Chapter six: In the Hall of the Mountain King

Or: incidents involving mud, hickeys and disgruntled dwarves

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"…For many hours they rode on through the meads and riverlands. Often the grass was so high that it reached above the knees of the riders, and their steeds seemed to be swimming in a grey-green sea…"

(The two towers: p109)

They had been riding for hours. It was all too much for a girl like Sarah.

She had grown weary and bored swiftly, but their horses moved on seemingly untiringly, led by the great shadowfax.

At first she had enjoyed conversation with her companions, speaking at length with Aragorn of his lady, an elf named Arwen, whom according to everyone present was one of the loveliest maidens to ever grace middle earth. Gimli was swift to point out the grace of Galadriel in comparison however. Aragorn and Legolas had exchanged an amused glance as the dwarf launched into an in-depth monologue of the virtues of the Lady who held his (apparently undying) affection. "Aye, the lady Arwen is lovely beyond words tis true, but none can compare to the gracious and most generous lady of the golden wood. Her hair like the rays of the rising sun, her complexion fair and creamy as the most pure of milk…" The dwarf had in fact spent so long praising the lady that Gandalf had eventually felt obliged to stop his prattling. By

interjecting something in the dwarfs own tongue.

The group fell into silence for a while until Sarah spoke up, "Tell me Legolas, I have heard of Galadriel of Lothlórien with her radiant golden hair and pure milk-like complexion… And of Rivendell's Evenstar, the lovely lady Arwen.. shall I assume your realm is home to a lady of equal grace? Is your mother Mirkwood's immortal beauty queen perhaps?"

Legolas who had been smiling warmly at her flinched ever so slightly and a look of pain crossed his face before he slipped back into a neutral, emotionless expression. "Nay my lady. I fear not." The elf turned to face the front.

Sarah, realising she had obviously upset him, turned to Aragorn for an explanation, but he to was staring at the prince's back, a curious expression across his face.

Gimli, ahead of the other's and quite unaware of Legolas reaction laughed to himself, "see! Legolas agrees that no lady of his father's court, even the queen herself could ever outshine the lady Galadriel."

Gandalf sighed, "Really master Gimli! Must I stop up your mouth with grass!? The lady Galadriel is fair and wise, we all realised this far before you, and weary of your constant babbling!"

The dwarf made a loud sniffing noise and crossed his arms, "Very well! Legolas! Tell us of your mother! I apologise, I am sure she is a most fair and lovely woman."

Aragorn and Sarah turned as one to gauge the prince's reaction.

He did not react, but replied in a calm, flat voice Sarah had not heard him use before. "Aye Gimli. My mother was a fair and lovely woman."

The dwarf waited a moment, expecting his friend to continue. "Well? Does the queen have a name? What does she look like? I grow quite curious."

Again Sarah and Aragorn watched, Legolas's use of past tense had not slipped past them.

The elf looked off into the distance for a moment before continuing, "her name was Armîr lóthanril. And she is dead these past 1214 summers."

Sarah gave a little gasp of shock, surprised by Legolas' apparent age, and also saddened by his loss.

No one spoke.

Some moments later Aragorn broke the silence, " Yes. Elrond always spoke most highly of her. My condolences friend. I'm sure the loss of a lady such as she hurt you and your family greatly."

The prince did not look back at him but softly replied, "Aye."

Gandalf spoke then in a firm voice, closing the conversation, "Armîr Lóthanril was indeed as fair the evenstar and as wise as the lady of the wood. I knew her only briefly but her passing saddened me greatly." He paused a moment then pointed at the snowcapped mountains ahead, "The gap of Rohan lies ahead. .And to the east. Isengard."

The companions looked back towards the tower that housed the wizard Saruman and Sarah shuddered as the wizard continued. "We will ride till nightfall, rest a few hours, and be in Edoras at daybreak."

Again the riders fell into silence as they rode.

Gandalf thought of many things, all things, his mind strategising, planning, and simply pondering a thousand different things all at once. One part of his mind thought back to Legolas's mother, the lovely murdered queen, and was saddened. Another was pondering the implications of Sarah's arrival and her relationship with the elven prince. The larger part of his mind was deciding his best plan of action over the next few days, of the role Aragorn must plan in Edoras and then Gondor. He also thought on Frodo and Sam slowly but steadily making their way to mount doom. He also thought of Gimli and his annoying habit of talking too much.

