs.
"You won't go alone," said Aragorn. He followed her out to the stables.
"You're a brave soul," she said as she mounted Tally. He hopped up on his horse and pulled up beside her.
"I don't think it is bravery. Riding into Isengard with little more than my horse and a sword is folly," he said.
"Then we shall be the laughingstock of Middle Earth," she grinned and galloped out of Edoras. Aragorn wasn't far behind.