Aragorn was thinking dreamily of Arwen, but still scanning the horizon for possible attack, one hand on his pendant, the other on the reins.

Gimli was feeling guilty for bringing up a painful subject with his friend. Thinking back, he was sure he had already known Legolas' mother was dead. But it was a dusty bit of old information and he hadn't really put one and too together yet.

Legolas meanwhile, was lost in memories of his mother. He had not thought of her in a long time. Suddenly his mind was filled with thoughts of her. The way her blue eyes seemed brighter when she laughed, the way she had always smelt like the forest after rain. She was no longer mentioned in his father's palace. It was too painful for Thranduil. Legolas remembered the day his mother had disappeared well.

He had been only young, just barely a man.

She had gone riding with her ladies in waiting and they had simply not returned.

The entire population of Greenwood had helped Legolas and his father in their search for Queen Armîr, but they found no trace of her for a month. Thranduil had been distraught, convinced that the same fate that had befallen Elrond's wife, Célebrián was now upon his beloved Armîr. But as it turned out that had not been the case.

It was Legolas who found his mother. He was out in the far south of Greenwood, hunting deer, but really searching aimlessly for his mother. He had come across a talan he was unfamiliar with and investigated. He had heard the noises of a struggle and yelling. When he reached the top of the platform he found his mother crumpled on the wooden floor. She was still in her riding habit, the green silk and cotton slowly turning red with her blood.

He had hastened her back to the palace, but it was a long ride and she was very weak before the queen was returned to the king's side.

She had soon faded, but not before revealing to her husband and son that she had been kidnapped, and her dear friends, her ladies in waiting, murdered, by none other than Thranduil's childhood friend Lord Malris.

Thranduil had sought Malris out in a rage, but found himself unable to kill the man he had loved as a brother since his youth. So he had been exiled. He had not been seen again. Legolas prayed he had died a horrible death.

After Queen Armîr's passing, the king had been a changed man. He would have faded had he not had his son by his side. Over the next few decades, Greenwood the Great slowly slipped into the darkness of shadows and became Mirkwood.

Sighing, the prince pulled his mind away from such thoughts and turned back, glancing at Sarah.

The girl had an odd expression on her pretty face and was carefully smoothing her somewhat unruly hair down. Legolas smiled at her. She smiled back, violet eyes radiant. He instantly felt a longing to hold her. His eyes slipped to her full lips, remembering with vivid detail their softness and taste. Tearing his gaze from her he turned back to the wizard before him.

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Sarah was thinking of several things, of Legolas's mother, of Legolas's age, well.. mostly she was thinking about things Legolas related. But the shallow school girl in her wondered briefly how she would compare to these beautiful elven princesses they spoke of. Aragorn had said she looked akin to his beloved Arwen in her build and colouring, but she supposed she could never hope to live up to the kind of immortal beauty she and Gimli's beloved Lady Galadriel shared. Self-consciously she brushed down her hair and adjusted her jacket.

"Still. Legolas seems to think I am pretty enough.."

Looking up she caught him smile at her briefly. She let her mind slip into day dreams and began singing to herself.

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After what seemed like hours, when the sun had finally set, she realised that her singing, which had started of quietly, had been quite loud for quite some time. Suddenly embarrassed she fell quiet.

Aragorn turned to her smiling, "You sing like an elf. Even if you aren't quite one."

She blushed and shrugged a little, "thank-you?"

Gimli chuckled, "nay! Lady Sarah has a far more powerful voice than those wispy breathy excuses for singers I have heard of Legolas' kind."

Gandalf chuckled, "True, Sarah does seem to have a penchant for slightly more…. rousing songs. You will be most at home in the halls of the horselords I think Sarah."

"Oh dear. I wasn't singing pub songs was I? how embarrassing.. I shall have to remember to sing only dignified love songs.. or perhaps poetry?.. Yes I could recite poetry about the weather when next I become bored."

Legolas slowed his horse to ride beside her, his smiling eyes boring into her own, "No no.. you weren't singing only vulgar songs… although their were a couple of rather… energetic ones that seemed to require, " he paused and continued in a thick Scottish accent, " The type o speech of Gimli's folk."

Sarah pouted, "I'll have you know that plenty of very well respected people, like the entire country of Scotland, speak with that sort of accent! So you would do well to mind your insults towards Gmli and myself."

Legolas just grinned at her. Sarah put her nose in the air and ignored him. She was so busy ignoring Legolas that she didn't notice that her horse had wandered slightly from behind Shadowfax until she and the horse were suddenly in a rather smelly pool of freezing water.

She let out an ungodly scream and swiftly swam out, her horse trailing her.

She found her companions waiting for her, Legolas was still grinning and wriggled his eyebrows at her. Aragorn and Gimli were trying to hold in smiles while Gandalf seemed unconcerned. "Yes, lady Sarah is right, we shall rest here a moment. I think."

Sarah huffed and peeled her soaked jacket from her frame, her boots quickly following suit. She then paused. Her shirt was clinging to her like a second skin, her hair was plastered down her back and an unpleasant odor wafted from her clothes. "Excuse me, I'm just going to change."

She gathered up her jacket and disappeared into the long grass.

Legolas listened will interest to the shuffling of grass and loud curses in common, what he assumed to be her mother's language, (for Gimli chuckled) and the sindarin dialect she called French. Quite inventive curses at that.

A good ten minutes later Sarah emerged.

Legolas's eyes widened.

She was dressed like well.. an elf…

He had found her own outlandish clothes rather attractive, but seeing her dressed as she was now emphasised her beauty upon him.

She wore a long sleeved purple silk dress with rich brocade gold borders that hugged her torso closely, a white underdress poking out the top. It was spilt down both sides from her hips in the way of a riding dress, so she could move freely, and underneath she wore loose silk pants tucked into fresh brown suede boots. And of course, she was still wearing his cloak, the mallorn leaf of Lothlórien glinting slightly in the moonlight.

She sat down huffily next to him and began combing her hair.

"Arg! I shall shave my head! It annoys me so! Blasted mud encrusted stick infested hair!"

Legolas laughed, "just do your little magic trick on it."

Sarah paused, "true." She squinted and in a second her hair hung silky smooth. She smiled and began to braid it. After about five minutes of twisting her hair awkwardly she groaned and gave up. "Dammit! I cannot braid my own hair! Normally my maid does it.." she glanced around, "I don't suppose any of you can braid hair?"

Aragorn shook his head. Sarah raised and eyebrow and glanced at his own unruly hair, "yes, well, no offense Aragorn, but that does not surprise me."

Gimli took a long drag of his pipe and replied, "just get the laddy to braid yer hair. The Valar knows he spends at least an hour on his own hair every night."

Legolas looked up sharply, "Simply because I don't enjoy having an unpleasant odour and being covered in dirt." He paused, "And how many times do I have to tell you, I'm far older than you, I am not a laddy."

The dwarf laughed, "Calm down laddie! And don't fret, there's nothing wrong with being a pretty-boy."

Legolas's eyes narrowed.

Sarah smiled, "I knew it. You're gay aren't you?"

The elf frowned, "gay?.. I am not overly happy.. "

Aragorn sniggered in a most un-regal fashion, having heard the term in human taverns and the like. "I have had my own suspicions lady, but I think he does in fact prefer the company of women to that of men."

Sarah laughed, "I suppose you'd know better than anyone else wouldn't you Aragorn? A handsome, virile man like you.. all alone in the wilderness with nothing to do…"

Legolas, finally grasping her meaning protested, "hey! I am not.." he made an exaggerated flurry of hand movements, "a…that is to say… I am not a….I DON'T LIKE MEN!"

Sarah smirked at Aragorn, then turned towards him, blinking innocently "Are you sure?"

"YES!"

The fairy girl inspected her fingernails, turning them purple to match her dress before continuing, "hmm.. me thinks the prince doth protest too much.."

Legolas' mouth hung open, "What?! Surely it would be pretty obvious to you I do not like men."

Sarah's smirk widened, "obvious? Why would it be obvious to me my lord?"

Legolas' eye twitched.

Aragorn chuckled, "

Sarah's blinked innocently enjoying her unofficial pay back for him laughing at her accident earlier. "My lord? Are you alright?"

Aragorn shook his head, "stop tormenting Legolas Sarah. You have had your fun." He paused and smirked at her, "And I think I know why it would be obvious to you that Legolas enjoys the company of the fairer sex."

The girl sighed, a slight blush staining her cheeks, "fine." She had forgotten Aragorn has seen her on the prince's lap the night before.

She sat back and resumed her futile attempts at braiding.

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After watching her increasingly pathetic efforts for the best part of half an hour, Legolas took pity on her. He stood and sat silently behind her, slipping his hands into her soft hair. It slid over his fingers giving off the flowery scent of her shampoo. He closed his eyes and inhaled the scent, feeling his heart beat rise slightly.

Sarah flinched and gave a little startled yelp, "Must you sneak up on people like that!?"

The elf scoffed, restraining the urge to bury his face in her neck. "It is not my fault you are oblivious to the world around you… Not noticing people sitting right behind you, riding into ponds…"

The girl muttered something in gaelic under her breath.

Legolas smiled and set about setting her hair into the intricate braids of a sindarin noble woman. It was something he used to do for his cousins when they were little; his mother had also delighted in having her son braid her hair when he was young. The elf noticed the way Sarah's head kept lolling forward as he worked, she seemed to be on the verge of sleep. His fingers neatly stitched the strands of hair into place and within ten minutes he was done.

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Sarah tried very hard to ignore the delightful way Legolas's fingers were massaging her scalp, although the desire to moan was becoming quite difficult to control. She could feel the warmth of his body behind her and feel his warm breath on her neck. She felt her eyelids slipping shut. She would just rest her eyes a moment…

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Legolas stopped and admired his handiwork. Sarah's long tresses now sat in intricate braiding framing her face and looping over her ears, the rest flowing free down her back. He ran his fingers over the twisted strands, letting his hands pause at her ears. He had wondered if she had elvish ones or rounded ones like a woman. Carefully turned her head, as if he was adjusting a braid, and saw that her ears were somewhere in between. Slightly pointed but not nearly as exaggerated as an elf's.

His gaze slipped to her face and to his surprise he realised that she was asleep. He shook her shoulder slightly, "Sarah?". The girl murmured something and leant back against him. Legolas thought about waking her, but he was enjoying her proximity to him. She twisted and made a grumbling sound before settling herself like a cat against him. He could feel little puffs of her breath where her face was buried in his tunic.

Legolas stared down at the girl sleeping in his lap in amusement in mild disbelief.

Aragorn chuckled, "that is becoming a habit with our young friend Legolas. You must be comfortable indeed."

The elf smiled, "it would appear so."

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Aragorn and Gimli settled down for a short sleep while Gandalf paced and puffed smoke rings.

Legolas tried in vain to rest, but he found the warm body pressed against him rather distracting. He looked down at the sleeping girl. Her lovely face rested over his heart, eyelashes fluttering in her light sleep. As he looked down at her with her hair braided like an elvish lady, in her rich dress he suddenly realised that she was perfect in every way. He supposed he'd always imagined the perfect woman to be a Sinadrin lady with golden hair and bright blue eyes, but he realised that he'd never found any lady, even Arwen Undómiel, as lovely as this odd fae girl.

Legolas shifted slightly so he could hold her soft weight comfortably She murmured and nestled closer to him, her face resting on his shoulder. Legolas glanced up at Aragorn, the man was singing softly to himself in elvish and staring at the stars. Gandalf had vanished, but Legolas knew he wouldn't have gone far. He looked down at Sarah, his right hand sat against her warm cheek, his finger tips just millimeters from her ear. He knew he shouldn't touch her without her permission, but he wondered if her ears were as sensitive as his own. Curiosity got the better of him and he let a fingertip softly brush against the tip of her ear. Her reaction was instant. A sharp gasp escaped her lips and she clung tighter to him. Legolas felt his breathing quicken at the sensation of her pressing her body against him. 'Obviously her ears are alike to elven ones in their sensitivity..' He looked up and found Aragorn still oblivious, so he repeated the action, this time his fingers lingering a little longer. Again Sarah's body tensed against his, her head slipping from his shoulder into the crook of his neck, lips millimeters from the bare flesh, her breath fanning over the skin.

It seemed to Legolas that he could suddenly hear every little noise that Sarah made much clearer. She made little mewing noises in the back of her throat and her breath came in short gasps. Against his better judgment Legolas again gently ran his finger around the rim of her ear. In response Sarah's fingernails dung into his skin and her lips pressed against his sensitised skin in a sleeping kiss. Legolas felt as if his blood was on fire, he longed to kiss her, touch her, bite her even. However, he was well aware of his companions all so nearby, so he contented himself by caressing her delicate ear and reveling in the sensations she was causing with her unconscious reactions. She kissed his skin, her breath drawn in tight gasps through her parted lips and Legolas held her closer. At his tightened grip she suddenly froze. Her breathing quickened and Legolas felt her eyelashes flutter open against his skin.

She was awake.

The elf forgot to breathe as he waited for her reaction. 'She will surely push me away and scream at me… how could I do such a thing to a sleeping young girl…?! I am becoming as uncivilised as troll..'

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Sarah had been having a most wonderful dream about Legolas. She couldn't remember what exactly, but she had been surrounded by his heat, his breath hot on her skin. She frowned as she woke. She took a deep breath and found herself inhaling his sweet scent. In an instant she was awoken when every sense of desire and longing that had filled her dream came humming through her veins. With a soft groan she did the first thing that came to mind to satisfy the heat inside her. She opened her mouth and let her teeth graze his skin, tasting him.

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Legolas gasped as he felt her teeth sink softly into his flesh. The slight twinge of pain only served to fuel his raging desire. His hand tightened on her waist as the other brushed against her ear yet again. He felt her teeth dig into him harder and her left hand slide along his shoulder and up the line of his neck, her fingers burying themselves in his hair. Her attack on his neck relented for a moment and Legolas exhaled softly, then his eyes widened as her fingers carefully caressed his own ear. He had been sure that his desire could not possible get any greater, but suddenly he lost control.

He roughly pulled her face up so it was level with his own. Her eyes where dilated and her lips parted as she panted softly. Legolas met her heated gaze for a moment then, unable to resist her for a second longer, with a strangled groan he buried his face in her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. He kissed along the line of her neck, his mouth returning own her kisses and bites as she gasped and stifled moans by biting her lip.

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Aragorn glanced over at Legolas and Sarah while Legolas was busy ravaging Sarah's neck. He smiled in amusement. The Prince was obviously smitten with the girl, and judging from the erratic way they were behaving, and the amount of time they had known each other, Aragorn assumed that they would probably form an elven marriage bond soon, intentionally or not.

At that thought he frowned, it was most definitely not the opportune time for Legolas to bond with anyone, on the eve of a great war. But then, he knew something about that himself. He had been kept from wedding his beloved for decades because of Sauron.

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(AN: I was going to end there.. but I wanted to bring them up to Edoras by the end of the chappy.. so onwards we go! WEeEEeeeEEEeeeE.eeeE!!)

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Two hours passed before Gandalf returned. Aragorn was resting, Gimli was snoring, and Legolas and Sarah sat entwined in each other's arms quietly murmuring to each other in a Sindarin dialect Gandalf was not familiar with.

"Come friends. We ride on to Edoras."

Aragorn nodded and quickly set about readying himself, kicking Gimli en route to his horse. The dwarf sat up, swore, then stood grumbling about the 'arrogance of men'.

Legolas also rose, pulling Sarah up in his arms. The girl glanced around shyly, pecked him on the cheek and pulled away from him.

They mounted and rode again, the moon bright above them and the grasslands silent and dark around them.

Dawn had just broken when Gandalf called halt. He looked back at Legolas who was staring at Sarah, (who was pretending not to notice) cleared his throat to get his attention and spoke, "Legolas, what do your elven eyes see?"

The elf shaded his eyes from the glare of the rising sun and peered into the distance. "I see… a great valley, between yonder mountains with a fair town surrounded by a snow-fed stream. And atop a hill a great hall of men. It shines as if made of gold, casting a great light over the land… I see guards in shining mail posted at its doors as well as a group at the city gates."

Indeed there was a pass between the great snowy mountains of the south. Through it Sarah glimpsed lush green grass and rolling hills, and something shining and glinting in the morning light. Legolas obviously had better eyesight than her.

Gandalf pointed towards the town with his staff, "Aye Legolas, there lie the courts of Edoras and atop that terrace, Meduseld, the golden hall of Théoden son of Thengel, King of the Mark of Rohan. Our way lies simple and clear before us, but I warn you, the Rohirrim are at war and will be wary of strangers. Though once I would have been welcomed with great friendliness, now I fear I will be greeted will naught save suspicion. Be humble my friends, speak no word in anger and give the horselords no reason to distrust us. Important work awaits us in the golden hall of Théoden. Come"

Sarah watched the city as they neared. Very old it seemed to her, no where near as fine as the cities of her world to be sure, especially the home of a king, but it struck her as proud, standing alone in the harshness of Rohan. They passed through a burial ground, the grassy mounds marking the old kings. Soon Sarah could clearly see a group of many men before the city gates. Soldiers clad in bright mail armed with sword and spear. Swiftly the houses and buildings disappeared from view as they came to the gate of the town's great wall. Their way was of course, swiftly barred by a thicket of spears.

One of the guards greeted them harshly in his own tongue. None save Gandalf and Aragorn understood him.

"Halt strangers! What business have you in Edoras?"

Gandalf frowned, "Strangers we are indeed. However, I speak the tongue of the Rohirrim as few strangers do. We have come to speak to Théoden King son of Thengel and happily share our business with you. But tell me, why do you not greet travelers in the Common Tongue as used to be the custom of the Rohirrim?"

The guard replied but did not lower his spear, "We are at war. It is the will of our lord King Théoden that none save our own people, who speak our tongue, may enter Edoras. Now who are you to come in such a strange company, dressed so oddly and if I am not mistaken, on our own war-horses?" He glanced at Shadowfax before continuing, "And that steed. No man here has seen his like, and we judge our land home to the greatest horses in the West. Unless that I am mistaken, you ride so easy, a wizard and a dwarf, upon one of the Mearas…. Sorcerers, elves or spirits of doom you seem to me! Are you spies from Saruman? Or messengers of some greater evil? Speak now Strangers!"

"Guard of Rohan," said Aragorn, "… we are indeed a strange company tis true, but we are not spies or messengers of evil. These fine horses however, are certainly yours. They were leant to us by Éomer, third marshal of the Riddermark not two days past. We come to return them and seek an audience with the King. The Marshal had said he hoped to be back by now, has he not warned of our arrival?"

The guard regarded Aragorn suspiciously, "Nay. Lord Éomer has not yet returned, but he may have sent word to the King of you. That matters not however, I had word from Wormtongue two days ago that no stranger was to pass under the gates of Edoras at the will of the king."

Gandalf leant down from shadowfax and looked directly into the guards eyes. Sarah sensed him using his power to coerce the man and for the millionth time wished she'd been born a boy and taught such things in school. "I am not here to speak to Wormtongue! My business is with the King of the Mark alone and no one else! Now, will you not have your lord told of our coming?"

The guard replied in a slightly dazed manner, "Yes.. yes I will send word… but what names shall I give?"

The wizard sat back, his voice returning to his normal tone. "You may tell the king that Gandalf is come again and I bring with me, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur, and our companions Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, Gimli, dwarf of the Lonely Mountain and Lady Sarah Lilidh de Málnoir, who was left in our care by Lord Éomer."

The guard eyed Sarah up and down shamelessly and with great interest. Legolas glared at him. "Very well. I will tell my lord of your coming, though I doubt he will welcome such strange company in this time of war. Wait here."

Sarah instantly turned to Aragorn and asked him in english, "What just happened? I'm afraid my grasp of Scandinavian is rather limited I only understand about three words… but I am quite sure he wasn't really offering you 'his finest cow'."

Gimli grunted, "that's more than me missy, though I understood the looks he was giving well enough."

Aragorn shrugged, "indeed Gimli, but still, I think we shall be allowed to meet with the king soon."

Gnadalf looked down at the dwarf before him, "Aye, and mind you behave your self master Gimli." He turned his gaze to Legolas, "And you too Legolas. Do not attack anyone for simply looking at Sarah in a way you do not approve of."

Sarah chuckled and the elf blushed slightly.

The guard returned some time later and led them through Edoras past many fine houses of wood along a well-made road of stone to the foot of a great flight of evenly carved stairs. Before them stood the golden hall of Meduseld, its ornate golden doors guarded by two tall fair-haired men in shining mail and armor. Very tall and strong they were, and with their braided hair and sharp blue eyes, they greatly reminded Sarah of heroes of Norse legend.

When Gandalf reached the top of the stairs the men saluted in greeting and one stepped forward. "Greetings to you Gandalf the Grey, and to your companions. I am Háma, chief of the king's guard. I must ask you leave your weapons in my care before you enter into the hall of Kings."

Legolas gave him his knives, quiver and bow easily enough, asking politely that they be watched with great care form they were gifts from the Lady of the Golden Wood. Háma put them aside quickly fearing to touch enchanted elven weaponry and assured him they would remain untouched.

Aragorn was not so easily swayed, "I mean no disrespect to your lord Háma, and did I carry any sword save this one, Andúril, I would surely grant his demand. But this sword is very ancient and powerful and I would not leave it in any save my own care."

Háma barred his way, "Then you shall come not into Meduseld."

Gandalf sighed, "Well, here is my sword Háma, it is an ancient elvish blade. Glamdring it is called. I am sure you will take care of it. Come Aragorn, Gimli!"

Gimli gave up his axe and Aragorn unbuckled his sword slowly, before resting it against the wall, he then turned to the guards and his face was stern, "I do not leave this lightly in your care. Telchar crafted it many years ago when the world was young. It is the sword that was broken but now is whole. Mark these words guard's of Rohan, Death shall come to any who dare draw Elendil's sword save his heirs. "

The guards looked at him in awe and Háma's voice seemed different as he spoke, "We shall make sure none do my Lord. For you seem like some great hero stepped out from more glorious times past."

Sarah watched all this feeling increasingly out of place. She, of course, had no weapons to surrender. Though for a moment she was sure Háma was going to frisk her, save Legolas subtly reminding him she stood before them a lady of high birth under Lord Éomer's protection. The guard seemed disappointed but let her pass. 'What on earth am I doing here? It like I'm in an old legend…at any rate, I shall be of no use to anyone in this place…especially in a war! I doubt changing my fingernails will startle any orcs to death…'

Finally, all were satisfied and they made their way into the golden hall of Théoden.

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AN: ahhh.. chappy done..

*sighs contentedly*

Now I'm sure you ppl will be starting to get a tad bored with the way the story is going ey?

Basically a boring MST thingy with some random fairy person shoved in the middle??

Weelll, just so you don't despair, it will soon be departing from the book rather drastically.

I've kept it going like this at the beginning so it doesn't seem sudden when all the slightly weird stuff starts happening..

Also for anyone wondering.. whilst writing this chapter I was suddenly reminded of my year ten piano lessons.. hence the title..

~starts humming~

Now….

Thank you for the reviews yet again! I really appreciate them and they are really helping keep me motivated..

(aka. WRITING)

moving right along, I have decided that yes, the 'Nudey Cactus' Will in fact wear the 'Nippy Coat', but since

I feel it is a slightly extroverted personality, I think it's 'Nippy Hat' should in fact be a

Sombrero. And also, the cactus will be a dancing one… possibly with maracas..

The real question now is..

WHAT WILL THE DANCING 'nudey cactus' SING?!?!

any-who..REVIEW PLEASE!!

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ps: muh baby Éomer back next chappy! Yey!!

*satanat dances with the cactus, wishing that it had a song to sing*

~sighs

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pps. just a quiet note, cheerful little note! anyone suggest everasence and they will die J